Soon, the two decided on their dishes and placed the order.
While waiting for the food, they started chatting.
But before long, a colleague messaged her on WeChat, and she had to deal with work first.
“I knew this would happen when having a meal with you,” Song Yumian sighed, already used to it, and began scrolling through her phone.
Just as Meng Chu finished communicating with her colleague, Song Yumian suddenly muttered in disgust, “Ugh, what bad luck.”
“What’s wrong?” Meng Chu looked up.
Song Yumian: “No wonder people say big data is terrifying these days. It can recommend someone you haven’t talked to in ages. It actually suggested Xiao Yixin to me-what awful luck.”
Hearing that name, even the usually composed Meng Chu pursed her lips slightly.
No wonder, because her relationship with Xiao Yixin was… complicated.
Back then, Meng Haichuan had an affair with Xiao Yixin’s mother, Xiao Nan.
For a month.
Xiao Yixin and Meng Chu were actually the same age—they had even been classmates in elementary school.
Later, no one knew how Xiao Nan got involved with Meng Haichuan.
By the time Xu Qingying and Meng Chu found out, Xiao Nan was already three months pregnant.
According to her, Meng Haichuan hadn’t wanted the child, so to give the baby a chance to live, she had no choice but to come begging Xu Qingying.
Though she called it begging, it was more like a strategic retreat.
After all, Xu Qingying was a woman of immense pride.
Before marriage, she had countless suitors, many from prominent families, yet she had chosen Meng Haichuan, whose background was far from distinguished.
Of course, after marriage, Meng Haichuan worked hard and soon made a fortune.
People say money changes men, but Xu Qingying had once proudly believed Meng Haichuan was different.
But reality was cruel.
Later, Xu Qingying divorced Meng Haichuan.
At first, he didn’t marry Xiao Nan, but Xiao Nan insisted on keeping the child—a boy.
Meng Haichuan had initially hoped Xu Qingying would forgive him.
But once Xiao Nan gave birth, he knew there was no going back.
Eventually, it was said that for the child’s sake, he married Xiao Nan.
The scandal had caused quite a stir in their hometown.
Not long after, Meng Haichuan moved to Shanghai to focus on his career.
Truth be told, Xu Qingying hadn’t been wrong about Meng Haichuan’s potential.
In just over a decade, he had established a company in Shanghai and firmly rooted himself in the city.
It was just a shame that none of it had anything to do with Xu Qingying anymore.
“Tch, still pretending to be some rich heiress on social media. What does your dad’s money have to do with her?”
Song Yumian, who knew the whole story, didn’t hold back in her criticism.
Meng Chu remained silent.
Seeing this, Song Yumian across the table quickly said, “Forget it, let’s not talk about her. What a piece of work.”
But even as she spoke, Song Yumian couldn’t resist scrolling through Xiao Yixin’s social media.
The more she scrolled, the angrier she got.
Because Xiao Yixin’s social media was truly the daily life of a wealthy heiress-constantly posting about gatherings with her clique of girlfriends, all dressed exquisitely with hot figures, or unboxing new luxury purchases.
Today it was a Dior dress, tomorrow a Chanel bag.
“And there’s a whole crowd of people kissing up to her in the comments. Do they even know her mom was the other woman who stole someone else’s husband?”
Song Yumian claimed she wouldn’t scroll anymore but still couldn’t help complaining.
Meng Chu suddenly laughed.
“Alright, don’t work yourself up over it.”
“But she’s clearly an empty-headed airhead,” Song Yumian scoffed.
“She’s not even a pretty vase—at least those are beautiful. Her face has no natural beauty, just artificial enhancements.”
Today, Song Yumian was firing on all cylinders.
Meng Chu didn’t hold back either—after all, she despised Xiao Yixin just as much.
“Honestly, you’re just too independent and strong-willed. Your dad’s money is right there for the taking—why not use it?”
Song Yumian sighed.
Meng Chu smirked lightly.
“And then I’d have to obey his every word.”
