National Tide 1980.

When faced with such a blow in life, most people will react in two completely different ways.

One type of person will give up on themselves and never recover.

Another type of person will grit their teeth and persevere, striving to improve themselves.

Xiao Tao has never been a coward.

Even when faced with the heart-wrenching ordeal of love, he would not complain or cling to fate.

He belongs to the latter group—daring to face reality, accept the outcome, and then grit his teeth and stand up again.

In order to get through this emotional ordeal and to minimize his pain, the only thing he could do was to devote all his energy to his work.

He managed the taxi company's operations, the Renhe vehicle factory's supervision, and the occasional miscellaneous tasks assigned by Ning Weimin with meticulous care and efficiency.

Even Luo Guangliang was surprised and curious about his sudden determination, saying, "What's wrong with you lately? It seems like you've suddenly settled down, matured, and become a grown man who can take on responsibilities on your own."

But only Xiao Tao himself knew that he was working so hard just to numb himself with busyness and escape the omnipresent and persistent longing.

Of course, Xiao Tao is not a saint.

Besides his tough exterior, he also harbored anger and resentment towards Sang Jing.

Perhaps it was because his love for Sang Jing had not completely disappeared, or perhaps it was because modern people's view of love emphasizes selfless devotion, that he could not truly hate Sang Jing.

The person he truly hated the most was Sang Jing's so-called best friend—Liu Mei.

Xiao Tao would remember until his death how arrogant Liu Mei always was in front of him, how much she looked down on him, and how she felt he was not good enough for Sang Jing.

He knew perfectly well that Liu Mei had been constantly instigating and whispering rumors behind his back, ultimately leading Sang Jing to make the decision to study abroad and completely distance herself from his culprit.

Xiao Tao believes that without Liu Mei, Sang Jing might not have been able to make up her mind to go to the United States.

So he hated Liu Mei to the core.

Honestly, if Liu Mei weren't a woman, given Xiao Tao's personality, she would definitely go to her door and give her a good beating to vent her anger.

But he couldn't do that, so he forced himself to hold back.

This wasn't just because the other person was a woman, but because he also knew that hitting someone wasn't a sign of skill, and he harbored a desire to be even more ruthless.

The more he is looked down upon, the more he is hurt emotionally, the more he must stand tall and live a dignified life.

He wanted to make something of himself, to achieve something significant, and to let everyone know that he was worthy of any good girl.

It was precisely because of this mindset that, although Xiao Tao couldn't bring himself to say something as childish as "Don't underestimate a young man's potential," his behavior changed considerably.

I've stopped playing billiards, mahjong, watching videos, and going to bars.

He was single-mindedly focused on expanding his business, especially since the taxi industry was booming at the time.

As a result, his business became more and more successful every day.

In the first half of 1991, the Dalu Taxi Company he managed became one of the fastest-growing taxi companies in the entire Beijing taxi industry.

Now the company owns more than 300 vehicles and has even established its own auto repair shop, earning 120,000 to 130,000 yuan a month just from vehicle sales.

His temperament and image also changed considerably because of this incident.

When I was dating Sang Jing, I always loved to wear flashy, trendy clothes.

Now he's too lazy to groom himself; his once meticulously styled hair has been replaced with a buzz cut, and he only wears work clothes and jeans.

Even his talkative and playful nature has changed. When he walks down the street, his eyes are colder and harder than usual, just like Ken Takakura from Japan.

As for Liu Mei, ever since Sang Jing went abroad, Xiao Tao's truest wish is probably never to see her again in this lifetime, let alone have any dealings with her.

However, he never expected that even God would not grant him this wish, which was filled with resentment.

Instead, as if deliberately trying to upset him, after the National Day holiday in 1991, his life was repeatedly and unexpectedly connected with Liu Mei.

Some of the things he saw even shook some of his deeply ingrained beliefs.

The first time was in mid-October one afternoon. Xiao Tao drove a Jetta to the Pierre Cardin Building to discuss logistics cooperation with Manager Sha. After the meeting, Manager Sha asked him to take two people to the Jingguang Center.

The car stopped at the entrance of Jingguang Center. After dropping off the person, he casually lit a cigarette and pondered whether to go to the Dalu Taxi Headquarters or take a stroll around Renhe Car Factory.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he stared intently at the two figures of a man and a woman walking towards the parking lot not far away.

Xiao Tao has sharp eyes and a good memory. Even from just a profile, he can recognize that the woman in the beige gauze dress with a tall and straight figure is Liu Mei.

This brat, although not a model, is still 1.7 meters tall, which is quite eye-catching.

It was a completely subconscious reaction; wanting to see what was going on, he started the car, turned into the parking area, and followed.

At that time, there weren't many cars in Beijing, so parking spaces weren't particularly scarce.

He easily found a good spot to park the car, leaned forward slightly, and locked his gaze on the figure.

