Peng Ke slightly relaxed, walking while looking back. In the instant he turned, his vision suddenly darkened, and his nose was struck heavily. He knew something was wrong and didn’t even take out his gun from his pocket, instead pointing the gun’s muzzle towards the attacker’s direction within the bag and quickly pulling the trigger.
The moment the gunshot rang out, Peng Ke was inwardly pleased, believing he had hit the target even though he couldn’t see clearly. Unexpectedly, the opponent not only didn’t fall but instead lunged towards him. Peng Ke felt sharp pain in his throat, his vision went black, and his body involuntarily collapsed, hitting a garbage cart behind him and then falling to the ground, completely losing mobility in a short time.
Meng Qing took a step forward, flipped Peng Ke over, tied his arms behind his back with a rope, and began searching his pockets, retrieving a handgun and a sealed bag.
He sniffed the outside of the sealed bag, raising an eyebrow, then disregarded Peng Ke on the ground.
Opening the garbage bag on the cart, he checked Nora’s pulse and breathing. Seeing that she had only fainted and her heartbeat and breathing were stable, he removed her from the garbage bag and laid her flat on the cart to ensure her breathing remained clear.
Then he turned back, hoisted the limp Peng Ke, placed him in the garbage bag, tied it tightly, and carried him on his back while pulling the cart, taking Nora back.
Nora’s caregiver was anxiously searching everywhere. Seeing Meng Qing bring Nora back, she was slightly relieved but noticed Nora was unconscious. She hurried over to check her condition.
“Chloroform poisoning. Where is her room?” Meng Qing briefly explained Nora’s situation.
The caregiver pointed out Nora’s room and immediately called for the in-house doctor. Meng Qing pushed the cart into the room, dropped the garbage bag containing Peng Ke on the floor, and gently laid Nora on the bed.
Soon, the doctor and nurse arrived, and Meng Qing left Nora’s bedside to let them work. He walked to the large garbage bag on the floor, kicked it, saw that Peng Ke was motionless inside, then picked up the bag and went outside the nursing home to call the police and contact Yu Yi.
Nelson had just arrived at his doorstep and was about to step out of the car when Yu Yi asked, “Is Peng Ke caught? Did he really go to the nursing home?” Nervously sitting back in the car and closing the door, he instructed the driver, “Quick, go to the nursing home.”
After hearing Meng Qing’s account, Yu Yi told Nelson, “Mr. Nelson, don’t worry too much. Ms. Nora is safe. Peng Ke was neutralized before he could harm her.”
When Nelson arrived at the nursing home, the police had also arrived. After understanding the situation, they asked Nelson and Meng Qing to provide a detailed account at the police station when convenient, and then took Peng Ke away.
Nora was still asleep. Nelson left the room and told Yu Yi and Meng Qing waiting outside, “I’m very grateful to you, Mr. Li and Miss Tina, for not only saving me but also protecting my mother. Regarding the contract Griffin signed with you, if there’s any unpaid compensation, I’ll complete it. Additionally, I’ll pay you twenty million as my personal thanks.”
Yu Yi was pleasantly surprised; this was truly an unexpected windfall. She glanced at Meng Qing, who winked at her, seemingly saying, “Didn’t I tell you this mission was good?”
Nelson noticed their eye contact and smiled, “As the president of Blue Sapphire Hotel, I can stay in the presidential suite on the top floor when no guests have booked it. Since there are no guests these days, I’d like to invite you to stay in the presidential suite for three days.”
Yu Yi didn’t know what was special about the presidential suite and thought they were about to return after completing the mission, so staying for three days seemed unnecessary.
She was contemplating how to politely decline when Meng Qing smiled and accepted, “That sounds great, thank you very much.”
Nelson laughed happily, “Let’s leave it at that. I’ll stay here for a while to accompany her. The payment will be transferred early tomorrow morning. You can return to Blue Sapphire Hotel, and my assistant will give you the suite’s room card.” He was about to enter the room.
Meng Qing stopped him, “Mr. Nelson, I’d like to ask a question. It might be a bit presumptuous, and you can refuse if you’re unwilling.”
Nelson stopped and looked at him inquiringly, “Go ahead.”
Meng Qing looked at the sleeping Nora in the room and asked softly, “She clearly abandoned you. Why do you still want to take care of her? Don’t you hate her at all? Resent her?”
Nelson was somewhat surprised, looked deeply at Meng Qing, and then said candidly, “I once resented those who abandoned me. At that time, I didn’t even know my biological mother’s name or what kind of person she was, yet I always resented her. Later, I began searching for her. My reason for finding her wasn’t that I no longer resented her, but that I wanted to know who the person who abandoned me was. If I were to hate her, I should at least know exactly who I’m hating, right?”
” He laughed self-deprecatingly, “Later, I thought I must earn more money and gain a higher social status, so I could possibly find her. Once I found her, I could proudly stand before her and make her regret abandoning such an excellent son.”
“When I had money and status, I found her.” Nelson looked at the frail elderly woman lying quietly in the room, “But when I found her, she could no longer recognize me, nor could she regret how foolish it was to abandon me back then. Perhaps she had once regretted it, even before knowing my current status and wealth, she might have already felt remorse, not because I was excellent, but simply because I was her son…” Nelson’s voice carried an unmistakable sense of regret, “But now, all of that can never be known.”
“The first time I met her, I realized I no longer hated her,” Nelson said softly, walking into the room.
Meng Qingqing looked thoughtfully at Nelson’s back.
Yu Yi stared at his profile, his eyes no longer as clear and bright as before, with a hint of confusion, pain, and a subtle gloom lurking in their depths. Her heart ached too, wanting to hold his hand. However, his solemn expression did not last long. Just as her fingertips were about to touch his palm, Meng Qingqing pulled at the corner of his mouth, returning to his usual lazy and relaxed demeanor. He interlaced his fingers with hers and turned to her, saying, “Let’s go, we’re heading back.”
Yu Yi asked softly, “Going back?
“
Meng Qingqing, knowing she was asking about returning to their own time and space, gave a lazy smile: “How can I go back before getting the reward? I mean let’s go back to the hotel.”
Chapter 98 Presidential Suite
When they returned to the Blue Sapphire Hotel, Nelson’s assistant was already waiting in the lobby. Upon seeing them, he handed a pure black room card to Meng Qingqing.
Meng Qingqing pulled Yu Yi to the eighth floor, retrieved their “luggage”, and then took the elevator, swiping the black card to go directly to the top floor of the Blue Sapphire Hotel.
Stepping out of the elevator, they were greeted by a large hall with several leather sofas and small tea tables. At the other end of the hall was a double door about four meters wide, which also required a black card to open.
Meng Qingqing pushed open the door, pulling Yu Yi inside. Before them was a well-lit split-level living room with a glossy black walnut floor so smooth it reflected like a mirror. The central part was three steps lower, with a soft white short-pile carpet. The side facing them was entirely floor-to-ceiling windows, offering an expansive view that clearly overlooked half of Black Pearl Island.
