Chapter 10: Pretending Not To Know Each Other
A low-key business car was parked across from the bar.
The car window rolled down, revealing half of the man’s dignified face, his profile blending into the neon night, showing no emotion.
Two bodyguards were pressing a person to kneel in front of him.
Meng Shuyou didn’t know how that person had offended Pei Yuzhou to make him deploy private bodyguards who were armed.
In a daze, the person in the car suddenly looked over, meeting her gaze.
Their eyes met across the dim street.
His gaze was deep and sharp, piercing straight to the heart.
Meng Shuyou felt as if she had been scalded and quickly lowered her eyes to avoid first.
She remembered what he had said last time; better to pretend not to know him from now on.
Pei Yuzhou probably disliked her a lot.
Meng Shuyou turned and entered the bar, her ankle badly swollen, making her walk slightly unnatural.
The atmosphere inside had returned to normal, with everyone continuing to party.
Winnie and Mia were both at the booth.
Meng Shuyou dragged her steps over and asked with concern, “Are you two okay?”
Winnie’s cheeks were flushed from drinking and she shook her head, “I’m fine.”
“We just went to the bathroom, and when we came out, we heard the boss say someone was treating everyone, free drinks for the whole bar.” Mia sighed, “How could we be so lucky.”
Meng Shuyou sat down, placing her mobile phone on the table.
Winnie’s eyes were blurry from drunkenness as she noticed the several cracks on her screen, “Did you change your phone screen saver? It’s pretty realistic.”
Meng Shuyou: “……It really got smashed.”
–
Mark returned from handling things at the bar.
Pei Yuzhou rested his elbow on the car window, took a puff of his cigar, and slowly exhaled the smoke, “Why is she here?”
It was obvious who this ‘she’ referred to.
“You mean Miss Meng?” Mark reported truthfully: “She was partying at the bar with friends and got frightened earlier, twisting her ankle too.”
Pei Yuzhou’s voice was cool, “Where did you see that she was frightened?”
Racing on the mountain track, drinking at nightclubs—her courage was not small at all.
He stubbed out the cigar and tossed it into the ashtray, “Drive.”
The driver nodded into the rearview mirror and started the engine.
“Mister, how should we handle the person?” Mark asked.
He had tried to steal core technology from the Group’s pharmaceutical research and development, thinking he could take the money and flee abroad—too naive.
Deception and disloyalty were the Mister’s greatest taboos.
The Herschel Family’s influence spanned America.
As long as the Mister didn’t let him go, he couldn’t escape.
Pei Yuzhou’s gaze was icy cold, “Lock him up first; he’ll be useful later.”
–
With her foot injured, Meng Shuyou was stuck in the dormitory those two days and couldn’t go anywhere.
She lay on the bed, looking at the suit jacket hanging on the rack opposite, and couldn’t help thinking of that man again.
They had only met a few times, yet the impression was profound.
That face must have captured countless hearts, and his status made people flock to him.
But he was aloof and cold, completely out of reach.
Sometimes gentlemanly, sometimes indifferent, all depending on his mood—others couldn’t guess his thoughts.
Meng Shuyou got up from the bed, hopped over on one foot, and hung the jacket in the wardrobe.
Out of sight, out of mind.
She closed the wardrobe door, returned to the bedside, picked up her mobile phone, and called her older sister’s caregiver.
At this time, it was around nine at night domestic.
The call connected after ringing for more than ten seconds.
“Aunt Xue, how has my older sister been lately?” Meng Shuyou asked.
There was a sigh, and she told the truth, “Not great. Yesterday she refused the nurse’s injection, ran out on her own, almost fell down the stairs—luckily nothing happened, just got a fright.”
Meng Shuyou’s heart tightened, “Aunt Xue, please take care of my older sister and worry more for her.”
Aunt Xue agreed, “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. You abroad also need to take care of yourself.”
“Yeah, I know.” Meng Shuyou’s voice was nasal, “Is she asleep now?”
“Not yet. Do you want to video call with her?” Aunt Xue knew she missed her older sister.
Meng Shuyou nodded, “Yeah.”
The call ended, switching to video.
Aunt Xue held the mobile phone in front of Shu Man, “Xiao Man, look who this is.”
The person on the bed showed no reaction, hugging a plush bear and amusing herself.
Meng Shuyou’s eyes grew wet, emotion surging in her throat, “Older Sister, it’s Yaoyao.”
Hearing her voice, Shu Man slowly looked up at the phone screen, smiled at her, then lowered her head to play again, mostly immersed in her own world.
Meng Shuyou held back the sourness and urged her, “Older Sister, cooperate well with the doctor’s treatment, and you’ll definitely get better.”
These words were more like comforting herself—maybe a miracle would happen.
Four years ago, Shu Man was in a car accident with severe brain injury; after surgery she became vegetative, lying in bed for half a year. When she woke, she recognized no one, feared strangers, and was unwilling to communicate with people.
The doctor said it was due to brain nerve damage, with very slim chances of recovery.
“Yaoyao, will you come back for summer vacation?” Aunt Xue asked.
Meng Shuyou pulled back her thoughts, “I don’t know yet, might find a job internship here.”
Even if she went back, Meng Zhenhua might not let her visit her older sister at the hospital.
“Internship is good too, getting early exposure to society and gaining experience.” Aunt Xue said, “I’ll take care of Xiao Man here, don’t worry too much—your studies come first.”
Meng Shuyou was very grateful, “Thank you, Aunt Xue.”
“No need to thank me, it’s what I should do.” Aunt Xue checked the time, “It’s late, Xiao Man needs to sleep soon. Talk next time.”
“Okay.”
Just after hanging up, before Meng Shuyou could put down her mobile phone, another call came in.
From Meng Yan.
What did she want this time?
The two of them had never gotten along; even at home before, they didn’t see eye to eye and spoke with barbs.
When she had just joined the Meng Family, Meng Shuyou had been bullied by her quite a bit.
The ringtone went on for a while, connecting just before it auto-hung.
“Thought you wouldn’t pick up.” Meng Yan chuckled lowly.
“Something wrong?”
“Meng Shuyou, you know I’m getting married soon, right?”
“So?”
“You’re my younger sister, shouldn’t I notify you?”
Meng Shuyou didn’t want to waste time with her, “Nothing else? I’m hanging up.”
“Wait.” Meng Yan stopped her, “Of course there’s another piece of good news to share with you.”
Meng Shuyou didn’t think anything good could come out of her mouth.
Meng Yan curled her lips, “I’m only three years older than you. After my marriage is done, it’ll naturally be your turn—doesn’t that count as good news?”
Meng Shuyou’s fingertips tightened, her knuckles slightly paling.
“Dad and Aunt are already picking marriage prospects for you. You know the young master from the Xu Family, right? Young and promising, took over the family business at thirty, decent looks, good build—matches you perfectly no matter how you look.” Meng Yan took a sip of red wine, her brows relaxing, “Meng Shuyou, if you marry over, the good fortune is just beginning.”
That Xu guy—his sexual orientation wasn’t a secret in the circle; everyone knew but didn’t dare discuss openly due to the Xu Family’s status.
Marrying into the Xu Family meant being a beard wife, reduced to a tool for bearing children.
Meng Shuyou gripped her mobile phone tightly, “My matters don’t need your worry. Use that time to mind yourself—heard your fiancé met his ex-girlfriend behind your back.”
“You—”
Without waiting for Meng Yan to say more, she hung up.
She tossed the mobile phone aside.
Meng Shuyou’s eyes dulled, lying on the bed staring at the ceiling, the light blurring her pupils.
