Seeing her stunned, dejected, and desperate look, Qing Muy野 felt a touch of surprise.
After all, countless women in Lan Cheng flocked to him, racking their brains to throw themselves at him, longing to conceive his child.
Yet, Meng Jingwei, who was carrying his child, seemed to be in pain.
The man recalled Meng Jingwei's past words: "Qing Muy野, not all women are materialistic and want to marry into the Qing family. Don't be so full of yourself."
"As long as you resign from the club, I'll have the expert team treat your father immediately, with all surgical fees waived."
He stood before her, looking down with an arrogant and imperious posture.
Meng Jingwei's eyelids drooped, her dejected face devoid of much emotion. "So, even if I quit my job, if I get rid of the child, you will still treat my father?"
Her question received no answer from the man.
She looked up, her eyes filled with pain, meeting his gaze for a few seconds.
He said, "Wishful thinking."
"Heh. So, please don't act so noble. If you want me to have your child, treating my father is merely an equivalent transaction, isn't it?"
Those 'expert team' doctors were not people one could hire with money alone.
How could Meng Jingwei not see the reality?
"You can also make other demands," Qing Muy野 said in a deep voice.
"I don't..." Just as she started to say "need," a flash of inspiration struck her, and she said, "If you can help me investigate the car accident that took my parents' lives, I will agree."
If a child could exchange for her adoptive father's recovery, and if the 'car accident' could be brought to justice, Meng Jingwei was naturally willing.
Although doing so would be unfair to the child in her womb, she knew she was no match for Qing Muy野. If he truly forced her to have this child, he would have countless ways to do so.
Rather than resist futilely, it was better to engage in an 'equivalent exchange.'
"Alright," Qing Muy野 agreed readily.
Meng Jingwei pursed her lips, her straight back suddenly curving slightly. She drooped her head listlessly, looking at the ground, and said no more.
Helpless.
It was her own helplessness that prevented her from having enough ability to protect her adoptive parents, and she couldn't even control the right to have a child herself.
She wanted to become stronger, but didn't know where to start.
"However, you must move to the Qing family's old residence."
"In a few days, I want to calm down."
Meng Jingwei sighed deeply, turning her head to look at the passing vehicles on the road, her mood turbulent.
Qing Muy野 tacitly agreed to her condition.
He got into the car and left.
Watching the car speed away, Meng Jingwei suddenly felt a chilling coldness, as if she were in an ice cellar.
Was she truly just a 'birthing tool'? Otherwise, how could Qing Muy野 be so heartless to her?
Qing Family Old Residence.
Upon returning to the old residence, Qing Muy野 met with Madam Qing.
"How is that girl Jingwei?"
As soon as they met, Madam Qing's concern was for Meng Jingwei, but in reality, she cared more about the child in her womb.
Qing Muy野's handsome face held a cold expression. "I can allow Meng Jingwei to give birth to a child of the Qing family. But my woman, Qing Muy野's woman, must be of equal standing."
Qing Muy野 had been doing a lot of thinking recently.
Coupled with his frequent contact with Li Yun'er, he found her character and conduct to be good, and she was a woman of both talent and beauty in Lan Cheng. Marrying into the Qing family would be the best choice.
"What are you saying? What's so good about Li Yun'er?" Madam Qing was very displeased.
"Simply because she saved my life, it is reasonable for me to marry her."
He had doubted Li Yun'er before, even suspecting if she was involved in the car accident.
Later, he had Song Ci investigate that day's events again, and it was indeed unrelated to Li Yun'er.
"I said before, whoever conceives your child, you will marry. Does my old woman's word count for nothing?" Madam Qing truly liked Meng Jingwei.
"The Qing family is a prestigious family, and Meng Jingwei is good for nothing. Regardless of the considerations, she is not worthy of being the future matriarch of the Qing family. The Qing family faces powerful and noble families. Do you think she can be presentable?"
This was Qing Muy野's nature.
Things like 'sentimental attachments' were irrelevant to him. He only valued profit and the idea of making the Qing family stronger.
If he were to marry her simply because Meng Jingwei was pregnant, it would only hold the Qing family back.
His words left Madam Qing speechless.
But she had to admit that for the future of the Qing family, Li Yun'er was naturally the best choice.
"But that child is Jingwei's. What will happen if it gets out later?"
"I will give her a generous compensation. As for the child, I will get engaged to Li Yun'er as soon as possible and make sure she doesn't appear in public much. Once Meng Jingwei gives birth, I will announce to the public that the child is mine and Li Yun'er's. Then, we will get married."
He had already thought of a way to deal with it.
Madam Qing sighed, remained silent for a long time, and waved her hand, "Forget it, forget it. I'm old and can't make decisions for you. But don't mistreat that girl Jingwei. Although her appearance is ordinary, she is a rare good girl."
It was Madam Qing who had drugged her. The mistake was that Meng Jingwei had accidentally gotten involved with Qing Muy野.
For this, Madam Qing wanted Qing Muy野 to be responsible for Meng Jingwei, but Qing Muy野 had been opinionated since childhood, and she couldn't persuade him.
Madam Qing stood up, leaning on her cane, and went to the backyard to rest.
...
Ring ring ring—
At this moment, Meng Jingwei, who was spacing out by the roadside, was startled by the ringing of her phone.
Picking up the phone, Xiao Cheng's name flashed on the screen.
"Little Wei Wei, didn't you invite this young master for skewers? What, are you going back on your word?"
Xiao Cheng's teasing voice came from the other end of the phone.
Even through the phone, she could feel Xiao Cheng's carefree and cheerful demeanor.
For a moment, she envied Xiao Cheng.
Envious that he was born into a wealthy family, and despite being ridiculed by everyone, he could still live authentically and as he pleased.
"Of course I'm keeping my word. An hour later, go to Wang Ji skewers on Minquan Road."
"Okay, this young master will be right there. Do you want me to pick you up?"
"No need."
"Alright, see you later."
After hanging up the phone, Meng Jingwei rode her electric scooter to the Ye Se Club.
At the club, she met the manager and submitted her resignation. The manager readily agreed and immediately instructed the finance department to settle her wages.
Meng Jingwei knew that Ye Se Club was under Qing Muy野's name, so she was not surprised by the manager's prompt agreement to her resignation.
Afterward, she said goodbye to her friends in the security department. Since Chen Zhuo was not there, Meng Jingwei could only invite Chen Zhuo for a meal another time.
After leaving the club, she rode her electric scooter to Wang Ji skewers on Minquan Road. When she arrived, Xiao Cheng's flashy sky-blue Maserati was already parked nearby.
He was sitting inside, playing with his phone, waiting for her.
Meng Jingwei suddenly felt that although Xiao Cheng was a prodigal son, compared to Qing Muy野, Xiao Cheng had more humanity.
Knock, knock, knock—
Walking over, she tapped on the car window. Through the slightly open window, she said to Xiao Cheng, "Flirting with girls again? You mess around with young girls all day, aren't you afraid of retribution?"