I'd Like to Buy You a Cup of Coffee

Ever since Lin Meng heard Yun Huaizhu say that Director Tan was Huo Yi's cousin, she had been lost in thought. Even when Yun Huaizhu finally led her away, she was still dazed.

Apart from missing her, Yun Huaizhu had another reason for coming to see Lin Meng this time. When she saw Lin Meng still brooding over the matter with Huo Yi, she debated internally—should she tell Lin Meng that the company where she worked had already been acquired by Su Yutang and Huo Yi?

If Lin Meng found out, she would surely be so frightened that she'd resign.

She would feel that her promotion and even her bonus were all because of those two people. From then on, whenever the thought crossed her mind, she would fall into a state of panic.

Although telling Lin Meng directly would make Lin Meng detest those two, and she could even kick those two troublemakers out of the picture herself, if Lin Meng truly took this matter to heart, she would feel uneasy and would stop trusting the people around her.

Lin Meng was just that timid. She was like a rabbit in the forest with its ears pricked up; the slightest rustle would send her trembling with fear.

The person Lin Meng liked most right now was her. Huo Yi put on that deadpan act all day long; it would be a wonder if someone like that could move Lin Meng's heart.

Yun Huaizhu didn't want to see Lin Meng afraid, so she suppressed the matter and said nothing. In any case, in another two years she would definitely take Lin Meng abroad.

When that time truly came, whether Lin Meng agreed to go with her or not, she would do it regardless.

She couldn't stand the long days of waiting anymore.

After Yun Huaizhu got into the car with Lin Meng, she turned on the air conditioning. Then she looked at Lin Meng and feigned ignorance. 'Mengmeng-jie, why were you asking about Tan Xiangwei during dinner earlier? Do you know her?'

Lin Meng snapped back to her senses at the sound of Yun Huaizhu's voice. The cold air in the car cleared her head considerably. 'Mm... she's the new director at our company.'

'So is she treating you badly?' Yun Huaizhu pressed.

Lin Meng shook her head quickly. 'No... it's just some work stuff. Let's not talk about it.'

Lin Meng voluntarily ended the topic, and Yun Huaizhu knew when to stop. In the next moment, she finally revealed her true purpose for coming to see Lin Meng this time. 'Mengmeng-jie, have you thought about whether you want to come see the fireworks with me? If you say yes, I can take you there anytime.'

Lin Meng lowered her head and sank into thought at those words.

Yun Huaizhu's mood had been very low because of what happened before. If she could accompany Yun Huaizhu on a trip to Country R, it would be a good chance to help her relax. But she still had things to deal with right now, and she felt that once she did something that made Yun Huaizhu misunderstand, the consequences would be irreversible.

'Um, let's wait a bit longer. I really don't have time lately. Sorry...'

A flicker of disappointment flashed through Yun Huaizhu's eyes at Lin Meng's answer, but she quickly restored her easy smile. 'It's fine, I was just asking casually. Whenever you make up your mind, Mengmeng-jie, we'll go.'

Hearing Yun Huaizhu's gentle, comforting words, a trace of guilt surfaced on Lin Meng's face. She knew it wasn't good to keep refusing Yun Huaizhu again and again like this. In the past, she had always refused things she didn't want to do without hesitation, but when it came to Yun Huaizhu, she couldn't bear to be so blunt.

She didn't want Yun Huaizhu to feel sad because of her words.

Whenever she saw Yun Huaizhu sad and in tears, a sourness would well up in her own heart, like a dense drizzle of needle-fine rain falling upon it.

That feeling was a bit prickly and itchy, seemingly harmless, but by the time you came to your senses, you were already soaked through.

...

The resort that Huo Yi had developed in West City in partnership with several Jing City families was complete. This plot of land had originally been a wasteland outside government planning. Even the average housing price beyond the Third Ring Road was over fifty thousand per square meter, yet this land couldn't be sold even at a bundled price of twenty thousand per square meter.

A few years ago, Huo Yi used her connections to snap up this land at a rock-bottom price, then went around courting investment, hoping to build it into a resort combining leisure, entertainment, and vacation facilities.

At first, some people did invest, out of respect for her mother. But the amounts weren't large; those people probably didn't think much of the project and were just tossing her some money to please her.

Later, the city road was extended here, and a highway station was completed nearby. Schools, hospitals, and bus stops gradually appeared, and the economy came fully alive. At the same time, Huo Yi's resort was completed.

Everyone in business knew that wherever a road was built, business would follow.

Huo Yi always had a knack for spotting opportunities early. No wonder the older generation in Jing City praised her as the most money-savvy among the younger generation. Now Huo Yi had reached marriageable age, and many families who admired her had begun entertaining thoughts of a union with the Huo Family.

After all, in Jing City's elite circles, there were no permanent friends—only permanent interests.

