Chapter 6 — Didn’t I Say We Would Meet Again?

The small dining table was crowded to the brim by the four people gathered around it. The two “judges,” one big and one small, stared straight at the two “suspects,” their expressions unwavering. The atmosphere was strange and tense.

Xu Ningning—Lin Xiaowen’s college classmate, confidante, and boss. Her multiple roles only deepened their bond. When Lin Xiaowen had ignored everyone’s objections and resolutely chosen to give birth to little Ranran, it was thanks to Xu Ningning’s support and help. Not only had she taken in Lin Xiaowen at her lowest point, but she had also opened her wallet and invested in the “Adorable Babies” maternity and children’s lifestyle store for her. Though the venture was nominally about entrepreneurship, Lin Xiaowen knew well that Xu Ningning’s main motivation was to help secure her future livelihood.

For this, Lin Xiaowen was deeply grateful, and so she worked even harder to help manage the shop. Business grew steadily, with prospects for opening a branch. Xu Ningning, delighted, would rub her hands together and mutter in the tone of a shrewd merchant, “Looks like I made the right bet.” Such were her musings.

“My clothes! For the last time, give them back to me!” Cheng Yishu wrapped his lower half tightly in a blanket, his gaze fixed on Lin Xiaowen opposite him, his words squeezed out through gritted teeth.

“You want your clothes? Pay your bill first!” Lin Xiaowen slapped the table, meeting his glare head-on, thinking, “Does he really think I’ll be intimidated by a stare? Hah!”

Xu Ningning’s mouth twitched; she suddenly felt a bit “tragic.” She turned to Lin Xiaowen with a tone full of exasperation, barely squeezing out the words, “Lin Xiaowen, what am I supposed to say to you? Is there any trouble you can’t share with me? How could you… how could you sink so low?”

Little Ranran’s innocent, wide eyes passed over each person, but with no one willing to talk to her, she simply continued to sit quietly.

“What?” Lin Xiaowen looked at Xu Ningning, puzzled, not quite understanding.

“Oh, so this is your profession? Bringing drunk strangers home as a means of extortion?” The disgust in Cheng Yishu’s eyes only grew, his words sharp and relentless. “You look clean enough, but your mind is filthy. Even with a child, you still do this?”

“Hey, what are you talking about?” Lin Xiaowen suddenly stood up, leaning over the table to look at Cheng Yishu, her chest rising and falling with agitation.

“Watch your mouth! What did I do that makes me vulgar? Shameless? I shouldn’t have bothered with you last night—should have left you to freeze by the roadside, or let the stray dogs have at you!”

Xu Ningning’s teasing and joking were familiar to Lin Xiaowen, but the man before her clearly took it all seriously.

“You act as if you’re so noble. If you were really so kind-hearted, you wouldn’t have asked me for money the moment I opened my eyes…” Cheng Yishu’s aggressive posture made Lin Xiaowen want to kick him again.

“Uh, that’s not it!” Xu Ningning, seeing the tension escalate, quickly grabbed Lin Xiaowen and forced her back into her seat, laughing awkwardly. “I was just joking—Xiaowen isn’t that kind of person. But…”

Dressed in a SpongeBob maternity dress, her lower half wrapped carefully in a blanket, her hair a messy nest atop a strikingly attractive face, Xu Ningning squinted, feeling that this young man looked somewhat familiar.

She scrutinized Cheng Yishu, then smiled ingratiatingly, asking cautiously, “Sir, have we met somewhere before?”

Cheng Yishu froze, then turned his head and coughed softly, inwardly panicking, “Could it be that she’s recognized me?”

Lin Xiaowen looked at Xu Ningning in disbelief, protesting loudly, “Is this the time to fish for men? And a stingy miser at that?”

Xu Ningning shut her eyes, rattled by Lin Xiaowen’s outburst. “What a terrible friend—can’t you leave me some dignity?”

“You, you—just shut up!” Xu Ningning pinched Lin Xiaowen under the table, then turned to Cheng Yishu, smiling cautiously. “Don’t mind her, my friend is just impulsive and inexperienced… So, you really are Mr. Cheng, right?”

Under Xu Ningning’s probing, Cheng Yishu looked away uncomfortably, but his habitual gesture—nervously licking his lips—slipped out without him realizing.

Xu Ningning, seeing this, covered her mouth in shock, suddenly stood up, startling the mother and daughter.

“Is it really you? Cheng Yishu?”

Her shrill cry rivaled Lin Xiaowen’s earlier outburst, prompting both the little child and her mother to cover their ears.

“You… hello.” Cheng Yishu composed himself and nodded to Xu Ningning. In that moment, Xu Ningning was utterly captivated. This man, with his messy hair, pale complexion, dark circles under his eyes, and comical attire, suddenly seemed radiant and godlike in her eyes.

This was Cheng Yishu, the superstar—alive, fresh, and right in front of her!

“You really know each other?” Lin Xiaowen was bewildered. “All these years together, I never heard Ningning mention a friend named Cheng!”

“Is it you?” Suddenly, little Ranran piped up, looking at Cheng Yishu, worried he hadn’t heard her, quietly asking again, “Big brother, is it you?”

Cheng Yishu, who liked the little girl quite a bit, was happy to see her again, and his eyes rarely softened with a smile as he looked at her.

Lin Xiaowen was even more confused. She watched as Ranran stood up from her chair and carefully placed her small hand over Cheng Yishu’s nose.

“Ranran…” Lin Xiaowen was about to stop her, but the little girl suddenly broke into a smile.

Cheng Yishu smiled as well, reaching out with a free hand to gently hold hers, speaking softly, “See? I told you we’d meet again.”

“Mm!” Ranran nodded vigorously, her eyes bright as she smiled at him.

Lin Xiaowen paused, suddenly recalling what Cheng Yishu had said the night before—“Kicking people is addictive…”

So, this was the “masked man” who had nearly caused Ranran to be hit by a car a few days ago?

Yet, she hadn’t recognized him herself—how had Ranran managed to?