Chapter 2157: Just Colleagues

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Third Sister-in-law, please save me. Tell me what you have in mind,” Meng Yuan said.

“The first way is to find a girlfriend immediately and get engaged quickly. This way, everyone will know that all this is just a misunderstanding,” Qiao Mei said.

Meng Yuan immediately stood up agitatedly and said, “This definitely won’t do! I must be a trustworthy person and act responsibly towards my future partner. How can I gamble with a girl’s life? We can’t do it this way!”

Xia Wen grabbed Meng Yuan’s arm and said, “Sit down. Your third sister-in-law hasn’t finished talking yet.”

Meng Yuan lowered his head and sat obediently in his seat. Qiao Mei continued, “Meng Yuan has already rejected that girl in private many times. If we reject her openly, it will be disadvantageous to us. What if there are people who say that Meng Yuan wants to abandon her after playing around with her feelings? It doesn’t cost a single cent to spread rumors, but it takes backbreaking efforts to refute them.”

“Then what should we do?” Xia You asked.

Qiao Mei looked at Xu Lan and then at Meng Yuan and asked, “Meng Yuan, when you want to get married in the future, will you ask my mother-in-law for approval first?”

“Yes. I don’t have any other relatives left. After my parents passed away, my relatives avoided me like the plague. I don’t have any relationship with them anymore. Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt-in-law are my family elders now, so I definitely need to seek their approval for such an important matter like marriage ,” Meng Yuan said firmly.

Everyone present nodded in satisfaction. Qiao Mei smiled and said, “Then the solution is simple. Mother, you can just find some time to go to Meng Yuan’s workplace and announce that you don’t like that girl. That the girl’s family background is not a match for us. This will settle everything.”

Qiao Mei was very confident that this excuse was foolproof. In the entire capital, there was no family that could match up to the Xia family at all. Even the He family was not on par with them.

In every prominent family, there would always be a few prodigal children or mediocre descendants. However, the Xia family’s eldest branch was different. Their family members were all thriving and every one of them was an outstanding talent who shone brightly in their respective fields. All of them contributed fully to the country and the government. This was something that no prominent family could match up to.

“No problem! I’m the best at dealing with such people! Leave it to me!” Xu Lan said.

Early the next morning, Xu Lan put on the light blue dress which Qiao Mei had made for her and wore all her precious jewelry. She was dressed up to the nines and looked very elegant.

Qiao Mei also dressed up very nicely and drove Xu Lan to the Education Bureau. It was lunchtime by now and everyone was having their meals in the canteen.

Qiao Mei and Xu Lan immediately spotted Meng Yuan sitting with a girl. Meng Yuan had his head lowered and was eating sulkily while the girl sat opposite him and talked non-stop. Anyone who took a quick glance would think that the two of them were a well-matched couple.

“That girl is the person Xia You mentioned?” Xu Lan asked with a frown.

“Yes, I’ve asked around. Her name is Xu Chun,” Qiao Mei said.

Xu Chun was indeed beautiful, but Xu Lan had Qiao Mei by her side every day. Even if there was a girl who was as beautiful as a fairy in front of her, she would still feel that the girl was ordinary-looking. She had never met a girl who was prettier than Qiao Mei.

“Xiao Yuan, I see you’re having lunch,” Xu Lan said to Meng Yuan with a smile.

“Fourth Aunt-in-law, you’re here. Come and take a seat. Have you eaten? I’ll go and get food for you,” Meng Yuan said happily.

The moment the two women sat down, Xu Chun stood up and said, “Let me go and get food. There’s braised fish today. I’ll go and get some for Auntie to try!”

Qiao Mei and Xu Lan were shocked. Xu Lan was very picky when it came to food and her favorite food was braised fish. Meng Yuan had always kept his relationship with the Xia family a secret. How did this girl know what Xu Lan liked to eat?

“She must have found out all the details about Meng Yuan’s family background,” Qiao Mei whispered confidently.

Xu Lan looked at Xu Chun’s departing figure and said loudly, “Xiao Yuan, who is that girl?”

“A colleague,” Meng Yuan replied truthfully.

This was undoubtedly a slap on Xu Chun’s face. Previously, Xu Chun had told everyone that she and Meng Yuan were engaged and that they had already met each other’s family. Meng Yuan’s parents had passed away and the people sitting here were Meng Yuan’s relatives. If Xu Lan said that she did not know who Xu Chun was, then it would appear that Xu Chun was lying!

Xu Chun stood in line at the counter with the tray in her hands. She did not dare to turn around to look at everyone’s expressions. She was too ashamed to stay here any longer!

Xu Lan looked at Meng Yuan and continued saying loudly, “Xiao Yuan! You’re not young anymore. Your parents have entrusted you to me, so you’re like a son to me. I’m worried about you still being single. When you have time, I’ll arrange a few blind dates for you. If you like any of the girls, then you should get married soon.”