Chapter 18: Is Fifth Brother Coming to Beixin City?

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Seeing how her boyfriend was giving her face like this, Xi Meng’s heart blossomed with joy. She reached out and took a business card from Lin Hao, placing it on Nan Xing’s table.

“This is my boyfriend’s business card. It has the company address and his contact information. Or you can call me later, that works too.”

Nan Xing picked up the card and saw the neatly printed words: Tianhao Media.

Below that was Lin Hao’s position in the company—General Manager.

If she remembered correctly, Brother Wu had mentioned before that Tianhao Media was undergoing bankruptcy liquidation.

It seemed Xi Meng was still unaware of this matter.

But Nan Xing had no intention of meddling.

She smiled gently and slipped the card into her bag, appearing very touched.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“No problem. After all, we’re classmates. If I can help, I’m glad.”

Xi Meng, her vanity fully satisfied, was in high spirits. She deliberately chose a seat next to Nan Xing’s table and ordered all the signature dishes from Seven Star Restaurant in one go.

“Nan Xing, if you don’t have enough to eat, come join us. We won’t finish it anyway. My boyfriend is treating today,” Xi Meng declared decisively.

Through the carved screen, Nan Xing saw Xi Meng and Lin Hao had ordered enough food for eight or nine people.

When the waiter came to settle the bill, the six-figure total made Lin Hao stagger, almost losing his balance.

“Mengmeng, I suddenly feel unwell. I’m going to the restroom first.”

With that, Lin Hao loosened his tie and slunk off to the restroom like a beaten dog.

Xi Meng’s face lost its charm, but with so many people around, she didn’t dare throw a tantrum at Lin Hao.

Having finally landed a wealthy second-generation boyfriend, how could she afford to offend him lightly?

So she sat quietly, waiting, even posting photos of the food she had just taken to her social media.

Nan Xing observed everything, a barely perceptible cold smile playing on her lips.

About ten minutes passed before the waiter came again to urge, “Miss, could you please settle the bill?”

“What’s the rush? My boyfriend has plenty of money. You think he can’t pay and will run off?”

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The surrounding customers cast strange glances, and Xi Meng’s face flushed with embarrassment. She snapped at the waitress.

“Sorry, miss, I didn’t mean it that way...”

The waitress was a newcomer, probably around Xi Meng’s age, likely a student working part-time. She had only come on the manager’s orders to remind them about the bill and was unprepared for this scene. Flushed, she apologized quietly.

“Hmph, my boyfriend is coming. Just wait. If you don’t improve your service attitude, I’ll report you to the restaurant manager!”

From afar, Lin Hao emerged from the restroom. Xi Meng’s eyes lit up as she harshly rebuked the waitress, then linked her arm with Lin Hao’s.

“Darling, you finally came back. That waitress looked down on us, kept pushing me to pay. If people didn’t know better, they’d think we were dining and dashing.”

Pouting, Xi Meng whispered, “But you took way too long. So many people were laughing at me. Honey, please pay quickly—we still have a movie to catch.”

Lin Hao forced a smile, gently pulling his hand out of hers and caressing the back of her hand.

“Sorry, Mengmeng, my stomach was a bit upset just now.”

“No problem. We’ll get some medicine later. Honey, you pay the bill first.”

“Well... Mengmeng, there’s something I want to discuss,” Lin Hao lowered his voice and took Xi Meng to a quieter spot.

“What is it?” Seeing that Lin Hao wasn’t about to pay, Xi Meng’s face turned cold as she shrugged off his hand. “You’re not going to tell me you don’t have money to settle the bill, are you?”

She would never believe it.

From the beginning until now, Lin Hao had been lavish—driving a sports car to school every day, showering her with jewelry and limited-edition bags.

Could he really be stingy about paying for one meal?

“Mengmeng, I just found out my card was frozen by my dad,” Lin Hao’s voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with pleading. “How about you pay this time? I’ll talk to him and transfer the money back to you later.”

Upon hearing this, Xi Meng felt as if struck by lightning; her gaze toward Lin Hao changed.

No longer filled with admiration or worship, only disgust and disdain remained.

A man who needed a woman to pay the bill when dining out was nothing but a pathetic loser!

For the sake of face, Xi Meng didn’t make a scene but nodded understandingly.

“Darling, why didn’t you say so earlier? It’s just one meal. I would have paid right away.”

Under the awkward gazes of the waitress and Nan Xing, Xi Meng reluctantly took out her phone, gritted her teeth, and painfully scanned to pay.

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The entire meal wiped out all her savings.

Yet her pride was at its peak. Before leaving, she boasted to Nan Xing, “The company is run by Lin Hao’s family. If you ever have nowhere to go, remember to call. For the sake of being classmates, we’ll definitely take you in.”

Nan Xing just smiled quietly, her look toward them resembling that of someone observing fools.

“Xingxing, who was that just now? Your classmate?”

After eating her fill, Nan Xing led Granny Jin out of Seven Star Restaurant. While waiting for the car, the elderly woman complained, “They both had nine years of compulsory education, so how did she turn out to be such a lost cause? No manners and looks down on others. She’s worlds apart from you.”

“Grandma, she is my college classmate, Xi Meng,” Nan Xing explained with a smile.

“Hmm, since you’re in the same class, you must see each other often. You need to be more cautious in the future. I’ve been through life, and I think this Xi Meng is full of malice. If she ever treats you badly, come to Granny Jin. I’ll stand up for you.”

“I understand. Thank you, Grandma.”

Feeling the care of a stranger—surpassing even that of blood relatives—warmed Nan Xing’s heart.

A few minutes later, Jin Yao came to pick up Granny Jin.

Nan Xing saw them off safely and parted from the two.

Just as she was about to hail a cab, a message popped up on her screen: “You’re at Seven Star Restaurant? Why not come up and hang out?”

Nan Xing’s eyes flickered as she quickly typed: “Brother Wu, you’re in Beixin City?”

Before the reply came, she sent another: “Why didn’t you come out when you saw I was being bullied just now?”

“Someone like you, do I really need to step in?”

A familiar voice sounded right beside her. Nan Xing paused, looking up to see a man in a casual suit standing before her.

“What’s this? Missing Brother Wu?”

His handsome features were sharply defined, his beautiful phoenix eyes narrowed as he opened his arms toward Nan Xing.

Her throat tightened as she stepped forward and gave him a gentle hug. He caressed her head indulgently like an older brother spoiling a little sister.

“Half a year gone, and you’ve lost weight. How much hardship have you endured at the Nan family’s?”