When Meng Ting returned to school, she discovered that many people knew about her fight with Jiang Rong. However, on Friday, the school only publicly issued Jiang Rong a disciplinary probation.

Before the disciplinary action, Counselor Wu had a conversation with Meng Ting: “We know about Jiang Rong’s situation. Her behavior is partly due to her family environment. We’ll delete all the photos. It’s a psychological issue, and she’s agreed to receive counseling. Jiang Rong is only eighteen; she has a long life ahead. I hope you can forgive her this time. If it happens again, even the law won’t let her off.”

Meng Ting nodded.

The law doesn’t punish what hasn’t happened. Although Jiang Rong had taken photos of other girls, she hadn’t published them. Even Meng Ting’s two photos were just casual shots. Disciplinary probation was already a severe punishment. If Jiang Rong’s psychological issues improve in the future, she might become an excellent lawyer or judge.

When Song Huanhuan found out, she felt it was a pity: “Ting Ting, you’re just letting her off like that? I say people like her are the most detestable. She’s psychologically abnormal! She should be cursed to death.”

“It’s a psychological illness. It can be treated.”

“You believe it can be cured? I think it’s just human nature. Jiang Rong is only apologizing and accepting treatment because she has to. I think people with pathological psychology will never get better.”

Meng Ting pursed her lips and said softly, “It’s possible.”

Even if the probability was small, Jiang Ren was slowly getting better. He hadn’t had an episode in a long time.

As December grew colder, Zhu Jing, who had been chosen as B University’s campus beauty last time, started dating a tall, thin boy.

The boy was hardworking and earnest, with a warm smile. Although his family background wasn’t as good as rich second-generation Qin Yang, it wasn’t bad. Everyone thought they were quite a good match.

“Much better than Meng Ting’s boyfriend. Her boyfriend, tsk tsk.”

Someone was skeptical: “Have you seen him? I find Meng Ting more attractive than Zhu Jing. I feel like you’re making up stories.”

“He came from a construction site. His clothes were so dirty. You don’t know how shocked we were. He was even wearing a safety helmet, the kind used in construction. His leg seemed a bit abnormal too. As soon as he arrived, he hugged the department flower, and she hugged him back. Our eyes nearly popped out!”

“Ah, my goddess!”

“Didn’t Jiang Rong take a photo before? She went to eat wonton with that construction site guy. Look at Zhu Jing and her boyfriend, they’re like a sweet picture. I even saw her boyfriend cutting steak for her last time!”

When Meng Ting hurriedly came in from outside wearing a scarf, the gossipers finally shut up.

However, among those gossiping, some took pleasure in others’ misfortune. Although they weren’t as pretty or popular as Meng Ting, if Meng Ting ended up with someone they looked down upon, it was as if she had picked up something they despised. Psychologically, it made them feel good.

Someone whispered, “Even Qin Yang stopped pursuing her. He probably thinks it’s beneath him to be with Meng Ting since she’s dating that guy.”

In B City, it was already snowing in December, with ice and snow covering everything in white. Meng Ting lowered her long lashes as she sat by the window, watching the heavy snowfall outside. She breathed out, creating a small fog, and continued reading her criminology textbook.

These weren’t her major courses, but they helped her understand the profession better.

She sat there quietly, not needing to be as sweet as Zhu Jing and her boyfriend. Even alone, she was as beautiful as a painting.

This sight made those who turned to look at her fall silent.

Before the New Year, some fourth-year students from B City’s Architecture Department got an internship opportunity that made the whole school envious – Jun Yang recruited twenty interns.

It was said that after graduation, they would likely become management trainees at Jun Yang.

Even Mi Lei couldn’t help but sigh: “That’s amazing. Jun Yang Real Estate is so good, probably one of the top two in the country. The seniors might even become executives in the future. I’m so envious!”

Song Huanhuan, sucking on a lollipop, said: “Don’t be envious. Study law well, and you might work in Jun Yang’s legal department in the future. Even just having your name there would mean a high salary.”

“Get lost, what are the chances of that? Ting Ting, do you want to work in Jun Yang’s legal department?”

Meng Ting smiled gently: “No, I want to be a lawyer.”

Meanwhile, the Jun Yang young master was working hard in H City to make money for her.

The young master was usually stingy because he was so poor. But as the New Year approached, he was quite generous, giving “year-end bonuses” to all the managers.

Gao Yi couldn’t help but tease: “She’s coming back, so you’re in a good mood? How come you’re so generous?”

Jiang Ren laughed and cursed: “When have I ever been stingy!”

“Earlier, when we were busy until midnight, I called you to have a late-night snack, but you said you had no money.”

Jiang Ren said calmly: “I had no money. The bonuses were calculated from the budget. We need them to be committed next year, so we can’t let them down.”

Gao Yi joked: “Mr. Jiang is becoming more and more like a boss, haha!”

Jiang Ren wasn’t going back to B City for the New Year, so Wen Rui returned to the Jiang mansion early.

