“Miss Meng Wange, President Bai has already given his reply. From now on, everything in Yunsheng County will be fully entrusted to you. Please proceed according to your own style.”
After receiving such permission, Meng Wange finally allowed her taut nerves to ease slightly.
…At last, had she managed to salvage the situation just a bit?
To be honest, everything she had done over the past few days was a little too bold. Every step was filled with her own inferences and considerable uncertainty, like walking on a tightrope.
Fortunately, the conclusions she had drawn were ultimately approved by Bai Qingyan.
“However, ‘by letting Miss Su Wanli thoroughly experience the Yunsheng County Festival, making her proactively ask Su Heng to stop the demolition’—even if you put it so grandly, in my view, the final outcome of this plan of yours is just allowing you to enjoy the Yunsheng County fireworks show to the fullest with that eldest miss of the Su family.”
Before leaving, the Head Maid of the Bai Family’s half-smiling expression was still vividly before Meng Wange’s eyes.
“If even I can see through it, then President Bai naturally can too. He understands your current state of mind and has supported your approach. I hope you won’t disappoint him in the future.”
The future… huh?
Meng Wange’s footsteps stopped in the corridor of the inn. Leaning against the cold wall, she silently raised her head and looked out the window at the sky shrouded in night.
After learning that the Bai family had arranged for her to take Su Wanli to Yunsheng County, Meng Wange had started from a state of complete ignorance, painstakingly gathered all the information on Yunsheng County, conducted an on-site inspection, continuously integrated all the data, and engaged in deep conversations with various people, ultimately achieving the current result.
…To be honest, even Meng Wange felt a bone-deep exhaustion at this moment.
And this was only the second task the Bai family had assigned her.
She really didn’t know how much farther she could walk on this path…
Meng Wange gently shook her head, casting those unnecessary thoughts out of her mind, then lowered her head to look at her room card.
203—the room near the stairwell.
She rubbed her brow and walked straight toward the stairwell.
The greatest crisis had, for the moment, been resolved. Next, she just needed to take Su Wanli around Yunsheng County tomorrow, let her experience the natural scenery there, and enjoy a fireworks show without any risk.
…That’s right. To make Su Wanli truly fall in love with this place, she had to give it her all.
Just silently murmuring that name in her heart made Meng Wange’s tired and heavy heart feel light and lively again.
Pull yourself together, Meng Wange. Right now, you only need to report the situation in Yunsheng County to Su Wanli, then get a good rest so that tomorrow you can show your best self in front of her.
Meng Wange took a deep breath, swiped her card at the door lock, and opened the door.
It was late, and the room was pitch black, not a trace of light. She could only barely make out the outline of the soft carpet beneath her feet thanks to the dim light at the end of the corridor.
The slot for the key card… it should be around here…
She tentatively stretched out her hands and slowly fumbled along the cold wall.
But at that moment, a strong force suddenly grabbed her wrist from the deep darkness and yanked her deeper into the room!
“…!?”
Meng Wange’s heart jolted. Instinct made her want to bend her elbow and strike the faint figure in the darkness with swift force.
However, just as she was about to exert strength, a familiar scent mixed with faint gardenia fragrance made her stop her movement.
…If she remembered correctly, this scent should be…
“Hehe, let me see which reckless little maid dares to sneak into my room?”
A familiar, lazy voice tinged with smugness and teasing sounded softly in Meng Wange’s ear—
“And a young girl all alone, quite bold. Congratulations, you are now kidnapped by me.”
“…Miss Su.”
Meng Wange helplessly lowered her hand and smiled gently toward the figure in the darkness.
“Hmm? What Miss Su? I don’t know her. Is she another hostage who hasn’t arrived yet?”
The figure in the darkness didn’t let go of her wrist, but instead pulled her a couple of steps deeper into the room.
Then, a cold object lightly pressed against Meng Wange’s lower back.
“Hmph! Put your hands up! How dare you wander alone into this unfamiliar little county town? Quite the nerve, huh? Why didn’t you bring your master?”
“Because… I wanted to give my master the most perfect travel experience, so I came ahead to scout out the place and plan a flawless itinerary for her.”
“…Is that so? If that’s the case, it’s understandable.”
The dark figure gently removed the object pressed against her waist, tossed it in the air, then said to Meng Wange in a deep voice—
“Tell me, what kind of itinerary do you plan to have with that master?”
Meng Wange obediently replied, letting the dark figure pull the room card from her palm—
“If things go smoothly, starting from when we wake up in the morning, I’ll go with her to the inn’s rooftop to watch the sunrise, then have local specialties at a breakfast shop. After that, we’ll stroll through the alleyways and have some tea.”
“As for the noon and afternoon itinerary… please forgive me, those are confidential details that can’t be shared with a kidnapper.”
“Hehe, you’ve already said so much, and you’re still talking about confidentiality. Once I tell my accomplices, we’ll be able to catch you both tomorrow.”
The dark figure lightly moved away from Meng Wange’s body. Then, with a crisp click, the lights in the room flicked on.
The harsh brightness made Meng Wange instinctively close her eyes.
When she opened them again, she saw a black-haired girl wearing a floral-print dress, her face full of a bright smile.
Su Wanli was leaning by the switch on the wall, holding the room card in one hand and a smartphone in the other.
“But be grateful—I’ve already driven away the kidnapper for you in advance.”
She smiled and winked at Meng Wange—
“Otherwise, a high school girl wandering alone in this small county town would be in danger.”
Watching Su Wanli’s smug expression, the faint gloom in Meng Wange’s heart instantly dissipated, replaced by a warm current.
“I see. Thank you for your thoughtful protection, Miss Su.”
“…Hmph, go ahead and praise my foresight as much as you like.”
Su Wanli raised her chin haughtily and wagged her finger at Meng Wange.
“Also, you must be wondering why I’m here in the middle of the night? I’d love to tell you right away, but no! This is punishment time! You haven’t replied to my messages for nearly ten hours!”
She let out a cold laugh, then crossed her legs and sat down on the only large bed in the room, which was covered with a pure white sheet.
“Go on, I left all my stuff piled in the car downstairs. Bring them up to the room for me!”
“Okay, I understand.”
But instead of leaving immediately, Meng Wange stepped forward and stood in front of Su Wanli.
“…What? Too tired?”
Su Wanli felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and instinctively scooted back.
“The driver is already waiting downstairs. Considering you did find a decent place, I’ll let him help you carry them too—I don’t mind that…”
Before she could finish, Meng Wange suddenly stepped closer.
She extended her arms, gently wrapped them around Su Wanli’s neck, then leaned down, tilting her whole body toward Su Wanli’s ear.
“…Hey?! You, what are you…”
Meng Wange buried the tip of her nose deep into the soft, smooth strands of hair beside Su Wanli’s ear, greedily taking a deep breath.
“Sorry, but before I act, please let me recharge a little.”
She murmured softly beside Su Wanli’s ear in a gentle, ambiguous tone.