Chapter 21: Trouble Has Come

Both of them assumed it was one of the maids coming to serve them. Because they were so engrossed in their conversation, and Chen Mengyun rarely entered Chen Moqun’s room without warning, the situation became awkward.

As soon as Chen Moqun saw Chen Mengyun, he immediately pointed at Lu Chengwen and shouted, "Lu Chengwen! What kind of nonsense are you spouting? That is my sister, the one I respect, admire, adore, and love the most... my big sister!"

Lu Chengwen felt like he was losing his mind.

[Why is she home? Didn't they say she rarely comes back?]
[How much of what I just said did she hear? Looking at that expression, she must have heard it all.]
[Damn it! Am I not completely finished now?]

"I-I'm sorry, I think I... I had too much to drink," Lu Chengwen said, feeling a bit nervous.

"Sister, it’s like this, Chengwen didn't mean to..." Chen Moqun stood up, trying to play the peacemaker.

"Get out!"

"You got it." Chen Moqun tucked his tail between his legs and bolted, not hesitating for a second.

Watching the disloyal, spineless fat man disappear in a flash, Lu Chengwen was left to face an enraged Chen Mengyun on his own.

"I’m sorry, I really did have a bit to drink, and I was speaking without thinking. I apologize..."

Chen Mengyun looked at Lu Chengwen, her eyes filled with anger, humiliation, and heartbreak. Her voice trembled, "Lu Chengwen, after we broke up, you went around telling everyone I was a slut in bed, and now you’re saying things like this in front of my brother. I really want to know, what did our time together ever mean to you?"

Lu Chengwen wanted to slap himself. Men, sometimes, are just like this. They enjoy discussing women with their best friends. The closer the friend, the more boundary-less the conversation—talking about who has a big chest, who has a shapely butt... This doesn't necessarily mean they have low moral standards—though, of course, Lu Chengwen and Chen Moqun were exceptions; their moral standards had indeed never been very high.

But this kind of bantering style of conversation is common among men. It's like a seasoning in life, just blowing off steam, forgotten as soon as it's said. But if a woman hears it—especially the woman involved—the situation is entirely different. It is an insult, a belittlement, and a grave lack of respect toward her. Especially for a girl as relatively pure as Chen Mengyun, it was impossible to accept that her first love would talk about her that way.

Seeing the tears fall from Chen Mengyun’s eyes, Lu Chengwen said guiltily, "It really was just a joke, and I haven't been going around badmouthing you."

"To you, am I just a woman you once played with? Once the clothes are off, are all women the same to you? Just your big toy, right?"

"I never 'played' with you!" Lu Chengwen insisted. "I really didn't, and I never said those things. Someone must be spreading rumors. You know how it is with our status; when we were in school, gossip was flying everywhere. How much of it was ever true?"

"Is it fun to brag to everyone that you’ve slept with the eldest daughter of the Chen family, Chen Mengyun? Do you feel proud? Does it give you face?"

"Stop it, please, I was wrong."

Chen Mengyun pulled out her phone and started dialing.

"Are you calling the police?"

"Hello, Hu Shuhui? Didn't you say you wanted to take me out to dinner? I’m free today."

Lu Chengwen’s eyes widened instantly. Hu Shuhui!? Oh, for heaven’s sake! One of the villains! He pursues Chen Mengyun, drugs her during dinner, and just as he’s about to succeed, Long Aotian kicks him in the groin, and then...

Oh no! This plotline was triggered ahead of schedule by me! The critical thing is that Long Aotian took the day off—he’s not at work, big sister! If you go to dinner with him, isn't that a little white lamb voluntarily walking up to the big bad wolf?

Lu Chengwen said immediately, "Mengyun, you can’t associate with Hu Shuhui, and you definitely cannot go to dinner with him."

"Why? Who are you to me to be so bossy?"

"It’s not like that! Hu Shuhui is no good; he’s up to no good!"

