The next morning.
In the wedding company's office, Meng Jingwei was busy with operational promotion planning. Her assistant, Shi Ran, knocked and entered, "Sister Wei, someone is looking for you."
Meng Jingwei, engrossed in her work, looked up, "Who?"
"Young Master Xiao," Shi Ran replied.
"Let him in."
Meng Jingwei found Xiao Cheng's actions perplexing.
That time in the warehouse, she had shot him and his sister, nearly crippling Xiao Meiyan. Her father, Xiao Qitian, must have hated her to the core, so how could he tolerate Xiao Cheng coming to find her repeatedly?
Thinking of Xiao Qitian's physical altercation with Xiao Cheng in the hospital stairwell, Meng Jingwei felt a mix of emotions.
"President Meng, what are you busy with?"
While Meng Jingwei was lost in thought, Xiao Cheng had already entered the office.
"What President Meng? Are you teasing me?"
Meng Jingwei smiled, gestured to the sofa, and said, "Sit down. I'll get you some water."
She got up and went to the water dispenser, prepared a cup of tea for Qing Mu Ye, handed it to him, and then sat down. "Why do you have time to visit my wedding company today?"
Xiao Cheng had barely visited since the wedding company opened.
"A friend needs to get married, so I recommended your place to him. However, given our good relationship, you must give me a discount."
He picked up his tea, took a sip, and spoke slowly.
Although he asked Meng Jingwei for a discount, he was actually indirectly recommending a client to her.
She was grateful.
"No problem, it's a small matter."
Meng Jingwei smiled faintly, then lowered her head, her smile gradually fading as her expression turned serious.
Frowning, she asked, "That... your sister, is she... any better?"
She had been forced to act that day, but she never felt she owed Xiao Meiyan anything.
A young girl, simply because she liked Qing Mu Ye, had hired someone to humiliate Li Yun'er and played a video of it at the wedding.
Her intentions were truly dark and malicious.
Xiao Cheng's hand, holding the tea, paused slightly, his lowered gaze flickering. "She's gradually recovering, but the doctor said she won't be able to dance anymore."
"That is indeed a great pity," Meng Jingwei sighed.
However, after her words, seeing that Xiao Cheng remained silent, she knew he didn't want to dwell on the matter.
She quickly changed the subject, "Since you're here, don't leave. Let's have a casual lunch together. And perhaps, you could give me some pointers on the wedding company's operational plans. What do you say?"
"Since you've asked, how could I refuse?"
Thus, Xiao Cheng walked to the desk, reviewed Meng Jingwei's operational plans, and began chatting with her.
As noon approached, the two left the company and headed directly to a Western restaurant.
However, shortly after they left, Qing Mu Ye arrived at Encounter Wedding Company.
Entering the lobby, the other colleagues had already left for the day. Coincidentally, Shi Ran was on duty.
Upon seeing Qing Mu Ye, she immediately walked up, "President Qing, what brings you here?"
The man, dressed in a plaid trench coat with a gray scarf around his neck, exuded a youthful handsomeness and charisma.
He glanced up at the second floor, "Where is A'wei?"
"You mean President Meng? He... he just went out with Young Master Xiao, probably for lunch," Shi Ran replied truthfully, without any reservations.
But as she spoke, she failed to notice the hint of coldness flashing in the man's eyes.
"Shi Ran, right?"
Qing Mu Ye walked to a nearby table and sat down, gesturing to the seat opposite him, signaling Shi Ran to sit as well.
Shi Ran, not understanding, asked timidly, "President Qing, please feel free to instruct me if you need anything."
"I don't need anything specifically, but I am a bit concerned about A'wei. She came from the countryside and doesn't understand the complexities of society and people. I am truly worried."
His ink-dark brows furrowed slightly, and he sighed meaningfully.
Shi Ran became even more bewildered.
Wasn't it said that Qing Mu Ye and Sister Wei were at odds? It didn't seem like it. But if that wasn't the case, why had the wedding company's business been disrupted before?
Her small face was filled with questions.
Qing Mu Ye merely glanced at her facial expression and understood her thoughts.
The man continued, "The wedding company is a form of experience for A'wei. If she cannot manage even a small wedding company without relying on others, she will be unable to handle significant responsibilities in the future."
With these words, Shi Ran suddenly understood.
She immediately gave Qing Mu Ye a thumbs-up, "Wow, President Qing, you are truly farsighted. No wonder the wedding company's business was going so well before, and then suddenly stopped. But President Qing is right, only through hardship can Sister Wei grow. Sigh, you are so good to Sister Wei, but why don't you tell Sister Wei?"
Qing Mu Ye's words were from the bottom of his heart.
However, while tempering Meng Jingwei, he not only considered reducing her psychological burden and preventing outsiders from thinking she grew by relying on the Qing family's influence, but he also hoped to force the little woman to submit to him through this method.
Only, he never expected Meng Jingwei to possess such resilience and determination.
"She cannot know. Otherwise, with her lazy nature, she wouldn't work so hard. Therefore, Xiao Ran, you must tell me immediately about anything that happens to A'wei in the future."
All the preceding groundwork was laid precisely to win over hearts.
Shi Ran let out an "Ah," "No, President Qing, this would be betraying Sister Wei."
"A'wei's current situation is not as simple as you imagine. As her brother, my task is to... protect her."
"Oh my gosh, President Qing, you are simply too good. I'm so envious, I wish I had such a good brother."
Shi Ran's eyes sparkled with envy.
Then she heard the man say, "If you need anything in the future, just tell me. You are A'wei's assistant, which makes you one of us."
The phrase "one of us" instantly won Shi Ran over.
She quickly nodded vigorously, "Mmm, yes, yes, yes. For Sister Wei, I will tell you about anything that happens from now on."
...
Ding dong—
A WeChat message popped up.
Qing Si Huai, who was processing documents at the company, picked up his phone. It was a message from Shu Yao: [Tonight at 5:30 PM, Hilton Western Restaurant, Room 88, I'll be waiting for you.]
To invite Qing Si Huai to dine, Shu Yao had booked a private room in advance.
Seeing this message, Qing Si Huai's heart remained calm. He replied expressionlessly: [I will be there on time.]
After sending the message, Qing Si Huai held his phone and found another person's WeChat in his contacts.
Li Yun'er.
His long, slender fingers tapped on the phone's keyboard as he composed a message: [Yun'er, are you free tonight?]
After sending the message, the recipient quickly replied, [Yes.]
[Alright. Tonight at 6:30 PM, Hilton Western Restaurant, I'll be waiting for you.]
Having arranged the time, Qing Si Huai then returned to his work.
However, neither Shu Yao, who had invited him, nor Li Yun'er, whom he had invited, knew that he had invited two people at the same time.
At the same time, at the Hilton Western Restaurant.
Xiao Cheng and Meng Jingwei were seated at the restaurant. Meng Jingwei always preferred a window seat.
But as they were ordering, two people suddenly appeared beside them.