You... Didn't Die?

The dinner ended on an awkward note. When Yun Huaizhu took Lin Meng by the hand and led her away, she shot Huo Yi a glare that promised murder.

Lin Meng could tell something was off with Yun Huaizhu, so she didn't even dare say goodbye to Huo Yi before she was dragged away.

Yun Huaizhu gripped her wrist tightly the entire way to the parking lot.

Her expression was truly awful. Lin Meng was unceremoniously shoved into the passenger seat, and then Yun Huaizhu climbed in on the driver's side.

Lin Meng had just escaped that awkward confrontation between Huo Yi and Yun Huaizhu, and now she sat in the car with Yun Huaizhu in a strange silence.

Lin Meng fidgeted uneasily with her fingers. Just as she was debating whether to speak first, Yun Huaizhu suddenly turned to look at her, her face full of pain and helplessness. “What exactly do you want?”

Lin Meng froze at the sudden, inexplicable question. “Zhuzhu, why are you asking me that?”

Seeing the fear and distance in Lin Meng's expression, Yun Huaizhu drew a deep breath.

She simply couldn't stand seeing Lin Meng with any other woman. She wanted Lin Meng to ask only her for things, to use only her belongings, to be with her and no one else.

But... that was just wishful thinking. Lin Meng could never revolve around only one person.

That was exactly why she felt so restless and anxious—constantly worrying that someone else might lure Lin Meng away.

Yun Huaizhu lifted her head, her expression changing in an instant. She put on a pitiful, delicate look. “Mengmeng-jie... I don't have to be at odds with Huo Yi. It's just that she and Su Yutang grew up together as best friends. Her kindness to you is only on the surface! I was afraid she'd deceive you, that's why I overreacted. I just care about you too much...”

Hearing that, Lin Meng gave her a resigned smile, as if soothing her. “Zhuzhu, you're overthinking it. Yi Yi is the eldest daughter of the Huo family; her wealth is beyond anything I could imagine. What would she even want to trick me for? She gave me the meal vouchers out of kindness, but now that I know, I won't take advantage of her generosity. Even though we're friends, I can't just accept so many benefits from her simply because she can afford it. That's never right.”

Yun Huaizhu felt a little better after hearing that.

Because Lin Meng's attitude toward Huo Yi was now exactly what her attitude toward Yun Huaizhu had been before.

She had exposed Huo Yi's scheme... and Lin Meng had pulled away, no longer accepting her gifts.

Yun Huaizhu leaned her whole body toward her, laying a cool hand on Lin Meng's thigh just like she had in the private room.

Lin Meng jolted. Earlier in the private room, there had been too many people, and she'd been too embarrassed to say anything. Now, as if panicked, she grabbed Yun Huaizhu's hand before it could slide further under her skirt. “Zhuzhu, it's too cold...”

Yun Huaizhu leaned her head against Lin Meng's shoulder, snuggling up to her like a spoiled child. “That's exactly why I need Mengmeng-jie to warm me up.”

Lin Meng's mind went blank. Just as Yun Huaizhu ignored her protest and tried to continue, Lin Meng said hurriedly, “Zhuzhu, if you're cold, you can just turn off the AC in the car...”

Yun Huaizhu felt the grip on her wrist tighten. Lin Meng's face was full of pleading, like a trembling little white rabbit.

Yun Huaizhu blew a warm breath against her ear, and the moist, ticklish sensation instantly flushed Lin Meng's cheeks.

She was trapped in that inescapable position again, surrounded by Yun Huaizhu. Seeing Lin Meng's shy expression, Yun Huaizhu murmured softly, “But if we turn off the AC, it'll get stuffy, so the only good solution is for Mengmeng-jie to warm me up.”

She even pinched the inside of Lin Meng's thigh. “I'm not like Mengmeng-jie, who's always so warm. Unless I'm in heat, I always feel cold. But Mengmeng-jie only helps me during my heat. It really makes me sad. If only Mengmeng-jie could hold me every night when I sleep...”

