Meng Feifei spoke with feigned concern, deliberately raising her wrist so the white jade bracelet dangled right before Meng Jiao’s eyes.
With the bracelet in her possession and Meng Jiao deprived of her most important item, how could she possibly win?
In this lifetime, she would still emerge victorious.
Seeing Meng Feifei’s smug expression, Meng Jiao couldn’t be bothered to engage and perfunctorily said: “Not bad.””
Noticing Meng Jiao’s indifferent reaction, Meng Feifei’s eyes shifted cunningly as she began sowing discord again.
However, Meng Jiao had no desire to entertain Meng Feifei further.
At thirteen or fourteen years old, girls are particularly prone to petty moods. Infuriated by Meng Jiao’s attitude, Meng Feifei stormed upstairs in a huff.
Her departure was exactly what Meng Jiao had hoped for.
Seizing the moment while the housekeeper was preparing dinner, Meng Jiao immediately tiptoed into her grandmother’s former bedroom.
The room still carried a faint scent of sandalwood, with all furnishings remaining exactly as they were during her grandmother’s lifetime, though now covered by a thin layer of dust.
With the occupant gone and the room empty – they hadn’t cared for grandmother while she was alive, why would they bother maintaining her room after her death?
Meng Jiao’s heart raced as she recalled her grandmother’s letter.
Beside her grandmother’s bed stood an old camphorwood chest carved with intricate patterns – one of her grandmother’s dowry items.
Taking a deep breath, Meng Jiao approached and carefully opened the chest.
Inside lay several of her grandmother’s commonly worn plain-colored cheongsams neatly folded, along with some old books.
Meng Jiao’s heart leaped to her throat as she gently moved aside the clothing and books, revealing the chest’s bottom.
She meticulously tapped and felt every inch of the wooden base with her fingers.
Finally, near one corner, she detected a hollow sound.
Distinctly different from the solid thuds elsewhere.
Elated, Meng Jiao held her breath and carefully pried along the nearly invisible seam with her fingernail.
After a moment, a palm-sized wooden plank lifted gently, revealing a hidden compartment beneath.
Inside the compartment lay a diary with a kraft paper cover.
Meng Jiao’s hands trembled with excitement as she quickly retrieved the diary and tucked it into her clothing.
She swiftly replaced the wooden plank, rearranged the clothing and books to their original positions, and closed the chest lid.
The entire process took only minutes, yet it felt like an eternity had passed.
Fine beads of sweat had formed on her forehead.
Not daring to linger, she was about to slip out silently when footsteps suddenly sounded on the stairs.
Only Meng Feifei was upstairs – was she coming down?
The footsteps grew increasingly closer, clearly heading toward this very room!
Every hair on Meng Jiao’s body stood on end. She scanned the room frantically – there was nowhere to hide.
In desperation, she ducked behind the heavy curtains, pressing tightly against the wall, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Just then, the door was pushed open forcefully.
Meng Feifei’s muttering voice carried through: “Honestly, like talking to a brick wall, so boring… Huh? I remember Grandma had a pretty brooch in this room before. Where did she put it?”
She seemed to be rummaging casually around the room, her footsteps echoing as they moved closer and farther away.
Hidden behind the curtains, Meng Jiao’s heart pounded wildly, almost bursting from her chest.
She heard Meng Feifei rummaging through the dressing table drawers. Clamping a hand over her mouth, she feared even the slightest breath might betray her presence.
Time ticked by, each second feeling like an eternity of torment.
Suddenly, Meng Feifei’s movements halted as she seemed to look toward the camphorwood chest at the head of the bed.
“Miss Feifei, dinner is ready.”
The nanny’s voice came from outside. Meng Feifei responded with an “Oh” and left the room bored.
Once the door closed again, Meng Jiao finally let out a sigh of relief.
Faint voices of the nanny and Meng Feifei could still be heard from outside.
The nanny mentioned something about not being able to find Meng Jiao, to which Meng Feifei replied that she’d come down if she got hungry.
The voices gradually faded until they disappeared completely.
Knowing they had gone to the dining room, Meng Jiao immediately hugged the diary and left the place.
Outside, Meng Jianhua had dragged Meng Pengtao along to buy numerous items.
Meng Pengtao was nearly heartbroken over the spending.
“Third Brother, let’s stop here for today. We’ve bought more than enough.”
Estimating the time was about right, Meng Jianhua reluctantly agreed.
When the two returned to the Meng residence, dinner was nearly over.
Meng Jiao sat quietly in her seat eating, as if she had never left.
After the meal, Meng Jianhua excused himself to sober up and wandered to the backyard, with Meng Jiao following closely.
“Did you get it?”
Meng Jianhua leaned against the rockery in the shadows. Meng Jiao responded softly and handed over the diary she was holding.
Meng Jianhua took it but didn’t look through it immediately, instead tucking it inside his coat.
“I’ll go see the old man first thing tomorrow morning.”
Meng Jiao looked up at him. Under the moonlight, her cheap father’s face lacked its usual drunkenness and roguishness, replaced by a calm severity.
“What do you plan to do?”
Meng Jianhua smirked: “Don’t worry. Your father might be a scoundrel, but I know what to hand to whom and when for maximum effect.”
He paused, looking at Meng Jiao: “What about you? You’re leaving tomorrow. Are you scared?”
“Not scared.”
Meng Jiao shook her head, smiling at Meng Jianhua.
“The countryside might actually be safer. But before I go, I’d like to leave them one more thing.”
Meng Jianhua raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
Meng Jiao stepped closer and whispered a few sentences.
Listening, Meng Jianhua first showed surprise, then chuckled lowly with approval.
“Good girl, ruthless enough! Let’s do it! I’ll arrange this. You just get some rest.”
Early the next morning, as dawn barely broke.
While the Meng residence was still immersed in sleep, considerable noise came from Meng Jianhua’s room.
“Who?! Who touched my things?! Where’s that… that old book my mother left?! There was a note she wrote inside!”
His voice disturbed the nanny preparing breakfast and faintly reached upstairs.
Meng Pengtao and Lin Hanqiao, already sleeping restlessly, felt their hearts drop upon hearing this.
Meng Pengtao hurriedly threw on clothes and went downstairs, finding Meng Jianhua rummaging through his luggage.
“Third Brother, what are you shouting about so early? What note?”
Meng Pengtao asked, feigning composure.
“Elder Brother!”
Meng Jianhua grabbed him, eyes bloodshot.
“I clearly remember packing mother’s ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ in my luggage last night. There was a note inside that she wrote for me.”
“What did it say…? Something like… ‘Hearts are separated by bellies, accounts must be clear.’ Mother must have been reminding me to be careful in life! Where’s the book? Where’s the note?”
“Hearts are separated by bellies, accounts must be clear”!
These ten words struck Meng Pengtao’s ears like thunder!
His face instantly paled, and he instinctively glanced at Lin Hanqiao, who had emerged at the sound. Both saw the same shock and fear in each other’s eyes.
The old lady had actually left something behind!