"Fine," Jing Meng nodded, a dark glint flashing through her eyes. She had been worrying about finding a way back into the Pei Household to find news of her mother and brother.
Seeing her agree without hesitation, a faint, almost imperceptible curve touched the corner of Pei Shiyi's lips.
The banquet a few days away was a vital business event where the city's elite would gather. For such an occasion, the key members of the family could not possibly be absent. He wanted to bring Jing Meng precisely to declare to the world that she was Pei Shiyi's woman.
A wave of weakness and dizziness washed over her again. Frustrated, Jing Meng rubbed her temples. Before she could speak, Pei Shiyi cut in. "If you're feeling unwell, go rest on the second floor first."
Jing Meng gave a soft hum of agreement and prepared to go upstairs, but Pei Shiyi suddenly caught her by the wrist. The heat from his broad palm nearly scalded her, and she instinctively jerked her hand away.
He hadn't expected her to be so resistant to his touch. Pei Shiyi slowly withdrew his hand, his face devoid of emotion as he looked at her. "Don't misunderstand. Your injury simply needs treatment."
As he spoke, he pointed toward Jing Meng's forehead.
"Thank you," she said, looking at him with an inexplicable sense of tension. "I can manage myself."
Pei Shiyi gave a toneless response. His gaze swept over the injuries on her body before he turned and left without another word.
Looking at his retreating figure, Jing Meng felt a headache coming on. She sighed helplessly and headed up to the second floor.
After forcing herself through her morning routine and treating the wound on her forehead with a first-aid kit, Jing Meng finally exhaled, leaning back and letting herself sink into the soft duvet.
The tracking locations for her brother and mother both pointed to the Pei Household. How much was the Pei Family involved in this? What role were they playing? Or was the Pei Family the target from the very beginning?
Too many questions flashed through her mind, a tangle of clues that made it impossible to find a clear path. She thought for a long time, her head feeling heavy and throbbing with pain.
"Meng Meng, do you have a fever?"
Just as she was about to close her eyes, a Meat Bun suddenly pounced. Chubby little hands covered her forehead, and a sweet, soft voice filled with concern reached her ears.
Jing Meng looked at the suddenly appearing Pei Cheng and blinked in surprise. Catching a glimpse of the wide-open door, she felt a wave of helplessness. This Little Bun was far too clever; she hadn't even noticed when he'd snuck in.
"I'm fine." Jing Meng smiled and pinched Pei Cheng's chubby cheek before sitting up. "When did you get in here?"
"Just now." Pei Cheng snuggled into Jing Meng's arms, stealing a peek at the door as he whispered, "Daddy told me not to bother you. We have to be very quiet so he doesn't find out."
His precocious manner made Jing Meng chuckle. She tapped his nose, her tone light with defeat. "Oh, you."
Pei Cheng tucked himself into the bed as if he owned the place, his small body pressed against Jing Meng. Feeling her warmth, he suddenly thought that having Meng Meng as his mommy wouldn't be so bad.
"Meng Meng, promise you won't leave again, okay?" Pei Cheng's voice was muffled. Jing Meng worriedly pulled back the covers to find him looking quite serious. "I... I miss my mommy."
Stunned, Jing Meng looked into his eyes and reached out to stroke his head. Pei Cheng swatted her hand away, his gloomy mood instantly vanishing. "Daddy said if you pat my head, I won't grow tall!"
As he spoke, he reached back to grab her hand.
As they played together, the tension Jing Meng had been feeling dissipated, and the smile on her face was no longer forced.
Noticing her fatigue, Pei Cheng said thoughtfully, "You're feeling unwell, Meng Meng. Why don't you sleep early?"
A wave of warmth filled Jing Meng's heart. She pulled him into a hug, savoring the brief moment of peace. "Thank you, Cheng Cheng baby. I'm okay. Let's sleep."
Her mind eased, Jing Meng slept without dreams. When morning light broke, she stretched contentedly. Looking at the still-sleeping Pei Cheng, she quietly got out of bed, got ready, and prepared to handle some important business.
The Pei Family was a prominent clan; even for a simple family dinner, one had to dress properly to avoid gossip. Distinguished families usually had their clothing custom-made. With time being tight, she needed to go out and buy a gown immediately.
Just as she pulled open the door, something bumped against her leg. Looking down, she saw Pei Cheng appearing out of nowhere. "I want to go with you."
Feeling helpless, Jing Meng softened her voice. "Cheng Cheng baby, be good. I have things to do."
Pei Cheng's little face crumpled into a frown.
"Your father will worry if he can't find you later."
Jing Meng knelt down and stroked his head. Pei Shiyi had already left for work.
Being the clever child he was, Pei Cheng's eyes darted around as he pouted. "You're leaving me here all alone? What if my daddy can't come get me?"
That left Jing Meng speechless. With no better option, she took on the responsibility of babysitting. She buckled Pei Cheng into a child seat and drove to the largest shopping mall in the city.
The mall was crowded, filled with negligent parents who let their children run wild for their own convenience.
Jing Meng walked toward the elevator without looking left or right. Suddenly, a small figure darted past, colliding with her and Pei Cheng. The impact sent the small figure stumbling, and they fell to the ground.
Ignoring the weight of the foot that had stepped on her, Jing Meng rushed to check if Pei Cheng was hurt.
Compared to the other child, who burst into loud wails immediately after falling, Pei Cheng was much more composed. "You're the one who hit us. Why are you the one crying?"
His words were reasonable, but the other child's mother, who had just arrived, wasn't having it. She pointed at Pei Cheng and started shouting. "My child has always been quiet and well-behaved! You're just trying to shift the blame and avoid responsibility, aren't you?"
Her audacity in flipping the script left Jing Meng speechless. Before she could retort, Pei Cheng suddenly seemed possessed by a drama king. His eyes turned red, and he sobbed, "You're being unreasonable! He clearly ran into me and Meng Meng! And Meng Meng has a little sister in her tummy!"
A little sister?
Jing Meng looked like she'd been struck by lightning. This kid...
Most people tended to be more cautious around pregnant women.
The other mother instinctively took a step back, but she remained stubborn. "Don't you dare talk nonsense to me. I've been through this before. Does that belly look like it has a baby in it?"
Since the play had already begun, there was no reason to back down. Jing Meng puffed out her stomach slightly, putting on the proud expression of a woman favored for her pregnancy. "Did you show at three months?"
The question left the woman speechless. The surrounding crowd began to whisper. Her face turned pale and then flushed with embarrassment.
Unable to find a comeback, the woman suddenly stepped forward as if to strike.
Jing Meng's eyes turned cold. Suddenly, she spotted several burly men pushing through the crowd toward them. Her brows knit together as a sudden sense of unease rose in her heart.
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