Chapter 54: The Last Time She Helped Him

Jian Qing’s words brought Mrs. Jian to a momentary silence. The two of them had always been able to talk about anything, but on this subject, neither could find anything to say. After a long pause, it was Mrs. Jian who finally relented.

“Qingqing, I understand what you mean. Let this be the last time we help the Xiao family. Leave the rest to me.”

A mother always stands unconditionally by her child. Jian Qing had already prepared her reasoning in her mind, but her mother required none of it.

She believed in her.

Jian Qing had been ready to tell her mother everything about Ren Yishan if she refused to help, but now, she found herself unable to say a word.

Her throat tightened. Wanting to ease her mother’s mind so she could focus on her business abroad, Jian Qing nodded in understanding.

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Do you still have enough money for dating? As long as you’re happy, I’ll support you fully.”

“It’s enough, Mom. I’ve made some money designing jewelry myself. Just take care of yourself while you’re away. When you return, I’ll bring my boyfriend home to meet you.”

“Alright.”

Mrs. Jian had work to attend to, so after a few more words, they ended the call.

But as she glanced at her messaging app, seeing both the greetings she’d sent to the president of Diamé Jewelry and the conversation with her daughter about dating, along with the president’s comment that Jian Qing had not yet contacted him, Mrs. Jian sank into thought—

Just who was Qingqing seeing these days?

After hanging up, Jian Qing planned to stay in and work on the lucrative project she’d just accepted. But at that moment, both Ren Tianchuan and Ren Yishan were in chaos, desperate to win the Li family’s cooperation for the Xiao family and to secure the approval of that so-called future father-in-law. They would stop at nothing.

Ren Yishan came to Jian Qing’s apartment, intending to send her out to use her looks as bait, planning to take the credit herself once the job was done. She didn’t even bother knocking before entering Jian Qing’s room.

Fortunately, Jian Qing was still lying in bed, her legs covered by the quilt, not fully exposed.

“Jian Qing, aren’t you close with Du Yu? Go find him now and help Yuncheng,” Ren Yishan said as though it was only natural. Jian Qing was momentarily stunned.

“I thought you were my sister who popped up out of nowhere, not a mother that appeared out of thin air. Who are you bossing around so righteously?”

Ren Yishan finally put on the airs of an elder sister. “An eldest sister is like a mother. The family is in crisis, so of course I have to take charge.”

Her nerve was so astonishing that Jian Qing wasn’t sure whether or not she should curse her out, fearing she’d actually enjoy it.

“Wait, you didn’t get close to her just to climb into my dad’s bed, did you? What’s your relationship, really?”

Jian Qing was genuinely confused. She’d always thought Ren Yishan was just after the Jian family’s wealth, but now it all seemed strange.

“Jian Qing, what are you talking about!” Ren Tianchuan appeared at some point, as timely as ever.

Jian Qing took a deep breath, her expression sour as she watched the two about to launch into their usual dramatic performance.

“Didn’t Old Mr. Xiao say that whoever solves the Xiao family’s crisis will become his daughter-in-law? I don’t want to be that daughter-in-law—so why are you always pushing me to step forward?”

“Can’t you sacrifice yourself for your sister’s happiness?” Ren Tianchuan snapped, stepping forward to grab Jian Qing by the collar. But Uncle Qian was quicker, pulling him back.

“Sir, please calm down!”

If you’re willing to suffer, there will be no end to your suffering.

Jian Qing was not about to wrong herself for these two.

“What if Old Mr. Xiao really wants me to marry into his family after I save them? I can’t ruin Ren Yishan’s marriage prospects, can I?”

She raised an eyebrow at Ren Yishan.

“Isn’t that right? You don’t even know Du Yu; you can’t handle this.”

Ren Yishan hated being challenged, especially when it was something she truly couldn’t do. Her face flushed with anger. Seeing her father restrained by Uncle Qian and unable to move, she could only point at Jian Qing and cry out feebly, “I hate you, Jian Qing!”

Jian Qing shrugged.

“Thank you, but I already have someone I dislike. Uncle Qian, please show them out. I have a long phone call to make with Du Yu.”

She knew exactly how to wound with words.

Afraid Uncle Qian would say something to Mrs. Jian, Ren Tianchuan dragged Ren Yishan away. Once outside, he pondered for a long while before coming up with an idea.

