Mentioning Meng Jingwei, Li Yun'er's expression darkened, her grip on the cup tightening.
"Do you know who is next door?"
Qing Si Huai suddenly asked.
Li Yun'er shook her head in confusion, "No."
"Shu Yao."
"Shu Yao?" Li Yun'er sounded surprised, "Isn't she Meng Jingwei's... friend?"
The man nodded, "Uh-huh, she is."
He picked up a glass of plain water from the table and took a sip. "That foolish woman likes me and asked me out to confess. In this situation, would I refuse?"
"What do you mean?"
"It means, she is Meng Jingwei's friend..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but Qing Si Huai knew Li Yun'er should understand.
Indeed, Li Yun'er thought for a moment and said, "She can be used for our own benefit?"
"An army trained for a thousand days is used for one day, it's only a matter of time." He admitted frankly.
"What about me?"
"You? You are on the same side as me, a comrade-in-arms. After all, our common enemy is Qing Mu Ye." The corner of his lips curled up, a devilishly charming smile on his face.
Li Yun'er slightly lowered her eyes, looking down at her coffee. She pondered Qing Si Huai's words and ultimately chose to believe him.
After all, Qing Si Huai's past was well known in Lancheng, and everyone knew it was his most sensitive point.
That was why Qing Si Huai had been abroad all these years.
Now that he was back, he naturally had a significant purpose.
He said his target was Qing Mu Ye because, although his own abilities were not weak, as the seventh ranked in the Qing family, he could only watch as what rightfully belonged to him fell into Qing Mu Ye's hands. Naturally, he was unwilling.
Let alone him, anyone else would also be unwilling.
Li Yun'er thought it over, picked up her delicate coffee cup, and said, "To our common enemy, cheers."
"Cheers."
They clinked their glasses, becoming allies.
"Uncle Seven, sit for a while. I'm going to the restroom."
Perhaps Li Yun'er was still suspicious of Qing Si Huai, so she used the opportunity to go to the restroom to subtly open the door to the adjacent private room. As expected, Shu Yao was sitting inside.
At that moment, her doubts were instantly dispelled.
Facing such a powerful ally as Qing Si Huai was her honor.
...
On this day, Meng Jingwei felt a persistent twitch in her right eyelid. Nothing significant had happened, yet she felt a vague sense of unease.
However, she couldn't pinpoint the cause.
After a busy day, she returned home to rest.
The next day was another day of hectic work, until it was time to return to the Qing family's old residence in the evening.
Qing Mu Ye had mentioned that it was the Qing family's family banquet, and everyone was required to attend.
And as the adopted granddaughter of Old Mrs. Qing, she also had to get acquainted with everyone and greet them today.
Meng Jingwei recalled that Qing Mu Ye had arranged to go back together that day, so she gave him a call.
After all, having a familiar person with her would make facing strangers less awkward.
"Hello, the number you have dialed is switched off. Please try again later..."
When she dialed, a mechanical voice responded.
Meng Jingwei glanced at the automatically disconnected call, dialed again, but it was still switched off.
She mused, perhaps he was busy?
Without overthinking it, she hung up, tidied herself up, and went to the Qing family's old residence alone.
Meanwhile, Qing Mu Ye was leaning against the hospital bed, his phone out of battery and switched off.
His special assistant, Song Jun, stood by his bedside.
He said to Qing Mu Ye, "President Qing, there is something I don't know if I should mention."
"Speak."
Having just woken up after a car accident, he held his laptop and was processing company contracts.
"I incidentally learned that at the jewelry exhibition, the model for Zhong Ling Jewelry suddenly got injured. At that time, Miss Meng and Miss Shu happened to be backstage to see Ivan. Miss Meng proactively offered to be the model for Zhong Ling Jewelry. Ivan found Miss Meng's figure and temperament suitable and agreed. However, he was worried she wouldn't know how to walk the runway, so he discussed with Miss Meng about promoting the product by selling the story of 'first love' as a highlight.
But unexpectedly, Han Jun Yan happened to be at the jewelry exhibition that day, which caused a misunderstanding. According to the medical staff present that day that my subordinates investigated, Miss Meng might have faked her fainting."
Qing Mu Ye's hands on the keyboard paused, and his brow furrowed. "Are you sure?"
"I went to confront designer Ivan, and it is indeed as such," Song Jun nodded.
At that moment, a smile involuntarily appeared on Qing Mu Ye's lips.
It seemed that the recording Chu Xue had played for him that day was very likely words spoken by Meng Jingwei out of jealousy.
The man's gloomy mood instantly cleared.
"Cough... cough..."
