I put down my briefcase and immediately replied to Mi Cai’s message, telling her I would arrive at her villa in about half an hour. In truth, I was actually looking forward to seeing what kind of meal she would prepare. However, the fact that Mi Zhongde’s family was also coming as guests made me feel somewhat uneasy, because I had never really gotten along with this family. Although our relationship had improved somewhat, the lingering resentment was still difficult to eliminate.
After getting into the car, I drove towards the villa where Mi Cai lived. It was rush hour, and the traffic was heavy. I had a very difficult time driving through, and finally got stuck completely on a small road that had come to a total standstill.
During the long wait, I rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette to relieve the fatigue of a hard day’s work, and suddenly my phone rang again. I thought it might be another message from Mi Cai urging me to hurry, but it was actually from Leyao. That’s when I remembered sending her a message in the morning to check in and ask how she was doing lately.
Her reply was full of aggression: “Stop worrying about me and think about how to live your own twisted life properly!”
I felt helpless and replied only after a while: “You used the word ‘twisted’ very appropriately. I didn’t expect you to have such a talent for language!”
“Hehe.”
“You’re acting up again!”
“Who do you think you are, talking like a Beijinger? Stop saying ‘you’ and ‘you’ again. No matter how hard you try, you can’t escape your suburban vibe!”
“You’re the one acting crazy!”
“I’m acting crazy? Why don’t you take a good look at yourself in the mirror? You’re getting worse by the day, a total mess. You always start arguments with everyone you meet, and you never finish anything properly. I spent all that time back home telling you to be a decent person, but all my words were wasted. The moment I leave, you start acting all high and mighty, living off nothing but your big mouth…”
Leyao’s authentic Beijing-style cursing left me a bit dazed. I didn’t know how to respond for a while and felt like I had brought it upon myself. Finally, I replied: “If I ever text you again, I’m your grandson!”
“Look at you, who cares about your messages anyway!”
“You’re seriously heartless! Why don’t you try acting tough in front of me just once…”
Leyao didn’t reply to my message, but I was deeply surprised. She suddenly seemed split in my mind. Had she always been like this? Could it be that she couldn’t adapt to the environment in Singapore and ended up developing a split personality?
I shuddered, not daring to think further. I noticed the cars ahead beginning to move, so I quickly shifted gears and continued driving with the traffic towards Mi Cai’s house.
…
After driving for a while, the road gradually widened. I rolled up the window a bit, and the neon lights on the street were reflected on the glass. I couldn’t help but see them and suddenly felt lonely, as my body was being reflected by the dazzling city lights, yet I couldn’t blend into this world of luxury and glamour.
The neon lights became denser, and instinctively, I thought of the flickering lights in the bar. I then recalled those countless nights when Leyao and I used to drink and hang out together. Back then, she never treated me like this. Thinking about it now, so many things couldn’t withstand the test of time. After several years, she had gradually grown tired of me… Well, let her be tired of me then. Better than being randomly worried about. Thinking carefully, she was pretty annoying too. So, if I ever start randomly worrying about her again, I really am your grandson!
While lost in these thoughts, I finally arrived at Mi Cai’s villa. The gate was open, and there was a black Mercedes and a red R8 parked in the yard. I knew Mi Zhongde’s family had already arrived, and my mood subtly changed again. Sometimes, it really felt awkward when I met Mi Zhongde. Even greeting him seemed difficult. The shadow he had left me with was just too heavy.
I got out of the car and approached the door, pressed the doorbell, and waited. Mi Cai opened the door. She was wearing slippers and still had an apron on, clearly ready to handle the cooking herself. I smiled at her and then leaned forward to peek inside. Mi Lan was sitting on the sofa watching TV, while Mi Zhongde was reading the newspaper. I quietly asked, “Where is your aunt?”
“She’s helping in the kitchen.”
I nodded. At this moment, the relaxed atmosphere inside the house really gave off a sense of family. At this point, Mi Zhongde stood up, came towards me, smiled, and said, “You’re here!”
“…Sorry for making you all wait.”
Mi Zhongde didn’t seem to mind that I hadn’t addressed him with a respectful title like “Uncle.” He then gestured for me to come in. I nodded and walked in with him. I felt that he seemed more peaceful than before, almost like an elderly person enjoying retirement. In fact, he wasn’t that old—only in his fifties—and looked even younger, with barely any wrinkles, aside from some white hair.
After entering the house, Mi Lan still didn’t acknowledge me, but she did move to give me a seat. I sat down beside her. Mi Zhongde poured me a cup of Pu’er tea and asked, “What have you been up to lately?”
His initiative to engage in conversation made me somewhat uncomfortable. I took the teacup from his hand, awkwardly said “Thank you,” and then replied, “Just dealing with some company stuff.”
Mi Zhongde took a sip of tea, still smiling, and said, “I’ve been following your company. Yang Congrong and Jian Boyu’s daughter have both invested in it. They are both very influential people in the business world. You’re quite lucky. Work hard, and you will definitely achieve something in the tourism industry!”
I nodded without saying much because what I had now wasn’t really much related to me. As Mi Zhongde said, I was just lucky.
Mi Zhongde patted my shoulder and said, “Xiao Cai has good judgment. After you two get married and take over Zhuo Mei, I will feel very reassured!”
Mi Lan, who had been watching TV without saying a word, finally spoke up, “Him? He knows his own abilities best. The establishment of Lukou Travel had little to do with him. Everyone in the industry knows it was actually his ex-girlfriend who supported it behind the scenes. I think it’s not that my sister has good judgment—it’s that he has good judgment, having such a capable ex-girlfriend by his side!”
My expression immediately turned sour, but I had no words to refute her because what Mi Lan said was true, though her way of saying it was hard to accept. The relationship between me and Jian Wei was indeed quite awkward…
Mi Zhongde immediately reprimanded her: “Every investor in the industry is an elite. Their decision to invest must mean they recognize the company’s development potential. You are also a manager of a group company. Don’t look at investments with such a narrow, gossipy perspective. That’s very immature!”
Mi Lan didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t bother arguing with her either because I knew she was just straightforward to the point of being blunt!
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