"Sister Meng, what’s all this talk about repaying me?"

Jiang Xinghai was playing dumb. He waved his hand and said, "It was fate that we met. There’s no need to repay me."

As he spoke, he started to walk toward the living room.

But Meng Lihua wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

"I know I’m not a virgin and I have a daughter, but I swear, aside from Nini’s father three years ago, I haven’t been with any other man," Meng Lihua said, holding Jiang Xinghai tightly.

Jiang Xinghai gave an awkward smile. "Sister Meng, I’ve never looked down on you. I’m just trying to respect you, so don’t overthink it."

"When it comes down to it, you still look down on me, don’t you?" Meng Lihua didn’t let go. Instead, she pressed herself even tighter against Jiang Xinghai’s back.

"Sister Meng, Nini is still cultivating. Don’t be like this." Jiang Xinghai refused with his words, but a fire ignited within him.

After all, it was the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, a season when people wore very little clothing. The feeling of her pressed against him was truly indescribable.

"Are you worried I’ll cling to you?"

Suddenly, Meng Lihua let go and walked around to face Jiang Xinghai. "Don’t worry. I, Meng Lihua, am not that kind of woman. I just want to thank you properly. You saved my daughter, and you saved me. If I don’t repay you, may I be struck by lightning."

"Sister Meng, don’t you understand that great kindness needs no words of thanks?" Jiang Xinghai tactfully refused again.

Meng Lihua suddenly started wiping away tears. "You must think I’m dirty, don’t you? I know I’m not good enough for you. Don’t worry, I’ll try to stay away from you from now on, so you don’t hate me even more..."

"..."

Jiang Xinghai was speechless with embarrassment. ’How can this woman just start crying on a dime?’

"Sister Meng, you’re really overthinking this."

Jiang Xinghai picked up a tissue and handed it to her, trying to comfort her. "You need to be more confident. Just because you’ve had a family and a child doesn’t mean you should have low self-esteem. That’s a completely wrong way to think. Understand?"

"But why won’t you accept my repayment then?" Meng Lihua immediately asked.

"I don’t want to hurt you," Jiang Xinghai said in all seriousness.

"But I don’t feel like you’d be hurting me," Meng Lihua retorted.

Jiang Xinghai was once again speechless.

If Meng Lihua’s life hadn’t been so tragic, he certainly wouldn’t mind.

But this woman’s life was too bitter. She had just been harassed and frightened by that repressed pervert, and now he was supposed to sleep with her, with the excuse being just "repayment." He couldn’t get over that mental hurdle.

"Fine, I understand."

It seemed Meng Lihua had figured it out. She then silently walked toward the other bedroom.

Jiang Xinghai let out a long sigh and slowly lit a cigarette.

There were six cigarettes left in the pack. He planned to smoke them after returning to the Shen Family, and then quit.

How could he go back on his word to Shen Lingxue?

"Xinghai, hurry, there’s a cockroach!"

Suddenly, Meng Lihua’s terrified cry rang out.

Jiang Xinghai’s brow furrowed, and he rushed over without hesitation.

’I’ll definitely have to hold Ma Long accountable for this later.’

’He said he would pick out a good suite. How could there be cockroaches?’

The next moment, as he burst into Meng Lihua’s bedroom, he was stunned by the seductive scene before him.

Meng Lihua was completely naked, standing right there in front of him.

’It’s a trap!’

Jiang Xinghai instantly realized this was just a ruse Meng Lihua had used to lure him in.

"Xinghai, no matter what, I’m going to have you tonight."

Meng Lihua spread her arms and jumped onto Jiang Xinghai.

The mood had already been built up to this point.

If Jiang Xinghai continued to be coy, it would be simply outrageous.

「Half an hour later.」

The doorbell rang.

Outside the door, Ma Long had brought Lin Qingyuan and Xue Zhong over for a get-together.

"Why is there no answer?"

Ma Long actually had a spare key in his hand. He took it out and looked at the two older men. "Should we just let ourselves in?"

"Absurd!" Xue Zhong snatched the key away.

Ma Long was completely baffled. "Old Xue, what’s so absurd about it?"

"Yeah, Elder Xue, Ma has a spare key. We open the door and go in ourselves. What’s the absurdity in that?" Lin Qingyuan also looked confused.

Xue Zhong tilted his head back with the air of a profound master. "First of all, you said it yourself, this is a spare key. It’s only to be used in special circumstances. Is this a special circumstance?"

Ma Long and Lin Qingyuan shook their heads blankly.

"Second, Meng is a woman living here with her child. You’re just a friend. Is it polite for you to just open her door whenever you want? Doesn’t she deserve privacy?" Xue Zhong argued righteously.

"Uh..." Ma Long nodded repeatedly.

Lin Qingyuan nodded. "Elder Xue has a point."

"Finally, what if my master and Meng are... you know... in there? Do you think it’s appropriate for us to just barge in?" A knowing smile appeared on Xue Zhong’s face.

"Old Xue, you’ve really thought this through," Ma Long said, suddenly enlightened.

Xue Zhong gave a proud smile. "But of course. Otherwise, how could I have been accepted as Master’s disciple?"

However, Lin Qingyuan’s expression became a little awkward.

In his heart, he had always hoped that Jiang Xinghai would end up with his daughter, Lin Liping, or his granddaughter, Feng Lulu.

If he were to get together with Meng Lihua...