orced a smile and went to bed, holding her in his arms. The closeness brought back memories of last night, making her body spasm and tremble uncontrollably. Her delicate appearance was incredibly all...Xiao Yi knew that he was a later arrival, and in Lin Meng's heart, he would inevitably be inferior to Rong Ling. (..tw) Though he had helped her and kept her by his side, such promises could never truly make her willingly stay.

He stormed out that day, a fire burning inside him. He couldn't vent his anger, so he went to drink with some brothers. The men gathered together, chatting and laughing, and naturally his anger subsided somewhat. Then it suddenly dawned on him. If he really went cold war with this woman because of his anger, wouldn't she be the one who suffered in the end! That woman had always resisted his closeness; if he let her off the hook, wouldn't that just make her happy!

The more he thought about it, the more confused he felt. But after leaving in such a rage, there was no way he could lower himself and go back to her. And if he went back with a cold face and started another fight, it would only make things worse between them. That woman was probably the type who met strength with strength, and would likely just escalate the conflict even further!

After much deliberation, he came up with the idea of pretending to be drunk. This way, he could save face while also effectively easing the tension between them!

The next day, he naturally woke up before her, but he still waited until she woke up before getting out of bed. While she was still tossing and turning in bed, he quickly took care of himself in the bathroom. With narrowed eyes, he came to the bed and looked down at her silently. That stern expression, in fact, was quite imposing. Lin Meng felt a little creeped out by his gaze! After all, even though there had been some temporary friction last night, she thought he was drunk. Their relationship should still be in the state it was after their fight!

"You last night—" He paused for a moment, then pretended to think deeply before continuing. "You promised me last night, didn't you!"

Her heart skipped a beat. She thought to herself, "No way, this man has such a good memory He remembers everything he said while drunk!" Feeling unsure, she didn't want to admit what happened last night. So, she feigned ignorance and asked, "What did I say last night!"

Xiao Yi's eyes narrowed, and his face suddenly turned grim. He glared at her fiercely.

Although I was drunk last night, I remember everything I said to you. You promised not to let any other man touch you, so you better keep your word. Otherwise, I can say it and do it. I can lock you up for a month and make sure you can't leave this house!

He said it with a sinister tone, but he wasn't joking.

Lin Meng had a slight headache and let out a soft sigh as he got up and walked towards the bathroom. He reached out to her, and she helplessly looked up at him, blinking her eyes before softly nodding her head in response and quietly replying to him.

Okay!

At the sight of this, a smile crept onto his brows!

This should count as a small victory, right

Just when he and she had finally managed to ease their relationship, Jiang Po浪 came back into the picture. Xiao Yi was unhappy when he learned about it from his subordinates. He forced himself to calm down and waited until nightfall before returning to Lin Meng's residence. He coldly brought up Jiang Po浪.

"What is he doing here!"

"He said he'd give me extra lessons!" Lin Meng laughed. Her smile rippled out, a little bit at a time, which made Xiao Yi feel uncomfortable. It seemed that once it came to that kid, she could laugh so contentedly!

"If you need tutoring, I'll get a teacher for you. They'll definitely be better than him!"

Lin Meng shook her head. "This is different!"

What she saw was Jiang Po浪's sincerity! After going through so much, he could still treat her the same way, and there was only him. He offered to make up for her missed classes, and she originally wanted to refuse, not wanting to cause him trouble because of herself. However, she couldn't resist his persuasion.

“Although you're following Xiao Yi, there's no need to trap yourself like a bird in a cage for him. After getting burned once, this time, you should be more careful! You need friends, and you need your own circle and life, and I, am your friend! If you rely on Xiao Yi for everything, what if... I mean, what if one day you and Xiao Yi have no relationship whatsoever Then, are you going to just sit there dumbfoundedly facing this sudden change without making any preparations!”

Jiang Po's words are very right, they really woke me up! These days she has been lazy. Ever since she attempted suicide by cutting her wrists, she couldn't bring herself to do anything. When she thought of Rong Ling, Xiao Yi, and her current situation, she felt disheartened and unwilling to move. She just wanted to be a monk for a day, ring the bell all day—just get through it!

How could she have become like this How could she allow herself to be so lazy! Before, she planned to leave Rong Ling. Even facing a difficult and unknown future, she was still so courageous and determined. She even thought about working part-time while studying, then taking the college entrance exam with her own efforts and finding a job afterwards. How could she have such thoughts during such a difficult time, but now that she has food and shelter secured, she's become decadent!

"A Lang, thank you!"

So, she agreed!

Agreeing with A-Lang meant more than just accepting his help with studies; it also meant recognizing him as a friend. One more friend meant one more path to take. As for the future, it was too unpredictable for her. Even ancient people knew the importance of being prepared for danger in times of peace, and she, in her current situation, should be even more aware of this!

I have already promised A-Lang that he will come to give me make-up lessons whenever he is free!

