Chapter 77: Hangover Soup

Just as netizens and fans were drooling over the photos of the man tying Meng Ying’s shoe strap and casually dissing “Xu Dian,” the very man they were mocking suddenly posted this on Weibo.

Instantly, the boiling pot of oil quieted down for a moment.

That brief pause was only to prepare for the next wave of frenzied screaming.

“No way! Is this for real? Xu Dian, don’t just claim any random photo as yourself.”

“AHHHHHHHH! Is this true? Is it really you?”

“AHHHHHHHH! Are you sure? Are you sure that’s you? I was having such a good time roasting you earlier.”

“I once said… ‘ugly people cause drama,’ and now my face is so swollen.”

“Dead. My face is so swollen.”

“If you’re this good-looking, why were you hiding before? You think I’ll believe it? I don’t!!”

“AHHHHH! Sister Meng Ying, come out and clarify! Is that your boyfriend?”

“Lately… this Xu Dian has been acting like a fake account with how active he is.”

“Same feeling.”

“I feel like he really likes Sister Meng Ying. He’s been lowering himself to prove things on Weibo.”

“Sister Meng Ying is so lucky.”

“I take back what I said before. You two are a great match. Your future kids will have amazing genes.”

Meng Ying, sitting in the restroom, had just finished reading the previous trending topic and was hesitating whether to post a Weibo to clarify. She thought Xu Dian probably wouldn’t want to expose himself, but then, in the next second, Xu Dian posted a new Weibo, confirming his identity and even joining the trending topic discussion.

As a result, “Xu Dian from Xu Corporation is the man who tied the shoe strap” also climbed to the bottom of the trending list.

Xu Qing, having watched this entire drama unfold, sent Meng Ying a WeChat message:

**Xu Qing**: Is Xu Dian panicking or something?

She still remembered two years ago when Meng Ying had mentally prepared herself for the possibility of their relationship going public at any moment.

But back then, she never got the chance.

Two years later, Xu Dian personally revealed their rekindled relationship, breaking his usual rule of staying out of the public eye. His bold moves came one after another.

The way he stepped forward to prove himself mirrored exactly how Meng Ying had felt back then.

Nervous.

Uneasy.

Anxious.

Truly, the tables had turned.

**Xu Qing**: Congratulations.

The congratulations needed no explanation. Only when someone truly cares do they act this way. Meng Ying replied to Xu Qing with a sticker, then prepared to send Xu Dian a WeChat message.

However, Liu Qin pushed the door open and poked her head in. “Meng Ying, Xu Dian’s car is at the back door. He said he’ll take you to the next cinema for the roadshow.”

Even though it was already late, Meng Ying still had three or four more cinemas to visit. She nodded, stood up, and Xiao Meng quickly grabbed Meng Ying’s small bag, following closely behind. As they exited through the back door, a black Hummer was parked there. Xu Dian opened the car door, pulled Meng Ying inside, and with a bit of force, she ended up in his arms.

He smiled, took the bag from Xiao Meng, placed it beside him, and then leaned down to kiss Meng Ying.

The car window rolled up.

Meng Ying sat up straight, smoothing her clothes. Xu Dian wrapped his arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I haven’t even adjusted to the time difference yet.”

Meng Ying: “Why didn’t you go back to Licheng?”

“What do you think?” Xu Dian pinched her chin, turning her face toward him. Today, he wasn’t wearing his glasses, and his peach-blossom eyes sparkled with amusement. Meng Ying reached out, leisurely straightening his collar. “Is it okay for you to show your face like this today?”

He had always preferred to stay low-key. During the filming of *Leisure Time*, he had appeared briefly, but back then, there wasn’t much news about him, and his identity remained unknown.

But now, with his face and name directly linked on the trending list, Meng Ying couldn’t help but feel the need to ask.

Xu Dian tilted his chin up, letting her adjust his collar. “If you were about to fall, would I just stand there and not help?”

“Alright then.” Meng Ying let it go, no longer dwelling on it. She said, “I still have three more cinemas to visit.”

