Chapter 156

Wu Di was having a rough day today too. He had spent all of yesterday keeping watch at the hospital with Cheng Feng. Although he had managed to doze off for a little bit here and there, he couldn't really get any proper rest, and he was feeling incredibly exhausted and listless.

He thought he'd slack off and take a quick nap once he got to the office, but he ended up getting caught by Wu Mei.

Wu Mei had been quite comfortable last night, but that was yesterday. Seeing Wu Di today made her anger flare up, so she called him into her office and lectured him for a bit. She didn't go too hard on him, though; after all, her relationship with Wu Wei was what it was, and besides, she was still a little interested in Wu Di. If she scolded him too harshly and turned him into an enemy, how would they be able to have any fun together?

Of course, she wasn't lecturing Wu Di just to criticize him, but rather to dig into the story behind it all.

Wu Di was no match for Wu Mei, and on top of being mentally drained, he spilled everything after just a few words. Besides, Wu Mei could be considered one of their own, so it wasn't a big deal to tell her. He explained the cause, the process, and the result of the matter in fair detail, and even clarified why he was so sleepy.

After learning all this, Wu Mei didn't say much more, and she considered the matter of him leaving her alone to keep the client company while drinking to be water under the bridge. As for Wu Di going back to sleep with his head on the desk, she didn't interfere much. After all, they both knew about the business of entertaining clients; he could just say he wasn't feeling well, and he wouldn't have to worry about any gossip regarding special treatment or anything like that.

After receiving a call from Lin Xia, Wu Di, who had been drifting in and out of sleep, snapped wide awake after hearing what she had to say. When it came to this kind of matter, he naturally wouldn't shirk his responsibility, and he readily agreed to have a good talk with Shi Xiaomeng that night; the matter had to be cleared up.

After hanging up the phone, he couldn't sleep anymore, nor did he have the heart to. After all, his brother was at war, facing a crisis of emotion, trust, and more—how could he possibly sleep?

Back on that night when Cheng Feng called him over, Cheng Feng had left after only saying a few words and mentioned something about having done something wrong and needing to make amends; he had known then that something was wrong. It was just that things had developed too quickly, and before he could find the time to get to the bottom of it, things had already reached this point.

Of course, subjectively, he still believed that the main problem was Shi Xiaomeng's attitude. If Cheng Feng couldn't get it done, he couldn't get it done—why force him? Look at things now: Cheng Feng's father had been angered into the hospital, and there were problems between the brothers. Was it really worth it just for that little advertising contract?

Wu Di was very decisive; after hanging up on Lin Xia and pulling himself together, he immediately called Shi Xiaomeng.

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He didn't say much on the phone, just that they should get together at their usual spot after work.

Shi Xiaomeng wasn't a fool. With so many things happening recently, it was self-evident why Wu Di was calling him at this time. However, knowing that Wu Di meant well, he agreed immediately.

Afterward, he gave Shen Bing a call to tell her he would be home late and that she should eat first and not wait for him. He knew that if he hadn't made this call, Shen Bing would definitely have prepared a meal and waited for him to return; she generally wouldn't call him unless she was worried sick.

…………

The usual spot.

Shi Xiaomeng, who had been clocking out with precision by following the footsteps of his supervisor—that Assistant Regional Commander manager—and whose head was spinning from looking at reports all day, arrived here first.

Seeing Shi Xiaomeng walk in, the boss, Tong Chui, came forward with a grin: "Xiaomeng, you're here. Did you come by yourself?"

"I made an appointment with Wu Di; he'll be here in a while."

Wu Di was driving himself, and with it being rush hour, he would definitely be stuck in traffic for a while.

"Alright, tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make sure to serve you guys first. I won't keep you company, though; it's the peak dinner rush and I'm swamped. Find a seat yourself."

"Hey, we're not strangers, no need for company. Go ahead and get busy, Brother Chui, I'm heading in."

Patting Shi Xiaomeng on the shoulder, Tong Chui laughed: "Go on, go on. Get yourself a pot of tea to warm up."

"Got it."

Shi Xiaomeng waved his hand and walked inside. He casually grabbed a pot from a small square table, picked up the tea leaves from the side to put some inside, and picked up the kettle filled with hot water from the floor to rinse it.

