Small Xixi's mood gradually dampened, making one wonder what had happened in the span of a few seconds.
"What's wrong?" Xu Tang was fast to notice.
"Nothing. It's just... my brithday is coming up soon."
Xu Tang rubbed her head. "It's good to grow up."
"You know that's not what I mean."
"I know."
___
The next time Lu Meili and Xu Tang met, a few more days had passed.
This was because Lu Meili was spending practically all her time in HL Entertainment's studios, reading her scenes and trying to act them out.
Filming for 'Dancer of the year' had already begun but due to the intensity of the female lead's scenes, the director had decided to film all the scenes that didn't need the female lead first, to give Lu Meili time to get into character.
She spent so much time dancing and became so scarce that Xu Tang couldn't see her no matter how hard he tried.
Though he didn't stop to ask himself why he wanted to see her so much.
As soon as she seemed to have taken a break, she went to find her.
However, the girl didn't have time for him. "I'm sorry. I have a lot of work to do today. Maybe some other day."
Xu Tang didn't think too much into it. Sometimes, he would be too busy to eat. He totally understood her when she said that she didn't have time for him today.
She had not even spared him a glance.
...
This was the scene Lin Lihua witnessed when she entered Lu Meili's dance studio.
She crossed paths with Xu Tang who was on his way out.
"You have given up on him?" She asked the young woman whose gaze was fixed on the door.
"Yes. It's best to move on. Daddy already arranged a blind date for me."
Lin Lihua shrugged. "Well, what can I say? Youngsters these days give up faster when it comes to love."
Lu Meili's face flushed a little. She coughed. "Well, that coming from you is quite... strange... don't you think?" Was there anyone who had given up in love faster than Lin Lihua had? She literally didn't budge no matter how she had been coaxed and still asked for a divorce anyway.
Lin Lihua wasn't angry with her for voicing her opinion. "You think I'm an evil woman, don't you?"
Lu Meili glanced at her. She was being asked a question, so don't blame her for being too truthful. "If you are talking about how you have been treating Sis Katy despite her attempts to make it up to you, then I honestly find you evil."
Lin Lihua smiled. The kind of smile that Lu Meili couldn't understand. "I know. Henry thinks so too.
But no one cares to ask why I hate her so much.
I'm the senior here and I should be more patient with you kids... but I'm human. I'll bleed and hurt if you stab me."
"What did she do?" Lu Meili held her forehead. "Right. I get it. I found fault in you before asking so it doesn't matter anymore."
Lin Lihua patted her head. "Right. It doesn't matter. But do you know, even if I didn't pursue it, it doesn't mean I'll like her just because after many years, she started getting close to me and calling me mother. Especially when I know it's fake."
"When you're done, come to my office. I'm no longer in the mood to discuss business."
Lu Meili nodded. A thought flashed in her mind. Ruoxi had mentioned something weird before. Coincidentally, it was capable of making anyone in Lin Lihua's shoes hate Katy forever. Who would forgive anyone for making them miscarry? Perhaps... Lin Lihua was actually pregnant in the past and before she told anyone, Katy accidentally hurt her?
"Aunty," She called Lin Lihua who was on her way out. Lin Lihua merely turned wordlessly. "You would never know. Perhaps whatever happened that made you hate Sis Katy, it could have been an accident or she could have been framed."
Lin Lihua's smile was obviously bitter this time. "How I wish she was being framed."
Lu Meili was left totally in the dark. She was not being framed? Had she really investigated and found Katy guilty?
Wait, was she even thinking about the same thing as Lin Lihua? Her imagination just now seemed too far-fetched to be real.
"Aunty just made me more confused. I shouldn't have probed."
Forget it. She knew that she shouldn't be too concerned about matters that were none of her business.
___
At least one thing was for sure - Lu Meili's blind date.
Now, she was already certain that in this lifetime, she would never fall in love with another man.
Despite that, she had her mind set on going for this blind date. It wouldn't matter. Countless mariages were build out of blind dates and many of them thrived for long.
In actual fact, few childhood friends ended up happy in marriage. Even if they did get married, most of those marriages would be filled with predicaments.
She had only wanted to marry Xu Tang because she knew that there was no such thing as unsolvable disagreements between her and him. This time, she had only used filming as an excuse to stay away from him.
But, if a fish just won't catch the bait, why not try another?
...
Lu Meili rushed to the kitchen where Wan Jia was cooking with a smile on her face. With that expression, the meal she was cooking was doubtlessly meant for Lu Aotian.
She stopped at a distance, afraid of distracting her.
"Ma, can you teach me to cook?"
"You want to learn to cook? How sudden."
Lu Meili's face flushed. "I just have a lot of time in my hands before filming starts."
Wan Jia maintained her infatuated expression. "Sure. You can join Xian Li."
At the mention of Lu Xian Li, Lu Meili finally saw her chopping vegetables at the side.
"I didn't know my dear elder sister would finally have a passion for cooking." Lu Xian Li mocked.
"I didn't know my adorable younger sister found pleasure in sticking her long nose where it doesn't belong."
Wan Jia could already feel her head hurt. "Can the two of you get along once? Just this once. The food will be ruined if the atmosphere is filled with so much hatred."
Was there any mother who had it more difficilt raising daughters than she did? These two just wouldn't ever breath the same air peacefully.