Chapter 217: The Unmentioned Past
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The two of them might not have expected this scene to happen and could not help but be stunned.
Lu Qingye’s hand froze there, and his expression was a little complicated, as if he was thinking about how to smooth things over.
Staring at his long fingers, the veins on the back of his hand were faintly visible. Meng Chuyuan could roughly guess why Lu Qingye reached out, but in order to ease the awkwardness between them, she naturally hung the bag in his hand.
When she let go, Lu Qingye felt the weight on his palm and came back to his senses. “Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you working overtime tonight?” Meng Chuyuan followed him and they walked side by side on the street.
“Yes, I’m not working overtime.”
Lu Qingye was very casual when it came to food. Usually, it was his assistant who ordered food for him. This was the first time he came out for a meal with Meng Chuyuan. Before coming, he casually looked at the nearby restaurants and realized that there was a French restaurant with a good environment and dishes, so he booked a table here.
Coincidentally, the location of this restaurant was not bad. Meng Chuyuan and Lu Qingye sat near the French windows. It almost allowed them to see the landmark building in the center of the city from a close distance.
At this moment, Liao Jiayan and her newlywed husband were also eating in this restaurant.
They arrived a little earlier than Meng Chuyuan, and all their dishes had already been served. However, Liao Jiayan was in no mood or appetite, so those dishes were basically untouched.
The two tables were very far apart. Meng Chuyuan and Liao Jiayan didn’t meet each other until they had finished eating and left.
“What a coincidence, Sister Yan Yan.” Meng Chuyuan was the first to see Liao Jiayan at the entrance of the restaurant.
Liao Jiayan’s eyes were a little dry and swollen. Her nose was also very red. Meng Chuyuan knew at a glance that she must have cried.
Although Meng Chuyuan noticed this, she did not ask about it.
At this moment, Liao Jiayan also saw Meng Chuyuan. At the same time, she also noticed the man behind Meng Chuyuan. Out of politeness, she smiled at him. “What a coincidence. Are you guys eating here too?”
“Yes.” Meng Chuyuan turned around and glanced at Lu Qingye. She took the initiative to introduce him to Liao Jiayan. “He’s my husband, Lu Qingye.”
Lu Qingye’s body stiffened unconsciously when he was suddenly called out, as if he did not expect this introduction to come so unexpectedly.
Lu Qingye: “Hello.”m
“Hello.” The two of them greeted each other briefly. After that, Liao Jiayan introduced her husband to them.
Meng Chuyuan and Liao Jiayan only knew each other for a while. They met by chance and greeted each other, then went back to their respective homes.
Two days later, Meng Chuyuan saw Liao Jiayan at an open-air barbeque bar. She ordered the barbeque alone as well as a dozen beers. She seemed to be in an extremely bad mood.
She saw that Liao Jiayan had drunk several cans of beer alone. Her cheeks were flushed, and her blurry eyes were slightly wet. It was obvious that she was drinking to drown her sorrows.
Meng Chuyuan took the initiative to walk towards her table. “Sister Yan Yan, are you alone?”
Liao Jiayan heard a familiar voice above her head. She looked up at Meng Chuyuan and nodded. “We meet again.”
“Mind if I share a table with you?”
“Have a seat.” Liao Jiayan smiled at her and picked up a can of beer on the table. She opened a can and handed it to Meng Chuyuan. “Do you want some?”
“Thank you.” After Meng Chuyuan sat down opposite Liao Jiayan, she took the can of beer from her and clinked glasses with her. They drank together.
Liao Jiayan had just drunk too much beer. After Meng Chuyuan appeared, she restrained her emotions and started to pretend to be calm as she ate the skewers.
Meng Chuyuan took in her emotions. Seeing that she was silent, Meng Chuyuan was not curious about what had happened.
After a long while, Liao Jiayan put down the skewer and wiped the oil stains on her hands with a tissue. She looked up at Meng Chuyuan and said casually, “I’m actually quite comfortable with you.”
Meng Chuyuan raised her eyebrows and asked curiously, “What do you mean?”
Two days ago, Liao Jiayan’s eyes were red from crying in the dining room. Meng Chuyuan was not curious at all when he saw her. Now, she was drinking to drown her sorrows and had her emotions written on her face. Meng Chuyuan quietly accompanied her to drink and eat skewers.
Although she didn’t do anything, it was the best consolation for Liao Jiayan.
There was a slight smile on Liao Jiayan’s face. She raised the can of beer on the table and took another sip. She said earnestly, “Are you interested in listening to my story?”
“I’d like to hear the details.”
Liao Jiayan had never shared her worries with anyone. She didn’t have any fixed friends in her life and basically stopped contacting them after graduation. She didn’t know how to tell outsiders about the complicated matters at home.
Perhaps it was because she was drunk tonight, or perhaps because she trusted Meng Chuyua. She wanted to talk about her troubles on a whim.
The Liao Corporation had always been in the trading business. Their small family was not really a wealthy family. Twenty years ago, the company had a problem with its capital chain and declared bankruptcy.
At that time, Liao Jiayan and her sister were still young and their family was burdened with a lot of debts. Coincidentally, during that period of decline, Liao Jiake accidentally entered the entertainment industry and debuted. The remuneration she received resolved the family’s urgent needs.
In comparison, Liao Jiayan’s contribution to the family was not much. Her parents also placed their focus on her sister and nurtured Liao Jiake to become a newbie in the entertainment industry.
Later on, Liao Jiake became famous and started to worry. She was afraid that all her efforts would be in vain. Because she didn’t want her popularity to be diverted, she didn’t want Liao Jiayan’s identity to be exposed.
“… All these years, I’ve been her shadow in the dark.” Liao Jiayan smiled bitterly. “A while ago, when I registered my marriage and posted on Weibo, they immediately exploded… They were afraid that I would ruin Liao Jiake’s acting career.”
Meng Chuyuan didn’t have any siblings, so she couldn’t fully empathize with her. However, she sympathized with Liao Jiayan’s situation from the bottom of her heart and came to a realistic conclusion. “Your parents don’t really favor her. They just used your sister as a money-making tool.”
Liao Jiayan supported her cheek with one hand and smiled at Meng Chuyuan. “Your mentality is indeed very good. You can see through problems so clearly.”
Meng Chuyuan said, “Think about it. If this kind of purposeful flattery is placed on you, will you be able to accept it? Will you feel better if I put it like that?”
She said meaningfully, “You’re right.”
Who would be willing to be used as a tool?
“Since I can’t change the truth, it’s not impossible to accept it in another way.” Meng Chuyuan’s eyes were filled with a complicated expression. She forced a smile. “My story is much more exciting than yours.”
When Liao Jiayan heard this, a trace of shock flashed across her eyes. “You’re so optimistic. You actually have a story?”
She picked up the half-empty bottle of wine on the table and took a large sip. “Of course,” she replied with a wry smile.
Meng Chuyuan had always been unwilling to recall the past because she had an unfortunate childhood. She had come all the way here to bid farewell to the past.
