Meng Jingwei leaned back against the booth, her clear eyes fixed on Xiao Cheng, a hint of complexity clouding them. "But you should know that Antina doesn't want us to be in contact, and you know very well what she did to me. If you really consider me a friend, you should keep your distance."
Her words were sharp and hurtful.
Yet, Meng Jingwei's intention was for Xiao Cheng and Antina to get along well.
After all, Antina loved Xiao Cheng dearly, and they were the true family.
Xiao Cheng clasped his fingers together on the table, his eyelids lowered, concealing the bitterness in his eyes. "I had some matters to attend to in Huilan City today, so I decided to visit you. I'll be returning to Country C in a couple of days. When we meet again, I don't know when that will be."
A forced smile touched his thin lips; he couldn't bring himself to tell Meng Jingwei the truth.
He had returned from Country C because Xiao Cheng had seen news reports and knew that Qing Muye and Meng Jingwei had divorced.
"That's good."
Meng Jingwei nodded. "Since you're back, as the host, I'll treat you to lunch."
"It's still early, no rush," Xiao Cheng said.
Xiao Cheng raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, and added, "If you encounter any difficulties, please tell me."
Meng Jingwei placed her right hand over the ring on her left, looking at the sparkling wedding band. "My divorce from him is a sham."
After a moment's thought, Meng Jingwei decided it was better to tell Xiao Cheng.
"Tsk."
He clicked his tongue and gave a wry smile. "Ah, your explanation is worse than no explanation at all."
Even without Meng Jingwei's explanation, Xiao Cheng knew that Qing Muye and Meng Jingwei's divorce was a pretense.
He had observed everything that had happened over the past two years and knew the sincerity of Qing Muye's feelings for Meng Jingwei.
After enduring so much hardship and finally achieving their goal, only to divorce shortly after returning to the country, it was clear there must be something suspicious.
Xiao Cheng was both gratified and a little saddened by Meng Jingwei's candid confession.
Gratified because she trusted him and didn't choose to hide anything.
Saddened because the reason she revealed the truth was to make him abandon any misplaced feelings for her.
"I didn't want to keep it from you," Meng Jingwei said with a smile. "Although we are friends, our positions are entirely different. Who knows if we'll be at odds the next time we meet. So, let's cherish the present and talk about something else."
The matter of the hidden clan had come to an end, but Xigang was ultimately Antina's husband, taking orders from Antina's father.
The future course of events remained uncertain.
"Alright, I'll listen to you, let's talk about something light," Xiao Cheng sighed, feeling relaxed in Meng Jingwei's company. "By the way, we brought someone back with us from the hidden clan this time."
"Who?"
Meng Jingwei was puzzled.
Could it be someone from the hidden clan?
"He Xiao Lu Yi."
"He Xiao..." Meng Jingwei's voice suddenly rose, then she quickly lowered it, asking softly, "How did you bring her back?"
He Xiao Lu Yi called He Xiao Lan Ya aunt.
If they were to consider their blood relation strictly, He Xiao Lu Yi would have to call her cousin.
But Meng Jingwei really couldn't fathom how they could have brought He Xiao Lu Yi back to the country.
Xiao Cheng leaned slightly forward, whispering to her, "Because of He Xiao Lu Yi's relationship with He Xiao Lan Ya, she was being searched for everywhere by He Ka Yan Yi's men. And after my and Han Jun Yan's boat left the port, we discovered she had secretly hidden herself on our ship. She knelt and begged Han Jun Yan to keep her, and Han Jun Yan, who seemed quite close to her, agreed."
"I see."