Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Song Jing pouted in contempt and muttered under her breath, “Trying to act tough, are you? We’ll see if you’re still as cocky when Young Master Hong arrives.”
At that point, Song Jing had her sights set on Hong Ming. If only she could win his approval and become his mistress, her life would be perfect.
No wonder she was so disdainful of Xue An, because she knew Hong Ming viewed Xue An as a rival, especially since Fan Mengxue’s sudden return to Beijiang was presumably related to Xue An’s sudden reappearance after his four-year hiatus.
She wondered what Fan Mengxue’s expression would look like once she came back and found out that Xue An already had two children.
Song Jing smiled as she envisioned the ensuing trouble.
At that very moment… over a dozen black Mercedes Benz lined up like ducks in a row at Beijiang’s freeway off-ramp. Hong Ming stood waiting in the wind, decked out in an immaculately tailored suit.
Naturally, such a scene began to draw people’s attention, but the onlookers didn’t seem to bother Hong Ming. Even the cold wind was unable to quench the flame in his heart.
Finally, a white Mercedes Benz MPV gradually slowed down.
Hong Ming’s heart throbbed with excitement. Before the car could come to a full halt, he was already standing by its door, eagerly awaiting his idol.
Then, the car door opened.
Right in front of Hong Ming’s eyes, clad in a long dress, was Fan Mengxue. She had the grace and warmth reminiscent of a girl next door.
Hong Ming could feel his breaths becoming tighter and faster. His heart was filled with desire, and there was nothing he wanted more than to grab hold of the dainty girl and press her to the ground.
“Where is he?” These were Fan Mengxue’s first words to Hong Ming.
A fiery rage welled up in Hong Ming’s heart. Why did she have to mention him as soon as they met? Why?
Although he was unhappy about it, Hong Ming smiled fakely and said, “Everyone is waiting for you at the hotel!”
Fan Mengxue nodded. “Alright. Lead the way!”
“It’s not safe to let your chauffeur keep driving after such a long trip. Why don’t I give you a ride?”
Fan Mengxue hesitated for a moment, but finally, she nodded and went along with him.
Right at that moment, all the other male classmates surged toward her, clamoring for her attention.
“Mengxue, it’s me, Li Qiang!”
“Mengxue, it’s me, Han Li!”
Amid all the fuss, Fan Mengxue brushed off her admirers with nods before entering the car without saying a word to any of them.
The guys looked at each other in confusion.
“She thinks she’s all that just because she’s a movie star. All the fame’s getting to her head!”
“Hmph, you said it! If it wasn’t for Young Master Hong, I wouldn’t even be here!”
Although their rants weren’t very loud, they were still audible from inside the car.
However, they didn’t seem to affect Fan Mengxue the slightest.
That was right.
She hated those people who called themselves her ex-classmates. Most of all, she hated Hong Ming.
Back when she was a student, Fan Mengxue had lost both of her parents and lived with her uncle. She’d had nothing to her name besides her looks.
Because of that, she was the object of many people’s desires, yet Fan Mengxue had self-respect. She had never succumbed to anyone’s whims.
Later, her classmates spread rumors about her. Slanderous tales had been told about her sleeping around and even having several abortions.
Such rumors had completely devastated a young Fan Mengxue.
Even in her class, she became an outcast who isolated herself from everyone else.
And it didn’t help that Song Jing and her gang had constantly taunted her.
When Fan Mengxue had been about to crumble, it was Xue An who had stood up for her.
Fen Mengxue remembered it like it was yesterday.
She was standing all alone in a corner as a group of girls pointed at her and teased her.
Just then, a young man dressed in black came and stood by her side without saying a word.
Through her tears, she could vaguely make out his silhouette, which was unremarkable and somewhat scrawny, but it was an image that Fan Mengxue would remember for the rest of her life.
Because of her, Xue An had been beaten by lowlifes from other schools on several occasions. Although he was frequently outnumbered, he never lost his spirit. Like a lone wolf, he always fought to the bitter end.
After a few fights, no one dared to lay a hand on him anymore.
