Chapter 39: Which One Is Jian Qing?

When Jian Qing’s message arrived, Li Jingche was in the car, driving Li Shuang to attend Ren Yishan’s welcome banquet.

“Brother, I really don’t want to go. I made plans with He Jiangyu for sea fishing today, can’t you let me off just this once~”

Clinging to her brother’s arm and acting coy, Li Shuang was a playful soul—spending seven days and nights out at sea, with bonfire parties and fishing, she’d be having so much fun she’d forget to come home.

Li Jingche narrowed his eyes, enlarged the photo, and examined Jian Qing’s hand with great care before closing his phone and leaning back to rest his eyes.

“The Jian family sent you an invitation. You should go, otherwise it would be rude.”

Rude?

Li Jingche talking to her about manners?

Li Shuang could hardly believe such words had come from her brother’s mouth. “Brother, weren’t you the one who made an appointment with Xiao Corporation and then, at the last minute, switched to Yan’s Construction?”

He shot Li Shuang a sidelong glance and said nothing, but the girl knew she’d overstepped and zipped her lips shut.

Li Jingche reached into his pocket and brought out a black velvet box—the diamond ring he hadn’t given away last time.

“Give this to Miss Jian.”

Li Shuang raised her eyebrows. This was the diamond ring her brother had bartered for with his own kitchen worth tens of millions, and now he was letting it go so easily?

“Brother, are you courting Miss Jian? Wait, is it that Jian Qing?”

Li Jingche didn’t answer, just massaged his brow, finding her chatter irksome.

“Don’t say it’s from me.”

“Ohhhhhh—” Li Shuang dragged out the sound, making a knowing face and snapping her fingers. “Trust me, big brother, I’ll make you look good!”

—

Jian Qing had been alone in the banquet hall for quite a while. Only when Ren Tianchuan called Ren Yishan to the stage did Yan Jin and Yan Ni finally find her in the dim light.

“Qingqing, how’s your leg?”

Seeing Jian Qing in a wheelchair gave Yan Jin quite a scare.

But Jian Qing waved it off and patted Yan Jin’s hand on her knee.

“It’s nothing. I’ll start rehab in two days.”

As the two chatted, a waiter passed by Yan Ni. Because it was so dark, he didn’t see her foot and tripped, sending the entire tray of drinks spilling onto Jian Qing.

What was meant to happen, happened.

Jian Qing had rehearsed countless times in her mind how she might be embarrassed by Ren Yishan at this banquet. One of the scenarios was being splashed with wine in public.

But this time, it did seem accidental.

Ren Yishan was on stage. Noticing the commotion below, she frowned in annoyance. “What’s going on?”

All the lights came up, and every gaze in the hall was drawn to Jian Qing.

How humiliating!

Lemon slices, celery roots, and coriander leaves from the cocktails were all strewn across her, and the blue, orange, and red drinks smeared across her white dress, turning it into a messy child’s painting.

Yan Jin dabbed at Jian Qing with tissues, beckoning a waiter to wheel her upstairs, out of the fray.

“Just some spilled drinks, Miss Ren. Please continue.”

“Wait.”

But Ren Yishan stopped the waiter first. She walked over to Jian Qing, scrutinizing the woman’s disheveled state—wet hair, filthy dress—exactly how she wanted Jian Qing to appear.

Like a drowned rat.

“Sister, are you alright?”

She knelt down, looking at Jian Qing with feigned concern, picking a celery root off her chest as she spoke.

“Could someone bring a blanket? My sister is frail and might catch a cold.”

Ren Yishan spoke with self-righteous authority. Jian Qing sneered.

“If you’re so concerned about your sister, you should let her go upstairs and change out of these dirty clothes right now.”

But Ren Yishan remained unmoved, smiling as she patted Jian Qing on the head.

“Just hold on a bit longer, dear. Some important guests are about to arrive. Wait until you’ve welcomed them, then you can leave. Otherwise, it would make our family look terribly ill-mannered.”

Is it polite to greet honored guests while drenched in alcohol?

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Yuncheng arrived late, saw the two sisters together, and separated them to ask,

“Who else have you invited?”

Ren Yishan, displeased, hooked her arm around him and kissed his cheek. “Yunchen, why are you late? I’ll have to make you drink two more glasses as punishment!”

Before the words had faded, a group of young socialites clustered around.

Jian Qing snorted softly—beautiful and a good cook? Are they talking about a rice cooker?

Watching their public display of affection, Jian Qing felt sickened and was about to wheel herself away when the hall doors opened once more.

The double doors, which required four people to move, swung open with a heavy sound. Standing on the red carpet were two young women.

“Miss Li, Miss Hao!”

At the sight of them, Ren Yishan hurried over and stood between them, linking arms affectionately.

Hao Qing maintained a polite façade with a perfunctory smile, but Li Shuang simply pulled her arm away.

Ren Yishan’s expression changed instantly, but she didn’t dare show her anger. Under everyone’s gaze, she slowly released Hao Qing’s arm and introduced them.

“These are tonight’s VIP guests—Li Shuang, second daughter of the Li family of the capital, and Hao Qing, second daughter of the Hao family.”

Hearing the Li family mentioned, Jian Qing thought of Yan Jin’s business. She was far too disheveled and didn’t want to embarrass Yan Jin, so she quietly tried to wheel herself upstairs.

Yan Ni saw and called softly, “Qingqing?”

Jian Qing gestured for her not to interfere.

Li Shuang just wanted to finish Li Jingche’s task quickly and head out with He Jiangyu. She scanned the hall, pulled Ren Yishan aside, and asked,

“Which one is Jian Qing?”

This time, Ren Yishan could no longer maintain her composure.