Du Juan’s question blurted out, catching Qing Mu Ye off guard.
His dish-washing motion paused slightly, and he instinctively glanced at Meng Jing Wei.
Meng Jing Wei immediately pulled Du Juan along. "Mom, what nonsense are you asking..."
"When looking for a wife, naturally, you look for someone you like."
Qing Mu Ye straightened up, facing Du Juan directly, and answered her question seriously. "I don't know about others, but with the current status of my Qing family, we don't need to resort to a marriage of convenience."
He understood the implied meaning behind Du Juan's words from earlier.
And his words also made Du Juan understand his intentions.
"That's what you say. But the world is full of temptations, especially for wealthy people like you, with all sorts of tricks. I'm afraid once the freshness of a relationship fades, that spark will be gone."
Du Juan gazed at Qing Mu Ye without blinking, her hand still holding Meng Jing Wei's.
Listening to Du Juan's words, Meng Jing Wei felt a sense of unease.
Even a rural, down-to-earth person knew about the so-called 'freshness period' of love. She really believed her mother was worrying herself sick over her.
Thinking of this, Meng Jing Wei was deeply touched.
Qing Mu Ye looked directly at Du Juan. He casually picked up a rag to wipe his hands and walked over to Du Juan, then looked at Meng Jing Wei beside her.
Since things had reached this point, it was better to speak directly.
"Auntie, we haven't met many times, so you might not know much about me. But I, Qing Mu Ye, am never fickle."
"Then what about you and Li Yun'er?" Du Juan asked abruptly.
Meng Jing Wei froze instantly.
She had been leaning against Du Juan, acting spoiled, but upon hearing this, she stiffened and sat up straight. "Mom, you... you know about this too?"
She had initially thought that news in the countryside was slow, and that middle-aged people didn't use Weibo, so they wouldn't be aware of such gossip.
But she never expected her own mother to know everything.
"That was just a misunderstanding. More than half a year ago, I was in a car accident, and Ah Wei saved me. But Li Yun'er took Ah Wei's credit, claiming to be my savior..."
Qing Mu Ye did not shy away from the topic and directly explained the cause and effect to Du Juan.
However, Meng Jing Wei was afraid Qing Mu Ye wouldn't explain it clearly, so she interrupted him and explained to Du Juan, "Mom, actually, Li Yun'er stole the credit for me saving Qing Mu Ye, deliberately approached him, then got him drunk and pretended to have had a relationship with him. Afterwards, she claimed to be pregnant and forced Qing Mu Ye to marry her. I just didn't expect that the truth would eventually come out, and Qing Mu Ye called off the engagement."
Speaking of it, Li Yun'er's actions were indeed extremely despicable.
Meng Jing Wei truly didn't want her mother to misunderstand Qing Mu Ye.
However, after she finished explaining, she realized that both Du Juan and Qing Mu Ye were staring at her intently.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
She pursed her lips, wondering if she had said something wrong.
Qing Mu Ye's lips curved into a smile, filled with relief.
The fact that Ah Wei was willing to explain for him meant she had feelings for him.
Similarly, Du Juan, hearing Meng Jing Wei explain so anxiously, naturally knew that Meng Jing Wei had feelings for Qing Mu Ye.
After all, she was her own daughter; how could she hide her feelings from her?
"Do you really like Qing Mu Ye?"
Du Juan questioned Meng Jing Wei directly.
After all, she was no longer young, and marriage was a natural progression.
Back at Saint Dè Hospital in Lan Cheng, it was Qing Mu Ye who had arranged for an international medical team to treat Meng Tian Hua, which had helped him wake up from his coma.
Du Juan had always remembered this kindness.
Therefore, she quite liked Qing Mu Ye.
"Ah? Uh... I... I..." Meng Jing Wei hadn't expected Du Juan to ask so directly. With Qing Mu Ye present, she blushed and stammered, unable to answer for a long time.
"Auntie, Ah Wei has given me a three-month trial period, which can also be considered an observation period. She said if I feel alright during this time, she's willing to date me."
Qing Mu Ye directly disclosed the situation between him and Meng Jing Wei and continued, "I know that you and Uncle dote on Ah Wei, so this period can also be considered your evaluation period for me."
One had to say, Qing Mu Ye was a very straightforward person.
His actions were simple and direct, without any beating around the bush, and he disliked being secretive.
This straightforwardness made Du Juan admire him even more.
"Hey, Qing Mu Ye, what are you doing? I haven't agreed to you yet, and you're already telling my mom about this?" Meng Jing Wei shot him a glance.
She felt this scoundrel was too cunning, acting first and reporting later.
With him performing so excellently in front of her mother, if she wanted to go back on her word, her parents would probably scold her for being ungrateful.
"What, you still want to hide it from me and your dad? You silly girl, how can you be less honest than Mu Ye?" Du Juan poked Meng Jing Wei's temple and reprimanded her.
"Fine, I haven't even agreed to date Qing Mu Ye, and you're already siding with him? Who is your real daughter? Hmph."
Meng Jing Wei pouted, snorted, and turned to leave.
To say she was leaving would be more accurately described as 'fleeing in disarray.'
Leaving the kitchen, she went directly to the courtyard outside, covering her face with her hands, feeling a burning heat.
Oh, heavens.
What was going on?
Didn't she say she was going to break up with Qing Mu Ye? How did it turn into Qing Mu Ye coming to her house to talk about marriage with her mother?
She raised her hand to pat her forehead, then turned and tiptoed back to the kitchen door to eavesdrop.
She was afraid her mother would be swayed by that cunning man, Qing Mu Ye.
If that happened, she wouldn't even know if she had been 'sold.'
In the kitchen, Du Juan stood with her hands clasped, her expression kind and amiable. "Mu Ye, I know you're a good child. But you know our family's situation. Born in the countryside, from a poor family, Jing Wei has had many ailments since childhood, and she's far from someone who grew up in the city like you. Although you are excellent, I also know that my daughter isn't worthy of you. I'm afraid if she marries you, she might suffer some grievances."
Other mothers would be ecstatic if their daughters found a wealthy and good match.
But Du Juan only wished for Meng Jing Wei to be happy and joyful.
Her words deeply touched Meng Jing Wei.
"Auntie, please rest assured, as long as I, Qing Mu Ye, am here, I will never let Jing Wei suffer any grievances," Qing Mu Ye vowed to her.
"I believe you now, but the days are still long. Who knows what will happen in the future?"
Du Juan clapped her hands and sighed deeply. "She's my only daughter. I just hope she can live a worry-free life. Even if she's not wealthy, I want her to live a simple and happy life."
"I apologize, Auntie. I truly cannot give you a hundred percent guarantee. However, if Ah Wei is willing to be with me, I am willing to offer a betrothal gift of one billion, along with ten villas. I will sign a contract stating that if I betray her one day, I will leave with nothing."