Chapter 51: Father-in-law Wants to Give You a Chance

Xiao Yunchen's face moved closer and closer, and Jian Qing could hear the rapid pounding of her own heart.

“Don’t—”

Bang!

Before she could even voice her rejection, Ren Yishan suddenly burst in, flinging open Jian Qing’s door in a panic.

Startled, Jian Qing shoved Number 33 away, abruptly putting distance between them. She raised her brows and glanced at Ren Yishan, flicking her hair back.

“What is it?”

“Jian Qing! You wretched woman!”

Ren Yishan rushed forward, her hand raised to slap Jian Qing, but Li Jingche caught her wrist in a firm grip. He glanced at Jian Qing, hesitated a moment, and, recalling that he’d just struck Xiao Yunchen, thought it might be too much to push Ren Yishan away as well. So he chose a compromise:

“Qingqing’s leg hasn’t healed yet, Miss Ren. Don’t go too far.”

Ren Yishan, fuming with indignation, found her wrist caught in Li Jingche’s iron grasp, rendering her unable to move. In the end, she could only withdraw her hand in frustration. She held up her now swollen wrist, spat in contempt, and sneered:

“You two are shameless! Your male model dares to lay a hand on Yunchen? Believe it or not, I’ll have my father throw you both out tonight!”

Jian Qing was already weighing her options. It was possible Ren Yishan’s outrage on Xiao Yunchen’s behalf was feigned, but her desire to use this opportunity to drive Jian Qing out was all too real.

Just then, as the tension hung in the air, Li Jingche, standing to the side, flexed his wrist and winced audibly.

Jian Qing seized the opportunity, pulling Li Jingche behind her.

“How can you say my little heartthrob did it? Wasn’t it Xiao Yunchen who ran into his wrist? Didn’t you see how he hurt his hand?”

“Shameless!”

At that moment, Ren Yishan heard Ren Tianchuan returning home. She leaned over the banister, wailing loudly:

“Dad! Dad, what should I do? Qingqing had her man beat up Yunchen!”

At her cries, Ren Tianchuan could no longer sit still. He hurried upstairs, not even bothering to take off his jacket.

“What happened, my precious girl?”

He wrapped Ren Yishan in his arms, glaring at Jian Qing as if she were the enemy, his gaze harsh and unforgiving.

Jian Qing’s heart skipped a beat—her father’s stare was like a knife, stabbing straight into her chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Dad, Jian Qing had her male model beat up Yunchen! And Yunchen is supposed to attend Young Master Li’s party tonight. If Young Master Li hears about this, what will we do?”

At these words, Ren Tianchuan’s anger flared. Jian Qing saw him about to strike and, fearing he might target Number 33, stepped in front of him. But the slap was meant for her.

Smack!

A resounding slap landed on her cheek, which instantly reddened and swelled, blood trickling from her nose.

“Uncle Ren, you can’t abuse your position as her elder like this!” Li Jingche was about to intervene, but Jian Qing stopped him.

“Go back,” she said coldly.

He looked down at the hand blocking his way, frowned, and glanced at her.

Ren Tianchuan jabbed a finger at Li Jingche, barking:

“Bringing all sorts of riffraff into our home. Jian Qing, have you forgotten your mother’s teachings?”

Jian Qing gasped for breath, her leg—almost healed—throbbing with pain, all her organs churning with suppressed rage.

Turning her head slowly, she met Li Jingche’s worried gaze, and her anxiety gradually settled.

“Go back,” she repeated.

“I can’t leave you.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. He’s my father, she’s my sister. Surely they won’t kill me for Xiao Yunchen, will they?” Jian Qing’s laugh was cold, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Li Jingche leaned down and whispered two sentences in her ear. Jian Qing looked at him in surprise, then nodded.

Once Li Jingche had left, Ren Tianchuan slapped his daughter again.

Her beautiful face was now marked with five bright fingerprints. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“Dad, do you even know what you’re doing?”

Ren Tianchuan was still fuming, Ren Yishan standing behind him with a triumphant smile.

But before his anger could subside, Xiao Nan’s call came through.

He glanced at the caller ID, shot Jian Qing a venomous glare, took a few deep breaths, and sat down on the sofa.

“Hello? Lao Xiao, what is it?”

Xiao Nan’s voice was furious on the other end:

“Ren Tianchuan! That precious daughter of yours dared to have someone beat up my son?”

He ranted for a while, all of it blaming Jian Qing. Ren Tianchuan apologized obsequiously, his face dark, never taking his eyes off Jian Qing. If looks could kill, she would have been incinerated on the spot.

“I was supposed to meet President Li today. If he hears about this, what will you do?”

“Don’t, don’t, Lao Xiao, why involve President Li…” Ren Tianchuan laughed nervously. “How about this—we’ll cover all of Yunchen’s medical expenses, and—”

“Medical expenses are nothing. The Xiao family can afford that!” Xiao Nan snapped.

“Yes, yes…”

Ren Tianchuan, at a loss for words, could only nod and bow. Finally, Xiao Nan offered a solution:

“You know I have only one son, Yunchen, and no daughter. Both your daughters have dated him before. Let’s do this: whoever helps our Xiao family win the contract with the Li family, this incident will be wiped clean, and I’ll let Yunchen get engaged to her! To put it plainly, it’s Jian Qing who can’t let go of Yunchen. As his future father-in-law, I’m willing to give her another chance.”

The call wasn’t loud, but the room was silent—everyone heard every word.

Ren Tianchuan didn’t refuse; he agreed without hesitation. After all, he’d always wanted to forge ties with the Li family.

Once the call ended, Ren Tianchuan’s gaze flicked back and forth between Jian Qing and Ren Yishan, finally settling on Jian Qing.

“Did you hear that, Jian Qing?”