Grandmother Jiang started to make a fuss, the elderly woman picking up fruit to throw at Wen Rui. In the end, she cried, covering her wrinkled face with her hands, weeping sorrowfully: “My little Ren isn’t coming back. You must be bullying my little Ren. He’s not even coming home.”

Wen Rui’s face stiffened for a moment, then he smiled, picking up the tangerine and gently stroking the old woman’s graying hair: “Aunt Lan, Jiang Ren is starting his business.”

Grandmother Jiang pushed him away, glaring: “Get away from me! You demon from Avici Hell!”

Jiang Jixian also had a headache. He said: “Mom, calm down. That brat is fine. Why are you crying? It’s almost New Year’s, it’s not auspicious.”

“I prepared a red envelope for my little Ren. Give it to him, give it to him!”

She fumbled in her floral cotton jacket and pulled out a big red envelope with a thick wad inside. Jiang Jixian had no choice but to take it: “Alright, alright, I’ll give it to him.”

Wen Rui stood to the side watching, his smile unchanging.

Jiang Jixian said: “Don’t take it to heart. Mom is like a child now.”

“I won’t, brother-in-law. You and my sister have shown me great kindness. I don’t know how to repay you. I understand Aunt Lan’s feelings.”

“That’s good. That brat Jiang Ren!”

Although Jiang Jixian cursed, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but turn up.

Jiang Jixian knew something about Jiang Ren’s real estate development project progress. Even though he cursed him, as a father, he was always happy and proud that his son was a man of great promise.

Wen Rui pushed up his glasses, thinking coldly that after all, people who aren’t family aren’t family.

Neither the old nor the young saw him as family. Did he want this little charity from Jun Yang? Even if the young master had hit him, Jiang Jixian just apologized, and that was it. After all, he wasn’t their own.

Wen Rui went back and had a fit of anger. When he calmed down, he called the people in H City.

When Meng Ting and Shu Yang were taking the train back, she said softly: “Shu Yang…”

“What?”

“About me getting into a fight… can you not tell Dad?”

Shu Yang couldn’t help but smile, turning his head to look out the window.

Meng Ting said dejectedly: “I’ll give you a red envelope for the New Year. Just don’t tell Uncle Shu.”

“Alright.”

Meng Ting knew Jiang Ren was busy, so she didn’t notify him when she returned. If he came to pick her up, it would probably delay many things. All companies were busy before the New Year.

Shu Zhitong was very happy when the two children came home, quickly asking them how university life was.

Meng Ting went out to An Haiting in the afternoon.

It was the same employee who had accepted her Little Star before. The employee recognized her immediately: “Oh?”

Meng Ting brought her some New Year goods from home as a gift: “Thank you for helping me so much before. Happy New Year, and all the best in your work.”

The young saleswoman smiled, her eyes crinkling: “Thank you, Miss Meng.” Seeing the young girl reminded her of when the young Mr. Jiang had come back looking furious to find Little Star.

Meng Ting asked about Jiang Ren’s current office location. It was quite far from here, closer to the sea, but quite remote.

Jiang Ren had a good idea. The land here was cheap, but relatively undeveloped, which would make future promotion difficult. His project was very large. Meng Ting vaguely remembered that housing prices would skyrocket from the end of next year to the year after. If his project was completed and well-promoted, he would make a fortune.

Looking at the whole area, it was clear this man had big ambitions.

As soon as Meng Ting arrived, she saw Gao Yi hurriedly walking out.

Gao Yi was stunned to see her: “Meng Ting?”

“Yes, hello. And you are?”

“I’m Gao Yi. Are you here to see Mr. Jiang?”

It was the first time Meng Ting had heard someone call Jiang Ren “Mr. Jiang,” and she found it novel. She nodded. Gao Yi frowned: “There’s been some trouble with the project, and some issues with the contract. You should…” Gao Yi wanted to say “You should go back first,” but after thinking for a moment, he said, “Well, go see Mr. Jiang then. He’s not in a good mood. Try to comfort him. Young people always face failures and difficulties.”

Jiang Ren was sitting by the sea, one leg bent, gazing at the ocean in the twilight.

When he saw Meng Ting, he thought it was an illusion.

She crouched down beside him, wrapping her scarf around him, her voice soft: “Is it warm?”

He smiled: “Mm.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.” He said lightly, “I’ve handled everything.”

“Liar. Gao Yi said it was quite serious.” She looked very worried, her big eyes reflecting the colors of the sunset as she crouched in front of him, looking up at him, her eyelashes curled like crow’s feathers.

Jiang Ren smiled slightly: “You’re so beautiful.”

Meng Ting almost laughed in exasperation.

“You look awful right now.”

He pulled her close. He hadn’t slept for two nights, and a light stubble had grown on his chin. He lowered his head to tickle her: “Don’t you have any aesthetic sense? Why should a man look good? Silly girl, don’t you know it’s ability that matters?”

