Chapter 65: I Was Wrong

“Xu Dian,” the man across from him spoke in a low, hoarse voice, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Wen Zeli,” Xu Dian raised an eyebrow, his tone cold and sharp.

Wen Zeli pressed his tongue against his teeth, tilting his head slightly as he glanced at Meng Ying behind Xu Dian. However, Xu Dian’s gun pressed harder against his forehead, forcing Wen Zeli to look away. He said, “You sent my sister back to Kyoto just for this woman?”

Xu Dian’s finger tightened on the trigger, his gaze behind his glasses flickering with a hint of mockery. “What’s it to you?”

“Impressive,” Wen Zeli nodded. “The Xu family has raised a wolf like you—truly impressive. But why are you competing with me for the Eternal Leaf?”

“The highest bidder wins. If you can’t handle it, don’t bid,” Xu Dian retorted, reaching back to pull Meng Ying’s wrist. Feeling the warmth of his touch, Meng Ying instinctively moved closer, standing firmly behind him. The crowd around them had thinned, but some still watched the confrontation between the two Eastern men. A few burly onlookers even whistled, their excitement palpable.

“You raised the price so aggressively—how was I supposed to compete?” Wen Zeli’s voice grew fiercer.

Xu Dian remained nonchalant. “Oh well, that’s not my problem. I’ve already won the bid.”

The man fell silent.

Across from them, Yang Rou’s gaze was fixed on Xu Dian’s face and the woman behind him. Though she appeared calm, her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions.

Meng Ying met her gaze head-on, noticing the bidding paddle in Yang Rou’s hand. She realized that Yang Rou had been the one bidding for the earrings.

After a tense moment, Wen Zeli’s eyes shifted back to Meng Ying, landing on the diamond necklace around her neck. Yang Rou saw it too, and her face instantly paled.

With a swift motion, Wen Zeli holstered his gun and said to Yang Rou, “It’s no use. The necklace is already on her. They’ve got the full set.”

Yang Rou clenched her jaw, her eyes burning with resentment as she stared at Xu Dian.

Xu Dian, however, ignored her. He handed his gun to the driver, who quickly stashed it in a small case. Then, releasing Meng Ying’s wrist, he wrapped his arm around her waist, adjusted his tie, and turned to leave.

Meng Ying, following Yang Rou’s gaze, reached up to touch the necklace around her neck. Her fingers traced the leaf-shaped pendant.

Oh, so the necklace and the earrings were part of a set.

Her high heels clicked against the steps as they walked out of the palace. Her heart was still racing, but the sight of the brilliantly lit buildings outside helped her relax slightly.

Xu Dian tugged at the coat draped over Meng Ying’s shoulders, pulling it tighter. “Are you cold?” he asked softly.

“I’m fine,” Meng Ying replied.

The driver followed behind them, carrying the small case. As they descended the long staircase, they saw Yang Rou and Wen Zeli emerging as well. The two cars were parked close together. Wen Zeli took the cigar out of his mouth and leaned against the car door. “Feel like grabbing some late-night food together?”

Xu Dian opened the car door and glanced at Meng Ying. “Shall we go?”

Meng Ying was truly bewildered.

These two men had just been pointing guns at each other, and now they were going to have a late-night meal together?

She wasn’t particularly interested in Xu Dian’s social circle, but she couldn’t help asking, “Who is he? And what was that earlier?”

“Oh, he’s Wen Yao’s older brother.”

“Wen Yao?”

Xu Dian tugged at his collar, tilting his chin slightly. He seemed a bit flustered and glanced at Meng Ying cautiously. “She’s the model from the TY-China show last time—the one who wore the embroidered outfit and hugged me after the show.”

Meng Ying remembered now—the beautiful model who had thrown herself into Xu Dian’s arms after the show. She hesitated for a moment, then glanced over at the other car.

Yang Rou was standing by the other car door, also watching them.

