Qing Muye raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly, "Anyone who wants to be a part of the Qing family has to go through some trials. If he can't even handle this matter properly, then he's not qualified to be your god-granddaughter."
"You..." Old Mrs. Qing sighed and asked, "Are you saying you're letting that girl handle it herself?"
"Precisely."
Upon hearing Qing Muye's words, Old Mrs. Qing nodded. "What you said makes some sense. Alright then, since you have an idea, proceed as you see fit. I, an old woman, won't interfere."
"Mhm."
Old Mrs. Qing hung up the phone directly.
Because of Meng Jingwei's situation, the rumors were escalating, leading to Meng Jingwei even receiving a call from her parents that evening.
Seeing the call from her adoptive mother, Du Juan, her heart tightened. "Mom?"
"Oh, darling, where are you now? Are you alright?"
On the other end of the line, Du Juan was filled with concern, fearing that Meng Jingwei was suffering hardship outside.
"Mom, I'm fine, I'm doing well."
Meng Jingwei didn't want her adoptive mother to worry.
Unexpectedly, after she finished speaking, her adoptive mother immediately chided, "You say you're fine? Your father and I saw the news on television. If it's really not working out, just come home quickly. Home is better than anywhere else."
"Mom, I'm really fine. Can't I handle such a small matter?"
Meng Jingwei comforted Du Juan, speaking reassuringly, and finally persuaded Du Juan not to worry too much, and not to come to Lancheng.
That night, because Meng Jingwei's apartment was exposed, a large number of reporters gathered outside the apartment.
Therefore, she stayed at Shu Yao's apartment to rest.
It was late at night when Xiao Cheng and Qing Si Huai finally left.
After washing up, Shu Yao lay on the bed, propping her elbow on the bed and resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Meng Jingwei. "How is it? You don't think Ah Huai is bad anymore, do you? Look at how he's been running around for you since you got into trouble. I'm truly touched by him."
Speaking of which, Shu Yao pouted. "Hmph, as for that scoundrel Qing Muye. You've encountered such a big incident, and he actually publicly distanced himself from you in front of the media. He's truly despicable."
She turned over, pulling the covers tighter around herself, and mumbled, "Protecting himself. He's indeed a businessman, cunning."
Meng Jingwei had her phone on for a game live stream and was engrossed in watching the match between Chaoyun E-sports and a strong team from another province.
Therefore, she didn't catch much of what Shu Yao was saying.
However, regarding Shu Yao's praise for Qing Si Huai, it was well within her expectations.
"Mhm, in that case, I should thank you."
Meng Jingwei put away her phone, leaning against the headboard, tilting her head to look at Shu Yao, and couldn't help but frown. "Speaking of which, this is the first time I'm sleeping in the same bed with another woman since graduation."
While saying these casual words, after this incident, Meng Jingwei increasingly felt that Shu Yao was a good person, someone who would go through fire and water for a friend.
Such a girl was worth befriending and protecting.
However, she was still a little uneasy about Qing Si Huai.
"Tch, you're the first woman to ever get into this young lady's bed since childhood. What great fortune you have."
"Mhm mhm mhm, my fortune."
Meng Jingwei teased with a smile.
Thus, the two of them lay down like that, chatting idly.
...
Ring ring ring—
A mobile phone ringtone sounded.
Xiao Cheng, who was at the Xiao family's residence, picked up his phone. Seeing Li Yun'er's name on the screen, he hesitated before answering.
As soon as he answered, he heard Li Yun'er's sweet laughter from the other end. "Congratulations, you'll soon get your wish."
Xiao Cheng held a cup of coffee and stood by the window, looking at the dense twilight, slowly lowering his eyelids. "The same to you."
"What do you mean by that, Young Master Xiao?" Li Yun'er pretended not to know.
"To rise by stepping on Meng Jingwei, to regain your former reputation, and to be highly praised, isn't that the greatest joy?"
Due to the divorce incident with Qing Muye, public opinion on Li Yun'er was mixed.
However, recently, she had been frequently participating in charitable activities, gradually clearing her name.
Li Yun'er's delicate cheeks curved into a smile. "In that case, I should feel sorry for Meng Jingwei. Falling in love with you is not a good thing at all."
From Xiao Cheng sending explicit photos to Qing Muye, completely exacerbating their relationship, to Qing Muye standing by and doing nothing when Meng Jingwei got into trouble this time...
It was likely that the last shred of hope Meng Jingwei had for Qing Muye had also been extinguished.
"That's where you're wrong. Perhaps, only then will she understand that only I, Xiao Cheng, will stay by her side, never leaving her until the very end."
If he had simply liked Meng Jingwei before, then now Xiao Cheng was madly wanting to possess her, to make her his personal property, an appendage.
At that time, he, Qing Muye, would be his, Xiao Cheng's, eternal loser!
Perhaps Xiao Cheng himself didn't know whether it was because he deeply loved Meng Jingwei that he wanted to possess her, or because of his strong desire to compete and to win against Qing Muye.
Therefore, in Meng Jingwei's situation, he was naturally the biggest instigator.
"Regardless, for us, it's all good." Li Yun'er smiled. "However, a reminder. Young Master Xiao, when you do things, you must wipe your tracks clean and be careful not to create unnecessary complications."
"After tonight, there will be no one from Jiang Quan left in Lancheng."
"Heh. Young Master Xiao, your methods are truly poisonous. Yun'er admits defeat."
Hearing Li Yun'er's sarcasm, Xiao Cheng didn't say anything further and directly hung up the phone.
Shu Yao's apartment.
Meng Jingwei and Shu Yao chatted until late into the night. Meng Jingwei said, "We've been talking for so long, let me pour you a glass of water."
She then got up and poured Shu Yao a glass of water, handing it to her.
After that, the foolish woman drank the water and, before long, fell into a drowsy sleep.
"Shu Yao? Shu Yao?"
Seeing her asleep, Meng Jingwei reached out and patted her cheek. Seeing no reaction, she sighed. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have done this to you."
She had to go out again tonight, but she couldn't let Shu Yao know.
Once she knew, she would undoubtedly blurt it out without thinking when Qing Si Huai questioned her.
In love, how could women distinguish between sincerity and hypocrisy?
Out of necessity, Meng Jingwei had卑鄙ly put sleeping pills in her water.
After Meng Jingwei left Shu Yao's apartment, she waited by the roadside for a while, then saw a car approaching. She pulled open the door and got in.
"Sister Wei, the items are all in the car," Shi Ran said to Meng Jingwei as she drove.
"Ranran, thank you for your hard work."
Meng Jingwei sincerely thanked Shi Ran and asked, "How is the matter I entrusted you with?"
"I've already contacted the person you asked me to contact, and they've already arrested Jiang Quan. We can go over there now."
"No need. You'd best not get involved in this matter. Get off here and take a taxi back. Remember, you must keep it secret."
"Sister Wei, can you... handle it alone?"
"I can."
Hearing Meng Jingwei say this, Shi Ran couldn't say anything more. After repeatedly reminding her to be safe, she got out of the car and took a taxi back.
Meng Jingwei sat in the car, put on a simple disguise as a man, changed her clothes, put on a baseball cap, and then drove to her destination.
The person she asked Shi Ran to contact was none other than the private investigator she had contacted when she first arrived in Lancheng.