Chapter 48: Soul Questioning

The restaurant “Clouds and Waters” has a great ambiance. Once the private room’s door is closed, not a single sound from outside can be heard. The two of them finished their meal a little past nine.

Suddenly, fireworks exploded in the sky outside the window.

Amid the crackling sounds, Meng Ying wiped the corner of her mouth and turned to look.

The sky was filled with a dazzling array of colors, incredibly vibrant.

Then another firework went off, crackling loudly.

The brilliant light spilled in, casting a glow on Meng Ying’s face. She propped her chin on her hand, her long eyelashes fluttering as she watched intently.

Her eyes held a hint of longing.

At this moment, she seemed to radiate the youthful charm of her college days.

Xu Dian watched her quietly, noticing for the first time how clearly he could hear the sound of his own heartbeat.

That rhythmic thumping.

It felt as though his heart might leap out of his chest, uncontrollable. He couldn’t help but tug at the collar of his shirt. Just then, his phone, which was placed nearby, rang. He reached out to answer it.

On the other end.

Zhou Yang chuckled, “Finished your New Year’s dinner? Want to come over to Star Club?”

Xu Dian stirred the teapot slightly, his gaze still fixed on Meng Ying’s face. He replied, “Let me ask.”

“Oh? Sure.”

Zhou Yang laughed and hung up.

Putting down his phone, Xu Dian leaned over and gently pinched Meng Ying’s chin, turning her face toward him. Her eyes, still reflecting the fireworks, seemed to shimmer with a kaleidoscope of colors. When their eyes met, Xu Dian’s gaze deepened, and his heartbeat quickened again.

“Do you have any plans later?”

Meng Ying, still dazed, shook her head.

Xu Dian’s fingers brushed against her smooth skin as he said, “How about going to Star Club for a bit?”

“Hmm…” Meng Ying blinked, coming back to her senses. After a moment’s thought, she nodded. “Sure.”

“Let’s go.” Xu Dian grabbed her wrist, then picked up his phone from the table and her small bag, pulling her over from across the table.

He casually grabbed his coat, his large hand sliding down to intertwine his fingers with hers.

As their palms pressed together, Meng Ying glanced down. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong, muscular arms. His grip was firm, and the way he held her hand reminded her of how couples held hands during their college days. However, Xu Dian’s tall stature and commanding presence made her feel somewhat petite in comparison.

Pushing open the private room’s door.

A gust of cold wind swept through the hallway outside. Meng Ying instinctively pulled her hand back and quickly put on her coat.

Xu Dian’s hand suddenly felt empty. He paused, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at her.

Once she had her coat on, Meng Ying put on a mask and pulled her hair out from the collar, letting it cascade over her shoulders. Xu Dian waited patiently for her to finish.

When her hands dropped to her sides, he reached out to hold hers again.

But in the next moment, Meng Ying tucked her hands into her coat pockets. Xu Dian’s hand grasped at empty air, and his eyes cooled slightly. He clenched his fist, then wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

They walked toward the entrance.

He, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the cold, wearing only a black shirt. Meng Ying’s forehead brushed against his chin, and she caught a faint scent of his cologne mixed with a hint of alcohol.

Outside, the world was alive with lights and festivities.

The fireworks were still going off. Xu Dian’s car was parked not far away. As they reached the entrance, a black Hummer pulled up. It turned out he really did have a driver.

The car stopped in front of them.

A middle-aged driver peered out, “Young Master?”

Hearing this, Meng Ying glanced at Xu Dian, only to see the man’s smooth jawline. The rear door opened, and Xu Dian helped Meng Ying inside.

Once she was seated, Xu Dian got in as well. He said, “Uncle Lin, take us to Star Club.”

“Understood.”

It seemed Uncle Lin was a long-time employee of the Xu family.

Uncle Lin turned the car around and drove steadily, focusing solely on the road and asking no questions. Of course, when Meng Ying got into the car, he had taken a quick glance.

Having been the Xu family’s driver for nearly thirty years, he had never seen Xu Dian with any woman other than Miss Yang. It was only natural for him to be curious.

