Chapter 174: Coaxing Yanyan; Third Sister: You Stole Mom's Jewelry Again!

For a moment, everyone’s gazes followed Young Mistress Yan Liang as she stood and turned to look at Qin Jiang who was walking over.

The young man’s posture was perfect, his handsomeness effortless.

“Yanyan, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Qin Jiang stepped forward, his dignified figure showing none of the usual fawning deference others had toward Young Mistress Yan Liang. Calmly and composedly, he reached out and gently slung his arm around the Young Mistress’s slim waist, the movement so natural it made people’s scalps tingle.

“Sss…” The crowd couldn’t help but gasp.

Damn, this pretty boy really doesn’t fear for his life, does he?

That was Yan Liang, the Young Mistress, Ms. Liang, the infamous monster Young Mistress of the capital!!

And he actually dared to call Young Mistress Yan Liang, “Yanyan”?

Truly suicidal!

But looking at Yan Liang, the Young Mistress’s attitude toward Qin Jiang was different.

Everyone felt the scene grow even more surreal…

“Jiang, your coming is an honor for this occasion.”

“Come on, if you hadn’t come, I don’t think my uncle would have dared to start the banquet.”

Yan Liang braided her long hair up, her dignified, elegant bearing made her intimidating even without speaking—if anyone else stood beside Yan Liang, they’d inevitably serve as mere decoration.

Yet Qin Jiang held Yan Liang’s waist with neither submissiveness nor arrogance. Standing together the pair were remarkably well-matched—truly a case of a talented woman and a handsome man!!

Uncle Su suddenly realized Yan Liang had cued him. Feeling flustered, he hurried forward to ingratiate himself to Qin Jiang, abandoning the impatience he’d shown at the door.

“Yes, yes, everyone has been waiting for you, Little Jiang. My niece loves teasing her uncle—we’re all family, so we have to wait for our own before starting the meal.”

“Alright, Yanyan, your mother is waiting over there. Why don’t you take Little Jiang up to chat first?”

“Tonight’s guest of honor is of course your mother. She… misses you terribly.”

Yan Liang pursed her lips, a shadow flashing across her eyes: if she hadn’t gone mad, she probably wanted her dead!!

That statement wasn’t wrong.

“I’m not going.”

“Jiang, sit with me first.”

“Uncle, go ahead with what you need to do, it isn’t appropriate for the host to just stand around.”

It was rare for Yan Liang to be so talkative. Qin Jiang seldom attended such events, and since these were her natal relatives, bringing Qin Jiang felt a bit like introducing her husband to her family for them to take a look at him.

This feeling was utterly novel for Yan Liang.

For a moment, a soft affection rose in Yan Liang’s heart. “Jiang, have you finished handling everything?”

“Did it go smoothly?”

Should she intervene?

Yan Liang asked, and if Jiang didn’t want her meddling in the venture he was preparing, the Young Mistress would obediently stand aside.

But if this business made Jiang unhappy…

She could wave her hand and clear any obstacle for Qin Jiang at any time.

In her view, she was merely letting her little one gain experience in the “playground”. If her kid were bullied by other kindergarteners, she certainly wouldn’t be someone you’d want to mess with!

“Very smooth.”

“Yanyan, you look truly beautiful tonight. The pigeon-blood gem suits your complexion, but I just wonder if my gift… can add to your beauty.”

Qin Jiang was a little anxious. Although the surrounding onlookers weren’t bold, their curiosity about Yan Liang and the pretty boy kept the pair at the center of everyone’s attention.

“Look at that, the nouveau riche who hooked himself up with Yan Liang is something else—he’s probably just using the Young Mistress’s money to buy things to please her. I’m so jealous! He gets all the good things…”

“Don’t speak recklessly—this Qin Jiang is actually quite the figure, making fast progress in the internet industry. While he may not be worth billions like some here, he’s an internet rising star with a promising future.”

“Whether his forward-looking insight comes from the Young Mistress’s guidance or his own study is unknown.”

“In short, he’s not entirely just a pretty face…“

“Yes, yes, recently in the internet circle, the influencers signed by Jiang Yan Group have blown up. Influencer incomes alone probably reach hundreds of thousands a month. As the capital operating behind them… Jiang Yan Group’s strength shouldn’t be underestimated.”

“I’ve heard their influencers have started livestream-selling—this conversion model connecting to market supply chains is really impressive!!“

“I think the influencer economy will inevitably shift toward livestream e-commerce in the future.“

Many of the celebrities present were sharp and wouldn’t actually fall silent just because of fear of Zhao Xiong’s Zhao Group.

Their admiration for Qin Jiang was evident.

Of course, some big shots—recent visitors to a certain mercenary camp—had long seen Yan Liang’s protective feelings for Qin Jiang.

Qin Jiang, whether he took handouts or not.

He would in future be a prominent figure.

If not him, then who else would they flatter?

Yet there were always the oblivious ones, as if they were cucumbers, who dared to wedge themselves beside these two prominent people at this moment.

Qin Jiang reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a pigeon-blood red bracelet. Each blood-red gem glittered brilliantly, the deep crimson set off the woman’s pale skin, so beautiful it was impossible to look away.

