The topic of settling their debts, which neither owed the other, was still brought up by Ming You. Yan Ningxi felt a sense of embarrassment from having the tables turned on her. The more she wanted to even things out financially with Ming You, the more she seemed destined to run into mishaps that tangled them up inextricably.
Seeing Yan Ningxi’s difficulty, Ming You added, “The phone fell because I didn’t hold it steady. It’s entirely my fault, and it has nothing to do with Sister Yan. If Sister Yan feels bad about it, she can act as my advisor and help me figure out which brand of phone would be the most practical. I know very little about this stuff, and I can’t stand the salespeople’s pitches. Help me pick one, and I’ll buy it right away. Tonight, when I get home, I’ll research the info and send it over.”
Yan Ningxi neither agreed nor refused.
Ming You took this as tacit approval. She rarely met someone who spoke even fewer words than she did. Yan Ningxi’s parsimony with words rivaled her own back in high school.
“Will it trouble you?”
“No.” Yan Ningxi’s own phone had been in use for nearly two years, but it wasn’t long ago that she had last looked into phones.
“That’s good.”
Ming You took a sip of lemon water, lowered her head, and turned the glass while pondering how to win Yan Ningxi’s trust. A moment later, she looked up at her. “The angry words I said to you in the apartment that day—I want to say them again calmly.”
“No one is perfect. We all have flaws and strengths. I’m very sorry that, since we met, it seems like only my flaws have been exposed to you. And I’m sorry for unintentionally venting my negative emotions on you. Though it might sound unreasonable, these are my true feelings.”
“Sister Yan, every time you’re by my side, you make me feel very safe.”
“If calling it a ‘sense of safety’ sounds exaggerated, then it could also be the chain reaction brought by ‘liking’ you. Has Sister Yan heard of the ‘first impression’ effect?”
The first impression effect. Yan Ningxi knew more about it than Ming You did.
But it was Ming You who had enlightened her.
“I’ve heard of it.”
Ming You smiled. “Meeting you that night was my good fortune. I really don’t dare imagine how much regret I’d feel now if the person who took me to the hotel hadn’t been you.”
The server arrived with the food, bringing Ming You’s impromptu confession to an end. For someone who had studied broadcasting, this was no big deal.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
The food at this restaurant looked great and tasted even better, exceeding Ming You’s expectations. During the meal, the two of them only exchanged a few words, mostly related to the food.
After the meal, Yan Ningxi took the chance during a bathroom break to go to the front desk and prepare to pay, only to be told that her friend had already paid online.
She had seen the total bill when they ordered, and from various signs, it was clear that Ming You came from a well-off family with no real sense of money in daily spending.
But she was different.
Since starting university, every expense and every bit of income had to be calculated meticulously just to keep her life from being too destitute, to allow her to stand brightly in front of others during the day.
She wasn’t rich, nor poor, and she certainly didn’t owe Ming You anything. So what was there to argue about with this spoiled, carefree post-00s rich girl who had plenty of money?
Having thought this through, Yan Ningxi let go of her fixation and returned to the seat. “Let’s go to the first floor.”
…
They left the restaurant and took the escalator down to the mall’s first floor. In the middle was a large ocean ball play area that seemed newly set up, with several people in cartoon costumes handing out discount coupons to passersby.
“Ming You.” As they passed the play area, a woman called out to Ming You.
The woman wore a red dress with a light knitted cardigan draped over it, carrying a designer bag with a flashy logo, and sporting a gaudy diamond ring and gold bracelet.
“It’s really you.” Seeing Ming You look her way, the woman quickened her pace in her nearly ten-centimeter white high heels. “What a coincidence—you’re shopping too? With a classmate or a friend? It’s rare to have a long holiday off, so how come you came back to Huai’an without stopping by the house? Zi Huan is about to forget he even has a sister.”
Ming You’s expression changed abruptly, alarms blaring in her mind as she bristled all over and shot back, “If your brain doesn’t work right, go to the hospital.”
