Chapter 84 - MY DEAR SHAMELESS QIANG (3)

"No, I don't deserve him. I know my place, Qiang," I said. 

"Nah, Ying Jie, I think it's just your insecurity showing right now."

"Insecurity?" I frowned when She Qiang said that. I didn't think that I have an insecurity of some sort. It was just me knowing my place and my worth. Someone like Yang Menghuo should find someone from the same social status, not just a random woman on the street, or in this case, on an app. 

"Of course, maybe you have been thinking so humbly for so long, Ying Jie. But you have always been saying to me or to anyone that you don't think any decent man would come at you, especially at your age. So you would just focus on building your career and taking care of your little sisters and parents."

Shi Qiang made it so specific that her words actually choked me a bit.. Because it was really spot on. 

Knowing my silence as affirmation, Shi Qiang chuckled and shrugged lazily, "Well, Jie, I just don't want you to regret what you have right now. If you have a feeling for Yang Menghuo, and he also has a feeling for you, then why not? Don't overcomplicate things. You are an adult!"

"Aiya, you lecture me like lecturing a teenage girl ah!" I complained, though still with a giggle.

"Of course, you're similar to a teenage girl in love right now, just with too much caution and insecurity in you," Shi Qiang replied. 

I smiled at my little sister, who was wise and knew how to give a piece of good advice. Truthfully, deep inside my heart, I knew that was the truth. I knew I doubted myself just like I doubted Meng Bao.

But everything that Meng Bad did… also made me doubt him. How could I date someone who could say love so easily?

I am going to be twenty seven soon. I don't have time to play with puppy love. 

I sighed and talked to Shi Qiang about it, "Qiang, Yang Menghuo said that he liked me, no, he fell in love with me. But he said that he had been searching for his childhood sweetheart for so long. How could I believe his words when he changed his heart so easily?"

"Well, you two had just met, I think. You two are just trying to find assurance first before stepping up. Though, not going to lie, it's also quite strange, Jie. You two fall in love extremely fast, like a typhoon that swept everything!" Shi Qiang giggled. 

"Well, can't say that I don't like my Ying Jie to finally find someone. Give it time, and maybe he will prove himself that he actually loves you or not," Shi Qiang added.

"Yeah, that's what I've been asking him to do. Find your childhood sweetheart first, since you said that you've loved him for so long. And then return back to me when you've decided whether you love me or not. Falling in love isn't as easy as flipping your hands."

Shi Qiang nodded approvingly, "I believe so too. Jie. He should find the childhood sweetheart that he loved for so long to find where his heart harbours." 

Shi Qiang stared at me, and she smirked mischievously, "Ying Jie, I have a crazy idea here. But like, it would be both hilarious and romantic if this actually happens."

"What idea?" I asked. Sometimes, Shi Qiang could say many crazy things that I laughed at first. But when those things actually happened, I started questioning whether she just had a good guess or was actually a psychic or something that could predict the future. 

"What if… the childhood sweetheart that Yang Menghuo liked is actually you!"

…

"What?" I asked her again, thinking that I had misheard it.

"It's just a crazy guess, but what if the childhood sweetheart that Menghuo searches the whole time is actually you? Wait, wait, I've seen his face once, and I do think that he looks like a grown-up version of Mengmeng if Mengmeng is actually a boy."

"Ying Jie, what if Mengmeng is actually Yang Menghuo. They looked pretty similar, don't you think? Maybe that's why you two fell in love so quickly because your hearts are connected!"

…

"Oh, maybe Mengmeng is actually a boy for real! It's just because he looks so pretty as a doll that we mistook him as a girl. I mean, he always wears boys clothes back then too!"

…

"Wait, there is more. What if Mengmeng actually means what he said when he told you that he wanted to marry you when you got older?"

…

"He has been searching for you everywhere without any lead, and in the end, he found you in this Rent A Boyfriend app by coincidence—I mean, by serendipity!"

…

"That also explains why he is suddenly smitten by you in the first place. Because he has been in love with you for more than fifteen years!"

…

"Oh my god, Ying Jie, this can be a novel for real! You can pass as the female lead, while Yang Menghuo can pass as the male lead! I mean, he fits the male lead criteria. He is tall, handsome, rich, and probably also has a big di—!"

I instantly covered Shi Qiang's vulgar mouth, afraid that Mr. Yang Zhuhuo and Mr. Feng Xiaojun could hear us from inside.

Really, Shi Qiang said so many ridiculous things sometimes, "You're being too loud. Also, why are you suddenly creating a romance novel out of whim like that? You're making Yang Menghuo and me as the main characters too!"

Shi Qiang giggled, "Well, it's just a guess. Besides, who knows it might happen. I'm pretty good at guessing stuff!"

"You're just being so ridiculous right now, Qiang," I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. "Anyway, I'm pretty sure that Mengmeng is a girl. She is so pretty, like a Barbie doll. If she grows up to be a man like Yang Menghuo, then my views of Mengmeng's behaviour back then will be changed forever."

"Yeah... you're right, Jie. Back then, I was also jealous of Mengmeng's beauty. I really thought that she is too cute for her own sake… if she turned out to be a boy and grew up to be a tall, powerful, handsome man like Mr. Yang Menghuo… it will be a huge hit to me as a woman."

Shi Qiang accompanied me to meet Mengmeng sometimes back then, and her only comment was, 'Mengmeng is so beautiful, I'm jealous.'

We finally halted our ridiculous conversation about Yang Menghuo and his childhood sweetheart. As ridiculous and romantic as it might be, I wouldn't believe that his sweetheart was actually me, and he had been searching for me for years. 

Though… if that was actually the case, I wouldn't lie that I would probably be the happiest woman on earth, hehe.

What? Do you think I can't have a bit of fantasy? Let your Jie have her own fantasy here, ah! I knew you've been fantasizing about your handsome idol as well!

Shi Qiang hummed for a moment, seemingly thinking about something. She glanced at my phone and then suddenly asked, "Jie, you're going home on Saturday, right? Will you bring Yang Menghuo to meet mom and dad?"

…

"Don't tell me that you haven't decided at all."

"Well, I definitely can't bring Yang Menghuo to meet mom and dad. He's just simply not believable enough. Mom and dad will definitely catch me renting a boyfriend to show them!"

Shi Qiang hummed for a moment, and then she shook her head, "True, Yang Menghuo is just simply not believable enough. There's nothing humble about him, appearance wise."

"I've been thinking about renting another boyfriend from Rent A Boyfriend app, and this time, I will try to find someone that is okay looking at best. So they'd believe me."

"But what about Menghuo? Wouldn't he be angry that you're renting another boyfriend?" Shi Qiang asked. 

"What? Why? We are not even dating… yet." I replied.

She shrugged, "I just have a feeling that you two are already married in his head. Just a wild guess."

"Meh, I will not talk about romance with him, not until he found that childhood sweetheart of his. So now—" I opened the Rent A Boyfriend app on my phone and then immediately used the filter to sort the cheapest first. 

And the first one that popped out in my application was 'Your Meng Bao.'

…

"Okay, ignore that one. It will be even bigger trouble than before if I pick him again. Shi Qiang, come, help your Jie to find a cheapish and suitable rental boyfriend for me to meet mom and dad. We're on a budget for Meili, so always check their price first!"

Shi Qiang immediately connected who this 'Your Meng Bao' was. She giggled and then nodded, "Fine, let's just find a new rental boyfriend for you, Jie. Ignore that guy until he can sort out his feeling first!"