Rebirth: Daily Face Slaps - Chapter 47

The clock pointed to 558, and the office colleagues were quietly packing up, ready to clock out and leave as soon as the time hit.

At that moment, the phone on Lin Mengting’s desk rang.

“Someone’s looking for me?” Lin Mengting was surprised. She hadn’t made any appointments today! Even if a client showed up, they wouldn’t come without notice, especially right at dinner time.

While many thoughts ran through her mind, Lin Mengting maintained a faint smile on her face and said, “Please ask them to wait in the reception room. I’ll be right over.”

Hanging up, the clock struck exactly six.

Lin Mengting sighed inwardly; in both her past and present lives, she never liked working overtime!

…

“Sister Mei, why are you here?!”

Today, Qin Mei wore light makeup and a light blue embroidered dress, her slightly curled hair flowing down. Just sitting there casually, she exuded a charming aura.

“You didn’t come to see me, so I had to come see you!” Qin Mei’s eyes narrowed slightly, feigning casualness as she looked at Lin Mengting.

Compared to three months ago, when they last met, Lin Mengting had transformed from a black and ugly village girl to someone who now wore a white embroidered ruffle blouse, paired with a beige A-line skirt and white sandals, making her look refreshing and bright. Qin Mei couldn’t help but secretly praise what a beautiful office lady!

“They say ‘a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood,’ and now I truly understand the meaning of this saying!”

“Sister Mei, you’re too kind,” Lin Mengting said with a smile, not intending to argue with Qin Mei in the office. “Please sit for a moment while I finish up my work, then I’ll take you to the tea restaurant next to the company for a simple meal.”

“Go ahead!” Qin Mei waved her hand, smiling. “I’ll just flip through the newspapers and see what’s been happening lately.”

Her words carried a strong implication of “I’ve been so busy lately that I even had to change my habit of reading the daily newspapers and magazines. This shows how much effort I put into coming to see you after a three-hour ride from the suburbs to the city and finding your company.”

Lin Mengting “…” How could she have ever thought that Qin Mei, despite her selfishness, was still a trustworthy and dear neighborly sister in her past life?!

She wished she could go back in time and give her former self a good shake!

…

Qin Mei’s gaze lingered for a moment on the sign of “X Café,” and then she quickly looked away, sneering inwardly.

Unexpectedly, the wealthy Lin Mengting brought her long-unseen best friend to a tea restaurant where meals cost just over ten yuan!

It’s true what they say appearances can be deceiving!

Lin Mengting led Qin Mei to a quiet spot by the window and handed her the menu. “Sister Mei, you order.”

Even though Qin Mei was cunning and shrewd, the moment she saw the sign outside, the anger and resentment she felt were still clearly sensed by Lin Mengting.

In her past life, whenever Qin Mei came looking for her, Lin Mengting would spend lavishly, either treating her to meals or giving gifts. However, in this life…

Lin Mengting hid her sarcasm behind her teacup.

After being the fool for so many years in her past life, she hadn’t settled the score with Qin Mei. In this life, there was no way she would let Qin Mei have her way again!

“I haven’t been to a tea restaurant before, so I’ll just order a set meal,” Qin Mei said while quickly choosing the most expensive set meal—nearly 60 yuan, including a meal, a dish, and a double-boiled soup.

Lin Mengting, who had anticipated this, wasn’t surprised. She signaled the waiter and ordered her meal.

“Tingting, is that all you’re having for dinner?” Qin Mei asked, seeing that Lin Mengting ordered the cheapest 15-yuan set meal.

“You know, as women, we should treat ourselves well. Don’t skimp on food and drink! We can be frugal in everything, but we mustn’t compromise our health. Otherwise, you’ll regret it when you’re older!”

“Sister Mei, thank you for your kindness, but I prefer something light for dinner,” Lin Mengting replied with a smile. “Isn’t there a saying?—Breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a minister, and dinner like a beggar. That’s the real way to maintain health. Though I’m not an expert, I do understand this principle.”

“Tingting, that’s where you’re wrong,” Qin Mei shook her head. “For instance, this pigeon soup is very suitable for us hardworking girls. It has nourishing and beautifying effects.”

…

Just as Qin Mei was about to continue her “lesson,” showing off her superior knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine to make Lin Mengting realize the difference between a technical school graduate and a university graduate, a crisp ringtone sounded from Lin Mengting’s bag.

… What?!

Qin Mei’s eyes narrowed, and her gaze fixed on the white flip phone in Lin Mengting’s hand, her smile freezing.

In the year 2000, mobile phones were expensive, far beyond the reach of ordinary people!

Not to mention the double-sided charges from the mobile service providers and the astonishing rates for local and long-distance calls!

…

It was a sleek and compact Motorola V8088, a phone that was both light and easy to use, with a distinctive light alert feature for different callers and messages. It was also the first flip black-and-white screen phone Lin Mengting had bought after earning money in her past life.

…

After Lin Mengting hung up the call, Qin Mei managed to suppress her envy and jealousy, leaving only a trace of admiration. “Tingting, I didn’t expect you to be the first among us three to get a mobile phone.”

“I had no choice!” Lin Mengting shrugged, looking helpless. “You know, I’m in sales, always out meeting clients. To stay in touch, a mobile phone and a laptop are basic necessities! Right now, I can’t afford a laptop, so I had to settle for a mobile phone!”

Settle for a mobile phone?

How “wealthy” must one be to spend more than a month’s salary on a phone that would soon become obsolete, just to “settle for it”?

Qin Mei’s eyes flickered, her smile unchanged, and she said, “Can I take a look?”

She paused and, without waiting for a reply, added with a smile, “I’ve never seen a mobile phone up close. Thanks to you, I finally get to see and touch this new, expensive, and feature-rich phone!”

Since you’re so wealthy, surely breaking one or two phones wouldn’t matter, right?!