216

s the first time she had disregarded her family so completely.Lin Ziqi almost dropped her chopsticks."Mom, look! What attitude does Lin Meng have! Does she even put me, her older sister, in her eyes!...Lin Meng discovered that Rong Ling's poker skills were truly exceptional. If not for the fact that he also lost sometimes, she would almost suspect him of cheating. At the end, the little guy was still a bit unsatisfied, seeming to have already fallen in love with the action of "tapping talismans" on people's heads.

Shí Yǔ and the others were leaving, each going back home for dinner. Lín Mèng also immediately expressed her intention to leave. Róng Lǐng's eyebrows turned cold, and he seemed displeased. In his opinion, this woman should stay and keep him company, at least since he was currently "injured." However, Lín Mèng had made up her mind to leave. To avoid the man from forcing her to stay, she seized the opportunity to leave with the others. This way, in front of everyone, Róng Lǐng wouldn't do anything too domineering. It wasn't that she wasn't considerate of him; she was also a person with a temper. Before, when she had cried so heart-wrenchingly, her heart felt like it was being torn apart. Those feelings of grief weren't something that could be simply forgotten.

"During the Chinese New Year, you wouldn't have anything to do if you went back home anyway, so just don't go back!" Rong Ling finally couldn't help but speak up, trying to persuade him. His sword brows were slightly furrowed.

"There's still something to take care of back there," she replied softly, picking up her coat and putting it on.

This softness is like punching a cotton ball, it's really disheartening.

"Let Yoyo stay!"

Now it was Lin Meng's turn to frown, and she lowered her head to ask Youyou, "Youyou, do you want to stay and keep me company"

The little boy looked at Rong Ling, then at Lin Meng, and finally shook his head. He huddled closer to Lin Meng's side. He still liked Mommy a little more. Wherever Mommy went, he followed.

Rong Ling turned black in the face, without saying a word. Lin Meng went to get her coat and put it on the little boy. Shi Yu and the others were tactful and took their leave first, leaving Lin Meng no time to even try to persuade them to stay.

Whatever happens, she is leaving.

Holding the little one's hand, she stubbornly looked at Rong Ling. "I'm going back first!"

She -- was no longer easily controllable by him!

This realization made him feel a little uncomfortable and somewhat disappointed.

"Let Miao Qing follow you, and from now on, she will be responsible for protecting you!"

Lin Meng raised an eyebrow, "Protection" It wasn't that she doubted, but was this person really suitable!

Rong Ling said in a cold voice, "You can trust her wholeheartedly. If there's anything you can't handle, you can also ask for her help. I have some unrest around me recently, which might implicate you, so you must have someone with you at all times."

Her brow furrowed even tighter.

He stared at her sternly. "This isn't a request, it's an order. Miao Qing needs to go in and out with you. Externally, you can call her your cousin, or your friend, or something similar, anything that makes things convenient. That's up to you to decide."

"Who's making things difficult for you" she asked abruptly, her concerned gaze fixed on him without any attempt to hide it.

A warmth spread across his eyes and a smile played on his lips. "Not confirmed yet, still looking."

"Were you in that group of cars stuck on the highway that day"

Rong Ling nodded slightly.

A shadow immediately fell over Lin Meng's eyes. "That... you have to be careful!"

Apart from this, she didn't know what else she could do! Explosives, assassination... these things were somewhat distant to her after four years of peaceful life. Now they were right in front of her again, and she was at a loss, not knowing how to deal with them. She... didn't have the ability!

Remembering Rong Ling's words about protection, she turned to look at Miao Qing, her expression showing hesitation. She held the little guy's hand, her grip a bit tighter.

Miao Qing saw this, stepped forward two steps, smiled faintly, and looked at Lin Meng calmly.

“Mengmeng, don't doubt my loyalty to you. Four years ago, I was loyal to Rong Sanbo, four years later, I was loyal to Rong Ling, and now, I am loyal to you. Just as 'a servant doesn't serve two masters', an excellent employee cannot be loyal to two bosses at the same time. Rong Ling asked me this question, forcing me to make a choice, so I chose to follow him. Then, I didn't need to consider Rong Sanbo's words anymore. Now, Rong Ling orders me to be loyal to you, putting your safety as the top priority, and even being willing to disobey Rong Ling's orders if necessary, making my own decisions. So, you don't have to worry, I am only a protector, absolutely not a destroyer!”

This has been said very clearly, clear to the point that if Lin Meng were to continue to doubt anything, she would be overthinking. She turned her head and took a deep look at Rong Ling, who seemed indifferent and silent. She raised her lips into a smile and nodded.

