Finally, Qing Muye held the umbrella and escorted Meng Jingwei back to the living room entrance.
The woman stood on the steps, while he held the umbrella beneath them, his gaze level with hers. A faint smile graced his handsome face, softening his usual stern demeanor with a touch of gentleness that felt like a warm spring breeze.
For a moment, Meng Jingwei felt as though the wind was no longer cold, and the rain seemed to transform into a romantic backdrop for their brief separation.
Qing Muye left.
He got into the car, and Song Jun started the sedan, driving slowly away from the villa, disappearing into the misty rain.
Meng Tianhua and Du Juan watched their daughter standing at the doorway, seeing Qing Muye off. The couple felt a pang of heartache for reasons they couldn’t quite articulate. They quietly returned to the living room, wanting to give her some space.
Qiao Ziqian's eyes, dark as ink, flickered. He then revealed a simple, childlike smile, "Hehehe, Yi Yi, I want a hug, Yi Yi."
"Okay, little Yi Yi, let your uncle play with you for a while," Du Juan said, entrusting the child to Qiao Ziqian with confidence.
Although Qiao Ziqian had 'lost his memory,' their interactions with him these past few days had led them to treat him like a child, harboring no ill will towards him.
As they all entered the living room, only Meng Jingwei and Shen Liannuo remained outside.
Shen Liannuo saw Meng Jingwei looking lost and dejected, as if her heart had departed with Qing Muye's departure.
She moved beside Meng Jingwei and put an arm around her shoulder. "Oh, come on, you two are like an old married couple. It's just a short separation, you’re making it sound like a farewell of life and death. Jingwei, you need to pull yourself together. After all, my master has entrusted everything to you."
Meng Jingwei, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality. She turned her head and gave Shen Liannuo a sidelong glance. "You only know how to talk about me? Reflect on yourself. Song Jun was looking at you the whole time, wanting to greet you, but you wouldn’t even give him a single glance."
She hadn't felt comfortable saying it earlier, but now that Song Jun was gone, Meng Jingwei saw no need to keep it a secret.
"Really?"
Shen Liannuo, carefree and nonchalant, took out her phone and dialed Song Jun's number.
"Ring, ring, ring…"
The phone rang a few times, and just as Shen Liannuo thought Song Jun wouldn’t answer, the call connected. "Miss Shen."
"Little Junzi, Jingwei said you had something to tell me?"
She asked abruptly.
Her question not only stumped Song Jun but also caused Meng Jingwei, standing nearby, to frown.
She shook her head, looking at Shen Liannuo as if she were dim-witted, marveling, "How can there be a woman as charming as Shen Liannuo in this world, who knows how to stir hearts without realizing it? It's truly... inconceivable."
At that moment, Song Jun was driving.
He had intended to greet Shen Liannuo as they parted, but after observing her several times, he noticed her gaze was fixed on Qing Muye, so he felt awkward speaking up.
"Uh…" Song Jun's mind went blank for a moment, as if his brain had crashed, and he didn't know how to respond.
"What, could it be you can't bear to part with me?" Shen Liannuo giggled.
She spoke to Song Jun with her usual frankness, but for some reason, the car lurched violently. Qing Muye, sitting in the passenger seat, shot her a sidelong glance.
Song Jun's cheeks flushed as he avoided his boss's sharp gaze. "Miss Shen, don't... don't talk nonsense. I just wanted to tell you that while the boss is away, please take good care of the young madam."
"Nonsense, do I need you to tell me that?" Shen Liannuo scoffed. "If you have that kind of concern, you'd be better off thinking about how to protect my master. Little Junzi, let me tell you, if anything happens to my master when he returns, I'll be the first one to not let you off the hook."
Song Jun: "…"