Meng Yanxi knew that Jin Zhao had met with Jin Wenyi.

Her matters—he knew them all. Aside from her emotions, Jin Zhao never hid anything from him. Even her emotions weren’t something she deliberately kept to herself; it was just that for so many years she had been on her own, accustomed to internalizing everything. After all, with no close people around, saying too much would only make her seem like Xianglin Sao.

Fortunately, Meng Yanxi was perceptive. Most of the time, he could understand her. It was just that sometimes, because he cared too much and became anxious over gains and losses, he instead lacked confidence.

For example, at this moment, he didn’t know how the conversation between Jin Zhao and Jin Wenyi had gone, and the whole of him felt a restless kind of tension.

Luo Heng watched the show from the side, making snide remarks: “I get it. Like when I was a kid and the parent-teacher meeting ended, and my dad got called alone into the teacher’s office.”

Meng Yanxi looked at him with a numb expression.

Luo Heng: “…Pretend I didn’t say that.”

Served him right—using Meng Yanxi’s commendation assembly to measure up against his own criticism meeting.

But then again, leaving aside his student days, Meng Yanxi had lived for twenty-seven years and had always been thick-skinned and bursting with confidence. He had almost never been as lacking in confidence as he was now.

To test whether Jin Zhao was angry, Meng Yanxi sent her a message: 【I’m done here. Want me to come pick you up?】

This message, naturally, sank like a stone into the sea, receiving no reply.

Meng Yanxi grew even more nervous.

When Jin Zhao didn’t reply to his message, he calmly yet not calmly analyzed it—two possibilities: one, the truth had come to light, and she really was angry at him; two, her phone was on silent, and she hadn’t seen it.

Most likely the second one, he thought, because Jin Zhao often put her phone on silent. But the first possibility couldn’t be ruled out either.

If it really was the first one, then he was finished. No telling whether they could even go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow.

He sat steadily on the sofa, his expression composed, yet inside he felt the anxious dread of capsizing in a gutter.

Luo Heng couldn’t see his inner turmoil. All he could see was his calm exterior, and he sincerely raised a thumbs-up at him: “As expected of you. You’ve done so many bad things behind the scenes, and now that it’s about to come out in the open, you’re still steady as Mount Tai. If I were you, I’d be itching to follow 1119 and start biting my own tail.”

To the side, 1119—who had just returned to Shanshui City—didn’t know whether it was happy to be back with Dad and Mom, or unhappy about having to follow Mom to learn English again. It was circling by the curtains, biting its own tail.

Luo Heng had brought 1119 back today. Because of the name, Lawyer Luo insisted the cat had a destined connection with him, that it was his long-lost son from three lifetimes past. A while ago, he had taken his godson away to raise for two months. Meng Yanxi had urged him two or three times before Luo Heng reluctantly sent it back.

Meng Yanxi cast him a faint glance, then suddenly stood and walked toward the dining table.

In the vase on the dining table were flowers—bought by Jin Zhao on her way back from class. He pulled out a red rose, held it in his hand, and turned it once.

Luo Heng chatted idly beside him, rambling nonsense: “I really don’t get you. You’ve already gotten the paternity report—just slap it on Jin Wenhui’s face, let him see the green prairie on top of his head and the fine son he’s been raising for someone else. Saves time and effort. So good. Why insist on taking the long way around and making such a production?”

Meng Yanxi leaned casually against the dining table, long fingers plucking off a petal from the rose.

The rose petal was soft and delicate, like velvet. He mercilessly pulled it off and placed it on the dining table.

An odd number meant Lingling was angry at him.

He plucked off another petal.

An even number meant Lingling hadn’t seen the message.

Meng Yanxi had been able to multitask since childhood—counting petals on one hand, while on the other mercilessly stabbing at Luo Heng with a counterquestion: “Back when you were ranked last in school and your dad got called into the teacher’s office, what was your mental journey?”

Luo Heng was caught completely off guard, an arrow straight through the heart. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he yowled, “Meng Yanxi, can you talk like a decent human being? What’s wrong with being last? Even when I was last, I was last in Class A! Thirty-eighth in the grade! I got into Sui University for undergrad, I’m your alumnus!”

