Chapter 689 - 239: Does He Love Me? (Part 2)

Xu Jiali was the star of the show today, and everyone was indulging her. Even Jing Qi was meticulously styled, wearing a white dress that made her look pure yet gentle.

Grandmother was also wearing a qipao. Though she was getting on in years, she still had a graceful air about her.

"Grandma, you look so beautiful," Qin Mei said, lavishing her with praise as she came downstairs.

Grandmother grinned from ear to ear. Taking Qin Mei’s hand, she looked her up and down. "My eldest grandson certainly has good taste."

Everyone loves a compliment. Qin Mei shot Jie Jingchen a smug glance.

’Her marriage to Jie Jingchen wasn’t exactly something he had sought. The previous owner of this body had drugged him, forcing him to take responsibility and marry her.’

Not seeing her grandfather, Qin Mei couldn’t help but ask, "Where’s Grandpa?"

Grandmother shot a sideways glance at Xu Jiali before saying to Qin Mei, "Your grandpa’s upstairs. He’s not feeling well, so just leave him be."

"Not feeling well?" Qin Mei looked at Jie Jingchen. ’Is his old habit of feigning illness acting up again?’

"Xiao Zhang already checked on him. It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry." Grandmother patted Qin Mei’s hand. She still vividly remembered the last time her husband had faked an illness to trick their daughter and the others into coming home, and how Qin Mei had given them a hard time for it.

"Auntie, does Uncle not like Gao Qiang?" Xu Jiali asked, her head hanging in dejection.

Grandmother wanted to say that it wasn’t just "Uncle" who disliked him—she did too. Their eldest grandson had managed to convince them both, but her husband still refused to come downstairs. It would be beneath his status to be waiting for people who hadn’t even arrived yet.

The Qiao Family’s grand reception wasn’t for the Gao family’s sake, but for Xu Jiali’s. They were only giving the Gao family this courtesy for her.

"Your uncle doesn’t dislike Gao Qiang specifically," Grandmother said. "He dislikes the entire Gao family."

Xu Jiali looked up, breathing a small sigh of relief. As long as they weren’t targeting Gao Qiang specifically, it was manageable. "Auntie, the Gao family are good people."

"The Gao family is counting on you for their comeback. Would they dare treat you poorly?" Jie Jingchen scoffed.

"Even if it’s insincere, it still takes effort to be so deliberately pleasing," Qin Mei said, tugging on Jie Jingchen’s sleeve. ’We’re already giving Xu Jiali face, so why keep up the arrogant act? Isn’t it exhausting?’

"But insincerity doesn’t last," Jie Jingshan couldn’t help but add.

"It’ll last as long as the Qiao Family doesn’t fall." Qin Mei gave Jing Qi a meaningful look, as if to say, ’If you want the Gao family to treat your aunt well, then you have to at least maintain the Qiao Family’s current position, even if you can’t elevate it further.’

"Did you understand that?" Jie Jingchen asked Xu Jiali, a cold smile on his lips.

Xu Jiali lowered her head. ’I’m not an idiot, of course I understood.’ Thinking of what Gao Qiang had told her, however, gave her a surge of confidence. She raised her head to meet Jie Jingchen’s piercing gaze and bit her lip. "Gao Qiang said he loves me for me, not for my status. He said that even if I wasn’t a lady of the Qiao Family, he would still love me without any regrets."

"If you weren’t a lady of the Qiao Family, you two would have never crossed paths," Jie Jingchen said, his deep voice thick with sarcasm.

Xu Jiali didn’t retort. ’If her aunt hadn’t brought her into the Qiao family, she probably would have been tormented to death by her wicked stepmother.’

Qin Mei didn’t jump in to defend Xu Jiali against Jie Jingchen. ’Now isn’t the time to oppose him,’ she thought. ’Some things are better said bluntly in private.’

"Auntie, is Gao Qiang handsome?" Jie Jingshan asked.

"He is," Xu Jiali said with a smile for Jie Jingshan.

"How handsome? Is he as handsome as my brother?" Jie Jingshan asked again.

"Which brother?" Xu Jiali countered. She wasn’t sure if Jie Jingshan meant Jie Jingchen or Jie Jingjue. ’In truth,’ she thought, ’Gao Qiang couldn’t compare to either of them.’

"This one," Jie Jingshan said, jutting her chin toward Jie Jingchen.

"No," Xu Jiali replied. ’If I held out for someone more handsome than Jie Jingchen, I’d probably never get married,’ she thought. ’My standards for a partner’s looks really aren’t that high. As long as he’s pleasant to look at, I’m happy.’

’It’s not like she herself was some celestial beauty. At best, she was the pleasant, girl-next-door type who grew on you. She didn’t have the confidence to handle a man who was drop-dead gorgeous anyway.’

Qin Mei couldn’t help but sneak a few more glances at Jie Jingchen. ’This guy’s looks were definitely the type to tempt a married woman to stray. There was Lin Yaru from Shijiu City, who had married his brother but was still hopelessly in love with him. And then there was Li Shuyu in Xiangjiang, still holding on to their childhood engagement and waiting for him to marry her.’

’It was precisely because of Jie Jingchen that Li Shuyu was so hostile toward her, racking her brains for a way to prove she was guilty of pushing the nanny.’

’Qin Mei didn’t get it. Even if Li Shuyu succeeded, so what? Would Jie Jingchen really divorce her just for pushing a nanny?’