It wasn't until Liu Mei stopped and walked towards a black Mercedes that he saw her more clearly—yes, it was Liu Mei, the woman who had belittled him and sowed discord between him and Sang Jing.

He pressed his lips together, looking coldly at the man walking with Liu Mei.

The man was about forty years old and was wearing a dark suit.

Although his collar and tie were tied meticulously and he wore a gleaming gold watch on his wrist, he was a bit overweight. His features were not ugly, but he had a distinctive bulbous nose, and his appearance was undoubtedly that of a southerner.

He reached out to open the car door for Liu Mei, speaking in a gentle tone while his gaze remained focused on her.

That composed demeanor further convinced Xiao Tao that he was most likely a businessman from Hong Kong or Taiwan.

With a perfectly measured smile on her face, Liu Mei raised her hand to smooth her hair and gracefully bent down to get into the car.

That gentle and warm smile was completely different from his usual scolding and disdainful demeanor towards him.

In Liu Mei's hand, she was also carrying a paper bag with the Pierre Cardin logo printed on it, which clearly contained things she had just bought from the store.

In Beijing, even those who know nothing about luxury goods know what the Pierre Cardin trademark means.

Therefore, no matter what's in the bag, Xiao Tao is certain it's valuable.

His gaze lingered on the paper bag for a moment, then swept over the two figures pressed tightly together. He instantly understood what was happening and couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"That Liu Mei, she acted all high and mighty in front of me when we were eating Western food, insisting on paying the bill. Turns out she's a two-faced person, a gold digger at heart. Of course, a Western meal costing a few dozen yuan can't compare to luxury goods worth thousands. Humph, you look down on us small business owners, but you're quite attentive to Hong Kongers, not even caring about their age. To put it bluntly, isn't it all just a desire for more money?"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Sang Jing's indifference, the betrayal of his sincerity, all the grievances and anger surged up at this moment through Liu Mei's figure.

In his eyes, Liu Mei was already guilty of instigating Sang Jing to go abroad, and now that she was hanging out with such an old man, it only confirmed his judgment—this girl was no good. Two-faced, vain at heart, yet feigning nobility. Don't be fooled by her sweet talk; she's no different from those gold diggers.

The other person probably has a wife and children too. How despicable is that person?
Sang Jing must have had terrible luck to have such a friend by her side.

Xiao Tao gritted her teeth and stubbed out the cigarette with her fingertips, her disgust growing even stronger.

He just wanted to watch this farce as quickly as possible and then drive away from this disgusting place.

He simply rolled down the car window a crack, his gaze fixed on the black Mercedes, wanting to see how long Liu Mei would keep up the act.

The man closed the car door, walked around to the driver's side and got in. The car didn't start immediately; instead, it stayed in place.

A few minutes later, through the half-lowered car window, Xiao Tao could vaguely see the man turn to the side, reach out to put his arm around Liu Mei's shoulder, his tone still gentle, as if he were saying something intimate. Just as she thought.

Xiao Tao's lips curled into a mocking smile, and she thought to herself—this Liu Mei, she really is a filthy bitch.

You can't keep up the act for long, you're about to be exposed.

At this moment, what Xiao Tao regretted most was that he didn't have a camera or film in his car.

Otherwise, he would have definitely taken pictures of the scene and then smashed them all in Liu Mei's face.

When that time comes, he'll see if she can still put on a show of "peacock display" in front of him.

But the next second, the scene inside the car stunned him.

Because Liu Mei, who was sitting in the car, suddenly turned her head away, avoiding the man's hand, and moved her body towards the car door. The faint smile on her face disappeared instantly, replaced by a sense of aloofness and impatience.

From a distance, she shook her head at the man, her lips moved as if to refuse something, her expression serious, without a trace of her previous gentleness.

Xiao Tao frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in her heart, but more than that, she felt disgust.

Holy crap, she's pretended again.

Keep pretending, keep pretending. You're quite adept at playing hard to get.

Thinking it over, he reached for the car key, ready to start the car and drive away, since there was nothing to see anyway.

Next, Liu Mei will simply pretend to be reserved, but in the end she will still compromise.

Then a pair of adulterers completed the exchange of money and youth.

Before he could even turn the key, the sounds of arguing could be faintly heard from inside the car. Although he couldn't make out the exact words, he could feel the atmosphere instantly become tense.

The man's face seemed to darken, and he reached out to grab Liu Mei's hand again, this time with a bit more force. Liu Mei's resistance grew even stronger; she raised her hand and shoved his arm away forcefully, her body taut and her face full of anger.

The two remained locked in a tense standoff in the car for a moment, their argument growing louder and louder, attracting the attention of several passersby in the parking lot.

Xiao Tao paused in his attempt to start the car, his doubts deepening, and he also developed a stronger desire to watch the spectacle.

It seems today's drama is more exciting than he expected.

