Meng Jingwei's expression stiffened, a hint of surprise flickering across her face before vanishing.
"An acquaintance? What acquaintance?"
Vaguely, she felt a premonition.
"You'll know soon enough."
Xiao Cheng placed the milk in front of Meng Jingwei and pushed the plate of sandwiches towards her. "Eat quickly."
He said this indifferently, then lowered his head to eat.
Xiao Cheng's cryptic words made Meng Jingwei apprehensive.
The living room was empty, exceptionally quiet. The two of them finished breakfast in silence.
Even after finishing the sandwiches, Meng Jingwei had no idea what they tasted like, her mind preoccupied, making the food like chewing wax.
She picked up a glass of milk from the table and took a large gulp. As she set the cup down, her gaze involuntarily drifted to Xiao Cheng opposite her. Seeing his slightly stern expression, Meng Jingwei grew more uneasy.
"Let's go," Xiao Cheng tossed the napkin onto the table and stood up, heading outside.
Meng Jingwei followed him silently.
They left the west wing of the castle and walked towards the main building.
Meng Jingwei kept her eyes and ears open, quietly familiarizing herself with the routes and the castle's patrol teams.
To Meng Jingwei's surprise, Xiao Cheng didn't take her to the main building but instead to the watchtower next to it.
The watchtower was tall, with four floor-to-ceiling windows in the small room, equipped with surveillance computers and a telescope.
"What are you bringing me here for?" Meng Jingwei was bewildered.
Though her expression was calm on the surface, her heart was filled with anxiety.
With such tight security, even if she had told Song Ci the exact location where Qing Muye was held yesterday, they might not have been able to get in.
Xiao Cheng ignored Meng Jingwei and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window facing the main entrance of the castle, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "Waiting for someone."
"Waiting... for someone? Who?"
"You'll know when they arrive."
Xiao Cheng's answer was as good as saying nothing.
It only made Meng Jingwei more tormented.
After a long wait, an hour later, a car finally drove slowly into the castle.
"They're here."
Xiao Cheng remarked.
Meng Jingwei immediately looked at the black car driving into the castle. Because the watchtower was high, looking down from above, the distance was too great to see clearly.
She casually picked up a small telescope and looked down. To her surprise, a man in a white suit emerged from the stopped car.
And that person was none other than... Han Junyan!
"How could it be him?"
Meng Jingwei was greatly astonished.
Chu Xue had been looking for Han Junyan for a long time with no news. Who would have thought he would appear in this castle?
"Do you know who designed the trap for Qing Muye?"
Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow at Meng Jingwei, gesturing.
"You mean... it was Han Junyan?"
"Otherwise?"
Xiao Cheng's reply was light and airy, while Meng Jingwei remained lost in shock, unable to recover for a long time.
Her hand involuntarily rested on her wrist, touching the bracelet.
When Han Junyan had left Lancheng, he had specifically found her and given her a bracelet.
Initially, Meng Jingwei thought Han Junyan was simply not of ordinary status but had no ill intentions towards her. However, it seemed she had been too naive.
Without a word, Meng Jingwei turned and walked out of the watchtower, quickly rushing downstairs.
Xiao Cheng calmly stood up and followed her down.
Taking the elevator, they went from the upper floor to the first floor. Since there was no one else, they arrived quickly.
Exiting the watchtower, Meng Jingwei quickened her pace and called out to Han Junyan before he could enter the main hall of the castle, "Han Junyan?"
She called out loudly.
Han Junyan, dressed in a white suit with one hand in his trouser pocket, was ascending the stairs. Hearing the shout, he turned his head and glanced back.
From a distance, he saw Meng Jingwei walking towards him.
Upon seeing Meng Jingwei, Han Junyan's brow furrowed sharply, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He descended the steps and walked towards Meng Jingwei, glancing behind her but seeing no one else.
"What are you doing here?"
Han Junyan was as gentlemanly and refined as ever, courteous and polite, his fair face exuding mature elegance, possessing an innate aura of a noble son, so handsome it was captivating.
But Meng Jingwei was in no mood to care about his appearance at the moment. She opened her mouth to question him, "You..."
She wanted to say something, but then she noticed a stranger following behind Han Junyan, so she suppressed her anger and asked with feigned indifference, "Did you design the trap for Qing Muye and kidnap him?"
Thinking of this, Meng Jingwei secretly cursed Qing Muye for being foolish.
How could he, usually so intelligent, be set up by someone?
"What are you doing here?"
Han Junyan countered with a question instead of answering.
He avoided the question, which was a tacit admission.
Meng Jingwei's face showed unconcealed disappointment, her lips curving slightly. "You ask me? You know this better than I do."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I really don't know."
Han Junyan truly did not know Meng Jingwei would be there, but he also didn't want to say much about Qing Muye's matter.
After speaking, his gaze swept past Meng Jingwei and landed on Xiao Cheng, who was approaching behind her.
The subtle expression on his face instantly changed, and he said coldly, "Is there anything else? If not, I'll be leaving."
"Of course there is. I just want to know why you kidnapped Qing Muye, and then you had to threaten me to come here?"
Meng Jingwei adopted a persistent, shrewish demeanor.
In reality, she was trying to extract information.
This trip to Country C had finally made Meng Jingwei realize that her identity was somewhat unusual. It might as well be an opportunity to probe them.
"You should ask him this question."
Han Junyan slightly lifted his chin, gesturing towards Xiao Cheng behind Meng Jingwei.
Meng Jingwei didn't even look back at Xiao Cheng and changed the subject, "I don't care about Qing Muye's matter. You should let me go."
As she spoke, she glanced back at Xiao Cheng and sighed, "If it really comes to it, when I return to my hometown, I'll take my parents and leave to find a place to hide. Otherwise, if I don't save Qing Muye, his people will retaliate against me."
"You just arrived yesterday, what's the rush,"
Xiao Cheng chuckled coldly. "Since we've met a friend, let's go inside and chat."
Meng Jingwei didn't know what Xiao Cheng was planning, so she didn't respond.
Han Junyan, however, nodded. "Alright."
Thus, the few of them went up the stairs and headed towards the main hall of the castle.
Meng Jingwei was somewhat resigned, having no choice but to follow.
Then, she heard Han Junyan, walking in front, ask Xiao Cheng, "Qing Muye, are you really planning to kill him?"
"I never intended for him to leave alive," Xiao Cheng replied.
Although his voice was very low, Meng Jingwei could vaguely hear it.
In fact, even if he hadn't said it, Meng Jingwei knew Xiao Cheng wouldn't let Qing Muye off easily.