"You've grown up, I can't control you anymore."
Old Chen Tou sighed with some helplessness. With that, he got up and walked outside, "I'm going to the restroom."
After picking up Old Chen Tou and her adoptive parents from the station, none of them had been to the restroom. Meng Jingwei thought Old Chen Tou was really going to the restroom and didn't think much of it.
Walking out of the private room, Old Chen Tou walked down the corridor and saw Qing Muy野 leaning against the railing, smoking thoughtfully from a distance.
He walked over.
"Master Chen, why did you come out?" Qing Muy野 flicked off his cigarette and stood up straight, asking.
When dealing with Meng Jingwei's family, Qing Muy野 restrained his usual cold and aloof demeanor, showing them absolute respect and reverence.
Old Chen Tou glanced at Qing Muy野, then leaned against the railing, took out the pipe tucked at his waist, and took out a small bag, pinching some tobacco into the pipe.
Just as he was about to reach for a lighter, Qing Muy野 immediately extended his hand, lit his lighter, and lit his pipe.
This humble attitude already proved Meng Jingwei's status in Qing Muy野's heart.
Otherwise, a man as high and mighty as him would not be lighting a pipe for an ordinary old man.
Old Chen Tou couldn't help but be stunned. He looked at him, lit his pipe, and took two puffs, exhaling faint smoke from his nostrils.
"Alas..."
He sighed deeply, "Jingwei is a simple girl. She comes from humble beginnings and is not worthy of your Qing family. Looking at ancient and modern times, every relationship requires equal status; otherwise, happiness is doomed."
Qing Muy野 lit a cigarette for himself, put it to his lips, and took a puff.
After a moment of silence, Qing Muy野 nodded slightly, "Yes, Master Chen's words are very true."
"Since you know, you should stay away from her."
"It's not necessarily so absolute." Qing Muy野's lips curved into a smile, "If I were willing to give up my status and be an ordinary person, what do you think, Master Chen?"
"Give up my status?"
Old Chen Tou's brow furrowed. He tilted his head, his gaze full of surprise as he scrutinized Qing Muy野, falling into thought.
It was unclear if he was contemplating the truth of Qing Muy野's words or thinking about something else.
After a while, he snorted coldly, "You are the heir to the Qing family. Status is not something you can give up just by saying so. You young people are immature and not steady enough; you treat everything like a game."
"If Master Chen doesn't believe me, you can go out and inquire. I, Qing Muy野, always keep my word."
Perhaps the only time he broke his word in this life was to Meng Jingwei.
"I don't have the time. In short, I don't believe you spoiled rich kids."
"Is it me, Qing Muy野, you don't believe, or is it Ah Wei's status that is not allowed?"
Qing Muy野 slightly raised his eyelids, his sharp eyes looking at Old Chen Tou, his gaze suddenly becoming sharper, and even his tone turned forceful.
Old Chen Tou's hand, which was holding the pipe, paused slightly. He lowered his eyelids, his eyeballs rolling, and he turned to face Qing Muy野 directly, "You... what do you mean?"
"Literal meaning."
His thin lips curved into a hint of coldness, "No matter who you are, or what Ah Wei's background is, I have decided to marry her."
This time, Qing Muy野 was not discussing with Old Chen Tou, but rather... informing him.
Simply informing him that he was going to marry Meng Jingwei!
Old Chen Tou's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze full of scrutiny, "When did you find out?"
Who was Qing Muy野?
He was a rare business prodigy in Lan City, wise and intelligent. Although young, his methods were ruthless, and he was peerless in both wisdom and courage.
Old Chen Tou had worried from the start that Qing Muy野 would discover something, but what he feared had ultimately happened.
Since he had begun to suspect Meng Jingwei's identity, he would inevitably investigate thoroughly.
Some things were beyond his ability to obstruct.
Old Chen Tou decided not to hide anything and spoke frankly, "Since you know Meng Jingwei is not an ordinary person, you should stay even further away from her. The two of you are destined to have no future. You must know that being with her will only harm her."
Qing Muy野 was usually unable to generate strong curiosity about anything, but when it came to Meng Jingwei, he was truly curious, even possessing a strong desire to quickly know Meng Jingwei's identity and background, and how her status as the young master of the hidden clan would turn her fate.
"When will she leave Lan City?"
Suddenly, an idea flashed through Qing Muy野's mind: Meng Jingwei would leave Lan City soon.
Before this, he had always overlooked one thing.
He had previously been engaged to Li Yun'er and was even about to get married, but neither Old Chen Tou nor the Li family had objected. Yet, they vehemently opposed his marriage to Meng Jingwei.
Li Yun'er lived in Lan City and was a renowned talented woman, once incredibly prominent.
In contrast, Meng Jingwei lived in the countryside, seeming to deliberately hide her brilliance.
Li Yun'er and Meng Jingwei were twin sisters, so why such different treatment? And what was Li Zirui's identity?
"You are a smart person. The fact that you know these things but haven't told Jingwei means you still have reservations..."
"Between Li Yun'er and Ah Wei, I think the former would be more interested in that position." Qing Muy野 cut off Old Chen Tou's words, met his gaze, and added, "Since I met Ah Wei, she always said she wanted a simple and ordinary life."
"Li Yun'er is not qualified," Old Chen Tou said profoundly, his words laced with disdain for Li Yun'er.
He did not mention Li Zirui at all.
This made Qing Muy野 recall a passage he had read in "The Secret History of the Hidden Clan": The hidden clan had a history of a hundred years, and the patriarch's position was passed down from men, not women.
Initially, Qing Muy野 had been skeptical, but now it seemed that it was indeed passed down from men, not women.
Otherwise, Old Chen Tou wouldn't have placed such importance on Meng Jingwei.
...
In the private room, Meng Jingwei had been chatting with her adoptive parents for a long time until Qing Muy野 and Old Chen Tou walked in, and the waiter began to serve the dishes one by one.
"Uncle, Auntie, Master Chen, you've been traveling all this way and haven't eaten yet. Please eat first. We can discuss other matters later."
Qing Muy野 sat beside Meng Jingwei and politely addressed the three of them.
Meng Tianhua's couple glanced at Old Chen Tou, then at Qing Muy野, exchanged a look, and said nothing more, beginning to eat.
In the solemn atmosphere, they ate a simple meal.
After the meal, Qing Muy野 said, "It's getting late, let's go back and rest."
"Dad, Mom..."
Meng Jingwei wanted to say something more, but Qing Muy野 took her hand, "We'll talk about it tomorrow if there's anything."
"You... alright then."
Seeing that it was getting late, Meng Jingwei also felt sorry for the three of them traveling from the countryside, so she arranged for them to stay at a hotel.
Afterward, Meng Jingwei and Qing Muy野 turned and went downstairs together.
On the way home, Meng Jingwei finally couldn't contain her emotions and questioned Qing Muy野, "Why didn't you let me discuss it with them? I'm telling you, although my parents are stubborn, they love me dearly and definitely won't object to our marriage."