Chapter 208 Don't Trust Her

Meng Hongwen has rejected all visiting invitations since the school anniversary, saying that it was to avoid suspicion in order to get promoted, but in fact he was just enjoying watching the fight between the two tigers.

The servant led Yan Baiqing to the backyard. The magnolia tree that had been transplanted with great effort suddenly fell ill and was showing signs of decline. Meng Hongwen was wearing a coat and watching with his hands behind his back, looking at the tree, a sad scene.

"It can't survive." Yan Baiqing stood behind him and said in a dull tone, "Chop it down."

Meng Hongwen paused, "You are so cruel."

Yan Baiqing brushed off his trouser legs and said, "I'm not being cruel. If you give, you'll gain. Your backyard is so big, and now you've lost a magnolia tree. I'll send someone to repair your garden. There's no need to be sad."

Meng Hongwen didn't want to play dumb with him. He turned around and sat on the recliner. "I know you are filial. You should clean up what needs to be cleaned up and stop what needs to be stopped."

Yan Baiqing raised his eyebrows, "If we stop now, won't our efforts be wasted?"

"The province has been keeping a close eye on me lately, so I can't show up much. If things get out of hand, it won't be good for anyone."

"If I stop, will Jingyan give up?" He took the teacup handed to him by the nanny and carelessly poured it under the magnolia tree. "He investigated things he shouldn't have investigated. I'm doing this for your own good."

Meng Hongwen looked at him, "What about Chen Qing?"

"Chen Qing is in my hands. She will know whatever I tell her." Yan Baiqing put his mobile phone on the tea table and played the recording.

It was the part where Chen Qing denounced Jiang Jingyan at the Municipal Bureau.

Every word is heartbreaking.

Meng Hongwen laughed out loud and pointed his index finger at the air, "I really underestimated Mr. Yan. He played these people in the palm of his hand."

Yan Baiqing ignored the joke, "Jing Yan wouldn't be confused about this matter. He didn't alert Jiang Zhongyi in the past few years because he knew someone else was behind the case. He also wouldn't tell Chen Qing. If he did, it would be equivalent to putting her in danger."

"Have you never thought about getting the truth for Chen Qing, making the beauty smile, and making her follow you willingly?"

"Jiang Zhongyi, who took the blame for the old case, has appeared. Chen Qing came to ask me to help her fight against the Jiang family and stayed at the Yan family."

Meng Hongwen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "You, you are even better than your teacher."

Yan Baiqing curled the corners of his lips, with a secretive expression, "I dare not."

"In that case, let's wait for public opinion to ferment for a few days and then let Xu Jing go."

He frowned and said nothing.

Meng Hongwen looked up, "What?"

"Are you reluctant, or are you just thinking about our past relationship?"

He looked displeased and snorted coldly, "What old friendship? Don't forget, you and he are brothers, and I am his teacher. Do you really want to make a fool of yourself?"

The sun pierced through the clouds, brightening the backyard and raising the temperature.

Yan Baiqing slowly took off his coat, like a gentleman. "I know you care about your reputation, but Jing Yan's fall from power has made Jiang Zhongyi your enemy. You were originally secure in your position in the province, but he filed a report and intervened. Aren't you worried?"

Meng Hongwen stopped talking.

Yan Baiqing saw through his thoughts completely and continued to poke at his soft spot, "You know Jiang Zhongyi better than I do. He suddenly competed with you for the same quota. Is it for power?"

Meng Hongwen suddenly straightened his back, his expression solemn, "That's right, Lao Jiang didn't mean that. He is the most honest and upright person, and he is targeting me."

"Will you still be merciful and let Jingyan go?"

He was silent for a few seconds, waved his hands weakly, and sighed deeply, "You can do whatever you want, but don't push too hard. After all, I was the one who brought Jingyan up. If I do nothing and word gets out that these two students are fighting to the death, it won't look good."

Yan Baiqing turned his back to him and sneered silently, "There's one more thing."

Meng Hongwen squinted his eyes and examined it.

"Xu Jing pawned the Nanhong bracelet at the bank. You'd better not ask about the subsequent matters."

"You want the bank?" He smiled meaningfully. "Not long ago, you took 20% of my power from me, and now you want to take the bank too?"