Lin Meng squeezed her eyes shut and quickly pressed her legs together in fright. “Zhuzhu, if you can't sleep, come to my place. I won't refuse you.”

A glint flashed in Yun Huaizhu's eyes. She leaned forward, bringing her face close to Lin Meng's. “Really? If I said I wanted to move in with Mengmeng, would you agree?”

Lin Meng froze. She desperately wanted to go back and slap the version of herself who had just said that.

Seriously! What had she been thinking?

Lin Meng lowered her head guiltily. “Um, Zhuzhu... my place is so small. It's nothing compared to your big apartment.”

My tiny, rundown place doesn't deserve you.

Yun Huaizhu instantly twisted her meaning. “Then how about Mengmeng-jie moves in with me? If you move in, I'll arrange a driver to pick you up from work every day. You'll wake up to the freshest breakfast. Anywhere you want to go, I can take you anytime.”

What a beautiful vision.

But the next moment, Lin Meng still said the words that chilled her heart. “Zhuzhu, thank you for the offer, but I think where I'm living now is fine.”

A flicker of loneliness passed through Yun Huaizhu's eyes. She should have guessed Lin Meng would answer that way. She just hadn't given up hope—still wanting to test Lin Meng's feelings.

Lin Meng was still the same as she had always known her to be.

At that thought, Yun Huaizhu suddenly threw herself into Lin Meng's arms as if clinging desperately. She slowly tilted her head up from Lin Meng's embrace, revealing her most beautiful, broken expression. “I know Mengmeng-jie has a lot of friends. I don't want to restrict you from making friends; I don't have that right. I just want to ask—am I your favorite among all your friends?”

Seeing that fragile expression, Lin Meng's heart trembled.

Whenever Yun Huaizhu's eyes reddened and she threw herself into Lin Meng's arms seeking comfort like this, a familiar pity welled up in Lin Meng's heart. That pity turned into affection for a fictional character, and she couldn't help but soften—couldn't help but make mistakes.

She had long known that interfering in someone else's life and love was immoral. But she had already ruined things, and she didn't want to see Yun Huaizhu sad again.

She didn't want to see anyone sad or crying.

When Lin Meng came back to her senses, her hands had unconsciously cupped Yun Huaizhu's almost perfect face. “Mm, Zhuzhu is my favorite among my friends.”

That was truly sincere.

Hearing this, the bitterness and frustration in Yun Huaizhu's heart instantly dissipated. She buried her head in Lin Meng's embrace again. “Those words are enough, Mengmeng-jie. I'll work hard from now on. I'll always be Mengmeng-jie's favorite friend.”

...

After returning home, Lin Meng suddenly felt that the so-called “friendship” between her and Yun Huaizhu had changed somehow. But she couldn't say exactly what kind of change it was.

She could sense Yun Huaizhu's constant unease, and she tried her best to tolerate Yun Huaizhu's fear and fragility—and the temper she unleashed on her.

Because she knew that besides her, Yun Huaizhu had no one else who would listen so earnestly when she poured out her collapsing emotions.

Even if Yun Huaizhu spent an entire night with a stranger for money, she wouldn't believe that person could keep their heart closed to her.

Yun Huaizhu was, as she herself had said, someone with very few people close to her who treated her well. Lin Meng comforted her with a pitying heart and spent time with her, hoping to see Yun Huaizhu become better and better, to not repeat the same mistakes.

But in the process, she seemed to be pushed into a corner by something. She always viewed these novel characters through a layer of fog.

She didn't actually want to dispel that fog. If the fog lifted and she saw everything in this world clearly, that was when she would truly break down.

Lin Meng lay in bed unable to sleep, tossing and turning. She gradually began to wonder if she had been too harsh on Huo Yi earlier that day.

Yun Huaizhu's hostility toward Huo Yi came from fear and insecurity, but Huo Yi had always been good to her and had never done anything wrong.

