Chapter 27: Pastries

The tone.

I’m afraid you didn’t even open the picture.

Whoosh—

Xu Dian stood up, forcefully pressing his glass back onto the table, grabbed his car keys and phone, and turned to leave. Zhou Yang and Jiang Yu were stunned for a moment. Just as they were about to speak, they noticed his glasses left behind on the table. They exchanged a glance. Xu Dian’s expression, which rarely appeared, was something they were seeing for the first time.

They quickly stood up and followed him.

The silver booth was left with only Li Yuan’er, who rested her chin on her hand, as though she had been windblown to the point of being as dry as roasted food, and the onlookers around her added to the feeling.

The smile on her face stiffened.

The three remaining glasses on the table seemed to mock her.

Xu Dian’s glasses were also taken by Jiang Yu.

Zhou Yang and Jiang Yu rushed to the door. Xu Dian didn’t drive but got into a taxi. The two of them quickly called for a designated driver and followed the taxi.

On the busy streets at night, the sidewalks were filled with blooming flowers whose fragrance hung in the air, and the shops glowed brightly as people came and went.

The red taxi stopped at the entrance of Xinyue Community.

The two people in the black Mercedes behind saw Xu Dian slam the car door shut and stride toward the community. The Mercedes stayed quiet for a few seconds before Jiang Yu clicked his tongue and said, “I’m nervous for Meng Ying.”

Zhou Yang propped his chin up. “First time seeing him like this. Back then…”

Back then, when Yang Rou got married, he didn’t act like this.

That streak of black disappeared quickly into the community gates and entered the lobby. Xu Dian went straight up to the 18th floor, and when the elevator doors opened, he undid another button, the collar of his shirt loosened, revealing his collarbones. He pressed the doorbell.

Meng Ying had already gone to sleep about half an hour ago and was entering deep sleep when the bell woke her up. She tolerated it for a few seconds before pulling the blanket off, putting on her shoes, and walking out of her room. The ringtone was one of her preset popular songs, constantly repeating.

With long hair draped over her shoulders, she came to the door and kicked the door panel.

“Stop ringing.”

The ringtone stopped. She sleepily glanced at the peephole, and outside, a man was standing with a stern face. Meng Ying, now more awake, took a step back and opened the door.

In her mind, she was wondering, should she make egg tarts for Xu Qing? But who would make them for her…

Before she could finish her thought.

The man pushed her against the cabinet, and the next second, he lowered his head and kissed her lips. The door slammed shut with a bang.

Meng Ying froze for a moment, struggling slightly.

His hand moved down her waist, and Meng Ying tensed up. A few seconds later, she curled her lips into a smile and embraced him back. Xu Dian squinted, his thin lips moving downward to her neck, kissing it fiercely.

Her skirt slid up.

When he entered, Meng Ying sucked in a breath. Xu Dian whispered in her ear, “You’re something.”

As he spoke, he held her tightly.

Meng Ying tilted her head, leaning against his shoulder, inhaling deeply, eyes closed, but the corner of her lips curled into a mocking smile. However, he was too intense this time, not as gentle as before.

Meng Ying furrowed her brows and shoved him a little.

Xu Dian slowed down a bit, but the next time, he came at her fiercely again.

Meng Ying changed positions and scanned his features. His eyes always held a ruthless look.

This man, he’s gone crazy.

Meng Ying sneered coldly in her heart.

Her delicate hands wrapped around his back, gripping a few times, and she smiled, saying, “Be gentler.”

Xu Dian bit her chin and kissed her.

There was no response.

His peach blossom eyes stared intensely at her. Meng Ying leaned her ear closer to him and chuckled softly, saying, “Just give me a kiss.”

Xu Dian’s body stiffened.

The next second, he grabbed her waist harder, but only kissed her cheek, his fingers caressing her earlobe, then covering it. Suddenly, fireworks exploded outside, illuminating the hallway. The two overlapping shadows swayed, and Meng Ying pinched his ear, asking, “Where are your glasses?”

