After some considerations, Lu Xinyi made up her mind. Out of all the models that she’d seen, only Zheng Yue was able to get her attention.
“Uncle, if it’s possible, I would like to invite Zheng Yue as our newest brand amba.s.sador. Is it possible?”
“It could be done! Anything for our Xin’er!” Chairman Tang blurted out excitedly.
“Dad? I thought Zheng Yue said she wouldn’t accept any endors.e.m.e.nts for now?” Tang Shui reminded him.
“Oh? Don’t forget that she’s an artist of Griffin Entertainment! She should be honored that Madam Shen is willing to give her work and establish herself as a celebrity!”
“So Uncle Shui, does this mean Zheng Yue is out of the option?” Lu Xinyi asked.
Tang Shui suddenly felt he was left with no other choice.
“No problem, Xin’er. Although Miss Zheng said she doesn’t want to endorse anything for now, I’m sure I can persuade her to accept this project with you. She may be hard-headed at times, but she’s a reasonable person.”
“Thank you, Uncle! I’m really glad that I ask Lou Lou for help. My head designer has been bugging me about it.”
Now that everything was settled, Lu Xinyi was invited to have lunch with the rest of the Tang family. Joining them at the long dining table, she couldn’t help but feel out of place. Each grandson and granddaughter of Chairman Tang was introduced to her one by one while Tang Lilou’s mother and the wives of Tang Shui’s brothers asked bombarded her with questions about her stay at Silver Leaf.
“I hope you’re enjoying your stay at Silver Leaf. Although I heard that on your first day at school, troubles already came your way,” Chairman Tang said.
“It’s normal to attract some attention, Grandpa Tang. Just by standing beside Shen Yi, people will already make issues about it.”
“Is he treating you good?” Tang Shui’s wife asked Lu Xinyi.
“Auntie, don’t worry about him. He might be a really big bad wolf when it comes to running a business, but he could be managed at home.” Lu Xinyi winked back to the older woman, earning her a giggle from her suggestive smile.
“Good, good. It’s a relief that he’s treating you well.” Chairman Tang’s mood improved. He couldn’t wait to share these things with his sister.
Tang Lingfei, who was also residing inside the mansion, was still sick and was bedridden. Although her desire to meet her granddaughter was strong, her deteriorating health was a problem the Tang family couldn’t turn a blind eye on.
After their lunch, Lu Xinyi bid goodbye to the whole Tang family and thanked them for a.s.sisting her to find their next model. Chairman Tang waved a hand and told her that it wasn’t a problem at all, and she should pay a visit again in the future.
Lu Xinyi went home with her driver and bodyguard. As she sat on the couch, petting Xiao Bai’s ear, she remembered that today was also Meng Jiao’s burial. After thinking about it, she decided to call Shen Yi to inform her about her plans for that afternoon.
“I’m going to see Meng Jiao for the last time,” she told him over the phone.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Shen Yi noticed the sadness in her voice.
“Yes, please.”
“Alright. Give me half an hour, I’ll pick you up.”
Just as Shen Yi promised, he arrived at their doorstep after an hour.
They arrived just in time to see the final ceremony for Meng Jiao’s pa.s.sing. The day of her funeral was a bit chilly that no amount of clothing could keep Lu Xinyi warm except feeling her husband’s hand entangled with hers. Shen Yi knew that beneath the calm facade she put up, his wife was still affected by Meng Jiao’s sudden death.
The two stayed inside the car and waited for everyone to leave. The rain started to pour down, making the atmosphere around them gloomier.
Lu Xinyi knew that her emotions were mixed up and felt that she was strangely detached from what was happening outside, almost as though she was in a dream; and the car accident never happened to Meng Jiao.
Blinking away her tears, Lu Xinyi watched as an old man and a woman stood beside Meng Jiao’s grave with teary eyes. After hearing all the tributes for their dead daughter, their mood was slightly lifted.
The service hadn’t been long since there weren’t many people who attend the funeral. When the service came to an end, people started dispersing and went to their cars safe from the heavy rain that followed them.
When everyone was gone, Lu Xinyi stepped out of the car with Shen Yi caught up with her and fell into step beside her. With an umbrella on his one hand, he tried to keep her dry from the pouring rain.
The two stopped in front of Meng Jiao’s headstone. Lu Xinyi raised a hand and felt the inscription of Meng Jiao’s name on it.
“Meng Jiao, do you remember the first time we met? You said that I’m really pitiful that no one wants me to be their friend. Our cla.s.smates didn’t want me to be their partners on our science project because I was dumb back then.” Lu Xinyi chuckled, but her tone was filled with grief and sorrow.
“Since then, you became my lab partner. We spent more time together and helped me with our math homework. I really believed that if it wasn’t for your help and tutoring, I wouldn’t be able to graduate from middle school.”
Shen Yi kept his silence, but he was amused at the memories Lu Xinyi she had with Meng Jiao.
“And then you said you have troublesome brothers at home. I told you about my older brother that wasn’t at home because of work. Because you were really annoyed by your younger brothers, you suggested us to be sisters instead…”
Lu Xinyi could still remember the day she made a promise with Meng Jiao.
“Since then, we brought items in pairs. Whether it was your favorite s.h.i.+rt or dress—to bracelets and earrings, we bought the same together. Sometimes I wonder if this was the reason why you fell in love with Yijun because you also want something I have…
“But it’s too late now to mend our ties, isn’t it? I’ve already lost my sister when you chose to sleep with Yijun behind my back, when you schemed against me… Had I known that you were in love with him, I wouldn’t accept him. I’ll always choose you over him in a heartbeat.”
Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she continued to reminisce about her time with Meng Jiao. The pain that she tried to bury deep inside her heart had resurfaced.
“Meng Jiao, do you know what hurts the most? It was when I realized I mean nothing to you. That I have to watch as my best friend became a stranger right before my eyes. Every day I see you in the hallways—in our cla.s.sroom, I wondered what went wrong between us. I was stuck between missing who you used to be and hating the stranger in front of me.
“You were my first real best friend that I made on my own. No help through family or other friends, I found you all on my own; and we had some great times that I will never forget. You were one of those people that could make me smile and laugh through some of my hardest time without trying.
“You must be laughing right now, seeing me hopelessly cling to our good days together; but Meng Jiao, that all sums up what I feel for you. Goodbye, Meng Jiao. This is the end of the road for you, but unlike you, Sun family can never beat me in the same game they started. I’ll destroy them with my own hands.”