A low-profile business van was parked across from the bar.
The car window lowered, and half of the man's distinguished face came into view, his profile dissolving into the neon night, betraying no hint of emotion.
Two bodyguards pressed a man down to his knees before him.
Meng Shuyao didn't know how that person had offended Pei Yuzhou enough to make him dispatch private bodyguards armed with weapons.
In her daze, the man in the car suddenly looked over, meeting her gaze.
Their eyes locked across the dimly lit street.
His gaze was deep and penetrating, striking straight to the heart.
Meng Shuyao felt as if she had been scalded. She lowered her eyes and looked away first.
Remembering what he had said the last time, it would be better to pretend they didn't know each other from now on.
Pei Yuzhou was probably thoroughly disgusted with her.
Meng Shuyao turned and went back into the bar. Her ankle was badly swollen, making her gait slightly unnatural.
The atmosphere inside had already returned to normal; everyone continued partying hard.
Winnie and Mia were both at the booth.
Meng Shuyao dragged her feet over to them and asked with concern, "Are you two alright?"
Winnie shook her head, her cheeks flushed from drinking. "We're fine."
"We just went to the restroom. When we came out, we heard the boss say someone was treating everyone today, drinks on the house," Mia marveled. "How could something so lucky happen?"
Meng Shuyao sat down and placed her phone on the table.
Winnie's eyes were hazy with alcohol. She noticed the several cracks on the screen. "Did you change your screensaver? It's pretty realistic."
Meng Shuyao: "...It really broke from a fall."
—
Mark returned from handling the aftermath at the bar.
Pei Yuzhou rested his elbow against the car window, placed a cigar between his lips, and took a drag, exhaling smoke slowly. "Why is she here?"
Who this "she" referred to was self-evident.
"You mean Miss Meng?" Mark answered truthfully, "She was hanging out with friends at the bar. She was frightened just now and twisted her leg."
Pei Yuzhou's voice was cool and detached. "From where did you see that she was frightened?"
Speeding on mountain ring roads, drinking at nightclubs—her guts weren't small at all.
He stubbed out the cigar and tossed it into the ashtray. "Drive."
The driver nodded at the rearview mirror and started the engine.
"Sir, how should we deal with the person?" Mark asked.
Thinking he could steal the group's core pharmaceutical R&D technology and fly away after taking the money—too naive.
Deception and disloyalty were the sir's greatest taboos.
The Hells family influence covered the entirety of America.
As long as the sir didn't let him go, he couldn't leave.
Pei Yuzhou's gaze turned ice-cold. "Lock him up for now. He'll be useful later."
—
With her injured foot, Meng Shuyao was trapped in her dormitory for the next couple of days, unable to go anywhere.
She lay in bed, looking at the suit jacket hanging on the clothes rack opposite, and couldn't help but think of that man again.
They had clearly only met a handful of times, yet the impression was profound.
That face of his had probably captivated countless hearts, and that status of his made people even more eager to approach.
Yet he was noble and aloof, completely out of her league.
Sometimes a gentleman, sometimes indifferent—it all depended entirely on his mood, and no one else could guess his thoughts.
Meng Shuyao climbed out of bed, hopped over on one foot, and hung the jacket inside the wardrobe.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Closing the wardrobe door, she returned to her bedside, picked up her phone, and called her sister's caregiver.
At this hour, it was around nine o'clock at night back home.
The call connected and rang for more than ten seconds before the other end picked up.
"Aunt Xue, how has my sister been lately?" Meng Shuyao asked.
The person on the other end sighed and spoke honestly, "Not very well. Yesterday she refused the nurse's injection, ran out on her own, and nearly fell down the stairs. Fortunately, nothing happened, but she was frightened."
Meng Shuyao felt a tightness in her chest. "Aunt Xue, I'll have to trouble you to take good care of my sister."
Aunt Xue agreed, "Don't worry, I'll do my best. You also have to take care of yourself abroad."
"Mm, I know." Meng Shuyao's voice held a slight nasal quality. "Is she asleep now?"
"Not yet. Do you want to video call with her?" Aunt Xue knew she missed her sister.
Meng Shuyao nodded. "Mm."
The call ended, switching to a video call.
Aunt Xue brought the phone before Shuman. "Little Shuman, look who this is."
The person on the bed showed no reaction, holding a plush bear and amusing herself.
Meng Shuyao's eyes grew moist, emotion swelling in her throat. "Sister, it's Yaoyao."
Hearing her voice, Shuman slowly looked up at the phone screen, smiled at her, then lowered her head again to continue playing, immersed in her own world most of the time.
Meng Shuyao forcibly suppressed her sorrow and urged her, "Sister, cooperate well with the doctor's treatment, and you'll definitely get better."
These words were more like comforting herself. Perhaps a miracle would happen.
Four years ago, Shuman had been in a car accident with severe traumatic brain injury. After surgery, she became vegetative, lying in bed for half a year. When she woke up, she didn't recognize anyone, was afraid of strangers, and unwilling to communicate with people.
The doctor said it was caused by cranial nerve damage; the probability of recovery was very slim.
"Yaoyao, will you come back during summer vacation?" Aunt Xue asked.
Meng Shuyao pulled her thoughts back. "I don't know yet. I might find an internship over here."
Even if she went back, Meng Zhenhua might not necessarily let her visit her sister at the hospital.
"An internship is good too; early exposure to society to build up experience," Aunt Xue said. "I'll take good care of Little Shuman here. Don't worry too much. Your studies are important."
Meng Shuyao was deeply grateful. "Thank you, Aunt Xue."
"What are you thanking me for? It's what I should do." Aunt Xue glanced at the time. "It's getting late. Little Shuman is about to sleep. Let's talk next time."
"Alright."
The moment the call ended, before Meng Shuyao could put down her phone, another call came in.
It was from Meng Yan.
What did she want now?
The two of them had never gotten along. Even back home, they had always been mutually displeased, their words barbed.
When Meng Shuyao had first come to the Meng family, she had suffered plenty of bullying at her hands.
The ringtone sounded for quite a while, connecting just as it was about to hang up automatically.
"I thought you weren't going to answer." Meng Yan chuckled softly.
"What is it?"
"Meng Shuyao, you know I'm getting married soon, right?"
"So?"
"You're my sister. Shouldn't I notify you?"
Meng Shuyao couldn't be bothered to waste time with her. "If you have 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 Shuyao didn't think anything good could come out of her mouth.
Meng Yan raised the corners of her lips. "I'm only three years older than you. After my marriage is finished, naturally it will be your turn. Isn't that good news?"
Meng Shuyao's fingertips tightened, her knuckles turning slightly white.
"Dad and Auntie are already picking out a marriage partner for you. You know that young master from the Xu family, right? Young and promising, took over the family business at just thirty. Good-looking, nice figure too. However you look at it, he's a good match for you." Meng Yan lifted her red wine and took a sip, her brows and eyes relaxing. "Meng Shuyao, if you marry over there, good fortune awaits you."
That young master of the Xu family—his sexual orientation wasn't exactly a secret in their circle. Everyone knew it in their hearts; they just didn't dare discuss it openly due to the Xu family's status.
Marrying into the Xu family meant entering a sham marriage, reduced to a tool for bearing children.
Meng Shuyao gripped her phone tightly. "My matters don't need your concern. With that time, you'd better take care of yourself. I heard your fiancé met up with his ex-girlfriend behind your back."
"You—"
Before Meng Yan could say anything more, she hung up.
She tossed her phone aside.
A dull heaviness filled Meng Shuyao's eyes. She lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the lamplight blurring across her pupils.