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

At the Jing family's front gate, a sudden honking interrupted the conversation between Jing Yi and Shen Huaichu.

"Hey, you in front! What are you doing?!"

The driver, still unsatisfied, pressed the horn several more times, the aggressive honking conveying their irritated mood.

Jing Yi suddenly snapped back to reality, pushing aside her jumbled thoughts.

She looked back and saw it was Jing Zeqian. The panic in her eyes became more evident. "Um, um, we'll talk about this later, I need to go!" She couldn't worry about Shen Huaichu anymore - better for everyone to just stay safe for now!

With that, Jing Yi started her car and drove through the gate.

Oddly enough, Shen Huaichu felt that even the car's silhouette seemed to convey a sense of fleeing in panic...

He felt somewhat disappointed, and also annoyed at being interrupted, as he coldly turned to look at the car behind.

Jing Zeqian was there, furiously sticking his head out, glaring at him fiercely.

Shen Huaichu froze slightly, the coldness in his eyes diminishing somewhat.

What a coincidence it had been.

Jing Zeqian was driving home when he spotted Jing Yi's distinctive sports car from afar, along with a somewhat familiar-looking man.

Upon closer inspection, wasn't that Shen Huaichu?

Why were they standing so close? Shen Huaichu was practically leaning into the car!

Jing Zeqian drove closer and glared at Shen Huaichu. "Mr. Shen, what a coincidence!" A coincidence to catch him right at their front gate!

Jing Zeqian spoke through gritted teeth, while Shen Huaichu maintained a calm demeanor. "Good afternoon, Mr. Jing."

Jing Zeqian forced a smile, feeling anything but good!

"Surely Mr. Shen isn't just passing by our house on his way home from work?!"

He heavily emphasized the words 'our house.'

Shen Huaichu wasn't sure how to respond. If he told the truth, he worried about Jing Yi's situation later; if he lied, claiming he was just passing by the Jing residence after work would be quite far-fetched.

"...Miss Jing dropped one of her gifts from last time, I came to return it."

Jing Zeqian almost laughed from anger. Did returning a gift require leaning your entire body into the car?!

"Is that so? Did you manage to give her the gift then?"

Shen Huaichu was genuinely caught off guard. "Not yet."

Jing Zeqian raised an eyebrow. "Then let me help you, Mr. Shen. I'll give it to Yi Yi."

He wanted to see how Shen Huaichu would get out of this one!

Shen Huaichu was already in an awkward position, but suddenly he seemed to remember something and reached into his suit pocket.

He actually had something prepared?

Jing Zeqian's eyes flashed with surprise; he had assumed it was just an excuse.

Until he saw the actual gift.

It was a miniature golden hedgehog, identical to the large one Jing Yi already had.

Jing Zeqian gave Shen Huaichu a complicated look.

He really couldn't understand what was wrong with this man's taste. How did he always manage to give such unexpected gifts?

Jing Zeqian walked into the living room with the small hedgehog, but Jing Yi was nowhere to be seen. He snorted.

No matter - he had a 'hostage,' so Jing Yi would have to come to him eventually.

Jing Zeqian casually tossed the small hedgehog up and caught it again before heading upstairs to his room.

That evening, in the Jing family living room.

Jing Yi sat cross-legged on the sofa, occasionally sneaking glances at Jing Zeqian.

In contrast, Jing Zeqian seemed oblivious to Jing Yi's glances, contentedly watching a Republican-era drama starring Jing Zejun.

As for Jing Zeyou and the others, they had long noticed the strange atmosphere between the two. Though they all had their own matters to attend to, they gathered in the living room, ready to watch the show unfold.

Several times, Jing Yi seemed about to speak but held back, while Jing Zeqian pretended not to notice.

[This isn't right... Second Brother should have questioned me as soon as he got back. Why hasn't he said anything yet? If he won't speak up, how am I supposed to get the small one back...?]

Hearing this, Jing Zeqian's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

See? With his 'hostage,' Jing Yi would have to speak up eventually.

Jing Zeyou and the others chatted leisurely, quietly waiting for the show to begin.

Finally, Jing Yi couldn't resist anymore and sidled up to Jing Zeqian with a sweet smile.

"Second Brother."

Jing Zeqian gave a casual "Mm" without looking at her.

[Whatever! Better to get it over with!]

Steeling herself, Jing Yi decided to be direct with Jing Zeqian. "Second Brother, don't you have something to give me?"

Jing Zeqian seemed confused by her meaning. "What thing?"

Now it was certain - Jing Zeqian was deliberately teasing her!

[I knew something was off when he didn't question me right away. So this was his plan all along!]

Jing Yi puffed up her cheeks and secretly glared at him. Since he wouldn't take the bait, she had no choice but to confess.

Her voice softened. "Second Brother, Shen... he was just talking to me briefly this afternoon." She glanced nervously at Jing Zeyou and the others, feeling guilty.

Though Jing Yi hadn't said it directly, Jing Zeyou and the others already knew it was about Shen Huaichu - they were just pretending to chat casually in the living room.

Jing Zeqian let out a smug snort. "Well, well, I thought you'd keep quiet until dawn. What little hedgehog? You're more like a little turtle."

He said the last part very quietly, and Jing Yi didn't catch it. "Little what?"

Jing Zeqian coughed lightly, his eyes shifting. "Nothing. Is this the little thing you mean?" He pulled something from his pocket.

Jing Zeyou saw the tiny golden hedgehog and paused with his cup midair.

This was... hard to evaluate.

Jing Yi's eyes brightened, and she nodded quickly, reaching for it. "Hold on." Jing Zeqian pulled his hand away.

He wasn't planning to let Jing Yi off so easily - he still hadn't gotten to the bottom of this afternoon's events.

Seeing it wouldn't be so simple, Jing Yi deflated, her shoulders drooping.

[Looks like there's 'no escape'... This Shen Huaichu, causing me so much trouble even when he's not here! If he had something to give me, why didn't he just hand it over? Why spend so much time hemming and hawing this afternoon...]

Lin Ruiqing turned her head toward Jing Beicheng, unable to suppress her smile. Even Jing Beicheng's eyes were twinkling with amusement.

A flash of humor crossed Jing Zeqian's eyes before he quickly resumed his serious expression.

"Tell me, what did he want with you this afternoon?"

Jing Yi's pale fingers twisted together as she said softly, "...Just, just talking about something."

[How am I supposed to explain?! Tell them he confessed? Making such a big deal about it would be too embarrassing!]

Remembering Shen Huaichu's confession, Jing Yi's cheeks grew warm, and she lowered her eyes to hide her emotions.

Jing Zeqian snorted coldly. He clearly had ulterior motives - who needs to lean their entire body into a car just to "talk about something"?

Nevertheless, he handed the small hedgehog to Jing Yi, though he couldn't resist one last jab.

"Here you go. Looking at how nervous you are - if you like this little thing so much, I could give you a hundred of them."

Jing Yi was surprised that Jing Zeqian would give it to her so readily.

Looking at the tiny hedgehog in her hand, she couldn't help but smile, finding it adorable from every angle. "Thank you, Second Brother!"

Lin Ruiqing gave Jing Zeqian a knowing look - it wasn't the gold that Jing Yi loved, but rather the person who gave it to her.