“I’ll go with you.” Xu Dian’s fingertips brushed against the corner of her lips.

As soon as the words left her mouth.

Jiang Yi, who was driving in the front, suddenly glanced at the rearview mirror. Meng Ying happened to look up at the same time, and their eyes met. Jiang Yi quickly averted his gaze, his movement so hurried and guilty that it was impossible to miss.

Meng Ying raised an eyebrow.

When she looked back at the rearview mirror, it was empty again.

She continued adjusting Xu Dian’s collar, her slender, soft fingers occasionally brushing against his neck. Xu Dian’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and the fingers resting on her red lips pressed down a little harder.

At that moment, a WeChat notification popped up on Xu Dian’s phone. Jiang Yi took the opportunity to hand the phone over.

From Meng Ying’s position, she could clearly see that the message was from Zhou Yang.

And the opening line read: “Congratulations! The plan worked…”

Sometimes, a woman’s intuition is terrifyingly accurate. She reached out to take the phone, but Xu Dian was a step too late. He hesitated for a moment, and before he could stop her, Meng Ying tapped on the message.

“Let me see.”

Xu Dian cursed under his breath, unlocked the phone with his fingerprint, and the message was revealed.

**Zhou Yang**: Congratulations! The plan worked. Your shoelace-tying technique is quite smooth, impressive.

Meng Ying looked up at Xu Dian.

Xu Dian removed his fingers from her lips, sat up straight, and leaned back, covering his forehead. “It’s not what you think…”

After saying that, he kicked the back of the driver’s seat with his long leg.

Jiang Yi tightened his grip on the steering wheel, and after a few seconds, he stammered, “Xu Dian was planning to pick you up at the back door after your roadshow, let the media take a few photos, and solidify your relationship. But he didn’t expect you to almost fall, so he rushed to help you without thinking and ended up tying your shoelace.”

“As a result, after tying the shoelace, it went viral. Xu Dian originally wanted the fans to figure out it was him on their own, but not only did they not realize, they… they even dissed him.”

“So, that’s why you posted on Weibo?” Meng Ying tugged at Xu Dian’s collar. She had been curious about him showing his face, but this guy had already been scheming about how to reveal himself publicly.

Xu Dian let go of her, turned his head, and let out a soft “Mm.”

“You’re something else.” Meng Ying released his collar and kicked him lightly.

Xu Dian froze for a second, then turned back and wrapped his arms around her waist. At that moment, they arrived at the second cinema. Fans and media were gathered at the front entrance. Meng Ying tapped on the window and asked, “Can people outside see inside?”

Xu Dian held her tightly, his tone almost pleading. “No, they can’t.”

“I need to go now.” Meng Ying tried to pull his hand away. Xu Dian pressed his thin lips to the back of her neck, sucking gently. Meng Ying felt her legs go weak and said, “Let go, Liu Qin and the others are coming over.”

The security guards had already cleared a path, and Liu Qin and Xiao Meng got out of the car, rushing over. Only then did Xu Dian let go, helping to open the car door.

Suddenly, the noise and screams from outside flooded in. Meng Ying, wearing her dress and today’s high heels, stepped out. Behind her, in the backseat of the Hummer, a man in a black shirt could be vaguely seen, reaching out to hold Meng Ying’s wrist, ensuring she landed safely. As soon as Meng Ying steadied herself on the ground, the Hummer’s door closed, and the man’s handsome profile, along with the flash of a black wristwatch, disappeared behind the door.

That fleeting glimpse.

The screams from the crowd grew even louder, almost lifting the roof.

“AHHHHHH! Yingying, you’re so beautiful!”

“AHHHHHH! Was that Xu Dian?”

“It must be him! Oh my god, I’ll never call him ugly again.”

“I want to cry.”

“I finally got to see Xu Dian in person.”

“AHHHHHHHH!”

“Meng Ying, you’ve got this! We’ll always support you!”

