Chapter 86 - Lodging House (2)

Song Meiling and Zhang Enyu stepped down the stairs into the dining hall.

They went to find the others who were already preparing for dinner, helping the owner make the meals. Since the owner didn't anticipate their arrival, she quickly collected enough ingredients to make Kung Pao Chicken, fried rice, and steamed vegetables. Afterwards, the owner left them to sit by a round table, barely exchanging a few words as they ate.

Song Meiling didn't see what went down in the warehouse, but she could tell by the tense expressions on their faces, that they had seen and heard things that weren't easy to absorb.

She tried to start light conversations, but it didn't work, and it didn't last. Still, she persisted until she felt Zhang Enyu pinch her thigh, giving her a look that said, 'now's not the time.' She was thankful for it because of how terrible her social cues were.

Afterwards, the rest of them left to their rooms, leaving her and Zhang Enyu behind, alone.

"I know what you're trying to do," he said to her. "But giving them some time and space would relieve more of the tension."

Song Meiling bit her lip, nodding. "I understand," she told him.

Zhang Enyu then rose from his seat, taking his plate and hers to wash. Song Meiling gave him a thankful smile before she started to head back to the room, not knowing whether she should wait for him or not.

It would be awkward to walk back to the room with him, so she decided to go ahead.

In the room, she dove under the covers in her bed, turning to her side, trying to sleep. Not long after, she heard someone enter the room, closing the door shut.

She closed her eyes tightly, willing herself to sleep, but it didn't work. She flipped over to the other side, hoping that a better position would help. But then she caught a glimpse of Zhang Enyu breathing lightly across her, sleeping.

His silver hair spilled over his eyes, and her breath hitched. She knew he was handsome, but it always seemed to surprise her. Song Meiling didn't know how long she stared at him, but when he opened his eyes, she panicked and flipped over again.

"You can't sleep?" he asked, low and gruff.

"No," she mumbled softly with the sheets over her face.

"Mei," he called her.

Song Meiling stilled. She never used Mei as a nickname much before.

"Yes?"

"Nothing. I just felt like saying your name," he told her.

Song Meiling flipped over again to face him. His expression was blank and aloof, devoid of emotion. And yet, his tone revealed a hint of warmth, of tenderness.

"Enyu," she called him.

"Mhm?" he replied.

"Why don't you like rich people?" she asked him curiously. She observed the way he acted around her in the beginning, and it took long for him to soften up.

Zhang Enyu's lips curled, and he let out a small laugh.

"It's not that I don't like all of them. I just have this thing where people with incredible amounts of money have the power to do something useful with it, something good. And while some do, most don't," he said

Song Meiling glanced at him. Zhang Enyu regretted what he said, so he added, "My mother left my father."

Song Meiling gaped at him. "What?"

"She left him for another man, a richer one, for a better life," he admitted with a hint of despair.

It was a stupid question, but she couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

"Because my father couldn't give her what she wanted."

Song Meiling stared at him with a disheartened expression. Zhang Enyu smiled slightly. "Don't worry about it. It happened years ago," he assured her.

Song Meiling propped herself on an elbow, creasing her eyebrows. "Is that why you're, 'I'm mister nothing rattles me,'" she said with a deeper voice. Zhang Enyu let out a laugh. He then responded, "It's in my nature to be as I am, reserved as if nothing rattles me."

"You and everyone I know," Song Meiling replied, sighing.

Zhang Enyu propped himself on his elbow. He looked at her, full of resolve. "You have good qualities yourself," he began, "I used to think people who think out loud, wearing their hearts without armour were weak. But they're not."

Song Meiling was taken aback by his kind words. She was not used to it. She could admit that she wished to be more like her siblings. Song Zhen and Song Luli were always calm and collected growing up while her emotions were more heightened, powerful even. But she supposed that there was nothing about any of them she would ask to change. She only wanted to understand them better.

And she noticed since her sister married Long Jie, Song Luli didn't change; rather, she ignited a part of her that needed the encouragement to unleash her, like a sleeping dragon needing that push to wake.

"I am sensing that you'll quiz me hard when we get back home since you're being nice," she told him.

Zhang Enyu smirked. "Maybe so," he responded.

...

Song Luli hopped into the bed after washing up, waiting for Long Jie.

Once Long Jie finished, he stepped into the room. His dark auburn hair was wet, sticking to his face, and he wore a towel over his hips. Song Luli got out of bed, taking another towel from the side of the bed to dry his locks.

He looked at her appreciatively, granting her a look of affection and longing. Song Luli felt breathless when he looked at her. Just how many times did she see that expression and didn't think of anything of it because she didn't allow herself to?

Song Luli took his hand after, guiding him to bed. Long Jie paused. "Wait," he said. "I need to put on pants."

"...Right," Song Luli replied.

He quickly put on pants, leaving the other half of his body bare. He went under the sheets, and Song Luli followed him in. There were some things left unspoken, and she wasn't sure how to start the conversation.

"How are you holding up?" Song Luli asked him softly.

Long Jie looked at her with a slight smile. "I am good, thanks to you and the others," he said to her. Song Luli smiled back at him. "I'm glad," she responded genuinely.

Long Jie was genuinely better than he expected. There were some parts where he wished he didn't act on impulse, where he didn't endanger his wife or her family. But, they made it out. He felt relieved, only wanting to move forward, and just looking at Song Luli gave him the strength to do so.