Chapter 24: Congratulations in Advance

"Heh... heh heh! Brother Meng, you're really humorous," Lu Kexin tugged at the corner of her mouth, giving a dry laugh.

Do you think I'm joking?

Meng Lang sighed inwardly.

Indeed, being misunderstood is the fate of the expresser.

Although he'd been treated as the default fallback guy, Meng Lang didn't harbor any hate towards Lu Kexin.

Apart from the fact that the other's plans hadn't come to fruition, the fragments that had just surfaced in his mind had somewhat affected Meng Lang's mood.

Having loved... wasn't an empty phrase.

He shook his head, casting aside the inexplicable melancholy in his heart.

Meng Lang glanced at his phone and said, "It's getting late, it's not safe for a girl to go back alone at this hour. Let's go."

Not hating her didn't mean this Meng Lang wanted to continue any form of relationship with her.

Not seeking revenge was already the greatest mercy Meng Lang could afford Lu Kexin...

"Mhm!" Lu Kexin seemed to sense Meng Lang's intentional distancing, and finally, a trace of resentment flashed across her face.

The two exited the bar, the torrential downpour still raging outside.

The veils of rain were so heavy that it seemed as though a layer of mist had covered the earth, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the street.

"What should we do? I didn't bring an umbrella," Lu Kexin said pitifully, looking at Meng Lang.

"No worries, you can use mine."

Looking at the umbrella offered to her, Lu Kexin felt speechless inside.

I mean, why would you bring an umbrella to a bar!

And not just any umbrella, but a big one at that!

This is nothing like the script I had in mind, you soulless creep...

"But what about you? And with such heavy rain, it'll be hard to get a cab, right?"

Indeed, there weren't many vehicles on the road, let alone people; it seemed like everyone was hiding, waiting for the sudden storm to pass.

"It's fine, the bus station is nearby, just a run and I'll be there."

"Then let me walk you there first."

After hesitating for a moment, Meng Lang nodded, "Okay."

The two walked briskly towards the bus station, sharing the umbrella in difficulty.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and Lu Kexin, seemingly not holding the umbrella securely, watched it get swept away several meters.

"Ah!" Lu Kexin seemed startled, twisted her foot, and fell to the ground, her coat instantly soaked by the rain.

As the downpour drenched them, Meng Lang quickly helped Lu Kexin up, but by the time he retrieved the umbrella, they were both already substantially wet.

"I'm sorry! My foot injury might not have healed fully, it really hurts," Lu Kexin said, balancing on one foot with a pitiful look.

Meng Lang: "..."

"Let's go over there to take shelter from the rain for now."

Without time to think it over, Meng Lang supported Lu Kexin and hurriedly ducked into a nearby shop...

...

"Haitang? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, just saw a scumbag," Lin Haitang said, expressionless, as she withdrew her gaze from the car window.

Not far away, the "embracing" back of Meng Lang and Lu Kexin had just disappeared at the entrance of the "Spring Hotel"...

...

"Uh..." Meng Lang swore, he really hadn't noticed that this place happened to be a hotel with a rather low-key decor.

Next to the bar, everyone understood what kind of place this was.

"Achoo!" Right then, Lu Kexin sneezed, wrapping her arms around herself, apparently feeling a bit cold.

Both of them had been soaked, and the cold wind blowing outside was getting to even Meng Lang.

Looking at the relentless storm outside, Meng Lang sighed internally.

Alas~ What a sin!

"How about this, I'll get a room, and you can stay here tonight. If you go back now, you're sure to catch a cold tomorrow."

"Ah?" Lu Kexin's face turned slightly red, "This... this isn't appropriate, is it?"

"Don't get the wrong idea, I'll leave as soon as you're settled."

"Then... then, alright."

The two got a double room, and rode the elevator up under the ambiguous gaze of the front desk clerk.

Oddly enough, Lu Kexin's small bag just so happened to also contain her ID...

