Trust issues... That was one thing for sure. Bai Jingye only trusted her when she went too far on faking her miscarriage. In that way, she proved that she was someone he could trust.
"If he doesn't trust anyone so easily, why hasn't he fell in love with you yet?" It was just a question she asked out of curiosity. She found it hard to believe that a man and woman could remain friends for years without feelings growing between them.
"I told you, we're not interested. We know each other so much that it's getting annoying, really. We've been together since childhood, we don't want to spend the rest of our lives with each other. He's like a brother to me and I'm sure that I'm like a sister to him. A good sister."
"You really can't say that for sure. You're only saying that because he hasn't fallen in love with someone else. Who knows, you might end up realizing your real feelings if you see him getting lovey-dovey with another girl."
Tian Ruyi rolled her eyes as she continued to reject her words. "Why do you insist that we 'secretly' love each other? Men and women can be friends too. Just friends. If you still doubt us, then I can't do anything about it."
"So you really don't have feelings for him." Lu Mengjie sighed in disappointment.
"I swear."
At least in this way, Lu Mengjie won't have to fear for her life anymore, after all, a woman's jealousy was dangerous.
"Anyway, how did you meet him?" She asked yet another question that first popped out of her mind when she took a slice of apple.
"We studied in the same school during elementary. He was also my first friend."
As Lu Mengjie continued to learn more about Tian Ruyi, she soon discovered that she was actually the adoptive daughter of the famous retired actor, Tian Wen. After he lost his wife and daughter in an accident, he tried to commit suicide but failed since a seven-year-old beggar called for someone to rescue him. She was the last person he saw before he fainted but during that moment, he saw his wife and daughter through her, begging him to live.
After recovering, the first thing he did was to look for the beggar girl. He adopted her and raised her like his own daughter. As she grew up, Tian Ruyi never forgot where she came from. That was why she has always worked hard not to disappoint her adoptive father.
"Life has always been hard for me, even after I was adopted. My dad's family made things hard for me especially when they found out that I was going to inherit everything from him. People can be really greedy, some couldn't be content with what they already have." She smiled bitterly. "I don't care about the riches that I will inherit from my father but even if I say this, it doesn't mean that I won't need it. You will not be able to survive in this world without money. I learned this from childhood."
Tian Ruyi recalled the days when she begged for food for her dying sister but at that time, no one was kind enough to spare some for them. They had to rummage through the garbage just to look for food. It was the cruelness of this world that killed her sister. She knew that she was next but a miracle happened in her life. If not for Tian Wen, she would have long died because of starvation. That's why as she grew up, she didn't forget how to be kind to others. She didn't want to be blinded by the greediness around her. She was able to hone her survival skills in a way where she had set a rule for herself: she was not going to attack anyone unless they would strike her first.
"Be kind to those who are kind to you," she said. "Look at where it got me." She smiled proudly at her. She was an internet celebrity, an influencer with over three million fans on social networking platforms. "You need to learn how to survive and you won't be able to do that on your own. That's why as much as possible, I want to gain as many friends as I can."
"Is that why you asked me to be your ally?"
"Yes," Tian Ruyi answered honestly. "Jingye told me the possibility of you being a member of the Lu family. If I am given an opportunity to gain a friend from that family, I will not waste it."
Lu Mengjie placed her hand on her chest as she pouted and acted as if she was in pain. "So you befriended me all because of my background? I'm hurt."
A soft laugh escaped her lips. "Of course not!" She exclaimed in her defense. "I will still help you as long as I make sure that you will not be a threat to me."
"Good point." She couldn't really blame her, in fact, she agreed with her view on life.
"I have an old soul, I'm great at giving advice especially when it comes to love," she said, puffing out her chest proudly.
"Well they do say that the greatest relationship advice comes from single people," Lu Mengjie teased, a snicker playing on her lips.
Tian Ruyi's face instantly went red upon hearing what she said. "T-that's not true!"
"Then, are you in a relationship?"
"Uh…"
"Well?"
"No…"
"Will your advice for love be based on your experience?"
Tian Ruyi hesitated. She shyly looked away as she replied again, "No…"
"See?" Her smirk grew wider which made Tian Ruyi purse her lips and looked at Lu Mengjie with an embarrassed blush plastered on her cheeks.
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For some reason, the other woman found it amusing to tease her newfound friend. She liked Tian Ruyi even at first, she had a bad impression of her since she thought that she was a mistress. Although after learning more about her, it was not hard to like her.
"I think it's time that you give Bai Keran a call," said Tian Ruyi as she took the television remote from the side to lower down the volume.