Xu Dian’s almost-but-not-quite reveal only made him more intriguing. No wonder the fans were screaming nonstop. The man had just admitted on Weibo that he was the one who tied Meng Ying’s shoelace, and now they had caught a glimpse of him in person…

Even if it was just his profile, his hand, his wrist, and that watch…

Meng Ying maintained her smile, nodding at the crowd before lifting her dress and walking toward the theater under the escort of her team.

Because of the slight delay, as soon as she entered, Meng Ying had to touch up her makeup before stepping onto the stage. She handed her phone and small bag to Liu Qin, who wouldn’t casually check her messages but simply secured the bag.

As soon as she stepped inside.

Her phone in the bag buzzed several times. Liu Qin didn’t check it, just made sure the bag was safely stored.

In the dark environment.

**Xu Dian**: The other party has withdrawn a message.

**Xu Dian**: The other party has withdrawn a message.

**Xu Dian**: There are some matters in Licheng that need to be handled. I’ve booked a suite for you at the Hilton. After the roadshow, go straight there. Don’t stay at hotels with poor hygiene.

The premiere had already started, and the fans had taken their seats. Xu Dian rubbed the bridge of his nose, put on his silver-rimmed glasses, and glanced at Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi immediately straightened up and coughed awkwardly.

Xu Dian’s voice was low. “Why were you looking at her for no reason?”

“You can’t even hide it properly.”

“At this rate, if Wen Yao ever decides to sell you out, you’d probably help her count the money.”

Jiang Yi’s head drooped lower and lower.

“Drive,” Xu Dian said in a deep voice.

Jiang Yi quickly started the car, and the black Hummer turned onto the main road. At a red light, Jiang Yi glanced at Xu Dian.

He saw Xu Dian tapping on his phone for a long time, only to withdraw the messages he had just sent.

Suddenly, Jiang Yi remembered Yan Xing’s words.

“Your boss only acts tough with us. In front of Miss Meng, he’s just a little lamb.”

Jiang Yi: “…”

True.

That makes sense.

After finishing the second roadshow, Meng Ying finally checked her WeChat and saw that Xu Dian had withdrawn two more messages. She typed a reply.

**Meng Ying**: What did you withdraw?

**Meng Ying**: Which Hilton did you book?

Xu Dian replied after a while.

**Xu Dian**: You’ll be going to Linshi tonight, right? The Hilton in Linshi.

He didn’t answer the question about what he had withdrawn.

Dongshi, Linshi, and Yuanshi were three small cities located close to each other, making it possible to visit all three in a single day. Meng Ying decided not to dwell on the matter any further and closed her eyes to rest for a bit. By the time the third roadshow ended and they left the cinema, it was already completely dark. Meng Ying and her team hurriedly ate dinner in the restroom.

Liu Qin, following the address Xu Dian had provided, went to check out the Hilton. She was stunned by how luxurious it was. And after checking in, it was even more impressive. The comfort was unparalleled, and soon after, someone delivered a meal that far surpassed what they had eaten at the cinema—it was practically a lavish feast. Li Yuan’er, staying at the Anjia Hotel across the street, saw the treatment Meng Ying was receiving and was green with envy. She sent Meng Ying a flurry of photos.

**Li Yuan’er**: Damn, the hotel Xu Dian arranged for you is so exclusive that you can’t even get in without a membership, you know?

**Meng Ying**: Want to come over and have some food?

**Li Yuan’er**: Nah, I’m exhausted. We still have two more cities to hit tomorrow.

**Meng Ying**: Alright.

After dinner, Meng Ying was also worn out. She took a shower, called Meng Xiao to check on Chen Jiao’s condition, and then sent Xu Dian a WeChat message.

**Meng Ying**: I’m about to sleep.

**Xu Dian**: So soon?

**Meng Ying**: Yeah, I’m tired.

**Xu Dian**: Alright, goodnight.

**Meng Ying**: Goodnight.

After sending those last two words, Meng Ying collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

The next morning, Meng Ying groggily washed up, did some yoga, and then got into the business van. Liu Qin suddenly handed her a tablet with a finance news article on it. Normally, Meng Ying didn’t pay much attention to such things, and neither did Liu Qin, but a notification had popped up that morning. Since Liu Qin had woken up early, she happened to see it.

