"Why?"

As for what happened on that rooftop, Meng Jiuyi looked at Gao Xianyue, who had a cigarette between her fingers and a bright smile, with a stranger's gaze.

With each step he took toward her, his feet sank as if filled with water.

Gao Xian Yue's beautiful face remained completely calm as she flicked her fingers to clear her cigarette.

"Has your withdrawal application been approved yet? No, those people at school always pretend to be busy, dragging things out for a month—"

Meng Jiuyi hissed, "I'm asking you why?!"

She had always been quiet and reserved at the school, but this was the first time she had lost control and questioned him. Her throat was sore from the pounding, and each beat of her tongue felt like it was squeezing her heart.

Her only friend at the school.

Knowing she was unhappy, Meng Jiuyi would listen to her even when she was exhausted in the middle of the night. She knew nothing about music, yet she was willing to accompany her to choose cello lessons, and her phone was always open to Gao Xianyue.

But the deepest wound was inflicted by her.

"Why ask so many questions?"

Gao Xian Yue exhaled a puff of smoke from her red lips, "Jiu Yi, one day you will thank me. This world is full of wicked people, I just let you see it in advance."

Later, when you can handle the ill intentions around you with ease, you'll remember me and think, "Oh, so she taught me that!" "A pinky promise between best friends is something kindergarten teachers teach; how can you still believe that?"

Meng Jiuyi's eyes were bloodshot, and he wished he could pounce on her and bite her to death.

"Why are you staring at me like that? Do you think I'm the one who caused your current misery?"

Gao Xian Yue whispered in her ear, "You shouldn't blame your mother for being a mistress, or blame your background. No matter what, you can't blame me."

Only those who care about you know how to hurt you.

Previously, she had kept her family background a closely guarded secret, but after being moved by his kindness, she finally opened up to him, only to have it become a sharp knife aimed at her.

That suffocating feeling and hatred, which seemed to have carved mountains and crossed seas, could still be clearly felt six years later.

The repeated calls brought Meng Jiuyi back to her senses. She turned her head and saw her father frowning at her.

"What are you thinking about? You're not responding when I talk to you."

The Mercedes-Benz van had already wound its way into the depths of the alley, and a white guard post came into view.

Meng Yintong couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You came to the old lady looking so lost and confused. She must have thought we did something to you."

Today is the day to visit the Tan family. After the security guard at the guard post confirmed the identity, the parking barrier slowly rose.

Meng Jiuyi's eyes curved into a smile. "Don't worry, sister. No one has your brilliant mind."

Meng Yintong wanted to tear her mouth apart.

Feng Ran patted her hand and asked her what He Zhizhou's mother had given her when she visited the He family last time.

Her attention was instantly diverted as Meng Yintong showed off the jade bracelet on her wrist, an engagement gift from He Zhizhou's mother, which she loved dearly.

Feng Ran's smile was somewhat forced, having heard that the He family possessed an imperial green jadeite that was specially passed down to their daughter-in-law.

Was she put under Madam He's spell? Or did she feel that her status as a daughter was insufficient?

Mencius' father continued from where he left off, asking, "Are you feeling unwell? You don't seem to be in good spirits today."

Seeing his furrowed brows and deeply concerned expression, Meng Jiuyi used to think it was genuine affection, but after sobering up, she realized it was because he was afraid she would cause trouble and hinder his efforts to curry favor with the powerful.

It was the image of Meng's father that made her understand that she should never think of relying on a man.

Meng Jiuyi turned his face away and said calmly, "It's nothing."

She will find a way to get Gao Xian Yue back to China, to seek justice for herself and for Sui Sui!

The Tan Family Mansion Orange Garden is said to be located in the bustling area of ​​the Second Ring Road hutongs, but the car passed through three checkpoints and circled around to an endless golf course, with a Baroque-style three-tiered fountain at the end of the road.

The car rounded the fountain roundabout, and suddenly, a garden villa of unknown heights came into view.

Even though Meng's father and his family had visited the Tan family the year Feng Lan entered their home, they were still amazed by the spaciousness and uniqueness of the place.

The servants led them inside, and as they passed through the flower hall, they heard several bursts of laughter, as if they had stumbled upon a group of young women. Besides Tan Ni, Shen Yuan and Madam Gu were also there.

As the Meng family entered, Feng Lan said with a smile, "Speak of the devil, and he appears! Mom was just talking about you guys."

Sitting in the very center was an elderly woman in her eighties, Mrs. Tan, with a round, silver face and a kind expression.

Meng Yintong squatted down next to her and addressed her as Tan Ni called out, "Grandma, you look even younger than I have in the past two years. When I saw you from afar, I thought Tan Ni was holding hands with my aunt."

Sycophant!

Shen Yuan fiddled with the ring on her hand, then lowered her head and let out a cold laugh.

The old lady's eyes crinkled with laughter.

"Yintong's mouth is still as sweet as ever, and she has become even more beautiful in the two years she has been abroad."

Gu Zhenzhen then crawled over and hugged Meng Jiuyi's leg, calling her "Sister Jiuyi".

Meng Jiuyi patted her head.

The old lady looked over.

"This must be Jiu Yi, come here and let me take a closer look."

Meng Jiuyi stepped forward a few steps, feeling embarrassed to claim kinship, and simply addressed her as "old lady".

"She's so beautiful. I thought my daughters were already quite pretty, but I never imagined there were people better than her."

Tan Ni was angry. "Grandma, how could you do this? I'm still here."

Everyone laughed.

The old lady patted Meng Jiuyi's hand, "I should have gone to the hospital to see you a long time ago, but my body betrayed me and I fell ill. I heard that you got lung inflammation after saving Zhenzhen, are you better now?"

Meng Jiuyi said in a low voice, "He's almost fully recovered."

“At the time, I told others that this girl was extraordinary. Cherishing one’s life is an instinct, but to be able to disregard one’s own safety in that situation must mean she is a kind-hearted girl at heart.”

Madam Gu nodded in agreement.

"The old lady is right. My family is so grateful to Jiu Yi."

Meng Jiuyi is far from being that great; it's only right that he said so.

"If anyone else had encountered us, they would have done the same. It was my own overestimation of my abilities that led to this. If it weren't for Young Master Xu rescuing us, I might have done more harm than good."

The old lady had never seen someone so young yet speak so tactfully, and guessed that she was probably having a hard time in the Meng family.

Previously, because of Feng Lan's behavior of getting pregnant out of wedlock, the old lady disliked Meng Jiuyi even though she had never met her.

Seeing how cautious she is now, I can't help but feel a pang of pity.

She smiled at Meng's father and said, "You've taught this child so well. I like her more and more the more I look at her. I wish she could be my granddaughter."

Madam Gu chimed in, "It's no surprise that the old lady likes him; the Tan family has plenty of handsome boys."

These words struck like a thunderbolt.

The Tan family's marriage is still undecided, and the only suitable candidates are Tan Sheng and Tan Yuchen.

Shen Yuan almost broke the bracelet. She came to Orange Garden almost every day to curry favor with the old lady and show her face, but Meng Jiuyi easily got a comment that it would be great to be a granddaughter.

How ironic!

Meng Jiuyi glanced gratefully at the old lady, knowing that she didn't mean it that way; she just wanted to use those words to ask the Meng family to treat her well.

The others, unaware of this, were preoccupied with their own thoughts when a casual voice suddenly came from behind them.

"You mean I have a handsome appearance?"

Meng Jiuyi's neck stiffened.