Song Yumian thought about it and realized she had a point.
“But your dad definitely favors you. Remember that J University senior? When he had a good candidate, didn’t he immediately think of you?”
Meng Chu had eventually told Song Yumian about her awkward blind date incident.
Meng Chu let out another low scoff.
“Well, I’m truly grateful to him for that.”
“Never mind, let’s not talk about such depressing things. It’s my fault for bringing it up,” Song Yumian apologized.
Just then, the server brought over the charcoal grill and the dishes they had ordered.
“Let’s eat meat, happy meat-eating!”
Song Yumian said cheerfully.
The two chatted as they ate, with the server helping them grill.
When they were almost done, Song Yumian started scrolling through her phone again and suddenly exclaimed, “Wow, I just saw that super handsome guy again. Every time I see him, I feel like life is so unfair-he got all the best genes.”
Meng Chu looked up to see Song Yumian holding her phone right in front of her.
She stared blankly at the man in the video, dressed simply in a white shirt and trousers-yet he made even that basic outfit look like high fashion.
Despite the crowd around him, he was undeniably the visual focal point.
“Meng Chu, isn’t your company always raising funds? Have you ever met Cheng Jinyu?”
Song Yumian asked curiously.
Meng Chu opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.
“If you haven’t met him yet, you might in the future. After all, you’re now President Meng,” Song Yumian added, assuming her silence meant she hadn’t.
Meng Chu: “I’m nowhere near his level.”
Song Yumian declared confidently, “At the very least, there’s one thing you’re not worse at.”
“Huh?”
Meng Chu was stunned.
Song Yumian grinned.
“At the very least, your looks are on par with his.”
“We’re of different genders,” Meng Chu laughed.
Song Yumian: “Why can’t they be compared? You’re the top-tier beauty among women, and he’s the top-tier handsome man among men.”
As she spoke, Song Yumian glanced between the video and Meng Chu.
“Honestly, I really think you two would make a great pair,” Song Yumian grew more excited.
“The only thing missing now is for actually meet.”
Meng Chu: “……”
“If you really find a boyfriend like that, I’d love to see the look on Xiao Yixin’s face—it’d be hilarious.”
Song Yumian couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction the more she thought about it.
Meng Chu blinked, completely at a loss for words.
But after laughing, Song Yumian suddenly sighed.
“Oh no, I forgot you already have someone you’re seeing.”
She tapped the screen lightly.
“Handsome, you’re destined to have no chance with my dear Chuchu.”
*
After finishing dinner with Song Yumian, she followed Meng Chu back home.
She still slept in her old room since Meng Chu wasn’t used to sharing an apartment with others, so she had rented the place alone.
It was almost midnight when she habitually turned off the lights and got into bed.
Though drowsy, she lay quietly staring at the ceiling.
Then, realization struck, and she froze.
No. What was she still waiting for?
When Meng Chu realized she was actually anticipating his WeChat message, she nearly jolted awake from the shock.
It was just force of habit!
That had to be it. How ridiculous.
She specialized in robotics-program a robot with specific algorithms, and it would function exactly as humans desired.
She was just being controlled by habit, that was all.
Sleep. Go to sleep.
Meng Chu pulled the blanket over herself and forced her eyes shut.
But just as she was trying to will herself to sleep, her phone on the nightstand vibrated.
It might not necessarily be Cheng Jinyu, but her heart still skipped a beat.
When she picked it up, she saw the familiar name.
In the darkness, the corners of her lips curled slightly.
Opening her phone, she saw his message.
Cheng Jinyu: [What I wanted to say tonight is]
Cheng Jinyu: [Goodnight.]
Meng Chu chuckled softly and leisurely replied: [Goodnight.]
She thought the exchange would end there after their mutual goodnights.
But unexpectedly, another voice message came through.
When Meng Chu played it, she heard Cheng Jinyu’s cool voice tinged with a hint of huskiness-different from the grogginess when she’d woken him with a late-night call.
This time, it carried a faintly intoxicated warmth.
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