44. Chapter 44: Drowning Sorrows in Wine

Meng Zexiao sped away from the seaside villa at 180 miles per hour. While driving, he made a phone call (readers, please do not imitate this, or the police officers will track you down), summoning his group of freeloading friends to gather at Royal No. 1.

The so-called Royal No. 1 was the largest entertainment club in City B, a favorite gathering spot for high-society darlings to drink, sing, and carouse.

When Meng Zexiao arrived, some of his friends were already there.

In the most luxurious private suite of Royal No. 1, his friends watched as an enraged Meng Zexiao walked in, instinctively stepping aside to avoid becoming collateral damage.

Meng Zexiao tossed his car keys aside and flung himself onto the spacious, comfortable sofa in the suite. He tilted his head back as the dim, seductive lighting cast a glow upon his face, surrounded by lavish and alluring decor.

Yet, his gloomy expression felt entirely out of place amidst the singing, dancing, and merrymaking.

Upon seeing the arrival of Meng Zexiao, their financial god, the manager of Royal No. 1 led a group of beautiful hostesses into the private room just as he had done countless times before.

The beauties here had all undergone professional training. To work as a hostess here required not only good looks but also a higher education. Because the primary clientele of Royal No. 1 consisted of people from the upper-middle and upper classes, retaining such a demographic required putting genuine effort into recruiting hostesses.

A long-legged beauty took light, graceful steps over to sit beside Meng Zexiao.

Immediately following her, the manager walked up to the front of Meng Zexiao and said deferentially, "Welcome, Second Young Master Meng. I hope you and your friends have a wonderful evening."

Meng Zexiao frowned deeply as he looked at the beauty pressing against his side, then said coldly to the manager, "Get your people out of here, right now!"

Realizing the situation was turning south, the manager quickly gestured for his hostesses to retreat. Then, maintaining his obsequious tone, he said to Meng Zexiao, "Please just call if the Second Young Master needs anything else."

Meng Zexiao glanced at him sideways. "Bring the liquor!"

The manager nodded. "Right away, coming up!"

Meng Zexiao’s friends arrived at the private suite one after another, each keeping a respectful distance after seeing his expression.

Once everyone had arrived, Meng Zexiao spoke up, "Why are all of you sitting so far away? Get over here, every single one of you, and drink! Tonight, we drink until we drop!"

Finally, someone ventured to ask, "Second Young Master, what has happened to you? Who has the audacity to provoke you like this?"

Indeed, everyone yielded to him and feared him, yet that damned Kong Lingxin actually dared to push him away time and time again!

Meng Zexiao said impatiently, "Just drink! Where did all this nonsense come from?"

With a series of crisp popping sounds, all the bottles on the table were opened. Meng Zexiao drank simply for the sake of drinking, while the others drank merely to keep him company.

Meanwhile, Kong Lingxin sat all alone in the dining room eating her meal. She involuntarily glanced toward the seat where Meng Zexiao usually sat, wondering why her heart suddenly felt so hollow.

After finishing her meal, Kong Lingxin acted completely out of character by not heading straight upstairs. Instead, she sat in the living room for a long while. Watching the wall clock point toward nine o'clock, she could not help feeling a sense of dejection.

Housekeeper Qi, seeing right through Kong Lingxin's troubled mind, walked over to the living room and said, "Second Young Mistress, you should head back to your room to rest. The Second Young Master surely won't be back for quite a while."

Hearing Housekeeper Qi say this, Kong Lingxin's mood sank even further.

The roses Meng Zexiao had bought back had been placed in several vases by Kong Lingxin and Housekeeper Qi, with a large bouquet displayed right in the center of the living room.

After staring blankly at the flowers for a moment, Kong Lingxin said to Housekeeper Qi, "I'm going out to the courtyard for a stroll. Go ahead and take care of what you need to, and you can leave for the night once your shift is up."

The villa provided residential quarters for the domestic staff. Once their daily chores were done, they could retreat to their rooms to rest.

Housekeeper Qi watched Kong Lingxin's retreating figure, shook her head, and let out a soft sigh.

Just as Kong Lingxin stepped outside, the vintage telephone in the living room rang. Upon seeing the number on the caller ID, Housekeeper Qi knew it was Madam Meng calling to inquire about her son and daughter-in-law.