This woman in her early thirties who had appeared out of nowhere was Chen Rui, the current wife of Ming You’s father, Ming Tai.
Having her son darkly mocked as brainless by Ming You, Chen Rui instantly flew into a rage. “Is using vicious words to curse your own little brother what you call proper upbringing?”
“Upbringing?” Ming You sneered. “Whether I have any upbringing or not, this isn’t the first time you’ve experienced it. Chen Rui, I advise you: if you don’t want to humiliate yourself, stay as far away from me as possible when you see me. Don’t come provoke me. I have nothing to say to you.”
The first time Ming You met Chen Rui years ago, she had thought her face looked sharp and mean.
Later interactions confirmed it: Chen Rui wasn’t just sharp and mean in appearance—her behavior was equally so. The classic type who wouldn’t let go even when in the right, a top performer among shrews.
Especially in situations involving her, Chen Rui turned into a battle-hardened fighting cock, pecking relentlessly at her with no room in her eyes for anyone else.
Ming You was utterly fed up with her. She grabbed Yan Ningxi’s hand, intending to skirt around this woman she couldn’t stand the sight of.
This casual action made Yan Ningxi’s cool fingertips tremble slightly.
The girl had already made physical contact with her before, so the mental resistance wasn’t strong, but actually holding hands palm-to-palm was a first, leaving Yan Ningxi somewhat at a loss.
She let Ming You hold her right hand. To cover her unease, Yan Ningxi raised her left hand to check her phone screen. Just then, a new message notification appeared from “Teacher He.”
But before she could open it, the screen went dark again.
Faced with such rude treatment from the younger generation, Chen Rui couldn’t save face. She stepped forward to block Ming You’s path, arms crossed as she spat harsh words. “Fine, if you’re going to say such ugly things in front of your friend, don’t blame me for not leaving you any dignity. Your dad transferred a not-insignificant sum from his personal account in June—was it for you?”
Yan Ningxi felt uncomfortable under the strange woman’s scrutiny.
From the brief exchange, she had roughly pieced together the woman’s relationship with Ming You. As an outsider, she didn’t want to butt in while they were at each other’s throats, lest her words fan the flames.
Ming You’s anger surged. She stepped sideways to block the space between Chen Rui and Yan Ningxi. “Are you deaf, or do you not understand human speech? Let me say it again: I have nothing to say to you and your family of three. Move.”
Chen Rui ignored her. “Three hundred thousand—that money he gave you is enough for a dowry. After all, you’re his daughter, and you can’t lose face when you get married. But speaking of which, since you hate the Ming Family so much, why not just take your mom’s surname, Yang? Anyway, you never show any care for the Ming Family during holidays. You come back for Chinese New Year like it’s a chore, pulling a long face and can’t even sit for ten minutes… You hold onto the title of eldest Ming daughter, take the money but don’t fulfill your filial duties— that’s just too unreasonable.”
Chen Rui’s barbs were laced with provocation, successfully setting off Ming You’s alarms. Ming You let go of Yan Ningxi’s hand and said, “Sister Yan, go wait for me in the shop ahead.”
Yan Ningxi worried Ming You might act impulsively, but as an outsider, she had no reason to meddle in family affairs. “Talk it out properly. Don’t get too heated.”
“Okay.”
The biggest “argument” between Ming You and Chen Rui had happened on her 18th birthday, when Ming Tai had arranged a family birthday banquet for her without prior notice.
In the private room, the original plan was just grandpa, grandma, and aunt’s family. As the junior, with all the elders present, how could Ming You not go? It was her mother, Yang Guishu, who had talked her into it and personally driven her to the restaurant.
But just as they started eating, Chen Rui pushed open the door with her young son, Ming Zihuan, in tow.
Ming Zihuan was Chen Rui’s ultimate weapon.
The moment he appeared, there was no room in grandpa and grandma’s eyes for Ming You, the unlikable and distant granddaughter; he naturally became the center of attention and the star; the moment he appeared, the perfectly good two-tier birthday cake became a toy, hacked to pieces with his flailing knife and fork, leaving a mess.