One day, Xue An had smiled at Fan Mengxue with his scar ridden face and said, “Everything’s going to be fine. No one will bully you from now on!”
Fan Mengxue had thrown herself into Xue An’s arms and bawled uncontrollably.
Ever since that day, Fan Mengxue had vowed to live her life to the fullest for Xue An’s sake.
It wasn’t until much later that Fan Mengxue discovered that the bullying was all Hong Ming’s doing.
Years later, a stroke of luck had led Fan Mengxue to the path of stardom. While her journey to success was by no means easy, at least she could honestly say she’d made it through sheer hard work without compromising her integrity.
If she had to say she did it for anyone, it’d be for the scruffy, scar-ridden young man whom she had met many years before.
However, four years ago, Xue An’s disappearance had nearly sent Fan Mengxue over the edge.
She’d even written a suicide note, but in the end, she decided not to go through with it. She wanted to give herself time. If Xue An didn’t show up after four years, she would end her own life.
But luckily, Xue An returned.
When Fan Mengxue heard the news, it had been too much for her to bear and she broke into tears. That was when she decided to travel overnight to Beijiang.
Interestingly, it was Hong Ming who had told her about Xue An’s return.
Hong Ming sat in the front seat, constantly glancing back at Fan Mengxue, who was sitting in the backseat. After a while, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Mengxue, today’s your birthday, isn’t it?”
Fan Mengxue was stock still for a minute, then she remembered: it was her birthday.
Throughout these four years, Fan Mengxue had been working tirelessly. She had never dared to take a break from work, for whenever she did, Xue An would drift into her thoughts.
Trivialities such as birthdays had become the least of her worries.
“Yes!”
“Almost every one of our ex-classmates is here today. It’s the perfect time to celebrate your birthday!”
Fan Mengxue sat in the back not saying a thing and turned her gaze to the fleeting scenery outside the car window.
Hong Ming’s eyelids twitched as his chest swelled with displeasure.
Why was that girl always so cold towards him?
Was it because of Xue An again?
Haha!
Hong Ming’s lips curled into a wicked smile.
Xue An’s return was an opportunity for Hong Ming, as he planned to show Xue An up right in front of Fan Mengxue, then reveal the truth to her.
Only he could have such a fine woman!
In no time at all, the fleet of Mercedes Benzes had arrived at the Dragon Emperor Tower.
The Dragon Emperor Tower’s lobby manager came to open the door personally. Hong Ming stepped out of the car pompously, followed by Fan Mengxue, who’d put on a pair of sunglasses and a face mask.
“Young Master Hong, everyone is waiting for you at Sky Room Number One!”
Hong Ming nodded. “Lead the way!”
Fan Mengxue entered the building, feeling somewhat apprehensive.
She had been looking forward to seeing Xue An, yet when the time finally came, she was afraid.
As soon as Sky Room Number One’s doors opened…
The first thing that Fan Mengxue saw was the smiling faces of Song Jing and the gang.
“Fan Mengxue, welcome back to Beijiang!”
“Mengxue, we’ve missed you so much!”
Fan Mengxue ignored all the buzz as her eyes scanned the room intently.
“Mengxue!” cried Tang Xuan’er in a low voice.
Back when they were classmates, Tang Xuan’er had been the only person who wasn’t put off by her independence and genuinely wanted to be her friend.
Fan Mengxue’s face began to cheer up at the sight of Tang Xuan’er.
“Xuan’er!”
Tang Xuan’er nodded in acknowledgment before turning her eyes to the corner of the room.
Fan Mengxue turned her gaze accordingly.
Finally, she saw him. Sitting in the corner was Xue An, who was chatting and laughing with Xue Xiang and Xue Nian.
Something stirred within her, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.
At the same time, Hong Ming and his friends had entered the private suite.
As soon as Song Jing saw Hong Ming, her face flushed with joy.
“Young Master Hong, you made it!”
Hong Ming nodded and was about to say something, but Fan Mengxue had already made her way to Xue An.
Sensing her presence, Xue An lifted his head to see who it was, then their eyes locked.
Xue An was stumped a minute, then he managed a soft smile. “Mengxue, it’s been a while!”