At the very least, this man's actions show that he truly cared for her.

Then let's just make Sister Miao Qing my aunt, that way it'll be easier to explain to others, and she can stay with me!

As for Miao Qing, she had always been admired by her. This woman was mature and capable, with an indescribable aura of confidence surrounding her. From the very beginning, she was someone Lin Meng envied and longed to be like. Her initial attitude towards Lin Meng was natural and straightforward, never showing even a hint of disdain. Just this point alone had won Lin Meng a lot of favor. She was raised by Rong Sanbo and was loyal to him. What she did in the past was also understandable. Furthermore, when she listened to Rong Sanbo's orders, she tried her best to help Lin Meng. Although Lin Meng received a warning and was forced to leave Rong Ling, she never harbored resentment towards Miao Qing. Therefore, even today, she could still naturally call out "Miao Qing jie," just like she did before.

Miao Qing smiled faintly and said no more.

Rong Ling then instructed Lin Meng to keep an eye on Little Youyou, making sure she didn't leave her sight. Lin Meng agreed and then left.

Rong Ling frowned, lying alone in bed, watching the empty room. For the first time, he felt how miserable being alone really was!

Although the Ruan family was somewhat suspicious of Miao Qing, this distant cousin who had suddenly appeared, they didn't say much. Lin Meng was considered the highest-ranking person in the family. Even if she randomly invited a stranger to live at home, they wouldn't dare to openly drive him away. Now, one by one in this house, except for Ruan Cheng hui, they had all received Lin Meng's favor. Her status in this family had become somewhat authoritative!

Since there wasn't much space at home, Miao Qing and Lin Meng lived together. As they were both women, sharing a bed wasn't a big deal. This arrangement was likely to continue for a while because Rong Ling's investigation hadn't made any progress.

Rong Ling had originally planned to let this little woman go back once, and the next day she would come again. But this woman's heart was truly cruel. The next day, she would rather stay at the Ruan family than find him. And then, on the third day, she went out with Jiang Chengfeng together. When Miao Qing told him this news, he was furious. Did his injury seem so insignificant to her that she could just ignore it! What was this woman thinking! One moment she acted concerned, and the next she was indifferent, making people want to gnash their teeth!

He naturally didn't know this was Lin Meng's revenge! Even a mud man has some three points of earthiness, she also has the right to be temperamental! There's no way around it, if he shows her a little face, she has to act like a little dog, fawning all over him!

And Jiang Chengfeng went out with her because Jiang Chengfeng wanted to take her to worship Jiang Polao. After all, she had been waiting for this opportunity, so naturally, she didn't need to consider anything, and she directly took Xiaoyouyou and got into Jiang Chengfeng's car.

During the Chinese New Year, Jiang Chengfeng's parents went back to their hometown in City J to visit relatives today, which gave Lin Meng a chance to enter the Jiang family mansion. Lin Meng was very grateful for Jiang Chengfeng's thoughtful arrangement and specially bought some flowers, fruits, cigarettes, and paper money to pay respects.

To comply with the country's policy of "fighting feudal superstition," government officials like Jiang Yichen would not have an altar at home, burning incense every day. Therefore, Jiang Po's ashes were buried in a small patch of grass in the backyard, marked by a modest tombstone that wasn't much different from those in public cemeteries.

"Could you please let me and A-lang be alone for a while"

Lin Meng watched Jiang Chengfeng leave, her eyes clouding with a mist like gauze. That single look spoke volumes of bitterness, causing a pang in one's heart. Jiang Chengfeng nodded slightly, pursed his lips, and quietly departed. The little boy obediently followed Lin Meng, not daring to cause any trouble, for he too knew that Uncle Jiang was no ordinary man.

Lin Meng carefully placed the flowers and fruits on the grave. Then, she used a lighter to ignite an incense stick, sticking it into the soil. The fragrance began to rise faintly, accompanied by wisps of white mist, making people feel as if they were entering a dreamlike world. She looked at the youthful smile on the tombstone, her eyes filled with unspoken grief, but tears flowed first.

"A-Lang, I'm here to see you. I'm sorry it took me so long to visit..."

A soft whisper, yet more like a sigh!

The little boy didn't understand, seeing his mother cry, he started to sob pitifully, clinging to Lin Meng's arms like a small creature seeking comfort. He seemed to think that by getting close to her, he could give his mother support, or perhaps, find support from her as well.Lin Meng hugged the little boy tightly, letting out choked sobs. She gently introduced Xiao Youyou to Jiang PoLang, and then had Xiao Youyou re-acquaint himself with Jiang PoLang. Afterward, she softly recounted her experiences over the past few years...