"Is there anyone in this world worse than you? Is there anyone more of a scumbag than you?"

Lu Chengwen was speechless.

"Anyway... even if you want to eat with him, can you make it for tomorrow? Whatever you do with him tomorrow, I won't care."

"I’ll eat whenever I want to eat. Let me tell you, I’ve been waiting for you all these years, I’ve been waiting!" Chen Mengyun shouted, "I thought you would change, that you would settle down, and that you would remember the little things from our childhood. But I never imagined that in your heart, I was so frivolous, so cheap, so worthless!"

"You're not worthless, you're priceless! Mengyun, I was wrong, you can't have dinner with Hu Shuhui, he really isn't a good person!"

Chen Mengyun turned to leave, and Lu Chengwen grabbed her, "Mengyun, I beg you, every mistake is mine, just give me one more chance!"

Chen Mengyun sneered at him, "You said the same thing back then. It’s laughable that you actually thought you could keep using that line and that I would keep believing it. Lu Chengwen, I am no longer that little girl who could be easily deceived by your empty words. Why don't you go find your Leng Qingqiu and keep acting like her lapdog!"

Chen Mengyun strode away, and Lu Chengwen chased after her, trying to explain. Chen Mengyun didn't want to hear a single word, her pace rapid. Lu Chengwen got desperate and grabbed her, "Chen Mengyun! I won't let you go!"

By now, they had reached the living room, where Chen’s father and mother were sitting on the sofa with a fruit platter, watching TV. Chen Moqun was there too, lying on the sofa, watching them nervously.

Lu Chengwen didn't notice the change in environment and shouted, "I don't care about anything else, but you cannot go to dinner with Hu Shuhui, at least not today!"

"What right do you have to control me?"

"By the right that I... by the right that I am a piece of trash! I’m being unreasonable today! So what?"

Chen’s father, chewing on a piece of fruit, picked up the remote and muted the TV. The family of three sat on the sofa, silent, just watching.

Chen Mengyun sneered, "Lu Chengwen, get this straight! Our Chen family is not the kind of family that has to tolerate you just for the sake of corporate interests. You’d better use your brain when you talk to me!"

The two of them kept arguing. Chen’s father leaned over to Chen Moqun and whispered, "What’s going on?"

Chen Moqun quickly lied, "A lovers' spat. He wants to pursue my sister, but she’s ignoring him, and now she’s going to dinner with another man."

Chen’s father nodded.

Chen’s mother asked, "Who is Hu Shuhui?"

"The eldest son of the Hu family," Chen Moqun replied. "We got into a fight back in school."

Chen’s mother was confused, "Isn't Chengwen pursuing Leng Qingqiu? Aren't they getting engaged next month? Why is he here looking for our Mengyun?"

Chen Moqun improvised, "It’s the final stretch; he finally realized who his true love is! Just watch, it’s more exciting than a soap opera."

Chen Mengyun said, "I am going to dinner with Hu Shuhui today. If I have a good time, I’ll start dating him. As long as I, Chen Mengyun, am willing, we’ll get a hotel room tonight and get engaged next week! We can even have our wedding before yours and Leng Qingqiu’s!"

Lu Chengwen finally lost his temper, "Fine! You’d better mean it. Just don't come crying to me after Hu Shuhui cheats you out of your money and virtue!"

"Even if I am cheated, I won't come to you. I’d rather be cheated by Hu Shuhui than hear another word out of your mouth! The thing I regret most in my life is meeting you!"

"Chen Mengyun, I’ll say this one last time. It’s your freedom to do whatever you want. I don't care who you’re with, I don't care at all!"

"Then why are you yelling at me?"

"Hu Shuhui is off-limits!"

"Well, I’ve taken a liking to him, so what?"

"Tomorrow! You can get a hotel room, get engaged, or pick out a wedding dress tomorrow, just stay home tonight, can you?"

"No! You lost the right to say things like that to me the moment you dumped me all those years ago!"