“Darling daughter, I have a plan that might work.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve met Du Yu’s father once. I can introduce you. Go and meet Du Yu—you never know what might happen.”

Like father, like daughter. The moment she heard this, Ren Yishan’s eyes lit up.

“Dad, you know Du Yu’s father!”

Ren Tianchuan’s gaze dodged, but he nodded nonetheless. He took out his phone and told Ren Yishan to wait as he stepped onto the balcony to make a call, bowing and scraping as he spoke. When he returned, his face was flushed with excitement.

“Darling, I’ve arranged it. Here’s Du Yu’s number. Contact him, and if you can meet in person, even better. Put in a word for Xiao Yuncheng—maybe something will come of it.”

Ren Tianchuan wanted Ren Yishan and Xiao Yuncheng to end up together, but proud as she was, Ren Yishan had lost all interest in helping Xiao Yuncheng.

If she could win over Du Yu herself, she’d have everything!

“Thank you, Dad!”

After hugging Ren Tianchuan, Ren Yishan saved Du Yu’s number and dialed as she walked out, not returning the entire night.

The next morning, as the maid helped Jian Qing into her gown, she whispered, “Miss Qing, Ren Yishan didn’t come home all night.”

This reminded Jian Qing—she’d set her phone to Do Not Disturb while sleeping, since nothing in the jewelry business was ever urgent. Now, checking her phone, she saw several missed calls from Du Yu.

Narrowing her eyes, she called back. Du Yu’s voice sounded anxious on the other end.

“Jian Qing, I’m in trouble.”

Jian Qing’s eyes flashed.

“Let me guess. Did you end up in bed with Ren Yishan?”

Her words made Du Yu pause for a long while before he replied, “You already know?”

“No, no, I just guessed…”

Jian Qing hadn’t expected her supposed ally to be so unreliable. Annoyed, she scratched her head.

Today was Young Master Li’s birthday. With what happened to Du Yu, Ren Yishan would surely use it to control him, and then he’d have no reason to cooperate with her. But where could she find such a perfect companion on such short notice?

Jian Qing frowned. “Does Ren Yishan have any proof of what happened between you?”

Du Yu was practically tearing his hair out. His father had simply told him a friend needed help, so he went to meet Ren Yishan, only to end up drugged by her.

He’d just left the hotel, Ren Yishan still sleeping inside, his mind a tangled mess.

“The hotel surveillance probably has footage. I’m not sure what’s on her phone. I…”

“I’ll help you with this, but you have to promise me something in return.”

Today, Du Yu needed to be firmly on her side. Jian Qing had tolerated Ren Yishan’s humiliation once, but in front of Young Master Li, she refused to be upstaged by this woman again. After all, the Li family was a branch everyone wanted to cling to.

Du Yu nodded fervently. “If you help me, I’ll be your loyal follower—whatever you say goes!”

As heir to the Du Group, if he got caught up in scandal, who knew what would happen?

Soon, Jian Qing sent a compressed file to Du Yu’s phone and instructed him, “Install the APK on Ren Yishan’s phone, copy the EXE to a USB drive and plug it into the hotel’s surveillance mainframe. Don’t worry about the evidence—I’ll erase it all. Later, pick me up on the way to the Li estate and act like we’re a loving couple, understood?”

Du Yu was so grateful he could have knelt on the spot. “Thank you, Miss Jian. Without you, I wouldn’t know what to do!”

“When we get to the Li estate, make sure to introduce me to Young Master Li. You know what I mean?”

“Of course, Miss Jian!”

After hanging up, Jian Qing marveled at Ren Yishan’s decisiveness. She already had a claim on Xiao Yuncheng, yet went after Du Yu so silently.

Once Du Yu had installed the software on Ren Yishan’s phone, Jian Qing could synchronize and access all her data remotely—

What could be more satisfying than knowing exactly what your opponent was up to?

Browsing through Ren Yishan’s phone, Jian Qing felt as if she’d opened a door to an entirely new world.

This woman had managed to collect contact information for half the wealthy heirs in the city; she’d even flirted with He Jiangyu a few times.

And in Ren Yishan’s photo album, Jian Qing found a screenshot of a pregnancy test report.