“No!” Xiao Yi’s face darkened. When he realized his tone was too firm, and it might hurt her feelings, he quickly changed his expression and added, “Jiang Po Lang is a student himself, with so much to learn every day. Where would he find the extra time to tutor you How about this, I’ll hire you a private tutor. It won’t interfere with your studies!”

Lin Meng blinked, looked at Xiao Yi, and smiled, but it was a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Xiao Yi, he's my friend, I need friends!"

Xiao Yi was struck dumb by this, squinting and coldly argued back, "Aren't I your friend too Isn't it enough that I'm here!"

She was stunned, and then suddenly let out a burst of laughter.

"How can you be the same!"

He listened, instinctively feeling a sense of unease. But after savoring the words carefully, he suddenly smiled faintly and agreed. "That's right, how could that kid compare to me!"

He was in high spirits, suddenly pulling her into his arms and affectionately touching her little face. He whispered, "Being alone at home must be boring, right When your hand heals, I'll take you out and teach you some things. Those things are much stronger than those rigid, textbook-style things!"

She was curious. “What is it”

He smiled without speaking, looking very mysterious.

Lin Meng didn't pursue the matter further. She was happy to learn from him, but on her own side, she had to have her own plan and stick to it. So, the textbooks and workbooks she already had were soon placed on her desk with Xiao Yi's help.

She was naturally gifted and self-learning came easily to her. When she reached high school sophomore year, she started considering whether to pursue the sciences or humanities. She decided on science because it didn't require rote memorization like the humanities did. Once she understood a concept, it all clicked into place. Besides physics, which she found slightly challenging, she could handle the other science subjects with ease. For the humanities subjects like politics, history, and geography, she only read them when she was tired from studying, treating them more like storybooks.

Every evening when Xiao Yi returned home, he would see her sitting on the sofa with a book in hand. It could be history, geography, politics, or literature. She would quietly immerse herself in reading. Her small frame curled up like a ball, exuding a unique kind of fragility. But it was that profile, so delicate and graceful, her head bowed in concentration, that perfectly embodied the most beautiful sentence - "The most beautiful thing is the gentleness of a lowered head." Seeing this, Xiao Yi felt a certain tenderness bloom within his heart.

He used to go to the study to handle some business after returning, but ever since he saw her timid and graceful appearance, he couldn't stay in the study anymore. He persuaded her to go to the study with him. That way, when he was tired from work, he could just look up and see her. Besides, having her around made him feel particularly grounded, a kind of indescribable sense of security. But she was extremely resistant to his study, no matter how much he coaxed her. At first, she said she liked to curl up on the sofa, using it as an excuse. Xiao Yi was smart, "If the mountain won't move, then the water will." He said he would move her beloved sofa to the study. Wouldn't that solve the problem Then, unable to resist any longer, she directly stated that she disliked the feeling of confinement in the study and didn't want to go!

Xiao Yi ultimately couldn't, so he moved the sofa to her room and then followed suit by moving his office space beside hers. At first, she frequently pursed her lips and glared at him, as if he were in her way. He asked her, but she wouldn't say anything, just brooding alone with a bad temper. However, after several adjustments, they each did their own thing, not interfering with each other, and she gradually lost her emotion.

Xiao Yi naturally didn't know that Lin Meng was so reluctant to go to the study and stay with him because it would remind her of Rong Ling. Every time after school, she would lie on the desk in the study and do her homework. At that time, Rong Ling across from her would read documents, browse the internet, and type, the sound of the keyboard clattering crisply making her heart skip a beat. It sounded so good to her. But now, if those past events were to be replayed, they could only pierce her heart with pain!

She couldn't honestly tell Xiao Yi the reason, trying every excuse to push him away. But she was no match for this man! She could only helplessly let him occupy one corner of the sofa, then listen to the familiar clicking of the keyboard, "click-clack," rising up. Her mind started to wander, becoming hazy, and when she came back to herself, she inexplicably often found herself in that man's arms. Looking up, she saw the man with his faintly smiling eyes and faintly smiling lips. Then, he would ask her in a softly doting tone, "What are you thinking about" but as if he had seen something amusing...

She couldn't say a word!

No, I don't know his good, only she was scared!

I'm scared, I can't take any more!

...Xioxiang Academy first release...

A young woman, dressed very fashionably, suddenly appeared at the residence. Even on an autumn day, she fearlessly wore a cropped jacket that revealed half her shoulder. Beneath it was a low-rise denim short that only covered her buttocks, exposing two long, white legs.

The woman's appearance was merely average at best. She had a pointed oval face and wore heavy makeup, which obscured her true features almost entirely. Only her phoenix eyes, carefully adorned with mascara and fluttering incessantly, gave her away. There was something about them that felt familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before!

This woman was quite rude. Upon seeing Lin Meng, she didn't say a word, but stood above her, looking down with disdain and scrutiny. She examined Lin Meng from head to toe, as if she were a piece of meat being weighed and priced. After sizing her up, she let out a lazy hum.

"You're Lin Meng!" The way he spoke to Lin Meng was as if he was looking down on her, condescending!

This woman's attitude, Lin Meng didn't like it.