After doing this, he carried the pot and found a corner seat. It wasn't that he didn't want to sit under the message board, but it was already occupied...

After waiting a few minutes, he opened the lid and saw that the tea leaves had unfurled. He poured a cup, blew on it twice, and took a sip. Although it was far from the tea his Brother Wang gave him, he hadn't reached the point of being unable to go from luxury back to simplicity; after all, he had only been living in luxury for a day, hadn't he?

Feeling the hot water go down his throat and into his stomach, the warmth spread out to his limbs and bones, leaving his whole body feeling cozy.

Estimating that the time was about right, Shi Xiaomeng ordered a few dishes.

Just as Tong Chui's wife was bringing the last dish to the table, Tong Chui's loud voice came through the noisy environment: "He's here! Xiaomeng has been waiting for you inside for a long time."

"Go on, he's at the table in the very back."

Wu Di, while taking off his scarf and coat, walked over and glanced at the dishes on the table: "The traffic on the road was too heavy, did I keep you waiting?"

Shi Xiaomeng opened a bottle of Erguotou: "You came just in time, the dishes were just served."

Pulling out a chair to sit down and placing his coat on the chair inside, Wu Di looked at Shi Xiaomeng across from him: "Xiaomeng, what exactly happened between you and Madman?"

"He didn't tell you?" Shi Xiaomeng's hand paused while pouring the wine, and he looked up at Wu Di.

"What would he tell me? No, what exactly happened?"

Shi Xiaomeng continued to pour the wine without speaking, placing the glass in front of him.

"Just because of the advertising matter? Is it worth it, Xiaomeng?"

"Not entirely."

Wu Di was getting a bit frantic: "Then what exactly is it for?" This damn mysteriousness was too frustrating. Everyone had a gossiping heart, not to mention that it was a conflict between his two good brothers; he wanted to know why too much.

"Wang Laowu, this matter has nothing to do with you, so don't get involved."

"We've been brothers for so many years, and you say we're breaking up just like that, and you say it has nothing to do with me? Is that possible?"

Shi Xiaomeng looked at him, sighed, and clinked his glass with him: "Come on, let's have a drink." After taking a big gulp, Shi Xiaomeng let out a long breath and picked up some food with his chopsticks to suppress the burning sensation in his stomach.

Wu Di put down his glass, also picked up some food to suppress it, and frowned: "What's going on, tell me?"

Whether he said it or not, that day would come sooner or later. Seeing his strong desire, Shi Xiaomeng didn't hold back anymore and sneered: "Cheng Feng likes our girl."

"Impossible..."

Halfway through his sentence, Wu Di shut his mouth. Because when he was with Cheng Feng before, he had heard him mention falling in love with a girl. At the time, he had guessed it was Shen Bing, but Cheng Feng had denied it. Now that he thought about Cheng Feng's evasive and guilty look back then... that dog.

Shi Xiaomeng frowned at him: "You knew?"

"How would I know? It was just when I was eating with him before, and later..."

After listening to what Wu Di said, Shi Xiaomeng took a sip of wine: "Then that's right. He said he fell in love at first sight when he picked up Shen Bing at the station."

"How could he have such thoughts? I'll scold him later. Xiaomeng, don't worry, I'll definitely scold him hard. If that doesn't work, we'll just beat him up." Wu Di caught his breath and said: "It's just that we've been good brothers for so many years, we can't just end it like this. Let's all sit down and talk it out, what's there that can't be resolved?"

His original intention might have been good, but the way he said those words—to use Guo Degang's words—was like a damn lightning bolt; he deserved to be struck dead, the big idiot.

Shi Xiaomeng didn't speak, just stared at Wu Di.

Feeling creeped out by his stare, Wu Di said irritably: "Why are you staring at me? Am I wrong? We've come this far for so many years, let's talk things out."

Abandoning the thought of smashing him with a wine bottle under Wu Di's sincere gaze, Shi Xiaomeng took a deep breath to calm down and said: "You know about me begging him to get the advertising contract, right?"

"I know, I always thought it was because he didn't help you that things got to this point."

"Hmph, his intentions were so sinister. Whether he had the ability to get that advertising contract done or not, he wouldn't have done it..." After Shi Xiaomeng explained the reason, he talked about what happened in the basketball gym that day: "What do you think he said? He said I could name any condition, as long as I left Shen Bing, he was willing to trade everything he had for her. Is that human language? Huh? Brother? Is there such a brother?"

