Inside the apartment, Wu Meng looked dejected. It wasn't that she didn't want to show herself to Song Qiao.
It was that she absolutely didn't want him to see the horrifying scars behind her.
After a moment, she dressed, as if nothing had happened.
Wu Meng didn't want to look at her own injuries, much less talk about her past.
But just as she finished dressing, her phone on the chair suddenly lit up.
Song Qiao: Why did you leave so suddenly? Tomorrow morning, come to the park with me for morning exercise, and I'll continue teaching you ancient martial arts.
This simple message stunned Wu Meng. The next moment, she clutched the phone to her chest, her beautiful oval face breaking into a smile.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Ye Zhiwei booked the hot spring bath and then led everyone to a hot spring resort in the suburbs.
In the resort's changing room, Ye Zhiwei gently removed her coat, revealing a form-fitting blue bikini.
Song Qiao's eyes were immediately assaulted by a expanse of white. Her slender, snow-white arms, like lotus roots, and her perfect waistline made it impossible for him to look away.
Just as he was about to examine her more closely, his vision suddenly darkened as a pair of delicate hands covered his eyes.
"No looking, hmph!"
A jealous voice came from beside his ear. Xia Xueqing, seeing Song Qiao's reaction, felt a pang of jealousy and quickly stepped forward to cover his eyes.
"Uh, I wasn't looking, I was just… just checking on a friend."
Song Qiao's awkward explanation drew a string of bell-like laughter from Ye Zhiwei not far away. She then turned her attention to him.
"By the way, Song Qiao, you seemed so confident in the meeting. Are you really prepared for tomorrow?"
"Actually, if you're not ready, you don't have to go tomorrow. Li Bingqing probably has ulterior motives for asking you to go."
Li Bingqing had invited both her and Song Qiao this time, but Ye Zhiwei felt that she could handle it alone; the other party might not dare to kill someone in broad daylight.
In any case, Ye Corporation's funds had already been mobilized. Even if something happened to her, they could launch a full-scale attack on the Li family.
Hearing this, Song Qiao quickly removed Xia Xueqing's hands.
"I'm definitely going. Don't talk about Li Bingqing having ulterior motives. Even if it's a deliberate Hongmen banquet with hundreds of assassins, I still have to go."
He wouldn't let Ye Zhiwei go alone.
Besides, if he didn't go, wouldn't it mean he, Song Qiao, was afraid of a woman?
Xia Xueqing, listening from behind, frowned and thought for a moment before pulling Song Qiao aside.
"Brother-in-law, I trust you anyway. But you must be extremely careful tomorrow. If that Li Bingqing woman calls in some powerful thugs, just run and don't fight them."
Song Qiao looked at the small, worried face and couldn't help but pinch it.
"I know, I'll definitely come back safely. I promise."
Xia Xueqing rubbed her cheek, and even after hearing his promise, she remained very worried.
But she hadn't received an invitation. This banquet had only invited Song Qiao and Ye Zhiwei.
If she were to show up uninvited, it would only be embarrassing for her. So this time, she could only cheer for them from behind.
"Alright, since you insist, I support you."
Xia Xueqing thought for a moment, then broke into a smile and affectionately linked arms with Song Qiao.
"Let's go, let's go soak in the hot spring."
"Even though I couldn't afford the same gorgeous outfit as Ye Zhiwei, I'm not bad either."
Saying that, she deliberately walked in front of Song Qiao and did a little twirl. Her pink, tight short outfit accentuated her curves, and her fair, smooth skin, like fine jade, made Song Qiao reach out and touch her.
"Hmm, indeed, not bad."
He stroked his chin, feigning an evaluation.
"Naughty… I'm right here."
Seeing Song Qiao actually reach out and touch her, Xia Xueqing quickly glanced at the female employees nearby and complained.
Song Qiao chuckled.
"You're my woman, what are you afraid of?"
"Let them look."
He possessively pulled Xia Xueqing into his arms and entered the hot spring.
The next morning.
Song Qiao woke up early. He had promised Wu Meng a morning training session at the park the night before, to guide her in practicing martial arts.
"Yes, just like this fist technique. As long as you channel enough power, this technique can inflict internal injuries with a single punch."
"I didn't expect you to progress so quickly. You've already mastered this set of movements."
On one side of the park, Song Qiao stood beside Wu Meng, guiding her hand in hand.
The fist technique he was teaching her was something he had obtained from the higher echelons of the Security Department using his instructor status. It was an extremely powerful technique, said to be capable of cultivating internal energy.
So he meticulously taught Wu Meng this set of movements.
After a full half-hour of morning exercise, Song Qiao gave a few more pointers and then stretched his own limbs.
Today was the day of his appointment. Song Qiao intended to see exactly what Li Bingqing was up to.
As he turned to leave, Wu Meng hurried up to him.
"Song Qiao, you… you really need to be careful. If there are any experts at the banquet targeting you, don't get into conflicts with them. You must prioritize your safety."
Hearing this, Song Qiao couldn't help but laugh.
"Wu Meng, do you know whose mouth I heard that from?"
"Oh?"
"When I left this morning, Xueqing said the same thing to me as you did."
Song Qiao's face held a slight smile.
"It seems you're just as worried about me as she is."
Wu Meng's face turned red.
"I… I'm just afraid that if something happens to you, no one will pay me anymore."
A blush instantly appeared on her beautiful, fair oval face, and she quickly lowered her head.
Seeing this, Song Qiao couldn't help but marvel. The way this woman blushed made him want to kiss her soundly.
At this moment, Wu Meng suddenly seemed to gather her courage, ran up to Song Qiao, leaned her head close, and whispered in his ear.
"Song Qiao, you… if you can come back safely, I can let you touch me then."
The tickling sensation by his ear startled Song Qiao. He then looked Wu Meng up and down, a amused expression on his face.
"Really?"
"Can I touch anywhere I want?"
The words didn't sound like much when she said them, but when Song Qiao repeated them, Wu Meng's face turned even redder, like a ripe red apple.
After a long pause, she managed to utter a whisper, as faint as a mosquito's hum.
"Anywhere."