Chapter 9: What a Coincidence
Chapter 9: What a Coincidence
Night fell over Shanghai, its lights dazzling like rainbows. On the river, cruise ships and ferries vied for passage, while cars streamed endlessly along every road. Even the air seemed filled with a sense of luxury and extravagance.
Li Zian stood on the spacious balcony, overlooking the boats on the Huangbu River and the crowded crowds on the river embankment. He felt a bit like he was in a dream.
This was a large, over 400-square-meter flat in the Gaochen Yipin complex in Lujiazui.
The bare shell of this apartment alone would cost eighty to ninety million, let alone the luxurious interior decoration.
Yu Meilin walked down the redwood staircase, crossed the living room, and approached the balcony. She wore a creamy-white silk nightgown that looked slightly translucent under the light, perfectly outlining her beautiful curves.
“Xiaomei and Grandma are asleep,” Yu Meilin said.
Li Zian turned to look at Yu Meilin. This was his wife, but it was the first time he had been alone with her. He actually felt a little uncomfortable.
“Do you like this place?” Yu Meilin also came out onto the balcony.
“It’s very nice. I like it.”
In his heart, he actually preferred Crescent Moon Village, with its mountains and water. But aside from the scenery, there was nothing there that held any attachment for him.
“This house was left to me by my mother. Gao Shengmei always wanted it. Once, she even mentioned it in front of my dad, but Grandma shut her down,” Yu Meilin said.
Gao Shengmei. This was the second time Li Zian had heard this woman’s name. Though he hadn’t met her yet, she already left him with an impression of being vicious and harsh.
“I brought Grandma here to live with us. Gao Shengmei wouldn’t dare cause trouble, but from now on, I’ll need you to take care of Grandma and Xiaomei,” Yu Meilin said.
She was clearly not someone easy to deal with either.
Li Zian was silent for a moment before saying, “Your grandma is my grandma. I would take good care of her even if you didn’t ask. Xiaomei is my daughter; that goes without saying. I’ll give her the best of everything. Also…”
“Also what?” Yu Meilin turned her gaze to Li Zian, her eyes looking at him as if he were just an ordinary acquaintance.
Li Zian’s heart felt pricked as if by a needle. “I know in your heart you don’t see me as your husband, but I still want to say: if you have any difficulties, any place where you need my help, you should tell me. Let me help you.”
A slight smile appeared on Yu Meilin’s lips. “What could you possibly help me with?”
Li Zian was stumped. He genuinely wanted to help, to share her burdens. But from her tone, she didn’t believe in him and didn’t think he had any capability.
Was there even any point in continuing this conversation?
“Your room is next to the living room. I prepared some clothes and daily necessities for you. Xiaomei, Grandma, and I live upstairs. You are not allowed to enter my room without my permission,” Yu Meilin said.
Li Zian’s heart was pricked by a needle again. He had never even thought about entering her room, but her saying it so bluntly made it seem like he was eager to go in.
“That’s all for now. Get used to the environment first. After you’re settled, I’ll take you to meet my father.” Yu Meilin turned and left.
Li Zian watched her retreating back, thinking to himself, “If it weren’t for Xiaomei, I wouldn’t care if you had hundreds of millions. You think I’m just a farmer with no future, but I don’t care. If I want to prove myself, it’ll be for Xiaomei to see, not for you.”
Yu Meilin went upstairs. Li Zian also left the balcony and entered his room.
The clothes Yu Meilin prepared for him were all high-end suits; the men’s daily necessities were all brand-name goods. But these things held no appeal for him. He casually tossed them onto the sofa, and then he moved the sofa against the wall.
The room was large, suitable for practicing boxing.
Li Zian assumed the starting stance of Branch-Breaking Boxing, ready to practice.
Ring ring, ring ring…
His mobile phone suddenly rang with an incoming call.
Li Zian relaxed his stance, took out his phone, and glanced at it. The number looked familiar, but he couldn’t remember who it was.
He swiped to answer and habitually said, “Hello…”
“Guess who I am?”
It was a woman’s voice, clear and pleasant.
Li Zian thought for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips. “So it’s Miss Mu. Hello.”
“Why so polite with me?”
“Not at all, not at all.” Li Zian remembered the divination he had done for himself.
“What are you doing?”
“I was just about to practice boxing, but now I’m answering your call.”
“Am I disturbing you?”
“No, not at all.”
“Well, I wanted to ask you for a favor, I don’t know if…”
“No need for formalities. Just say it directly. If I can help, I definitely will. What is it?”
Mu Chuntao paused briefly before saying, “It’s like this: I have a friend who hit his head accidentally while rock climbing. After he was treated, he often has insomnia and nightmares. Now his health is very poor, and he’s worryingly thin. Your medical skills are so amazing. Do you think you could help treat my friend?”
Li Zian said, “Of course I can take a look. But I haven’t seen the person, so I don’t know if I can cure him.”
“Great! I’ll bring my friend to your village tomorrow,” Mu Chuntao said excitedly.
