"Is it that you don't want to see any of us get hurt, or that you can't bear to see him get hurt?"
Xiao Cheng countered coldly.
His tone was frigid and harsh.
"He is my husband, and the father of my two children. You are my friend." Meng Jingwei shook her head. "If I had known today would come, I probably wouldn't have wanted to know you."
If it weren't for her, none of this would have happened.
"You have your choices. If you insist on avenging Xiao Meiyan, I won't object. But you should be clear about one thing: her death has no direct connection to A Ye. If we must trace the cause and effect, Xiao Meiyan was responsible for her own demise."
Meng Jingwei sighed deeply. "Take care."
With a simple 'take care,' she turned away, lost in thought, and did not look back.
Xiao Cheng stood rooted to the spot, watching Meng Jingwei's retreating figure. His hands, clasped in his pockets, clenched tightly, a look of pain etched on his handsome face.
She had said...
'If I had known today would come, I probably wouldn't have wanted to know you.'
Xiao Cheng knew Meng Jingwei was caught in a difficult position, but he would definitely avenge Xiao Meiyan's death.
"If he dies, and you insist on bearing the guilt alone..." Xiao Cheng's spirits sank. "I will give you an 'explanation'."
His family destroyed, his life in disarray, his beloved married to his enemy.
All the tragedies of this world seemed to be unfolding upon him alone.
The belief that sustained Xiao Cheng was to eliminate Qing Muye.
When Qing Muye had previously 'died,' he thought his heart's burden was lifted. He couldn't let go of Meng Jingwei, who was about to arrive at the hidden clan, so he followed.
Little did he know that Qing Muye's death was merely part of their plan.
Xiao Cheng turned and returned to the suite. He walked to the window and looked down at Meng Jingwei as she left the hotel and got into her car.
At that moment, it felt as if something had been ripped from his body. Pain spread through his limbs, and even breathing ached.
After Meng Jingwei drove away, unable to contact Qing Muye, she had no choice but to return to Yishan Garden.
With no signs of sleepiness, she took two bottles of wine and glasses from the wine rack and went upstairs.
Sitting in the bedroom, she turned on the television. Without her micro-translation earpiece, she couldn't understand what the people on TV were saying.
Of course, she wasn't interested in the TV show either. She simply drank, glass after glass, drowning her sorrows.
The wine was slightly spicy as it went down, then sweet.
But her heart was filled with bitterness.
Meng Jingwei was confident she could persuade Qing Muye to spare Xiao Cheng. But if Xiao Cheng repeatedly tried to kill Qing Muye, would Qing Muye continue to spare his life?
It was impossible.
After several rounds of drinks, Meng Jingwei was slightly tipsy.
At that moment, there was a faint sound from the window. She looked up and saw Qing Muye leap in.
He had removed his makeup and was wearing a casual gray pajama set, his hand wrapped in white gauze.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Qing Muye walked over, his gaze falling on the empty wine bottle on the table. He frowned slightly. "Why are you drinking so much at this hour?"
Meng Jingwei's cheeks were flushed from the alcohol. She tilted her head, looking at Qing Muye. "Waiting for you."
After speaking, she took his gauze-wrapped hand. "Are you injured?"
She knew Qing Muye's hand must be severely injured.
A person like him, who walked on the edge of a knife, usually wouldn't pay attention to minor injuries. How could he possibly need to wrap it in gauze?
"It's nothing."
Qing Muye was as gentle as ever. He held her hand. "I'm tired. Come, let's sleep."
"Okay."
Meng Jingwei didn't ask any further questions and lay down on the bed with him.
That night, they simply held each other quietly. There was no passionate intimacy as there had been before.
"Why aren't you asking where I went?"
He held her, waiting for Meng Jingwei to proactively ask, but she remained silent for a long time.