Chapter 19: Do It or Don’t

Almost at the very moment Li Jingche was about to erupt, Jian Qing’s call came through.

He Jiangyu hurriedly picked up the phone, which Li Jingche had just set aside, and handed it over with both hands, respectfully saying,

"Che-ge, the person you’re waiting for is here."

Li Jingche’s eyelids lowered; he snatched the phone and answered without a word.

"Where are you?"

The silence on the other end was nearly terrifying. Though Li Jingche was annoyed, he still sensed the subtle shift in atmosphere.

Jian Qing was at home; she knew well how noisy her father and sister could be. If she were at Haiyan Heqing, her boss would have called by now.

Could it be... Jian Qing was still at the hospital?

Originally, this call had made him somewhat willing to compromise, but thinking about it made him even more irritated.

"Where are you?"

He didn't answer, but countered with the same question.

"In the car, heading home. When will you be back?"

Jian Qing seemed unaware that anything was amiss; her tone was gentle, without any discernible emotion.

"I'm on my way home."

There are always things that can't be explained over the phone.

He wanted to see Jian Qing quickly and get to the bottom of it.

Three calls had failed to connect, and Li Jingche was extremely frustrated!

"Perfect, when you get back, cook dinner. The dishes at home have been too bland lately for my father."

But Jian Qing was the type who liked to push boundaries, and Li Jingche felt he had already compromised enough, yet she still wanted him to play the ideal husband and father.

He Jiangyu couldn’t hear clearly, but he could see Li Jingche’s grip on the phone tightening.

"No. I won’t."

He emphasized each word, slow and deliberate.

"Hmph, suit yourself!"

Jian Qing was amused by his somewhat adorable tone. She actually liked seeing Number 33 angry; his handsome features made even his anger stylish—

It made people want to coax and comfort him.

"Che-ge?"

He Jiangyu watched Li Jingche, who stood there, lost in thought, phone in hand, unwilling to let go. He quickly tried to mediate:

"Brother, don’t let it get too tense. You can handle billion-dollar projects, but a stubborn woman might be out of your league."

Li Jingche shot him a glance, a hint of warmth flickering in his eyes. He nodded slowly, indicating he understood, then said,

"I’ll cook."

The woman on the other end clearly hadn’t caught on, and Li Jingche’s expression remained calm as he sat back down on the sofa.

"You asked if I’d cook or not. My answer is: I’ll cook."

He Jiangyu, who was about to light a cigarette, froze with the cigarette halfway to his lips, replaying Li Jingche’s words in his mind. He had the feeling the woman on the other end meant something entirely different from what Che-ge understood.

Sure enough.

The woman on the phone sounded like an angry kitten, meowing. A victorious smile crept across Li Jingche’s face; he said nothing and hung up abruptly. He opened the door to the lounge, ready to leave.

"Jiangyu, I’m heading out. Hold onto this diamond for me; I’ll come for it when I need it."

"Alright, Che-ge. Safe travels."

After seeing Li Jingche off, He Jiangyu returned to the private room, where the lively chatter had ceased; everyone was focused on their meal.

There was no helping it—this place was like Li Jingche’s private kitchen. Though its revenue was negligible compared to the Li family’s other businesses, it boasted top chefs from across the country. The dishes never repeated, there was no fixed menu, yet every meal was exquisitely crafted, making it hard to resist.

Hao Qing was the first to notice He Jiangyu enter and waved him over.

"Where’s Che-ge?"

"He...," He Jiangyu hesitated, debating whether to tell the truth. But Li Jingche’s love life was still uncharted territory, and since he was acting under his own name, it was best not to get involved.

"Che-ge had something to do and left early. Let's eat."

He raised his glass and clinked it with Hao Qing.

"From now on, I’ll have to address you as President Hao. This restaurant is my white moonlight; I’ll rely on you for my meals! The only thing in life I can’t let go of is my chopsticks."

"Young Master He, that remark is a bit lacking," joked another young man.

"Who knows, maybe one day we’ll have to call someone Mrs. Li."

"Don’t talk nonsense. If you’re not eating, get out."

He Jiangyu had little patience for others.

Seeing his face change, the young man immediately fell silent, keeping his head down and eating quickly.

After downing a glass with Hao Qing, He Jiangyu asked,

"When will your brother be back?"

"In a few days. He said there are a few patients waiting for him in the country."

"Li Shuang will have something to fuss over again."

He Jiangyu muttered, setting his glass down, raising his brows and shaking his head, quietly sighing,

"Those siblings’ romantic lives are both pretty outrageous."

"What did you say, Jiangyu?"

"Nothing. Let’s eat."

——

Li Jingche took a cab home. When he arrived at Jian Qing’s villa, Uncle Qian was in the garden, overseeing the gardener trimming the branches. Spotting Li Jingche, he waved him over.

"Young man, come here."

"What is it?"

As Li Jingche approached, the butler pulled out his phone and pointed to a photo of He Jiangyu.

His expression was grave.

"You are not He Jiangyu, are you?"

Li Jingche nodded honestly.

"This is a transaction between Miss Jian and me."

Uncle Qian gestured for him to stop, nodded knowingly, and sighed,

"Qingqing still can’t let go of Xiao Yunchen. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have you doing this... Young man, I hope you can help Qingqing move past her heartbreak. Her life won’t be normal until Xiao Yunchen is completely out of it."

Uncle Qian’s words hit upon the truth Li Jingche least wanted to face.

If Jian Qing had truly let go of Xiao Yunchen, she wouldn’t have sought him out to provoke them.

In the end, it was because Jian Qing still held feelings for that man.

Over twenty years of youthful memories, the end of regret is heartbreak, pain that pierces the soul.

Li Jingche had never fallen in love; he couldn’t relate, yet he felt himself enveloped by a growing sense of unease.

"Young man, you look good. Qingqing likes handsome men. Work hard, try to make it official."

With that, Uncle Qian handed Li Jingche a thick envelope.

"A man must have either wealth or looks. As long as you treat Qingqing well, Uncle Qian will help you rise."

Li Jingche hesitated, squeezed the envelope, but didn’t refuse.

"I’ll do my best."

When he entered the villa, Jian Qing was nowhere to be found. The cook was carrying a bowl of salad upstairs. Seeing Li Jingche, she handed it over.

"Sir, this is the salad Miss Qingqing requested. She came home limping tonight. We don’t know if she’s hurt, and she won’t let the family doctor see her. Uncle Qian and I are worried. Could you go up and check on her for us?"

"She’s hurt?"

Li Jingche’s brows furrowed as he looked at the pile of greens in his hands, scrutinizing the cook.

She nodded.

"The family doctor is the old master’s trusted aide. Since Miss Ren arrived, Miss Qingqing has grown quite wary of him."

"I understand. Make some fish soup, too. Salad alone is too plain."

"Yes, sir."

Li Jingche’s desire to confront her evaporated. He strode upstairs and pushed open Jian Qing’s door.

"Jian Qing? How are you?"

"You should knock before coming in, idiot!"

She had just stripped down to examine the injury she got when she fainted and fell from the stairs, and Li Jingche barged in.