Chapter 30: Forcing Her to Eat

Although it was only through threats that Meng Zexiao managed to get Kong Lingxin to sit down and eat with him, he was still in high spirits, finishing two bowls of rice in one go. After eating, he watched as Kong Lingxin took one grain of rice at a time to her mouth. Finally, she set down her bowl and chopsticks and declared, "I'm done!"

"That won't do," Meng Zexiao said. "If you don't finish the rice in your bowl, I'll dock the kitchen staff ten days' wages. It’s their fault for making food that isn't to your taste."

Having no interest in arguing with him further, Kong Lingxin picked up her bowl again and began feeding herself one mouthful at a time. While others ate to fill their stomachs, she ate purely out of spite.

Seeing her eat only the rice and ignore the side dishes, Meng Zexiao was dissatisfied once more. He cast a cold look at Sister Qi and the other servants and said, "The dishes you cooked today are terrible. Look at this—the Second Young Mistress won't even touch the food."

The servants dared not utter a sound, all looking toward Kong Lingxin. She shot Meng Zexiao a glare and asked, "Are you done playing games yet?"

Meng Zexiao lifted his chin and said, "Fine, dock their wages for a week."

Kong Lingxin glared at him again, picked up a piece of meat, and chewed it fiercely, imagining as she did so that it was Meng Zexiao’s flesh. Only then did she feel a sense of satisfaction. Seeing her finally eat the side dishes, Meng Zexiao flashed a satisfied smile.

Observing this young couple bickering, Sister Qi retrieved a glass of juice from the refrigerator for Meng Zexiao. "Second Young Master," she said, "thanks to the Second Young Mistress's dedicated care, your fever broke in just one day. If it were up to your usual habit of refusing injections and medicine, it would have taken at least three days for you to recover your strength. The Second Young Mistress used physical cooling methods to bring your fever down and even specifically instructed us to prepare this juice for you to replenish your vitamins."

Hearing this, Meng Zexiao was delighted; it seemed the exhaustion on her face was indeed because of him. Dropping his overbearing tone, he said softly to Kong Lingxin, "Thank you, my wife."

At the sound of him calling her "wife," Kong Lingxin felt a slight tremor in her heart. She looked up to see his eyes deep and dark, like a bottomless well. She did not respond, choosing instead to continue eating in silence. She had realized that there was no point in punishing herself for his mistakes; only by eating well and keeping her strength up would she have the energy to fight back.

Just then, a servant arrived to report, "Second Young Master, Second Young Mistress, Dr. Peng is here again. Should we let her in?"

What an act—she never misses a chance to stir up trouble!

***

Meng Zexiao looked at Kong Lingxin and asked, "Wife, do you think I'm already recovered and shouldn't let the doctor in to check on me anymore?"

He was ostensibly seeking her opinion, but in his heart, he did not welcome Peng Nan’s arrival either. However, he hoped to hear Kong Lingxin reject Peng Nan as she had the day before, as that would prove she was still jealous over him. But how could he ever fathom the workings of her mind?

Kong Lingxin raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to listen to me?"

Meng Zexiao nodded without hesitation. "Of course I'll listen to you!"

Kong Lingxin turned to the servant and said, "Let Dr. Peng in to properly examine the Second Young Master."

Meng Zexiao was stunned, instantly regretting his words. "No, this is one thing we can't listen to you on!"

Kong Lingxin scoffed. "So, the great Second Young Master of the Meng family is not a man of his word, but one who goes back on it!"

Meng Zexiao’s expression shifted uncertainly as he stared at her, but she ignored him completely, enjoying her meal and loudly praising the servants' cooking, even suggesting the Second Young Master should give them a raise.

Peng Nan rushed to Meng Zexiao’s side, asking with feigned concern, "Second Young Master, how is your arm? If the dressing isn't changed properly, it could easily get infected and leave a scar. Even if others don't have your best interests at heart, you should at least look out for yourself."

When she mentioned "others," she cast a provocative glance toward Kong Lingxin. Kong Lingxin did not disappoint her, putting on a show of annoyance as if she had tried to keep her out but failed. Seeing this look of frustration, Peng Nan was certain that it was Meng Zexiao who had insisted on letting her in despite Kong Lingxin's objections.

Peng Nan sat on a chair beside Meng Zexiao and said softly, "Second Young Master, come, let me check on your arm."

Meng Zexiao pulled his arm back and stood up. "I'm fine now. You can go."

Peng Nan’s hand remained suspended in the air, a look of deep embarrassment on her face.

***

Kong Lingxin, continuing to enjoy both her meal and the spectacle, felt her mood improve significantly. She said to Sister Qi, "This soup is delicious. Sister Qi, bring me another bowl."

Sister Qi played along, saying, "The Second Young Mistress has had a much better appetite since the Second Young Master started dining at home these past two days. This bone marrow soup is very nutritious; you should drink more, Second Young Mistress, to build up your strength and give the Meng family a grandson soon."

Had Sister Qi said this on her own, Kong Lingxin would have been offended, but with Peng Nan present, she didn't mind at all. Peng Nan glared at the servant—how dare a mere maid speak to her like that! Yet, in Sister Qi’s eyes, Peng Nan was no different from any other servant, just someone earning a wage from the Meng family, albeit with a higher degree.

Meng Zexiao walked back to the living room and began flipping through channels with the remote. Peng Nan hesitated, then walked from the dining room to the living room, standing a short distance away. "Second Young Master, I am merely fulfilling my duty as a family doctor. If you are going to be this uncooperative, I will have no choice but to inform Madam Meng. For the health of both you and the Second Young Mistress, I suggest she find you a different family doctor."

It was a tactic of feigning retreat to advance, a trick so transparent that even Kong Lingxin could see through it, let alone a man as shrewd as Meng Zexiao. But Meng Zexiao had his own plans; right now, Peng Nan was the only one who could stir Kong Lingxin’s jealousy, and he wasn't about to let that opportunity slip away.

A suffocating silence filled the room, with everyone waiting for the Second Young Master’s final verdict.

After a long while, Meng Zexiao finally spoke. "Dr. Peng’s work is important and she has always done a good job, but your services aren't needed for the time being; there is no need for you to resign. You may leave now; it will be hard to find a taxi if you stay any later."

His words were concise, but they conveyed several points: first, he would not let her resign, and the Meng family would continue to employ her. Second, she was not to come to the house for the time being. Third, he would not be sending a car to drive her home.

Peng Nan understood the subtext, and she was already satisfied with his response. She had originally intended to pressure Madam Meng if he had agreed to her resignation, forcing the elder woman to intervene. Having that step bypassed was, to Peng Nan, a pleasant surprise.

In the dining room, Kong Lingxin heard their conversation clearly. To her, it didn't matter if Peng Nan left or stayed. If she left, Kong Lingxin would find other ways to settle the score for her sister’s death; if she stayed, it would be much easier to deal with her.

Meng Zexiao looked toward Kong Lingxin, hoping to see jealousy, but instead, he found only a mocking glint in her eyes.