A familiar excuse. Meng Shang began to wonder what kind of place Gangcheng was—everyone who came back from there seemed to be able to drink like fish.
Meng Shang sighed. "Speaking of changes, you're the one who's changed more."
"Before, you couldn't keep a worry overnight. You'd come running to my house in the middle of the night, lie on my bed, and spill everything, even your mom's bank deposit passwords. Now, when something's bothering you, you just lower your head and drink, pretending everything's fine."
Meng Shang and Su Yansheng had grown up together. Meng Shang's grandmother was next-door neighbors with Su Yansheng's parents. The two kids were close in age, and in the countless days and nights in the old public housing, Su Yansheng was always by the quiet Meng Shang's side.
Until later, when they graduated and went their separate ways.
And the experiences after leaving school were what truly changed a person. From the last wedding in Gangcheng, Meng Shang could clearly feel the change in Su Yansheng—he had become... smooth, shrewd, and worldly.
It wasn't necessarily a bad change, but the image of being obviously mature and steady made Meng Shang feel dazed, wondering if the person in front of him was still his carefree childhood friend.
Su Yansheng was stunned by the words. He held the sake cup, rubbing his thumb against the smooth edge, as if reminiscing about carefree teenage days.
After a moment, he raised his cup and drained it again, exhaling. His tone grew more emotional. "Yeah, people have to grow up. We gain the freedom we didn't have as kids, only to be constrained by our environment again. We encounter more troubles, and we have to solve them all on our own."
"Maybe that's the price of growing up. All we can do is adapt; we can't escape. Look, it's been years since we last sat down and had a good drink like this."
Su Yansheng's attitude clearly showed he didn't want to talk about it. Meng Shang tactfully didn't press, just picked up his glass and clinked it against Su Yansheng's sake cup. "Yeah, it's the same for everyone."
With that, Su Yansheng's spirits actually lifted. He stared at Meng Shang's expressionless face and gossiped, "Speaking of which, what's the deal between you and Seven?"
"Let me preface this: back then, when I asked you to take care of Seven, it was to complete a task my wife gave me. I thought an old bachelor like you wouldn't go for Seven's type. Who knew you'd actually go and get a marriage certificate with her?"
"Brother Meng, let me interview you. What were you thinking? Was it related to Grandma's illness? But even if you were in a hurry, why did you pick her..."
"What do you mean?" Meng Shang's voice deepened, a hint of displeasure.
Su Yansheng observed his reaction and shook his head. He couldn't say any more—with that protective attitude, Meng Shang was bound to be 'played' by Jiang Ruoqi in the future.
"I have no problem with her personally. She's a sharp and straightforward girl. But her family situation is too complicated—biological father, stepmother, and a stepbrother. Don't be fooled by her being in Xinhai now; where she'll end up settling is hard to say."
"Also, I heard that before she was sent back to Xinhai, her father was arranging a marriage alliance for her. Let's be blunt: Seven has no hand in her family's company operations. So who ultimately benefits from the marriage alliance?"
Su Yansheng deliberately dragged it out, wanting Meng Shang to guess boldly. But when Meng Shang looked up at him coldly, he immediately behaved.
"Of course, it's her stepbrother, who's studying in the US and has no blood relation to her. In the Gangcheng circle, her father's remarriage was essentially marrying into a wealthy family. Not only does he not get a share from the Chen family, but even his own assets—ninety-nine percent won't fall into his biological daughter's hands."
"So Brother Meng, you need to see clearly. Marrying her means taking a hot potato. You're helping her, not the other way around. Understand?"
Meng Shang was aware of Jiang Ruoqi's family structure. But at the time, she only said she needed a marriage to break a deadlock. She never mentioned that what she had to face in Gangcheng was being schemed against and betrayed by her own family.
He hadn't felt it before. Her behavior and attitude never made her seem like the weaker party. But now, with Su Yansheng laying out the inside story, it only made him feel sorry for her.
Meng Shang lowered his eyes, his expression serious, and checked the time. It wasn't even nine yet. He wondered if it was too early to send a message asking when she'd be done.
"Bro, are you listening to me?" Su Yansheng saw Meng Shang spacing out and tapped the table with his sake cup to bring him back.
"I heard you." Meng Shang looked up, staring at Su Yansheng who was waiting for an answer, and said calmly, "When you go back to Hangxiang the day after tomorrow, if you see my parents, remember to call her 'sister-in-law' in front of them. Don't slip up."
Su Yansheng: ???
He had been so earnest, saying all that, and this was what he got?
Su Yansheng's eyes twitched. After confirming multiple times that the person sitting across from him was indeed his Brother Meng, he couldn't help but wonder how Jiang Ruoqi, in just a month or two, had managed to turn Director Meng, who was devoted to his medical career and emotionless, into such a lovesick fool.
Hard to figure out. Couldn't think of it.
But her aesthetic... had always been the type like Meng Shang.
Su Yansheng, utterly confused, went to pour more sake, but the small flask was already empty after his repeated refills.
It was still early. He wanted to call the waiter to add two more flasks, when he suddenly heard Meng Shang ask again, "How long do their gatherings usually last? When should we go pick them up?"
Su Yansheng was speechless.
Indeed, quiet people are generally secretly passionate; it just takes the right person to reveal their true nature.
So Meng Shang was actually this kind of lovesick fool?