Chapter 7: Willing to Serve Her Forever
Xiao Yuchen’s gaze flickered back and forth between the two, finally settling on the hand Li Jingche used to hold Jian Qing, sharp and mocking. Men are like this—even when faced with someone who no longer belongs to them, the possessiveness festers within like mold.
Jian Qing was about to speak up in Li Jingche’s defense, but he simply pressed her against his chest, laughing easily, “She’s afraid your bed is dirty. She’ll come back to my room instead.”
Before Xiao Yuchen could react, Li Jingche had already hooked open Jian Qing’s door with his foot. From behind him, Xiao Yuchen roared, “Jian Qing’s just stringing you along! I’ve known her for over twenty years, I know exactly what kind of person she is! She used to string me along just like this, now she’s doing the same to you, understand? She just wants men to be her beasts of burden!”
The words made Jian Qing’s head buzz. She couldn’t understand—what on earth about her gave Xiao Yuchen such a delusion?
“Xiao Yuchen, make yourself clear! Put me down!” Jian Qing struggled in Li Jingche’s arms. After the first part, she glared at Li Jingche’s handsome brows, her own furrowing in frustration—
Some hearts are just stubborn; the more you try to please them, the harder they become!
But Li Jingche was already inside Jian Qing’s boudoir, preparing to close the door. “If I’m her beast of burden, she gives me grass. Seems worth it.”
“You—”
Whatever Xiao Yuchen said next was lost; the door became a wall, dividing inside from out.
Instantly, the room fell silent. Jian Qing was still lingering on Li Jingche’s words as he gently laid her on the bed. She blinked twice, watching as Li Jingche slipped off his jacket, the fitted shirt outlining his strong frame. Unconsciously, she licked her lips.
“I… I only have one bed in my room.”
Curled up, she tugged at the corner of the blanket, covering most of her body.
“You choose—inside or outside?”
Li Jingche’s words sounded as if he were magnanimous.
Soon, the shirt was gone too, his body like a David Copperfield sculpture—broad shoulders, narrow waist, the lines of his back smooth and enticing.
His pants, though, now seemed oddly unnecessary.
“Wait, um…” With things already poised on a knife’s edge, Jian Qing felt suddenly reserved, like the Tang Monk arriving at the Kingdom of Women.
“Zip up your pants, not tonight.”
“Is it that time of the month?”
Though she was the patron here, Li Jingche’s question felt as if their roles had reversed.
But it wasn’t really so.
Jian Qing didn’t know why—in the depths of her mind, she had some resistance toward men.
Even she couldn’t explain it.
It was as if some memory was hidden deep within her mind.
It had been the same with Xiao Yuchen before. When they were passionately in love, he kissed her, emotions running high. But when Xiao Yuchen took off his clothes, she fled in panic.
Since then, Xiao Yuchen had begun his “hook literature,” selling his bait everywhere.
Even now, Jian Qing didn’t know why she reacted that way.
She stared quietly at Li Jingche’s impeccable physique, then patted the spot beside her on the bed.
“Just hold me while we sleep.”
“All right.”
Li Jingche lay down, wrapping his arms around Jian Qing, his chin resting on her shoulder. He could hear her slightly hurried breaths.
“You’re scared.”
“I’m not.”
“Your heart’s racing; you’re sweating.”
“…”
“Are you afraid of me?”
Jian Qing shook her head, but she noticed her own slight trembling.
“I told you, I won’t touch you.”
“Mm. I’ll give you a raise tomorrow.”
“…”
Li Jingche pursed his lips silently, then pinched Jian Qing’s lips into a duck’s bill.
“Sleep.”
That night, Jian Qing had a long dream.
In the dream, everything was pitch black, but there was a shadowy figure chasing her relentlessly. The next second, it tackled her to the ground.
“Ah—!”
With a scream, Jian Qing shot up from the bed, breathing heavily. Li Jingche’s worried face was before her.
“What happened? Nightmare?”
He carefully observed every expression she made.
To him, Jian Qing was like a newly unwrapped book—one of suspense and mystery, every page raising a question, the next revealing a new suspect.
He was curious, but it gave him a headache.
Li Jingche’s face quickly calmed her. She took the glass he handed her and sipped some water, licking her lips, her gaze darkening.
But soon she reassured herself with a smile, smacking a kiss onto Li Jingche’s cheek.
“Yesterday you managed to really rile up Xiao Yuchen. You were obedient at night, and sleeping with you feels nice. I’ll settle your pay at three hundred thousand.”
With that, Jian Qing waved her hand, and the transfer went through.
“I’ll send all the money to the card from our first meeting. My dad probably isn’t up yet, so amuse yourself for now. At one o’clock, I’ll pick you up at that restaurant.”
Her aim was to kill with a borrowed knife—if she got her hands dirty herself, it would be too costly.
Today was the thirty-third’s first time returning home; she wanted to give the man a stunning appearance.
“Do you have any clothes worth showing off?”
She sized up Li Jingche; he looked good in anything, but his clothes bore no labels, betraying no status.
Not surprising—Li Jingche’s attire was all custom-made, with discreet, color-shifting logos only in hidden places.
His mind flashed to He Jiangyu’s words—
A gambling father, a sick mother, a school-aged sister, and a broken self.
Li Jingche nodded earnestly. “No money. I have an inept father at home and a little sister waiting to be fed.”
“I see…”
Jian Qing hissed, not caring about Li Jingche’s background; she just hadn’t expected her strong-willed mother to know a man from such a tragic family.
It made her wonder: Mom, where did you meet this wild man?
She scratched her head.
“So, how did you meet my mother?”
“She sponsored me as a poor student.”
Li Jingche spoke righteously. Without hesitation, Jian Qing transferred another five hundred thousand.
“Go buy a suit. My expenses are limited by my dad now. If it’s not enough, let me know. Dress nicely for lunch.”
“Okay.”
Li Jingche followed Jian Qing out, and after getting into the car, Jian Qing planned to head to her studio to catch up on work. She had several loose diamond custom orders on hand; once sold, she’d be much more comfortable financially.
“Where are you headed? I’ll drop you off.”
Li Jingche intended to go to the company.
He glanced at Jian Qing first, his tone probing.
“Yuling Corporation.”
Jian Qing raised her brows, catching his eye at the red light.
She knew—that was the Li family’s business in the capital.
Entering Yuling Corporation, regardless of position—even as a cleaner or security guard—the monthly salary started at three hundred thousand.
Pure extravagance.
“You…”
She drew out the syllable, her gaze colored with something unusual.