Meng Ying raised an eyebrow, then turned to look at the man beside her. Finally, she smiled and said, “Alright, let’s go.”

This kind of dramatic scene was worth seeing.

“Okay,” Xu Dian said, helping Meng Ying into the car and adjusting her dress. He loosened his tie and called out to Wen Zeli, “Sure, let’s go.”

Wen Zeli nodded. “Follow our car.”

Xu Dian closed the car door, wrapped the tie around his arm, and walked around to the other side to get in. He instructed the driver to follow the car ahead.

The Mercedes in front of them sped past, and the Maybach followed closely behind. Meng Ying took the coat off her shoulders and handed it back to Xu Dian.

Xu Dian took it, glancing at her.

Her shoulders were pale and delicate, and the dress accentuated her slender waist. Xu Dian tugged at his collar again, about to say something, but Meng Ying smiled at him and asked, “Are Yang Rou and him dating?”

Xu Dian was taken aback. Under the car’s interior light, he looked into her eyes.

Her eyes were curved and beautiful, filled with curiosity. Xu Dian replied, “How would I know?”

“Oh,” Meng Ying responded, covering her mouth as she yawned.

Xu Dian suddenly felt uneasy and quickly instructed the driver, “Take us back to the apartment.”

Meng Ying opened her eyes and asked, “Why are we going back to the apartment?”

Xu Dian didn’t say a word, his gaze fixed on her. Meng Ying reached up and touched his earlobe. Xu Dian stiffened, then leaned closer, bracing his hand on the back of her seat. Meng Ying slowly pinched his ear and said, “I want to have some late-night food.”

Xu Dian’s grip on the seat tightened. He instructed the driver to follow the Mercedes.

The driver, sitting in the front, sighed in resignation but kept the car at a steady pace. After a turn, they caught up with the Mercedes again. Soon, the Mercedes stopped at a garden-style restaurant in the Chinatown area. The restaurant was open-air, filled with many Chinese faces. The doors of the Mercedes opened, and Wen Zeli and Yang Rou stepped out from opposite sides. Wen Zeli turned to look back.

The Maybach came to a gentle stop. Xu Dian stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut, and walked around to Meng Ying’s side. He helped her out, even though her dress, which was shorter than Yang Rou’s, didn’t really require assistance. But Xu Dian insisted on holding her hand. After closing the car door, he took the coat from the driver and draped it over Meng Ying’s shoulders.

As they approached Wen Zeli, the latter let out a cold snort.

“My sister said you were gentle. I’m having a hard time believing that,” Wen Zeli said, taking a cigarette from his driver. He then asked, “That secretary of yours—what’s his name again? Jiang Yi? What’s his family background like?”

The three of them walked side by side, with Wen Zeli next to Xu Dian. He didn’t light the cigarette, instead seeming deep in thought.

“Top graduate, from an academic family. Both parents are professors.”

“Professors? That’s not bad,” Wen Zeli nodded. A waiter pulled out chairs for them, and Yang Rou took her seat. Wen Zeli sat beside her, while Meng Ying and Xu Dian sat across from them. Meng Ying happened to be directly facing Yang Rou, who seemed distracted, her gaze frequently drifting to the necklace around Meng Ying’s neck and occasionally to Xu Dian beside her.

Xu Dian accepted a cigarette from Wen Zeli, lit it, and took a drag. Wen Zeli called the waiter to order food and then asked Xu Dian, “How’s his work performance?”

“He’s been with me for years. He hasn’t been fired, and he’s bought a house and a car. What do you think?” Xu Dian replied, cigarette dangling from his lips, raising an eyebrow.

Wen Zeli snorted.

“If he’s anything like you, that’s trouble.”

“Not quite,” Xu Dian said, picking up a pair of chopsticks, wiping them clean, and placing them in Meng Ying’s hand. He then asked the waiter for a glass of warm water. When the water arrived, Xu Dian handed it to Meng Ying, moving the cigarette aside. “Wipe off your lipstick and have some water,” he said softly, his finger brushing the corner of her lips.

