Chapter 8: The Shameless One

Li Huangxuan went to the restroom and called Lin Ximeng. The call was picked up after just one ring.

A sweet voice came through the speaker:
“Hey, are you off work?”

Li Huangxuan frowned.
“I got stuck with overtime. I’ll be home a little late. You forgot your keys—go find Grandpa Zhang!”

Lin Ximeng replied pitifully,
“I tried. But the other tenants said he went to do square dancing.”

“Then where are you now?” Li Huangxuan asked.

“Waiting for you on the stairs,” Mengmeng said, sounding even more aggrieved.

A mental image popped into Li Huangxuan’s head:
A homeless girl sitting alone in the chilly autumn night, arms wrapped around her knees, shivering in the wind.

He sighed. “Fine. I’ll send you the address of my office. Come and get the key.”

“Yay!” Lin Ximeng replied happily and hung up.

Shaking his head helplessly, Li Huangxuan shared his office location.

Damn it, Grandpa Zhang. Out chasing women again, huh? Have you no shame? What would your late wife think?

Back at his desk, Li Huangxuan began to strategize.
No way could Xu Wanqing find out that he was living with a stunning girl. He was still single and could barely handle one woman—no way he could juggle two.

Once Lin Ximeng called, he’d go downstairs under some pretext, hand her the key, and send her on her way. Then, it’d be back to his original plan: a nice dinner date with Xu Wanqing.

Perfect.

But as the saying goes, plans never keep up with changes.

Even after finishing work, there was still no call from Lin Ximeng.

Left with no choice, Li Huangxuan shut down his computer, slung his bag over his shoulder, and took the elevator down with Xu Wanqing.

The restaurant was nearby, so he figured if Ximeng called, he’d just step out for a moment.

“Wanqing, what do you feel like eating? Chinese? Hotpot? BBQ? Japanese?”

“I’m good with anything.”

Just as they stepped out of the building, there was Lin Ximeng—right in the plaza, walking toward them.

She wore a light purple knit sweater, jeans, and ankle boots—simple but stylish.

The evening breeze lifted her hair as the neon lights lit up her delicate face.

Breathtaking.

Li Huangxuan felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head.
Of all the times she could show up, why now?

“Xuan, over here! Don’t you see me?” Lin Ximeng waved excitedly.

If he could pretend not to see her, he would.

And that nickname—seriously? You’re sabotaging me on purpose, aren’t you?

Should’ve just let you sit on those stairs all night.

Xu Wanqing looked puzzled. “Is she your friend?”

Li Huangxuan scratched his head awkwardly.
“Wanqing, let me explain… It’s a little complicated…”

Lin Ximeng bounced over, shot a glare at Li Huangxuan, and then flashed an innocent smile at Xu Wanqing.

“Hi, are you Xuan’s coworker? You’re really pretty!”

“I’m his roommate. My name’s Lin Ximeng, but you can call me Mengmeng.”

“If you ever have time, you’re welcome to come hang out at our place.”

…

Xu Wanqing, being the quiet type, didn’t know how to respond to the whirlwind that was Lin Ximeng.

Meanwhile, Li Huangxuan’s toes were already curling with embarrassment.

You didn’t talk this much a few days ago!

He quickly shoved the key into Ximeng’s hand and kept signaling with his eyes: Leave. Now.

“Aren’t you going home?” he asked.

“I haven’t eaten yet,” Lin Ximeng said, her eyes wide and innocent.

“Me neither,” she added, pouting as she looked at Xu Wanqing.

Xu Wanqing, being polite, said, “Well, if we’re all friends, let’s just eat together.”

“Sure!” Lin Ximeng agreed immediately.

Li Huangxuan wanted to slam his head into the nearest wall.

She was just being nice! Why’d you have to take her seriously?

I’ve never met anyone this shameless in my life!

Needless to say, the date was ruined.

With no way out, the three of them walked to a nearby food plaza.

To be fair, either girl walking beside him would’ve been enough to attract jealous stares from passing guys.

But both together? It was next-level.

Lin Ximeng, ever the social butterfly, clung to Xu Wanqing like a newfound best friend—asking all sorts of questions and chatting like they’d known each other forever.

Li Huangxuan trailed behind them like some guy hired to carry bags.

They didn’t even ask what he wanted to eat—just decided on BBQ.

A bad feeling rose in his chest.

A guy eating BBQ with two girls? That only meant one thing:

He’d be the one grilling.
They’d eat.
He’d grill more.
He wouldn’t even get a bite before they asked for the next round.

Lin Ximeng was especially attentive to Xu Wanqing.
She chatted about books, TV dramas, and filled her bowl with food nonstop.

Xu Wanqing, though introverted, gradually opened up under her influence.

“You read that novel too? I bawled at the ending!”

“Yeah, I’m a Cancer, kind of emotional—I cry all the time watching shows.”

“You’re so pretty and gentle—bet you have a lot of admirers!”

…

The two got along so well, they were practically sisters.

Li Huangxuan couldn’t get a word in edgewise—and still had to cook for them.

God, please make this torment end soon.

After more than an hour, when both girls were clearly full, Li Huangxuan—who’d barely eaten half a portion—waved the waiter over and paid without hesitation.

Two hundred and fifty yuan.
Let that be a lesson.
Next time I feel soft-hearted, I’m a pig.

Xu Wanqing lived in the opposite direction, so they parted ways at the subway station.

“What the hell was that?” Li Huangxuan snapped once she was out of earshot.

Lin Ximeng feigned innocence.
“I just wanted a free meal. Don’t be so stingy.”

“I was signaling like crazy for you to leave! Now she probably thinks we’re…”

“She’s the one you like, right?” Lin Ximeng asked quietly, a trace of disappointment in her eyes.

“Who else would it be?” he replied, still frustrated.

“She seems like a gentle and virtuous girl… very suitable for you,” Lin Ximeng said softly.

Li Huangxuan caught a whiff of jealousy in her tone.

Could it be… was she feeling jealous?

No way. Absolutely not.

Even though I am undeniably charming, conquering a goddess like her in three days? That’s pushing it.

Let’s be realistic.

On the subway ride home, Lin Ximeng was much quieter than before—nothing like her bubbly self at the restaurant.

Seeing her looking all fragile and delicate, Li Huangxuan didn’t have the heart to keep scolding her.

Back home, the scent of flowers filled the air.

“Did you not eat enough?” Lin Ximeng asked gently.

He paused. “How’d you know?”

“I’ll cook some noodles for you.”
She slipped off her shoes and headed into the kitchen.