It was past ten o'clock when I returned from the banquet. The villa area was dimly lit and shrouded in a misty haze.

Summer in Kyushu is often rainy, and the raindrops rattled against the balcony windows. Just as Meng Jiuyi closed them, her phone beeped, notifying her that she had received a transfer of 50,000 yuan.

Attached is a text message.

Ms. Meng, the money has been transferred to your account.

fifty thousand.

Meng Jiuyi was almost laughing in anger; was this person deliberately trying to annoy her? She copied the number and called the other party.

After the connection was established.

"What is your relationship to Tan Yuchen?" she asked.

Jiang Zhou said, "Miss Meng, I am the Third Young Master's assistant, my name is Jiang Zhou."

"Then please tell him that I want to see him."

"Ms. Meng, I believe you have received the money."

Meng Jiuyi said, "Yes, but I have questions that I need him to answer."

Any ill-gotten gains will inevitably come at a price later, especially when it involves people in politics. If anything happens in the future, Chen Zhongli will be the first to suspect her.

She needed to find out exactly what the purpose of tonight's performance was.

Jiang Zhou remained silent.

Meng Jiuyi's face was reflected in the dressing mirror, quiet yet stubborn.

"If I don't even have this right to know, please tell him that I'm not very good at keeping my mouth shut and I'm especially good at tricking people."

Jiang Zhou remained silent for a moment.

"Let me ask."

--

Perhaps because he hadn't been back to the Meng residence for so long, Meng Jiuyi couldn't fall asleep on this bed.

She woke up the next morning, intending to pack her things and leave early, when the maid came up to say that the fourth wife had arrived.

Is Feng Lan here?

Meng Jiuyi paused, "Where's my mom?"

"They've already gone to the main hall."

Meng Jiuyi wanted to do more than just sneer.

This person doesn't come to the temple without a reason. Coming to the Meng residence so early must mean he suffered some mistreatment at the Tan family and came here to make trouble.

And this anger is most likely because of Tan Yuchen, and they are using him as a punching bag.

When she arrived at the main building, Feng Ran and Feng Lan were talking in the living room, while Mo Ruyue and the maid were ignored.

The Feng sisters, who were once quite famous in Kyushu, had two distinct lives. The elder sister, Feng Ran, married into the Meng family for love, while the younger sister, Feng Langao, married into the Tan family.

The two sisters have never had any disagreements over the years. Feng Lan has practically made the Meng residence her own home, visiting it every three to five days.

When Feng Lan saw her, her smile faded somewhat.

"It's only been a month since I last saw Jiu Yi, and she's become even more beautiful."

Meng Jiuyi said gently, "Auntie, you'll look radiant after you go abroad."

Feng Lan didn't reply to her, but complained to Feng Ran, "Speaking of overseas, the weather there is so cold that my knees hurt. If it weren't for the fact that they like it, I would have come back long ago."

Feng Ran said, "Jiuyi's mother has been giving me massages a lot lately, and my shoulder pain has actually gotten a bit better."

"oh?"

Feng Lan glanced at Mo Ruyue beside her and rubbed the back of her neck.

"To be honest, I probably got up too early today, and my shoulders feel uncomfortable. I just wanted someone to massage them."

Some things are understood once they are only half-said. Usually, the maid would come forward to massage her, but now no one is doing so, and Feng Ran doesn't seem to be stopping them.

Meng Jiuyi clenched his fingers, fully able to imagine how Mo Ruyue had spent her days at the Meng residence.

But that's none of her business. Everyone has to bear the consequences of their chosen path.

She thought she was hard-hearted enough, but that was just her opinion.

Mo Ruyue was probably used to it and had already made a move. Meng Jiuyi walked behind Feng Lan.

"Auntie, let me massage you."

Massage is hard on the hands, and Feng Lan didn't call for a stop for a whole hour. Mo Ruyue wanted to switch several times, but she was interrupted before she could say anything.

Afterwards, only Feng Ran and Feng Lan remained in the living room. On the table was the gift Feng Lan had given to Meng Yintong. Feng Ran wanted the maid to wake the young lady up.

"Goodbye, it's only a few o'clock."

Feng Lan stopped her, saying, "Young people are most sleep-deprived. If I don't care about Tongtong, I, as her aunt, will."

Feng Ran asked her why she came so early.

"Don't even mention it, I can't be an eyesore to the old lady."

Feng Lan sneered, "I think I've figured it out. She only has one precious grandson, Tan Yuchen. No one else is good enough for her. That boy is always flirting with women outside. He's obviously not going to amount to anything. I don't know why the old lady spoils him so much."

Seeing her indignant expression, Feng Ran wanted to say a few more words to her.

She used so many tricks to marry into the Tan family, even getting pregnant before marriage. No wonder the old lady didn't like her.

Moreover, Tan Yuchen's mother was the old lady's only beloved daughter, and when the old master Tan was alive, he had already defied all objections and designated him as the heir.

If the old lady doesn't value Tan Yuchen, could it be that she favors her son?

Feng Lan might not want to hear these words, so Feng Ran just advised her to relax.

Feng Lan asked in a low voice, "Brother-in-law didn't touch that other woman again, did he?"

Feng Ran shook her head.

"It's been cold for almost a year now."

"That's why I advised you to bring her back. Men are all the same; no matter how beautiful a woman is, they'll get tired of her. There's an old saying: 'A wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as—'"

Feng Ran's expression gradually changed, and Feng Lan gave an awkward laugh.

"I haven't seen my brother-in-law these past two times. Is there something wrong with the company?"

Feng Ran paused for a moment, then nodded.

Meng's core technology is contracting chip manufacturing; however, the market has long been monopolized, and without sufficient capital injection, its future development is in question.

"Making money is easy. I see many people asking others to submit their applications, hoping to squeeze into this circle."

Feng Lan said, "For example, the Chen family of Xingrong is clearly a nouveau riche who resells gold, but they insist that their ancestors were officials in the capital. If the Meng family extends an olive branch and forms a marriage alliance with them, they would be more than happy to do so."

You mean...?

"That wretched hussy has been eating and drinking at the Meng residence for so many years, she should at least make some contributions, right? Could it be that you really consider her your own child?"

The implication was that Meng Jiuyi should be married off to him. Feng Ran was silent for a moment, then said, "Wouldn't that be too easy on her?"

I don't think so.

Feng Lan whispered in her ear, "There are rumors circulating outside that this young master Chen..."

--

Is this the life you want?

As he left, thinking about everything that had just happened, Meng Jiuyi couldn't help but ask her.

This life of living in a mansion and appearing glamorous on the surface actually meant being a servant to the two sisters, having to ask for money and be subservient to them.

Is this really the kind of life she wants?

Mo Ruyue became flustered because of her words, and even with her hands clasped together, she could not hide the burn scar.

"I--"

"Alright, you don't need to tell me!"

Meng Jiuyi carried her backpack and walked towards the door, hiding all her cautiousness behind her back. But even if she couldn't see, she would still feel uneasy, especially since she knew without looking at the window that Mo Ruyue was standing there, staring at her expectantly.

Over the years, Mo Ruyue has seen Meng's father off countless times in this manner, and now it's her again.

Meng Jiuyi closed his eyes in self-loathing and returned to put the medicine on the table.

"Remember to wipe it off, otherwise no one will care if it gets rotten."

Just as I left the Meng family's house, Jiang Zhou called.

"Miss Meng, the Third Young Master has agreed to meet and talk. I'll come pick you up this afternoon."