Meng Ying frowned and reached up to do it herself, but his fingers caught hers briefly. Behind his glasses, his eyes sparkled with amusement.

Meng Ying pushed his hand away and shot him a glare before picking up a napkin to wipe her mouth. She then took a sip of water, realizing how thirsty she was.

Wen Zeli narrowed his eyes, smoke curling around him as he stared at Meng Ying.

“The one you like—she’s an actress, right?” Wen Zeli suddenly realized she looked familiar.

Xu Dian glanced at Wen Zeli. “Her name is Meng Ying.”

“Oh,” Wen Zeli said, looking away. He then turned to Yang Rou, who had been visibly uncomfortable. “I thought your family and the Xu family were on good terms. Why no greetings?”

Wen Zeli, being from Kyoto, wasn’t fully aware of the dynamics in Li City. His question made Yang Rou’s expression stiffen even more. He glanced at Xu Dian, who was calmly smoking. “We used to be on good terms,” Xu Dian said.

As he spoke, his hand under the table gripped Meng Ying’s tightly.

Meng Ying tried to pull away but noticed his fingers were trembling slightly. She looked at him, and a second later, he leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and pleading, “Don’t leave.”

Meng Ying met his gaze.

When he looked up again, his peach-blossom eyes had regained their usual calm.

Soon, the food arrived. It was all Chinese cuisine—congee, soup dumplings, and skewers of grilled meat served in a bamboo bucket.

The congee was for Meng Ying.

Yang Rou hesitated for a moment, then said to Wen Zeli, “I want congee too.”

“I’ll ask,” Wen Zeli said, turning to the waiter. However, the waiter informed him that the last bowl of congee had already been served. Wen Zeli didn’t push further and instead said to Yang Rou, “Have some dumplings instead.”

Yang Rou bit her lower lip, recalling the mocking words Liu Yan had said to her a year ago.

“Always looking at what’s in the pot while eating from the bowl—you’ll end up with nothing in the end.”

As the late-night meal progressed, Meng Ying figured out the real reason behind Wen Zeli’s invitation. The man was subtly probing Xu Dian about his secretary, Jiang Yi.

From the sound of it, Wen Zeli’s sister, Wen Yao, was in some kind of romantic entanglement with Jiang Yi. Wen Yao had been acting like a lovesick fool lately, and her brother had finally caught on.

Hence, tonight’s confrontation.

As for Yang Rou, it seemed she had come specifically to bid on the earrings, only to be outbid by Xu Dian’s exorbitant offer.

Now that Meng Ying knew the necklace and earrings were part of a set, she felt the weight of the necklace around her neck, as if it might be snatched away at any moment. And from the way Wen Zeli spoke, it was clear that he was already married!

As for whether he and Yang Rou were a couple, it didn’t seem like it, but who knew?

Meng Ying stayed mostly silent throughout the meal, focusing on eating.

However, she did notice Yang Rou’s gaze lingering on Xu Dian several times.

After the meal, they returned to the apartment. Meng Ying was feeling a bit drowsy, while Xu Dian, who had had a few drinks, carried a faint scent of alcohol. He sat sideways, his hand resting on his knee.

He watched as Meng Ying’s eyes fluttered open and closed, her long lashes casting shadows.

Xu Dian tugged at his collar again, then leaned closer. Meng Ying opened her eyes and saw him approaching. She instinctively moved away, and Xu Dian clenched his fist.

The Maybach arrived at the apartment.

Outside the apartment, a silver car was parked, and a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes stood beside it, holding an ornate box. The Maybach came to a stop.

Xu Dian helped Meng Ying out of the car and escorted her to the apartment, taking the box from the woman as they passed. The cool night air woke Meng Ying up a bit, and she glanced at Xu Dian. “Are you coming up?”

Xu Dian stepped onto the stairs, raising an eyebrow. “I’ll walk you up.”