Soon.

They arrived at Star Club.

Tonight, Star Club wasn’t very crowded, with only three luxury cars parked outside. Meng Ying recognized one of them as belonging to Xu Qing’s family. She clicked her tongue and checked her phone.

Sure enough.

Xu Qing had sent her a WeChat message: “We left the main house and are playing pool at Star Club. I heard you and Xu Dian were having New Year’s dinner together? Everyone’s talking about it. Come join us after you’re done.”

The message was sent ten minutes ago.

Meng Ying replied, “We’re here.”

They went up to the third floor and entered the same billiards room as last time. Xu Dian held her wrist as he pushed the door open. Inside, the sound of laughter, soft music, the scent of nicotine, and a faint hint of incense filled the air. As soon as they appeared at the door, everyone—whether sitting on the sofa or standing by the pool table—turned to look.

Xu Qing was leaning against her husband, smiling.

Zhou Yang was holding a glass of champagne, about to take a sip, when he glanced over.

The socialite Miss Liu Yan was sitting on the sofa, her long legs crossed, a thin cigarette between her fingers.

Meanwhile.

Li Yi was looking at his phone. He glanced up briefly before returning to his screen.

Li Yao was also there.

When Li Yao saw Meng Ying, his eyes lit up.

But then he noticed the large hand resting on her waist, and his expression darkened.

There was also another couple by the pool table—Jiang Yu was teaching a woman how to play pool.

“Took you long enough to finish your New Year’s dinner,” Zhou Yang teased. Xu Dian led Meng Ying to a two-seater sofa, grabbed a glass of juice from the side, and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. Then he sat on the table, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. “You guys got here pretty fast, huh?”

The double entendre wasn’t lost on anyone.

Zhou Yang cursed.

Pointing at him.

“I don’t even want to respond to that.”

He chuckled, his posture relaxed, as he pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag.

Smoke quickly filled the air.

Drifting lazily.

His expression was one of rare ease.

Meng Ying crossed her long legs and glanced at him.

In private, among friends, he really did have that “gentlemanly rogue” vibe.

“What did you have for dinner?” Xu Qing walked over and sat on the sofa next to Meng Ying, smiling at her. Meng Ying tilted her head, giving Xu Qing a once-over. “Have you gained weight?”

“Hey…” Xu Qing’s eyes widened. “Is it that obvious?”

“A little,” Meng Ying nodded.

“Ugh, I’ve been eating too well. You have no idea…” Xu Qing leaned in and started rambling about all the delicious food she’d been indulging in. Xu Dian, with a cigarette between his lips, stood up and walked to the door. A moment later, he returned with a plate of egg tarts and placed it in front of Meng Ying. Xu Qing, seeing this, choked slightly and looked at Xu Dian, “For us?”

Xu Dian, still holding the cigarette, glanced at Meng Ying, “For her.”

Xu Qing clicked her tongue.

She picked up one and said, “Meng Ying gave it to me.”

Xu Dian raised an eyebrow.

Then Zhou Yang called him over to play pool. Before leaving, Xu Dian casually glanced at Li Yao, who stiffened and said, “What are you looking at? Can’t I even say hello?”

Xu Dian sneered and shrugged.

His expression said, “Do whatever you want.”

His nonchalance only made Li Yao more uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Xu Dian had already walked away. He picked up a pool cue, leaned over the table, and greeted with a smile, “Long time no see, Yun.”

Yun Lu glanced at him, “Long time no see.”

Then she looked over at Meng Ying sitting on the sofa not far away.

Thinking to herself.

She’s really beautiful.

A perfect match for Xu Dian, indeed.

The sofa wasn’t far from the pool table. Meng Ying and Xu Qing chatted, exchanging recent updates. Zhou Yang, over by the pool table, declared that the winner could do something that made them happy.

At this, Li Yi leaned back and said with a smile, “I’m in.”

Zhou Yang glanced at him, “You’re already single. Isn’t that happy enough?”

“Not enough.”

With that, Li Yi stood up, walked over, picked up a cue, and looked at Xu Dian. Xu Dian, leisurely twirling his cue, looked up and met his gaze.