“I didn’t wear them,” he replied.

Meng Ying smiled again.

She was no longer as shy as before. At this moment, the clarity in her eyes faded, replaced by a seductive gaze.

Xu Dian glanced at her several times, growing more forceful.

The clouds and rain churned, the night deepening. Meng Ying took her time putting on her clothes. She glanced at Xu Dian, who was fastening his buttons. When he noticed her watching him, he leaned in, wanting to kiss her.

But Meng Ying avoided him, laughing softly. “You should go back now.”

Xu Dian paused.

He raised his eyes and looked directly at her. Meng Ying leaned against the shoe cabinet. Though her skirt was neatly worn, her entire body exuded a lazy, intoxicating aura.

This kind of laziness was deadly.

Xu Dian swallowed hard. “Can’t I stay?”

Meng Ying smiled again. She walked up to him, and Xu Dian lowered his eyes to look at her. When she came closer, she stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed his cheek.

Xu Dian’s eyes contracted slightly.

Meng Ying’s sweet voice said, “Go back.”

One minute later.

Xu Dian stood before the elevator, his fingertips pressing the button.

Half a second later.

He finally realized.

He listened to her and left.

That session was more exhausting than yoga. Meng Ying had to take another shower. After coming out, it was already past 3 AM. Sitting on the edge of the bed, stretching lazily, she noticed a new text message on her phone. She picked it up and read it.

Xu Dian: I’ve been moved by you, and even… still am.

Meng Ying glanced at it but didn’t reply. She put her phone down, pulled back the blanket, and went to sleep. Since she hadn’t washed her hair, she quickly fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, Xu Qing sent a WeChat message.

Xu Qing: You have to make egg tarts for me. He came to find you last night, didn’t he?

Meng Ying: Will you make them for me then?

Xu Qing: Sure, I’ve been so bored lately anyway.

As soon as she said that, Xu Qing appeared with a bottle of red wine just as Meng Ying finished yoga. She said, “The egg tarts you made are exactly to my taste.”

Meng Ying stretched her body, catching her breath, picked up a towel to wipe her forehead, and smiled, “Then you can learn to make them with me later.”

After saying that, she went into the bedroom.

Xu Qing followed her and said, “I’m going to Paris tomorrow.”

Meng Ying nodded while picking up some clothes.

“I’m also going to start filming soon.”

“What did he come to see you for last night?” Xu Qing leaned against the door and asked. Meng Ying stepped on the bathroom door, glanced at her, and smiled, “What do you think?”

There were a few hickeys on her neck.

Xu Qing noticed, cursed softly, and said, “Okay, okay.”

“I heard, he’s never been with anyone but you.” In the past, Xu Qing knew of Xu Dian, the young master of this circle, but she wasn’t familiar with him and had little interest. She was close to Gu Sui, who was older than them, and had some collaborations with these young masters, though she rarely paid attention to their private lives.

Recently, because of Meng Ying, Xu Qing began to pay more attention and learn about these people. Gu Sui couldn’t do much, so he accompanied his wife in investigating.

After changing clothes, Meng Ying went back into the kitchen to make egg tarts, lemon chicken feet, and cold noodles. When she came out, she sat at the dining table with Xu Qing, drinking red wine and chatting while eating. Xu Qing talked about Li Yuan’er, “She’s really good at playing the game. She doesn’t easily offend people, but she’s full of hidden motives, very goal-driven. If she really liked Xu Dian, she would definitely find a way to get his contact information.”

Meng Ying ate the chicken feet without responding.

None of that was her business. After Xu Qing finished speaking and saw her reaction, she smiled and said, “Forget it. If you don’t care, I won’t talk about it. Anyway, I wish you success with the shoot.”

After saying that, she raised her wine glass.

