Chapter 14: Is Mister Pei In Chicago Lately
After the holiday, she returned to a busy academic life.
The professor assigned several pieces of homework, some group projects and some individual ones.
Meng Shuyou spent her spare time either in the art studio or the library, occasionally going out to find inspiration, but most of the time she stayed with a pile of paint and drawing board.
Winnie was more zen-like, her requirement for herself was just to pass, but when it came to group grades, she couldn’t drag them down either.
Mia was not in the same major as the two of them, so her courses weren’t as packed.
One afternoon, she came to audit a class.
Meng Shuyou was surprised, “Why are you here?”
Mia sat in the empty seat to her left, “I’m bored, so I came to keep you company in class.”
Winnie smiled and asked, “Did you have insomnia and come to catch up on sleep?”
After all, the art theory class was the easiest to induce hypnosis.
“No way.” Mia pouted, “You two are so busy, if I don’t come, I won’t even get to see you.”
Winnie saw the express box in her arms, “What did you buy?”
Mia smiled mysteriously, “Ex-partner blind box.”
“Ex-partner blind box?” Meng Shuyou had never heard of it before.
“It’s when a relationship ends and you don’t want to keep the things your ex gave you, so you put them in a blind box and resell to others.” Mia explained, “I saw online that someone unboxed designer sunglasses and jewelry, I got curious and followed the trend to buy one. The seller guaranteed it had designer items inside.”
Winnie got interested too, “Then hurry up and open it to see.”
“Okay.”
Class hadn’t started yet.
Mia used a key to cut open the express box.
There were quite a few things inside, and she took them out one by one and placed them on the table.
A keychain, a doll ornament, a crystal bracelet, a new lip gloss, and a used eyeshadow palette…
“That’s it?” Mia was dumbfounded, unable not to complain, “No wonder they broke up, too stingy, right?”
Winnie looked closely, “So the designer stuff refers to this death Barbie pink Chanel lip gloss and the tin eyeshadow palette?”
“…”
That hit hard.
Meng Shuyou asked, “How much did it cost?”
Mia looked ashen, “Six hundred sixty-six.”
Meng Shuyou couldn’t help teasing, “When you’re old, I’m going to sell you insurance.”
“Cleared out the trash at home and still made six hundred sixty-six, awesome!” Winnie saw a business opportunity, “I’ll go back and see if there’s anything left from my ex, I want to make some money too.”
Mia’s expression was indescribable, “Do I look like an idiot?”
Winnie delivered a precise stab, “Add two more words: stupid and rich.”
Mia covered her face and wailed.
“Looks like you’re not easily fooled by feelings, but easily fooled by money.” Meng Shuyou comforted her, “It’s okay, just restrain your curiosity from now on.”
Winnie saw something on the floor, and reminded her, “Mia, there’s a small box by your foot, maybe it’s valuable.”
A glimmer of hope returned to Mia’s eyes, and she bent down to pick it up.
When she saw the words on it: ultra-thin ultra-smooth…
All three of them were stunned.
Who puts this kind of thing in there?
Mia saw the size marked at the bottom, “And it’s the smallest size.”
Winnie held back her laughter until her face turned red.
Just then the class bell rang, and the instructor walked in from the back door.
Mia quickly stuffed the small box into Meng Shuyou’s bag, “Hold it for me first.”
–
After two busy weeks, once the group homework was submitted, they finally had some free time.
Winnie flipped through the calendar in the dormitory counting down, “44 days until summer break, soon I can go back home.”
Summer break in America is quite long, three months, but winter break is only two weeks.
“Yaoyao, let’s buy flight tickets to go back together then.”
Meng Shuyou leaned against the desk, holding milk tea and taking a sip, “I might not go back, I may find an internship here.”
Winnie was surprised, “Ah, such a long summer break and you’re not going back?”
Meng Shuyou wasn’t sure yet, “Depends on the situation.”
If Meng Zhenhua didn’t stop her from seeing her older sister, she would go back, but she wouldn’t stay too long.
She planned to find an internship at an art gallery, working while improving herself.
The professor had once said she lacked experience, and her portrayal of characters’ expressions was relatively superficial; that was her weak point.
Her mobile phone suddenly rang, and Meng Shuyou looked down.
It was a telephone call from Meng Zhenhua.
It had been over a month since she last received his call; what was it this time?
She didn’t answer right away, “Winnie, I’m heading back first.”
Winnie nodded, “Okay, thanks for bringing me milk tea.”
After leaving the dormitory, her phone was still ringing.
Meng Shuyou pressed to answer and held it to her ear.
“Yaoyao, class over?” Meng Zhenhua asked from the other end.
It had been a long time since she heard his voice so calm and gentle; Meng Shuyou wasn’t used to it for a moment, “Mm.”
“I’m on a business trip in America and came to see you.” Meng Zhenhua said, “Almost at your school, let’s have dinner together later.”
Meng Shuyou’s eyes darkened, her voice calm, “Okay, got it.”
Half an hour later.
Meng Zhenhua had reserved two seats at a western restaurant near the school.
Meng Shuyou sat properly across from him.
While waiting for the food, Meng Zhenhua asked, “How have your studies been lately?”
This tone had a bit of a kind father’s vibe.
Unfortunately, Meng Shuyou knew very well he wasn’t that kind of person.
“Lots of courses and homework.”
Meng Zhenhua reminded her, “Take care to balance work and rest.”
Meng Shuyou felt awkward hearing it, feeling no concern at all, but she responded impassively, “I will, Dad.”
“When does summer break start?”
“End of May.”
“Come back early once break starts.”
“I want to stay here for an internship over summer.”
Meng Zhenhua disagreed, “Interning back home is the same, whichever company you want to join, I can pull strings for you, much easier than finding one yourself.”
He continued, “Besides, don’t you want to spend more time with your older sister?”
Meng Shuyou lowered her eyes and said softly, “I’ll find time to go back and see my older sister, but I still want to intern here…”
Meng Zhenhua interrupted her, tone leaving no room for discussion, “If you want to intern, you can only do it back home. Buy a flight ticket and come back right after final exams.”
Meng Shuyou fell silent.
She could guess it roughly: Meng Zhenhua wanted her to go back and meet the one from the Xu family to push forward this marriage alliance.
“What happened before is in the past, I did it for this family too, Dad hopes you understand.” he said, “As long as you’re sensible and obedient, after graduation I can open an art studio for you, let you do what you want.”
Meng Shuyou’s hands on her knees clenched, fingertips twisting together.
Sacrificing marital freedom was called doing what she wanted.
This meal was utterly tasteless.
She barely ate anything and had no appetite.
After leaving the restaurant, Meng Zhenhua got in the car to go back to the hotel, and Meng Shuyou returned to the dormitory alone.
She was so tired, took a shower and lay on the bed, resting the back of her hand over her eyes, letting her thoughts wander.
She couldn’t go back for summer break and had to find a way to stay here.
It had been a long time since any news from Mister Pei.
Meng Shuyou opened her eyes, picked up her mobile phone, found Mark’s contact, and sent him a message: “Is Mister Pei in Chicago recently?”
