Returning home, Meng Ning found her mother already asleep and moved quietly, afraid to wake her. That night, Meng Ning couldn't sleep and only managed to doze off as dawn approached. Her body clock was precise; even if she slept late, she always woke up at 7 a.m.
She got up to prepare breakfast for her mother and then headed out. She needed to take her car to the repair shop; she would need it later for her evening stall at the market. After dropping off her car at the repair shop, Meng Ning realized she still needed to go to the market to buy supplies and would need a car. So, she called her close friend Qin Huan.
After the call, Meng Ning waited by the roadside near the repair shop. About half an hour later, a red BMW pulled up beside her, and Qin Huan waved at her. "Meng Ning, get in."
Meng Ning smiled and got into the car, fastening her seatbelt. Qin Huan knew where she needed to go and headed straight for the market.
Qin Huan remarked, "You should have gotten rid of that old second-hand car long ago. Why bother repairing it? Listen to me, get a new one."
"It's easier said than done. I don't have the money to buy a new car," Meng Ning replied with a smile. "It's okay, a little repair keeps it running."
They had known each other since high school, a friendship of over a decade. Qin Huan ran a successful beauty salon, and over the years, Meng Ning had often relied on her, feeling deeply grateful.
"Meng Ning, why do you have to work so hard? With your talent, it's beneath you to be selling at the night market. Back in school, you were our class's top student and beauty queen. If not for that incident, you..."
Qin Huan suddenly caught herself before saying too much, glancing at Meng Ning's reaction and quickly changing the subject with a smile. "You're still young. I won't introduce you to anyone, but seriously, are you going to be an old spinster forever? It's been so many years, and you still haven't forgotten Gu Changming. I heard he returned to the country, opened a law firm, and is still single. If you really can't let go, sister will help you pursue him."
At the mention of Gu Changming's name, Meng Ning felt a faint, indifferent feeling in her heart. Some memories automatically surfaced in her mind but quickly became blurred.
So, time really does fade memories.
Meng Ning shook her head. "Huan Huan, I know you mean well, but there's no need. I've actually let go of that."
"If you've let go, why haven't you found a boyfriend? Auntie said she introduced several guys to you, but you turned them all down..."
Qin Huan's mouth was like a machine gun, once it started, it wouldn't stop.
Meng Ning gently interrupted her, "Huan Huan, I'm married."
"Married? So what? I told you that you should take this step..." Suddenly, Qin Huan reacted, looking at Meng Ning in surprise. "What did you just say? Married? You don't even have a boyfriend. Where did you find someone to marry? Did you pick someone randomly off the street?"
It was too surreal.
Upon hearing Meng Ning's news of marriage, it was more shocking than the sun rising from the west. Meng Ning chuckled at Qin Huan's reaction and said, "Yeah, I got married. It's not like I randomly picked someone off the street. My mom found him for me on a matchmaking website, and we've already registered our marriage."
"You're rushing into marriage," Qin Huan exclaimed, braking abruptly and pulling over to the side of the road. Such explosive news required thorough interrogation.
Qin Huan dragged Meng Ning into a nearby beverage shop and took on a questioning stance. "Confess everything from leniency to resistance. Tell me, who is this man?"
Meng Ning couldn't help laughing and said, "His name is Fu Tingxiu. He works at Shengyu Group, a local guy, thirty years old, orphaned..."
She briefly recounted what she knew about him.
Seeing Meng Ning's detailed account, Qin Huan had to believe her.
"Fu Tingxiu?" Qin Huan felt like she had heard that name somewhere before, vaguely familiar. The Qin family was also not well-connected in high society circles. Different circles meant disconnected information. As the president of Shengyu Group, Fu Tingxiu was usually low-key, never gave interviews, and never appeared on television.
Qin Huan felt a bit familiar but didn't dwell on it. Meng Ning said, "Yeah, when we have time, I'll bring him over for you to meet."
"Meet? Of course we'll meet. He married my best friend, so I have to meet him," Qin Huan said. "But now, the most important thing is, does he have a house? How much does he earn? Will he contribute his salary after marriage? When are you planning the wedding? How much is the bride price..."
Qin Huan fired off a barrage of practical and down-to-earth questions.
Meng Ning shook her head. "I didn't ask about his income. He doesn't own a house but has a car. I have my own income and can support myself. He doesn't need to contribute his salary. As for the wedding, it's just a formality. It's not necessary. We're planning to live together and split expenses equally in the future."
Qin Huan was shocked: "Meng Ning, have you lost your mind? You're giving up everything and getting married. No house, you'll have it even harder in the future. How will you manage child education without a house? What's the point of the car, it's not worth much. And splitting expenses equally, can you really split everything, even raising children?"