Meng Ying looked down at her dress and felt the coolness of the necklace against her skin. She realized she was still wearing Xu Dian’s outfit and nodded. “Alright, I’ll change out of the dress.”

She lifted her skirt and headed upstairs, with Xu Dian following behind. They reached the second floor, and Meng Ying unlocked the door, placing the keys on the entryway table.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go change,” she said, heading toward her room.

But then Xu Dian called out in a low voice, “Meng Ying.”

She turned around to see Xu Dian kneeling on one knee, his collar slightly open, the cigarette no longer in his mouth.

Meng Ying was stunned. “What are you doing?”

Xu Dian reached out and took her wrist. “Sit.”

Meng Ying narrowed her eyes.

“There are some things I need to say.”

“Sit,” Xu Dian said, tilting his chin toward the chair in front of him. Before Meng Ying could react, he pulled her down to sit. She lowered her gaze, looking at him.

With one hand, Xu Dian opened the box. Inside, the diamond earrings sparkled brilliantly. He took one out, and the leaf-shaped design came into view—it was indeed beautiful. He opened the clasp, then stood up, gently brushing aside Meng Ying’s hair. He carefully fastened the earring to her earlobe, inserting the silver pin into her ear piercing, which was larger than a normal one.

Instantly, the earring covered Meng Ying’s piercing, the diamonds glittering brightly. The other part of the earring clasped onto her earlobe, making it look unique and striking.

Once it was in place, Xu Dian’s fingertips brushed over her earlobe, and he pressed a soft kiss there. “It suits you. Keep it on.”

Meng Ying reached up to touch the earring, feeling only the coolness of the diamonds. She tilted her head slightly, meeting Xu Dian’s gaze. His eyes were filled with deep emotion, and for a moment, she thought she saw a profound affection in those peach-blossom eyes.

Then, she remembered something Xu Qing had once told her.

“Xu Dian is indifferent and cold toward women who like him. He doesn’t outright tell them to leave, but you can see the distance in his eyes—it’s like a blade, cutting straight to the heart.”

Xu Qing had a friend who had pursued Xu Dian, and this was exactly how he had treated her. Meng Ying had seen this countless times during her university years, so when he acted coldly toward her during their relationship, she had accepted it as normal.

Tonight, however, she had seen that same familiar attitude—directed at Yang Rou. It wasn’t just his demeanor but also his gaze—distant, cold, just like how he treated other women who pursued him.

She paused, then said softly, “Yang Rou…”

Xu Dian’s heart skipped a beat. “When Yang Rou got married, I felt some resentment. We grew up together, and when my grandfather passed away, we leaned on each other for support. But that was just a fleeting fondness from our youth. She once told me she liked Li Yi, and even when I had the chance, I never pursued her further. So, she got married. At that time, the Yang family was in a tough spot, so I acted like an older brother, giving her whatever support I could.”

“But two years into her marriage, she became restless. She wanted both Li Yi’s marriage and my affection. Around that time, I met you again. I recognized you the moment I saw you outside the fashion show, but back then, my heart was unsettled. I didn’t care much about love. I liked seeing you wear earrings, especially red ones, because they made your skin look even fairer. But later, I fell in love with the feeling of kissing your ear, though I didn’t realize it at the time.”

“It wasn’t until that day in the card room, when you were bare-faced, that I realized my feelings for you had changed. They had shifted from about a substitute to something real. I didn’t completely see you as a replacement—that was my initial intention, but it changed over time.”

“That year you went to the Mountain, I knew you were there, but I never went to find you. Partly because I knew you’d only be gone for a year, and partly because I wanted to cool my feelings. I’m not the type of person suited to be a husband or a boyfriend. Many women like me, but those who truly know me would never choose me. They all know I’m not the right fit. But then you came back…”

“Meng Ying, I was wrong.”

His voice was low, tinged with a rare hint of vulnerability.

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