Chapter 58: Following Miss Jian’s Wishes

After Du Yu left, Qin Jin hurriedly brought Li Jingche a glass of water, speaking nervously, “Sir, please take a break.”

Downstairs, the noise gradually swelled; no one knew what those people were arguing about. Standing on the second-floor corridor, Li Jingche leaned on the railing with his water, gazing down at the scene below.

“When Du Yu and Jian Qing were alone in that room just now, did they say anything?”

Qin Jin hastened to explain, “No, sir. They didn’t seem very familiar with each other at all.”

Hearing this, although Li Jingche was still uncomfortable, he nodded at last.

He watched as Li Shuang escorted Jian Qing through the crowd, introducing her to several jewelers. After a brief conversation, Jian Qing parted ways with Li Shuang and found a quiet corner, sitting silently in her wheelchair. Li Jingche turned to leave.

“I need to handle some business matters. Later, go to the villa at Jiaohai Bay. Please take care of things for me at the old lady’s place.”

“Yes, sir.”

Qin Jin had wanted to advise Li Jingche, but with Du Yu’s appearance already darkening Li Jingche’s mood, he feared saying anything more would only provoke him. So he simply gestured politely.

In the corner, Jian Qing observed everyone. Yan Jin hadn’t arrived yet, and she was a little worried, thinking of calling her. But suddenly, a shadow loomed before her. Looking up, she saw Ren Yishan’s unfriendly face.

“Jian Qing, you’ve got some nerve showing up here!”

Jian Qing had been waiting for Ren Yishan today, but she hadn’t expected her to come over so soon. Remembering what Li Shuang had said earlier about the ring, Jian Qing smiled faintly.

“I should be the one saying that to you, Ren Yishan. You lost Hao Qing’s ring last time and show up here today—aren’t you afraid Miss Hao will take revenge?”

At the mention of the ring, Ren Yishan’s face alternated between red and white. She glanced around, and when she was sure no one noticed them, she abruptly wheeled Jian Qing toward the stairs.

Gripping the armrest, Ren Yishan pushed fast, taking the elevator straight to the fourth floor. Jian Qing had no idea where they were. When the elevator doors opened, the floor was deserted and eerily quiet. Jian Qing swallowed uneasily.

“Ren Yishan, what are you doing?”

Ren Yishan didn’t reply, just kept pushing her down the hall to a room at the end. She twisted the doorknob, found it locked, then tried the adjacent door, which opened. She shoved Jian Qing inside.

With a cold laugh, Ren Yishan closed the door behind her.

“Stay put here. If I remember you when I go home, maybe I’ll come get you.”

With that, Ren Yishan left.

Jian Qing looked around. It was a bedroom, faintly scented with lemon and cologne.

But she couldn’t worry about whose room it was now—she needed to get off the fourth floor quickly. If someone from the Li family found her sneaking around alone, she’d have a hard time explaining herself.

Besides, Ren Yishan was not above stealing. If something went missing here, it’d be all too easy to pin it on her.

Still, Jian Qing had underestimated Ren Yishan.

Ren Yishan had come prepared. She knew that after the party began, all floors above the third were off-limits to regular guests. The elevator would be stopped at the second floor—no way to reach the third or above.

In a wheelchair, Jian Qing would be trapped.

But her legs had already healed.

Perhaps Ren Yishan wanted to stage a scene where Jian Qing was found trapped on the fourth floor, inviting all sorts of misunderstandings. But Jian Qing could walk now.

She had been waiting for this moment—for Ren Yishan to let her guard down, thinking her limp made her harmless.

Jian Qing carried the wheelchair down to the second floor and hid it in a restroom. Then she stood quietly on the stairs, watching Ren Yishan flit through the crowd like a busy bee, finally stopping beside Li Shuang.

“Miss Li, there was a misunderstanding last time. Allow me to offer you a toast!”

With a sycophantic smile, Ren Yishan sidled up to her.

Li Shuang frowned, stepping back and sizing Ren Yishan up before slowly shaking her head.

“You don’t owe me an apology. The ring has already been given to Jian Qing. If you feel guilty, those words should be for her.”

Ren Yishan’s lips twitched. There were other socialites near Li Shuang, and after hearing this, their eyes turned on Ren Yishan with suspicion. Flustered, she tugged at Li Shuang’s sleeve.

“Miss Li…”

At that moment, an urgent knocking drew everyone’s attention.

They all turned as the grand hall doors downstairs slowly opened. In walked Hao Qing—accompanied by the police.

Li Shuang arched an eyebrow, greeting Hao Qing as she walked over. The others made way for her.

“You’re really late, Hao Qing.”

“It’s the business with the ring that delayed me,” Hao Qing explained, gesturing to the police behind her. “I’ve just come from giving a statement at the station.”

Then, following the officers, Hao Qing approached Ren Yishan.

“Officer, the ring was last seen on this woman’s finger. Please investigate whether she stole it from me.”

Ren Yishan’s face drained of color as the police produced their badges. She quickly protested,

“It’s not like that, officer, I…”

But the police were all business, holding up their IDs and preparing to escort her away.

“Miss, please cooperate with us and come to the station to give a statement.”

It was just an ordinary investigation, but Ren Yishan was already panic-stricken. She clung to Li Shuang’s dress, biting her lip and arguing,

“Officer, that ring—Miss Li gave it to me!”

She looked at Li Shuang with pleading eyes, begging,

“Miss Li, please say something!”

Li Shuang shook off Ren Yishan’s grasp and, holding her wineglass, turned to the police and shook her head.

“Officer, that’s a false accusation. I’ve already given a statement at the station. The ring was a gift from Hao Qing to my brother. I liked it and wanted to give it to Jian Qing. But I had to leave suddenly that day and asked Ren Yishan to pass it on. I don’t know why she ended up wearing the ring herself. What else could that be but theft?”

The Li family had a strong reputation in computing, even collaborating with the police on several projects. With Hao Qing’s report and Li Shuang’s cooperation, the officers were inclined to take their side.

“Miss Ren Yishan, please cooperate with the investigation.”

Seeing the police about to take her away, Ren Yishan burst into tears, hiding behind Li Shuang, wailing,

“No, officer, please… Miss Li, I beg you, say something for me! I… I never meant to steal your ring!”

“Then tell us, how did the ring end up on your finger?”

Li Shuang was calm, turning to look at the disheveled Ren Yishan.

Ren Yishan was instantly speechless, only shaking her head at Li Shuang.

She stayed silent, but everyone present understood.

Biting her lip, feeling the officer’s hand press her shoulder, Ren Yishan hurriedly tried to explain,

“Officer, Jian Qing is my sister. It’s true Miss Li gave her the ring, but since Jian Qing’s leg was injured, she felt insecure and didn’t want to wear something so nice. She gave it to me. How could that be theft?”

Li Shuang twirled a lock of hair around her finger and, leaning against Hao Qing, sighed and reminded her,

“Well, Ren Yishan, if you want to clear this up, you’ll need Miss Jian to come out and say so herself, or at least say she forgives you and won’t press charges. After all, the diamond ring is hers. If she doesn’t object, then there’s nothing to pursue.”

But Ren Yishan knew that if Jian Qing appeared, she’d never let her off—she might even make things worse.

She bit her lip, scanning the crowd, hoping Xiao Yuncheng might speak up for her, but he was nowhere to be found.

Just then, the elevator began to move and stopped at the first floor.

With a “ding,” the doors slowly opened.