Zhang Wan'er was in high spirits listening to Qin Yue's words. She and Gu Xingdong had known each other for so long; how could Chen Lishu possibly compare? In everyone's eyes, she and Gu Xingdong were a golden couple, an extremely well-matched pair. Chen Lishu was the one who had truly inserted herself between them, the mistress!
Thinking of this, Zhang Wan'er's gaze towards Qin Yue grew even gentler. "What you've said makes a lot of sense, but I don't wish to cooperate with you because I don't want anyone to get hurt! Love cannot be forced. If Gu Xingdong truly likes me, I believe that one day he will be moved by me and end up with me!"
Qin Yue felt her mouth going dry, yet Zhang Wan'er was still putting on an act. She trembled, her body shaking. After taking several deep breaths, the corners of her lips curved upwards slightly, a hypocritical smile appearing on her face. She said, "Our plan will not harm anyone, and it can even help Mother He!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wan'er replied casually, "There's such a good thing? I noticed that Old Madam He's condition seemed a bit off today. Did something happen? What do you mean by 'helping her'? Tell me, perhaps I can assist with this matter!"
Qin Yue's expression showed a hint of hesitation. She turned her head in bewilderment towards Meng Lei, unsure of his thoughts on Zhang Wan'er's words.
After all, Zhang Wan'er had not explicitly agreed to cooperate with them. If they revealed their plan, who knew if Zhang Wan'er might turn around and sell them out to please Gu Xingdong?
Meng Lei had been silently listening to their conversation. Seeing that Qin Yue had not resolved the matter for so long, his expression gradually became impatient. He cursed her internally as an unpromising thing, then stood up, his gaze fixed on Zhang Wan'er with a veiled expression. "If I'm not mistaken, Mother He has likely consumed a banned substance from country M recently, which is why her health has been deteriorating.
Miss Zhang Wan'er, to be frank, the reason I approached you to deal with Chen Lishu is because I like her, and I don't have anyone trustworthy or capable of helping me by my side. We happen to have common needs, so I intended to cooperate with you. There's no need for you to be so wary of us! After all, some opportunities, once missed, may not come again, aren't they?"
When Zhang Wan'er heard Meng Lei confess his liking for Chen Lishu, her expression showed surprise, but she quickly concealed it. Indeed, no one would harbor ill will towards another person without a reason, unless they had ulterior motives.
After a moment of careful consideration, she asked with a hint of doubt, "Since you like Chen Lishu, why would you target her? Logically, you should be targeting Gu Xingdong!"
Hearing this, Meng Lei's lips curved upwards, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his face. He spread his hands fearlessly and shrugged, adopting a defeated attitude. "If I were still the esteemed heir of the Meng family, I could pursue Chen Lishu through conventional means. Unfortunately, I am now a penniless vagrant relying on others!
Even if I were to use some method to force Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong apart, Chen Lishu might not necessarily consider a poor boy like me. Her status makes me feel out of reach. Therefore, I must bring her down from her pedestal. Only by returning her to the status of an ordinary person will I have the资格 to pursue her!"
Observing the flash of madness in Meng Lei's eyes, Zhang Wan'er raised an eyebrow. She then stood up, placed her hand on his shoulder, and patted it gently, whispering, "I believe you will achieve your wish. However, you haven't answered my other question yet: why me specifically?"
Meng Lei cast a sincere gaze in Zhang Wan'er's direction and then slowly explained, "I've just arrived in China and don't know many people here. I also don't have money to hire someone I can trust. As for Qin Yue, to be honest, she's been in hot water these days.
Because of Chen Lishu, Uncle He and Auntie He don't trust her much. If the antidote were delivered by her, they might very well target Qin Yue! With more investigation, traces will naturally be revealed. I fear it might implicate me as well!"
Zhang Wan'er crossed her arms, still skeptical. "Are you sure about this antidote of yours? What if it exacerbates Auntie He's condition?"
"Impossible! If Miss Zhang also doesn't trust us, then I unilaterally declare this cooperation a failure. Let's pretend nothing happened today. From now on, Miss Zhang, you walk your sunny road, and I'll cross my single-plank bridge!" As he finished speaking, a look of disappointment crossed Meng Lei's face. After a moment of silence, he asked Qin Yue to escort her away from the quadrangle.
Zhang Wan'er bit her lower lip hard. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Do you have a way to guarantee that I can freely enter and exit the quadrangle in the future? If you can guarantee that, then our cooperation is established!"
Meng Lei seemed surprised by this question at first, then nodded sincerely. "Naturally. Since we've become friends today, isn't it very normal for friends to visit each other? Auntie He is not an unreasonable person; I believe she won't make things difficult for you."
Having received the answer she wanted, Zhang Wan'er extended her right hand and said, "Then I wish us both a pleasant cooperation, and may everyone's dreams come true!"
Meng Lei's lips curved upwards slightly. He grasped Zhang Wan'er's hand firmly, his expression unreadable as he said, "Pleasant cooperation!"
After the cooperation was settled, Zhang Wan'er reluctantly left the place where Gu Xingdong resided. Soon, a servant reported this news to Gu Xingdong.
When Old Master He, standing beside Gu Xingdong, heard the news, his expression gradually turned grim. "If I remember correctly, Qin Yue seems to harbor great resentment towards Lishu, and Zhang Wan'er is not a good person either. With the two of them together, I strongly suspect they are secretly plotting something!"
Gu Xingdong's expression also grew serious. He gazed out the window, his voice low. "I'm not sure. I originally wanted to send someone to gather information, but the room doors were tightly shut, so there was no opportunity to go in. I also didn't want to alert them."
Old Master He found the matter quite troublesome. "It seems we need to install more cameras in the rooms to guard against these people. Who knows when we might suddenly fall victim!"