The Fake Heiress's Inner Thoughts Were Heard by Her Entire Family

Jing Zeqian clicked his tongue, finding it pointless to talk with Shen Huaichu. Shen Huaichu looked at him and asked, "Does Mr. Jing have something to discuss?" Surely he hadn't come just to mock him.

Jing Zeqian casually glanced in Wang Boqi's direction and said, "Nothing much, just thinking it's interesting how any random nobody can strut around in front of Mr. Shen these days."

His tone was utterly discourteous, dripping with sarcasm.

While Gu Lin thought the insult was aimed at Wang Boqi, Shen Huaichu knew that Jing Zeqian wasn't sparing anyone – after all, what kind of person was he to allow nobodies to parade around in front of him?

Shen Huaichu's lips twitched slightly as he replied methodically, "Should Mr. Jing bark back every time a dog barks at him?"

The smile instantly vanished from Jing Zeqian's face as he cast a cold glance at Shen Huaichu. "Wasn't Mr. Shen just barking? Or did I hear wrong?"

Why put on such airs? Did he really think he was that impressive? If he were truly impressive, he wouldn't be so easily provoked. It was only because Shen Huaichu hadn't disrupted Yi Yi's plans; otherwise, he would have had him thrown out!

Gu Lin thought to himself: Why are these two so childish?

Shen Huaichu couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore. Fidgeting with his watch, he asked directly, "Mr. Jing, surely you didn't come just to mock me?" Just get to the point.

Evidently, Shen Huaichu had guessed wrong. Jing Zeqian had indeed come specifically to mock him. He raised his eyebrow, his tone still provocative, "Yes, that's exactly why I'm here."

Shen Huaichu: "..." He rarely found himself speechless with anyone, but Jing Zeqian was an exception.

If he weren't Jing Yi's second brother, that "nobody" comment would have been thrown right back at him.

"...Since you've had your fun mocking me, I'll take my leave." Shen Huaichu walked past Jing Zeqian with a cold expression, with Gu Lin hurriedly following behind.

Jing Zeqian let out a cold snort and also left the troublesome area.

Jing Zeyou excused himself from the guests and walked toward Jing Zeqian. "Back from picking a fight?" Jing Zeqian's eyes widened as he protested, "What do you mean picking a fight? I went to teach him a lesson."

Jing Zeyou couldn't help but laugh at this – he'd rather believe that Shen Huaichu had shown mercy.

Seeing that Jing Zeyou didn't believe him, Jing Zeqian insisted, "Didn't you see him fleeing in panic?" Jing Zeyou glanced at Shen Huaichu's retreating figure, noting that his walk seemed somewhat unsteady – it seemed Jing Yi had kicked him quite hard.

It must have been difficult for Shen Huaichu to endure both the pain and the urge to fight back.

Fleeing in panic? He certainly needed to escape – when dealing with someone like that, what else could he do?

...

When the banquet ended and they arrived home, Jing Yi immediately collapsed onto the sofa, muttering, "Why do we have to hold so many banquets? Why do we have to attend so many banquets?"

Jing Zeqian followed behind, carrying some gifts from the guests, while Jing Zeyou and Uncle Li were handling the rest.

"Where should I put these gifts?" he asked. Jing Yi replied wearily, "In my room, thanks."

She had previously felt excited about opening gifts, but now she couldn't muster any interest at all.

"What about this one?"

Jing Zeqian put the other gifts on the floor and helplessly lifted an extremely eye-catching piece – a massive, solid gold sculpture.

What made this gift stand out wasn't just its size, but that it was a dazzling golden hedgehog made of pure gold.

When Jing Zeqian first saw it, he questioned reality, wondering who had such poor taste to not only give gold but specifically make it into a hedgehog?

When he learned it was from Shen Huaichu, he was even more speechless.

It wasn't just his bias against Shen Huaichu; he had never seen anyone court someone with such a gift.

Jing Yi slowly opened her eyes, saw the golden hedgehog in Jing Zeqian's hands, and couldn't help but laugh.

Jing Zeqian watched her laughing heartily and felt even more helpless.

So, what exactly was funny about this?

Jing Yi actually quite liked the gift and planned to keep it in her room, thinking it would brighten her mood to look at it every day.

"Put that in my room too."

Realizing she hadn't tried lifting it yet, she called out to Jing Zeqian, "Second brother, let me take it."

Seeing the eagerness in Jing Yi's eyes, Jing Zeqian handed her the golden hedgehog, but not without warning, "Careful, it's quite heavy."

Jing Yi took the golden hedgehog from Jing Zeqian's hands, and although she had expected it to be heavy, her hands still dipped from the weight.

[It really is heavy!]

Jing Zeqian looked at her mockingly – how could it not be heavy? It was solid gold, and quite a large piece at that.

"Be careful not to prick yourself."

Jing Zeqian was thoroughly disgusted, feeling that even looking at it was an insult to his eyes!

Jing Yi looked at the hedgehog in her arms, smiling with crescent-moon eyes.

Her clear almond eyes sparkled with an indescribable liveliness, clearly showing how much she loved the gift.

[It's quite cute, and such a large piece of gold too, though I'm not sure why it's a hedgehog.]

Jing Yi carefully touched the spikes on the hedgehog's body, finding them quite soft and not prickly at all.

Watching her expression, Jing Zeqian still couldn't understand, "You really think this hedgehog is cute?" Since when had Jing Yi's taste become like this?

Jing Yi couldn't help but defend the gift, "It is cute! Look at its little expression." She held it closer to him, wanting him to get a good look at its face.

Jing Zeqian frowned and leaned back, unable to see anything cute about it.

He glanced at it once – it looked strange. He looked again.

Jing Zeyou walked into the living room and saw their equally complex expressions. "What are you discussing?" His gaze moved to the golden hedgehog in Jing Yi's arms, and he raised an eyebrow.

This hedgehog looked somewhat familiar.

Jing Zeqian crossed his arms and lounged lazily on the sofa, "We're talking about the person who sent that gift." Jing Zeyou sat down nearby, took the tea brought by Aunt Wang, took a small sip, and asked, "From Shen Huaichu?"

Jing Yi nodded, gradually feeling the weight becoming heavier in her hands, and carefully placed it on the sofa, which sank deeply under its weight.

Seeing this, Jing Yi burst out laughing again.

Jing Zeqian looked at her helplessly and couldn't resist asking, "So, what's so funny?" This was the second time already.

Could it be some kind of 'love makes everything beautiful' situation?

The thought made Jing Zeqian feel a bit sour inside.

Jing Yi wiped away her tears of laughter and pointed at the hedgehog sitting on the sofa, "Don't you think it's funny? It looks so cute, and then it just sinks down so heavily."

As soon as she finished speaking, she started laughing again.

Jing Zeqian was beyond words, but seeing Jing Yi so happy, he couldn't help but laugh along.

Looking at the two laughing foolishly, Jing Zeyou shook his head helplessly, though the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn upward.