Cheng Li’s mother, kicked and vomiting blood, struggled to say, “Master Meng, it’s not my fault. Zhu Laosan brought her. I had no idea she was your relative. Ask Zhu Laosan!”
“I will ask,” Meng Chi said coldly, “If I find out you’re not telling the truth, Cheng Li’s mother, you know the consequences.”
As he walked out carrying Ruan Ning, Cheng Li’s mother wiped the blood from her mouth and screamed hoarsely, “Go find Zhu Laosan and kill that bastard who set me up!”
Meng Yao?! No wonder she escaped so smoothly that day. Ruan Ning was extremely frustrated.
That woman was truly a drama queen, acting convincingly, throwing punches, and getting angry to trick her into escaping voluntarily and shift the blame onto her. She glanced at Meng Chi, lowering her head without daring to protest, knowing he doted on her the most.
Meng Chi kicked Zhu Laosan away and turned to Ruan Ning: “Good sister, stay here with peace of mind. The meals are on the table. I’ll come see you tomorrow.” He dragged Zhu Laosan out. Ruan Ning was on the verge of tears, thinking, Big brother, did you forget something? I’m still handcuffed to the bed!
Meng Yao was cutting fabric when she felt someone behind her. Turning around, she joyfully said, “Brother, when did you get back?” Meng Chi calmly sat down. “Sun Jiagong says you don’t want to marry him?”
“I get annoyed just seeing him. I won’t marry!” Meng Yao said, holding up freshly cut fabric. “Brother, I’m making an outer robe for you. Do you like this color?”
Meng Chi pushed away the fabric. “You said you wanted to marry yesterday.”
Meng Yao looked stubborn. “I was just saying casually. Who knew you would take it seriously!” Meng Chi’s face remained expressionless.
“Then who do you want to marry?”
Meng Yao blurted, “I won’t marry anyone. I’ll stay with my brother for life!”
Meng Chi’s eyebrows furrowed. He looked at her and said, “I have my way of living, you have yours. How can you stay with me for life?”
“I will!” Meng Yao shouted.
Meng Chi stood up. “I’ve already dealt with Zhu Laosan. Since this incident didn’t cause major trouble, I won’t say more. It’s best if there’s no next time.”
Meng Yao gritted her teeth. “Brother, I’m the closest person to you. Why do you always favor that woman?”
Meng Chi didn’t answer. He walked to his room, his mind flashing between memories of Yuan Ning as a child and her current self, both timid and cunning. This made his usually cold heart feel a tremor.
In his dream, his stepdaughter timidly hugged his waist, softly calling, “Brother…”
Meng Chi, feeling satisfied, kissed her lips. The chaotic dream stopped, and he awoke, finding arms wrapped around him, softly calling, “Brother…”
But the voice in his heart reminded him that true revenge should be as ruthless as Meng Yao’s, something he couldn’t do.
From the moment they met again, he had unconsciously compromised repeatedly, turning revenge into a joke. Yet, he felt pleased at the thought of holding her close and keeping her confined.
Suddenly, a flash from his dream appeared – her shy cherry lips. In the dream, he had kissed her fiercely, feeling utterly satisfied. Would the real feeling be the same?
Meng Chi narrowed his eyes and leaned down, capturing those tender lips like in his dream.
Ruan Ning was also dreaming. In her dream, Meng Chi transformed into a black wolf, pursuing her relentlessly. If caught, she would have no escape. Desperately fleeing, her legs grew heavier, and she was about to cry when Zheng Yu suddenly appeared, shouting, “Yuan Ning, where are you?”
Before she could answer, the black wolf pounced, his sharp teeth biting her and his wet tongue lingering on her lips, invoking both fear and disgust. She struggled but couldn’t push him away, wanting to call for Zheng Yu but unable to make a sound. Exasperated, she finally headbutted the wolf, screaming, “Zheng Yu, save me!”
As soon as she spoke, Ruan Ning opened her eyes. Meng Chi’s angry face was inches away, just like in her dream.
His brutal lips and tongue were devouring her, almost draining the last bit of air from her lungs.
Ruan Ning felt dizzy and then her lips lightened as Meng Chi released her, his voice low: “Save you? Heh, little sister is truly infatuated, even dreaming about Zheng Yu.”
Suddenly realizing the pain on her lips, she gasped. He had just kissed her? Heavens!
Huddling under the blanket, she felt her worldview shatter. Wasn’t he supposed to hate and despise her? Was this a form of revenge? Wasn’t this method a bit too vulgar?
Meng Chi’s hand slid down, gripping her ankle: “Tying down your foot doesn’t restrain your heart, little sister. Should I kill Zheng Yu and display him before you, so you’ll stop thinking about him every day?”
Ruan Ning shuddered, not doubting he would do such a thing. “I’m not thinking about Zheng Yu. But since you and Meng Yao both hate me so much, why keep me? Let me go to the Zheng family. It would be a relief for all of us.”
“Relief? Heh.” Meng Chi’s face twisted. She still wanted to find Zheng Yu! He suddenly grabbed her arm, pulled out a chain, and locked it with a click, softly laughing, “You want to be relieved? I don’t. Be good. Your brother won’t let you go easily.”
The silver chain was locked to a bed leg, and Ruan Ning discovered it was very short, barely allowing her to move from the bed to the table.
Damn, she couldn’t even go to the bathroom!
Her frustration erupted. She no longer cared about her planned strategy of flattery and cursed loudly: “Are you sick? Even if the stepmother mistreated you, didn’t you get your revenge? Wasn’t her early death your doing? Even if she was wrong a thousand times, does that mean I am too? Have I ever bullied you? I’ve already shaved my head and become a nun, yet you still won’t let me go. Is bullying someone helpless so interesting?”
She successfully provoked the hatred in Meng Chi’s heart. In an instant, Meng Chi seemed to see Wang’s shadow on her face, mocking him for being tortured for so many years without daring to take revenge on her daughter. Meng Chi clenched his fist in anger and struck down heavily.
Ruan Ning had nowhere to hide and instinctively closed her eyes.
But the punch landed on the bed board, creating a hole in the wall. Meng Chi withdrew his fist, looking at the blood on it, and said softly, “Good sister, be good from now on.”
Ruan Ning shuddered, knowing that if the punch had hit her, she would have been seriously injured or killed.
Meng Chi enjoyed her fearful expression, his tall body pressing down again, his cold lips kissing her, whispering, “Don’t think about escaping; you can’t escape.”
Author’s note: Can one possibly fall in love with the person who imprisons them? I’m actually a bit confused.
Chapter 69: Stepbrother
The kiss was light, just a gentle touch of lips. Before Ruan Ning could resist, Meng Chi moved away and lay down beside her.
Ruan Ning’s heart raced; he simply took off his shoes and closed his eyes. After a while, light snoring sounds emerged as if he was asleep.
Ruan Ning could hardly believe it. She propped herself up and waved her hand in front of his face, but there was no reaction. Was he really asleep? Gritting her teeth, she sat up and raised her hand, unsure whether to strike.
She considered knocking him out to escape and find Zheng Yu, but if she failed, it would only lead to her downfall.
Suddenly, Meng Chi flipped over and pinned her down, his voice cool. “Haven’t decided yet?”
Meng Chi lazily watched her, noting her nervousness. Just moments ago, she had been defiant, and now she trembled in fear.
The hatred Meng Chi had felt dissipated. With a slight smile, he pinned her down and closed his eyes. Ruan Ning was almost out of breath.