When she was dragged away by Yun Huaizhu today, she seemed to have glimpsed a flash of hurt on Huo Yi's face. She should explain things more clearly to Huo Yi.

At that thought, Lin Meng picked up her phone again and opened her chat with Huo Yi. But when she was about to type a message, she hesitated again. She stared at the lit screen for a long while before snapping out of it.

Yun Huaizhu was her friend—did that mean Huo Yi wasn't?

When one friend's kindness was insulted by another friend, that friend must feel terrible.

With that thought, Lin Meng typed a long message: [Yi Yi, I'm sorry about what happened today. Zhuzhu really didn't mean it; that's just her temper. I appreciate your kindness, but there's really no need to give me so many things. I only helped your mother into my apartment and let her sit for a bit; it's not a big deal. Besides, we're friends. I don't want us to become awkward over something like this...]

After typing it out, Lin Meng felt it wasn't right either, so she deleted it and rewrote.

She went back and forth like this for over ten minutes, and in the end, she deleted everything.

Finally, she carefully condensed all her feelings into one sentence and sent it: [Are you there?]

She was worried Huo Yi might be angry and not reply, that she had wasted Huo Yi's kindness.

Honestly, interfering in Yun Huaizhu and Su Yutang's relationship was meddling in someone else's karma. But Huo Yi had done nothing wrong except fan the flames; Huo Yi was an innocent person she had dragged into this.

The more Lin Meng thought about it, the more uneasy she felt.

Just as she was fretting, Huo Yi suddenly sent her several pictures. Some were taken facing a swimming pool, others showed glasses on a table. Two bottles beside the glasses were already empty.

Lin Meng quickly typed: [It's so late, why are you drinking so much? That's really bad for your health.]

Huo Yi sent a voice message, sounding drunk. “My mom loves to drink, so I love to drink too... My tolerance is pretty good. I'm just feeling a bit down today so I drank a little more. Actually, this isn't much. I can still talk to you like this, so I'm not drunk. Mengmeng, do you like drinking too?”

Lin Meng could hear Huo Yi's voice breaking up. She knew Huo Yi was drunk, and she was by the pool—that was dangerous.

Worried, Lin Meng quickly replied: [It's windy by the pool. You're drunk, you should go back to your room and rest. It's dangerous to stay there.]

Huo Yi sent another voice message: “Who says I'm drunk? I'm not drunk... I just feel a little floaty inside. Mengmeng, I told you last time, right? Sometimes a little alcohol helps you relax. Whenever I feel stifled, I like to drink a bit. What's wrong with drinking at home? If I make a fool of myself, it's at home. Even if I die, it's at home...”

Lin Meng grew even more anxious. She shot up from bed and tried to video call Huo Yi, but the other side hung up on her three times.

No way?

Huo Yi was drunk by the pool—she wouldn't have actually fallen in, would she?

Among Huo Yi's social circle, Lin Meng only knew Su Yutang, but Su Yutang had already deleted her. She truly didn't know who to ask to go check on Huo Yi.

With that thought, Lin Meng hurriedly put on her shoes and rushed out of her building. It was almost nine at night. Without hesitation, she hailed a cab and headed straight for Huo Yi's villa.

Fortunately, she had been to Huo Yi's home before and still remembered the address.

On the way, Lin Meng anxiously sent Huo Yi more messages:

[Yi Yi, are you okay? Why aren't you replying to me?]

[Don't scare me. If you see this, please reply to me, okay?]

[Is there anyone with you? Please don't let anything happen. I'll be at your place soon!]

Lin Meng's home was a forty-minute drive from Huo Yi's villa district. During those forty minutes, she urged the driver to go faster several times. She even considered calling the police to have them check on Huo Yi, but what if Huo Yi was fine...?

Lin Meng agonized over it, her hands even starting to shake.

Was Huo Yi drinking so much because she was upset about what happened during the day?

If something happened to Huo Yi because of this, she would never forgive herself for the rest of her life.

Lin Meng rushed inside the villa district gates. Entry required facial verification, but luckily, the last time Huo Yi brought her here, she had registered Lin Meng's information in the security system.

