Chapter 35: The Toad Clings to the Foot

If she wanted to truly become the legitimate young lady of the Jian family, the most crucial thing was to gain Madam Jian’s approval.

But Madam Jian was currently abroad and unable to return due to business matters. By the time Jian Qing was discharged and came home, she happened to see Ren Tianchuan on the phone with her mother.

“Darling, we’ve finally found our lost daughter! I’ve already done a paternity test with Shanshan—it’s confirmed, she’s ours! Even though Qingqing is still a bit unhappy about it, blood is thicker than water. I hope our friends can quickly accept this child.”

From beginning to end, Ren Tianchuan never mentioned Jian Qing’s injury, and Jian Qing herself didn’t want to worry her mother, so she let it go.

After Xiao Yunchen arrived at the villa, he handed the wheelchair over to Uncle Qian. Uncle Qian accompanied Jian Qing upstairs, then brought her fruit and nutrition drinks, crouching beside her wheelchair, tears streaking his weathered face.

“Qingqing, you’ve suffered.”

“Uncle Qian, it’s nothing, really. It didn’t hurt at all—they gave me anesthesia, I couldn’t feel a thing.”

Jian Qing’s eyes reddened, and as she sniffled, all the grievances of the past days surged up within her like a rising tide.

“Tomorrow, your grandfather wants to hold a welcome party for Ren Yishan. I feel it’s unfair to you. If you don’t want to attend, I can arrange somewhere quiet for you to go.”

Uncle Qian’s intentions were good, but Jian Qing couldn’t let him take that risk. If she really didn’t show up and Ren Tianchuan or Ren Yishan got angry, even though Uncle Qian was an old servant of the villa, there was no telling if he’d keep his position.

“It’s alright, Uncle Qian. Ren Yishan isn’t going to eat me alive in public. Where’s the party?”

“At the Haiyu Hotel. It used to belong to the Li family, but was later sold to the Hao family.”

Jian Qing knew the place—she’d been there before. It was where she first met He Jiangyu.

She rubbed her chin, instructed the maids to open the wardrobe, and began selecting a gown for the next day—

Since Ren Yishan wanted her as a foil, she’d make sure to outshine everyone.

“Qingqing,” Uncle Qian spoke just then, “Xiao Yunchen will definitely be there tomorrow. Some people in our circle already know about you two. To avoid awkwardness, do you want to bring a male escort?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a familiar face flashed through Jian Qing’s mind.

Number 33.

His face alone could command any stage.

Privately, Jian Qing rather hoped he’d come.

But then again, if Number 33 showed up, he’d just be an unknown without any standing or background. If Ren Yishan or Xiao Yunchen seized on that to mock her, it would hardly be worth it.

Whenever that man’s eyes reddened, Jian Qing’s defenses crumbled.

She let out a slow breath and shook her head. “No need. I’ll handle whatever comes.”

Because her leg was still injured, Jian Qing didn’t go downstairs for dinner. Uncle Qian was about to bring her meal up when he was stopped by Xiao Yunchen, who was smoking outside the kitchen in the garden.

“Uncle Qian, I’ll take it up.”

He took the meal cart from Uncle Qian, leaving no room for protest.

Xiao Yunchen avoided the dining room to steer clear of Ren Yishan, took the back elevator, and knocked on Jian Qing’s door. She was lying in bed reading.

“Qingqing, time to eat.”

Hearing his familiar voice, Jian Qing froze, tucked her book under her pillow, and turned her head warily. “Why is it you?”

Her tone was unfriendly, and Xiao Yunchen picked up on it.

“Don’t be like this, Qingqing. Even a stone will grow warm if you hold it long enough. Why are you still angry with me?”

He spoke as he set the meal on the over-bed table.

“Even boiling water cools off eventually, let alone a human heart at thirty-seven degrees,” Jian Qing reminded him.

“You’re a father now. Why pretend with me? Let’s part on good terms.”

Xiao Yunchen pressed his lips together, visibly uncomfortable at her words. Still, he tried to maintain his composure, scooped up a spoonful of steamed egg with some soy sauce, and held it to her lips.

“Come, let me feed you.”

“My leg’s broken, not my hand. I can eat by myself.”

Jian Qing refused without hesitation, confiscated the spoon, and after swallowing two bites, silently praised Uncle Qian’s culinary skill. Then, her expression cold again, she told Xiao Yunchen:

“I’m grateful you saved my life, but since you’ve already chosen between me and Ren Yishan, let’s both be smart about this.”

“Love is blind and foolish, isn’t it?”

His words made Jian Qing nauseous; if she could, she’d have thrown him out of the room.

At that moment, Jian Qing’s phone rang.

She glanced over—

“Number 33.”

The black avatar bounced restlessly on the screen. Jian Qing turned her phone face-down, not daring to answer—

He was relentless when he felt justified, and if he knew she was alone with Xiao Yunchen, who knows how furious he’d get.

Besides, after he’d lent her so much money today—her new card having been frozen by her father—she’d essentially freeloaded off Number 33 for free. He was probably still feeling aggrieved.

Thinking of this, Jian Qing hung up, transferred another thirty thousand, and sent a message: “Baby, be good.”

Xiao Yunchen noticed the brief softness in her features and asked sternly,

“That pretty boy?”

Jian Qing didn’t deny it. “You think he’s good-looking too?”

“Jian Qing, wake up! What can a man like that give you?”

He gripped her shoulders, voice low but urgent, not daring to raise it in case Ren Yishan overheard.

“You need someone who can help your family’s business, understand? Instead of dating some nobody, you’d be better off as my lover!”

“Xiao Yunchen, have you ever heard the saying, ‘A toad squatting on your foot doesn’t bite, but it’s still disgusting’?”

Jian Qing didn’t hold back and slapped him. Then, raising her voice toward the door, she called,

“Big sister, did you hear that? This is your wonderful husband!”

Xiao Yunchen jumped, spinning around to explain, “Shanshan, listen, it’s all her—”

But before he could finish, he saw no one at the door.

Jian Qing had tricked him.

“You’re being completely unreasonable! You’re ruining your future—you know that? How did you become so selfish and irrational?”

His face flushed red, and he glared at her. Jian Qing just shrugged indifferently.

“Are you upset because you got nothing out of me, and you can’t out-argue me either?”

Xiao Yunchen’s chest heaved with suppressed anger. In the end, he slammed the door and stormed out.

“Tomorrow, Shanshan won’t let you off!”

After he left, Jian Qing mimicked his tone—“Tomorrow, Shanshan won’t let you off!”—while glancing at her incessantly vibrating phone.

Number 33 had called ten times.

Without a pause.

She sighed softly, called him back, and a cold voice answered,

“You’re with Xiao Yunchen, so you didn’t dare pick up?”

She had to admit, sometimes a man’s intuition could be remarkably accurate.