"Wang Laowu, I know you're doing this for my own good, but it hasn't happened to you. If you were still with Yang Zixi and he was eyeing her, how would you feel? What's there that can't be said? Wang Laowu, tell me, what should I say to him?"

Shi Xiaomeng said in a low voice: "He helped me a lot over the years, including the deposit for the house before, which he covered with twenty thousand. I remember everything I owe him. I'll definitely pay him back every cent, but as for the favor, forget it. I, Shi Xiaomeng, will just be a thankless bastard for once. From now on, he and I will go our separate ways, and we'll never see each other again."

After finishing his words, he drank the remaining half of the wine in his glass in one gulp.

After listening to Shi Xiaomeng's rambling, Wu Di sighed. Although he still wanted to try to salvage things, he knew there was truly no room for maneuver.

"Tell me, how did things get to this point today?"

"Maybe he never treated me as a friend..."

Wu Di wanted to say something, but eventually shut his mouth. Things had reached this point, what else was there to say? If he really treated him as a friend, could he have taken a fancy to his girlfriend? Could he have done so many underhanded things?

However, regarding the love Cheng Feng had told him about before, and even asking him for advice on how he felt when he had a crush on Yang Zixi, Wu Di believed it, because he believed in love. So, for a person to do something contrary to worldly common sense for the sake of love, it was understandable. After all, that could be considered side-confirmation of the purity of his love...

One could even say that although he felt Cheng Feng was wronging Shi Xiaomeng by doing this, he was actually a little... relieved? That Cheng Feng had finally fallen in love with a woman after all these years?

It was just that the part that disgusted him was that Cheng Feng actually wanted to spend money to buy Shi Xiaomeng away from Shen Bing? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of Yang Zixi dumping him for money and being with someone else. Although the nature was different, the essence was money—that damn money. Disgusting, really damn disgusting.

Knowing what was going on and knowing there was no way to turn things around, Wu Di stopped harping on it. He hadn't eaten much of the food yet, so they couldn't just break up like this, so he changed the subject: "You're going to Wang Yan's company for the first time today, right? How was it?"

"Not bad."

"What kind of compensation is he giving you?"

"Twenty thousand after tax, with all other benefits fully covered."

Although he felt disgusted just thinking about Cheng Feng and wasn't in the best of moods, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth when mentioning the compensation his Brother Wang gave him; this was the happiest thing since he came in.

"Whoa... twenty thousand? And after tax? Not bad, Xiaomeng, you're about to stand tall." Wu Di teased, then asked suspiciously: "But what does 'fully covered' mean?"

Hearing it for the first time, he didn't quite understand it either. Although he could guess a little, he couldn't be sure.

"It means..."

After listening to Shi Xiaomeng's explanation, Wu Di said: "Oh, so that's how it is. Sounds pretty fresh. But seriously, Xiaomeng, Wang Yan is really good to you."

Shi Xiaomeng smiled without a word; that damn thing didn't need you to say it.

"Hey, Xiaomeng, how many people are in his company?"

"I don't know the exact number, but I estimate there are three or four hundred."

"That's quite a lot of people. How are the benefits for everyone?"

"The benefits are basically the same as mine." Shi Xiaomeng looked at him strangely: "No, why are you asking so much? Do you want to come too?"

Why was Wu Di asking about Wang Yan? Wasn't it still for his dearest little Xixi? He was thinking of learning more so that he could have a chance to help Yang Zixi escape the sea of misery and return to his embrace.

"Xiaomeng, I won't hide it from you, Zixi came to me two days ago." Wu Di told him about Yang Zixi's current situation and said: "Do you know who that man is?"

He could tell Cheng Feng, and there was nothing to hide from Shi Xiaomeng. After all, they all knew what Yang Zixi was like; it was nothing more than the fact that this time the target had a better relationship with Shi Xiaomeng.

It was just that he didn't say "kept woman," although he knew that was exactly what it was, he just didn't want to admit it.

"Could it be Brother Wang?"

Under Shi Xiaomeng's gaze, Wu Di smiled bitterly and nodded.

"Whoa... this is really..."

