Chapter 83:
What surprised her even more was that she had only heard of this brand’s paint in books; it was purified from Afghanistan mining areas, handmade, with pure colors and excellent lightfastness.
She looked up at the man beside her, “When did you buy it?”
Pei Yuzhou looked into her clear eyes, “Brought it back from a business trip.”
Meng Shuyou’s lips curved up, “Thank you, Mister Pei.”
She went upstairs hugging the box like a treasure.
–
“The Frick Collection” is an old money style museum, with a collection mainly of European masters’ oil paintings.
Meng Shuyou took some free time to visit; it was like the upper class of the early 20th century, with furniture and furnishings all exuding a low-key wealth vibe.
As long as there was an artistic atmosphere, she could stay there for a long time.
Quiet and peaceful, with no one to disturb.
She killed two hours until five in the afternoon.
Pei Yuzhou called, asking where she was.
Meng Shuyou walked slowly down the street, “I just came out of the museum.”
He said: “I’ve booked a restaurant. Come here for dinner; I’ll have the driver pick you up.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Meng Shuyou found a coffee shop roadside and sat down to wait.
Twenty minutes later the driver arrived and took her to the restaurant.
The private room had more than just Pei Yuzhou; Zhao Hesong was there too—they had just come from the stock exchange after discussing business.
Zhao Hesong complained, “Arthur Group’s stock price has been continuously falling lately. Instead of sticking to the smooth path they have, they insist on dipping a toe into the medical field.”
Half of America’s medical market is dominated by Hels Group, with the market ecology tending toward balance; it’s next to impossible for others to enter and get a piece of the pie.
Pei Yuzhou didn’t take it to heart, “Greed knows no bounds—like a snake swallowing an elephant; backlash is the inevitable result.”
Zhao Hesong took a sip of tea, “Arthur offended you before and got shipped off to Russia by his dad to lay low, but he didn’t settle down there either—doing business with the mafia, really tempting fate.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Meng Shuyou pushed open the door and was surprised to see Zhao Hesong there too, “Mister Zhao.”
“Miss Meng, it’s been a while.” Zhao Hesong propped his elbow on the table, “There’s something I want to ask you to help with.”
Meng Shuyou walked around and sat down on the seat to Pei Yuzhou’s left, “What can I help you with?”
Zhao Hesong’s tone was slightly helpless, “Winnie and I have a bit of a misunderstanding; she’s blocked me on WeChat, and I can’t reach her now.”
“Misunderstanding?” Meng Shuyou hadn’t heard Winnie mention this.
Zhao Hesong got to the point: “Please help me explain to her that the woman who answered my phone was just a secretary, nothing to do with me—get her to unblock me from the blacklist.”
Meng Shuyou nodded, “I’ll pass it on to her, but as for anything else, I probably can’t help you.”
Whatever Winnie decided to do, she couldn’t interfere.
Pei Yuzhou glanced at the man across from him, “Handle your own mess; don’t make her pass messages for you.”
Zhao Hesong laughed in exasperation, “Brother Zhou, with those words, you’ve got a woman and now you’re ditching your brothers? So obvious about favoring her over friends?”
Pei Yuzhou didn’t refute.
His meaning was clearly: If you don’t like it, suck it up.
Zhao Hesong gave himself a way out, “Forget it; anyway, I’ll be heading back to the country in a few days.”
He changed the subject, “Miss Meng, do you know about Zhao Yunrui breaking off his engagement with Meng Yan?”
Meng Shuyou was immediately surprised, “No.”
Zhao Hesong raised a brow, “It hasn’t been announced publicly yet; I only found out the day before yesterday.”
Several of Meng Family’s projects have run into problems, with fund turnover issues; Zhao Yunrui keeps causing trouble every few days, making a fuss about not wanting to live with Meng Yan. Zhao Family weighed the pros and cons and also wants to call off this marriage, but they’re short one legitimate reason, or else they’d get a reputation for being ungrateful and unrighteous.
In the face of benefits, any relationship is meaningless.
Meng Shuyou was quite keen to watch this breaking off engagement drama; Meng Yan had been so high-profile before, flaunting it everywhere—once it’s called off, it’d be her slapping her own face, turning into a joke in the social circle. Someone so face-conscious as her would probably have no face to show herself.
Zhao Hesong was also in spectator mode; he couldn’t be bothered with Zhao Yunrui’s affairs—his dad doted on that son anyway and would clean up the mess.
–
That evening back home, Meng Shuyou sent Winnie a WeChat message: “Winnie, I heard you blocked Mister Zhao.”
Winnie: “How did you know? Did he ask you to put in a good word?”
Meng Shuyou: “He said to help explain that the one who answered his phone was just a secretary.”
Winnie: “Which secretary stays with the boss at midnight? Treating me like a three-year-old—men never tell the truth.”
Feelings are a matter between two people; Meng Shuyou wasn’t involved, so naturally she wouldn’t meddle.
Winnie: “Don’t talk about him. Are you heading back to the country tomorrow?”
Meng Shuyou: “Yeah.”
Winnie: “Great! I’ll come to Bin City to hang out with you then!”
Meng Shuyou: “Okay.”
After chatting, she put down her mobile phone and continued packing her luggage; she didn’t plan to bring too many things—just staying back for a little over a week before school starts.
A row of new clothes in the wardrobe, enough to wear different ones every day without repeating.
She picked a few sets of loose comfortable casual outfits and dresses, folded them neatly, and put them into the storage bag.
The door was pushed open from outside.
Pei Yuzhou walked in, “Done packing?”
Meng Shuyou crouched on the ground and looked up, “Almost.”
Pei Yuzhou sat down on the sofa, legs crossed, one arm casually draped over the backrest, his posture as always languid, “When we go back, you won’t make me lose track of you, right?”
Meng Shuyou silently zipped up the inner compartment, “No, my mobile phone isn’t turned off.”
“Last time I called several times and you didn’t pick up.” His question was casual.
“I set it to silent while sleeping and forgot to change it back.” Meng Shuyou explained softly, “Not on purpose.”
Pei Yuzhou uncrossed his legs, “Come here.”
Meng Shuyou paused, met his gaze, her earlobes inexplicably heating up.
They both knew without saying.
She lightly pressed her lips, stood up, and walked over.
Pei Yuzhou had her straddle the base of his thighs, his arm firmly encircling her waist.
Bodies close, the fine pecking kisses accompanied by breaths echoed beside her ear.
Fingertips slid up from her lower back, deftly unfastening the inner clasp.
Meng Shuyou’s heart skipped a few beats in his hands.
Pei Yuzhou kissed her earlobe, “Where’s the stuff you bought? Bring it over to try.”
Meng Shuyou’s thoughts lagged for a moment before she suddenly remembered—the things Mia sent her, which she hadn’t used yet, “…Let go of me first.”
Pei Yuzhou withdrew his hand.
Meng Shuyou got off his lap, adjusted her collar, and went to the wardrobe to find that box of express delivery.
She picked the basic style box by the packaging, her fingertips burning, and returned to Pei Yuzhou’s side.
He tore it open directly; the “rustling” sounds amplified endlessly in the quiet environment.
Meng Shuyou didn’t dare look, her lashes trembling, palms sweaty.
Veins bulged on Pei Yuzhou’s arm, his brow twitching lightly, his voice restrained, “How did you buy this? Didn’t know it was too small?”
Meng Shuyou opened her eyes, full of innocence, “I didn’t know…”
This was already the largest size.
Pei Yuzhou tossed the box aside, cupped her buttocks, and carried her back to the master bedroom.
