Chapter 69: Bar

On the way to the hotel, the atmosphere in the car remained chilly. Xu Dian was driving, with Xu Yi in the passenger seat, while Meng Ying and Zhao Qiao sat in the back. Zhao Qiao covered her mouth, winking at Meng Ying and pursing her lips, signaling that Xu Dian was still upset. Meng Ying, seeing Zhao Qiao acting like a mischievous child, couldn’t help but smile.

Zhao Qiao held Meng Ying’s hand tightly, clearly fond of her gentle and kind nature.

She whispered, “Xu Dian is too domineering. His father and I can’t control him.”

Because she lowered her voice, it felt like a small secret. Meng Ying listened quietly, not saying much. She had never thought Xu Dian was an easy person to get along with. On the contrary, he often used his charming smile to mask his true intentions, which were deep and unpredictable. His aloof demeanor and commanding presence made it clear that he was a strong-willed person.

Zhao Qiao glanced again at her son, who was gripping the steering wheel. She was still surprised. It was the first time she had seen him like this—not just the near-tearful expression, but also the faint trace of nervousness and helplessness hidden in his eyes. It was subtle, and you wouldn’t notice it unless you looked closely.

She instinctively tightened her grip on Meng Ying’s hand.

Xu Dian was finally learning to care deeply for someone, to truly invest in a relationship, and to understand the complexities of human emotions. She picked up her phone and quietly sent a message.

**Zhao Qiao:** *Did you see how our son looks?*

**Zhao Qiao:** *I’m so relieved.*

**Xu Yi:** *I saw.*

**Xu Yi:** *Mm.*

**Xu Yi:** *But you should behave for now.*

If they pushed him too far, Xu Dian might just pack them up and send them back to China. Xu Yi knew this well. Zhao Qiao pouted and typed again.

**Zhao Qiao:** *Do you think if Meng Ying got mad and told us not to leave, he’d still make us go?*

**Xu Yi:** *That’s a fair point.*

Xu Dian owned a property in Geneva, but he rarely stayed with his parents, just like in Licheng. Zhao Qiao and Xu Yi also preferred not to live with their son, so they checked into the Xu family’s hotel in Geneva. Their luggage had already been sent upstairs earlier. When the car arrived at the entrance, Xu Dian got out, tossed the keys to the valet, and opened the door for Meng Ying. She stepped out, still holding Zhao Qiao’s hand, and glanced at Xu Dian. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his jaw tight, clearly still upset. But he still gently steadied Meng Ying with a hand on her waist, making sure she was balanced. After Zhao Qiao got out, she pulled Meng Ying along, saying, “Come, let me show you around our hotel.”

The Geneva hotel had a bit of history, designed in the style of ancient Roman architecture. It had been in the family for generations. The ancestors had initially acquired the property without a clear purpose, but later reluctantly renovated it into a hotel. Surprisingly, it had become quite successful. The top floors were decorated in a Chinese style.

Many Chinese travelers and businesspeople visiting Geneva also chose to stay here.

When they reached the top floor and entered the suite, Zhao Qiao turned to Xu Dian and said, “From now on, whenever Meng Ying comes to Geneva for work, let’s arrange for her to stay at our hotel. We can reserve a room here for her.”

Xu Dian raised an eyebrow. “I have a place here. Why would she need to stay at the hotel?”

Zhao Qiao shot back, “What’s your relationship with her? Why should she stay at your place?”

Xu Dian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.

Meng Ying quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “I rarely come to Switzerland, and when I do, it’s usually arranged by the company. I don’t really get to choose, so Auntie, you don’t need to worry about me.”

Xu Yi also chimed in neutrally, “That’s right. Meng Ying is a celebrity, after all.”

Zhao Qiao muttered, “So stingy.”