Their eyes locked.

Zhou Yang laughed, “Alright, you two go first.”

“Last year, when you were fighting over that land, it was a tie. Li Yi, you had it pretty rough back then, didn’t you?”

Li Yi weighed the white ball in his hand and said, “Xu Dian is just too ruthless.”

“Just admit you had it rough,” Zhou Yang teased.

Li Yi clicked his tongue.

He broke the rack, sinking two balls. Then he continued. Xu Dian leaned against the liquor cabinet, cigarette in his mouth, calmly watching. No matter how many balls Li Yi sank, Xu Dian didn’t bat an eye. His gaze occasionally drifted to Meng Ying, his eyes darkening slightly. His lips moved slightly, and a puff of smoke escaped, adding to his allure.

“Honestly, Xu Dian is really handsome,” Liu Yan suddenly said, cigarette in hand, looking at Meng Ying.

Meng Ying, eating an egg tart and sipping juice, was caught off guard. She met Liu Yan’s gaze and smiled, “I suppose so.”

“Oh?” Liu Yan raised an eyebrow.

“But you two seem pretty cold as a couple,” Liu Yan added, glancing behind Meng Ying.

Meng Ying turned and looked.

She saw Jiang Yu holding his wife, whispering intimately in the corner.

“Xu Qing was just clinging to Gu Sui earlier,” Liu Yan added. Xu Qing clicked her tongue and kicked Liu Yan, “What are you trying to say?”

Liu Yan laughed, “Nothing.”

Meng Ying turned back, leaning against the chair, and smiled.

She didn’t take Liu Yan’s bait.

Meanwhile, Li Yao, sitting across from them, had been watching Meng Ying. When Liu Yan made that comment, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes.

Meng Ying didn’t feel sorry for herself at all. She quite liked the way things were. As she ate, she glanced over at the pool table.

Li Yi finished his round.

He didn’t clear the table.

Xu Dian took over. He moved slowly, his eyes scanning the layout of the balls. Then he chose a tricky angle, leaned over the table, and with a swift motion, the cue struck the ball—clack!

Two balls sank, and the white ball continued to spin on the table. Xu Dian took the cigarette from his mouth, flicked the ash, and continued to the next round.

Gu Sui, standing nearby, commented, “Those were two great shots. Tricky angles.”

Xu Dian’s expression remained calm. He put out the cigarette in the ashtray and glanced at Meng Ying, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Meng Ying, propping her chin on her hand, met his gaze.

For a moment, their eyes locked.

The surroundings seemed to quiet down.

No scent of perfume, no alcohol, no nicotine, no crowd.

Xu Dian’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

Meng Ying lowered her gaze and took a sip of juice.

The liquid swirled in the glass, and for a moment, she felt as though she was back at the gates of Licheng University, watching from afar.

Her phone buzzed a few times.

It was a video call from Meng Xiao.

Meng Ying glanced at it, declined, and sent him a message saying she was out and would call later. Just as she sent it, she heard a burst of cheers—Xu Dian had won.

Zhou Yang laughed and asked, “What do you want to do to make yourself happy?”

The group erupted into laughter, the kind of laughter that carried an unspoken, suggestive undertone. Meng Ying put down her phone and looked up just as Xu Dian walked over. The next second, he leaned down and kissed her.

“Holy crap!”

“Hahaha, he actually did it!”

Amid the laughter, Meng Ying struggled slightly, but she couldn’t break free. Her head tilted back against the chair, her tongue numb from his kiss. Her wrist, resting on the armrest, was pinned down by Xu Dian.

“Damn.”

From a distance, it looked like Xu Dian had Meng Ying’s wrist in a firm grip, his face tilted, his jawline sharp, their tongues entwined as he kissed her fiercely, almost desperately.

Meng Ying’s slender fingers gripped the armrest tightly. Xu Dian’s other hand gripped her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her even more intensely.

Liu Yan’s cigarette fell to the floor.

“This… is not cold at all.”

He looked like he wanted to devour her.

It was terrifying.