Meng Ying smiled and raised her glass as well, clinking it with hers. Xu Qing won an acting award last year, which had been Meng Ying’s goal. Xu Qing had now won two.

The two spent the afternoon together. When Xu Qing’s husband came back to pick her up, she pouted and complained a little. She then said, “I envy you right now.” Meng Ying smiled and opened the door.

After seeing Xu Qing off, she returned to clean up the table, then started reading her script, and in the evening, began packing her luggage. Xu Dian sent two messages, which she saw later that night.

She didn’t reply.

Just as she was about to put down her phone, it rang. She raised an eyebrow and answered it.

On the other end, the man’s deep voice came through: “Have you eaten?”

“I’ve eaten. I’m packing my luggage.”

Xu Dian paused for a moment, then replied, “I’m downstairs.”

Meng Ying didn’t get up or check if he was there. She simply said, “I don’t have time to entertain you today.”

On the other end.

The man was silent for a few seconds, then said, “Alright.”

After saying that, he didn’t hang up. Meng Ying waited a second, then hung up first. The beeping sound came through. She put down her phone and continued packing her luggage.

This trip was going to take a long time—at least three suitcases.

Before long, there was a knock on the door.

She was a little annoyed. She got up and went to the door. Whether it was Xu Dian or not, she had no intention of opening it. She glanced through the peephole.

Outside the door.

It was the uncle from the security office.

He pointed to the ground and said, “I have something for you. I’ve left it on the ground.”

After speaking, the uncle turned and walked away.

Meng Ying stood for a second, then opened the door. There, a delicate pastry gift box was sitting on the floor. She picked it up and casually glanced at it.

It was from a handmade pastry shop in the city center.

She casually placed the gift box on the coffee table.

The next day, the flight was scheduled for 10:30 AM, but she had to go to the airport two hours in advance. Liu Qin and Chen Jie came up to help Meng Ying with her luggage. Before they left, they saw the pastry gift box on the coffee table. Chen Jie stared at it, “This… isn’t this from that hard-to-get handmade pastry shop?”

Last time… last time, Yang Tong was shooting an endorsement nearby and insisted on having someone buy it. When they couldn’t get it, Yang Tong got upset and it even trended on Weibo. Meng Ying glanced at the gift box, picked it up, and handed it to Chen Jie. “Eat it while waiting for the flight.”

“Okay!” Chen Jie’s eyes brightened.

When they entered the elevator, Liu Qin also glanced at the gift box and asked, “When did you buy this? It’s really hard to get.”

“A friend gave it to me,” Meng Ying replied.

“Oh, what friend?” Liu Qin asked with a smile. Meng Ying didn’t answer. The three of them exited the elevator. Xiao Meng came out of the car and quickly helped with the luggage. Xiao Meng had always wanted to accompany Meng Ying on set, but this time Meng Ying still didn’t plan to take her. The girl was still a bit timid and inexperienced, so she would stay behind for training.

The black business car merged into the traffic and headed toward the airport.

Meng Ying chose business class this time; first class was not something she could always afford—it was too expensive. In the waiting lounge, Meng Ying continued reading her script when, suddenly, a woman wearing black glasses and a braided dress entered, pulling a black suitcase. She turned her head to talk to another woman, and their conversation was full of laughter, with the other woman’s laughter carrying a hint of gentleness. When they saw Meng Ying sitting in the lounge, they froze.

Especially Yang Rou.

Liu Qin and Chen Jie were eating pastries. Both raised their heads, and when they saw Yang Rou, the atmosphere immediately stiffened. Only Meng Ying remained completely unfazed, her head still lowered as she calmly flipped through her script, exuding a powerful aura that made Yang Rou seem fragile in comparison…

Nearby, Tang subconsciously straightened his back and tugged at Yang Rou, bringing her back to her senses.

However, Yang Rou’s gaze shifted to the gift box resting on Liu Qin’s lap. The box had a seal on it, which read: Xu.

But no one else noticed.

Only she noticed.

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