Meng Yanxi paid no attention to Lawyer Luo’s emotions and continued flatly, “You definitely didn’t regret slacking off in class. You were just annoyed that the teacher exposed you. You still remember your chemistry teacher’s name—not because you have a good memory, but because that chemistry teacher exposed you the hardest. I bet even now, when you talk about being bad at chemistry, you’ll throw in a jab at the chemistry teacher, as if it were his fault you were bad at chemistry.”

Luo Heng: “……”

Luo Heng felt guilty out of reflex. Thinking again, he protested, “No—Meng Yanxi, I’m not that petty, am I?”

Meng Yanxi glanced at him. “Not petty. Just human nature. People are like this—slogans about right and wrong are shouted loudest when it doesn’t concern them. Once it involves their own interests, right and wrong alike turn blind. You’re already someone with a decent sense of morality, and even you’re like this. Let alone other people.”

Luo Heng: “What do you mean my sense of morality is ‘decent’? My moral standards are very high, okay!”

Meng Yanxi unhurriedly tugged at the petals.

Odd, even, odd…

Luo Heng steadied his emotions, thought for a moment, then asked, “So you don’t want Jin Wenhui to vent the humiliation of the green prairie onto Jin Zhao? But all these dirty deeds were done by you, not Jin Zhao. What does it have to do with her?”

Meng Yanxi said, “Jin Zhao is my wife. Whether I did it or she did it, what’s the difference?”

That “wife” made Luo Heng’s teeth ache. He clicked his tongue in deep disdain. “Look at you, showing off! Haven’t you even registered the marriage yet? Besides, if you sent the results anonymously, who would know it was you?”

Meng Yanxi didn’t say a word, just looked at him like he was an idiot.

Luo Heng rubbed his nose. “Fair enough. There really isn’t anyone else who’d care whether Jin Wenhui’s kid is his biological son. But Meng Yanxi, you’ve never been the type to care whether people like you or hate you. I don’t think you’d worry about that on Jin Zhao’s behalf either. So why are you suddenly being so restrained now?”

Meng Yanxi’s fingers plucked off the very last rose petal.

Odd.

Meng Yanxi: “……”

Damn it. His wife really was angry.

He frowned, feeling a bit of a headache. His gaze suddenly caught another red rose still in the vase. Inspiration struck—he pulled it out and continued counting.

Even, odd, even…

His mood steadied a little, his patience improving as well. Meng Yanxi said lightly, “Jin Zhao would care.”

She had never had much sense of security about the future. Imagine that years down the line, when the Jin family brought up the unspeakable humiliation of Jin Wenhui raising someone else’s child, they might casually curse Jin Zhao along with it. Even though this had nothing to do with her, simply because he was the one who delivered the paternity report, every time the Jin family cursed Lin Yao in this lifetime, they would probably curse Jin Zhao as well. Even if she seemed indifferent on the surface, one could easily imagine how hurt she would be inside.

She had already encountered more than enough painful things in her life. He would only protect her.

“And besides, something like this is only interesting when the person involved personally slaps the truth onto his face. Any third party exposing it—once misplaced anger comes into play—will only end up easing the humiliation.” Meng Yanxi glanced at Luo Heng. “Just like when you ranked last—your teacher calling your dad in to talk actually lightened your psychological burden, which is why you could sit firmly at the bottom time after time. But if your exam paper itself suddenly came alive, slapped you in the face, and humiliated you head-on, you might’ve buckled down and worked hard long ago.”

Luo Heng: “……”

What the hell did I do in my past life to accumulate such virtue, to end up being brothers with you in this one!

After stabbing Lawyer Luo straight in the heart, Meng Yanxi continued as if nothing had happened, asking, “How’s the divorce lawsuit between those two going?”

