Chapter 56: Xiao Yunchen Is Truly Afraid

Li Jingche was eager to leave, mainly because he didn’t want Jian Qing to discover his true identity here.

But Xiao Yunchen was the kind who never thought things through, always running headlong into trouble.

Blocking Li Jingche’s way, Xiao Yunchen lifted his chin in smug satisfaction and pointed at his brand-new custom leather shoes. “Kneel and polish them for me. You think hooking up with Jian Qing will somehow make you a success? You’re just a pretty face, a male model selling himself—how laughable!”

With a cold sneer, Li Jingche leaned against the stair railing, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yunchen with utter indifference. “So, you’re here today begging Li Jingche for a bit of charity?”

Xiao Yunchen slapped the railing, jabbing a finger at Li Jingche’s nose with a vicious glare. “Charity? I’m the Li family’s future son-in-law now. If I want you dead one day, you’ll have to kneel and die for me!”

He raised his hand, intending to poke Li Jingche’s shoulder as he spoke. But Li Jingche seized his fingers in an iron grip, wrenching them back so sharply that Xiao Yunchen’s legs buckled in agony and he collapsed to his knees.

The man before him really would have broken his fingers on the spot!

“Let go, you bastard! It hurts like hell! If you don’t, I’ll have Li Shuang throw you out of the Li family!” Xiao Yunchen howled in pain, kneeling on the steps, alternately crying and cursing as Li Jingche showed no sign of releasing him.

Suddenly, the sharp click of high heels echoed from the rear garden. Spotting the figure in a red gown, Xiao Yunchen immediately recognized Li Shuang and shouted, “Li Shuang! Li Shuang! Your servant is bullying me!”

His cries quickly caught Li Shuang’s attention. She approached unhurriedly, looked around, then frowned deeply at Xiao Yunchen kneeling before her brother. “What are you shrieking about? Do you have any idea who our guests are today? If you disturb them, your Xiao family wouldn’t have enough assets to pay for the consequences!”

Her rebuke silenced him at once. Xiao Yunchen forced a flattering smile, sidling up to Li Shuang and pointing at Li Jingche. “Li Shuang, your servants are completely out of line. To lay hands on an honored guest—you really ought to teach them a lesson.”

A servant?

Li Shuang hesitated. It was true that the Li family’s servants often held more sway than small-time bosses and could be condescending. But apart from the three of them, no one else was ever present in private.

Casting a cautious glance at her silent brother, Li Shuang cleared her throat and scolded Xiao Yunchen, “Is it your place to criticize the Li family’s servants? Are you saying my brother failed in his duties? Looks like the Xiao family isn’t interested in collaborating with us after all!”

“No, no!” Xiao Yunchen had hoped Li Shuang would stand up for him—why was she turning on him instead? He dared not retort, holding his breath and glancing at Li Jingche, who didn’t spare Li Shuang a look. Gathering his nerve, he wrapped an arm around Li Shuang’s slender waist.

“Shuang’er, he got my shoes all dirty.”

Li Shuang glanced down at his shoes—nothing she’d ever consider presentable—then coolly withdrew her gaze and brushed his hand from her waist. With a cold smile, she took Li Jingche’s arm and asked, “You mean, he dirtied them?”

Xiao Yunchen nodded eagerly, embellishing his complaint, “He beat me up the other day, and just now he nearly broke my fingers. How can the Li family keep such a servant!”

“The Li family certainly doesn’t keep such servants, but we do have masters like this,” Li Shuang retorted with a sneer. Then, looking up at Li Jingche, she called out sweetly, “Isn’t that right, Brother?”

“B-Brother?” The word caught in Xiao Yunchen’s throat, leaving him dumbstruck. He blinked, frozen in place, still clinging to a shred of hope as he tugged at Li Shuang’s sleeve. “Shuang’er, you’re joking with me, aren’t you?”

But Li Shuang shook him off mercilessly, keeping her eyes fixed on her brother’s expression as she explained, “Brother, I was just playing around with Xiao Yunchen. Please don’t be angry! If you’re unhappy, I’ll have Qin Jin toss him into Victoria Harbor tonight to feed the fish!”

She raised three fingers in mock oath. Li Jingche gave her a sidelong glance before flicking her forehead.

He then strode over to Xiao Yunchen—who, though tall at 1.8 meters, was still at least ten centimeters shorter than Li Jingche. Bending down, Li Jingche gripped Xiao Yunchen’s tie as if he were leading a dog and spoke:

“You’re not to breathe a word of my identity to Jian Qing. Otherwise, not only will the Li family’s business be over, but if your Xiao family can make a single cent in the capital, it’ll be because I, Li Jingche, am incompetent.”

Trembling uncontrollably, Xiao Yunchen collapsed to his knees the moment Li Jingche released him, boneless as a fish.

Li Shuang shot him a look of utter disdain. How could a man with such a fine appearance be so spineless?

She took two quick steps, chasing after Li Jingche. “Brother, wait for me!”

She hurried after him in her high heels, finally catching up in the front garden. Out of breath, she quickly explained, “Brother, I was just playing with Xiao Yunchen—don’t be angry! It was a bet with a few girlfriends to see how long it would take me to win him over, nothing more!”

Li Jingche paused, gazing at her coolly. Li Shuang, desperate for his approval, bared her heart. “Brother, you have to believe me! There’s nothing between us! Besides…”

Her eyes flickered as she noticed her brother’s expression remained unchanged. She quickly changed her approach.

“Besides, Brother, he’s Jian Qing’s ex-boyfriend! If I can wrap him around my finger, I’m avenging your future sister-in-law. Isn’t that right?”

She added a sweet smile, utterly guileless.

This finally caught Li Jingche’s interest. He licked his lips, as if entertained by the idea, and his mouth curved in a faint smile. “And how do you plan to avenge your sister-in-law?”

“With a scumbag in hand, she can vent her anger however she pleases!” Li Shuang patted her chest, eager to take credit. “Brother, you can use this to get closer to her—she’ll definitely be grateful!”

Li Jingche did, in fact, have an idea. Xiao Yunchen was simply a thorn in his side—not only had he known Jian Qing for over twenty years, he’d once been her fiancé, and now was engaged to her sister. Their paths crossed constantly.

Every time Li Jingche saw Xiao Yunchen, he felt as if he’d gotten a stye in his eye—painful and irritating.

“Shuang’er, you can play however you like—your brother will always have your back. But remember two things: first, take care of yourself; second, don’t marry lightly.”

Li Shuang nodded obediently.

“As for Xiao Yunchen, you can string him along for now. I don’t want Jian Qing to learn my identity just yet. Now that Xiao Yunchen knows, I’m worried he’ll talk. So—”

“Brother, I understand, I promise—”

“You’re here too?”

Just as Li Shuang was swearing her loyalty, a familiar voice sounded behind them.

Li Jingche froze, then spun around to meet Jian Qing’s searching gaze.

She was clever—he worried about leaving evidence, about planting seeds of doubt in her heart.

But most of all, he feared she’d feel betrayed and leave him.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He stepped quickly to Jian Qing’s side and pointed to Li Shuang. “The Li family did me a favor before, sponsoring my university studies. I’m just here to help with Li Shao’s birthday.”

Jian Qing arched an eyebrow, her eyes darting between Li Jingche and Li Shuang. “Didn’t you say my mother sponsored your education? How has it become the Li family now?”