**[Xu Corporation’s Lighting Subsidiary Sued for Copyright Infringement]**

Clicking into the article, it was filled with technical jargon, but one thing was clear: the company had been taken to court. No wonder Xu Dian had been in such a hurry to return to Licheng yesterday.

Meng Ying was now wide awake.

She glanced at the time—it was a little past 8 a.m. Hesitating for a moment, she dialed Xu Dian’s number.

The phone rang for a while before he finally answered, his voice low. “You’re awake?”

He was the one asking first.

Meng Ying hummed in acknowledgment. “I saw the news.”

“Oh?” There was the sound of papers rustling on Xu Dian’s end, as if he had just remembered the news. “It’s fine, we’re handling it.”

“But didn’t you not adjust to the time difference?”

Xu Dian chuckled softly. “How can I adjust to the time difference without sleeping next to you?”

Meng Ying: “…”

Alright, no need to continue this conversation.

After a brief exchange, they hung up. Over the next few days, Meng Ying was swamped with work. She occasionally checked the financial news and noticed that Xu Dian’s situation seemed to be getting more complicated. News articles kept popping up one after another. Although they were mostly objective reports, they were still nerve-wracking.

Fans also started noticing this.

Some even sent her private messages saying:

“Is Xu Dian in trouble?”

“He’s been so quiet on Weibo lately.”

Meng Ying took the time to reply to a few of the more familiar fans before diving back into her busy schedule. A month later, the news about Xu Corporation had died down significantly, and Meng Ying finally returned to Licheng. Chen Jiao had already been discharged from the hospital and was recuperating at Xinyue Community. After a month of constant travel, Meng Ying walked into her home, which had been tidied up but now had many new additions that felt unfamiliar.

Meng Xiao had returned to Tianjin City to continue his studies.

Meng Yulin was taking care of Chen Jiao. When he saw Meng Ying return, he quickly went to heat up some food.

Meng Ying sat down to eat. Just as she finished, she saw Meng Yulin wheeling out a suitcase, and Chen Jiao carrying a bag, closing the bedroom door behind her. “We need to go back to Tianjin City. Your brother has been cooking for himself on weekends, and he’s not very good at it. He’s still growing, so I’ve bought a lot of groceries for you and made some egg tarts and sauce pancakes. They’re in the fridge.”

Meng Ying wiped her lips and didn’t try to stop them, only asking, “Did you buy the train tickets?”

“Yes, yes,” Meng Yulin replied, glancing at his daughter a few more times. “By the way, Zhao Qian and Xu Yi—are they Xu Dian’s parents?”

“Yes.”

Chen Jiao’s eyes lit up. “They came to visit me when I was in the hospital. Your dad and I weren’t sure, but now that you’re back, make sure to keep in touch with them.”

“Got it.” Meng Ying didn’t need Chen Jiao to remind her. She picked up her bag and called for the company car to take them to the high-speed rail station.

After returning home, Meng Ying started cleaning up. She sorted through the things Meng Yulin and Chen Jiao had left behind, throwing out what was unnecessary to restore the house to its original state. By the time she finished, it was already evening. Meng Ying sat on the sofa, holding her phone, and sent Xu Dian a WeChat message.

**Meng Ying**: Have you eaten?

There was no reply.

Meng Ying didn’t press further. Over the past month, he had been busy handling the company’s issues, and their phone calls had become less frequent.

She got up to make herself something to eat.

Xu Qing and Gu Sui had gone abroad again.

Meng Ying sat back on the sofa, pulled out her notebook, and started calculating her finances. She planned to buy a car, invest in another property, and use the remaining money for financial planning and potential projects. By the time she finished, it was almost 10 p.m. Her phone rang just then.

She glanced at it—it was Xu Dian.

She answered.

But it wasn’t Xu Dian’s voice on the other end. It was Zhou Yang’s. Zhou Yang spoke in a low tone, “You’re back?”

