Mei Tingyu Calls

Mei Tingyu said, "What letter? You mean a note?" She deliberately spoke loudly. This had something to do with her years away from home, where she had seen much of the world. She was no longer the shy young girl she had once been; she had grown into a poised, gracious city woman.

Tong Haojing looked around awkwardly and said, "Keep your voice down!"

Mei Tingyu said, "Look at you, still the same as before. You haven't changed much, but I like that!" She had completely shed a young girl's bashfulness. Sweet talk between men and women had grown dull to her, or perhaps it no longer felt fresh. This surprised Tong Haojing somewhat.

Tong Haojing's face burned like a ripe red apple. He deliberately concealed his discomfort and asked, "Have things gone well for you out there these past few years?"

Mei Tingyu's eyes moistened, and her nose stung. Countless thoughts surged through her mind. She wanted badly to tell Tong Haojing about all the hardships she had endured away from home. But her unusual experiences forced her to keep them hidden.

In truth, from the day Mei Tingyu left home to work elsewhere, she had been wary of everyone and everything around her. Before she even reached her destination, the five hundred yuan in cash she carried had been swindled away by a hypocritical male agent. In a small town in Donghai Province, she had wanted to cry but had no tears left, with no family or friends in sight. With nowhere to turn, she did not want to tell her father, Uncle Mumu, about what had happened. So, using a fake ID card, she was forced to become a hostess at a place called Dream Karaoke Hall. There, she met Liu Yangchun. Despite his threats and temptations, Mei Tingyu would rather die than submit.

By then, Liu Yangchun was no longer some drug-addicted petty thug. He had become the wealthy owner of a transportation company in City B, Hedong Province. Before leaving, Liu Yangchun left behind a bank card with its withdrawal password and a phone number. With a leering grin, he said, "I'll wait for you to come find me!"

In despair, Mei Tingyu thought of her father at home, her neighbors, and her classmate Tong Haojing, who could also be called her unspoken first love. Too ashamed to face the people back home, she degraded herself even further, returning to her rented room late every night. Fortunately, a sister named Axiang set her straight: the mountains were high and the emperor far away. Whatever she did outside, how could her family know whether it was good or bad? As long as she sent money home, others would still see her as successful and glamorous. After several years, Mei Tingyu had accumulated some savings. By chance, Axiang introduced her to Dada Company. Little did she know that it was a pharmaceutical pyramid scheme, and her savings were swindled away again. Even the people she trusted most had deceived her. Mei Tingyu fell into despair and began distrusting everyone and everything around her. So she decided to find Liu Yangchun.

When Liu Yangchun saw Mei Tingyu come to him of her own accord, he assumed she must be asking for something. Taking advantage of the situation, he possessed her. Mei Tingyu received a huge sum in compensation from him, and she also discovered some of Liu Yangchun's secret activities. Mei Tingyu began forming a plan...

Mei Tingyu remained at Dada Company. Using her beauty, she drew in many men and migrant workers who harbored improper desires toward her, gradually becoming a so-called "second-level agent" and a famous strongwoman within the circle. Mei Tingyu became a wealthy woman, dressing herself fashionably and beautifully, with men falling for her one after another. She was highly calculating, feigning seductiveness while keeping them at arm's length, making every man who revolved around her obey her every command.

During one Spring Festival a few years earlier, Mei Tingyu had missed home terribly. But when she thought of how her "career" was at its height, she knew she could not miss such a golden opportunity. To keep her family from becoming suspicious, she sent one hundred thousand yuan to Uncle Mumu so he could build an antique-style two-story house. It was the most beautiful and luxurious building in the local Big House Clan, enough to let Uncle Mumu bask in the glory for quite some time. After building the house, Uncle Mumu felt that his daughter was so capable and no longer young. He sincerely wanted to find Mei Tingyu a good match, and he thought again of Tong Haojing, who had joined the army and become an officer elsewhere. Luckily, he had not outright rejected the request previously made by Tong Haojing's mother, Wang Xiyue. Still, it was hard to say what might happen now, and Uncle Mumu's heart was filled with uncertainty.