With that, she pulled Meng Ying inside. Meng Ying thought to herself that Zhao Qiao really didn’t hold back when it came to Xu Dian. She coughed lightly and sat with Zhao Qiao for a while. Since Zhao Qiao usually took an afternoon nap, Meng Ying didn’t want to overstay her welcome. After a short while, she stood up to leave. Zhao Qiao was reluctant to let her go but couldn’t keep her any longer. She got up to see her off and glanced at Xu Dian.

Xu Dian adjusted his glasses and straightened his shirt. “I’ll take her.”

He opened the door and looked at Meng Ying. Meng Ying turned to say goodbye to Zhao Qiao, who found her demeanor utterly endearing. A few seconds later, Zhao Qiao stepped forward and hugged Meng Ying, whispering, “I won’t force you to accept Xu Dian. If you find someone else, I’ll still support you. I’ll even be your godmother and prepare your—”

Before she could finish the word “dowry,” Xu Dian pulled Meng Ying out of Zhao Qiao’s embrace and firmly shut the door.

Xu Yi reflexively wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist and said, “Stop talking. If he really cries, can you handle it?”

“I’m more worried he won’t cry,” Zhao Qiao huffed. She knew that Xu Dian had put his career in Licheng on hold to come to Geneva and pursue Meng Ying. During meetings, his employees stayed up late to accommodate his schedule, and Xu Dian had to handle a lot of things on his own. Xu Yi and Jiang Lu’s company was also just starting up, so Xu Yi couldn’t spare much time to help Xu Dian. Xu Dian was carrying a heavy burden alone, and it was exhausting.

But as a woman, Zhao Qiao empathized deeply. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted Meng Ying to be happy, even if it meant she didn’t end up with Xu Dian. As long as Meng Ying was happy, that was all that mattered.

This sentiment also resonated with Meng Ying. Standing in the elevator, holding her small bag, she felt a wave of warmth in her heart.

Xu Dian glanced down at her and said, “You should take my mom’s words with a grain of salt. Let them go in one ear and out the other.”

Meng Ying gave him a light look but didn’t respond.

Xu Dian’s expression darkened, and his hand in his pocket clenched tightly.

The black car dropped Meng Ying off at her apartment, and Xu Dian had to rush back to the company to deal with a pile of work. After returning to her apartment, Meng Ying noticed that her clothes had gotten a bit of sauce on them during lunch. Although it wasn’t very noticeable, it was still there. Seeing that it was still early, she decided to take a shower and change into fresh clothes.

Hu Ye and the others hadn’t returned yet, so Meng Ying went out for dinner. After eating, she came back, went upstairs, and started reading the script in her apartment. Hu Ye had mentioned that if she performed well, she could graduate early.

*Interstellar* and *Twins* were about to start their promotional tours.

However, Gu Yan was too busy and only gave a like, which didn’t stir up much buzz.

On the other hand, Li Yuan’er and Xu Qing had been frequently trending on social media lately. Li Yuan’er was trending because she had participated in a variety show where she was asked about her age and her standards for a future boyfriend. She casually listed some basic requirements, but another guest immediately called her out, saying that her past boyfriends didn’t meet those standards. Li Yuan’er exploded, engaging in a heated exchange with the guest and accidentally revealing some juicy details.

As a result, Weibo exploded.

Meng Ying knew that Xu Qing wasn’t pregnant—she had just overeaten.

She had been enjoying her vacation too much and lost control.

At that moment, the phone on the table rang. Meng Ying closed the script, leaned over, and picked it up. The caller was Zhu Min’er.

“Hello.”

The other end was noisy, with loud music blaring in the background. Meng Ying frowned slightly and heard Zhu Min’er’s low, tearful voice: “Meng Ying, I’m in so much pain.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Zhao Yue doesn’t care about me at all, and neither does Qiao Qi. He doesn’t like me. Both of them are so cruel to me.”

It was indeed an emotional issue.

Meng Ying sighed and said, “You were acting in a drama.”

“But Zhao Yue still slept with me. How can he just stop liking me like that?” Zhu Min’er’s voice was filled with bitterness, upset that she had given herself to someone who didn’t reciprocate her feelings.

