She started the car, turned the steering wheel, and parked it by the roadside, then turned off the engine.
"What did you just say?"
Shen Liannuo unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face Meng Jingwei, her beautiful eyes, both alluring and captivating, tinged with a hint of coldness.
Her gaze was filled with icy scrutiny.
"I said..." Meng Jingwei sensed that Shen Liannuo seemed angry. She turned her head, looked around, and lowered her voice. "Brother Yan Ming, Old Han, and Tang Si all know about this. We originally didn't plan to tell you, but it felt wrong to keep you in the dark."
Truth be told, Meng Jingwei didn't intend to hide it from Shen Liannuo. It was just that for some matters, fewer people knowing meant less risk.
With more people in the know, any leak could lead to endless trouble.
"You mean, all these past events with my master were intentional, all part of his plan? The so-called 'bankruptcy' is just a smokescreen?"
As she spoke, her voice grew louder, her exotic beauty marred by undisguised anger.
Shen Liannuo already had a fiery temper, unable to tolerate any sand in her eyes, let alone deception.
"Shhh~!"
Meng Jingwei made a shushing gesture and lowered her voice. "Yes. But I was also kept in the dark before. I only figured it out after visiting Ah Ye in the detention center last time, so I privately asked Brother Yan Ming, and he admitted it."
She placed a hand on Shen Liannuo's shoulder. "We didn't intend to hide it. Liannuo, you should know that Ah Ye's meticulous planning this time has taken great effort and cannot afford any mistakes. Having one less person know the secret means less risk. Besides, he wouldn't even tell me, let alone you."
With that said, Shen Liannuo's angered expression finally returned to normal.
She shot Meng Jingwei a glare, slumped back into the driver's seat, stared ahead, and muttered, "I don't believe you only just found out!"
"Now that I've told you the truth, why would I lie to you about these things?"
"Then aren't you angry?"
"Angry. Of course, I'm angry!" How could Meng Jingwei not be angry?
As Qing Muye's wife, she had the right to know everything, but Qing Muye's stubbornness and male chauvinism made Meng Jingwei very frustrated.
However, upon further reflection, he must have gambled all his assets this time, holding the belief of 'success or nothing,' so she chose to forgive him.
Meng Jingwei patiently explained many things to Shen Liannuo and finally added with lingering concern, "During this period, you still need to play along with me and put on a show for those people."
"Sigh, you two really make me so angry," Shen Liannuo sighed deeply. "Well, at least I don't have to worry so much anymore."
With that, she turned her head, her 'fierce' gaze fixed on Meng Jingwei, and slapped her shoulder heavily. "If you dare to lie to me again, believe it or not, I'll blow up your house? Have you forgotten my temper, young master?!"
"Hiss~"
Meng Jingwei gasped in pain, reaching up to rub her shoulder. "If you put any more force into that, I'd break a bone."
After all, Shen Liannuo was a trained martial artist, and her slap truly… hurt.
"Hmph, you lied to me for so long, aren't you even allowed to collect a little interest?" Shen Liannuo snorted arrogantly, started the car again, and headed straight for the city center.
In Lancheng, at Qin Xin Ju.
This private villa was the house Qing Muye had gifted to Shen Liannuo back then. Unexpectedly, their entire family ended up crowding into it.
When Meng Jingwei and Shen Liannuo arrived at Qin Xin Ju, Qing Muye and his brothers had already arrived ahead of time.