Yan Baiqing bent over to pour tea, the hot steam obscuring his eyes. "I'm doing this to protect your reputation when necessary."

"Bai Qing, you are too impatient."

He did not argue, but watched the tea slowly flow into the cup from the spout of the kettle.

Meng Hongwen didn't drink the tea, and stood up to go back to the house. "When the time is right, what's mine will be yours."

Yan Baiqing stood there, with no displeasure on his face.

After a long time, he picked up the warm tea and drank it all in one gulp.

Hua Mei listened to the whole thing in the corridor and followed him out.

As they drove out of the manor, she held the steering wheel, her tone extremely cautious, "You mentioned the bank, and you offended Mr. Meng."

Yan Baiqing lowered the car window halfway and knocked on the armrest occasionally, "What do you mean?"

"I was brought out of the bank by Mr. Meng. You can't imagine the effort he put into it. From how he hid Ji Mingyin there, it's clear that the bank was his last line of defense."

"That's why I asked him for it."

Huamei was puzzled and looked through the rearview mirror.

Yan Baiqing seemed to be in a good mood, staring out the window, "Do you know why the teacher likes magnolia?"

"He didn't mention it."

"Because Mrs. Jiang likes it."

Hua Meixin's heart skipped a beat and he remained silent.

Yan Baiqing spoke slowly, "He can transplant the best magnolia trees, but if their roots rot and threaten to corrode the soil in the backyard, he can uproot them. The same goes for the bank. Not only will he abandon it, he'll also toss it into someone else's yard. You can only see his deep affection for Zhong Manwei and his importance to the bank, but compared to his own future and interests, those are just a few remnants."

"Are you afraid he'll set you up?"

He stroked his cufflinks, smiling faintly, "Teacher, you still think you're so smart, but you don't know that Jingyan will figure it out sooner or later. If I ask for the money bank, you'll control it even tighter, and you'll want to take full control. By then, everything will have nothing to do with me."

Hua Mei took a deep breath and silently controlled the steering wheel.

Halfway through the journey, Yan Baiqing suddenly asked her to stop.

On the side of the road was the old house of the Chen family. There was a dessert shop outside the gate of the community. He remembered that Chen Qing had come here specifically to buy something last time.

"wait for me."

This shop's coconut pastries are all freshly made. Shortly after opening in the morning, a scattered line formed at the foot of the stairs.

Yan Baiqing stood at the back, stretched out his collar to block the wind and lit a cigarette.

As he exhaled the smoke, he laughed, laughing at himself for having so much patience to make a woman happy.

Behind him were the bustling crowds of passers-by and cars, and in front of him was a slowly moving team, but he enjoyed it all, falling into this illusory warmth.

When he returned to Yan's house, Chen Qing was sitting in the living room, dressed neatly.

"Are you awake or not?" Yan Baiqing lifted the bag in his hand and said, "Eat something."

Chen Qing took it and asked, "How do you know I like to eat this?"

He took off his coat and handed it to the servant, "I just bought it when I was passing by. If you like it, ask the nanny to make it."

“This is a long-established shop, different from the others.”

Yan Baiqing watched her unpack the box with a doting look on his face. "What's wrong with your ears?"

"I was wearing an ear clip during the performance and forgot to take it off."

He reached out and hooked her earlobe, and her fair and tender skin was swollen and looked particularly delicate.

Chen Qing stood up and avoided his touch without leaving a trace, "Try it."

Yan Baiqing glanced at the box she brought and brushed it away indifferently. "I'm going to take a shower. Eat less. It's hard to digest."

Chen Qing listened to the footsteps disappearing on the second floor, and his flattering smile disappeared completely.

After Huamei parked the car, she stayed on the basement floor.

After a long while, the man came downstairs with two pearl earrings in his hands.

"Aren't you going to monitor Chen Qing anymore?"

He was wearing a beige home suit, as smooth as jade, and handed it to her, "Qing'er is not used to wearing it. Unless you are performing, you won't wear it again."

Hua Mei put it away and said, "I'll find another way."

"Adjust the screen and watch it again."

She pulled out her phone and said, "This equipment was ordered by Mr. Meng from Huafang Technology. There won't be any mistakes."

Yan Baiqing poured a glass of wine and said nothing.

"You don't trust her?"

He sank into the leather sofa, a gloomy and cruel look lingering between his brows.