After supporting Lu Kexin to their room, Meng Lang turned on the air conditioner to heat.

"Alright, you should hurry up and take a shower and change your clothes, I'll be leaving."

"Eh! Brother Meng, the rain is so heavy right now, why don't you sit for a while and wait for the rain to let up before you leave."

Lu Kexin seemed to be fighting back her shyness, "Look, your clothes are soaked through too, take your clothes off, and I'll help you dry them."

Meng Lang turned his head to look at Lu Kexin, and the next moment, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

She was already wearing very little, and now that the rain had drenched her, her T-shirt was soaked through and clinging tightly, the contours beneath faintly visible.

Faint and hazy, the most lethal...

Added to this was her shy demeanor that seemed to invite picking and choosing.

In such a scene, any normal man would have trouble stopping his blood from rushing.

Meng Lang... was no exception...

He knew that by simply nodding his head now, the world would have one less boy and one more man after tonight.

Even if he directly pounced like a starving tiger, it was highly probable that she would only put up a symbolic struggle, playing hard to get, before then, the next day, coyly saying to him with a flushed face,

"You have to take responsibility, okay~"

At this moment, how he wished he were a complete scoundrel.

Then, he could simply go with the flow, overturning the clouds and raining down.

He could also just dine and dash without acknowledgment the next day, not caring who picks up the pieces.

He didn't even need to care about Lin Xiaoyu's wellbeing, because as his alibi, Lu Kexin was the best...

He possessed enormous wealth and the foresight of a Prophet.

If he could just be cruel, he could easily become the envy of others, completely without risk.

On one side was the broad and level road, on the other, a path bristling with thorns.

Everything hinged on his fleeting thought.

But...

Meng Lang struggled to avert his gaze from Lu Kexin's exquisite figure.

"No need, young people have robust energy, it's good to go out and cool off! You rest up, I'm leaving."

Meng Lang said, turning to leave.

He feared that if he didn't go now, he might waver and do something outrageous.

Meng Lang's action left Lu Kexin utterly astonished.

She had clearly seen a flame of desire in Meng Lang's eyes just moments ago, almost already prepared to be overpowered by him.

Yet, at the last moment, that desire was forcefully suppressed by him.

To pass up the meat right in front of his mouth?

Was her charm so weak that she couldn't even handle a man?

The insult was extreme!

Lu Kexin gritted her teeth.

Meng Lang felt a tightness at his waist, a hot body pressing against his back, the overwhelming pressure almost palpable.

"Brother Meng, I... I like you!"

Meng Lang sighed inwardly.

Not long ago he had just confessed his feelings, and here he was facing someone else's confession.

Coincidentally, both confessions were full of ulterior motives, entirely devoid of soul...

Was this what they called instant karma?

With astonishing willpower, he pulled away the hands on his waist, turned around, and seriously looked into her eyes as he held her shoulders.

"Real liking shouldn't be like this!"

Meng Lang's sincere gaze made Lu Kexin's eyes dodge involuntarily.

"Brother Meng, what are you talking about, from the first moment I saw you..."

"Enough!" These two words were not harsh, just flat.

The next moment, a bathrobe was draped over her drenched body.

"Next time, don't hurt yourself like this again, even if not for your own sake, you should think about the child in your belly..."

Meng Lang's words sent a shock through Lu Kexin's entire body.

She looked at Meng Lang incredulously, as if struck by lightning.

He knew? Why would he know?!

It was impossible!

"I think, perhaps you have your own compelling reasons, but if you really want to have the child, even for the sake of its future, you should be honest.

Happiness doesn't always have to be obtained through deception."

Meng Lang walked to the door and then suddenly turned around, smiling at the still stunned Lu Kexin.

"Oh, right, I forgot to congratulate you in advance, your due date is at the end of the year, it's a hefty 7.7-pound boy..."

"Bang!" The door closed.

In the room, only the dazed Lu Kexin was left...