"You were the one who dumped me!" Lu Chengwen roared.

"Why did I dump you? Do you even have the nerve to say?"

Lu Chengwen opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words. "That was my fault back then, but now, I must make it clear: you cannot go to Hu Shuhui’s dinner!"

Lu Chengwen turned around and saw the three people on the sofa staring straight at them. His brain instantly cooled down, and he bowed obediently, "Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie."

Chen’s father said, "Oh, Chengwen is here? Come, sit and chat."

Chen’s mother added, "Chengwen, it’s been years since you’ve dropped by! Sit down and have some fruit."

"Haha, well, these past few years, I’ve... I’ve been a bit embarrassed. I was immature back then and hurt you both, and I’ve felt guilty about it ever since. I’m just in a bad mood today and wanted to come over to chat with Moqun..."

Lu Chengwen felt a massive headache. He hadn't realized that while he was arguing with Chen Mengyun, her parents had been sitting right there, listening to every word. He kept rambling, trying to ease the awkward situation.

Chen Moqun reminded him, "Hey buddy, my sister just left!"

Lu Chengwen looked back, and sure enough, Chen Mengyun had already walked out.

Lu Chengwen rushed out to chase her, "Goodbye, Uncle, Auntie."

Chen’s mother stretched her neck and shouted, "Come by again when you have time!"

"I will!"

Chen’s father looked confused, "What was that all about?"

"Oh, it's young people's business, let them handle it themselves. Boys and girls their age are always loving and hating each other."

"But Lu Chengwen is about to get engaged!"

"I was about to get engaged too, weren't you the one who swooped in and stole me away?"

Chen’s father grumbled discontentedly, "About to be engaged, and still chasing my daughter..."

Chen’s mother urged, "The TV, the TV, turn the volume back up."

...

Lu Chengwen chased her out, but Chen Mengyun was nowhere to be seen. He left Zhao Gang behind and drove around looking for her, but Snow City was so big, how could he possibly find her? He had no choice but to call Leng Qingqiu in a panic.

Leng Qingqiu was sitting on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees, feeling sad and distressed. The situation had completely changed. Her father had issued an ultimatum, and he was a man of his word; her position as CEO could be revoked at any moment. And Lu Chengwen, her loyal lapdog, had suddenly become cold and heartless, looking at her as if she were a disaster, wanting to be as far away from her as possible.

Is the world abandoning me?

Just then, Lu Chengwen’s call came through. Seeing his name on the screen, a spark of hope ignited in Leng Qingqiu’s heart. She was surprised by how quickly her mood shifted. Just a moment ago, she was so negative and sad. Seeing this call, she suddenly felt happy, holding onto a glimmer of hope, with over a hundred thoughts racing through her mind:

Why is he calling me? What for?
Did he change his mind and want to pursue me again? Hmph, I won't pay him any mind!
What if he asks me out? Which outfit should I wear?
Wait, how... how should I talk to him?

Leng Qingqiu sat up, crossed her legs on the bed, smoothed her hair and clothes, cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and patted her chest, telling herself to stay calm. Only then did she cautiously press the answer button. Despite her efforts to remain composed, her voice still trembled, "Hello? What is it?"

"Qingqiu, are your people still waiting? Has Long Aotian gone home?" Lu Chengwen sounded very urgent.

"They already left."

"Send people immediately! You have to find Long Aotian!"

"Why are you looking for him?" Leng Qingqiu’s mood instantly plummeted back to the bottom. So, he wasn't looking for her, and he wasn't pursuing her.

Lu Chengwen was frantic, "It’s a life-or-death emergency! I had a fight with Chen Mengyun, and she got angry and went out to drink with Hu Shuhui. I’m very worried about her. I have to find Long Aotian; only Long Aotian can find her and bring her back to my side..."

Leng Qingqiu flew into a rage, "Lu Chengwen! Go to hell! Just go to hell!"

She hung up the phone.