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Sister Bingbing suddenly spoke, an unsettling factor tangled in her clear, distinct eyes, dispelling the gentle air around her and leaving only a bone edged with thorns.
Song Jie was taken aback by the question. He could hardly believe it, and though not wholly lacking self-regard, he still rationally suppressed the part of himself that had been thrown off by Sister Bingbing’s casual query.
“I’m sorry, Sister Bingbing.”
“I’m not worthy of you.”
Besides, he didn’t want anyone’s pity—he’d been humiliated badly, and it wouldn’t be long before everyone knew he was a cuckolded fool whose girlfriend had cheated on him.
What would follow were rumors, slanders, and malicious guesses from inside and outside school, and even… pity from those in the know.
He couldn’t keep himself safe in such a whirlpool.
He didn’t want anyone else dragged into it because of him.
Song Jie spoke almost in a repressed voice. He was genuinely unsure whether Sister Bingbing was joking.
The young man’s knuckles clenched tight, veins bulging on his fist.
In the end he destroyed that little fantasy with his own mouth.
He didn’t want to play the clown again!!
When you have nothing, anyone can betray you.
He could be foolish once, but not forever!
Jiang Kexin’s betrayal had hurt him too much.
When it came to love, he no longer dared to give his all.
Song Jie scrambled in panic, preparing to leave.
But this time, Sister Bingbing’s gaze slowly shifted from warm and gentle to something odd.
The gentle façade seemed to be ripped apart by something.
In Sister Bingbing’s eyes there was like a dark river, waves churning and full of danger.
Sister Bingbing suddenly curled her lips into a smile, reached out, and abruptly pinched Song Jie’s jaw, holding it firmly.
She was indeed a dazzling beauty—appearing gentle and noble, but in truth tall and striking, walking with an air about her.
Even though she was merely a performer in the world of fame and fortune, no one dared to underestimate her.
“Xiao Jie, so naughty!”
“I heard from Aunt Yan Liang… Qin Jiang is your brother? He didn’t listen to his aunt at first either.”
Sister Bingbing gave a sudden eerie smile, sending chills down Song Jie’s spine.
Thoughts began to spin inside his head.* *What the… Sister Bingbing, what are you saying about Young Mistress Yan being whose relative to you?
Young Mistress Yan* is your aunt!!*
Doesn’t that mean if I really go with Sister Bingbing, I’d have to call Brother Jiang… “uncle”?
What the hell! This isn’t even about who becomes whose dad anymore.
But then again, Young Mistress Yan was of the same generation as many who were much older than herself, resulting in her becoming an aunt to many around her age.
Song Jie couldn’t help but turn serious.
“Sister Bingbing, since you’re related to Young Mistress Yan, you should of course know there’s no way for you and me.”
“Come to think of it, I’m the same generation as your… uh, uncle…AHEM! So if we did this, wouldn’t everything be a mess?”
“Impossible… impossible…”
Song Jie shook his head frantically. Going down one generation in the family was impossible—calling Qin Jiang his older brother was already generous since Brother Jiang was actually a few months younger than him.
And to call him ‘uncle’ for life??
No way!!
No matter how stunning his goddess was or how much she threw herself at him… he wouldn’t let beauty make him waver in his principles.
Sister Bingbing raised her eyebrow.
Was that the main point?
Shouldn’t the point be that she had her eye on Song Jie, this silly boy?
But Song Jie’s concern was whether to call Qin Jiang ‘uncle’?
It seemed the person living in Song Jie’s heart wasn’t Jiang Kexin at all, but clearly Qin Jiang…
…
Outside Jiayu Manor.
Inside the chauffeured car.
Qin Xiangyun, to show off that after returning home she dominated the entertainment top divas as the ‘Racing World’s Goddess’, deliberately made a grand entrance as the finale.
“Xiangyun, this haute couture dress was something I struggled to borrow from the brand. I heard only one person wore it first in the whole world, and you’re the second—it’s a special honor.”
“Alright, alright, I know this feels a bit unfair to you, but after all you’ve only shown your face internationally. Domestically your fame still can’t compete with current top female celebrities.”
“Especially Sister Bingbing—riding on her big star status, many haute couture brands send pieces to her first so she can pick, and only then do others get a turn… that’s the difference!!“
“But don’t worry, I pulled strings to airship this haute couture dress back from Country K with great difficulty—low-key yet luxurious. It’s perfect for you at an event like this: not upstaging the host… but still showing off your superior status after returning to the country.”
Manager Zhang watched with satisfaction as Qin Xiangyun displayed beauty and figure in the haute couture dress.
Such top-tier looks would have a place even in the entertainment industry.
Back in the sports world, she had already obliterated all competition.
“Don’t worry, Sister Zhang. With my looks, there are few opponents in entertainment, let alone at these high-society banquets. Even among socialites I shine—among a group of tycoons and CEOs, tsk…”
Such people didn’t live off their looks, so they naturally didn’t care about their faces much.