Just as Mei Tingyu dreamed of getting rich, Hedong Province launched a province-wide crackdown on pyramid schemes. Mei Tingyu became a target of the industry and commerce authorities and the police. But because she had used a fake ID and had not returned home for several years, law enforcement could not confirm her identity, allowing her to escape. Mei Tingyu told Uncle Mumu that the winds outside were too strong and the weather too hot, making it impossible to stay there any longer. She said she wanted to return home and develop her career there. Uncle Mumu believed her and told Tong Haojing the news as well. But how could he have known that his daughter had already stepped onto a path she herself could never forgive?

Mei Tingyu returned to Tangdu City and resumed her old trade. She thought of the classmate she had not seen in a long time, the same Tong Haojing whom Uncle Mumu often mentioned before her. Now, when they met at Meixi Cabin, Tong Haojing had become a handsome, imposing, tall People's Police officer. She felt both love and hate. She loved that the man before her was her first love, the prince charming of her dreams; she hated that the police had cut off her source of wealth and forced her to sneak back inland in disgrace. Tong Haojing was a police officer. Sooner or later, he might expose the truth. She did not know how she would face him afterward, or whether they would turn against each other and become mortal enemies. But then she thought that perhaps Tong Haojing could become her protector, her shield. As long as she treated him well and gave him money, no one could resist the temptations of wealth and beauty.

The worry in Mei Tingyu's heart flashed across her face and vanished. Her experience fighting her way through the workplace had made her calm and composed. She suddenly noticed that Tong Haojing's expression looked unnatural, as though he were in low spirits. He was the kind of person who wore his troubles on his face.

"Has something happened lately?" Mei Tingyu asked.

Tong Haojing had been trying to control his low mood, but he still could not escape the eyes of Mei Tingyu, who was good at reading people. He pretended to be calm and said, "It's nothing."

Mei Tingyu said, "Pretending!"

Tong Haojing likewise could not withstand the fragrant scent of the beauty before him. He could only pour out, without holding anything back, the punishment he had received and all his frustrations. He was a hot-blooded young man, full of the stubborn force to charge ahead, yet everywhere he went, he was restrained by others' unreasonable accusations. He hated evil and despised the ugly things in society, yet there were always people who, for some reason, could not get along with him...

Mei Tingyu listened intently, lost in thought. She and Tong Haojing felt united in their hatred of the same enemy, and she completely forgot what she herself was doing. With a sigh, she said, "There are too many injustices in this world. Why take them so seriously? You haven't seen much of the world, you lack social experience, and you aren't smooth enough in handling things. Of course you'll run into walls!" Her words seemed reproachful, yet they were full of consolation and heartfelt pain for him. In fact, Mei Tingyu had long heard Uncle Mumu talk about Tong Haojing's rough experiences as a police officer. In this era of economic transformation and development, competition in every industry was fierce, employment pressure was high, and finding a job was difficult. Becoming a police officer was already no easy thing. But when she thought of how she made money by the day, there was simply no comparison with being a police officer. She had even considered bringing Tong Haojing into the scheme, but she did not know what his attitude would be, so she did not dare advance rashly.

As the two exchanged sweet nothings, Tong Haojing occasionally stirred the coffee in his cup. Its fragrance filled the air, and Meixi Cabin seemed wrapped in mist and clouds. A soft piece of music began to play, adding even more romance to the moment.

It was nearly noon. Tong Haojing sincerely invited Mei Tingyu to lunch, but unsure of her preferences, he asked, "Classmate, what do you like to eat?"

"Officer, lunch is on me. Let's go have a seafood feast!" Mei Tingyu's lavish tone left Tong Haojing somewhat stunned. He said in surprise, "Isn't that too extravagant?" Tong Haojing suddenly realized that saying this was inappropriate. He worried Mei Tingyu would call him old-fashioned, and regret rose in his heart.

Mei Tingyu did not take it to heart. She stood, paid the bill, and headed outside. Tong Haojing always felt that he had fallen behind, that he was half a beat slower than everyone else. At that moment, he noticed that Mei Tingyu's tall figure appeared even more charming and graceful in the natural light. In his heart, he imagined that Mei Tingyu was his other half.