“Yeah.”

Zhou Yang hummed and said, “Should I send Xu Dian over to you?”

“What’s wrong with him?” Meng Ying put down her pen and asked.

“He’s been drinking. He’s been dealing with this mess for a month, and today he had to entertain some elders. He drank quite a bit,” Zhou Yang explained. In the background, some young male voices chimed in.

“Is that sister-in-law?”

“Boss’s wife?”

“Sister Meng Ying, right?”

“When are you coming out to meet us? We haven’t seen you in person yet.”

A chorus of male voices teased, and Meng Ying felt a little embarrassed on the other end. These people were way too familiar. Zhou Yang chuckled and said, “I’ll have Jiang Yi drive him back. Make sure to open the door for him.”

“Thanks for the trouble,” Meng Ying said.

Zhou Yang laughed on the other end. “No problem, we’re all family.”

“You’re the one who can keep Xu Dian in check. The socialites in our circle still can’t believe it.”

Meng Ying could hear the teasing in his tone.

After a moment of thought, she shot back, “With your high emotional intelligence, Zhou Yang, I wonder what kind of woman will eventually come along and completely win you over.”

“That woman probably hasn’t been born yet. I’m willing to wait for her,” Zhou Yang replied with a laugh. Then he added, “But Meng Ying, you’re something else. Xu Dian went through all that trouble to make sure you two could step into the spotlight together, even arranging for the media. And he was so worried you might not agree if you found out…”

“Wasn’t that your idea, though?” Meng Ying fired back with a smile.

Zhou Yang: “…”

Zhou Yang: “The point isn’t that. The point is his fear.”

Meng Ying: “My point is that.”

Zhou Yang was clearly fishing for information. Perhaps because he had seen Meng Ying in a vulnerable state before, he now wanted to hear how she felt seeing Xu Dian in a similar position. Was it pity? Or was she enjoying the show?

Meng Ying, of course, wasn’t going to let him have the satisfaction.

These were two completely different scenarios.

Unable to get what he wanted, Zhou Yang had no choice but to hang up. Meng Ying put down her phone and headed into the kitchen to prepare some hangover soup. About twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Meng Ying wiped her hands and walked out of the kitchen to answer the door.

Xu Dian had already loosened his tie, his neck slightly flushed. As soon as the door opened, he leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss. Meng Ying braced herself against the door, tilting her head to let him kiss her. The strong scent of alcohol was overwhelming.

He had clearly been drinking heavily, his peach-blossom eyes clouded with drunkenness. Meng Ying tugged at his tie, pulling him inside and closing the door behind them.

Xu Dian changed his shoes, saying little, and wrapped his arms around her again, seeking another kiss. Meng Ying pushed him toward the sofa, and Xu Dian stumbled slightly before reluctantly sitting down.

He rubbed his temples with his fingers, his knuckles prominent, and rested his elbows on his knees.

Meng Ying glanced at him before heading back to the kitchen. She returned with a bowl of hangover soup and handed it to him. “Drink this, or you’ll have a killer headache tomorrow.”

Xu Dian unbuttoned his cuffs and looked up, catching the familiar scent. His gaze fell on the bowl, the orange liquid swirling gently inside.

Xu Dian grabbed Meng Ying’s wrist with his free hand. Meng Ying was startled and exclaimed, “Hey…”

Xu Dian took the bowl of soup and placed it on the coffee table, then pulled Meng Ying firmly into his arms. She fell onto his lap, and Xu Dian buried his face in her neck.

In a low voice, he murmured, “I finally get to drink this soup again.”

Meng Ying wrapped her arms around his neck, hesitating for a moment before turning her head slightly.

But then she felt something wet on her neck, like tears.

Meng Ying: “…”

Suddenly, she remembered what Zhou Yang had said earlier about Xu Dian’s fear.

This man, really.

Meng Ying played with the collar of his shirt, her voice soft and sweet. “Tell me, how many bowls do you want to drink?”

“Is a hundred bowls enough?”

Xu Dian: “…”

Meng Ying smirked.

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