159 Storm
His deep and magnetic voice traveled into his ears from the receiver, making He Miao’s entire body go numb.
She blushed unnaturally and hurriedly said, “I, I know. You too. Eat well. I’ll hang up first.”
Jing Yan chuckled. His little girl was embarrassed with him.
Looking at the cold food in front of him, Jing Yan finally had an appetite. He picked up his cutleries and started eating with gusto.
On the other side, Xu Meng looked in surprise at He Miao’s blushing and rapid heartbeat. She could not help but sigh. “I didn’t expect Master Jing to be so charming. Miaomiao, this is the first time I’ve seen you blush!”
“Don’t be silly, I’m not blushing because of him.” He Miao turned around shyly and strode out of the canteen towards the classroom.
Xu Meng’s heart suddenly moved. She rolled her eyes and caught up with her in big steps. She bumped her shoulder and asked teasingly, “Are you going to re-arrange your marriage with Jing Yan?”
“You’re getting better at talking nonsense.” He Miao reached out and pretended to pinch her face.
Xu Meng laughed and dodged her. She turned around and put her arm around her shoulder, saying with a righteous look, “But even if you two really like each other, don’t agree to his request so easily. I’ve heard about what happened between you two in the past. He treated you so badly in the past, so you have to make him suffer.”
“Have you gone crazy? Who’s in love with him?!” He Miao raised her hand to pinch the soft flesh on her waist, but she did not use much strength, afraid of hurting her.
Xu Meng frowned and begged for mercy. When He Miao was done pinching her, she leaned over to her ear and whispered, “Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you.”
“Speak.” He Miao knew very well what Xu Meng was going to say, but she still stopped in her tracks and turned to face her, looking like she was all ears.
Xu Meng blushed and scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. She said awkwardly, “Actually, I like our class rep, Li Ming.”
The sound became softer and softer towards the end, like the buzzing of a mosquito, but He Miao could still hear it clearly.
Jing Yan had already warned her about this matter. If it were not for him, she would not have thought about it in this way. Xu Meng usually gave people the impression that she was a magnanimous girl who did not care about trifles. She put everything on her face. Who would have thought that she would only carefully bury her feelings deep in her heart?
This time, Xu Meng had mustered up the courage to tell her. She must have been certain that she did not like Li Ming, so she chose to be honest. If she really did like Li Ming, Xu Meng would probably never let her know for the rest of her life.
Xu Meng sincerely treated her as her best friend. He Miao had never doubted this.
She sighed and patted Xu Meng’s shoulder as if she did not know anything. She smiled and said, “When did this happen? Do you need me to do anything for you?”
“You don’t have to help me. I know it’s impossible for me.”
Xu Meng lowered her head in shame. She kicked the stones on the ground with her toes and said in a muffled voice, “In fact, I liked him long before you transferred to this class, but I could see that he treated you very special. You’re smart and beautiful, and you have a talent in fragrance making that I can never catch up with. I just need to watch him from afar until we go our separate ways after graduation.”
“That’s a silly thing to say,” He Miao was very happy that Xu Meng could be honest with her, but at the same time, she could not help but feel sorry for this silly girl.
She put her arm around Xu Meng’s shoulder and analyzed the situation for her with a serious and firm expression. “I’ve never felt that my Mengmeng is inferior than me. You’re good at photography and you won first place in your first short film. Although you can’t make perfumes to Professor Xu’s satisfaction, you have your own field of expertise. Besides, who says you’re not beautiful?”
As she said that, He Miao pretended to pinch Xu Meng’s smooth cheeks and smiled. “I like your baby face. Besides, your lively character is very likable. If I were a man, I would definitely want to marry you.”
“Really?” Xu Meng sniffed exaggeratedly and suddenly looked up at her, pitifully. “Then if I can’t get married in the future, you can’t abandon me.”
“No problem,” she said. “Yes,” He Miao agreed readily. In her opinion, good friends should be by each other’s side for life, and their relationship was even stronger than that of a couple in love.
Xu Meng pulled herself together because of her words. She returned to her usual energetic self and tickled He Miao with a smile. The two of them joked all the way back to the classroom.
The relaxed atmosphere suddenly came to an end when they saw Li Ming waiting at the door.
Li Ming could feel the stiffness in the two girls’ faces, but he did not try to guess the reason. He just looked at He Miao anxiously, took out his phone, and handed it to her. “Miaomiao, something’s happened. Look at these comments. Someone on the internet is spreading rumors that you’re the illegitimate daughter of the He family. It’s a hot topic now.”
Xu Meng swallowed her saliva in disbelief and looked at Li Ming with uncertainty.
“Your account was also affected,” the latter said with a dark expression. “Many of the people who bought your perfume are asking for a refund.”