Payback in a Mouthful of Phlegm

Meng Huai and Yun Zimo were fooling around when the doorbell rang urgently. Whoever was ringing it was clearly anxious enough to want to break down the door.

Yun Zimo had always valued her freedom, so apart from an hourly worker, she had no household help at the villa and did everything herself.

Yun Zimo went to open the door and jumped in surprise. She had not expected more than a dozen people outside, all of them big shots.

Qin Xiuying wore a friendly smile. "I'm Mr. Chang's secretary. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Zimo."

"I know who you are, Secretary Qin," Yun Zimo said coolly. "In fact, you're something of an idol of mine. Please come in, but the others needn't bother. My house is too small to accommodate so many people."

She glanced at Shan Meirong and smiled. "Auntie Shan doesn't count as one of the others. Come in!"

"I'm Lin Jinsu's father," Lin Dayin said quickly. "I just came along to have a look."

Yun Zimo tilted her head. "Oh, Uncle Lin. You should head home. Getting too involved in certain things won't necessarily do you any good."

Lin Dayin understood what she meant and quickly nodded in agreement. He said he would have his daughter come over to spend time with her, then left.

As for the remaining big shots, they could only stand helplessly in the courtyard. They knew she was putting them in their place and expressing her displeasure.

They bitterly regretted what they had done. Before, they had only feared Chang Yanping; now, they were even more afraid of retaliation from Meng Huai.

They all held high positions in society and knew many things others did not. They understood that some people must never be provoked—and once provoked, those people could make even death impossible to obtain.

Yun Zimo led Qin Xiuying and Shan Meirong into the living room. Meng Huai was leaning against the sofa with a bottle of Erguotou, drinking straight from it, just as he had at the Banquet.

Meng Huai tossed the bottle aside. "I guess your drink really does say something about you. Erguotou still has the best kick. Foreign liquor is no fun at all."

Qin Xiuying showed no displeasure at his rudeness. Instead, she bowed. "On behalf of Mr. Chang, I apologize to you both. We're truly sorry for what happened."

"This really had nothing to do with Mr. Chang," Shan Meirong said beside her. "It was those dogs under him biting people at random. Meng Huai, be the bigger person and let it go."

Meng Huai gave Shan Meirong a surprised look. His brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed, but he said nothing.

"Auntie Shan is just too kindhearted," Yun Zimo said with a smile. "Since we've let you in, we won't pursue the matter. But those dogs need to be kept on a leash. Not everyone is as generous as we are."

"You're absolutely right, Miss Zimo," Qin Xiuying said, nodding. "If the dogs won't obey, they need to learn what pain feels like. Watch the news tonight, miss. I'm sure you'll be satisfied."

Meng Huai casually picked up a paper cup from the table, spat something into it, then covered it with a sheet of paper.

He set the cup on the table. "I won't treat him at the hospital. Have Chang Yanping swallow what's in this cup. It'll keep him safe for now. Tell him to come see me himself."

Qin Xiuying frowned slightly, stepped forward to take the cup, and nodded her agreement. Then she turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Once Qin Xiuying had left, Meng Huai smiled. "Chang Yanping really is lucky to have found a secretary like her."

Yun Zimo agreed. "Qin Xiuying is a renowned career woman. Even if she hadn't stayed with Chang Yanping, she would certainly have made something of herself. Of all the women I know, she's the one I admire most. Auntie Shan comes second."

Shan Meirong smiled gently. "You certainly know how to flatter people, girl. It seems there's no need for the proposal I made to you earlier. I still have something to take care of, so I'll head home."

Meng Huai suddenly spoke. "Does Xiang Yu's death really not trouble you at all, Auntie Shan?"

Shan Meirong's expression did not change. "I've come to terms with it," she said calmly. "It's just as well that that unfilial son died. At least he won't hurt anyone in the future. I've already prepared a document. After I die, all my assets will be donated to Zimo's Foundation."

Meng Huai said nothing more and watched Yun Zimo see Shan Meirong out. Shan Meirong's footsteps never faltered.

When Yun Zimo returned to his side, Meng Huai frowned. "Keep your distance from Shan Meirong from now on. Something about her feels wrong, but I can't put my finger on it."

"You're just being paranoid," Yun Zimo said with a grin. "What did you spit out just now? Don't tell me it was phlegm!"

"You guessed it," Meng Huai said with a mischievous smile. "A nice thick mouthful of phlegm. I added a little something to it, though. It tastes fantastic."

Yun Zimo pictured Chang Yanping swallowing the phlegm and felt a wave of nausea. It took all her effort to keep from throwing up.

She managed to hold it down, but Chang Yanping did not. He rushed into the bathroom and vomited so hard that even clear fluid came up.

Although Qin Xiuying and Yuan Yan also found it disgusting, their eyes shone as they watched Chang Yanping vomit violently.

Chang Yanping covered his mouth. "That brat is utterly hateful. He actually made me swallow..."

Before he could finish, another wave of nausea hit him. He braced himself against the wall and vomited his guts out, taking a long time to finally stop.

"This treatment is certainly disgusting," Yuan Yan said with a straight face. "But I have to admit, it works remarkably well. Mr. Chang ran faster than he used to."

Only then did Chang Yanping realize that Yuan Yan was right. His body was now brimming with strength. Compared with the limp wreck he had been earlier, he was like a completely different man.

Qin Xiuying sighed. "When I entered the Villa, I saw Meng Huai looking exactly as he had at the Banquet. That led me to conclude that he was trying to attract your attention back then."

"He wanted to use the opportunity to get to know you, then help you resolve today's trouble. He simply didn't expect things to turn out differently from what he'd planned. Twenty years ago, this would never have happened."

Chang Yanping's expression turned grim. He knew what Qin Xiuying meant. Ever since his rise to success, he had grown increasingly arrogant and overbearing, looking down on everyone else. That was why he had been repaid with a mouthful of phlegm today.

"You're right," he said with a sigh. "I forgot what mattered to me at the start. If I make it through this, let's get married!"

A smile appeared on Qin Xiuying's face, and her heart filled with gratitude toward Meng Huai. Helping someone rediscover what had once mattered to them was truly precious.

She quickly said, "Meng Huai said he'd only keep you safe temporarily and that you had to go see him yourself. Let's go now, before anything else goes wrong!"

Chang Yanping nodded and immediately arranged for a driver to take them straight to Meng Huai's Villa.

Meng Huai smiled as he watched people carry in the hundred-plus cases of Hengshui Laobaigan Chang Yanping had brought. The man certainly knew how to make an impression.

"You're far too generous, Mr. Chang," he said with a faint smile. "It seems you've rediscovered what you needed to. In that case, we should get down to business."

"I offended you earlier," Chang Yanping said quickly. "Thank you for being so forgiving. What exactly is wrong with me?"

Meng Huai took Chang Yanping's wrist, and a puzzled look appeared on his face.