A marriage alliance would bind two families' interests tightly together.

The Huo Family had deep foundations, and with Huo Yi, a shrewd and money-making heir, anyone who could climb aboard was looking at a sure-win deal.

As Huo Yi led a group through the resort's guesthouses and entertainment venues, a noblewoman who looked to be in her forties or fifties suddenly drew close and struck up a conversation. 'Yiyi, do you remember me?'

Huo Yi studied the woman's face. Countless faces flashed through her mind. This woman did look somewhat familiar, but she was certain today was the first time she had ever seen her.

Everyone here had invested in her. She had absolute control over this place, but she also shared generous profits with her partners. After all, on the road to profit, the more business partners the better.

Huo Yi truly couldn't place her, so she narrowed her eyes and smiled politely. 'Sorry, auntie. I've been rather busy lately; I really can't recall who you are.'

A flicker of embarrassment crossed the woman's face before she hurriedly said, 'It's only natural you don't recognize me. This collaboration was handled by my daughter, Ran Xue, on my behalf. I begged her specifically for the chance to come and meet you.'

At the mention of Ran Xue, Huo Yi remembered who this was.

She was Ran Xue's mother, Ran Lixiu.

Come to think of it, the Ran family was in new energy and mining, right? Although the Huo Family's business spanned a wide range, catching up in that industry now would be quite difficult. But if she could get on board with the Ran family midway, that would be a different story.

After all, the Ran family's market value had grown by fifteen billion from those two sectors alone.

Ran Lixiu coming to talk to her was probably about capital injection.

This kind of thing was common in business—she could persuade others to invest in her projects, and others could come to her with benefits to join their ventures.

Snapping back to the present, Huo Yi's smile deepened. She quickly extended her hand to shake the noblewoman's. 'Xiaoxue mentioned you last time. I never expected you and Xiaoxue to look so alike. I haven't met you before, auntie, yet I feel an especially warm familiarity.'

Ran Lixiu was delighted by Huo Yi's words. 'Oh, I've long heard that the Huo Family's children have silver tongues. Now I see it's well deserved. You've grown up so beautifully, child. This old auntie likes everything about you.'

What Huo Yi had said was nothing more than standard courtesy, the kind that pleased business partners—which proved the words were useful.

Huo Yi continued with a smile, 'It's the truth. You're far more beautiful than I imagined, auntie. No wonder Xiaoxue is so bright—she takes after you.'

Hearing Huo Yi address her daughter so intimately, Ran Lixiu was grinning from ear to ear. 'Yiyi thinks our Xiaoxue is good too?'

Huo Yi nodded quickly. 'Of course. Xiaoxue was the earliest investor in this project, which shows how clever she is. Naturally, those who seize the initiative reap the benefits sooner and gain more. Isn't that right, auntie?'

Hearing her tactful yet shrewd words, Ran Lixiu's eyes were full of appreciation for her daughter's future partner.

At this point, the noblewoman finally stated her reason for insisting on coming. 'Yiyi, to be honest, my daughter has been doing business ever since she returned from studying abroad. She's had no time for romance. But our Xiaoxue is also an A-rank omega, and she's not young anymore. I'd like her to find someone suitable and settle down first, so she can focus on her career with peace of mind. If you also think well of our Xiaoxue, wouldn't our two families make a powerful alliance?'

Huo Yi finally understood. This person hadn't come to discuss business—she had come to arrange a marriage.

The smile on Huo Yi's face abruptly vanished at a visible rate. She addressed the woman politely, 'Auntie, I understand your feelings about wanting Ran Xue to marry. But Ran Xue doesn't have that intention, and besides, I already have someone in my heart. She's not from this circle. I kept it to myself before because I wanted to protect her well, but since you've brought it up, auntie, I should explain to your face. Thank you for your kindness, but the Huo Family is basically under my control now. You're welcome to discuss business with me anytime—but not this.'

Her tone grew increasingly stern toward the end, carrying a hint of hostility, as if warning the person across from her.

Without another glance at those behind her, Huo Yi quickened her pace alone toward a guesthouse.

This guesthouse had been decorated specifically to her tastes, in Bohemian style. Inside was a suite reserved exclusively for her, not open to the public.

Huo Yi was someone who could maintain her composure at all times, even when furious. But now, after entering the suite, she slammed the door heavily. She lay down on the hanging chair by the bed, her expression frighteningly dark.

For the past two years, her marriage prospects had been a constant focus of certain Jing City families. She wondered if she had been too generous with them. Even Huo Rui'an wouldn't dare interfere with her marriage—how did these people have the nerve to come and say such things to her?

Just as she was stewing in furious frustration, the phone tucked in her shirt pocket buzzed. Huo Yi's thought was... whoever was messaging her had better have something important, or she couldn't guarantee her residual wrath wouldn't spill onto them.