She made it to Huo Yi's villa entrance without any obstacles.

Seeing the front gate unlocked, Lin Meng ran inside. She knocked on the door leading to the main hall, but no one answered. In her panic, she impulsively pressed the interior door handle.

To her surprise, the door miraculously opened.

She had been thinking that if she couldn't get in, she'd have to call security.

Seeing the door open a crack, Lin Meng ran inside without a second thought. She entered the hall and began shouting, “Is anyone here? Huo Yi, where are you?”

The last time she visited, this mansion—comparable to Su Yutang's villa—had many servants cleaning. She assumed there should be permanent staff here.

But after calling for a long time, no one responded.

Lin Meng ran upstairs. She remembered the pool was on the large terrace on the third floor, which occupied half the floor. Last time she was at Huo Yi's home, Huo Yi had enthusiastically given her a tour.

When Lin Meng reached the third floor, she saw the table and sun umbrella Huo Yi had photographed. There were empty bottles on the table, but Huo Yi wasn't on the lounge chair nearby.

Lin Meng's heart turned to ice. All the strength drained from her body, and she suddenly collapsed onto the ground. She didn't even dare go look at the pool.

Had Huo Yi fallen in?

Why was there no one in such a huge villa?

Was it because Huo Yi didn't want outsiders to see her drunk, so she'd sent everyone away?

Huo Yi, because of her...

Lin Meng trembled with fear. She clutched her head, and painful memories suddenly flashed through her mind.

Ever since she started living with her mother, her mother was always busy, so she stayed home alone. Later, she started elementary school. Other kids would gather to play after school, but she had to rush home to do homework, and after finishing, she had to cook dinner. After eating, she'd leave her mother's portion in the pot to keep warm.

She was efficient. After finishing all that, she still had plenty of time.

She would read textbooks and storybooks until she grew tired, then fall asleep.

The idea of making friends was something she'd read about in books.

Back then, there was a pretty little girl in her grade with porcelain-white skin like a doll. The girl saw her always alone and took the initiative to hold her hand and walk home with her after school.

Gradually, she integrated into the group of girls, playing cat's cradle, jump rope, and house with them. Until that day, when she came home and saw her mother standing in front of the door with a dark expression, looking at her with utter disappointment.

“Mengmeng, it's one thing for others to hurt me, but are you going to hurt your mother too? Why didn't you even tell me before playing with other people? And coming home so late—do you know how worried I was?”

She had forgotten what her mother said that night.

She only remembered her mother's broken expression.

Even when she tearfully explained that she wouldn't be playful anymore and would come home early, her mother ordered her to cut ties with that little girl.

She kept saying: “Everyone out there lies. Once you listen to them, you'll abandon your mother.”

“Everything I do is for your own good. Isn't having your mother enough? Do you have to drive me to death?”

“Isn't it good to stay home? I only have you left. Why do you have to go running around outside? What if you run into child traffickers? What if you get hit by a car? Mengmeng, Mama really can't lose you!”

Countless voices flooded her mind.

“Mengmeng, why didn't you come with me?”

“Did your mother forbid you from seeing me? Don't listen to your mother—she just wants to control you!”

...

“Meimei died, in a car accident. Good thing you didn't go with her after school that day. The driver hit so many people.”

Her head began to ache violently. The memories she had sealed in the darkest corner surged up like a tide: “I'm sorry, I'm sorry... it's all my fault. I killed you. I'm sorry, Mama. I won't make friends anymore. I'll be good and obedient...”

Lin Meng curled into a ball helplessly. She suddenly felt as if a giant hand was crushing her heart. She hadn't remembered this in so long. She had spent over a decade trying to forget. She didn't want to become like this again.

The words kept surfacing in her mind—I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

She apologized to everyone. It was all her fault. If she disappeared, would things be better?

Everyone's suffering was because of her.

Just as her body trembled uncontrollably, a pair of warm hands suddenly reached out and pulled her into an embrace. “Mengmeng, what's wrong? Don't scare me!”

