After the holiday, they plunged back into their busy academic lives.
The professor assigned several projects, some for groups and some for individuals.
In her spare time, Meng Shuyao was either in the studio or the library. Occasionally, she went out in search of inspiration, but most of the time, she stayed with piles of paints and drawing boards.
Winnie was more laid-back. Her only requirement for herself was to pass, but when it involved group grades, she couldn’t drag the team down either.
Mia wasn’t in the same major as the two of them, so her schedule wasn’t as packed.
One afternoon, she came over to sit in on their class.
Meng Shuyao was surprised. “Why are you here?”
Mia sat down in the empty seat to her left. “I’m bored. I came to keep you guys company in class.”
Winnie asked with a smile, “Did you have insomnia and come here to catch up on sleep?”
After all, Introduction to Art was the most sleep-inducing class.
“Of course not.” Mia pouted. “You two are so busy that if I don’t come, I won’t even get to see you.”
Winnie noticed the delivery box in her arms. “What did you buy?”
Mia smiled mysteriously. “An ex blind box.”
“An ex blind box?” It was the first time Meng Shuyao had heard of it.
“It’s when people break up and don’t want to keep the things their ex gave them, so they put them in a blind box and resell them to others,” Mia explained. “I saw people online opening theirs and getting designer sunglasses and jewelry. I got curious and bought one too. The seller said there was guaranteed to be a designer item inside.”
Winnie was interested too. “Then hurry up and open it.”
“Okay.”
Class hadn’t started yet.
Mia used her key to cut open the delivery box.
There were quite a few things inside. She took them out one by one and placed them on the desk.
A keychain, a figurine, a crystal bracelet, a new lip glaze, and a used eyeshadow palette…
“That’s it?” Mia was dumbfounded and couldn’t help complaining. “No wonder they broke up. How stingy can you get?”
Winnie examined them carefully. “So the designer items are this Chanel lip glaze in deathly Barbie pink and an eyeshadow palette that’s already hit pan?”
“…”
That hurt.
Meng Shuyao asked, “How much did you spend on it?”
Mia looked ashen. “Six hundred and sixty-six.”
Meng Shuyao couldn’t help teasing her. “When you’re old, I’m going to sell you insurance.”
“Cleared out the trash at home and made six hundred and sixty-six. Genius!” Winnie discovered a business opportunity. “I’m going back to see if I still have anything my ex left behind. I want to make a profit too.”
Mia’s expression was beyond words. “Do I look like an idiot?”
Winnie delivered the precise finishing blow. “Add two more words: an idiot with too much money.”
Mia covered her face and wailed.
“Looks like you’re not easily cheated in love, but you are easily cheated out of money,” Meng Shuyao comforted her. “It’s fine. Just control your curiosity in the future.”
Winnie spotted something on the floor and reminded her, “Mia, there’s another little box by your foot. Maybe it’s valuable.”
A trace of hope returned to Mia’s eyes, and she bent down to pick it up.
When they saw the words on it: ultra-thin, ultra-moist…
All three of them froze at once.
What decent person would put this thing in there too?
Mia saw the size marked on the bottom. “And it’s the smallest size.”
Winnie tried so hard not to laugh that her face turned red.
Just then, the bell rang, and the instructor walked in through the back door.
Quick as lightning, Mia stuffed the little box into Meng Shuyao’s bag. “Just keep it with you for now.”
-
After two busy weeks, once the group assignment was submitted, they finally had some free time.
Winnie flipped through the calendar in the dorm, counting down the days. “Only forty-four days until summer break. We’ll be able to go back home soon.”
Summer break in the United States was relatively long, lasting three months, but winter break was only two weeks.
“Yaoyao, when the time comes, let’s buy plane tickets back together.”
Meng Shuyao leaned against the desk, holding a cup of milk tea and taking a sip. “I might not go back. I may look for an internship here.”
Winnie was surprised. “Ah, summer break is so long, and you’re still not going back?”
Meng Shuyao was still uncertain. “We’ll see.”
If Meng Zhenhua didn’t stop her from seeing her sister, she would go back for a visit, but she wouldn’t stay too long.
She planned to find an internship at a gallery, working while improving herself.
Her professor had once said that she lacked life experience and that her portrayal of characters’ expressions was relatively superficial. This was her weak point.
Her phone suddenly rang. Meng Shuyao lowered her head and glanced at it.
It was Meng Zhenhua calling.
It had been more than a month since she last received a call from him. What was it this time?
She didn’t answer right away. “Winnie, I’m heading back first.”
Winnie nodded. “Okay. Thanks for bringing me milk tea.”
When she came out of the dorm, her phone was still ringing.
Meng Shuyao pressed answer and put it to her ear.
“Yaoyao, are you done with class?” Meng Zhenhua asked from the other end.
It had been a long time since she had heard him speak in such a calm voice. Meng Shuyao was momentarily unaccustomed to it. “Mm.”
“I’m in the U.S. on a business trip, so I came by to see you,” Meng Zhenhua said. “I’m almost at your school. Let’s have dinner together in a bit.”
Meng Shuyao’s eyes darkened, but her voice remained calm. “Okay. I understand.”
Half an hour later.
Meng Zhenhua had reserved two seats at a Western restaurant near the school.
Meng Shuyao sat properly across from him.
While they waited for the food, Meng Zhenhua asked, “How have your studies been lately?”
His tone carried quite a bit of the air of a loving father.
Unfortunately, Meng Shuyao knew very well that he wasn’t that kind of person.
“There are a lot of courses and assignments.”
Meng Zhenhua reminded her, “Pay attention to balancing work and rest.”
Meng Shuyao found it awkward to hear and didn’t feel the slightest bit of concern. Without showing anything, she replied, “I will, Dad.”
“When does summer break start?”
“At the end of May.”
“Come back early once break starts.”
“I want to stay here for an internship during summer break.”
Meng Zhenhua disagreed. “Interning back home is the same. Whatever company you want to enter, I can have someone make arrangements for you. It’ll be much easier than finding one yourself.”
He continued, “Besides, don’t you want to spend more time with your sister?”
Meng Shuyao lowered her eyes and said softly, “I’ll find time to go back and see my sister, but for the internship, I still want to stay here…”
Meng Zhenhua cut her off, his tone leaving no room for discussion. “If you want to intern, you can only do it back home. Once your final exams are over, buy a plane ticket and come back as soon as possible.”
Meng Shuyao said nothing more.
She could roughly guess that Meng Zhenhua wanted her to return and get in contact with the Xu family’s young master, so as to push this marriage alliance forward.
“What happened before is in the past. I was doing it for this family too. Dad hopes you can understand,” he said. “As long as you’re sensible and obedient, after you graduate, I can open an art studio for you and let you do what you want to do.”
Meng Shuyao’s hands, hanging over her knees, tightened slightly, her fingertips twisting together.
Sacrificing her freedom in marriage was also called doing what she wanted to do?
The meal was utterly tasteless.
She only ate a few bites and had no appetite.
After leaving the restaurant, Meng Zhenhua got into his car and returned to his hotel, while Meng Shuyao went back to the dorm alone.
She was so tired. She took a shower, went back to bed, and lay down, resting the back of her hand over her eyes as she let her thoughts drift.
She couldn’t go back home during summer break. She had to think of a way to stay here.
It had been a long time since she’d heard anything from Mr. Pei.
Meng Shuyao opened her eyes, reached for her phone, found Mark’s contact information, and sent him a message: “Is Mr. Pei in Chicago lately?”