“I’m in Shanghai now.”
“You’re in Shanghai?”
“At my wife’s home,” Li Zian said.
“Ah? You… you’re married?” Mu Chuntao’s tone was very surprised.
Li Zian smiled wryly. “It’s a long story.”
He didn’t care about romantic opportunities; he was married, and that was that. He couldn’t deceive a young girl. His parents were poor all their lives and left him nothing but debt when they passed, but they taught him how to be a decent person.
But his marriage with Yu Meilin ended with that statement; he didn’t want to discuss it.
Mu Chuntao was silent for a moment before speaking. “What a coincidence, I’m in Shanghai too. Are you free tonight? If it’s convenient, I’ll come pick you up.”
Li Zian felt somewhat surprised. “I didn’t expect you to be in Shanghai too. That makes it much more convenient. I’m at Gaochen Yipin in Lujiazui. Roughly when will you arrive? I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Li Xiaomei and Lin Shengnan were asleep, so he didn’t need to take care of anyone. Besides, Yu Meilin didn’t treat him as a husband anyway. Where he went and what he did, she naturally wouldn’t care, so why should he report to her?
“You said you live at Gaochen Yipin in Lujiazui?” Mu Chuntao sounded surprised again.
“It’s my wife’s house.”
Mu Chuntao said excitedly, “What a coincidence! I live at Gaochen Yipin in Lujiazui too!”
Li Zian: “…”
“What floor and what unit number is your home?”
Li Zian thought for a moment and said, “Building A, 21st floor, Unit 58. What’s your floor and unit number?”
“I’m floored!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I live right next door to you! Building A, 21st floor, Unit 57.”
Li Zian: “…”
“So your wife is Yu Meilin.”
“Yes, do you know each other?”
Mu Chuntao said with a laugh, “We’re good friends! What a coincidence!”
“Yeah, what a coincidence.” Li Zian couldn’t help but laugh too.
“Alright then, no need to chat on the phone. Come to my place. I’ll call my friend over, and you can take a look, okay?” Mu Chuntao said.
“Fine, I’ll come over right now.” Li Zian hung up the phone and walked out of the bedroom.
The living room was quiet. Neon lights shone in from the panoramic balcony, faintly shifting.
Countless people probably dreamed of living in a house like this, but a sense of loneliness welled up in Li Zian’s heart.
No matter how nice these things were, which of them actually belonged to him?
Stepping out of his home, Li Zian immediately saw the woman standing at the neighbor’s door. She wore hot pants and a tank top, her long fair legs were dazzling, and her whole body radiated youthful energy and a hormonal aura.
Mu Chuntao smiled at Li Zian.
Li Zian walked over and said with a smile, “I really didn’t expect you to be right next door.”
Mu Chuntao smiled and said, “I really didn’t expect Yu Meilin’s husband to be you.”
It really was a coincidence.
“Come in, let’s talk inside.” Mu Chuntao invited Li Zian into the house.
Li Zian walked in. The living room was similarly spacious, but the decor wasn’t as luxurious as his wife’s place next door. It was very modern and had an artistic style.
Mu Chuntao closed the door, gestured for Li Zian to sit, and asked, “What would you like to drink?”
Li Zian said, “No need to be polite, just a glass of water is fine.”
Mu Chuntao poured Li Zian a glass of water, then sat on the sofa opposite. She crossed her long, fair legs comfortably in a casual pose and then, without speaking, just stared directly at Li Zian.
Li Zian thought she was about to say something, but after waiting a while without her speaking, just seeing her stare at him, he felt a little awkward and said, “Why are you looking at me?”
Mu Chuntao burst out laughing.
“What are you laughing at?”
Mu Chuntao covered her mouth slightly with her hand and said, “Yu Meilin really has a ‘beauty hidden in a golden house’.”
Li Zian felt embarrassed; he thought the phrase “beauty hidden in a golden house” was very inappropriate.
“I knew she was married, but I never heard her mention you. What’s the story with you two?”
Li Zian didn’t want to talk about Yu Meilin. He changed the subject. “When will your friend arrive?”
Mu Chuntao said, “He’s driving over, probably in about half an hour.”
“When was he injured?”
“When he comes, he’ll tell you himself. Does Yu Meilin know you came to my place?” Mu Chuntao pulled the topic back again.
Li Zian had to respond. “She’s asleep.”
“Did our phone call not wake her?”
“We don’t share a room,” Li Zian said.
Mu Chuntao laughed for no apparent reason. “I used to wonder why Xiaomei was so pretty and adorable. I thought maybe Yu Meilin had married some celebrity idol and was keeping it quiet to avoid losing fans. So Xiaomei’s father is you. Seeing you, I’m not surprised anymore. Your face is much more handsome than those idol celebrities.”
Li Zian smiled. Of all the sentences they had exchanged, this one sounded the best.
But it was a bit embarrassing.
One feeling was certain though: being with Mu Chuntao was much more relaxed and comfortable than being with Yu Meilin.
After chatting for a while, the doorbell rang at the entrance.