"Grandma, while grilled shrimp are delicious, you should also eat some vegetables for better nutrition and health."
Li Yun'er stood up and served a dish onto Madam Qing's plate. She then served vegetables to Meng Jingwei as well, "Jingwei, you should eat some too."
She had never imagined a day would come when she would try to appease Meng Jingwei, even if it was out of necessity due to the presence of Qing Muye and Madam Qing. However, such an action still made her feel diminished in status and dignity.
"I'm so sorry, I just prefer meat and dislike vegetables."
Meng Jingwei, wearing gloves, held her chopsticks and picked up the vegetables from the plate. After a moment's thought, she directly placed them into Qing Muye's bowl, "Your fiancée's family's cooking is a waste to discard, so I'll give it to you."
She intentionally meant to disgust Qing Muye. Unexpectedly, the man cast a cold glance at Meng Jingwei. His handsome face showed a hint of depth. His eyelids lowered slightly as he glanced at the vegetables on the plate, remaining silent.
Li Yun'er poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks, feeling that Meng Jingwei was ungrateful. However, she couldn't lash out in front of Madam Qing, so she could only offer a polite smile, "Eating more meat is also good."
Throughout the dinner, Meng Jingwei and Madam Qing chatted cheerfully. In contrast, Qing Muye and Li Yun'er, sitting opposite them, were remarkably quiet, as if separated by a vast divide. Yet, by the end of the meal, the single piece of vegetable on Qing Muye's plate remained untouched.
After dinner, Li Yun'er got up to clear the dishes and said, "Grandma, I don't know how to cook, so let me wash the dishes." In the Li family, she had never done such chores. Her fingers, unaccustomed to manual labor, were now making every effort to win Madam Qing's favor.
Madam Qing nodded, "Mm, that's fine too." So, Li Yun'er joined the servants in clearing the table and went to the kitchen to wash dishes. Meng Jingwei felt that Li Yun'er was truly going to great lengths, but she was too lazy to pay attention to her.
"Grandma, didn't you say you ate too much? Let's go for a stroll in the courtyard."
"Mm, I was just thinking the same thing." Madam Qing rose and gave Qing Muye a look. Although Qing Muye was somewhat helpless, he had no choice but to get up and follow them.
Walking in the courtyard of the old residence, Meng Jingwei linked arms with Madam Qing and pointed towards the west, where the sunset painted half the sky, "The setting sun, the twilight is so beautiful, Grandma, look."
Madam Qing stopped in her tracks, gazing at the setting sun. She couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, the afterglow of the sunset, how beautiful it is." She suddenly remembered her time with her late husband. He used to love taking her out to watch sunrises and sunsets. They were all cherished memories. It was a pity that after her husband passed away, she had to shoulder all responsibilities alone, and she had no mood to appreciate sunrises and sunsets anymore. She fell into a reverie. Meng Jingwei noticed Madam Qing's expression and frowned in confusion. She glanced at Qing Muye, then said to Madam Qing, "If Grandma likes watching sunsets, then I'll take you to Lin Yun Mountain and the seaside in the future. We can experience them together, can't we?"
"Yes, yes. Alas..." Madam Qing nodded, sighed with deep emotion, and continued walking with her, lamenting as she went, "When the old man was alive, we loved watching sunrises and sunsets together. Now that he's been gone for over ten years, I haven't gone to see them anymore."
"It's alright, Grandma, I'll accompany you from now on." Meng Jingwei patted her chest and said with a sweet smile.
"Hahaha, good, Grandma is waiting for you."
"No problem." Meng Jingwei nodded enthusiastically. The two walked hand in hand.
Qing Muye, walking behind them, had a deep gaze. Listening to their cheerful laughter and seeing the rare smile on his grandmother's face, he suddenly felt a sense of profound beauty. This kind of warmth and harmony, not only Madam Qing but even Qing Muye hadn't experienced for a long time. His gaze was fixed on Meng Jingwei's retreating figure. He suddenly felt that this girl was like a light, illuminating his black-and-white world, bringing color and radiance to everything. That feeling was exceptionally good.
"Grandma, I might not have visited you recently." As they walked, Meng Jingwei said to Madam Qing, "I'm going to Liangchuan for charity work, and I'll be gone for half a month."
"To Liangchuan?" Madam Qing suddenly stopped and looked at her. "Liangchuan is quite far from Lancheng. I heard the living conditions there are tough. Can you handle it, as a young girl?"
Meng Jingwei smiled, putting her arm around Madam Qing's shoulder, and said intimately, "Grandma, you underestimate me. I grew up in the countryside, so of course, I can handle it."
"What a good child you are. Doing charity work is a good thing, and Grandma supports you. But you must take good care of yourself there." She earnestly cautioned.
"Don't worry, Grandma, I'll be fine."
Thus, they continued their stroll in the garden. Meanwhile, Li Yun'er, who had finished washing the dishes in the dining room, emerged, intending to seek praise from Madam Qing. However, as soon as she stepped out, the living room was empty. Upon inquiring, she learned that the three had gone for a walk in the backyard garden. Her delicate face instantly fell. She was both angry and wronged, yet she could not express it. In the end, she had to go out to the garden and walk with Madam Qing. Only then did the three leave.
Meng Jingwei had taken a taxi to get there. So, Madam Qing asked her to ride in Qing Muye's car, and she readily agreed. Li Yun'er sat in the front passenger seat, and Qing Muye first drove her home. After getting out of the car, she waved goodbye to Qing Muye, "Muye ge, thank you." Then she looked at Meng Jingwei in the back seat, "Jingwei, where do you live?" Now that she was out of the car, only Meng Jingwei and Qing Muye were alone. Would she try to seduce Muye ge in her absence? Li Yun'er was very uneasy. Meng Jingwei heard Li Yun'er speak but ignored her, as if she hadn't heard anything. Qing Muye told Li Yun'er, "Hurry back and get some rest."
"Okay, Muye ge. Then... goodbye." She waved reluctantly, her jealous gaze sweeping over Meng Jingwei in the back seat. Yet, she couldn't say anything. The man responded with a grunt and drove away.
Half an hour later, upon returning to Ye Se Apartment, Meng Jingwei carelessly kicked off her shoes and crawled onto the sofa barefoot, lying still. Having slept only three hours a day for two consecutive days, Meng Jingwei was exhausted. She lay on the sofa and soon fell asleep. Seeing this, Qing Muye said nothing and went to the bedroom to shower. After emerging from the bathroom, his phone rang. He picked up the phone and saw Madam Qing's number on the screen. He answered, "Grandma."
"Muye, Grandma has something to tell you..." On the other end of the line, Madam Qing gave some instructions. Qing Muye frowned as he listened and could only agree. After hanging up, he walked out of the bedroom and discovered that Meng Jingwei had returned at some point and was sleeping on the sofa.