Chapter 3 The Appearance of Sofía

The atmosphere in Jian Wei's apartment was thick. Mei Ling felt like the air was heavy, as if every word Jian Wei spoke, every explanation, increased the pressure in her chest. Despite the sincerity he had tried to convey, something still didn't fit in her mind. There was something else he wasn't telling her.

"How can you be so sure she doesn't mean anything to you?" Mei Ling asked with a sigh, her voice full of frustration and a trace of doubt.

Jian Wei ran his hand through his hair, searching for the right words to express himself.

"I swear to you, Mei Ling. Nothing else happened between us," his tone was firm, but his gaze showed that, even he, wasn't completely sure how to convince her.

The conversation had been going in circles for hours. None of Jian Wei's words were able to dissipate the doubts in Mei Ling's mind. What if there was really something more between them? What if Sofía was lying to tear them apart?

In the middle of the tense silence that had settled between them, the sound of a phone interrupted the stillness. Jian Wei's phone.

Mei Ling stared at it, watching how his face tensed when he saw the name on the screen. Sofía. The woman who had left him breathless by sending him that package. The woman who had put everything he thought he knew in jeopardy.

"Aren't you going to answer?" Mei Ling asked, her voice laced with challenge as she narrowed her eyes.

Jian Wei hesitated, but in the end, he picked up the phone with a tense expression. He knew it was inevitable. Answering the call meant taking a step toward the truth, but it could also make things worse.

"Don't worry, Mei Ling. I have nothing to hide," he said, trying to sound calm, but the worry was evident in his voice.

"Put it on speaker!" Mei Ling demanded immediately, crossing her arms. She wasn't going to let Jian Wei try to hide anything more.

With a sigh, Jian Wei complied and activated the speakerphone, feeling the pressure of the situation. The tone of the call shifted immediately. Sofía's voice echoed through the speaker, clear and confident, as if she were in her own home.

"Hello, Jian Wei!" her voice was soft, melodic, and at the same time warm and familiar. "I was waiting for your call, did you get my package?"

Mei Ling tensed instantly. That voice. The tone so relaxed, so close. How could she speak to him like that? What was the truth? Her anger surged again like a tidal wave.

Jian Wei rubbed his forehead as if trying to calm himself before speaking.

"Sofía... yes, the package arrived," he replied, trying to sound indifferent, but the discomfort was palpable. "Mei Ling and I are talking about all of this."

Sofía's response came quickly, almost as if she were enjoying the situation.

"Ah, sure, sure. I totally understand," Sofía let out a small laugh, as if what she was saying was a joke. "Can't talk? I just wanted to send you something to remind you of the good times, you know? Like we used to..."

Mei Ling gritted her teeth. What did she mean by "the good times"? Every word from Sofía seemed like another nail in the coffin of her trust. Why did she have to be so charming, so confident?

"You know what, Sofía?" Mei Ling couldn't take it anymore, and almost without thinking, she interrupted the conversation. Her voice, filled with fury, cut through the air like a dagger. "What do you think this is? Why are you playing with Jian Wei's emotions? Why do you keep interfering in our lives?"

Sofía, on the other end of the line, didn't seem surprised at all. On the contrary. Her tone remained calm, as if she had expected this type of confrontation.

"Mei Ling, darling, I'm not playing with anyone," Sofía said sweetly, as if calming a child. "I'm just being kind, sending a little reminder of everything I lived with Jian Wei. You don't have to worry, there's nothing between us."

Mei Ling felt a knot in her stomach. How could she be so... charming? Her words sounded so sincere, but something in her tone was excessively self-assured.

"That's what you say, but..." Mei Ling took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Then why do you insist on doing all this, Sofía? Why can't you let Jian Wei move on with his life?"

Sofía's voice grew even softer, as if she were playing with Mei Ling's nerves.

"Oh, darling, don't worry. Jian Wei will always be a special part of my life, and from time to time, I like to remind him of how great we had it together," The certainty in her voice was unsettling. "It's nothing personal."

That's what triggered Mei Ling's fury.

"No!" she shouted, hate and desperation reflected in her gaze. "You're making all this up! You're the one trying to tear us apart!"

Sofía's laugh echoed on the other end of the line, soft and full of satisfaction. She seemed to be enjoying every word Mei Ling said.

"Mei Ling, darling, if you want to live in the lie, that's fine. But you can't stop what happened in the past from being part of our story," The coldness in her tone became evident. "Jian Wei and I shared things that you'll never understand."

Mei Ling gritted her teeth, her heart pounding. Every word from Sofía was tearing her apart even more, but something inside her told her that something wasn't right.

"Jian Wei..." she said, her voice trembling, looking at the man beside her. "Tell me it's not true. Tell me there's nothing between you two."

Jian Wei, looking at Mei Ling, opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, Sofía intervened again.

"Jian Wei, you know you can always count on me for anything you need," Sofía's voice softened, almost possessive. "And if you ever feel lonely, I'll be here. Don't forget that."

Mei Ling felt her hands start to shake. The sound of the call hanging in the air was unbearable. Why couldn't Sofía disappear from their lives?

Finally, Jian Wei ended the call with a sharp gesture, but the damage had already been done. The atmosphere between them was heavier than ever. The silence was filled with doubts and fear.

"I don't want her to get involved in our lives again, Jian Wei," Mei Ling murmured, her voice broken, looking at the man standing before her. "Tell me everything you've said is true."

Jian Wei looked into her eyes, his throat tight with tension.

"I swear to you, Mei Ling. There's nothing between us. But..." he sighed. "I don't know how to convince you."