Chapter 65: He Drops the Act and Comes Clean (2)

She hadn't expected someone she'd never met to prepare such a generous gift for her. Lowering her head, she examined the clothes she was wearing, her brows drawing together slightly.

“Mr. He, I’ve never met Mr. Li before. For him to prepare such a present for me—is it…” she trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

After all, adults understood these things. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world; when you accept a lavish gift, you must be prepared to pay an equal or even greater price.

He Jiangyu, however, waved away her concerns without a second thought. “Miss Jian, there’s no need to be so formal. Today, Che was supposed to be discussing a project with us, but now he’s busy with Du Yu. Why don’t you and Mr. Xiao wait downstairs for a while?”

He Jiangyu invited Jian Qing and Xiao Yunchen to sit, and the three of them found plenty to talk about, especially since He Jiangyu had a fondness for jewelry and struck up an engaging conversation with Jian Qing.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Li Jingche, who was still negotiating with Du Yu, couldn’t concentrate at all. He idly toyed with the ivory chess piece in his hand and rose from the rattan chair by the bed.

“I’m leaving. Finish up with Jian Qing and the others soon, don’t let it drag on,” he said.

Du Yu was puzzled by this, “Jingche, they came here to see you.”

Li Jingche had no intention of meeting her yet, leaving Du Yu with a single message: “If she wishes to bring the Jian family into the game, I welcome it. But if she intends to bring the Xiao family along, I won’t entertain them.”

Du Yu shrugged and hurried after Li Jingche, “Jingche, why are you so prejudiced against the Xiao family? Though I agree they’re not what they used to be, shouldn’t we at least give them a chance to compete? Whether they’re chosen is another matter altogether.”

As they walked from the back door to the garden and then to the parking lot, Du Yu kept probing Li Jingche’s attitude. Jian Qing had brought Xiao Yunchen along; this was clearly connected to the Xiao family.

Jian Qing had done Du Yu a great favor, so he felt obligated to speak up for her.

Stopping, Li Jingche turned slowly, his gaze cold as he looked at Du Yu. “If we let the Xiao family in, we won’t be able to intervene at any stage of the bidding process. Even if there’s only a one in ten thousand chance they’ll be selected, I want to make sure people like them never get involved in the Li family’s project.”

The hostility was palpable.

Du Yu immediately fell silent, grateful that Jian Qing hadn’t actually met Li Jingche yet, or she’d surely have been scolded as well.

“All right then, take care on the road. Let’s meet up next time, Jingche.”

Du Yu opened the car door for Li Jingche, but before he could step inside, He Jiangyu called in a rush.

Li Jingche slipped into the car and answered, only to hear a sentence more lively than his entire week, “Che, come quickly, help! Li Shuang brought a TV crew to film a variety show. She was afraid you’d object at your place, so she brought them to mine. I told her I wasn’t home, that I was at Du Yu’s, and now she’s dragged the crew straight to Du Yu’s house!”

“Then go tell Du Yu.”

“No, Che, I’m not finished yet.”

In the background, a woman’s voice grew louder, and Li Jingche quickly recognized it, his brows furrowing.

“Che, after I seated your sister-in-law and Xiao Yunchen, Li Shuang arrived. But before long, Old Mr. Xiao showed up with Ren Tianchuan and Ren Yishan, saying they’re here to plead for the Xiao family. It’s all being broadcast live right now, and I’m afraid…”

“What about Jian Qing? Is she all right? Did Ren Yishan bully her?”

Li Jingche’s first thought was for her.