Shi Xiaomeng didn't know how to describe it for a moment.

This morning he was still sighing about his Brother Wang's good taste, being a hundred and eight thousand miles more high-end than that dog Cheng Feng. But damn, a day hadn't even passed, and now Wu Di was telling him that Yang Zixi was being kept by his most respected Brother Wang? And he even gave her over two million directly?

Shi Xiaomeng felt that his trust had been misplaced; rich people were all the same damn way in the end. His most respected Brother Wang not only had high taste, but even his posture for keeping women was so unique...

It was just that what couldn't he do with so much money? He knew very well what kind of person Yang Zixi was. He had watched clearly from the sidelines for so many years how that woman had tossed Wu Di around; what was good about that?

This spendthrift, what kind of eye...

Shi Xiaomeng secretly greeted his most respected Brother Wang.

"Can't believe it, right? I felt the same way when I found out. The world is too small..."

Seeing him like this, Shi Xiaomeng tentatively said: "How about... I talk to Brother Wang tomorrow?"

Wu Di shook his head and drank a big gulp of wine in depression: "What's the use of talking to him? The main thing is Zixi herself... but her, you say, sigh..."

Shi Xiaomeng silently accompanied him with a sip. He really had no tricks; he had said words of comfort countless times.

However, just as he was worrying for Wu Di, he heard Wu Di say: "Xiaomeng, I feel that Zixi still thinks of me from time to time."

???

Shi Xiaomeng was dumbfounded. What kind of crazy talk was this?

"Why do you say that?"

Wu Di shifted his butt and leaned forward: "Look, last time she was at night..." Then, he told Shi Xiaomeng his wishful analysis, and finally, he concluded: "So, I think she just wants me to forget her and start a new life as soon as possible. Doesn't this show that she has me in her heart?"

Shi Xiaomeng was certain that anyone whose brain hadn't been soaked in water and kicked by several donkeys wouldn't be able to say such things. Now it seemed that Yang Zixi was still the best; his good brother had been played into a big idiot. He didn't know if his Brother Wang could handle it? Although he believed that Brother Wang was no ordinary person, he still felt it was necessary to have a good talk with Brother Wang tomorrow to avoid Brother Wang falling into that woman's trap.

"Ahem, this... um... I think..."

Wu Di didn't care what Shi Xiaomeng said at all; he talked to himself: "So, I have to find a way to make Zixi leave Wang Yan."

Was there still any saving this? Shi Xiaomeng didn't want to talk about this anymore, raised his glass and said: "Come on, Wang Laowu, let's drink."

Afterward, the two of them mainly talked about Wang Yan's company, and Wu Di still wanted to learn more.

Seeing him like this, Shi Xiaomeng picked out some things he knew and gave him a rough idea, such as a cup of tea costing hundreds of yuan... He also wanted Wu Di to recognize reality and give up his thoughts as soon as possible.

Except for the unpleasantness of talking about Cheng Feng at the beginning, overall, this meal was quite good. Of course, it was mainly Shi Xiaomeng who ate well, while Wu Di was basically just researching Yang Zixi there.

Watching Shi Xiaomeng get into a taxi and drive away, Wu Di finally got into his own car and had a designated driver drive him to the hospital where Cheng Feng's father was.

This meal was mainly to figure out the conflict between Shi Xiaomeng and Cheng Feng and find a solution; there was basically no hope for everyone to return to the way they were.

But this meal wasn't a waste for him, after all, he had roughly grasped Wang Yan's strength.

Thinking of what Shi Xiaomeng said, if he were still with Yang Zixi, and Cheng Feng liked Yang Zixi.

If only he were really still with Yang Zixi...

But if it were really like what Shi Xiaomeng said, he should respect Yang Zixi's opinion. If Yang Zixi also liked Cheng Feng, he thought... he would let go? He would fulfill it? He would bless it? He probably would...

After all, that would be because he liked her more, not because of money...

Wu Di thought about his little Xixi, not realizing the passage of time. When he came back to his senses, he had already arrived at the hospital.

Arriving at the door of the ward where Cheng Feng's father was, he happened to see the doctor coming out, so Wu Di opened the door and walked in.

The two people in the room had also just sat down, and Lin Xia was smiling and hugging Cheng Feng, whispering to him.

