Tang Si finished reading the letter in his hand, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions, an inexpressible jumble of feelings.
He held the letter, his thumb caressing the delicate and beautiful handwriting on the paper, his mind conjuring the image of Shi Ran sitting at her desk, penning the letter to him.
After a long while, his composure restored, he put away the letter, carefully folding it and placing it back into the envelope.
"Ran Bao'er is back in Jiangnan?" he asked Meng Jingwei.
Meng Jingwei answered truthfully, "I bought her a plane ticket back to a small town in Jiangnan."
"That's good," Tang Si sighed in relief. "I have people arranged in Jiangnan. They will take good care of her there."
"The ticket was for Jiangnan, but she may not actually go to Jiangnan," she said.
"What do you mean?"
Tang Si's heart tightened. He looked up at her, "Little Pepper, I consider you a good brother. Don't play games with me!"
When it came to Shi Ran's affairs, Tang Si could not tolerate even the slightest misstep.
"A'wei, what exactly is going on?" Qing Muyu also had no idea.
Meng Jingwei walked over and sat on the sofa, pursing her lips. "Tang Si, I don't want to keep it from you. Actually, if I'm not mistaken, the Zhao family probably already knows that Shi Ran is back in Lancheng. That's why Shi Ran had to leave, and I didn't stop her. I did buy her a plane ticket to a small town in Jiangnan, but after she landed, I also arranged for someone to drive her away. The small town in Jiangnan is not safe, and I couldn't let Shi Ran go back there."
She hadn't stopped Shi Ran from leaving Lancheng, but Shi Ran was determined to go.
Meng Jingwei learned from the private detective agency that the Zhao family had paid money to investigate Shi Ran, and she immediately made arrangements.
"What exactly is going on?" Tang Si asked again.
Meng Jingwei then explained the situation truthfully to Tang Si. After finishing, she said with conviction, "Don't worry, I will ensure Shi Ran's safety. For now, it's best if you don't contact Shi Ran anymore. The Zhao family will be secretly monitoring your every move. If you contact Shi Ran, it will be like harming her."
Just as he feared, it happened.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Tang Si sighed.
"I got the news this morning, and I didn't even tell A'Ye. Otherwise, if he had woken you up, Shi Ran might not have been able to leave so easily." Meng Jingwei knew Tang Si was reluctant to part with Shi Ran and could only keep it from him to help Shi Ran leave.
Qing Muyu gave Meng Jingwei a reproachful look and shook his head, but without any trace of blame.
His eyes held more of a doting affection.
Tang Si's hand tightened around the envelope. "Zhao Wuyan shouldn't have such keen insight. This must be related to Huo Xiaohua."
The thought of that scoundrel Huo Xiaohua made Tang Si grip the envelope even tighter.
Suddenly, he realized something. He looked at the deformed envelope in his hand, then reached out with heartache to smooth it out, brushing away the creases, and very carefully placed the envelope into the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Xiao Si, don't be impulsive."
Qing Muyu, sensing Tang Si's displeased expression, advised him.
Tang Si's expression turned slightly cold. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
His complex gaze fixed on Meng Jingwei, he walked up to her and said earnestly, "Little Pepper, Ran Bao'er's safety is entrusted to you and second brother. You must protect her and the child in her womb."
Tang Si lacked the support of his family and had to seek revenge against the Zhao family behind their backs, essentially fighting alone.
A single person's ability was limited. Tang Si knew that Qing Muyu was also in a precarious situation, so he didn't want to involve him.
Moreover, if he wanted to take revenge, seeking external help would only make him appear incompetent.
"Don't worry, Shi Ran is my responsibility," Qing Muyu stated.
Tang Si glanced back at Qing Muyu and nodded, then turned to Meng Jingwei. "I'm counting on you, Little Pepper."