“He moved on from the role, so his feelings changed. Min’er, you need to face reality. At most, what you had with him was a one-night stand.”

“A one-night stand? I never! I never defined it as a one-night stand,” Zhu Min’er protested, shaking her head.

Meng Ying: “…”

“I think I really liked him. Otherwise, why would I have slept with him? But how could he treat me like this?” Zhu Min’er’s voice grew even more aggrieved. And then there was Qiao Qi—why couldn’t he stay gentle with her? Why did he completely ignore her once the drama was over? She felt abandoned. Meng Ying didn’t say anything, just listened as Zhu Min’er cried even louder, her pain and frustration pouring through the phone. Meng Ying couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Zhu Min’er.

She was knowingly walking into a situation that would only hurt her.

“Min’er, where are you?” The noise on the other end grew louder, the music more intense, the clanging of metal instruments vibrating through the phone. Zhu Min’er let out a drunken hiccup and said, “I’m at a bar. I’ve had a bit to drink. Meng Ying, come and keep me company. Don’t tell the teacher or his wife. I don’t want them to see me like this, so pathetic.”

Meng Ying: “I can’t come to drink with you, but I can pick you up and take you home.”

“Fine, then I’ll buy some more drinks to take back with me,” Zhu Min’er said, covering her mouth as she hiccuped again. She was truly miserable and had no one else to turn to but Meng Ying.

Meng Ying glanced at the time. It was still early, so she hung up, grabbed her wallet, and headed downstairs. She hailed a taxi and rushed to the bar address Zhu Min’er had sent her. It was a bar in the Chinese district, which made Meng Ying feel slightly more at ease. She paid the driver and got out of the car.

As soon as she stepped inside, a wave of colorful lights, the smell of alcohol, and perfume hit her. Even though it was a bar in the Chinese district, there were still many foreigners. The place was packed and crowded. Meng Ying moved quickly, weaving through the crowd to the booth where Zhu Min’er was supposed to be. But when she arrived, Zhu Min’er wasn’t there. Meng Ying scanned the area and finally spotted Zhu Min’er staggering out of the restroom. Meng Ying hurried over and reached out to grab Zhu Min’er’s arm.

But just as she did, a rough, dark hand grabbed Meng Ying’s arm instead. Startled, Meng Ying looked up and saw a burly foreign man. “Hello?”

“What’s your name?” the man asked first in German, then in English. His arms were covered in tattoos, large and sprawling.

He gripped Meng Ying’s arm tightly, his eyes scanning her up and down. Meng Ying’s breath caught in her throat. She struggled, but with Zhu Min’er beside her, it was difficult. The man pulled Meng Ying closer, laughing as if it were a game, tugging her and then letting go. In English, he said, “So pretty. Chinese women, so petite.”

His words were vulgar and lewd.

Just then, a man forcefully pushed the foreigner aside and pulled Meng Ying into his arms. A familiar, cool scent filled her nostrils.

In the dim light, Meng Ying saw Xu Dian’s sharp jawline. He tilted his head, his gaze icy as he glared at the man. The foreigner, pushed back, clutched his wrist in pain.

He stumbled into a table, knocking over glasses and bottles, which crashed to the floor. He straightened up and pointed at Xu Dian, but before he could do anything, a beer bottle came flying toward them.

“Xu Dian!” Meng Ying couldn’t help but cry out.

But Xu Dian pushed her aside, his voice low and firm. “Go. Now.”

Meng Ying almost lost her grip on Zhu Min’er, and the two of them stumbled into a table. She glanced at the situation unfolding before her—the atmosphere was tense and volatile.

Many people were standing on tables, waving their clothes, while a group of Chinese patrons stood up, and a group of foreigners did the same. Meng Ying took one last look at Xu Dian, then quickly pulled Zhu Min’er toward the exit. Once outside, she grabbed her phone and called Hu Ye, Zhao Yue, Qiao Qi, and then Yan Xing. Before she could finish dialing Yan Xing’s number, she saw him emerging from the side. She quickly handed Zhu Min’er over to him.