“Alright, we know you’re especially beautiful and have a top-tier figure… but don’t be too arrogant.”
“After all, there’s always someone better!”
Third sister Qin Xiangyun and fourth sister Qin Shuyun actually looked the most alike. Their beauty at home was evenly matched.
They loved to fuss over themselves back in school, but the biggest difference was… their careers diverged later, and their beauty took different paths.
Third sister Qin Xiangyun leaned toward an athletic, bold and radiant look.
As for Qin Shuyun, to craft various roles she kept a wild, natural beauty with almost no later refinement.
Qin Xiangyun had gotten used to compliments. Abroad, a whole crowd of passionate suitors and fans had elevated her greatly.
After returning home, some foreign suitors had followed her back.
She never doubted her own charm.
She was confident enough.
Seeing the time was nearly up, Qin Xiangyun dared not delay further. She lifted her skirt and walked toward the manor.
“Ma’am, please show us your invitation.”
Qin Xiangyun had barely reached the gate when security stopped her for a check—at such high-end venues many people try every trick to get in, so entrance checks were normal.
Used to comings and goings, Qin Xiangyun waved her hand and handed the invitation to the guard.
A minute passed.
Qin Xiangyun grew impatient, but this wasn’t a place where she could act up. She had to bite her tongue and endure.
Three minutes later.
“Young man, is there something wrong with my invitation?”
“Your host personally invited me—young man, you better look carefully. Don’t disrespect Mr. Su’s sincere invitation to his VIPs.”
Qin Xiangyun sounded a bit impatient. Though smiling, she felt humiliated—always adored, she was suddenly stuck outside the door as though she wasn’t supposed to be here.
To her, it was like an insult!
That word ‘VIPs’ sounded considerate but the added plural ‘s’ was mere politeness—she was just short of accusing the security guard of being rude to her.
“Sorry, Miss Qin, this invitation looks like it may be forged. We’re calling an expert to authenticate it.”
“Please… wait.”
The guard forced a fake smile and looked at Qin Xiangyun with a strange, slightly contemptuous gaze.
Qin Xiangyun had never endured such humiliation.
But if she turned and left, she’d feel even more stifled.
Just as she was about to lose her temper, the guard suddenly switched to a flattering expression and looked in her direction.
“You’re finally here!”
“Someone, hurry up and come out to welcome Qin…”
Qin Xiangyun arrogantly lifted her chin—this was the kind of treatment a new sports superstar like her deserved.
She was about to take a step forward when she saw ten guards who’d just been summoned, all in uniform and with stern, ready expressions, pass by her and move to greet a late arrival behind her.
Qin Xiangyun! She was Qin Xiangyun for crying out loud!!
Where she stood should naturally be the center of attention.
How could she be treated like air?
Qin Xiangyun gritted her teeth, midway to grinding them to dust as she turned back. “Who’s putting on such airs…?”
She turned her head.
She saw Qin Jiang in a suit—tall and straight like a pine, his temperament cold and powerful like a pale moon, almost reborn in his handsomeness.
This… this young man, how was he so like Qin Jiang?
Or…was he Qin Jiang himself!!
“Mr. Qin Jiang, your presence graces this humble home and truly makes Jiayu Manor radiant.”
“Madam specifically instructed that upon your arrival there must be proper… ceremonial salutes accompanying you, to show her recognition of you as her son-in-law!”
Qin Jiang raised an eyebrow.
What was his mother-in-law playing at this time?
However, this exaggerated style did remind him of someone—Yan Zuo!
No wonder they were born of the same mother—the mother and son certainly knew how to push the level of pomp to the max!!
“Qin… Qin Jiang?”
“Why are you still standing there embarrassing us? Hurry up and come in with Third Sister into Jiayu Manor. Mr. Su personally invited me, yet I was stopped at the gate by these people who look down on others.”
“Since you can go in, I’ll reluctantly accompany you as your female companion and go in with you.”
Qin Xiangyun was indeed surprised for a moment at Qin Jiang’s dashing, majestic demeanor.
But when she thought of his unfortunate origins and his humble past.
In an instant Qin Xiangyun’s opinion of him dropped again.
She habitually waved at Qin Jiang, expertly ordering him about.
“Hurry up!”
“If you delay my affairs, can you take responsibility?”
Qin Xiangyun raised her chin haughtily. Her proud, indifferent posture clearly expected Qin Jiang to crawl back up to her like before to lick her boots and serve her.
But now, for Qin Xiangyun… times had changed!!
“What a crazy hag.”
“Ugly and old, and wearing fake haute couture.”
“Tsk tsk, has the Su family’s taste really sunk that low now?”
Those three lines were a knockout blow for Qin Xiangyun!
Qin Jiang knew exactly how to press Qin Xiangyun’s weak spot.
When messing with someone, you start with their mindset.
Once someone’s mentality collapses, flaws will appear everywhere.
Then she’d be even more prone to mistakes.
Once a person errs, and errs again, they can be destroyed easily…
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