...

After Lin Meng got back, she thought about it for a long time. Finally, when she went to work the next day, she decided to message Huo Yi: [Yiyi, are you free this Saturday? I'd like to invite you out for a cup of coffee.]

One moment Huo Yi had been mired in rage; the next, when she saw Lin Meng's message inviting her for coffee, she couldn't help but widen her eyes.

She blinked again in disbelief. Once she confirmed the message was really from Lin Meng, she nearly fell off the hanging chair in excitement.

Huo Yi immediately got up and sat on the steady bed to reply. Just as she was about to agree without hesitation, her typing fingers suddenly paused...

If she replied instantly and said she was free, wouldn't it seem too desperate?

Had Su Yutang ever done that? Huo Yi put herself in Su Yutang's shoes. She thought Su Yutang might do such a thing. But in reality, Su Yutang never had the chance to get close to Lin Meng, which meant Lin Meng probably didn't like that kind of desperate behavior.

At that thought, Huo Yi composed herself, then deliberately sent a voice message with feigned reserve. 'I'm free. What is it? Is there something you want to talk about?'

After converting the voice message to text, Lin Meng quickly replied: [Yes... there are some things I'd like to talk about in person. Will you come?]

Seeing Lin Meng's cautious tone, Huo Yi's mind began to run wild—if Lin Meng was talking to her like this, she either needed a favor, or she wanted to give her an answer about what happened last time.

Although Lin Meng was a bit numb when it came to emotions, people always change. Maybe one day she would figure things out.

Huo Yi was ecstatic inside, but she still had to put on an act. She replied in a low voice, 'Sure, send me the address.'

After reading the transcribed text, Lin Meng typed: [Okay, I'll wait for you there at nine-thirty in the morning.]

Huo Yi hadn't known Lin Meng as long as Su Yutang or Yun Huaizhu had, but she understood Lin Meng's habits. On days off, Lin Meng would never get up that early to wait at a coffee shop. This meant Lin Meng truly had something important to tell her, important enough to sacrifice her precious weekend sleep.

At this moment, Huo Yi had completely forgotten about Ran Lixiu's offense. She was already looking forward to Saturday.

...

Lin Meng sat on the subway. Today it wasn't as crowded as usual. She sat in a corner seat, lost in thought.

If Tan Xiangwei really was Huo Yi's cousin, then was the matter of her salary being paid normally during all those days of leave also connected to Huo Yi?

After Su Yutang left, Huo Yi was Jing City's number one Crown Princess. Lin Meng's company was nothing in front of Huo Yi. Even if Huo Yi reached into her company, she wouldn't notice...

At that thought, goosebumps suddenly rose on Lin Meng's skin, and a chill crept into her limbs. But if that were really the case, then was her previous promotion for outstanding performance also fake? With her work ability, she could only be a minor clerk—she had actually been occupying someone else's position.

She was a beneficiary of connections without even knowing it.

Lin Meng thought about too many things along the way. When she came back to her senses, she realized she had long missed her stop.

If she went back now, she'd probably have to ride the subway for over an hour again. At that thought, Lin Meng got off at the next stop. This seemed to be the city center.

It was the end of the workday in the city center, and people were coming and going.

Lin Meng used to hate coming to bustling, crowded places like this. In a crowd, she always felt an inexplicable panic, unsure who she might run into next. She was afraid of facing strangers, or people she used to know.

Lin Meng waited at the traffic light, then crossed the street along the zebra crossing with the crowd of off-work commuters. She had already experienced the city center's prosperity in the places Su Yutang and Yun Huaizhu had taken her, but she knew clearly that the excitement was only temporary and didn't belong to her.

Maybe this way—passing through the crowd and disappearing into the masses—suited her better.

For a moment, Lin Meng felt her limbs go cold, as if nailed in place. But this was the city center's road; if she stopped here, she would cause trouble for others. Although her mind had gone blank under the weight of her thoughts, her body moved forward as usual, like a pre-programmed routine.

She didn't know how long she walked along that green-belt-lined road, until the crowds thinned and she came to a noodle shop.

The aroma of noodle broth directly stirred the hunger in her belly. She had been thinking about Huo Yi all day and hadn't eaten. Now the scent made her stomach growl.

Through the shop window, Lin Meng saw there weren't many customers. She walked in.

She saw the shop's specialty was mixed noodles, so she ordered one. Afraid the beef slices would be paper-thin, she added a fried egg and an extra portion of beef.

After ordering, she looked for a corner seat and realized every table had customers—but the tables were large, and with only one person at each, the shop seemed rather empty.

Actually, it wasn't empty at all!

Realizing this, Lin Meng was stunned. She had the urge to pack her noodles to go. But if she did, it would take over an hour to get home, and she'd starve.

