Chapter 67: Slap In The Face

Zhao Qiao’s laughter was crisp and loud, genuinely teasing, and it echoed within a ten-meter radius. Hu Ye and the others all turned to look, her laughter infectious. But in the next second, Zhao Qiao’s laughter abruptly stopped, as if someone had grabbed her by the throat.

She stared at Meng Ying, and Meng Ying stared back.

Through the phone screen, their eyes met, and the atmosphere turned awkward. Then, Zhao Qiao’s eyes darted around as she recalled what she had just said. She realized—she had been exposed.

The next second, the video call ended abruptly.

Meng Ying watched as those lively, peach-blossom eyes disappeared from the screen along with their owner. She slowly turned her head to meet Xu Dian’s gaze behind his glasses.

Xu Dian: “Hmm?”

Then, he took off his glasses, wiped them casually, and said lazily, “How could you admit to my mom that you hit me? At least you should have covered it up a little.”

“Haven’t you watched any family dramas?” Xu Dian added, glancing at her lightly. His eyes were not just familiar—they were identical.

Xu Yi, Zhao Qiao.

They were Xu Dian’s parents.

And they had listened to her tell the story of her love affair with their son. Oh my god.

For the first time, Meng Ying felt her heart racing because of something like this. She gripped her phone tightly and glanced at the WeChat chat window. Zhao Qiao hadn’t sent any messages, and everything was quiet on that end.

Meng Ying: “…”

“What are you still thinking about? Are you done here?” Xu Dian put his glasses back on, leaned over from behind the bench, and rested his chin lightly on Meng Ying’s shoulder.

The red marks on his face had faded a lot, but they did nothing to diminish his handsomeness. Many passersby couldn’t help but glance at him.

He assumed Meng Ying knew that Xu Yi and Zhao Qiao were his parents, and that his parents obviously knew about Meng Ying. He had no idea that one had been tightly guarding her secret, while the other had been completely in the dark.

Meng Ying hesitated for a moment and said, “Your parents…”

“My parents are great people.”

“I know. After they finished filming *Leisure Time*, did they say anything?”

Xu Dian: “They didn’t say much.”

Well.

Except for scolding him, that is.

Meng Ying thought about Zhao Qiao’s familiar tone just now. It seemed she was well aware of the current situation between Xu Dian and her. That story—eighty percent chance she knew about it too.

What kind of mess was this?

She stared at her phone screen, lost in thought.

On the other side, Zhao Qiao was also staring at her phone screen, unsure of how to message Meng Ying. Would Meng Ying feel deceived? Would she be angry? Oh my god! When she and Xu Yi went to film *Leisure Time*, they had planned to reveal their identities as Xu Dian’s parents halfway through. But that story had completely thrown off their plans, forcing them to tightly guard their secret.

Thinking of this, Zhao Qiao got up and ran upstairs to find Xu Yi, chattering nonstop. Xu Yi looked confused for a few seconds before nodding and saying, “Hmm.”

Zhao Qiao kicked him lightly. “What do we do now?”

Xu Yi thought for a moment. “The scenery in Switzerland is quite nice these days.”

Meanwhile, Xu Dian had just stood up when he received a WeChat message. He glanced at it.

**Zhao Qiao:** It’s all your fault.  

**Zhao Qiao:** Get lost.

He narrowed his eyes.

Zhao Qiao had always been fiercely protective, and after *Leisure Time*, she had started treating him like the enemy, constantly glaring at him. Xu Dian silently put his phone away.

As it was getting late, Hu Ye looked at Xu Dian, who had suddenly appeared. Everyone noticed the red marks on his face but tactfully avoided mentioning them. Who else could have left those marks on the big boss’s face besides Meng Ying?

Hu Ye thought for a moment and said, “We’re planning to go home for dinner tonight. What about you?”

Mi Xue had bought a lot of Chinese ingredients in Chinatown and was planning to cook another delicious meal. Xu Dian didn’t respond immediately. He looked at Meng Ying, his hands loosely tucked in his pockets. “Shall we go out to eat?”