“Damn, damn, damn…”

Zhou Yang was stunned.

The scene was too intense.

Li Yi turned away, clicking his tongue.

That night, Meng Ying tightly clutched the blanket, her head lowered, her face flushed, and her skin tinged with a delicate pink. Her hands, weak and powerless, slipped down, and she couldn’t help but bite into the pillow, muffling her sounds within it. Xu Dian embraced her from behind, his lips showering her back with countless kisses.

His tongue brushed over the rose tattoo.

She trembled all over.

Then, her knees weakened, and she knelt on the bed.

The night was deep, and scattered fireworks crackled in the distance, their colorful lights flickering into the room. Xu Dian held her up, lowering his head to kiss her.

The fireworks were dazzling.

Happy New Year.

Wishing you happiness and health.

The first day of the Lunar New Year at home.

A black Hummer stopped at the entrance. The man stepped out of the car, his coat draped over his arm, and removed his glasses as he walked up the steps. The cold wind was biting, and his shirt collar was slightly open. As he entered, a faint smile played on his lips.

Sitting on the sofa, Xu Yi and Zhao Qiao exchanged a glance. Zhao Qiao flipped her phone over, stood up, and said, “Son, where were you last night? You didn’t answer your phone.”

As she spoke, she approached, intending to adjust his collar, but suddenly caught sight of the scratches on his neck—not just one, but many.

Zhao Qiao’s hand, painted with nail polish, trembled slightly.

She covered her face, turned around, and gestured toward Xu Yi, pointing at their son behind her.

Xu Yi looked confused.

Zhao Qiao pointed at her neck.

Xu Yi took a closer look and instantly understood.

A look of realization dawned on his face.

The couple exchanged glances for a moment. Xu Dian poured himself a glass of ice water and glanced at the magazine on the table. It was open to an interview with Meng Ying.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t think much of it.

Zhao Qiao coughed and stepped forward to close the magazine. “Well, I’ve already sent Wen Yao to the airport. I told the Wen family what you wanted me to say.”

“Good, thank you, Mom,” Xu Dian replied with a smile.

Zhao Qiao was still staring at his neck.

Thinking to herself.

Oh my.

It’s good that Miss Wen is gone.

After the New Year, the filming of *Leisure Time* began. The location was set in the Red Maple Leaf Town. The weather was cold, but the town was nestled against the mountains, and due to the climate, the maple leaves usually lasted until March. Among the guests was Li Yuan’er, and the two of them had agreed to travel together.

Before boarding the plane, Meng Ying received a WeChat message from Gu Yan.

Gu Yan: Happy New Year. I know you’re going to film *Leisure Time*, so I’ll keep it short. I have a teacher who, after planning an eight-year global trip, is offering a six-month acting course before he leaves. Since my time is limited, I’m planning to give up my spot. Do you want it?

The flight attendant reminded everyone to turn off their phones.

Meng Ying didn’t hesitate and replied.

Meng Ying: Yes.

Then she turned off her phone.

Since it wasn’t far, the flight to Red Maple Leaf Town took about two hours. Meng Ying and Li Yuan’er got off the plane. This time, they didn’t bring any assistants or managers because they were here to experience the hardships of life. Li Yuan’er stretched her arms wide and said, “Oh my god, the air here is so fresh.”

Meng Ying glanced at her and smiled, “What do you like about it?”

Li Yuan’er grinned, linking arms with her, “It’s better than Licheng. That place reeks of money.”

Meng Ying chuckled.

The two of them got into the car sent by the production team. There were four guests in total, and the other two had already arrived. One was a well-known host named Tan Huan, and the other was a young, handsome comedian named Liang Qiao. They were the regular guests, having appeared in the previous season—one responsible for intellect, the other for humor.

The van headed toward the town.

Meng Ying’s phone, tucked in her bag, rang. She took it out and saw it was Xu Dian.

They hadn’t seen each other since New Year’s Eve. He was a busy man, but he had sent her two text messages and made one phone call.

He was quite proactive.

Meng Ying glanced out the window at the tourists walking by. Most of them had been traveling since before the New Year, and among them were couples.