After some mental preparation, Lin Meng looked around again and spotted a girl sitting alone at a long table in the corner, head down, eating noodles. This person seemed to be as socially anxious as she was. If she sat down to share the table, they should be able to eat in peace together, right?

...

The woman had just finished her bowl and was about to order another when she sensed someone approaching. As she was about to look up, she heard a vaguely familiar voice. 'Excuse me, is this seat taken? May I sit here?'

The woman's eyes widened in disbelief. She slowly raised her head to look at the person wearing the familiar black-framed glasses. 'You... you're that customer from the other day?'

Lin Meng was dumbstruck when the woman looked up. 'You... you're the computer repair shop owner?'

What was her name again? Right! Li Wan!

This was quite the awkward encounter.

Although it had been a long time since she'd hired Li Wan to make the listening device, seeing her now still made Lin Meng feel a stab of guilt.

When Li Wan saw Lin Meng, she jumped to her feet and instinctively bowed. 'It's free, please sit!'

She even wanted to switch seats with Lin Meng immediately. The person standing before her was her boss's wife!

Lin Meng frowned slightly at Li Wan's flustered expression... Why did this person seem so afraid of her?

Li Wan had been in that line of business for years. She surely wouldn't be scared of a customer, would she?

Just then, Lin Meng's noodles arrived. The proprietress brought them to the table, and Li Wan, quick-witted, went to the front and bought a bottle of jasmine honey tea. She placed it respectfully beside Lin Meng. 'Please, have some tea.'

Lin Meng: '?'

No... she didn't think she had any leverage over Li Wan. Why was Li Wan acting like this?

Although she and Li Wan were merely passing acquaintances, meeting someone she knew in an unfamiliar place—someone who hadn't changed at all—the unease in Lin Meng's heart suddenly faded considerably.

Seeing Li Wan so stiff, Lin Meng looked up and said, 'I saw you were about to order more noodles. Still hungry?'

Li Wan nodded slightly. Lin Meng called out to the owner at the front, 'Boss, another bowl of noodles for her, and extra beef.'

'Coming right up!'

Li Wan was baffled by this. Then Lin Meng smiled at her. 'You bought me a drink; consider this my treat. Sit down.'

A glimmer of light flashed through Li Wan's eyes—Yun Huaizhu had brought her out of the slums, given her a high-paying job, and let her live in a city-center apartment. And Yun Huaizhu's wife was so gentle too, even treating her to a meal.

They were both such good people. They really seemed like a perfect match.

That was, if one ignored the fact that they were both cheating on each other.

Once Lin Meng relaxed, she felt even hungrier. She wolfed down a bowl of beef mixed noodles and ordered another. This noodle shop was pretty good—at least the beef wasn't sliced paper-thin, and one portion of beef could dress a whole large bowl of noodles.

By the time Lin Meng was halfway through, Li Wan had long finished eating. But the proprietress hadn't said anything, so how could she dare leave early?

As Lin Meng slowed down, she glanced up at the person across from her. Li Wan was slowly rubbing her hands together, as if pondering something.

Lin Meng frowned slightly again. 'Still not full? Want another bowl?'

Li Wan looked up as if called upon and waved her hands. 'No, no, I'm stuffed.'

Oh, so she was already full.

Then she must be sitting there to digest.

Lin Meng hadn't seen Li Wan in a long time, so she spoke up. 'Did you come all the way here just for noodles?'

Hearing the boss's wife ask, Li Wan quickly answered, 'No, I live nearby.'

Lin Meng: '??'

She remembered seeing Li Wan last November. Only half a year had passed, and Li Wan had moved from the old district to the city center?

The rent here was four or five thousand a month!

Was computer repair really that profitable?

At that thought, Lin Meng wanted to change careers and repair computers on the spot.

Although Li Wan had changed a lot, she had finally gotten out of that messy, cramped place. Lin Meng was genuinely happy for her. She quickly smoothed the surprise from her face and laughed. 'It's fine. Seeing you doing better and better puts my mind at ease.'

Li Wan was so moved she was nearly in tears. 'I still have to thank you. If you hadn't come to my computer shop that day, my life wouldn't have changed like this. Everything I have now is because of you. Thank you so much!'

She looked ready to stand up and bow again.

Lin Meng was completely baffled by her words...

No, she didn't remember doing anything for Li Wan. Her only contribution had been spending three hundred yuan on a custom listening device. That three hundred couldn't even buy a decent meal in the city center.

Lin Meng frowned in confusion at Li Wan, whose eyes were gradually reddening. 'Wait, don't cry yet. Why are you saying this? Besides hiring you to make that listen...' She glanced around and leaned in close to Li Wan. 'Besides me hiring you to make that thing, I really don't remember doing anything for you...'

Now it was Li Wan's turn to be dumbfounded.

Wait, had this couple still not made up? They didn't even share information with each other?