The mall was teeming with people. Jing Meng instinctively pulled Pei Cheng to her side to keep him from getting hurt.
Unexpectedly, the other woman interpreted her move as a guilty attempt to flee after being outargued, and she stepped forward to block their path without a word.
With her way barred and a burly man closing in from the side, Jing Meng's gaze instantly chilled several degrees, and her slender hand instinctively balled into a fist.
However, to everyone's surprise, the man approached with a stern face, bypassed Jing Meng entirely, and grabbed the wrist of the little boy's mother. "Madam, show some respect," he warned in a cold voice.
The mother's arrogance instantly withered.
"Miss Jing, Mr. Pei would like you to come over," the man relayed coldly, providing Pei Shiling's location at the same time.
Learning that he was one of Pei Shiling's men, Jing Meng's heart finally settled. She hurried off with Pei Cheng toward the luxury district on the top floor of the mall.
The environment of the luxury district was quiet and secluded. Although there weren't many people in the shops, each store was decorated with high-end elegance. However, there was a fatal flaw.
They were snobs who looked down on the poor!
In the mere ten meters she walked, Jing Meng was sized up several times by various staff members, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
With great difficulty, she navigated through those stares and arrived at the designated shop. From a distance, she saw Pei Shiyi sitting on a sofa with his legs crossed, surrounded by a bevy of beauties attempting to get close to him.
Upon seeing his father, Pei Cheng immediately shouted, "Daddy!"
Pei Shiyi looked up at the sound. His gaze instinctively landed on Jing Meng. After confirming that she hadn't sustained any new injuries, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He rubbed Pei Cheng's head and smiled gently. "What happened just now?"
Pei Cheng stole a glance at Jing Meng. He knew that as long as Mengmeng was in danger, his father would definitely show up.
"It was nothing major," Jing Meng said dismissively, casually scanning the shop.
The clothes in the store were very dignified and elegant, but their aura didn't seem to match her very well.
"It's too late for a custom gown now, so we'll have to make do with something from the ready-to-wear collection." Pei Shiyi followed her gaze. Seeing Jing Meng looking at a solid black, form-fitting dress, he raised his hand and gestured for a staff member to bring it over.
The black dress was simple in design, but a lot of thought had been put into the details, and the cut perfectly outlined her figure.
When she took the dress, Jing Meng originally intended to refuse. But seeing the expectant looks from the man and the child, her heart softened, and she took the garment into the fitting room.
After putting on the dress, she was extremely grateful that she hadn't eaten before coming; otherwise, she almost wouldn't have fit into it.
Stepping in front of the full-length mirror, the person in the reflection appeared noble and glamorous against the black fabric.
She looked herself over from left to right, but she felt that something was missing from the outfit.
While examining the black dress, the mirror reflected another simple yet elegant garment in the corner. Jing Meng's eyes lit up instantly. She turned around and took the dress down.
"Is there something wrong with Mengmeng's aesthetic?" Pei Cheng said in disbelief when he noticed the dress she was holding.
Children are straightforward, and their words can unintentionally hurt.
Hearing this, Pei Shiyi reached out and messed up the hair that Pei Cheng had just straightened. Seeing his son's aggrieved expression, Pei Shiyi felt in high spirits.
"Everyone has their own preferences. You can't say someone else's aesthetic is problematic just because you don't like it, okay?" As he spoke, he looked up at Jing Meng with a faint, indiscernible smile.
Pei Cheng was still young and didn't have his own firm opinions on such matters yet, so he nodded half-comprehendingly.
Jing Meng slowly walked out wearing a long gown. The fabric was a type of light gauze. As she walked, the hem of the skirt fluttered gracefully, every movement exuding high-born elegance.
Lifting her skirt slightly, she stood before the mirror again. Looking at her reflection, she nodded with satisfaction. "I'll take this one!"
It wasn't until she had settled on the dress that Pei Shiyi finally came back to his senses. Realizing he had lost his composure, he coughed lightly to ease his embarrassment.
"Now that the clothes are chosen, is there anything else?" Pei Shiyi asked, her ethereal image still lingering in his mind.
"No. I just want to walk around the bookstore by myself for a bit." Jing Meng tactfully declined Pei Shiyi's invitation.
She needed some time to think about what to do in the future, and she also had to find the materials A-Xue needed as soon as possible.
Hearing this, Pei Shiling gave a few instructions before leaving with Pei Cheng.
However, as they left, even Pei Cheng could clearly sense his father's disappointment.
Once they were gone, Jing Meng didn't stay a moment longer and headed for the elevator with a light step.
The bookstore was quiet. People were silently reading the books in their hands. The only sounds were the soft thud of footsteps and the rustling of turning pages.
Jing Meng reached out to take down a book on scientific research when she suddenly felt a warmth on her hand. She hurriedly pulled back in a panic, instinctively keeping her distance from the other person.
She took a step back, and the other person took a step forward. Jing Meng clenched her fist slightly, her face already showing displeasure.
"Are you Jing Meng?" the man asked excitedly.
Hearing this, Jing Meng looked at him in confusion. After searching her memories for a long time, she finally remembered who he was.
The man before her was a senior from her high school. They hadn't crossed paths since graduation, so she hadn't expected to run into him here of all places.
"Long time no see, Senior." Jing Meng politely reached out her hand, a faint curve appearing on her lips.
The senior's eyes sparkled. He shook her fingertips like a gentleman. "It really has been a long time. I didn't expect to meet you here. How have you been lately?"
"I'm doing well," Jing Meng replied briefly, lowering her eyes to hide her true emotions.
"Why don't we go grab a cup of coffee together?" The senior's smile was warm, making it impossible for Jing Meng to refuse. She nodded, and the two walked out together.
The senior intentionally brought up robotics, a subject Jing Meng was skilled in, which successfully caused her to talk more and more.
As the topic shifted back to their student days, the two of them opened up and began sharing interesting stories from high school.
Just as they were chatting happily, a bag was suddenly slammed onto the table in front of Jing Meng.
Looking up, she saw a beautifully dressed girl staring at her with eyes full of rage.
"And you are?" Jing Meng was certain she had never met this person before.
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/kleinmoretti to access 100+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).