It was only because Luo Heng was broad-minded that he didn’t take it personally. Sticking to the matter at hand, he replied, “The divorce is definitely happening. Catching them in bed—seeing your wife and a young college student in such a hot, stimulating scene—no man could take that, let alone with the guy suing him afterward. The current situation is that Jin Wenhui values this son of his immensely and insists on getting custody. Lin Yao’s side is holding on just as tightly. She’s suffered a lot over childbirth these past years, and there’s no way she’ll let go of this son. Lin Yao’s main issue is that she wants both the child and the money, so she hasn’t revealed the truth yet to provoke Jin Wenhui.”

Meng Yanxi fiddled with the petals, speaking with confidence. “Soon.”

Luo Heng nodded. “That’s right. Jin Wenhui is selfish by nature. To snatch the son, he’ll use every means possible. Once Lin Yao gets provoked, she’ll say it straight to his face in a heartbeat.”

“That’s when it’ll really get interesting.” The corner of Meng Yanxi’s mouth curved up.

Even, odd.

The smile at the corner of Meng Yanxi’s lips froze on the spot.

There were no roses left in the vase.

Meng Yanxi: “……”

Picking up his car keys, Meng Yanxi headed out.

They were in the middle of talking, why did he suddenly leave? Luo Heng asked, “Where are you going?”

Meng Yanxi: “To buy flowers.”

Luo Heng: “?”

Luo Heng: “Wait, I’ll go with you. I’ve got something to give you anyway.”

In the underground garage, Luo Heng took a kraft-paper document envelope out of the car and handed it to Meng Yanxi.

Meng Yanxi swept a glance at it and didn’t take it.

Luo Heng rubbed his nose awkwardly. “Well… don’t blame your brother for meddling. This was given to me by Uncle Meng. He asked me to draft your prenuptial agreement.”

Meng Yanxi raised a brow and said bluntly, “You’ve already acknowledged 1119 as your son—why not acknowledge Uncle Meng as well, make him your dad?”

Luo Heng’s eyes lit up, excitement stirring as he asked, “C-can I?”

Meng Yanxi tugged at his lips and turned toward his own car.

Luo Heng chased after him with the kraft-paper envelope, quick-eyed and quick-handed as he pressed down on the car door just as Meng Yanxi was about to close it, stuffing the prenuptial agreement into his arms in one go.

“Brother, sorry about this. But your dad is basically my benefactor—round it off, and he’s not much different from my own father. I’ve given you the thing; Uncle Meng’s instructions are done as far as I’m concerned. Whether you fool your dad or your wife, that’s up to you. As for what comes after, I really can’t help you.”

After saying that, Luo Heng bolted like a rabbit.

Meng Yanxi sat alone in the car for a while, then picked up the envelope and unhurriedly opened it.

Luo Heng looked unreliable as a person, but his professional skills were indeed solid. The prenuptial agreement was drafted watertight—clause after clause looked quite humane on the surface, but in reality, his wife wouldn’t be able to get even the slightest benefit from him.

Luo Heng wouldn’t be that ruthless toward an old classmate. It was obvious—this was all Meng Shixu’s intention.

Meng Yanxi tugged at the corner of his lips, put the agreement back into the document envelope, and tossed it onto the passenger seat.

A few seconds later, he picked it up again, got out of the car, and went into the elevator.

There was a shredder in the study. Just as Meng Yanxi picked up the first page and fed it in, his phone rang.

Meng Shixu was calling.

Meng Yanxi fed the pages into the shredder one by one, his expression unchanged as he smoothly brushed Meng Shixu off over the phone.

“Look at you, worrying for nothing. She hasn’t even agreed to the proposal yet, and you’ve already had a prenuptial agreement drafted for me. Isn’t that just handing Lawyer Luo free money?”

“What’s that sound? The shredder. She’s already mad at me—what would I want a prenuptial agreement for now? To hurt my feelings by association?”

“Dad, I have a feeling that pulling a stunt like this of yours is going to ruin a huge surprise. Don’t regret it later.”

Meng Shixu cursed him a couple of times on the phone. On Meng Yanxi’s end, the shredding was finished as well.

Just after hanging up on Meng Shixu, the phone chimed once.

Zhaozhao Mumu: 【Didn’t see my phone just now. I’m done here too—want to have dinner together tonight?】

Meng Yanxi’s eyes lit up.