He wanted to see just how Liu Mei's mask of feigned arrogance would be torn apart.

Immediately afterwards, the car door was pushed open with a "bang," and Liu Mei got out of the car angrily.

Her chest heaved slightly, clearly indicating that she was quite angry.

She first raised her hand to tidy up her disheveled off-white gauze dress and hair, then glared coldly at the man in the car.

She seemed to have been offended by the man in the car and wanted to yell at him, but she restrained herself.

He turned around and headed towards the parking lot exit, his posture still proud, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

Moreover, Xiao Tao noticed a crucial point: she no longer had the Pierre Cardin paper bag in her hand; she only had her own small white leather bag.

Seeing her like this, the man seemed unwilling to give up, and quickly opened the car door and chased after her.

He was carrying a paper bag with the Pierre Cardin logo on it.

The man quickly caught up with Liu Mei, reached out and grabbed her wrist, handed her the paper bag, and softened his tone, which carried a hint of coaxing.

This time, Xiao Tao vaguely heard it clearly, and he was right; the other person spoke with a strong Hong Kong accent.

"Miss Mei, don't be angry. It was my fault. I was too hasty and shouldn't have pressured you. Take this as an apology. We're still friends."

Xiao Tao sat in the car, leaning slightly forward, her eyes fixed on the two of them, her anticipation growing stronger.

See, this girl got her way after all.

Hong Kong cowards are stupid; they don't realize the other side is playing hard to get, waiting to take advantage of them.

Alright, Liu Mei, you should know when to stop. Hurry up and comfort her, then go and sleep with her quietly.

He even subconsciously unbuckled his seatbelt and placed his hand on the car door handle, waiting to see Liu Mei accept the things and beam with smugness, in order to verify his judgment.

But what happened next was completely beyond his expectations, leaving him frozen in place.

Liu Mei actually refused to accept it, as if she had truly been humiliated.

She forcefully shook off the Hong Kong businessman's hand, and then slapped him across the face, so hard that the man staggered.

She didn't even glance at the expensive Pierre Carton paper bag. Her eyes were sharp, her tone cold and laced with undisguised disgust as she growled at the man.

"What kind of people do you take us mainland girls for! I told you to get lost, didn't you understand? If you keep going like this, I'll call the police and have you arrested!"

After saying that, she cursed "you scoundrel" again, and then shoved the paper bag the man handed her hard.

The paper bag fell to the ground with a "thud".

Liu Mei didn't even glance at it, and turned around to walk quickly towards the parking lot exit.

His steps were hurried, yet his back remained straight, as if he were trying his best to maintain his pride, without the slightest trace of lingering attachment.

The Hong Kong businessman stood there, covering his face, his expression alternating between pale and flushed. He looked at the paper bag that had fallen to the ground, then at Liu Mei's departing figure, trembling with anger, yet utterly helpless.

He could only kick the car wheel in frustration before bending down to pick up the paper bag and reluctantly returning to his car.

Xiao Tao, who was in the car, was completely stunned.

He remained in the position of reaching for the car door, staring blankly at Liu Mei's departing figure. His mind was blank, and the disgust, mockery, and expectation he had felt earlier vanished instantly, as if extinguished by a bucket of cold water.

How could this be?
He clearly believed that Liu Mei's rejection was just an act, and that she became a flight attendant just to seduce wealthy overseas men.

Although the other party is a bit old, he is still a Hong Kong businessman.

She would definitely use this as an excuse to accept the Pierre Cardin gift, and would go along with the man's coaxing to get back into the car and continue to play the gentle and charming role.

But she didn't.

She rejected him so decisively and firmly, even going so far as to turn against him in public and abandon even expensive luxury items.

The hatred I felt for Liu Mei had subsided somewhat, as if it had been gently diluted by this unexpected scene.

Instead, he was filled with doubts, like a fog that lingered in his mind and wouldn't go away.

This woman doesn't seem to be what he thought, yet it's strange and contradictory.

She accompanied the man shopping and accepted the gifts he bought, yet she fiercely resisted when he tried to get close to her.

Did she come voluntarily? If she didn't want to, why didn't she come earlier?
Is she just vain and two-faced, or is there something else going on?
She looked down on him with such arrogance back then, and she tried so hard to persuade Sang Jing to go abroad. Could it really be just because she thought he was uncultured and simply felt that he was not good enough for Sang Jing?
Xiao Tao slowly withdrew her hand, leaned back in her seat, her brows furrowed, and her doubts deepened.

The woman he had previously labeled as "hypocritical and materialistic" suddenly seemed unfamiliar and uncertain to him.

He was no longer the absolute villain he had always thought of, one who only knew how to sow discord and harbor malicious intentions.

He couldn't help but wonder whether Liu Mei's righteous words when she got out of the car in a huff were a genuine expression of her feelings or just an act.
Is she still acting? (End of Chapter)