Hearing that somewhat familiar voice, the ringing in Lin Meng's ears gradually faded. She lifted her head, looking through blurry eyes at the anxious face above her.

In disbelief, she said, “Huo Yi?”

Huo Yi gently rubbed her back. “It's me. Why are you here?”

Lin Meng reached out and pinched Huo Yi's cheek hard. Huo Yi winced in pain. When Lin Meng felt the real texture of skin and saw the pale cheek she'd pinched turning red, she was so startled she immediately broke free from Huo Yi's arms. “You... didn't die?”

Hearing this, Huo Yi's expression nearly cracked. She frowned in confusion, pointing at herself. “I... died?”

After confirming Huo Yi was safe, Lin Meng let out a breath of relief, but her body was still trembling, her hands and feet ice-cold. “You were drinking by the pool. I sent you so many messages, and you didn't reply. I thought something had happened to you...”

Hearing this, Huo Yi walked over to the table by the lounge chair with a feigned expression and picked up the phone lying there. When she opened it and saw the string of messages, she instantly put on a look of surprise and guilt.

She hurried to Lin Meng. “I'm sorry, Mengmeng. I drank a bit too much earlier, so I went to take a shower to wash off the smell of alcohol. I didn't mean to ignore you. I made you worry. I'm truly sorry!”

Lin Meng took a long time to feel some sensation return to her numb limbs. She stiffly raised her head to look at Huo Yi, whose face was full of panic. “It's... it's fine. I'm glad you're okay. I'll head back now.”

After saying that, Lin Meng tried to stand up from the floor, but she failed several times. All her strength seemed drained, her limbs unable to obey her brain's commands.

Seeing this, Huo Yi immediately helped her up. “I'm sorry. You became like this because of me. You're exhausted. Rest here for now. I'll take you home tomorrow, okay?”

As Lin Meng's nerves relaxed, exhaustion instantly washed over her. Her brain felt like a rusted gear, stuck and unable to move. She closed her eyes and leaned against Huo Yi's shoulder. “Okay...”

Huo Yi carried Lin Meng inside and laid her on the bed.

She could feel Lin Meng still trembling slightly all over.

...

Huo Yi had indeed been very angry today. She used to maintain her composed smile no matter who she faced, but when it came to Lin Meng, she suddenly felt her bottom line had been crossed.

Her alcohol tolerance was indeed good; two bottles really wouldn't make her slur her words.

When she picked up her phone to test Lin Meng's attitude toward Yun Huaizhu, she happened to notice Lin Meng was already composing a message to her.

But the “typing...” indicator appeared intermittently for ten minutes, and in the end, Lin Meng only sent her one line: “Are you there?”

Out of a mischievous desire to tease her, Huo Yi pretended to be drunk and sent Lin Meng a long message.

Both Yun Huaizhu and Su Yutang could win Lin Meng's sympathy by playing the victim. Why couldn't she?

She used to despise people who threw themselves at others like that. Now she somewhat understood Su Yutang's feelings.

Because when no amount of effort can warm someone's heart, playing the victim to gain some pity-love is a viable option.

So the aloof Huo Yi had finally fallen, ultimately associating with the likes of Su Yutang.

After sending those messages, she went to shower, never expecting Lin Meng would rush over in fear that something had happened to her.

Moreover, Lin Meng had recalled some bad memories because of her teasing—memories that were likely the trigger for Lin Meng closing off her emotions.

Because she saw Lin Meng collapsed on the floor, repeatedly saying “I'm sorry,” which looked very much like some kind of trauma response. If she could unravel Lin Meng's knot, perhaps she could truly open Lin Meng's heart.

With that thought, Huo Yi lay down beside Lin Meng and pulled her into an embrace, trying her best to comfort her. “Don't be afraid. You haven't wronged anyone. You're a good person. Very good, very good...”

Lin Meng's cold limbs gradually warmed in Huo Yi's embrace.