Before heading out in high spirits, someone casually swept all the rose petals from the dining table into the trash.

Not accurate at all.

♥︎ ྀི◟ ͜ ◞♥︎ ྀི◟ ͜ ◞♥︎ ྀི

The 27th—homophonous with “love wife.” Meng Yanxi felt it was a good day, naturally suited for registering a marriage.

In the morning, when Jin Zhao got up, Meng Yanxi was already fully dressed and had even fed the cat. Jin Zhao thought she’d overslept, but when she checked the time, it was only a little past seven.

She asked, “Why are you up so early?”

Meng Yanxi said thoughtfully, “There’s a phrase I learned back when I was a student.”

Jin Zhao didn’t know why he suddenly looked like he was about to tell a story. She asked blankly, “What?”

“Long nights breed many dreams.”

Meng Yanxi said, “To avoid too many dreams, I barely slept last night.”

Jin Zhao: “……”

Even though he and Jin Zhao had already agreed to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau today to register their marriage, Meng Yanxi still felt an inexplicable tension. This made him even less able to understand how Jin Zhao could look so calm—she had even slept soundly the night before.

At times like this, he completely failed to reflect on how excessive he’d been the night before, leaving her so tired that she slept that deeply.

In his fragmented dreams, sometimes members of the Jin family came out to cause trouble; sometimes Meng Shixu appeared at the Civil Affairs Bureau with a prenuptial agreement in hand, angering Jin Zhao into leaving. After waking, his heart was still racing, and he decisively blocked Meng Shixu for the time being.

Later, in the stretch of time before dawn, he sat alone on the sofa, watching the sky outside shift from pitch black to gradually brightening, until daylight fully arrived.

On a midsummer morning, the sunlight was already intense. Cicadas were just awakening, their cries wrapped in waves of heat. The wind swept through the plane tree leaves, shaking loose specks of light that fell onto the steps of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

None of the chaotic accidents from his dreams happened. The entire registration process was both unexpectedly and unsurprisingly smooth—filling out forms, taking photos, registering… In less than thirty minutes, two warm, freshly issued red booklets were in their hands.

The moment the steel seal came down, it was as if all uncertainty settled into dust at once. The anxiety over gains and losses vanished without a trace, and everything became certain and proper, rightful and legitimate.

Meng Yanxi tightly clutched the two red booklets in one hand, wrapped his other arm around his wife, the corners of his mouth lifting sky-high.

It wasn’t until they walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the scorching sun hitting his face, that he came back to his senses. He had Jin Zhao go back inside to wait for him while he went across the street to the parking lot to bring the car over.

Jin Zhao only went out after five minutes.

Outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, traffic flowed endlessly. A black Maybach was parked by the roadside. The window was lowered, and inside sat a tall, handsome man in a white shirt, leaning back with a light smile. There was a spirited confidence between his brows and eyes—he still looked like a youth.

The moment she came out, he saw her. And at the same time, she saw him.

Their gazes crossed through the noise and met in an instant.

Around them, the crowd surged, life bustling and lively. The wind stirred the plane tree leaves by the roadside, scattering flecks of gold through the light and shadow.

Something stirred in Jin Zhao’s heart. She suddenly thought of how they looked when they first met, back in her second year of high school.

It had also been a midsummer like this.

In the morning, the boy lay sprawled over her desk, catching up on sleep. His tall frame was curled into the limited space of desk and chair, shoulder blades faintly pronounced. One elbow propped on the desk, the bent wrist naturally resting at the back of his head. His fingers were long, falling into his jet-black short hair, faintly revealing a section of cool, pale, clean-cut jawline.

Outside the window, the sun climbed past the tips of the plane trees. Golden light slanted down into his hair, coating his cool aloofness and restrained elegance with a layer of softness.

When she called him awake, the boy lifted his head from the crook of his arm. His beautiful peach-blossom eyes were full of drowsiness as he asked hoarsely, “Who are you?”

Time spun suddenly—

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

Ahead, the man in the car shook the red booklets in his hand at her and called out from afar, “Madam Meng, this way!”