Meng Yuan Chu didn’t speak but pushed his wheelchair along the long gallery, leading them to the lounge.
Along the way, Jiang Baiyuan admired a few paintings and, as expected, saw a portrait of his wife, dressed in a flowing white dress, looking ethereal. It seemed Meng Yuan Chu also knew his wife. Perhaps they were close friends.
Jiang Ruyi had similar thoughts, feeling that her mother’s admirers were numerous and all were capable individuals, which was quite impressive for a woman.
Once inside the lounge, an assistant had already served tea. Jiang Baiyuan took a sip; it was the kind his wife loved, causing his brow to furrow.
Meng Yuan Chu didn’t look at him, his attention on Jiang Ruyi: the daughter of that woman! She looked so much like her. She would surely grow into a breathtaking beauty.
Jiang Ruyi felt uneasy under his gaze and lowered her head to play with her fingers. Sigh, it seemed like another romantic entanglement.
Jiang Baiyuan finally spoke, “Do you know my wife, Mr. Meng?”
Meng Yuan Chu nodded, “Yes.”
“Do you know where she is now?”
He shook his head in response.
Disappointed, Jiang Baiyuan looked at Zhou Linchuan, his eyes questioning: So, why did you bring us to meet him?
Zhou Linchuan smiled without a word.
Meng Yuan Chu, noticing the questioning in his eyes, added, “Stop looking for her. It’s pointless. Unless she shows up herself, we can’t find her.”
“What do you mean?”
“You believe me? We once loved each other.”
The air suddenly fell silent.
At the same time, in the basement, Xu Xiangying watched the scene on the monitor, reaching out to touch her husband’s face, tears streaming down her face. “No! It wasn’t love. Liar! They’re all liars!”
Sitting on the sofa, Lin Jingan smoked, chuckling lowly, “Ah Ying, you were the first to deceive us.”
“I genuinely wanted to help you.”
Having lived for centuries, she had amassed many antiques, paintings, gold, and jewels. These were trivial to her but lifelines to them. Without money, nothing is easy. But once you have it, wealth accumulates more easily. Unknowingly, those she casually helped became powerful figures.
“Yes, helping the weak, like a savior descending from heaven, easily capturing our hearts. And when we fell in love with you, you left us.”
“No, it wasn’t that…”
“Then what was it?”
“I was just… too lonely.”