Seeing Wu Di walk in, Cheng Feng pushed Lin Xia away and whispered: "Why are you here, Wang Laowu? Didn't I say you didn't need to come? You stayed up all night with me yesterday, why are you running here instead of going home to get a good rest?"

Lin Xia, who had been pushed away, also chimed in from the side: "Exactly, the two of us are enough here." As she spoke, she leaned over to Cheng Feng again, holding his arm and leaning on his shoulder.

Wu Di shook his head and glanced at Cheng Sheng'en on the hospital bed: "Is Uncle alright now? He hasn't woken up yet?"

"He's fine now, the doctor just said he should be able to wake up by tomorrow."

"That's good, that's good."

Wu Di glanced at Lin Xia, thought for a moment, and said: "Madman, come out with me, I have something to tell you."

Cheng Feng didn't think much of it, got up, said something to Lin Xia, and walked out with Wu Di. After all, his father was still in a coma, and it wouldn't be good if their chatter affected his father's rest.

Arriving outside, Cheng Feng said: "Let's do it here, Wang Laowu, what do you want to tell me?"

"I know everything."

Cheng Feng was confused and looked at Wu Di irritably: "What? You know everything? Speak clearly."

"About you and Xiaomeng."

Hearing this, Cheng Feng lost his energy, was silent for a while, and said: "Xiaomeng told you?"

"What did I tell you before?" Wu Di angrily pushed Cheng Feng, making him stumble: "I told you not to mess around. Madman, from high school until now, no matter how much you messed around, I could tolerate it, and I didn't say anything, that's because you still had principles. You absolutely wouldn't touch a friend's wife or a friend's woman, that's what you said, right?"

"Who is Xiaomeng? He's our good brother, good buddy for many years, and now you're eyeing his girlfriend? Huh? Is what you're doing human? Also, Xiaomeng begged you to get the advertising contract, if you couldn't get it, just say so, why drag him along? Huh? And what the hell is 'name any condition,' 'trade everything I have for her'? Cheng Feng, aren't you disgusting?"

Cheng Feng hung his head and didn't speak; he couldn't say anything either. He had indeed done the deed, and no matter how he explained it, it wouldn't be clear.

Seeing his damn look, Wu Di's anger flared up again, and he stepped forward to give him another hard push: "Why aren't you talking? Speak! Dare to do it but not admit it? Cheng Feng? What is a brother in your eyes? You actually like Shen Bing? What is love in your eyes? Still thinking of spending money..."

"Enough!"

With a loud shout, Cheng Feng pushed Wu Di away hard.

Caught off guard, Wu Di was pushed back several steps and almost fell.

Cheng Feng had grown up in a honey pot, always doing whatever he wanted since he was a child, and had always been used to things going smoothly. He was already feeling quite uncomfortable because of unrequited love, and he had felt a little bit of self-blame for messing with Shi Xiaomeng. Now that he had been pointed at and scolded for a long time, he wasn't happy either. Who the hell are you, Wu Di, to lecture me here? Who do you think you are?

Breaking up with Shi Xiaomeng, never being able to see Shen Bing again, his father almost being angered to death by him, Lin Xia's annoying pestering—the emotions accumulated from all the things that had happened recently erupted all at once.

"What right do you have to talk about me? If anyone wants to hit or scold me, it's Shi Xiaomeng, what does it have to do with you?"

"Besides, I like someone else, is it wrong for me to love someone else? Yes, Shen Bing is Xiaomeng's girlfriend, but I fell in love with her the first time I saw her, I couldn't control it at all. Just because she's Shi Xiaomeng's girlfriend, I can't like her, I can't love her?"

"Why did I tell Xiaomeng he could name any condition? Why did I say I wanted to trade everything I had for her? It's because I love Shen Bing too much, I want to see her every moment, I want to see her smile. Shi Xiaomeng can have a girlfriend like Shen Bing, why? What virtue or ability does he have? I'm just jealous of him, I just hate that the man by Shen Bing's side every day isn't me. Why can't I be the man who cherishes Shen Bing? Why? Huh?"

"I admit I did something wrong, I failed my brother, I failed Shi Xiaomeng. But to make it up to him, I even angered my father into the hospital, what else do you want me to do? Huh? Isn't it enough?"