"Maybe later. I don't want my mood to be spoiled just yet." She was enjoying the apples she sliced for her.
"Then how about we go out shopping? You've been locked here for weeks! I'm amazed by how much patience you have. I never thought that you are actually such an introvert!"
"I need to protect my growing child." Lu Mengjie gently placed her hand on her tummy, she could feel her baby bump since she was already almost four months pregnant.
It was not like she didn't want to go out, she just wanted to make sure that she would have a safe pregnancy. Her motherly instincts were taking control of her. She would usually go to the balcony whenever she wanted to breathe some fresh air.
Most may think that it was boring to stay at home the whole day or week but not for her. There were so many things she could do and one of them was to practice her cooking skills and create new recipes.
"If it was me, I wouldn't be able to tolerate staying at one place for so long." Tian Ruyi sighed rather exaggeratedly.
"That's why you keep going here and there always." Lu Mengjie chuckled.
"I'm known for traveling around. I actually wanted to include you in my videos but we're trying to keep you away from other people's eyes as much as possible since we don't want you to be recognized again. We don't know for sure if they are your friends or enemies, not until all your memories return."
"Am I complaining about it? No, right?" She also preferred keeping her identity for now. She didn't want to gain unwanted attention.
What if an enemy of her past suddenly took advantage of her situation and attacked her? She would definitely be at a disadvantage. She already changed her mind about visiting the boy named Lust. She feared that he might be a member of a criminal organization.
Tian Ruyi leaned just to hug her from the side, snapping her out of her thoughts when she whined, "Mengmeng, go out with meee. Let's go shopping together."
Lu Mengjie looked at her, raising a brow. She noticed that she had been clingy to her lately and it was becoming… annoying. She rudely pushed her away. "Now that I think about it, I don't like being hugged."
Tian Ruyi was about to open her mouth and retort but Lu Mengjie continued, "Get ready, we're going out." She stood up and began walking back to her room.
"Don't forget to wear a disguise!" Her friend reminded from the living room.
"I know."
…
At the mall…
Lu Mengjie followed Tian Ruyi to the department store. Unlike her friend, she was not interested in buying whatever captured her eyes. She would easily get tired so whenever the other woman would try out some dresses, she would patiently sit on the couch and wait.
"We should pass by the children's section."
"I don't know the gender of my baby," she replied while she was currently checking out the bag that Tian Ruyi was handed to her.
"Then we should pass by the hospital before we head home. We need to know if your baby's growing healthy after all."
"Alright." She gave a short reply while trying out the bag.
"You seem to like that bag, do you want to buy it?"
She slowly lifted her head just to look at her with a grin. "Will you buy it for me?"
Tian Ruyi rolled her eyes, retorting, "Of course. I'm basically your walking wallet right now."
"Walking wallet, that has a nice ring to it." Lu Mengjie grinned. "I think it's more of a compliment than an insult."
"I'll take it as a compliment then," she chuckled. "By the way, I'm going to the restroom, will you be fine on your own?"
Lu Mengjie huffed, "I'm not a kid."
"I know. I just want to make sure."
After Tian Ruyi left, Lu Mengjie continued to check on the bag. It was beautiful but she wanted to check out the others so she placed the bag down. Just then, as soon as she pivoted, she ended up bumping into someone, making her lose her balance.
"Ah-" Lu Mengjie internally panicked, she closed her eyes and subconsciously wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach as she braced herself for impact but it never came. Instead, the man she bumped into was now holding her by her waist.
"I'm sorry, are you…" the man paused, his eyes widening upon seeing her. "You…"
She slowly opened her eyes only to see another handsome Asian man. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of round sunglasses that mirrored the scene in front. He was emanating sexual duende that had her belly fluttered. He smelled perfectly divine. She felt her brain sort of fried right there and then.
"It's you…" His thick brows knitted slightly upon recognizing her.
"Me…?" She blinked a few times in confusion. No one should recognize her now since she was in a disguise. She was wearing a blonde wig and even had a bit of heavy makeup on.
He straightened his back, pulling her along, allowing her to regain her footing but he never released her waist. He took off his sunglasses, revealing his narrowed yet beautiful midnight eyes.
She couldn't help but be mesmerized by his deep eyes. They were dark like the starry night, with distinctive elegance looking at her with pure surprise.
"I finally found you…"
Upon hearing his words, it ended up triggering some of her memories.
"Y-you... Yong Liwei?"
The sudden surge of memories that entered her head was overwhelming that her head began aching.