Rebirth: Daily Face Slaps - Chapter 56

Lin Mengting chuckled inwardly but didn’t show it on her face. She said calmly, “Mr. Qin, is there anything else?”

“Tingting?!” Qin Dong stumbled, clutching his chest with a hurt expression. “You still won’t forgive me? Well, considering how deeply I hurt you, it’s understandable that you still call me Mr. Qin instead of Brother Qin.”

Brother Qin?

More like Brother Emotional!

How shameless!

In both past and present lives, she always called him by his name!

For a moment, Lin Mengting didn’t know how to describe Qin Dong’s thick-skinned behavior. She simply frowned and said coldly, “Please be careful with your words, Mr. Qin.”

“Mr. Qin?”

Qin Dong forced a bitter smile. It was unclear whether he was intimidated by Lin Mengting’s stern demeanor or if he just didn’t want to anger her again. He stumbled into a chair, wiped his face, and tried to remain calm.

“Tingting, here’s the thing. My sister and I realize that our actions have troubled you, so we want to invite you to dinner as an apology. We don’t expect you to forgive us completely, but we hope we can still be friends.”

Even being just casual friends is better than being enemies. And being casual friends leaves room for future possibilities.

“Oh.” Lin Mengting responded noncommittally, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

To her, Qin Mei and Qin Dong were essentially strangers who didn’t deserve much effort.

If not for Qin Dong’s scheming and Qin Mei’s malice, she wouldn’t waste her time on these two.

In her previous life, she had already avenged herself adequately.

If, in this life, they had no ill intentions towards her, she could tolerate minor manipulations for mutual benefit.

After all, everyone uses and is used by others to some extent.

However, their repeated provocations made it impossible for her to feel any sympathy or pity for them.

…

At that moment, despite having lived through two lifetimes, Qin Dong’s inherently oblivious nature made him miss some subtleties.

But because Lin Mengting’s behavior seemed unfamiliar with future events, Qin Dong didn’t consider her a fellow reborn individual. He just thought her changes were due to the “butterfly effect” he caused.

Therefore, despite his efforts to be humble, he still exuded an air of superiority.

“You agreed?! In that case, ‘no time like the present.’ How about lunch at the nearby Fish Pond Restaurant?”

Though he phrased it as a question, it carried a hint of insistence.

“No.” This time, Lin Mengting finally looked at Qin Dong.

Given a choice, Qin Dong would rather she kept her eyes down. Her cold, indifferent stare was unsettling.

The feeling of being looked at but not truly seen was something Qin Dong thought only existed in novels and dramas. Experiencing it now made him feel utterly powerless and anxious.

Lin Mengting withdrew her gaze, picked up her bag, and left.

Qin Dong stood there for a long time, emerging from his nightmarish thoughts.

Then he looked at the empty classroom, his expression shifting between various emotions before sighing deeply “Lin Mengting, you chose this. Don’t blame me later!”

You refused my goodwill, so I’ll have to bring you down!

…

“Tingting, I knew I’d find you here!”

As Lin Mengting carried her meal tray to a window seat, someone tapped her from behind.

“Miss Qin.” Lin Mengting nodded at Qin Mei and started eating.

Qin Mei’s smile faded briefly, her expression darkening before she recovered and smiled again. “Mind if I sit here?”

“Please.” Lin Mengting didn’t look up, inwardly sneering. As if Qin Mei would leave if she said no!

“I know my brother and I have wronged you.” Qin Mei sighed, looking remorseful and pained.

“It’s laughable, but we didn’t realize our mistakes until my mom came to S City on a business trip and pointed them out. If she hadn’t, we might still be stuck in our bitterness and anger.”

Lin Mengting didn’t comment.

No one knew better than her that even if Qin Mei’s parents stayed in S City, it wouldn’t change the siblings’ minds.

Otherwise, why would there be the saying “a leopard can’t change its spots”?

Especially when Qin Dong, having lived two lives, was firmly set in his ways!

“Tingting, do you believe in ghosts and gods?” Qin Mei’s eyes briefly showed fear. “I used to think they were just tricks to deceive people.  But after what we’ve experienced, I believe there are things beyond our understanding.”

Qin Mei looked down, surprised at Lin Mengting’s lack of fear or curiosity, which was typical for someone her age.

She seemed like a seasoned, retired official!

No wonder her “monstrous” brother was so captivated by her!

“I didn’t want to tell you this. But I fear you’ll misunderstand us more if you hear it from others. The truth is, my brother and I changed because of these experiences.”