“I’ll eat at the teacher’s place,” Meng Ying said. She knew Mi Xue had bought a lot of ingredients that required her help. If she left them to go eat with Xu Dian, what would happen to all that food?

Mi Xue, standing beside Hu Ye, lowered her head, not daring to look at Xu Dian’s expression. Xu Dian rubbed the corner of his mouth and finally nodded. “Alright.”

Hu Ye and Mi Xue breathed a sigh of relief.

Qiao Qi, sitting on the bench, suddenly leaned over and said, “Xu Dian, since when do you listen to women so obediently? This doesn’t seem like you.”

He was clearly asking with a teasing, mischievous expression.

The question made everyone present subtly glance at Xu Dian. This was the first time Xu Dian had been asked something like this. He shot Qiao Qi a look, and Qiao Qi smiled. Honestly, Xu Dian had always been known as the cold, aloof young master in their circle. He really wanted the socialites of Li City to see what Xu Dian was like now.

He deliberately added, “Isn’t it a bit pathetic to listen to a woman like this?”

It seemed Qiao Qi had forgotten the pain of his past wounds and was deliberately provoking Xu Dian. Xu Dian walked over, and Qiao Qi froze for a moment, his muscles tensing slightly. Xu Dian planted his long leg on the chair, leaned down, and looked at Qiao Qi. “Listening to her doesn’t make me feel pathetic. But you? Do you want to kneel again?”

“Damn it,” Qiao Qi jumped up.

Xu Dian sneered, straightened up, and glanced at Meng Ying.

Meng Ying looked at him, picked up the bags from the bench, and Xu Dian, not getting even a hint of acknowledgment from her, felt a bit irritated. He walked around, took the bags from her hands, and headed toward the car parked by the roadside. Tall and imposing, dressed in a shirt and trousers, he looked every bit the elite, yet he was carrying two green shopping bags.

It was a mismatched sight, but it gave off a somewhat down-to-earth vibe.

The group hesitated for a moment before following. Hu Ye walked beside Meng Ying and said in a low voice, “Lately, he’s been doing a lot of things he never would have done before.”

“Meng Ying, you’re quite something.”

“Get in my car,” Xu Dian tapped the back seat of the car and said.

There were two other cars parked nearby, but for some reason, he deliberately emphasized that she should come sit in his car. Meng Ying didn’t overthink it and bent down to get in. Xu Dian closed the door for her, then leaned in and glanced at her. Meng Ying’s hair was a bit loose, so she tied it up, glancing back at him.

Seeing the slight curve at the corner of her eye, Xu Dian felt a bit more at ease. He got into the driver’s seat, took out his phone to put on some music, but noticed a new WeChat message.

**Zhou Yang:** How have you been lately? Any funny stories to share?

**Xu Dian:** Feeling restless.

**Zhou Yang:** Huh?

Xu Dian didn’t reply. He started the car, and the phone in the card slot buzzed again, lighting up with two new messages.

**Zhou Yang:** Oh? I get it. You’re restless because of her? Haven’t caught her yet, afraid she’ll run away? Not just that, but even a single look or word from her probably makes you nervous, right?

**Zhou Yang:** Damn, hahahahahaha, this is hilarious. Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

The car stopped at a red light, and Xu Dian glanced at the messages. He picked up the phone.

**Xu Dian:** Get lost.

**Xu Dian:** You think you’re an expert?

**Zhou Yang:** My ex-girlfriend used to do the same to me. Can’t help it, my charm is too much. I’d never experience something like that myself, though.

**Xu Dian:** Hmph.

He couldn’t be bothered to reply. He used to think he’d never experience it either.

But now, he was proven wrong.

After putting his phone away, Xu Dian glanced in the rearview mirror. Meng Ying was sitting in the back seat, her head slightly lowered as she played with her phone. Strands of hair fell loosely, creating a messy yet beautiful look.

His gaze swept over her neck, and Xu Dian felt a restless stir in his heart. Gripping the steering wheel, he suddenly stepped on the accelerator.

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