Chapter 146: Fighting for Pride Even at the Cost of Mutual Destruction

Despite Hua Mei’s outwardly cavalier attitude, she fell ill only a few days after returning to her parents' home. After all, it was a relationship spanning several years; if one could simply let go so easily, it would only prove that the entire time had been nothing more than a game, with neither party ever truly invested.

The Hua family was preoccupied with their business, leaving only the servants to look after her. When Xiaoxiao arrived for a visit, she found Hua Mei lying alone in a massage chair, drifting in and out of a feverish sleep. Apart from her figure, her entire demeanor reminded one of a languid, pampered cat, and the sight instantly made Xiaoxiao’s heart ache. Perhaps a match made between social equals does not guarantee a perfect ending; maybe it was precisely because Zeng Ziyu had grown so accustomed to the shared interests and upbringing of someone like Hua Mei that he took a sudden, whimsical fancy to falling in love with Nina, who hailed from a completely different world.

"Are you feeling any better?"

Hua Mei slowly lifted her eyelids, blinked gently, and managed a strained smile. "With all the tonics and supplements they feed me every day, how could I not be?"

Xiaoxiao nodded, though she had heard that some constitutions are too frail to handle such heavy nourishment. She kept this to herself, sensing that Hua Mei was likely well aware of it too.

"Why are you here today? Don’t you have to work?" Hua Mei propped herself up on the chair. As she stretched, Xiaoxiao couldn't help but fear that her fragile waist, which seemed slender enough to snap, might break in two.

"I took a day off. I heard you were ill, so I had to come see for myself. In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve rarely seen you sick. Call it curiosity or lack of experience, but I simply had to see you." Xiaoxiao suppressed her emotions to joke with her. Hua Mei gave a noncommittal, bitter smile and shook her head, calling for a servant to prepare tea and refreshments. "You must try the rose paste from the kitchen later," she said with a touch of pride. "It’s far better than anything you can buy outside. Take some home with you when you leave—there won't be many more opportunities for this kind of sickbed visit."

Xiaoxiao sniffled. "Deal. Who wouldn't want to eat and take gifts home? Tell them to pack plenty; I can use them to curry favor with others."

Halfway through their afternoon tea, Hua Mei seemed to deliberate for a long time before speaking. "Since you’re here, could I ask a favor? I left in such a rush that day that I left a piece of jewelry behind. It isn't particularly expensive, but it was a birthday gift from my mother, and it holds sentimental value. I can't just leave it there, but in my current state—I even left my keys behind when I moved out—would you mind retrieving it for me if you have the time?" She seemed to second-guess the request, adding, "If it’s inconvenient, never mind. He’ll return it to me when we sign the papers anyway."

"It’s fine, I have time," Xiaoxiao said, wiping crumbs from her lips. She hesitated, then asked, "Your parents must be furious, right?"

Hua Mei nodded; it was to be expected. When the marriage with the Zeng family was first arranged, and with the couple seemingly in love, the Hua family could not have imagined a more perfect outcome. Now that the younger generation was failing, the older generation could hardly be at ease.

"Do you know what my father is doing today?"

Xiaoxiao shook her head. Hua Mei sighed. "He’s gone to talk to the Zengs about how to split the assets from their joint ventures. They are determined to secure a substantial alimony settlement. If that fails, they are prepared to suffer mutual losses just to save face for me. But the Zeng family will accept the proposal."