They surrounded me right after the breakup.

The next morning, Lin Yaoyao's red sports car was parked downstairs at Liu Meng's house.

She leaned against the car door and sent a message to Liu Meng.

"Get down and take Auntie to the airport."

Liu Meng helped Zhao Xiulan out of the building.

Zhao Xiulan wore a navy blue trench coat, and her hair, which had just been dyed, was shiny black.

He looked much better than he did after the trial.

Lin Yaoyao opened the back door and held the top edge of the door frame with her hand.

"Auntie, please slow down. There are some things I brought for you in the trunk."

Zhao Xiulan got into the car and patted Lin Yaoyao's hand.

"Yaoyao, you've gone to so much trouble again. I haven't thanked you for the Codonopsis and Astragalus Chicken Soup from last time."

"Auntie, why are you being so polite with me? My mom said you're like her old friend, like family."

Lin Yaoyao started the engine and drove the car out of the residential area.

Zhao Xiulan leaned back in her seat, watching the street scene outside the window recede into the distance.

The shops, sycamore trees, and zebra crossings slowly stretched into blurry bands of light in her eyes.

"I used to ride my bicycle along this road to work every day. Back then, the buildings on both sides were short, the tallest being only four stories."

"Auntie, by the time you come back from Yunnan, all the sycamore trees along this road will have turned yellow."

"Yes, time really flies!"

"I used to think that Jingzhou was too small to contain all the grudges and resentments of those years."

"Now that I'm going on a long trip, I feel reluctant to leave any of the streets behind."

The car came to a stop at the airport departure level.

Lin Yaoyao took out a thermal bag from the trunk, which contained freshly stewed white fungus and pear soup that morning, for her to drink on the plane.

"Auntie, it's windy here, let's go inside and talk."

Lin Yaoyao took out her boarding pass and itinerary from her bag and explained them one by one.

Zhao Xiulan took the canvas bag and bent down to squeeze Liu Meng's hand.

"Mengmeng, Mom is getting old, and I used to feel like I couldn't let go of things."

"Now your Uncle Jiang's case has been decided."

"Mom's biggest regret in this life has been made up for."

My only wish now is that you can find a good home and be happy.

Liu Meng nodded and reached out to hug her mother.

He buried his face in his mother's shoulder and didn't let go for a long time.

Zhao Xiulan gently patted her daughter's back and turned to walk towards the security checkpoint.

on the way back.

Lin Yaoyao gripped the steering wheel, looked straight ahead, and suddenly spoke.

"Sister Meng, there's something I need to tell you."

"What?"

"Yutong has already intercepted you."

Liu Meng turned her head and stared wide-eyed.

"Yutong? When did that happen?"

"Who knows!"

"My husband managed to win over Attorney Xia without anyone noticing."

"I managed to subdue him completely, just like during that business trip to Shanghai a while ago."

Lin Yaoyao turned the steering wheel, and the car turned onto the airport expressway.

"Qing Ning is a genius when it comes to assists."

"I dragged Yutong to Shanghai on a business trip, saying it was to review the contract terms, but when we arrived we found out that the hotel we booked was the presidential suite."

She also stuffed several pairs of black stockings into Yutong's hand.

"We've used it all up!"

Liu Meng asked in confusion, "Aren't stockings something we wear?"

"How did it become something you can use?"

Lin Yaoyao slammed on the foot brake, and the inertia caused both of them to lurch forward.

She turned her head to look at Liu Meng, staring at the other's sincere and innocent face for a long time.

Liu Meng blinked, completely bewildered as to what was wrong with the question she had just asked.

"Sister Meng, are you really not aware, or are you pretending not to know?"

The blank look on Liu Meng's face already gave the answer.

Lin Yaoyao restarted the engine and let out a long sigh.

She had been wondering why Qing Ning insisted on giving her open-face stockings.

What problems could there be if you choose a normal style?

Now, Lin Yaoyao has finally figured it out.

Qing Ning was probably forced into a corner by Xia Yutong.

To be best friends with these two clueless people, you have to resort to some underhanded tactics.

"Sister Meng, I'm worried for you!"

"You are so outstanding, beautiful, and a typical lady from a well-to-do family."

"It's one thing for Yutong to beat me to it; after all, she's an independent woman."

"They truly helped my husband win the case, I'm convinced!"

"The key question is, what are your plans next?"

"Do you expect to be ranked after Xiao Xiao and call her 'sister'?"

Liu Meng panicked: "Xiao Xiao too?"

Lin Yaoyao couldn't stand it any longer and reached out to flick Liu Meng's head.

"Have you forgotten what Xiao Xiao did at the hot spring resort?"

"He got her drunk, sneaked into Jiang Han's room in the middle of the night, and even wore my pajamas."

"If you hadn't caught her red-handed, this little girl would have succeeded already!"

"She never replies seriously when I send messages in the group chat; she always pretends to be dead when it comes to the crucial part."

Liu Meng lowered her head and placed her hands folded on her knees.

"I don't feel comfortable bringing this up myself; it's not my personality."

Lin Yaoyao's eyes darted around cleverly, and suddenly the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

"Don't worry, leave it to me."

"If Shen Qingning has the ability to get Xia Yutong into bed, so can I!"

Lin Yaoyao took Liu Meng home.

The car was parked downstairs but the engine was still running.

She gripped the steering wheel and suddenly said something.

"Sister Meng, do you know why Qing Ning was able to succeed?"

"Because she's brave!"

"She dared to push Yutong to Shanghai, dared to stuff stockings into her silk handbag, and dared to do everything you wouldn't want to do."

Lin Yaoyao turned to look at her.

"But I won't follow her example; I have my own way."

"Her approach was to push me away; my approach was to accompany me."

"Let me know when you're ready, and I'll go with you."

Liu Meng looked down at her hands resting on her knees.

Those hands had just gently patted her mother's shoulder.

Now they are crossed on her lap, her fingertips slightly curled.

"Okay, thank you, Yaoyao. I'll take care of things at the company once I've finished."

"No, we can't wait!" Lin Yaoyao quickly interrupted.

"Your mom's having a great time in Yunnan, and the vice president's keeping an eye on things at your company. What are you waiting for?"

"When your mother comes back and finds you still living in your own house, she'll ask you why you haven't moved into the villa yet."

"What will you say then? That you're embarrassed? That you're not prepared?"

"Sister Meng, remember what your aunt said! She wants you to be happy!"

Liu Meng was stumped by the question.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Lin Yaoyao turned off the engine.

The carriage quieted down, with only a very faint hum from the air conditioning vents.

Lin Yaoyao, half-reclining in the leather seat, suddenly spoke softly.

"Sister Meng, since you've already decided to come with us..."

Be brave!

"He's already at the villa, how much longer do you want him to wait?"

A moment later, Liu Meng unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door.

She stood outside the car, bent down, and said something to the car window.

"I'll go upstairs and pack a few clothes."

Lin Yaoyao restarted the engine and smiled at her reflection in the rearview mirror.

Qing Ning used stockings to win over Yu Tong; she only spent a few extra words with Liu Meng.

Their methods of helping each other will probably never be the same in this lifetime.

As long as the result is the same, it's fine.