Chapter 55: The Li Family’s Birthday Banquet

Du Yu’s extended Rolls-Royce arrived on time. He opened the car door for Jian Qing, and after she got in, he sat beside her, visibly nervous. Jian Qing raised her brows to glance at him, but before she could speak, he began to thank her excitedly.

“Thank you, Miss Jian. If not for you… I truly… Ren Yishan has already started to threaten me with this matter. She wants both the resources of the Li family and to force me into a relationship with her. She found out the hotel had surveillance and threatened to expose everything. If you hadn’t deleted the footage, I would have been forced into far more disgraceful measures.”

Jian Qing merely nodded. “You still need to be careful. Even if Ren Yishan failed this time, she may have other tricks up her sleeve. Since we’re partners now, we should help each other.”

Du Yu naturally understood her meaning. He took out his phone and showed Jian Qing a chat log. “As part of our cooperation, I’ll be your escort, and you’ll design a unique set of jewelry for my mother. I have some rapport with the president of DiaMei Jewelry, and he’s willing to invest in your private studio. This way, even if Ren Yishan and you compete for the family inheritance in the future, you’ll be able to stand on your own, even without the Jian family.”

To give credit where it’s due, Du Yu was a man who truly understood the art of generosity, especially in teaching others to fish rather than just giving them one. He had given Jian Qing ample support.

She nodded in thanks, watching as the car drove past a field of lavender and entered a private estate. After passing through a forest, a manor appeared before them.

“This is the old Li family residence. Today, Jing Che, his sister Li Shuang, as well as the Madam and the Old Master, are all here. Miss Jian, follow me, and I’ll introduce you.”

“Thank you.”

By the time Jian Qing arrived, a number of guests had already gathered at the manor. After getting out of the car, Du Yu offered his arm, and when Jian Qing took it, the two of them truly looked like a couple.

“Mr. Du, Miss Jian, please rest upstairs for a moment.”

Qin Jin welcomed them and saw them to the lounge before going to report to Li Jingche.

At that moment, Li Jingche had just finished changing his clothes when a knock came at the door.

“Mr. Li.” Qin Jin entered, uncertain where to begin—

He couldn’t very well say that his wife had walked in arm-in-arm with Mr. Du, could he? Seeing Qin Jin hesitate, Li Jingche turned to look at him.

Steeling himself, Qin Jin cleared his throat. “Miss Jian and Mr. Du have arrived.”

Li Jingche nodded. Today, he could not reveal his true identity in front of Jian Qing. He cared too much about what she had said earlier—if their talk failed, wouldn’t he have slept with her for nothing?

“Let them stay in the lounge for now. I’ll have them come down after I’ve made an appearance at the birthday banquet.”

“Yes, sir.”

Li Jingche took out his phone and opened the surveillance feed, which projected the image of the lounge. Jian Qing and Du Yu did indeed look familiar with each other, sitting side by side on the sofa, chatting idly. Eventually, they exchanged ages. Du Yu was the first to speak in a kindly tone:

“From now on, I’ll treat you as my younger sister. If you ever need someone to back you up, just tell me. Don’t treat me as an outsider.”

Jian Qing smiled sweetly. Though she had Number 33, in the ruthless world of business she navigated, she truly did need someone with Du Yu’s background.

“All right,” she replied.

Li Jingche’s previously indifferent expression instantly froze. His gaze turned icy, his hair slightly tousled by the breeze, and the sun cast a long, slender shadow of his figure—

It was always someone’s younger sister or elder sister. Jian Qing, you really do play the game well, don’t you…?

In a few days, will someone be calling you Master as well?

He stopped bothering with his tie, pulling it off from around his neck. He strode out of the room in long steps, sending Jian Qing a message as he walked:

“I’m waiting for you at Jiao Bay. I want to see you right now.”

“Hurry and come see me, Jian Qing.”

“Immediately. This instant. Now.”

“……”

“Why is it you again!”

Li Jingche was still looking at his phone when he suddenly heard a familiar voice ahead. Frowning, he looked up to see the unpleasant face of Xiao Yunchen.

“So it’s just as I thought—you’re just a servant for the Li family. And yet you dared to act so high and mighty in front of me. Once I meet Young Master Li today, the first thing I’ll do is have you fired!”

Xiao Yunchen’s tone was insolent, pointing a finger at Li Jingche’s nose.

Li Jingche, already in a foul mood, calmly put away his phone. When he spoke, his voice was devoid of anger, but it sent chills down one’s spine.

“I have very good manners—I know both how to insult and to strike. Xiao Yunchen, if you know what’s good for you, get as far away from me as you can.”

With the Madam present today, Li Jingche didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble. His mother was already upset that he wasn’t attending the entire birthday banquet; there was no need to worsen things over someone like Xiao Yunchen.

But clearly, Xiao Yunchen had no intention of leaving quietly.

As they passed each other, Xiao Yunchen caught Li Jingche by the arm.

“Don’t go! My shoes got wet in the garden just now, and I don’t want to ruin my image in front of Young Master Li. Kneel down and wipe them for me.”