Chapter 6: The Utmost Loyal Minister

Li Jingche’s arrival plunged the entire villa into a heavy silence.

Xiao Yunchen’s gaze swept over the man, openly scrutinizing him from head to toe, before the corners of his lips curved in a mocking smile. His eyes drifted past Li Jingche to rest on Jian Qing, standing quietly behind him.

“Jian Qing, you really make me sick.”

Jian Qing met Xiao Yunchen’s eyes—those eyes brimming with disgust and loathing—and lifted her chin slightly.

“I’ll return those words to you exactly as they are.”

“To get my attention, you actually found yourself a stand-in.”

Xiao Yunchen let out a cold laugh, then turned to look at Li Jingche. But as Li Jingche was taller by a head, Xiao Yunchen’s tone softened at once.

“People destined for hell won’t listen to good advice, but brother, let me say this: you’re still young—don’t think you can gain status by using tricks like these. Jian Qing is only using you as my shadow; don’t take it too seriously.”

This successfully startled Jian Qing. Before she could process what was happening, Li Jingche pulled her into his arms. His chest heaved as he spoke, his voice lower than usual.

“If I’d known you were only capable of such pointless words, I would’ve taken my girlfriend upstairs to mind our own business.”

With that, Li Jingche took Jian Qing’s hand and headed upstairs.

His grip tightened around her slender wrist, jerking her forward so abruptly that it was more like being abducted than escorted. Jian Qing hadn’t expected such quick wit from Li Jingche; she was about to offer him some praise. Yet, unfamiliar with the layout of the Jian family home, Li Jingche simply chose a room at random after dragging her upstairs, locking the door behind them.

It just so happened to be Xiao Yunchen’s bedroom.

Downstairs, the two men left behind were stunned speechless.

Uncle Qian’s eyes followed Li Jingche up the stairs, then, seeing the door shut, landed on Xiao Yunchen.

Xiao Yunchen froze, then charged upstairs in a fit of rage, reminiscent of a scene from an old melodrama.

“Are you two out of your minds? Jian Qing, get your wild man and get out of my room!”

Inside the room, Jian Qing stared in disbelief at Li Jingche, who stood before her, composed and unruffled, gazing down at her. She couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up.

“I’ve never even been in Xiao Yunchen’s bedroom. He always said he can’t sleep if anyone sits on his bed.”

With that, she sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside her.

Li Jingche suppressed the turmoil inside him, not expecting to be so affected. Still, Xiao Yunchen’s words had planted a seed of doubt.

He’d called him a stand-in.

Normally, Li Jingche would have brushed it off. But before coming here, Li Shuang’s remark had already struck a nerve—Xiao Yunchen’s lips looked almost identical to his.

Standing where he was, Li Jingche didn’t move.

Jian Qing, thinking he hadn’t heard her, patted the seat again.

“Sit by my side.”

Seeing no response, Jian Qing slipped the gold ring from her finger.

“You did well tonight. This is for you.”

With the door closed and Xiao Yunchen’s outraged shouts echoing faintly, Jian Qing felt rather pleased.

After a long silence, Li Jingche finally sat beside her. He took the ring from her palm, found it didn’t fit any of his fingers, and tucked it into his pocket. He glanced at her, voice soft.

“My lips look like Xiao Yunchen’s?”

“What?”

Jian Qing hadn’t even registered the question when he leaned in, close enough for their breaths to mingle. As he parted his lips, the faint scent of lemon lingered in the air and drifted into her senses.

Jian Qing narrowed her eyes, tilting her head as she studied him, her mind foggy. Suddenly, she leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

“They do look alike. I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t mentioned it.”

She smiled—a smile of a thousand charms, cheeks flushed as if she were a blooming Damask rose.

Her fair forefinger traced the outline of Li Jingche’s lips, brushing his teeth, teasing his soft tongue. Just as Jian Qing was about to withdraw her hand, Li Jingche caught it.

“You never noticed before?”

“Who in their right mind stares at someone’s lips the first time they meet? Besides, everyone’s lips look more or less the same. But you and Xiao Yunchen… you both have nice lips.”

The first half of her answer eased the tension in Li Jingche’s brow, but the latter part darkened his expression.

His gaze followed Jian Qing as she moved to the bookshelf, slipping off her jacket to reveal a black, strappy dress that barely reached her knees, tracing the contours of her alluring figure. Her loosely braided hair, slightly tousled, exuded a languid charm that filled the room with her scent.

She bent her head, muttering under her breath as she propped herself against the cabinet, slipped off her shoes, and let her bare feet sink into the soft carpet.

“Be gentle tonight, all right?”

Li Jingche’s Adam’s apple tightened. He rose from the sofa, his body stiff, and took a box of condoms from his pocket, tossing it on the table with a blank expression.

“Is this some sort of test?”

“What?”

Jian Qing turned, her gaze falling on the ultra-thin ribbed condoms on the table. She blinked, then shifted to reveal the scale at her feet.

“I’m praying I’ve lost weight today. What are you praying for?”

She grinned, mischievous and breathtaking, her eyes brimming with playful allure.

In contrast, Li Jingche wasted no words. He pinned her against the cabinet, lifting her arms high above her head. His usually impassive face was now tinted with frustration, his earlobes flushed a vivid red.

“Jian Qing, do you find it fun to tease me like this?”

His voice trembled; he couldn’t fathom how much longer he could feign indifference. No woman had ever toyed with him so relentlessly—Jian Qing was the first.

She gazed up at him, pitifully, cheeks blossoming with color. At this angle, he could see all the beauty she offered—his self-control frayed.

“It hurts,” she said sweetly, and in moments like these, Jian Qing knew exactly how to retreat to advance.

Li Jingche’s grip visibly loosened.

Her pale skin flushed easily at the slightest touch. She rose up on tiptoe, looped her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his chest, pouting.

“All right, don’t be angry. It’s not time for me to dote on you yet. I’ll make it up to your WeChat wallet tomorrow, twice over.”

Li Jingche said nothing, suddenly feeling that the persona he’d so carefully constructed was slipping askew.

Jian Qing pressed against him, blowing softly against his throat.

“Carry me out. My room is next door. I’m tired.”

His throat hoarse, Li Jingche didn’t even manage a grunt in reply. She was light in his arms; he lifted her easily and walked out.

Leaning against his chest, Jian Qing watched as Li Jingche opened the door, only to meet Xiao Yunchen’s eyes. A smirk danced on Xiao Yunchen’s lips.

“Quick work, brother.”

Jian Qing tightened her arms around Li Jingche’s neck—she knew he was innocent, she’d seen it just now. Fearing he might lose in a war of words, she turned to help, but Li Jingche pressed her head firmly against his chest, holding her close.