Final Chapter 67: He No Longer Pretends, He Comes Clean (4)

“Huh?” Du Yu was stunned at first, then looked up at Li Jingche.

Xiao Yunchen cautiously sidled behind Ren Yishan, tugging at her sleeve but not daring to say a word.

Ren Yishan shook off Xiao Yunchen’s arm, then looked at Li Jingche with an air of arrogance.
“To be Qingqing’s kept man? You’re not nearly qualified.”

“Ren Yishan, mind your words!”
Xiao Nan suddenly rebuked her, his voice so loud it startled even Ren Tianchuan.

“Xiao Nan! My daughter is here to help you, what kind of attitude is that?”
With a hint of complaint, Ren Tianchuan had just opened his mouth, but to his surprise, Xiao Nan’s face broke into a smile as he walked over to Li Jingche.

“President Li, this is the eldest daughter of the Jian family. She’s just recently acknowledged her relatives and lacks proper upbringing. Please don’t take offense.”

Having just been called ill-mannered by Xiao Nan, Ren Yishan was about to retort, but before she could speak, she slowly began to realize—
What did Uncle Xiao just say?
Jian Qing’s male model…
Was Li Jingche?

She could hardly believe it. Her words were still mocking, but her hand, which had been gripping Li Jingche’s collar, loosened.
“You’re Li Jingche? If you’re Li Jingche, then I must be the First Emperor! How could Li Jingche willingly be Jian Qing’s kept male model?”

With that, she even tugged Li Shuang over.

Li Shuang, who had been spectating and had no intention of joining their quarrel, was suddenly pulled into the fray.

“Miss Li, this man claims to be your brother—how shameless can one be!”

Li Shuang didn’t dare look at Li Jingche; she turned her head aside and softly called, “Brother.”

Ren Yishan stood there, dumbfounded, suddenly feeling like the joker holding up the entire show, or the mascot of McDonald’s.

“Wait, you…”
Ren Yishan reached out, trying to grab Li Jingche, but he—

Li Jingche had no intention of paying her any attention. He simply passed by Ren Yishan and stopped in front of Jian Qing.

To be honest, he was a bit nervous.
He’d heard countless stories of Cinderellas meeting powerful men who pretended to be poor, eventually finding happiness together, but Jian Qing was no Cinderella—she didn’t need his wealth.

What’s more, Jian Qing had said before that she despised being lied to.

And it was true—he had lied.

Everyone watched Li Jingche with trepidation, but he gazed intently and somewhat uneasily at Jian Qing, as if trying to see straight into her soul.

Jian Qing simply looked at him calmly, yet from the corner of her eye, she took in every expression of those standing behind him.

Then, a cute face peered out from beside Li Jingche’s arm. Jian Qing fixed her gaze on Ren Yishan.

“Ren Yishan, did you come here today to ask my kept male model to grant your fiancé’s family a chance to bid?”

Li Jingche raised an eyebrow and, following Jian Qing’s gaze, looked over.

Ren Yishan’s complexion alternated between green and white. She faltered, and in the end, her pleading eyes sought out Ren Tianchuan.

Ren Tianchuan barked, “Jian Qing, how can you speak to your sister like that!”

“Shut up!”
Xiao Nan, knowing well where he stood, glared at Ren Tianchuan, then ingratiatingly followed Li Jingche, smiling as he turned to Jian Qing.

“Qingqing, Xiao Yunchen is just an ungrateful brat. You and President Li are truly a match made in heaven.”

Jian Qing heard Xiao Nan’s words but didn’t respond. Instead, she lifted her head and looked at Li Jingche.

Li Jingche reached out and gently smoothed her hair.

“Mr. Xiao has good taste. Though I can’t offer you the commercial center bid this time, there’s still a small project under my management…”

“President Li, even a crumb from your table would keep us comfortable for years. As long as you give us a chance!”
Seeing Li Jingche’s willingness, Xiao Nan grinned from ear to ear.

Ren Tianchuan was silenced. It seemed his hope of breaking away from the Jian family to strike out on his own was impossible. He pulled at Ren Yishan, intent on slipping away quietly.

“Where do you think you’re going?”
Jian Qing called out, then strode toward the pair, Li Jingche following close behind, curious to see what she planned to do.

Ren Yishan shot Jian Qing a venomous glare but said nothing. As the doors opened, Jian Qing’s words rooted her to the spot.

“Ren Yishan, I have your paternity test results.”

She spun around, her gaze trembling as she stared at Jian Qing.

“It’s true—you and Ren Tianchuan have an RCP value greater than 99.73%. You are indeed father and daughter.”

At this, Ren Yishan breathed a sigh of relief.
“So, I’m your elder sister, but you don’t seem to accept that, do you?”

“Well,” Jian Qing pulled another sheet of paper from her bag, “I also have a maternity test report here. You are indeed this woman’s daughter, but… who is ‘Li Pandi’? That’s certainly not my mother’s name.”

In an instant, Ren Yishan turned as pale as death. She looked helplessly at Ren Tianchuan, but he quietly slipped behind Du Yu and He Jiangyu, disappearing from sight.

“You… Jian Qing!”
Ren Yishan raised her hand to slap, but Li Jingche caught her wrist. Jian Qing seized the opportunity, and after slapping Ren Yishan, sneered coldly.

“Remember to repay every expense you’ve racked up at the Jian family these past days. And as for your so-called father—if he’s been cheating during his marriage, you’d better help him cure his taste for luxury.”

With that, Jian Qing patted Ren Yishan’s shoulder and turned to leave.

Li Jingche wanted to explain everything properly and followed after her, but all the way out, the two of them said nothing.

Even after escorting Jian Qing into the car, she remained silent. Li Jingche, growing anxious, grabbed the car door.

“Qingqing.”

Jian Qing tugged at the door twice but couldn’t budge it. She looked at Li Jingche, let out a long sigh.

“Was lying to me that amusing, President Li? Did you think I’d be grateful and run after you? Or did you assume I was after your family’s wealth?”

Li Jingche shook his head emphatically.

“You said you hated being lied to. I tried to tell you many times, but I truly wanted to be with you. I was afraid you’d…”

“Afraid of what, exactly?”

Jian Qing crooked her finger. Li Jingche bent down, and she rapped him hard on the head.

“With your status now, can’t you pursue me like those domineering CEOs in novels? Anyway, I’ll be sure to make the most of any resources you have in the future, but for now, I’d prefer we just remain business partners.”

“And our physical partnership—can that continue?”

“Huh?”

Li Jingche slipped into the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt.

“Let’s go to Jiao Bay and see if our partnership is still effective.”

“What are you—”

“Never mind, in the car will do.”

Before Jian Qing could react, Li Jingche leaned in and kissed her.

At last, his heart was at ease. He didn’t expect much from Jian Qing—
As long as she didn’t come to hate him because of this.

As for the rest—love or not—time would tell, day by day.

[The End]