Chapter 49: Xiao Yuncheng Got Beaten Up

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the entrance as the door opened.

But standing outside were two young girls.

The Yan family, known for their earthworks business, was present today as well. Yan Jin had been delayed by some matters at home, so she brought Yan Ni along. Even so, they arrived late.

As soon as she entered, Yan Jin saw Jian Qing seated beside Du Yu, with Xiao Yunchen offering a toast to Jian Qing. The notorious Young Master Li was nowhere to be seen. She paused in surprise for a couple of seconds.

But Xiao Yunchen quickly broke the silence.

He stood up, placed one hand on Jian Qing’s wheelchair, and spoke in a deep voice:

“Yan Jin, aren’t you and Jian Qing good friends? Now that Jian Qing has dumped that male model and latched onto President Du, her luck’s really turned. Come, let’s toast together!”

Yan Jin blinked, the words still sinking in—the information was a lot to process.

She handed her purse to Yan Ni, watched her sister find a seat, then took the wine glass from the waiter and walked over to Jian Qing. Her gaze flickered back and forth between Du Yu and Jian Qing, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

After a moment, Yan Jin nodded in approval.

“You little rascal, you really pulled it off!” she whispered, biting Jian Qing’s ear.

But Jian Qing was helpless. “I’ll explain it all later.”

She frowned, drank the wine Yan Jin handed her, and Du Yu, sensing the chaos, stood to address the group:

“Let’s eat first. Jingche may not come back.”

He ushered everyone back to their seats, then placed a piece of meat in Jian Qing’s bowl.

“I didn’t expect Miss Jian to have someone special—was it a kept male model?”

Jian Qing stared at the meat in her bowl, then shook her head.

“No, I really like him. But at the moment, I’m not considering marriage. We’re just dating.”

She spoke candidly, and Du Yu nodded in understanding.

“Because of your backgrounds?”

It was true; the two of them didn’t quite match.

Jian Qing didn’t deny it, simply smiled.

Du Yu offered a word of advice:

“It’s best to let go early when two people aren’t suited. Otherwise, dreams grow too wild—this comes from experience.”

“Thank you for the advice, but I’m not planning to give up yet.”

With that, Jian Qing ate a couple of bites and excused herself.

In the next private room, Shen Yueli was still waiting. Jian Qing couldn’t leave her alone.

The waiter pushed Jian Qing’s wheelchair into the adjacent suite. As the door opened, Jian Qing was stunned—

Shen Yueli sat quietly, carefully eating from her plate, and opposite her sat Number 33.

Number 33 hadn’t touched his chopsticks, sitting like a statue, a string of prayer beads in his hands. When he heard the door open, he slipped the beads onto his wrist.

He turned his head slowly. Though he said nothing, Jian Qing felt his gaze was thoroughly scolding her.

“Cough, cough.”

Jian Qing coughed awkwardly, took a deep breath, then settled beside Number 33.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see whether I’m the third, fourth, or fifth in line,” Li Jingche replied, lowering his gaze and pushing his untouched bowl and chopsticks toward Jian Qing. Catching the faint scent of alcohol on her, his usually affectionate eyes grew sharp.

“Why did you drink?”

“My friends were in the next room. I had a couple of drinks with them.”

Du Yu.

Hearing “next room,” Li Jingche could only think of Du Yu.

As Jian Qing reached for the chopsticks, he confiscated them.

“…”

She glanced at Li Jingche, then poked his neck with her delicate finger, drawing a red line upward.

“Are you jealous?”

He turned his head, and her finger slid to his lips.

She teased his rosy lips, but he opened his mouth and bit her.

Jian Qing yelped in pain, withdrew her finger, and looked at him with pitiful, affectionate eyes.

She was blatantly seducing him.

But Li Jingche couldn’t help picturing Jian Qing’s radiant smile beside Du Yu.

He couldn’t resist; he reached out and pinched her chin, silent for a long time.

He was always decisive, but with Jian Qing, he ended up choosing to stew in his own resentment instead of anger.

He was jealous, but wouldn’t say it.

So he sat there, full of jealousy.

Shen Yueli, the only one aware of the situation, spoke anxiously:

“Senior, love can’t wait. Call him ‘baby’ and he’ll come running. Please don’t fight—if you do… I’ll just go to the restroom.”

Shen Yueli fled, faster than anyone, and in an instant, only Li Jingche and Jian Qing were left in the room.

The last dish had been served, but aside from the cold appetizers, the rest remained untouched.

“Don’t waste it—eat, baby.”

Jian Qing knew the man was easily coaxed; one “baby” was almost enough.

But the two rooms were too close. As Shen Yueli left, Xiao Yunchen, reeking of alcohol, burst in, with Yan Jin behind him, shouting about the wrong room and trying to pull him out.

But it was too late.

With the door open, Jian Qing’s former and current lovers stared at each other. Even Yan Jin couldn’t help but marvel:

“Seriously, girl, aren’t you playing a bit too wild?”

Jian Qing was at a loss for words and immediately glanced at Li Jingche. He was about to stand, but she pressed his shoulder firmly.

“Don’t go anywhere. Stay by my side.”

Xiao Yunchen had already been berated by his father over the phone today, leaving him furious. Seeing Jian Qing and Du Yu together muddled his mind, and now his blood was boiling.

“Jian Qing, you have your lover, boyfriend, and ex-boyfriend all here—is this a pile of dung attracting flies?”

“Why are you insulting yourself like that?”

Jian Qing held Li Jingche’s hand, shielding him.

Xiao Yunchen, instead, took charge, walked in, asked the waiter for two glasses, filled them, and pushed them in front of Li Jingche.

“Sleeping with the same woman, it’s fate. Come, as your predecessor, let’s toast.”

“Xiao Yunchen,” Jian Qing’s face turned cold. She glared at him, suppressing her anger. “My nearsightedness almost made me mistake you for a human. Carrying nothing but a golden needle mushroom and not knowing your own worth—get out, now!”

Drunk and loose-tongued, Xiao Yunchen, after so many years with Jian Qing, never managed to sleep with her. Now, a male model had beaten him to it, and he was full of resentment.

“Brother, how does Jian Qing feel in bed? I bet it’s not that great—she’s too skinny, probably no flesh to squeeze…”

He hadn’t finished when suddenly his nose began to bleed, and a tooth flew out.

Li Jingche had punched Xiao Yunchen.

Jian Qing hadn’t even reacted yet. When she looked back at Number 33 in surprise, he elegantly straightened his suit, as if nothing had happened, still calm as he looked at her.

“Don’t let his words upset you. Some people are just like that—sour grapes when they can’t have what they want.”

Jian Qing hadn’t expected Number 33 to be so composed. As he moved to push her out, she looked back and asked:

“What about you?”

“Me? I’m very angry—so angry you’ll have to coax me in bed tonight to make it better.”

“No, I mean, you hit Xiao Yunchen. If the Xiao family decides to make trouble, you’re just an employee, afraid that… Never mind. If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you. Anyway, you hit him, and I enjoyed it.”

Jian Qing hesitated, her thoughts scattered like spilled spices.

Qin Jin, in the small suite, had chosen a quiet spot for tea. When he saw his boss pushing a wheelchair out, he tried to read his expression.

Seeing Li Jingche’s gaze flick to the private room, Qin Jin hurried over.

“What… uh, wait…”

When Qin Jin entered, he saw Xiao Yunchen lying on the floor, bloodied and in pain, with Yan Jin leaning against the wall, gasping and still dazed.

He paused for a long moment.

Did Yan Jin hit him?

Or was it my boss?