“Yanyan, you lost that pink diamond ring last time so I’ve been meaning to give you another gift.”

“I know you lack for nothing, no treasure in the world could match your beauty.”

“But as a man, the first thing you do after making money is buy gifts for your wife, to make my baby happy.”

“This pigeon-blood red bracelet I bought with Jiang Yan Group’s recent profits—do you like it, Yanyan?”

Qin Jiang lowered his eyes, clutching the pigeon-blood bracelet. Those gems were extraordinarily valuable—if it were the old Qin Jiang, he wouldn’t have dared even glance at them.

But since he’d multiplied the seed capital Yanyan had given him several times over, he couldn’t forget his roots.

This day, although it was his mother-in-law’s birthday.

Every day could be a day to celebrate his love for Yanyan!

Even if he was stealing the spotlight, so what? As long as Yanyan liked it, he would do anything and get anything that would make her smile.

Yan Liang was stunned. She hadn’t expected Qin Jiang to give her a gift.

Her demands of Jiang were actually very small. She didn’t expect him to dote on her like a typical husband.

She only wanted him not to run away, to stay with her—that small desire.

But what Qin Jiang offered her now was far more than that.

It was heartfelt pampering, a husband’s constant affection for his wife.

“I like it very much.”

“Jiang, put it on me.”

Yan Liang lowered her eyes, unable to hold back the sting in her nose. Her clear, cool eyes swelled with emotions she couldn’t suppress.

She loved Jiang so much.

At this moment, Jiang made her want to possess him immediately…

But she couldn’t!

Jiang was easily embarrassed and he’d be frightened.

So Yan Liang frowned slightly and forced herself to suppress the impulse to start unbuttoning Qin Jiang’s shirt like unwrapping a present.

She extended her wrist and nodded toward Qin Jiang.

A bright sparkle rose in Qin Jiang’s eyes as he was about to place the pigeon-blood bracelet on her.

However, a hand suddenly gripped Qin Jiang’s wrist. “Qin Jiang, how do you have that pigeon-blood bracelet?”

“You stole Mom’s jewelry again, didn’t you?”

“Qin Jiang, you really can’t change your ways!!”

Qin Xiangyun had just entered the venue, expecting to be the center of attention, but to her surprise everyone’s gaze had fallen on this wild kid Qin Jiang.

She’d heard abroad that Qin Jiang was no longer the same—leaning on the influence of that doomed monster Young Mistress, he’d started thinking highly of himself, using money from his sale to invest and build a group.

Ha, Qin Jiang was just a small fry still not yet graduated from university—if the business world didn’t fear the Yan family, what achievements could this small Qin Jiang possibly make?

He’d made it by relying on women.

Just a freeloader.

Qin Xiangyun despised these freeloader men!!

Her brother Yun was better—relying on himself, sensible and graceful, with the refinement and nobility of an upper-class gentleman in every move.

Even if she casually brought Yun to important events, he’d blend in smoothly.

Compared to that freeloader Qin Jiang, who was protected by women every day, Yun was infinitely better.

She already harbored prejudice against Qin Jiang, and seeing him pull that familiar pigeon-blood bracelet from his pocket only confirmed her bias.

That was clearly her mother’s.

And it was being used by Qin Jiang to placate the monster Young Mistress?

This wasn’t just a wild kid—this was clearly a thief and a robber!!

Anger flaring, Qin Xiangyun didn’t think further. She rushed to Qin Jiang and reached to snatch the pigeon-blood bracelet that belonged to her mother.

Luckily Qin Jiang was quick-eyed and quicker-handed. He snatched the bracelet back and his gaze fell on Qin Xiangyun’s aggressive face.

When he was in the Qin family, he had the least contact with his third sister, Qin Xiangyun.

But he could always feel the malice and prejudice Qin Xiangyun harbored toward him.

Even so, back then Qin Jiang, yearning for familial affection, still tried every way to be good to Qin Xiangyun.

This led Qin Xiangyun to develop the habit that as long as Qin Jiang was around, she would naturally find faults and demand Qin Jiang do and pay for things.

The moment Qin Xiangyun appeared—especially when she dared covet the bracelet Jiang had prepared for her—murderous intent poured out from Yan Liang.

She stepped in front of Qin Jiang, looking down over Qin Xiangyun.

Yan Liang’s natural height advantage gave her tall, full frame an innate imposing presence.

Qin Xiangyun prided herself on her looks, but her greatest regret and the thing she most cared about was her height.

She was only 1.6 meters tall, so even in high heels she still felt stifled and overpowered by Yan Liang.

“Do you want to die, want to go mad—or want to be buried?”

Yan Liang was calm and unhurried, her gaze coldly sweeping over Qin Xiangyun’s dress, her expression becoming intriguingly meaningful.

“So, you’re Jiang’s estranged third sister Qin Xiangyun!”

“You too, can choose your own fate at any time.“

Yan Liang smiled lightly, but her eyes weren’t smiling.

This wasn’t Qin Xiangyun’s first time meeting Yan Liang, but it was the first time she’d been so close to death and hell.

Even though Qin Xiangyun fancied herself beautiful and believed she was a goddess in the entertainment and even sports circles.