Holding hands, walking side by side, they were very close, intimate even. A boy brushed the hair from a girl’s forehead and kissed her gently.

Meng Ying watched, propping her chin on her hand.

Her phone rang again, snapping her out of her thoughts. She answered, her expression calm.

The man’s deep voice came through, “You there?”

“Yeah, just got off the plane,” Meng Ying replied softly, a smile in her voice. Xu Dian chuckled, “Alright then.”

Meng Ying hummed in response.

“Add me back on WeChat, okay?” Xu Dian’s voice carried a hint of pleading, though it was subtle. On Meng Ying’s end, a loud rumble passed by as a dump truck drove past.

She murmured, “What did you say?”

Xu Dian gritted his teeth, “Add me back on WeChat!”

He sounded a bit domineering.

Meng Ying laughed softly, “Alright, I’ll think about it.”

Soon, they arrived at the inn. Tan Huan and Liang Qiao were waiting at the entrance. When the car pulled up, Liang Qiao waved. The black van stopped, and the door opened. Meng Ying and Li Yuan’er stepped out, each dragging two large, heavy suitcases.

Meng Ying carried one in each hand. Liang Qiao and Tan Huan hurried over to help. Liang Qiao took Meng Ying’s luggage, glancing at her briefly before blushing and saying, “You must be tired.”

“Not too bad, it wasn’t far,” Meng Ying replied with a smile. Her hair, curled that morning, fell loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes curved into a smile, making her the most striking among the four.

Tan Huan exuded a mature, intellectual charm, though her hosting style was quite sharp, clearly indicating she was well-read.

“Meng Ying, you’re quite tall,” Tan Huan said with a smile, stepping forward to hug her.

Meng Ying laughed and stepped back, “Sister Huan, you’re joking. You’re taller than me.”

“Well, I just like to compliment people,” Tan Huan chuckled.

Li Yuan’er clicked her tongue, “Sister, why don’t you compliment me?”

“You? Well, your legs are really long,” Tan Huan glanced at her.

Li Yuan’er’s shoulders slumped, “Oh my god, sister, you’re doing this on purpose. In my last interview, people said my legs were thick…”

“Hahahaha…” Liang Qiao burst out laughing.

Meng Ying also joined in the laughter. The four of them chatted and laughed as they entered the inn. Since it was almost dark, lanterns were hung at the entrance, and the filming was set to begin in the evening.

Across from the inn was Lover’s Lake, its surface shimmering with ripples.

The reflections of willow trees danced on the water, creating a breathtaking scene.

Inside the inn, there were six rooms in total. Meng Ying and Li Yuan’er shared a room, while Tan Huan always had a room to herself. Liang Qiao occasionally needed to switch rooms.

Li Yuan’er finished tidying up the bed and collapsed onto it, not moving.

Meng Ying sat on the edge of the bed, organizing her clothes, when her phone buzzed.

She picked it up to check.

Gu Yan had replied: *Alright, I’ll let the teacher know.*

Meng Ying: *Thank you.*

Gu Yan: *No need to be so formal. Just treat me to a meal sometime.*

Meng Ying: *Sure.*

After that, she texted Liu Qin to let her know she had arrived safely. Liu Qin replied: *I’ve been getting a lot of scripts lately and am currently sorting through them for you. Keep up the good work.*

*Will do.*

They chatted briefly before ending the conversation. Meng Ying then looked up and asked Li Yuan’er, *Do you have any particular pet peeves?*

Since they were sharing a room, even though they had separate beds with a large nightstand between them, the bathroom, sofa, and desk were shared.

Li Yuan’er rolled over and looked at her, *Nope, do you?*

Meng Ying shook her head, *No.*

*That’s great. I was worried you might. Back in college, I was always fighting with my roommate. She had so many quirks.*

Meng Ying’s eyes curved into a smile, *What a coincidence. I was the same. I tolerated it for a while, but eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore and started arguing. When arguing didn’t work, I resorted to fighting.*

That was her first time getting into a fight.

Back then, during the fight.

