Even if he didn't want to get married, there was still Old Madam Qing.
What was there to fear?
"What did Song Ci call you for? Was it about the wedding arrangements?" Zhao Ruolan was holding a jade roller, sliding it gently across her face as part of her skincare routine.
"The engagement has been canceled."
Li Yun'er sat down on the sofa, furious and wronged, her eyes turning red.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruolan paused, immediately putting down the jade roller. Looking at Li Yun'er, whose eyes were red and on the verge of tears, she asked, "What happened? Why was the engagement suddenly canceled?"
"How should I know? It's probably related to that bitch Meng Jingwei!"
"The Qing family's affairs are not something Meng Jingwei can instigate with a few words," Li Fu'an shook his head. "This matter is hard to say. But don't overthink it. Even if Qing Muye doesn't want to get married, there's still Old Madam Qing. You should just visit the Qing family's old residence more often."
Li Fu'an sighed with earnestness, comforting Li Yun'er.
"Yes, what your father said makes sense. Everyone in Lancheng knows how much Old Madam Qing is looking forward to holding a great-grandchild. She probably doesn't even know you're pregnant yet. You just don't know who truly makes the decisions in the Qing family!"
Zhao Ruolan shook her head. Although her tone was one of mild reproach, she was filled with affection for Li Yun'er.
"I know. That's why I'm planning to see Muye ge first, and then go to the Qing family's old residence." Li Yun'er wiped her tears with a tissue.
If she hadn't known that Old Madam Qing was her last trump card, she would have already thrown a tantrum upstairs and fallen into despair.
Rumble, rumble—
Suddenly, Li Fu'an's mobile phone rang on the coffee table.
Li Fu'an picked up the phone and answered.
"What is it? Speak."
"You're saying... you're saying she was poisoned in Liangchuan?"
"Who did it?"
"Idiot, go investigate quickly."
Li Fu'an hung up after only a few sentences. Then, his gaze swept past Li Yun'er to Zhao Ruolan, his brows furrowed. He said, "The call just now said that Meng Jingwei fell into the river in Liangchuan not long ago due to foul play, and someone tried to kill her."
"Yes, you didn't know?"
Li Yun'er looked at the couple with a hint of surprise.
"You know?"
The couple asked in unison, their gazes falling on her.
"I only found out by chance a couple of days ago when I overheard Song Ci on the phone," Li Yun'er replied truthfully.
Although she had known before that Meng Jingwei had accidentally fallen into the river and was swept away by the rapid current, she hadn't known it was an act of foul play.
Zhao Ruolan's expression turned serious. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Yun'er, do you have anything to do with this?"
"What are you talking about? How could I have anything to do with it? If I were to make a move against Meng Jingwei, it would be a sure kill," Li Yun'er snorted coldly. "She's lucky to be alive."
Heaven knew how much Li Yun'er wished Meng Jingwei were dead.
"Yun'er, listen to Mommy. No matter what, you absolutely must not make a move against Meng Jingwei."
"Why? Mommy, you're not still shielding her, are you?"
"You're silly! Your fiancé is Qing Muye now, and Meng Jingwei is recognized as Old Madam Qing's god-granddaughter. If you lay a hand on her, you'll attract the attention of the Qing family. How will you marry Qing Muye then?"
"I know what you're saying, otherwise I would have acted against her long ago."
Li Yun'er threw the tissue in her hand into the trash can, stood up, and walked towards the door. "I'm going to see Muye ge. Bye."
The most important thing now was to use the child in her womb to quickly build a closer relationship with Qing Muye.
Li Yun'er desperately wanted to seize this opportunity.
She changed her shoes at the entrance, grabbed her car keys, and drove away from the villa.
Only after the sound of the engine in the yard gradually faded and disappeared did Zhao Ruolan turn to look at Li Fu'an, her eyes filled with a complex, inscrutable gaze.
"It seems it really wasn't Yun'er's doing. Then, who would want to harm her? Have they found out who is behind it?" she eagerly pressed Li Fu'an.
Li Fu'an held a cigarette between his fingers, took a puff, and shook his head. "The person hasn't been found. I heard Qing Muye is also investigating. Could it be..."
His hand holding the cigarette paused. His brows furrowed, and he exchanged an uneasy glance with Zhao Ruolan. "It seems what's coming has finally arrived."
...
Junlin Company.
After finishing her work, Meng Jingwei said goodbye to Xiao Cheng, "Second Brother, I'm leaving."
Xiao Cheng, who was busy working, saw Meng Jingwei standing at the office door and immediately stopped his work. "Where are you going? I'll give you a ride."
"No need, I'm going to see Grandma Qing today."
"I have nothing else to do. I'll give you a ride."
He closed the file, stood up, and walked towards her. "It takes almost an hour from the company to the Qing family's old residence. Are you sure you want to take a taxi?"
Take a taxi?
Meng Jingwei hadn't considered taking a taxi; she had only intended to hitch a ride with Qing Muye.
However, on second thought, since she would be leaving Lancheng soon, she didn't find it too much trouble to ask Xiao Cheng for a ride.
The two took the elevator downstairs. After Meng Jingwei bought some fruit, she got into Xiao Cheng's car, and they headed towards the Qing family's old residence.
The Qing family's old residence was built by the lake, with beautiful surroundings and a very quiet ambiance.
On the way, Meng Jingwei sat in the passenger seat, lost in thought.
The atmosphere in the car was somewhat silent. Xiao Cheng occasionally turned his head to look at her and asked, "Does Qing Muye know you're going back?"
Xiao Cheng couldn't quite understand the relationship between Meng Jingwei and Qing Muye.
Initially, she disliked Qing Muye, then she claimed to like him, and even lived with him despite knowing he was engaged to Li Yun'er.
Now, she suddenly proposed to leave Lancheng.
Was it because Qing Muye was going to marry Li Yun'er, and she knew there was no future with Qing Muye? Or was it because she felt that with the alliance between the Qing and Li families, her revenge was hopeless, and she was backing down?
Both possibilities crossed his mind, and he couldn't be sure.
"I told him."
"What did he say?"
"Tch, I'm not his anyone. Would he try to keep me?"
Meng Jingwei gave a self-deprecating smile.
In the beginning, she had wanted to stay by Qing Muye's side, at least because Old Madam Qing liked her, and Qing Muye would not stand by and watch her meet with disaster.
Now, with Qing Muye marrying Li Yun'er, her revenge was hopeless, and she could only choose to leave Lancheng.
Otherwise, if she truly became Old Madam Qing's god-granddaughter, she would inevitably become a pawn in Qing Muye's game.
As the saying goes, 'Once you enter a wealthy family, it's like diving into the deep sea.' She didn't want to fail in her revenge and end up trapped in a quagmire, dying in the struggles of the elite.
Preserving herself was the best choice.
"When do you plan to leave?"
Meng Jingwei's words surprised Xiao Cheng, but everything seemed to be within reason.
"In about a week. In a few more days, it's my father's birthday, and I want to go home to celebrate with him."
Upon careful calculation, her adoptive father was already sixty-three years old. If she didn't spend more time with him now, she didn't know how much longer she would have.
"You're quite a filial girl."
"Yes, I think so too. Hahaha."
Meng Jingwei threw her head back and laughed, and the atmosphere immediately brightened.
Before long, they arrived at the Qing family's old residence. Just as their car pulled to a stop, Qing Muye's car also drove up and parked beside it.