"Little girl, you're a little liar, always tricking my mother. You said you'd visit more, but it's been quite a while since Uncle Qi came back, and I don't even have your WeChat. Tsk... alas..."
Qing Sihuai shook his head, sighed, crossed his legs, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip, looking like he was teasing, with a humorous and charmingly roguish demeanor.
"Look, what's the matter with you, girl. Hurry up and add your Uncle Qi on WeChat, leave a phone number." Old Mrs. Qing glared at Meng Jingwei, looking displeased.
Meng Jingwei was resistant in her heart, but she could only bite the bullet and nod, "I've been so busy lately, I haven't had the time."
As she spoke, she stood up and walked in front of Qing Sihuai, took out her phone, scanned Qing Sihuai's WeChat QR code, and they exchanged phone numbers.
This scene was all witnessed by Qing Muye, but he remained silent, as if he had no presence.
The atmosphere in the living room gradually became lively. In the evening, they all had dinner together.
Old Mrs. Qing also dragged Meng Jingwei to practice Tai Chi with her in the backyard for a while before reluctantly letting her leave, telling her to come back and see her more often.
"Okay, Grandma, I'll come back to see you often. Bye."
At the entrance of the old house, Meng Jingwei waved goodbye to Old Mrs. Qing and got into her car with Qing Muye, driving away separately.
Old Mrs. Qing stood with her personal maid, Old Chen.
She watched the car drive further away and couldn't help but sigh, "Her personality is so much like the youngest one. If the youngest one were still here, she'd be this age too."
Old Mrs. Qing had always cared about her youngest daughter, and Meng Jingwei's personality was exactly the same as her youngest daughter's, which made her feel exceptionally close to and fond of Meng Jingwei.
"The youngest one also liked martial arts, played chess, had a straightforward and cute personality, was mischievous and clever, filial and kind. She especially loved to laugh, and when she laughed, just like Jingwei, she had a faint dimple on her face. Alas..."
As people age, they tend to reminisce, especially about things that are unresolved in their hearts and cannot be let go.
Old Master Qing and Old Mrs. Qing married at eighteen, and the following year, they had Qing Kangyu, Qing Muye's father. Qing Muye's mother was named An Meisong. So, after Qing Kangyu took over the company, he took the last character of both their names, 'Song Yu', and thus renamed Qing Corporation to 'Song Yu' Group.
After Qing Kangyu, Old Mrs. Qing gave birth to several more children. The family was originally prosperous and harmonious. However, later, when Old Master Qing was drunk, he had an affair with another woman and had Qing Sihuai. Since then, Old Mrs. Qing had been holding a grudge.
Then, when she was nearly forty-four, she was suddenly diagnosed with being pregnant with a daughter.
As an elderly mother, giving birth was very dangerous, but Old Mrs. Qing still decided to give birth to her youngest daughter, Qing Yuying.
Qing Yuying had a bold and lively personality, was mischievous and clever, and was a very likable girl. However, ten years ago, she met with an accident.
Because of this, Old Mrs. Qing was heartbroken and was depressed for quite some time before she emerged from the shadow.
This was why Old Mrs. Qing liked Meng Jingwei the moment she saw her in the Nightfall Apartment.
When she first met Meng Jingwei, she had deliberately disguised herself with makeup to look ugly, but her playful and cute nature made Old Mrs. Qing vaguely see the shadow of her youngest daughter in her.
As she had more and more contact with Meng Jingwei, she became even more fond of this kind, filial, and optimistic girl.
"Although Yuying is no longer with us, it's good that Jingwei can accompany you from now on. Jingwei is a kind-hearted girl, and she's a very good person."
Old Chen, who was supporting Old Mrs. Qing, comforted her and then said, "Let's go inside. It's late autumn, and the wind is strong outside, it's cold."
...
Meng Jingwei knew nothing about these matters concerning the Qing family, nor did she know why Old Mrs. Qing liked her so much.
She only knew that by visiting the Qing family's old house today, she had indirectly rejected Qing Muye, and her goal was achieved.
However, as she drove towards her apartment, she realized Qing Muye's car was following her.
Meng Jingwei didn't want Qing Muye to know where she lived, so she turned a corner and drove to a nearby shopping mall, intending to browse a supermarket and buy some things.
As a result, the moment she parked her car in the mall's underground parking lot, Qing Muye parked next to her, and they both got out of their cars.
Meng Jingwei felt somewhat helpless but still maintained a cold demeanor, "Why are you following me?"
"It's still early, and I'm bored."
Qing Muye adjusted his trench coat, walked to her side, and said calmly.
"I'm going to the supermarket, are you sure you want to come with me?" Meng Jingwei pointed to his face, as if asking if he was sure he was suited to appear in a crowded place like a supermarket.
The man gently brushed away her finger, "I'm not as well-known as you might think, it doesn't matter."
Although he said that, Qing Muye still took out two black masks from his pocket and handed one to Meng Jingwei.
Qing Muye always kept a low profile. In Lancheng, although most people in the upper and middle classes knew him, the ordinary social strata were busy working to earn money every day. Who would pay attention to him?
However, considering the recent wedding banquet issue, it was safer to wear masks.
"Alright then."
Meng Jingwei took the mask, put it on, and the two headed towards the supermarket entrance.
As they walked, Meng Jingwei suddenly asked curiously, "When was the last time you went to a supermarket?"
This question seemed to stump Qing Muye. He thought carefully and gave a vague answer, "A few years ago, perhaps."
"My goodness, not going to the supermarket for years, how dull life must be. There's no sense of everyday life at all."
She shook her head and sighed, feeling that the lives of people like Qing Muye lacked the taste of everyday life and that his days were rigid and uninteresting.
The two entered the supermarket, just as the evening rush hour was beginning at 8 PM.
Qing Muye walked in and went straight towards the entrance. Meng Jingwei reached out to grab a shopping cart and mumbled, "Aren't you buying anything?"
The man turned around and immediately turned back, "I'll push it."
Meng Jingwei didn't stand on ceremony and let go, letting him push the cart.
Inside the supermarket, she had nothing to do and looked around.
Seeing her favorite snacks, she picked them up and waved them at Qing Muye, "Do you want to eat this?"
Qing Muye: "Buy it."
Meng Jingwei picked up another box of nuts, "How about this, do you eat it?"
Qing Muye: "Buy it."
After walking a few more steps, Meng Jingwei picked up a box of chocolates on sale and asked again, "Do you want to eat this? It's on promotion, buy two get one free."
Qing Muye: "Buy it."
At first, Meng Jingwei thought Qing Muye also needed these things, so she picked up two of each item.
Only when she picked up a bag of spicy chips for 3.99 did she turn and ask Qing Muye, "Do you like to eat this?"
Qing Muye: "Buy it."
Meng Jingwei: "...Are you sure you'll eat all these things you're buying?"
As she spoke, she pointed to the pile of snacks in the cart.