Ming You didn’t care about this perfunctory family banquet or the tall birthday cake, but she was furious and slammed down her chopsticks on the spot.
—Chen Rui, are you done?
That was the first time she had called Chen Rui by name to her face, and the first time she had openly challenged her in front of the entire Ming Family.
Ming You was registered under the Ming Family household but lived with her mother. So nominally, Chen Rui was her stepmother, and she hadn’t entered as some scandalous mistress. Plus, she had borne Ming Tai a son, so it was understandable for the elders to defend her as their daughter-in-law.
That day, Ming You’s slamming chopsticks and calling her stepmother by name enraged the old man. In the end, the one who got a thorough scolding was Ming You.
That was Chen Rui—the coming-of-age gift from the Ming Family. A gift she would never forget for the rest of her life.
…
In the ocean ball playground, a four-year-old boy climbed onto the slide under his dad’s watch, excitedly scanning outside for his mom.
Red—eye-catching.
“Dad, look, Mom went that way.”
Ming Tai was playing in the ocean balls with his son, Ming Zihuan, enjoying a father-son time he had never experienced in the first half of his life. But when he clearly saw the girl facing Chen Rui was Ming You, he lost his composure.
“Zi Huan, come down. Let’s go find Mom.”
Meanwhile, Ming You was fully geared for battle, the air thick with gunpowder. “I carry the Ming Family blood, so why should I change my surname? What, afraid I’ll compete with Ming Zihuan for the inheritance?”
Chen Rui lifted her chin. “You don’t need to fulfill filial duties on your dad’s side. Cut ties clean—it’s good for both of us.”
“I don’t think so. Chen Rui, provoking my fighting spirit won’t do you any good. You be Mrs. Ming, spend as much of the Ming Family’s money as you and your son can— that’s your skill. As for whether I spend it, take it, how much I spend or take—that’s between me and my dad. In short, peaceful coexistence with you is impossible. We stay out of each other’s way, and we’ll have peace.”
“Ming You, I’m advising you nicely—don’t be ungrateful. No matter what, I’m still your…”
“Chen Rui.” Ming Tai hurried over, holding Ming Zihuan.
“Mommy, hug.” Ming Zihuan opened his arms toward Chen Rui.
“Good boy, let Mommy play with you a bit more.” Ming Tai smoothly handed the son to Chen Rui’s arms, pressed her shoulder, and pushed the mother and son toward the play area.
What a happy little family of three. Ming You closed her eyes briefly—she couldn’t bear to watch.
“Ming You, what did she say to you?” Ming Tai and Chen Rui were husband and wife; even if it was from his personal account, a large transfer would eventually be discovered. He wasn’t afraid of her arguing or making a fuss—he just preferred to avoid trouble.
“Mr. Ming, please keep your wife in check. If she insists on seeing me as a thorn in her side, I’m ready for battle anytime, to the end.”
“She means you no harm; she just has a sharp tongue. You…”
“I have no interest in what kind of mouth or heart she has. But you should make sure she knows your daughter is someone who holds grudges and follows through. If she keeps being stubborn and comes to bother me again, she’ll face the consequences.”
Ming Tai watched his daughter turn away with a sense of loss, recalling how, when he gave her a birthday gift in July, she had said “Thanks, Dad” with a hint of warmth.
He had thought their relationship could slowly improve over time, mending the cracks bit by bit. Now it seemed hopeless.
Standing like an iceberg between him and Ming You wasn’t just the emotional wounds from their broken original family—there was also Chen Rui and Ming Zihuan, plus grandpa and grandma’s favoritism toward Ming Zihuan.
As a grown man, Ming Tai was powerless in such matters and could only hope time would be the cure.
Yan Ningxi stood quietly at the shop entrance. She had been watching Ming You from afar the whole time, carefully considering what that woman named Chen Rui had said.
So much information.
Could she ask? Should she ask?
Would Ming You accept her concern, or misunderstand it?
