Sun Mengmeng was the most capable assistant since the establishment of Xiao Churan’s company.
Seeing Sun Mengmeng here, the innocent Xiao Churan did not think much of it.
She assumed it was just a coincidence.
Unexpectedly, Sun Mengmeng came before her and said respectfully, “President Xiao, I am here waiting for you on orders from Butler Tang. Later, I will escort you back to Tomson Riviera. We depart tonight, and I will accompany you and your parents.”
Xiao Churan looked at her in shock. She had a bellyful of questions, but for a moment, she did not know where to begin.
Sun Mengmeng reached out to take her boarding case and backpack, saying somewhat guiltily, “Sorry, President Xiao, due to special circumstances, I have not been able to reveal my identity to you. I am Butler Tang’s subordinate, here to protect your safety.”
Xiao Churan came back to her senses and suddenly gave a wry smile, saying awkwardly, “I think it’s more like surveilling me, right? You joined not long after my studio was established. In between, quite a few people resigned due to the pressure, but you never complained or slacked off. I thought I had finally found a reliable right-hand woman, but it turns out there was more to it.”
Sun Mengmeng was straightforward and smiled, saying, “President Xiao, I was the one who concealed it first. I understand if you have reservations about me. I cannot excuse my own concealment and deception. I can only tell you that although I am not a soldier, I have undergone the strictest military-style education and management since childhood, so like a soldier, I take obeying orders as my highest duty. The order was for me to stay by your side, so I had to comply.”
Xiao Churan asked her, “If the order was for you to kill me, you would do it without hesitation, right?”
Sun Mengmeng did not answer her aggressive question but replied candidly, “If the order was for me to die for you, I would not hesitate for a second!”
Xiao Churan had not expected Sun Mengmeng to give her such an answer.
In that instant, the displeasure and sense of betrayal in her heart vanished into thin air.
She understood and empathised with Sun Mengmeng. Sun Mengmeng had her own position and stance. She was fulfilling her duties, and in her eyes, there was no right or wrong.
Her answer was also very clever. If the order was for her to die for her, she would not hesitate. The subtext was that if the order was truly to kill her, it would be the same for her, killing or dying for someone, as long as it was an order, it made no difference to her.
Thus, she could not help but sigh, “You are only in your twenties. How can you be so loyal to them? You are so young. Should you not be searching for the meaning of your own life?”
Sun Mengmeng smiled faintly and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “President Xiao, my life was given to me by them. Without them, my mother and I would probably have died long ago. They provided me with military-style education from a young age, not for me to repay them in the future, but to enable me to take revenge on my enemies with my own hands. I did it. They did not restrict my freedom either. It was my own choice to stay and serve them, not only because they have treated me with immense kindness, but also because they are truly good people.”
Xiao Churan nodded in a daze and sighed softly, “Very well. You will accompany us on the journey, so at least there will be a familiar face to look after things. Where is your car parked? Let us go.”
Sun Mengmeng smiled and said, “President Xiao, to be honest with you, this time I am accompanying you to leave China. Once we arrive there, I and my real colleagues will take care of you and your family’s daily life together. For a very long time in the future, we may all have to live together.”
Hearing this, Xiao Churan felt a surge of joy in her heart, but it was soon overshadowed by dejection. She said softly, “It is them who made you stay to surveil us, right? Are they afraid I cannot control myself and will proactively contact Ye Chen?”
Sun Mengmeng said, “President Xiao, to be frank, given the crisis facing the young master, even if you completely leave him, you may not be safe. In extraordinary times, surveillance and protection are really no different.”
“I understand.” Xiao Churan nodded gently.
Then, Sun Mengmeng led her to the car park, where a sleek black MPV was already waiting.
Sun Mengmeng placed the luggage in the boot, opened the sliding side door to let Xiao Churan get in first, and then sat in the driver’s seat herself.
Starting the engine, Sun Mengmeng said to Xiao Churan, “President Xiao, we are tentatively scheduled to depart at nine o’clock tonight. You and your family do not need to bring too many things, just carry-on luggage will suffice. If there are items you need to bring, you can simply take photos and send them to me. I will arrange for someone to pack and load them tonight. The items may arrive a day later than you.”
Xiao Churan was surprised by the other’s professionalism, but upon reflection, she understood.
Thus, she asked, “Are we leaving the country by sea?”
“Yes.” Sun Mengmeng said, “The cargo ship is docked at Qingdao Port. We will arrive in the early hours and board directly.”
Xiao Churan said uneasily, “If it is by cargo ship, how should I explain it to my parents? I have not told them yet. I planned to go back and tell them temporarily that we are going away for a few days’ holiday.”
Sun Mengmeng smiled and said, “Rest assured. This MPV has a rising partition in the middle. Tonight, once your parents are in the car, you sit in the front passenger seat and let your parents sit in the rear compartment. When the partition rises, a colourless, odourless, and harmless anaesthetic gas will be released in the rear. This gas will make them sleep deeply for a long time. Then our car will drive straight onto the ship. There are well-equipped rooms inside. By the time they wake up, we will already be in international waters. At that point, you can explain everything to them. I believe they will understand.”