The man suddenly coughed uncomfortably. However, because the car accident had injured his internal organs, even though he appeared fine, he could not make large movements. Especially when he coughed, the pain made it difficult to breathe.
"President Qing, are you alright?" Song Jun was startled and immediately placed the laptop in front of him on the table, then called for a doctor to examine him.
After a thorough examination, the doctor spoke with a stern face, "If you are injured, you must lie in the hospital and rest well. You have injured your internal organs, so it's best not to move around unnecessarily."
"Yes, Doctor." Song Jun nodded, "We will be careful and pay attention."
The doctor reiterated his instructions several times before leaving.
Qing Mu Ye naturally could not return to the Qing family's old residence, so he asked Song Jun to call Old Mrs. Qing and say that he was on a business trip abroad, using this as an excuse not to return to the old residence.
On the other hand, Meng Jingwei, unable to contact Qing Mu Ye, could only carry some nutritional supplements to the Qing family's old residence. She met the members of the Qing family's clan but did not see Qing Mu Ye, nor even his new assistant Song Jun.
When she asked Old Mrs. Qing, Old Mrs. Qing said that Song Jun mentioned Qing Mu Ye had suddenly gone on a business trip abroad.
She didn't think much of it.
Meng Jingwei stayed at the Qing family's old residence until past nine o'clock in the evening, and the tipsy Meng Jingwei was walking unsteadily.
She said goodbye to Old Mrs. Qing and left.
She had intended to find a servant to drive her home but happened to meet Qing Si Huai.
"Uncle Seven, I'm heading back."
Slightly dizzy, Meng Jingwei waved to Qing Si Huai.
Qing Si Huai walked up to her and supported her, "How did this little girl get so drunk?"
"There were so many people today, and as Grandma's adopted granddaughter, I had to toast everyone with a drink." If it weren't for that, she wouldn't have gotten so drunk.
"I'll take you back."
"No need, let a servant drive me."
"You send... No, let a servant drive me." Although she was drunk, a shred of rationality remained.
Deep down, she was wary of Qing Si Huai and didn't want this person near her.
But ultimately, unable to resist Qing Si Huai's initiative, he pulled her into the car and drove her home.
Along the way, Meng Jingwei felt dizzy and uncomfortable.
Qing Si Huai took out a cup, "Here, some hot water from the car. Drink some."
She was in Qing Si Huai's car, and everything was readily available, so Meng Jingwei didn't think much of it.
And being drunk does make one thirsty, so she directly took the cup, drank a few sips of hot water, and then buried her head against the car seat to sleep.
However, once she fell asleep, she was truly asleep.
"Little girl? Little girl?"
Qing Si Huai called out a few times, but the other party showed no reaction.
The corner of his lips curved, and he smiled faintly.
The car reached the city center and stopped at a certain spot. Standing by the roadside was none other than Xiao Cheng!
Qing Si Huai got out of the car, greeted Xiao Cheng, patted his shoulder, and they exchanged smiles, neither speaking.
Xiao Cheng drove Qing Si Huai's car away slowly, eventually arriving at a hotel.
He carried Meng Jingwei upstairs to a reserved suite and placed the woman, who had already fallen asleep, onto the bed.
Xiao Cheng stood by the bed, gazing at the woman he had loved for a long time. Her lips were red and teeth white, her face as beautiful as a peach blossom, captivatingly alluring.
He couldn't help but recall the passionate night he had spent with Li Yun'er.
Instantly, his body felt a wave of unbearable heat.
He reached out and unbuttoned her clothes. Then he lay down beside her, pulled her into his arms, and took a few photos with his phone.
The angles of the photos were tricky and sharp, capturing the perfect degree of intimacy. The messy room in the photos clearly indicated what had happened at a glance.
However, Xiao Cheng ultimately only took a set of photos before putting Meng Jingwei's clothes back on.
Faced with such a mesmerizing and beautiful body, Xiao Cheng's strong possessiveness eroded his reason, wanting to dismantle her inch by inch.
But, loving someone meant being unwilling to harm them.
He still maintained a last shred of his principles, helped her dress, and let her sleep peacefully.
That night, Meng Jingwei slept soundly on the bed, while Xiao Cheng lay on the sofa in the bedroom, watching over Meng Jingwei until she fell asleep.
After a good night's sleep, Meng Jingwei woke up naturally at six in the morning.
She lazily turned over, stretched under the covers, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar place.
Meng Jingwei's head buzzed. She immediately sat up in bed. "Where is this?"
She glanced around, then reached out to touch her clothes. Her attire was neat. Touching her pants, everything seemed normal, and the stone in her heart finally settled.