The phone rang several times before Housekeeper Qi picked it up, as she momentarily did not know how to explain the situation between the Second Young Master and the Second Young Mistress to Madam Meng.

The first thing Madam Meng said upon picking up the phone was a reprimand, "Why did it take you so long to answer?"

Housekeeper Qi quickly replied, "I'm sorry, Madam, just now I—"

Madam Meng had never liked listening to excuses and immediately cut Housekeeper Qi off, demanding, "How are the Second Young Master and his wife? Have they both come home?"

Housekeeper Qi answered truthfully, "The Second Young Master came back from work for a bit, and then drove out by himself again. The Second Young Mistress is currently taking a walk in the courtyard."

Madam Meng glanced at the time and frowned. "Taking a walk this late? The wind by the sea is quite chilly. Even though it has already been a month since her miscarriage, she still needs to be careful! She is young and lacks sense, so as the housekeeper, you should remind her from time to time."

Housekeeper Qi repeatedly agreed, "Yes, of course. As soon as I hang up the phone, I'll go outside and take a jacket to the Second Young Mistress."

Madam Meng asked again, "How has the Second Young Mistress's mood been lately? Have you noticed any abnormalities? Things like insomnia, unprovoked spells of giggling, or talking to herself?"

Housekeeper Qi thought for a moment and replied with certainty, "No, the Second Young Mistress hasn't shown any behavior like that."

Madam Meng breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed her daughter-in-law's temperament had merely changed, rather than her suffering from any mental or psychological issues—though professional doctors still recommended continued observation. Still, hearing Housekeeper Qi say this allowed Madam Meng to set her worried mind somewhat at ease.

Then Madam Meng continued, "How have the two of them been getting along lately? Has their relationship improved at all?"

Housekeeper Qi shook her head and said, "Not really, but you can tell that the Second Young Master is trying to find ways to mend their marital relationship. When he came home from work today, he specifically bought roses back, and the Second Young Mistress put them all in vases."

Madam Meng softly replied, "Is that so."

Housekeeper Qi said, "Yes, the Second Young Mistress even seemed quite fond of them. She accidentally pricked her finger on a thorn while arranging them, but she still insisted on finishing the arrangement herself."

Madam Meng let out an "oh" and asked, "Has Dr. Peng been coming over frequently lately?"

Housekeeper Qi replied, "She has visited. The day before yesterday, the Second Young Master ran a fever. Knowing that he refuses injections and medication, the Second Young Mistress stayed by his side and used physical cooling methods to bring his temperature down. Within a day the fever broke, and by the next day he went to work in high spirits. When Dr. Peng tried to come in at the time, the Second Young Mistress refused to let her. Dr. Peng has come twice, and the Second Young Mistress wouldn't let her past the front gates either."

Housekeeper Qi was not sure whether telling this would adversely affect the Second Young Mistress, but since Madam Meng asked, she had no choice but to report the truth. If Madam Meng discovered she had lied, not only would her own job be at risk, but the Second Young Mistress would not have an easy time of it either.

Hearing that Peng Nan had actually been turned away at the door by her daughter-in-law, Madam Meng felt a wave of secret delight.

She asked, "And the Second Young Master didn't object to the Second Young Mistress's decision to bar Dr. Peng?"

Housekeeper Qi said, "No, the Second Young Master was burning with such a high fever that he was delirious and smashing things; he certainly didn't have the energy to care about the Second Young Mistress locking Dr. Peng out."

A trace of a subtle, imperceptible smile crossed Madam Meng's face as she said, "Alright, I understand. By the way, next month is the Master's sixtieth birthday, and a grand banquet will be held at the old estate. We'll be short-handed then, so you'll need to send a few people over to help out. Pick a few smart and capable ones."

"Yes, Madam."

Housekeeper Qi breathed a sigh of relief that Madam Meng had not asked for minute details about the interactions between the Second Young Master and the Second Young Mistress, otherwise she would have had no choice but to confess the truth, which would undoubtedly have caused Madam Meng to blame the Second Young Mistress.

She had to admit, Housekeeper Qi actually rather liked the current Second Young Mistress.