Chapter 32: Won’t Disturb Him Anymore
Ellen was quite surprised, “You know Mister Kerwin too?”
Meng Shuyou said vaguely, “I’ve heard of him.”
Ellen didn’t press further, “Mister Kerwin’s maternal grandfather really likes Miss Jenny. She might become Mister Kerwin’s fiancée soon. The two families are old family friends, and the marriage alliance is just a matter of time.”
Meng Shuyou froze for a moment.
A certain string in her mind tightened.
Marriage alliance, was he going to enter one too.
Everything she had done was ultimately in vain.
An indescribable sourness surged in her chest.
The mobile phone ringtone interrupted her thoughts.
Meng Shuyou barely came back to her senses and saw the caller ID, “My friend is looking for me, I’ll head back first.”
“Mm.” Ellen said, “I hope you’ll seriously consider my proposal.”
–
The first performance had already ended.
Twenty-minute intermission.
Meng Shuyou returned to her seat.
Winnie sighed regretfully, “Yaoyao, why did you come back so late? You missed all the exciting parts.”
“I was outside getting some fresh air.”
The indoor lights were dim, masking the subtle expression on Meng Shuyou’s face.
There were still two more performances to go.
Mia and Winnie watched intently, but only Meng Shuyou was distracted, frequently lost in thought.
At nine-thirty, the show ended.
They didn’t plan to stay out too late and prepared to head back to school.
As they went downstairs, Mia and Winnie were still discussing the dance drama from earlier.
“The dancing and plot were good, but the props were a bit subpar.”
“Exactly, I was almost moved to tears, but then the prop knife fell from her chest, turning it instantly into a comedy.”
Meng Shuyou hadn’t spoken at all, and Winnie noticed something was off, “Yaoyao, why haven’t you said a word all evening?”
Mia asked, “You don’t like watching stage plays?”
Meng Shuyou moved her lips, “I…”
Just as she spoke, Winnie suddenly grabbed her arm, “Hey, isn’t that Mister Pei?”
Meng Shuyou looked up.
Ahead in her view, a tall and noble figure stood at the hall doorway. Under the soft lights, he appeared even more aloof and distant.
“It really is him, what a coincidence.” Mia squinted and smiled, “Yaoyao, your opportunity has come.”
Before Meng Shuyou could say anything, Winnie had already raised her voice to greet him first, “Good evening, Mister Pei.”
Pei Yuzhou turned his head at the sound.
Meng Shuyou lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes, and walked over with gritted teeth.
Winnie’s eyes darted around, and she reached out to link arms with Mia, “Um, we have to rush to the next show, so we’ll head out first. You chat with Mister Pei.”
Meng Shuyou was stunned, watching the two of them slip away quickly.
They never ran that fast usually.
The atmosphere fell silent.
If it were before, Meng Shuyou would have tried every way to find a topic to chat with him about, but now, she didn’t want to speak at all.
Fortunately, his driver arrived.
The Cullinan pulled up under the porch, and the car door opened.
Pei Yuzhou held his suit jacket in hand, his tone very flat, “Shall I send you back to school?”
Meng Shuyou shook her head lightly, “No need, I can take a taxi myself.”
Last time he said to stay away from him.
From now on, she wouldn’t disturb him anymore.
After a moment of silence, she spoke again: “Mister Pei, thank you for helping me so much before. I don’t seem to have anything to repay you with.”
The man frowned slightly and looked down at her.
“Mister Kerwin.”
A soft female voice interjected, accompanied by the crisp sound of high heels.
Meng Shuyou glanced back and said goodbye to Pei Yuzhou, “I’ll go first, goodbye, Mister Pei.”
With that, she hurried down the steps to hail a taxi at the roadside.
Jenny walked toward the doorway, “Mister Kerwin, could I hitch a ride with you?”
Pei Yuzhou’s expression was indifferent, “Not on the way.”
Jenny said considerately, “It’s fine, just drop me off at whichever hotel is on your route.”
He said directly: “I have something to do. Ask the club staff to send you.”
Jenny’s expression froze as she watched him get in the car and leave.
His figure disappeared from view.
He was too aloof; there was no opportunity to approach and get to know him.
Old Mister Michael told them to cultivate feelings, but Mister Kerwin just handed her off to the assistant.
If it were any other man, she wouldn’t bother with him anymore.
But he was Kerwin, not an ordinary man. His family background, looks, and abilities were all too outstanding—mature and steady, elegant and powerful, with masculine charm embodied in him.
He started his business at 24, seized the opportunity, became Wall Street’s best trader, created hundreds of millions in profits, and later, when the family business faced a financial crisis, he turned the situation around, winning over the executives and smoothly taking control.
There probably wasn’t another man in the world as excellent as him; he had every right to be arrogant.
Moreover, unlike other young masters who had women on both arms and countless around them, he didn’t.
A man like this was perfect enough to make one’s heart race just by approaching.
Compared to him, Jenny found it hard to fancy other men.
She just didn’t know what kind of girls he liked.
–
Meng Shuyou hailed a taxi at the roadside to go back to school.
She leaned against the car window, streetlights flashing across the glass, shadows crossing sensitively over her face.
Her mind was a mess, filled with all sorts of voices in her ears; she didn’t know what was the right thing to do.
She didn’t dare hope for the future.
She didn’t want to get married, didn’t want to marry anyone, didn’t want to pin her fate on a man.
Sometimes she thought, if only life were like program code—one click to clear and restart.
If Mother were still around, Older Sister healthy, and she hadn’t returned to the Meng Family, living an ordinary life, it would surely be very happy.
At ten, she returned to the dormitory.
Meng Shuyou took a shower and called Aunt Xue on video.
It connected quickly, “Yaoyao, it’s evening there, right? Haven’t slept yet?”
“I’m not sleepy yet.” Meng Shuyou hugged a pillow and lay on the bed, “How is Older Sister?”
Aunt Xue sat next to Shu Man, bringing her into view, “Her condition has been very stable lately; she eats properly every day.”
Meng Shuyou’s lips curved slightly, “That’s good.”
Shu Man looked at the screen and proactively reached out to take the mobile phone to examine it.
Aunt Xue smiled, “Alright, you two sisters chat. I’ll clean up the dishes; we just finished lunch.”
The camera was suddenly obscured by something, turning pitch black with nothing visible.
Meng Shuyou knew Shu Man ignored people, but still spoke to her earnestly: “Older Sister, I can’t come back to see you lately. You have to listen to Aunt Xue, don’t run out alone—it’s very dangerous outside.”
“If you really want to go out, make sure Aunt Xue goes with you.”
“You have to be well. You’re all I have left.”
Shu Man held up the mobile phone, staring at Meng Shuyou on the screen for a long time, then haltingly spoke: “You… not… happy…”
Meng Shuyou was delighted, “You’re finally willing to speak!”
Shu Man wasn’t unable to speak; it was just that after so long without talking, her language system had deteriorated, with very limited vocabulary.
Meng Shuyou’s nose stung, her voice hoarse, “I’m not unhappy. I’m very happy that Older Sister is talking to me. It’s been so long since I heard your voice.”
But Shu Man said that one sentence and wouldn’t speak again.
Meng Shuyou was already very satisfied; at least she was starting to communicate with people.
Take it slow, it would get better and better.
