Chapter 2: The He Family Banquet

Jian Qing’s smile vanished the moment she returned home. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Ren Yishan straddling Xiao Yunchen’s lap. The two of them had no intention of restraining themselves, tangled together on the living room sofa.

Jian Qing’s brows knit ever so slightly as she stepped inside in her high heels, her gaze fixed forward, not sparing them a glance. Passing by their side, she drew a wad of pink bills from her bag and, without hesitation, tucked them into Ren Yishan’s bra through her gaping neckline.

Still lost in the heat of their passion, Ren Yishan jolted upright, startled by the sudden intrusion. “What are you doing, Jian Qing!”

“Since you’re putting on a Crazy Horse show for me, I figured I should at least tip you,” Jian Qing replied.

Ren Yishan immediately put on a pitiful face, pulling out the money and turning to Xiao Yunchen as if seeking his support. She didn’t even have to speak before he started barking, “Jian Qing, what are you doing? I know you haven’t been able to let go since we broke up, but Shanshan is my choice. Let’s part on good terms, shall we?”

Jian Qing stood tall and poised. She turned her head, gazing at those eyes that had once looked at her so tenderly but now glared with resentment. The ache in her heart was like a knife twisted deep, unmoving.

Her hand clenched involuntarily into a fist. But after a deep, steady breath, she offered a gentle reminder, “Xiao Yunchen, today I feel like cursing someone, but I’d rather not curse you.”

Truth be told, the thought of No. 33’s face was enough to quell most of her anger.

“What do you mean by that, Jian Qing? Who are you calling inhuman?” Xiao Yunchen, his belt still unbuckled, vaulted over the sofa. “I know you can’t let go, but Jian Qing, I truly don’t love you anymore. Can’t you show a little generosity? If you keep targeting Shanshan, then there’s no point in me caring about our past at all.”

“Oh?” Jian Qing’s lips curled into a faint smile. She truly felt nothing for this man anymore, but seeing him so willing to sever ties of over twenty years for a woman he’d known only a week, she couldn’t suppress the redness that stung her eyes.

“Are you angry?” she asked softly.

“Yes, I’m angry—because of your unreasonable behavior.”

“You can be as angry as you want, but it won’t do you any good,” Jian Qing retorted, shoving Xiao Yunchen aside and pointing a finger at Ren Yishan’s nose.

“Ren Yishan, don’t forget that the paternity test results you brought home have yet to be approved by my mother. The money and the house—my father’s already given them to you. I don’t want Xiao Yunchen either. But I’m warning you—don’t mess with me. I know exactly what you’ve been saying and doing behind my back.”

Ren Yishan’s lips curled into a slight smirk, yet when she turned to Xiao Yunchen, her expression became one of wounded innocence. “Jian Qing, you’re my sister. Why would I ever target you? Maybe… maybe I’m just too blunt. I say whatever comes to mind. Sister, please don’t take it to heart.”

“Even if you’re blunt, you shouldn’t let everything spill out of your mouth, should you? Ren Yishan, for this life of mine, it must be karma that Ren Tianchuan brought you home.”

“Jian Qing! How can you say such things?”

Suddenly, a deep male voice echoed from the staircase. Ren Tianchuan, his hair streaked with silver, walked over in a white tracksuit.

Jian Qing had always known her father disliked her, treating her as if she weren’t his own child. Whenever her mother’s family wasn’t around, he would refuse her food, and at school he’d speak ill of her to the teachers, causing her to be ostracized by her classmates.

Now, facing the three of them alone, Jian Qing still maintained the last vestiges of respect for her elders. “Father,” she said, forcing the word from her lips.

“How can you treat your sister like that? Do you even know how to act like a little sister?” Ren Tianchuan’s rebuke grew more severe with every word. “I told you, you shouldn’t have been raised by your grandparents. See how you turned out!”

At the mention of her grandparents, Jian Qing’s gaze sharpened with defiance. “Father, the dead deserve respect. It’s the tenth anniversary of Grandmother’s passing—how can you speak of her like that?”

He ignored her, tossing an invitation card onto the floor. “There’s a charity gala hosted by the He family tonight. Take your sister with you.”

Jian Qing bent down to pick up the invitation. The gold-embossed paper bore a line of elegant calligraphy, but only her name—Jian Qing—was printed as the invitee. Ren Tianchuan’s name was nowhere to be found.

She slipped the invitation into her bag, silent.

Ren Tianchuan thought she was unwilling and barked, “We’re family. What’s wrong with taking your sister along? She’s new here and doesn’t know much about jewelry—help her out as a good little sister should.”

Ren Yishan, seeing Jian Qing’s head bowed, slipped her arm through their father’s. “Dad, don’t be upset. My sister’s always had a temper. I’ll get along with her.”

“It’s all because her grandparents spoiled her!”

With a sudden snap, Jian Qing hurled the invitation at Ren Tianchuan’s feet. “Father, why don’t you take your precious daughter yourself?”

He was speechless.

“What, you didn’t get an invitation?” she pressed.

“Jian! Qing!” Ren Tianchuan’s slap rang out, crisp and sharp. The family’s parrot was immediately whisked away, its beak clamped shut. The maids who had been bustling about moments before all scattered. The old butler, watching blood trickle from Jian Qing’s nose, handed her a tissue with a heavy heart.

“My dear girl,” he murmured. With his hair white as snow, he had watched Jian Qing grow up, always grateful to the Jian family. To him, she was like his own child, and his heart ached for her.

Jian Qing swallowed the fire that had risen to her lips.

“Go if you want; I don’t care!” Ren Tianchuan picked up the invitation and handed it to Ren Yishan. Then, taking his beloved daughter by the hand, he walked away.

The three of them seemed the very picture of a happy family. Ren Tianchuan held Ren Yishan’s hand, playing with her fingers as he advised, “Shanshan, tonight’s banquet is for you to meet He Jiangyu. The Jian family deals in jewelry, and in this industry, the He family has no equal. Another thing…”

He glanced at Xiao Yunchen, who hurried to Ren Yishan’s side and whispered, “Shanshan, you know the real estate market’s been tough lately, and our family’s cash flow is tight. The Li family just acquired a plot downtown to upgrade the business district. I’ve heard He Jiangyu is close with the Li family from the capital. Their eldest son will be at the banquet tonight. If you can make a connection with the Li family, it’ll give our family some breathing room.”

As he spoke, he slid his arm around Ren Yishan’s waist.

A fox and a wolf—neither one could be trusted.

Who was using whom? It was hard to say.