The sky was clear, and the scene outside the window was relaxing. Xia Manxi leaned back into her seat, adjusted her neck pillow and closed her eyes. It would be great if she was able to get some rest before they all arrived at their destination.
They were going to a shelter funded by the foundation to take a look at the girls over there. It was just to check on their living conditions, and there was also some kind of an event, at least from what she was told. She was attending the event as Liang Meirong's assistant, and with that title, she could hardly get out of it.
This time surprisingly, she truly wanted to attend, and was actually looking forward to it. It was mostly to listen to Madam Shen speak…but still…
It was going to be great.
Just as everyone settled down in the bus, she heard a familiar gentle voice right beside her.
"Hey, do you want some?"
Xia Manxi jolted, opening her eyes. When she turned, she saw Liang Meirong, who had a gentle smile on her lips. There was an open box in her hands, containing buns.
"Oh no thanks, you should enjoy them, they look delicious."
Liang Meirong pouted, looking especially charming. "Just take one, help me save face."
Xia Manxi nodded slowly, taking one of the buns from the box. When she bit into it, Liang Meirong smiled happily. She made herself comfortable then took a bite of a bun as well.
"You know, I don't know you all that well even though we have been working together for quite some time."
Xia Manxi paused her chewing motion, then forced a smile on her lips. "I'm not that interesting of a person."
Liang Meirong rolled her eyes. "You're really pretty and smart, many people at work don't dare approach you because of your stoic expression. Gee, people are even beginning to call you an ice queen."
Xia Manxi choked with an incredulous expression on her face. "Wait what? I was just minding my business, where did that come from?"
"You barely speak to anyone outside of work, and you have managed to make the younger employees nervous around you, the intern. You are pretty interesting."
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Why not? Aunty Shen really likes you because of that."
Xia Manxi perked up at that. "Really? That's great."
Liang Meirong nodded excitedly. "She thinks you are going places, so can I be a shameless leach and ask to be your friend? So when you become powerful, I can say I know you."
Xia Manxi saw no problem with that, but she decided to mess with Liang Meirong. She maintained a neutral expression, then sighed.
"You are a really great person, I won't lie, but-
"But what?" Liang Meirong asked anxiously.
"I also want to be friends with you too." Xia Manxi said with a wide smile.
Liang Meirong pouted, then hit Xia Manxi's shoulder. Xia Manxi winced slightly. Liang Meirong was stronger than she made herself appear.
"Great! Now have more of my buns in celebration!"
Xia Manxi nodded with a smile. "Okay."
Xia Manxi looked at Liang Meirong who was happily chewing on her buns. She had the air of a sheltered young lady, and looked friendly and naïve. Xia Manxi however did not want to believe that it was her true nature just yet. She did not believe that Liang Meirong was a bad person, but she did not think she was a simple one either. She had to be careful of her behaviour around her, no matter how friendly she seemed.
Liang Meirong was after all betrothed to the heir of the Long family, she could not be that simple of a person.
"It's great that you are not as inhospitable as everyone was saying. I really wanted to sit in the bus, but Sun Lanshan chose to follow Aunty Shen in her car. I would have been all alone here. After all, I can't talk to the other employees the way I can with you. They treat me like a royal princess, it's so uncomfortable."
Xia Manxi bowed respectfully with her hands clasped together in reverence. "It is an honour to be of use to you, your highness."
Liang Meirong side eyed her for a few seconds, flicked her forehead. Xia Manxi's eyes stung from the impact, and her eyes watered.
"Ow…"
"Serves you right."
Xia Manxi was only trying to mess around a little. Did she have to use all her strength like that? Xia Manxi looked at Liang Meirong's smug side profile and could not help the smile that formed at the corner of her lips. She had to admit that Liang Meirong knew how to make people lower their guard around her.
That meant that she still had to keep an eye out for herself.
Xia Manxi grew up in the Chen family, and almost became the matriarch, no matter how much she was rejected. She could never afford the luxury that was completely trusting anyone. She still did, trusting Chen Minghao completely.
That was still a mistake. Her heart was still crushed into a million pieces.
It was silent between them for a few moments. Liang Meirong offered her the box before she could sink further into her thoughts. Somehow, there was only one sweet bun left. Xia Manxi smiled and took the last one out.
"What are you looking forward to most for the event?" Ling Meirong asked.
Xia Manxi shrugged. "I have seen a lot of Madam Shen's recorded speeches. This is the first one I will be at personally."
"Why do you like her so much?"
"She is almost like a historical figure in the university. She was a well-known professor, and I am not that special when it comes to people who look up to her."
Liang Meirong tapped her chin in thought. "Well I am really looking forward to hearing Sun Lanshan speak. She is so strong, I don't think I can be as strong as she has been so far."
Xia Manxi did not want to speak about Sun Lanshan. Ever since their last conversation, they both steered clear of each other. There were times where she was clearly being passive aggressive, but Xia Manxi did not particularly care about her.
Xia Manxi was stuck on how to respond without sounding curt. That did not last long though. Liang Meirong sighed, and her expression became complicated.
"I feel like I did not do enough for her. She suffered so much, maybe if we had not been friends in the first place-"
Xia Manxi gingerly placed her hand on Liang Meirong's shoulder. "Calm down, there was no way you could have fully known. You said she was strong, she has come out of whatever it is, has she not?"
Liang Meirong nodded and gave a pale smile.
"She has, and I am sure when you listen to her talk, you would agree that she is a great woman."
Xia Manxi nodded with a smile, but in her heart, there was doubt.
There was no way she would ever like someone like Sun Lanshan.