"Jingwei, why don't you stay at the old house for a couple of days and keep me company?" Madam Qing said to Meng Jingwei.
Meng Jingwei knew she had offended Qing Mu Ye, and she also didn't want to humble herself before the Li family for the sake of her adoptive parents. Therefore, her only hope now was Madam Qing. After all, Madam Qing didn't seem to harbor any ill will towards her.
"I don't understand, why do you want me to stay with you?"
"Mu Ye 'bullied' you, so he should take responsibility for you. Having you stay at the old house for a few days will also allow me to get to know you better."
As she spoke, Madam Qing remembered Meng Jingwei's concerns and added, "Your parents have already engaged the best experts from abroad to treat them. I believe they will recover soon."
Meng Jingwei was deeply grateful, feeling she had no way to repay such kindness. However, she could only comfort herself with the fact that she had saved Qing Mu Ye, and Madam Qing had saved her adoptive parents, thus making them even.
"Thank you, Grandma." She said with genuine gratitude.
For the next three days, Meng Jingwei accompanied Madam Qing, practicing Tai Chi in the mornings, tending to the flowers in the garden in the late mornings, and making pastries or playing chess in the afternoons. Time flew by when it was filled with such activities.
On the morning of the fourth day, after having breakfast with Madam Qing, Meng Jingwei packed her belongings. She went downstairs with her luggage and nodded slightly to Madam Qing, who was sitting on the sofa. "Grandma, I'm leaving. Thank you for your warm hospitality."
Madam Qing stood up and walked over to her, smiling kindly. "You have such a cheerful disposition, my dear. Being with you has made me feel much younger, this old woman." In Meng Jingwei's presence, Madam Qing shed all traces of the matriarch's authority, radiating a warmth more akin to that of a grandmother.
"Grandma, you must always stay young at heart. I'm leaving now, bye-bye."
"Mhm, remember to visit this old woman when you have time."
"Uh… Hahaha… Okay, Grandma." Meng Jingwei replied awkwardly. Whether she could visit the old house again wasn't up to her.
After leaving the old house, Madam Qing arranged for a driver to take her to the city center of Lan City. As they passed a pharmacy, she told the driver, "Please stop, I'll get off here."
The car stopped, and she got out, saying to the driver, "Uncle, please thank Grandma for me."
"Certainly, Miss Meng." The driver replied and turned the car around to head back.
Meng Jingwei, with her crossbody bag slung over her shoulder, hurried into the pharmacy. A pharmacist immediately approached her, asking, "Hello, what can I help you with?"
"Please give me the best emergency contraceptive pill." Meng Jingwei said to the pharmacist in a rush. She had been staying at the Qing family's old house for the past few days and hadn't had the chance to leave. Now that she was out, she wanted to take the pill as soon as possible. If she got pregnant, everything would be ruined.
The pharmacist handed her a box of pills, saying, "This is the most effective emergency contraceptive within 72 hours."
Meng Jingwei took the medication and turned to pay. As she did, she paused. "What did you say? 72 hours?"
"Yes, the sooner the better. After three days, the medication is no longer effective."
"Only three days?"
"Yes."
Meng Jingwei's mind reeled, and she was stunned. She then looked down at the instructions on the box. Indeed, it was a 72-hour emergency contraceptive; it wouldn't work if taken after that period. She had never used such medication before and had naively believed that emergency contraceptives were effective for up to a week. No wonder Madam Qing had kept her at the Qing family's house for three days.
She returned the medicine to the pharmacist and walked out of the pharmacy with tears welling up in her eyes. Walking alone on the street, she took a moment to console herself. What was there to fear? If she got pregnant, she could always have an abortion! Whatever comes, we'll deal with it. There was nothing to be afraid of!
*Screech!*
Just then, a car by the roadside suddenly braked sharply and stopped in front of her. Before Meng Jingwei could react, she was pushed into the car.
"Hey, you… you… Who are you people? In broad daylight, you're openly kidnapping someone. This is illegal!" She struggled a few times and warned, "Stop the car, let me out immediately, or I'll call the police."
"Miss Meng would be wise to cooperate and not cause trouble for herself." Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the driver's seat.
Meng Jingwei turned her head and craned her neck to look. She was shocked to see that the driver was Song Ci. So, Qing Mu Ye had sent someone to kidnap her? As expected, acting cool for a moment leads to endless regret. She had only just left the Qing residence, and Qing Mu Ye had already apprehended her. He was certainly quick to act.
"Song Ci, stop the car immediately, or I'll call Grandma."
"I advise Miss Meng to have some self-awareness."
Meng Jingwei: "..."
Self-awareness to willingly go to her doom? She thought about her parents who were still in the Qing family's hospital and dared not struggle any further.
About ten minutes later, she was brought to the 38th floor of the 'Ye Se' club, to Qing Mu Ye's private room.
"Boss, Miss Meng has been brought here." Song Ci brought Meng Jingwei before Qing Mu Ye. "I'll take my leave now." He turned and left.
Meng Jingwei clutched the strap of her bag and looked at Qing Mu Ye, who was working on his laptop on his lap. His gaze was focused on the screen, and his long, slender fingers danced across the keyboard. His cold demeanor, coupled with an innate aura of authority, made him appear like a god residing in the heavens, judging all beings. Especially his face, with its perfect, chiseled contours and sculpted features, was a flawless masterpiece crafted by God, stunningly beautiful and utterly perfect. Even Meng Jingwei, who was usually immune to the charms of handsome men, couldn't help but steal a few glances.
"Have you seen enough?" The man suddenly closed his laptop and placed it on the desk, asking her abruptly.
"Who, who's looking at you?" Meng Jingwei pouted. "You're too conceited."
The man, wearing a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, stood up and fixed his sharp gaze on her. "Do you think that with Grandma backing you up, you can act so presumptuously in front of me?"
Facing the overwhelming pressure emanating from him, Meng Jingwei nervously swallowed. "No… no, absolutely not."
"You're backing down now? Weren't you just saying at the old house that you wanted to have my child and marry me?" This damned woman dared to provoke him. She was courting death.
"Hahaha…" Meng Jingwei's face paled slightly, and she let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. She involuntarily took a step back. "Young Master Qing, please don't be angry. I was just joking that day, hahaha, just joking." She kept retreating, but Qing Mu Ye grabbed her collar. "I, Qing Mu Ye, detest being threatened the most. Congratulations, you've managed to do it."
Though he said "congratulations," seeing Qing Mu Ye's icy expression, Meng Jingwei felt as if she were looking at a corpse. Her heart leaped into her throat from fear. "Young Master Qing, I was just joking about everything." Oh my god, this was terrifying.
"Whether you were joking or not isn't something you can prove with just your words."
"Then… then what… what do I need to do to prove it?" Terrified out of her wits, Meng Jingwei stuttered.
Qing Mu Ye raised his ink-dark eyebrows. "Do you truly want to prove that everything you said at the Qing residence was a joke?"