Above were paper money shaped like copper coins, burning one after another, gradually turning into ashes. The little boy sat on the grass with his bottom, clumsily learning how to fold gold ingots from Lin Meng. He folded one and burned one, burning it for Jiang Po浪 who was buried underground. This was what Lin Meng learned when he was a child in the countryside, from an elderly neighbor woman, and he never forgot!

She didn't know if ghosts really existed in this world, or if reincarnation was true. But as a living person, all she could do for the deceased was this. Strictly speaking, it wasn't superstition, just the utmost condolence a living person could offer to the dead!

In the world, there was a moment of stillness. Only her soft, tearful whispers and the sound of folding gold ingots remained. Even the flames seemed incredibly quiet as they burned. A chilling sadness filled the space. The little one felt it, not daring to breathe, only burying their head in folding golden ingots. With clumsy fingers, they expressed their respect and gratitude for the brave little uncle in their own way. Jiang Chengfeng also felt it. Standing at the window on the second floor, his face was cold and stern as he watched silently. He seemed to have turned into a statue himself.

All feel the pain, for this was a life taken too soon and a loss that weighs heavily on us all!

Incense can be burned, paper money can be burned, but the words she wanted to say to him in her heart, no matter how she tried, couldn't be said. The more she spoke, the more painful her heart felt!

The little boy sat with his head down, for over two hours already. That's quite a feat for a child, and it's really heartbreaking.

"You You, why don't you go play by yourself!" Lin Meng reached out and gently pulled the little one's leg, rubbing it. Kneeling like that for so long, her legs must have gone numb.

The little boy lifted his expressionless face and shook his head. "I'll stay with Mommy."

Her dark eyes held a stubbornness that didn't belong to someone her age.

He/She is a caring little sweetheart!

Lin Meng sighed in her heart, then rubbed the other leg of the little one, and softly said: "Uncle Xiaojiang just told Mommy, saying that you should go play and don't have to stay here with Mommy. He wants to whisper something to Mommy!"

The little boy pursed his lips, remained silent for a while, then nodded, but asked curiously, “Mommy, why doesn’t Uncle Xiaojiang talk to Youyou”

Lin Meng giggled and after thinking for a moment, replied, "Because Uncle Xiao Jiang and Mommy have a very, very good relationship, so only Mommy can hear Uncle Xiao Jiang's words. And Youyou just met Uncle Xiao Jiang today and they aren't very familiar yet, so Uncle Xiao Jiang hasn't spoken to you yet!"

"Oh." The little boy nodded in understanding and said innocently, "Then Mommy, Youyou will come to play with Uncle Xiaojiang often, so Uncle Xiaojiang will get to know Youyou, and then they can be very good friends. Then, Youyou will also tell Uncle Xiaojiang secrets!"

Lin Meng was slightly taken aback, her eyes welling up with tears. She chuckled softly at the child's innocence, thinking to herself, where will there be an "often" in the future

She pulled the little boy up, patted his bottom, and sent him away. As soon as the boy disappeared from her sight, the surging tears finally broke through, gushing out of her eyes. She hugged Jiang Po浪's tombstone, unable to control herself any longer, and cried out in agony. Each sob was so heart-wrenching that it moved heaven and earth!

She sent the little one away, so he wouldn't have to follow her and cry. She knew her precious son too well; he would surely cry louder than her when the time came. Her heart ached for him, she didn't want that. After her son went off to play by himself, she no longer had to endure it all. She let it all out: years of sorrow, guilt, regret, shame, and pain.

To be saved by someone else, to carry another person's life within you, is a heavy burden indeed. This weight can surface unexpectedly, almost crushing her; it can also trigger sudden waves of emotion, bringing tears to her eyes; and sometimes, it keeps her tossing and turning all night, staring at the ceiling until dawn...

As he expected, she lived diligently, better than ever before. She often greeted this sometimes harsh life with a smile, but she couldn't be strong enough to maintain that state of mind forever. So, she would always remember him, feeling a faint sadness, letting out a soft sigh, and for a long time, she couldn't recover, being unable to extricate herself from the depths of mourning...

What's most heartbreaking is that she always endured his kindness but never reciprocated in any way. It was so unfair! He left, leaving her behind, unable to even offer a thank you. To even visit him once felt like an extravagant luxury.

"represents, will not escape it!As soon as they thought of the flourishing, deep-rooted Rong family, and their talent pool, the He family breathed a sigh of relief. They felt a glimmer of safety and im...