"You brat, what do you know? Don't blabber!"
Bai Qing hadn't expected Shi Qing to wake up. She hissed fiercely, covering Shi Qing's mouth tightly with her hand, refusing to let her make another sound.
"Mmmph waw..."
Shi Qing's big, black grape-like eyes widened. She grumbled a few times stubbornly, her small hands desperately trying to push Bai Qing's hand away.
A child's strength was like a tickle. Bai Qing paid no mind to Shi Qing's struggles, merely annoyed by the commotion. She pinched Shi Qing's bottom viciously a few times.
Shi Qing's bottom turned blue from the pinching. She looked up at Bai Qing, her heart hardening. With all her might, she bit down hard on Bai Qing's hand!
"Ah! You annoying little imp!" Bai Qing was caught off guard. It wasn't until she felt intense pain on her hand that she realized Shi Qing had bitten her. Bai Qing quickly let go, revealing a neat and clear set of teeth marks on the back of her hand.
"Bad woman, bad woman!"
Shi Qing stuck out her tongue at Bai Qing with a "la la la" sound, a proud little expression still on her pale little face.
"Are you tired of living?" Bai Qing glared at Shi Qing, gritting her teeth. The knife in her hand hadn't left Shi Qing's delicate neck. She raised her right hand, about to slap Shi Qing.
Seeing the critical situation, Wei Yumeng stepped forward quickly and shouted to stop Bai Qing's action.
"Bai Qing! I'll swap with Shi Qing, let her go quickly!"
Bai Qing was reminded of the main issue by Wei Yumeng's words. She curved her lips into a smile, holding Shi Qing even tighter. This was her most valuable bargaining chip now. She couldn't let this little brat ruin things at this crucial moment.
Shi Qing, who had just woken up, didn't have much strength. After struggling for a long time without success, she was held tightly by Bai Qing. She gave up resisting, her large eyes fixed on Wei Yumeng.
Wei Yumeng had been paying close attention to Shi Qing's condition. Seeing her daughter's bright eyes, she knew Shi Qing was trying to tell her not to come over.
But as a mother, protecting her child was only natural. Moreover, she absolutely would not tolerate Shi Qing being threatened or harmed in the slightest. She would rather bear it herself!
"Shi Qing, don't be scared. Mommy's here to swap with you. Why don't you and Daddy go to the hospital first? Don't worry about Mommy."
Wei Yumeng's eyes were filled with tenderness as she spoke to Shi Qing, her peripheral vision subtly observing Bai Qing.
Shi Qing shook her small head desperately. Her mouth, covered, couldn't speak. Her large eyes were teary, like a little deer separated from its mother in the forest.
"Wei Yumeng, stop the nonsense. I don't have the patience to listen to you mother and daughter being sappy," Bai Qing impatiently interrupted Wei Yumeng. She yelled at the woman, "Stop right there, take off your coat, and let me see if you have any weapons!"
Bai Qing's vigilance was quite high.
Wei Yumeng let out a cold smile. She stopped her forward movement, crisply took off her coat and threw it. The expensive garment was tossed into the sea, drifting away with the waves.
"I've taken it off. Can I come over now?"
"Hmph, you're quite quick. Turn around and let me see!"
Bai Qing was momentarily stunned by Wei Yumeng's decisive action, then waved her hand dismissively, gesturing a full circle.
Indeed, a child was a mother's weakness. With the child in hand, she was afraid Wei Yumeng wouldn't comply obediently?
"Bai Qing, are you reassured now?"
Wei Yumeng listened to Bai Qing's unreasonable demand. Without much hesitation, she raised her hands in surrender, slowly turned around, and said in a cold tone.
Bai Qing stared at Wei Yumeng's partly mocking expression, her anger igniting. Even when she was being controlled, this woman still had an air of superiority!
Wei Yumeng's words provoked Bai Qing's resentment. She quickly scanned Wei Yumeng from head to toe, confirming that Wei Yumeng had no pockets or place to hide weapons, and then relaxed.
"Wei Yumeng, you're going to be my hostage from now on. I advise you to say less and save your energy!" Bai Qing retorted angrily to Wei Yumeng's words, nodding and tilting her head proudly. "Alright, you can come over!"
Bai Qing finally relented. Wei Yumeng looked worriedly at the pale and weak Shi Qing, not daring to waste another second. She hurried towards Bai Qing.
This move made everyone behind her gasp. It seemed Madam Zhan, the eldest madam of the Zhan family, was truly going to swap with her child!
"Yumeng!" Zhan Mohan whispered her name softly behind Wei Yumeng. "I believe in you."
Hearing the man's words of trust, Wei Yumeng turned her head to meet his dark eyes. She slightly curved her pink lips, smiled at Zhan Mohan, and silently and quickly mouthed three words.
Don't worry.
Zhan Mohan recognized the lip movements and his eyes darkened. He nodded slightly, his well-defined fingers clenching.
"Don't put on this sweet act in front of me. Wei Yumeng, hurry up and come over!"
Bai Qing watched their interaction, feeling a sourness in her heart as if she had eaten several lemons. She gritted her teeth and roared angrily.
The man behind Wei Yumeng, who was as handsome as a deity, had deeply envied Bai Qing from the beginning. Why was Wei Yumeng so lucky to have a man from the Zhan family, while she herself ended up with that good-for-nothing!
Bai Qing felt uncomfortable and suppressed the sudden thought, forcing herself to calm down and stare intently at the approaching Wei Yumeng.
As long as she had Wei Yumeng in hand, she could escape first and then enjoy the five million. She could still be a successful winner in life!
"Bai Qing, don't rush. I'm coming." Wei Yumeng's eyes curved, a sharp glint flashing in her calm, unruffled water-like eyes. As she neared Bai Qing, she quickened her pace!
"Wei Yumeng, slow down!"
Bai Qing didn't know what strategy Wei Yumeng had in mind. She watched the woman getting closer, a wave of panic rising within her. She quickly pointed her knife at Wei Yumeng.
Shi Qing felt the weight on her lighten and her small feet took off, running frantically towards Wei Yumeng.
"Mommy, Mommy!"
"You little brat, don't run!"
Bai Qing was flustered. The main bargaining chip in front of her hadn't been secured yet, and the one in her hand was about to escape. How could this be allowed!
She shouted, bending over to grab Shi Qing's hand. Shi Qing didn't look back, cleverly continuing to run forward.
As Bai Qing brandished her knife, intending to chase Shi Qing, Wei Yumeng seized the moment of Bai Qing's distraction and drew out the dagger hidden on her person!
"Bai Qing, your opponent is me!"
Wei Yumeng said coldly, aiming precisely at Bai Qing's hand and slashing it down!
The sudden turn of events caught Bai Qing off guard. She cried out in pain, retracting the hand meant to grab Shi Qing, and quickly clutched her bleeding hand.