Meng Ying pulled up her mask and ran back inside. Just as she arrived, she saw Xu Dian kick the man with a long, powerful leg, sending him to the ground. Then, the man pulled out a gun.

He pointed it at Xu Dian, but Xu Dian moved swiftly, his long, slender fingers gripping the man’s wrist and twisting it inward.

“Ah—!” The man howled in pain.

In the next second, the gun was pointed at the man’s forehead.

The entire room held its breath.

Xu Dian stepped on the man’s thigh, leaned down, and said in German, “She’s mine.”

The man was drenched in sweat, but Xu Dian remained as steady as a mountain. His silver-rimmed glasses didn’t even tilt, though his shirt was slightly disheveled. His handsome face was cold and hard, exuding an overwhelming aura of dominance and ferocity.

It was terrifying.

The Chinese patrons who understood what was said immediately started cheering. Meng Ying, hiding in the crowd, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Xu Dian was unharmed. But then she noticed someone glancing her way.

She froze, instinctively lowering her head.

“#@$%^&*!” The man spewed a string of curses. The bar owner, having watched the scene play out, finally stepped in. He patted Xu Dian’s shoulder and said something that made Xu Dian release his grip. As soon as Xu Dian let go, the man’s hand dropped to the floor, and the gun fell with it.

Xu Dian stood up, adjusted his collar, and scanned the room. His eyes landed on Meng Ying in the crowd.

Seeing that he was completely unharmed, Meng Ying felt a wave of relief. Xu Dian pushed through the crowd, walked up to her, and in the next second, scooped her up by the waist. He turned and carried her toward the exit.

Meng Ying was startled and instinctively tried to sit up, reaching out to grab him. But she heard him inhale sharply, and she froze, noticing blood on his arm.

Xu Dian gave her a cold glance but said nothing.

He was angry.

Meng Ying hesitated, wanting to check his arm, but Xu Dian roughly shoved her into the car and then went around to the driver’s seat. Meng Ying sat up straight, glancing out the window to see Hu Ye, Zhao Yue, and Qiao Qi arriving. She breathed a sigh of relief, but the car sped off quickly. Meng Ying remembered his arm again and leaned forward. “Your arm—”

“Shut up,” Xu Dian’s voice was low and icy.

When the car arrived at the apartment and stopped, Xu Dian didn’t open the door, and Meng Ying didn’t dare move. She knew why he was angry. In a soft voice, she said, “I just wanted to get her out of there. I’m sorry.”

She had thought she could handle it.

But luck wasn’t on her side.

Zhu Min’er had been drinking there without any issues, yet the moment Meng Ying went to pick her up, trouble erupted.

Her apology was quiet, and Xu Dian, who had been about to light a cigarette, paused. His irritation grew, but he found he couldn’t stand hearing her apologize. In an instant, his anger subsided. He put the cigarette down and glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Don’t do something like that again. While you’re here, unless it’s Hu Ye’s place, you need to tell me wherever you’re going.”

“Okay,” Meng Ying admitted her mistake.

A second later, she added, “Let me help you clean the wound.”

Xu Dian glanced at the blood on his arm and nodded.

“Fine.”

Five minutes later, Xu Dian was sitting on a chair, and Meng Ying had brought out the apartment’s first aid kit, placing it on the sofa. She sat down and saw the wound on Xu Dian’s arm—it had been cut by a glass bottle. His white shirt was stained with blood. Xu Dian slowly unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it down, revealing his strong, well-defined arm. He took off his glasses and set them aside, his fingers lightly toying with them.

Meng Ying used a cotton swab to disinfect the wound, her slender, delicate hands trembling slightly as she tried not to press too hard. After disinfecting it, she opened a tube of ointment and squeezed some out.

Just as she leaned in to apply it, Xu Dian suddenly closed the distance, his lips capturing hers in a firm kiss.

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