For a moment, only Meng Jingwei remained in the vast study.
The empty room, however, inexplicably put immense psychological pressure on her, making it difficult to breathe.
"Hoo~"
She let out a sigh and walked to the desk, pulling open a drawer. Inside were Qing Muye's favorite cigarettes, specially customized and made with top-grade tobacco grown by themselves.
Staring at the cigarettes for a while, Meng Jingwei reached out, took one, and bit it. She lit it with a lighter and began to smoke.
Taking a deep drag, the aroma of tobacco coursed through her body, circulated within and was exhaled.
She sat in the executive chair, watching the rising smoke, and frowned, her mind heavy with worries.
Regarding the current situation, Meng Jingwei had three primary concerns.
First was the safety of Qing Muye, who was far away in Country C; second was the safety of their family; and third was the auction of Zhuo Rui Technology tomorrow.
Not a single mistake could be made in any of these three matters.
Yet, she hadn't considered her own personal safety at all.
Unbeknownst to her, a heavy rain began to fall on the overcast Lancheng. The dense raindrops pattered against the glass windows, inexplicably making her feel restless.
Meng Jingwei walked to the window, gazing at the water droplets that had condensed on the glass, blurring the glittering lights of Lancheng into an exceptionally brilliant spectacle.
Knock, knock, knock—
Someone knocked on the study door from outside.
Before Meng Jingwei could speak, Song Ci pushed the door open and walked in. "Young Madam, Tang Nian is here."
As he spoke, Song Ci sniffed the air, clearly detecting the lingering scent of tobacco in the study.
"Mm."
Meng Jingwei responded, turned, and walked to the table with the cigarette still in her hand, pressing it into the ashtray and stubbing it out.
That scene felt somewhat unfamiliar to Song Ci.
He had assumed Meng Jingwei didn't smoke. Now he realized she could smoke, but simply chose not to.
Meng Jingwei walked out of the study in her high heels, but instead of going to the living room immediately, she went to the adjacent bathroom to tidy her appearance in the mirror.
Bang, crash!
A loud noise erupted from the living room, the sound of something being smashed.
Meng Jingwei applied lipstick, lightly touching her slightly pale lips, then pursed them, smearing the lipstick. Only then did she close the lipstick case and turn towards the living room.
In the living room, Tang Nian stood at the forefront, with eight bodyguards beside him and over a dozen bodyguards stationed at the doorway. Each of them was burly, their well-defined muscles indicating they were formidable fighters.
Her gaze swept impassively over the shattered coffee table in the living room and the nearby fish tank. Shards of glass and a pool of water were scattered across the floor. The several Arowana fish she had meticulously cared for were still struggling on the ground, resisting.
Meng Jingwei raised an eyebrow and her cool gaze landed on Tang Nian. "If you have something to say, come at me. Why take your anger out on a few fish?"
As she spoke, she walked to the sofa in her high heels, crossed her legs, and leaned back against the sofa cushions, looking at Tang Nian with composure.
Her unhurried demeanor was so impressive that even Song Ci felt inferior.
Tang Nian held a gun, aiming it directly at Meng Jingwei. "Release my wife!"
As his words fell, twenty or so bodyguards behind him suddenly drew their guns, their muzzles pointing directly at Meng Jingwei.
This scene made even Song Ci's face turn pale. He inwardly regretted listening to the young madam and dismissing everyone earlier.
He drew his own pistol and pointed it at Tang Nian. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Song Ci, put your gun down."