Xu Dian happened to be walking by downstairs. She turned around and saw him, then quickly retreated into the dorm, covering her face.

Tsk.

*Really? Oh, let me tell you…* Li Yuan’er got excited and sat up, starting to ramble about her college days.

She talked a lot, her expressions animated.

The camera was focused on her, capturing everything. Meng Ying listened, then got up to put away her clothes. It was only then that she noticed the camera and realized they were being filmed.

Li Yuan’er’s candid confession about her college days was quite bold.

A few seconds later.

She understood and smiled, glancing at Li Yuan’er.

This girl definitely had ambition.

She was making sure to get plenty of screen time right from the start.

Soon, the two of them went out to help in the kitchen. As they entered, they saw Tan Huan, wearing an apron, smiling and saying, *We heard everything. Li Yuan’er, your college life sounds so exciting!*

*Yeah, dorm life was full of drama,* Li Yuan’er walked over and started helping mix the flour. They were making a cake that evening.

Meng Ying went to help Liang Qiao, who was preparing skewers. Seeing Meng Ying’s slender fingers picking up the ingredients, he quickly said, *I’ll handle this. There are some eggs that need to be cracked. Could you do that instead?*

*Sure,* Meng Ying picked up the eggs and started cracking them into a bowl.

Liang Qiao had thought he was giving her an easy task to keep her busy, but he was stunned to see how quickly she worked, separating the yolks and whites perfectly without a single mistake.

Liang Qiao: *…*

This season’s female guest was too impressive.

Not only was she beautiful, but she was also incredibly skilled.

He sneaked another glance at Meng Ying, admiring her profile, feeling as if time had stood still.

The four of them worked together to prepare dinner. They ate, chatted, and finished the meal. Li Yuan’er was the most lively and humorous, while Tan Huan and Meng Ying spoke less. Liang Qiao was great at picking up on current trends and keeping the conversation flowing.

After dinner.

The four of them followed the schedule and moved to the living room.

The glass doors were wide open, revealing Lover’s Lake across the way. The sight of the lake brought a sense of calm, and the atmosphere was perfect for sharing and listening.

Tan Huan sat on the tatami across from them, leaning back. She pulled a red slip of paper from a box nearby, then smiled at Meng Ying and Li Yuan’er, *Let’s see what this year’s dare is…*

They treated the emotional interviews in the box as dares.

This segment was one of the most popular parts of *Leisure Time*.

After opening it, Tan Huan placed the slip on the table.

*Take out your phone, randomly select a number, and call it. Tan Huan will ask the questions.*

Tan Huan smiled, looking at Meng Ying and Li Yuan’er, *Who wants to go first?*

Li Yuan’er clicked her tongue and pushed a phone forward.

Meng Ying looked down: *…*

It was her red phone.

She gave Li Yuan’er an amused glance, and Li Yuan’er blinked back with a smile. Meng Ying smirked and unlocked her phone, handing it to Tan Huan. Tan Huan chuckled, *Meng Ying, you look so calm.*

As she spoke, she opened the contact list and saw the most recent call was to a number ending in 8888—a very impressive number, labeled *Licheng*.

This number clearly looked expensive.

And it appeared frequently in the call log.

Tan Huan smiled and dialed the number.

The ringtone played.

It was a piece of light music.

Soon, the call was answered. A deep, magnetic male voice, tinged with a hint of laziness, came through: *Meng Ying?*

The voice.

Made Tan Huan and Liang Qiao freeze.

Li Yuan’er’s eyes lit up.

Meng Ying raised an eyebrow.

Then she smiled and shrugged, as if to say it was no big deal.

Tan Huan regained her composure and turned on the speakerphone, *Hello, this is *Leisure Time*. We have a question for you both.*

The *you both* referred to Meng Ying and the man on the other end of the call.

On the other end.

Xu Dian was silent for a second before replying, *Okay.*

*Thank you for cooperating,* Tan Huan asked gently, *Do you love each other?*

The question caught Meng Ying off guard for a moment.

The other end was silent.

But only for a second.

*Yes.*

*No.*

The male and female voices answered simultaneously.

The world fell silent.

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