She nodded, indicating that she had found the right person. Then Lin Meng lowered her head and looked at the math textbook in her hands, silently rehearsing the calculation process that had been interrupted by the arrival of this woman in her mind.

The woman's voice immediately became sharp.

"Is this how you treat guests! Get up right now and pour me a cup of tea!"

If she had eyes, she should have seen the plaster cast on Lin Meng's right hand. Because of this, Lin Meng couldn't even hold a pen, let alone pour her tea. The woman just now had scrutinized her so carefully that Lin Meng was certain she had seen everything there was to see and had come to a conclusion -- she was probably here to pick a fight!

She's not a pushover either. There's no reason she should just let anyone take advantage of her! Lifting her chin, she gave a faint smile, her eyes cold and with a hint of intimidation. "There aren't many guests like you! If you want tea, fine, but first tell me your name!"

The woman let out a surprised "huh," her face, heavily made up, now contorted with anger. Her words were cutting and sharp!

"I can't stand it! You're just a kept woman, and you dare to act arrogant in front of me! Do you really think you're some kind of mistress Pfft!"

Saying that, she plopped down on the sofa and continued to give orders: "Xiao Yi is my brother. You better behave yourself and serve me well. Otherwise, I'll go back and tell my brother to get you kicked out!"

Oh! So she's Xiao Yi's sister! Lin Meng twitched the corners of her lips, giving a cold smile. She's just his sister, acting like she's the ancestor! She only had a promise with Xiao Yi, but she didn't care about those messy things in his family. The Rong family's mess of relatives and friends, don't even try to rehearse it on her again! Besides, if this woman is truly capable, let Xiao Yi drive her out, then she would laugh out loud three times! At that time, maybe she would have to thank the woman with a cup of tea! But, does this woman have the ability!

Lin Meng let out a cold snort in his heart, his face unchanged, he said calmly.

"If you want tea, pour it yourself!"

"I told you to go!" the woman snapped impatiently. "Don't just eat men's money and become a spineless, good-for-nothing who only knows how to eat but not work!"

Sarcastically, there was no common ground for them to speak of. Lin Meng didn't want to engage! Folding up her books, she picked them up with one hand and started walking upstairs.

That woman was quite nimble. She sprang up from the sofa, supporting herself with one hand, and in a single leap landed behind it. Taking a few quick steps, she extended her arm and stopped Lin Meng.

"Where are we going!"

"Back to the room!"

"I won't let you go back. You have to stay here with me. You are not allowed to go anywhere!"

Lin Meng frowned, said coldly. "Too domineering!"

The woman sneered and mocked back, "You're too ignorant to know your place!"

Lin Meng's eyes were cold. "What do you want to do!"

After she arrived, she didn't say a few kind words and it was obvious that she came for her. There must be some purpose behind this!

"Go on, I'm all ears!" After saying that, she left too!

"I don't want to do this either, but if you want my brother to treat you better, then you need to know your place!"

"Your brother sent you here!" Lin Meng suddenly asked.

The woman's face stiffened for a moment, then she forced a smile and said, "You know what I mean. My brother means the same thing. My brother listens to me. After all, I'm his only sister. And you, you're just an outsider. Without you, my brother can find another woman, countless women!"

Lin Meng lowered her eyes.

The woman thought that her words had scared Lin Meng and made her realize her place. She immediately felt smug. “My brother’s women, they all have to listen to me. There were a few women before who didn’t know their place. They thought they were so amazing, even though they weren't even with my brother yet, they acted like they were something special and gave me the cold shoulder. Hehe, I went back and told my brother, guess what happened to those women in the end!”

Lin Meng honestly found this woman ridiculous, but she still cooperated politely and expressed her ignorance and curiosity. "What happened to them in the end!"

The woman gave an insidious little giggle, admitting that Lin Meng's eager appearance pleased her.

Of course, it was immediately kicked open by my brother!

Lin Meng narrowed her eyes and lowered her head.

The woman thought Lin Meng was scared, and giggled. "Now you should know what to do! You, pour me a cup of tea first. Five minutes, I only give you five minutes!"

Having said that, she leaped onto the sofa and, with her lips painted a bloody red by lipstick, grinned triumphantly. Little did she know, Lin Meng's mind was racing at that moment. If everything this girl said was true, then this girl must hold considerable weight in Xiao Yi's heart, she being his sister! So, she deliberately antagonized this girl, wasn't it This would surely anger Xiao Yi, and then this girl could put on a good show, and Xiao Yi might kick her out with one foot!

Lin Meng felt a surge of excitement, her breathing quickening in that instant. This thought excited her, made her restless, and she couldn't help but feel her heart racing.

Calmly, she forced herself to remain calm, forcing herself to react quickly and perfectly, then, make a scene with this girl! Just right, this girl's attitude towards her had always been unpleasant. It would be easy to cause a scene.ed teeth, continued. “Lan Qiu’s parents never wanted her to be with you in the first place. With your family background at the time, compared to Lan Qiu's, it was simply worlds apart. And because of...