In front of Yan Liang now, she was instantly reduced to a mere maid!!

“Y-young Mistress Yan, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Qin Jiang is my biological brother. His privately stealing our mother’s valuables is a problem of poor family discipline. Matters concerning character like this of course need to be properly taught!”

“I only reproached my brother out of deep love and concern for him.”

“Young Mistress Yan indeed now has the standing as Jiang’s wife to restrain him, but his own family also needs to be responsible for the character and quality of the son who married into the Yan family.”

Qin Xiangyun also noticed Yan Liang’s protection of Qin Jiang. Deep down she naturally feared Yan Liang.

But since Yan Liang treated Qin Jiang like a treasure, what did she, as Qin Jiang’s elder sister, have to fear?

Qin Xiangyun felt entitled by this “big sister-in-law” identity and adopted a patronizing “elder” tone toward Yan Liang.

But outwardly she still didn’t dare truly assume the identity of Yan Liang’s “big sister-in-law.”

Yet the implied superiority in her words and treating Qin Jiang like an object to be quality-guaranteed was full of malice.

No relative would objectify their own family member like that!

In essence, Qin Xiangyun had never really regarded Qin Jiang as a brother, had she?

Yan Liang’s brow tightened slightly. With a raised hand she could have Zhou Ning ready to act.

But just as Yan Liang was about to lift her hand, Bingbing somehow dragged Song Jie to the front line.

The usually gentle, noble woman had a cold face and a mocking look. “Oh, really?”

“As far as I know, my uncle by marriage isn’t even part of the Qin family. Miss Qin, what is this talk of teaching or not teaching?”

“If anyone needs to be taught, Miss Qin should teach the person who dressed you in fake haute couture a lesson first—you’re embarrassing yourself in an occasion like this and still dare call yourself a racing goddess?”

“No wonder you mistook the gem bracelet as someone else’s. You’re that blind. If I were you I’d dig a hole and bury myself.”

Sister Bingbing stepped forward, her dazzling looks paired with that pure white haute couture gown made it obvious to anyone with eyes that Qin Xiangyun’s ‘haute couture’ and Bingbing’s dress were clearly the same design!

But because of differences in tailoring and material, one was genuine and the other an imitation.

A genuine haute couture piece standing next to a poor fake instantly made the difference glaring.

At the moment Bingbing emerged, Qin Xiangyun was completely stunned.

As a beauty racecar driver who dabbled in the sports world and was a celebrity of sorts herself!

She was well aware of the tacit rules of the entertainment industry.

Wearing the same dress as someone else was a big deal in the entertainment world!

Stars all paid attention to looks and body management.

But now Qin Xiangyun wore a clumsy fake haute couture gown while Bingbing wore genuine haute couture and exuded an elegance that could eclipse the sun and moon.

Just standing in front of Qin Xiangyun made Qin Xiangyun feel inferior all over again.

“Y- you… how could my dress not be authentic haute couture?”

Qin Xiangyun had been thrown into a cognitive spiral.

She stared in disbelief at Bingbing, and her gaze fell on Song Jie, who was actually being held in this beauty’s palm.

She recognized Song Jie.

Qin Jiang’s penniless childhood pal!!

He actually turned his life around?

A pile of freeloaders and douchebags—her disdain deepened.

“Ha, this is the one-and-only global-limited haute couture gown. My aunt, Yan Liang, wore it the first time. Even someone like me wears the haute couture my aunt discarded.”

“But you… wear fake haute couture to steal the spotlight?”

“Qin Xiangyun, with your brain, do you even deserve to play in the domestic entertainment circle?“

Bingbing was a top-tier star in the entertainment circle and could be very gentle with people.

But if you provoked her.

She could be so forceful she’d make people’s knees tremble.

“Tsk tsk… same dress as my Bingbing, fake haute couture—if this gets exposed it’ll be brilliant.”

Song Jie, when needed, didn’t hesitate to add the cutting remark.

As Bingbing’s loyal fan, he’d privately created many alternate accounts to argue with haters.

When busy with his work.

He would even battle haters all night using dozens of alt accounts!

Keyboard warriors would call him—Master!!

As a star, their performance works were important, but attending events and landing big magazine covers were also important—it directly affected a star’s commercial value!

Major brand groups would judge a star’s endorsement worth and commercial ability based on these factors.

Qin Xiangyun had just returned with a trophy, so logically she should have had boundless glory, secured numerous big endorsements, and easily earned more than an ordinary person could spend in several lifetimes.

But now, just the scandal of “wearing fake haute couture,” a cheap act damaging brand image, had come out.

For her, and for major brands.

She had already lost the threshold to be endorsed by top-tier brands.

Qin Xiangyun couldn’t accept that her career had such a fatal issue before it even began back home, and she immediately lost her composure.

“Song Jie, you freeloader, how dare you belittle and threaten me?”

Bingbing was also displeased.

“Qin Xiangyun, who said he’s a freeloader?”

“Xiao Jie hasn’t agreed to be with me yet. But when he does, I’ll be the first to invite you to a meal.”

“I guarantee it’ll be a feast fit for a king~~”