She felt ticklish and giggled, pushing him away: “Go away, go away.”

The “silly girl” in his voice sounded like it was dripping with honey, making him smile.

She cupped his handsome face, laughing so hard that tears appeared at the corners of her eyes: “It’s so ticklish, haha…”

Jiang Ren pulled her up, brushing the sand off her clothes, and coaxed her softly: “Be good. Go back and enjoy the New Year first. When I’m done with these busy days, I’ll play with you, okay?”

Meng Ting knew he didn’t want to tell her about his work setbacks.

He had always been like this, wanting her to see his greatness, not his vulnerability and scars.

Her young man was already insecure enough, so she didn’t press him to talk about it.

Meng Ting waved at him, telling him to go back to work.

She called Uncle Shu, saying she had just come back home and would sleep at Zhao Nuancheng’s house tonight. Then she got the spare key from Gao Yi, took out some money, and gave it to Gao Yi: “Uncle Gao, I’ll be going back to B City for school after spring. Jiang Ren often doesn’t eat properly, which is bad for his stomach. Please take extra care of him.”

Gao Yi smiled bitterly: “Alright.” This money was originally borrowed by Jiang Ren for Meng Ting, and now the young girl was using it to take care of Jiang Ren.

“What does he usually eat?”

“Noodles.” Gao Yi felt heartbroken. “When he’s busy, just a bowl of plain noodles.”

The generous boss was the stingiest with himself. Yet when it came to entertaining clients, he was surprisingly lavish.

Meng Ting pursed her lips. She bought vegetables and meat, and when she got to Jiang Ren’s kitchen, she realized Gao Yi wasn’t exaggerating at all.

There were just a few packs of noodles, not even an egg.

She tidied up the kitchen, then chopped vegetables and cooked. From 6:30 to 7:30, Meng Ting was busy, but Jiang Ren still hadn’t returned.

If Jiang Ren wasn’t even accompanying her, something serious must have happened.

Meng Ting didn’t touch his things, just prepared the meal and kept it warm in the pot for him.

She remembered when she first met him in her second year of high school. He had silver hair and black diamond earrings, drove a silver supercar, and his mountain motorcycle roared when he rode it.

He wore brand-name clothes and shoes and would spend tens of thousands in one night playing in Xiaogang City.

Comparing then to now, thinking of her classmates’ comments about him made her heart ache.

If Jiang Ren was still like before, they probably wouldn’t dare to say those things about him. He was inherently domineering and arrogant, never changing. He just stubbornly believed he wasn’t good enough for her. So he tried hard to become mature and responsible.

The lights gradually went out in this area. H City was different from the bustling B City.

At night, the small city was quiet.

It wasn’t until 11 o’clock that Jiang Ren opened the door. The smallest light in the living room was on, and he was stunned.

He had just returned from the hospital. There had been an accident at the construction site. The old workers were used to throwing bricks up and catching them, which was efficient and quick. But just before the New Year, an accident happened. The brick catcher missed, and the brick fell, hitting an old worker below on the head, and causing immediate bleeding.

Although this was the construction company’s issue, Jiang Ren was the big boss. If this wasn’t handled well, the project would be delayed.

When it rains, it pours. Some material suppliers suddenly wanted to raise prices on their contracts.

Jiang Ren’s heart sank. They had agreed on terms, but now the other party was suddenly going back on their word. This was highly damaging to business credibility, but with his current lack of money and influence, he couldn’t do much about it.

He had tried his best to persuade them, but they wouldn’t budge.

He hadn’t slept for two nights and was feeling extremely frustrated.

If either of these two issues weren’t handled properly, the project could fail.

He had sat by the sea for a while to calm down, then went back to deal with the problems.

As Jiang Ren walked in, he noticed Meng Ting curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. Her small face looked soft and adorable against the cushions. A faint aroma wafted from the kitchen, and when he opened the pot, he saw the meal he had prepared—it had already cooled down.

He couldn’t quite express what he felt at that moment. He chose not to share anything with Meng Ting, afraid she might look down on him and see him as useless.

Professor Sun Yi had told him the rumors about B University: she was the most beautiful and charming girl. Yet in the eyes of her classmates, he was nothing but a failure.

All Jiang Ren wanted was to be closer to her, faster.

Many times, he had nightmares where she told him she wanted to break up, that she was with someone tall, thin, and exceptionally talented, just like Wen Rui. With his injured leg, he knew he could never catch up to her.

When he woke from those dreams, he buried all his feelings of shame and inadequacy, convincing himself that she didn’t mind these things. He could endure failure; he could lose everything.

His irritability stemmed from the fact that no matter how hard he tried, he still felt far from her. Deep down, he understood that as long as he didn’t disturb her life, she would thrive on her stunning looks and excellent academic record. Any man would cherish such a girl.

If she didn’t treat him well, he felt he didn’t deserve her at all. Yet she was so kind to him.

If it meant waiting, he would wait—being as obedient as possible.