Several men with dark complexions and stern expressions, their bodies rippling with muscle, clearly looked like professional thugs.
They were not here with good intentions.
Meng Jingwei wanted to flee, but thinking that this was her rural hometown, if she ran away, it would only implicate her adoptive parents and master.
After her mind raced, she pretended to be calm and walked up to the men, "What do you want with me?"
Since they had stopped their car in front of her, it meant they had already identified her and her address. There was no point in escaping.
"Miss Meng, we are here on Young Master Qing's orders to 'invite' you back to Lancheng."
The leader of the men stood in front of Meng Jingwei. Although his tone was polite, his cold gaze held a threat.
It was as if he was saying, 'You will go today, whether you want to or not.'
"He asked me to go, did he say why?"
Meng Jingwei knew that Qing Muye would not give up on her as a 'pawn,' and the coercion to return to Lancheng was within her expectations.
But she had only returned to the countryside yesterday, and she had turned off her phone afterward, keeping it off until now.
She had originally wanted a few quiet days, but she hadn't expected Qing Muye to send people to find her so quickly.
Was he this anxious because something had happened?
"We are merely following orders, and know nothing else," the leader replied indifferently, like a machine devoid of emotion.
"Alright, wait for me. I'll go back and pack my things, and I'll be right there."
Meng Jingwei knew that these people were not to be trifled with, and she did not want her adoptive parents or master to worry about her. She decided to return to Lancheng to find out what was going on.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Meng..."
"I'll say it again, I'm going back to pack my things and will be here immediately!"
She knew what the man was about to say and scolded him with annoyance, "You've tracked me all the way to my home, do you think I can escape anywhere? I warn you, my parents are not in good health, and seeing you would surely shock them. If anything happens to them, I will fight you to the death!"
Meng Jingwei's face contorted with anger. The sudden oppressive aura made the thugs hesitate.
After a few seconds of silence, the leader looked at his watch. "You have ten minutes."
"Wait!"
Meng Jingwei snorted coldly and immediately jogged back. She packed her things at home and then went to the kitchen to tell Du Juan, who was cooking, "Mom, I have something urgent to attend to and need to go back to Lancheng right away. Please tell Dad for me, I'm leaving now."
Although it was early morning, as rural folk, they were accustomed to checking the fields first, so Meng Tianhua was not at home.
"Oh, girl, you only came back yesterday. What's so urgent?" Du Juan turned off the gas stove, put down the spatula, wiped her oily hands on her apron, and then took Meng Jingwei's hand, asking with concern.
"Uh... it's nothing major. It's just Xiao Cheng... Xiao Cheng... he has acute appendicitis and is undergoing surgery. I'm worried, so I want to go back and check on him."
She made up a lie.
She silently apologized to Xiao Cheng in her heart: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it was truly out of necessity. Xiao Cheng, please don't hit me!
Ultimately, it was because Xiao Cheng had been too close to Meng Jingwei in the past that Du Juan trusted him more. Meng Jingwei could only use Xiao Cheng as a cover.
"Oh, is that so? Then you certainly must go back and see him. But don't be in a rush. Take a free-range chicken with you to see him; it's a thoughtful gesture."
"No, no need, Mom. He doesn't lack this. I'm leaving now, bye-bye, bye-bye."
Meng Jingwei was already deceiving Du Juan, so how could she have the face to take a free-range chicken back to Lancheng?
Moreover, those thugs wouldn't give her time to catch a chicken.
"Hey? Hello? Why are you rushing, you little rascal? I'll have your dad give you a ride."
"No need! I've already called a car in town. I'm leaving now. Mom, take care of yourself." She said to Du Juan as she ran ahead.
Du Juan stopped after chasing a few steps, stood by the roadside, shook her head, and sighed, then smiled helplessly, "This little rascal is quite concerned about Xiao Cheng. It seems she really likes that young man. Alas, daughters grow up and leave home..."
She felt a thousand emotions in her heart, even having the feeling of her daughter about to get married.
But Meng Jingwei had no idea that her little lie would lead Du Juan to think so much.
She ran all the way back to the car, got in, and left.
The car started and sped away, arriving in Lancheng four and a half hours later.
Meng Jingwei was taken by the men to the Nightfall Apartment in Lancheng and confined inside.
Back in the familiar apartment, everything was still the same, familiar and accustomed.
She lay on the sofa, looking at the missed calls on her phone. There were only calls from Xiao Cheng and Qing Muye.
If there were other calls, she might have been worried, but with only missed calls from these two, Meng Jingwei felt that everything was normal.
But if everything was normal, why did Qing Muye call her?
After much thought, Meng Jingwei dialed Qing Muye's number.
He didn't answer after two calls, so she lay on the sofa and browsed Weibo.
She waited, from daytime until night.
Time ticked by. It was already two in the afternoon, and Meng Jingwei, whose stomach was rumbling with hunger, finally couldn't stand it. She sat up and slammed the table in anger, "What the hell does that bastard Qing Muye want? If he's not coming back, I'm leaving."
Ding—
As soon as she stood up, the sound of an elevator bell rang from outside.
Then, the living room door slowly opened, and she saw a familiar figure – Qing Muye!
"Qing Muye, why did you send people to bring me all the way to Lancheng?"
Meng Jingwei rushed up to him angrily, glaring at him and shouting.
After finally leaving Lancheng and wanting to spend a few peaceful days at home, she hadn't expected Qing Muye to send people back to fetch her.
The man in the crisp suit stood in front of Meng Jingwei. A hint of unfathomable depth appeared on his handsome face. His beautiful eyes scanned the woman in front of him. "Today is my birthday."
"Ah?"
The sudden statement stunned Meng Jingwei for a moment. After regaining her senses, she couldn't help but frown and curse, "Are you crazy? It's your birthday, so what does that have to do with me? You are the heir of the Qing Corporation. So many people are eager to celebrate your birthday, did you find the wrong person?"
He's got a screw loose!
Is he that familiar with her?
It was utterly baffling.
Hearing this, Qing Muye's expression darkened, a fleeting hint of disappointment in his eyes.
He put his hands in his suit pockets, his hands inside clenching his phone. The phone screen displayed a photo.
The photo showed a dim night scene under a pavilion. The two of them sat opposite each other at a table. She was singing a birthday song to Xiao Cheng, while Xiao Cheng closed his eyes, his hands clasped together as he made a wish.
Qing Muye had accidentally seen this scene on his moments last night.
At that moment, for some reason, he felt displeased and, late at night, ordered people to rush to Meng Jingwei's hometown to bring her back.
"I want you to spend my birthday with me."
Qing Muye stated his thoughts simply and directly.
Meng Jingwei scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. "Alright." She hooked her lips into a half-smile, raised her right hand, and spread it open. "Birthday cake, blessings, party, a package deal. One hundred thousand, and I'll handle it."