Chapter 708 - 245: I’m Afraid I Can’t Help But Punch You (Part 2)

Qin Mei leaned closer to Jie Jingchen, a smile like the winter sun—warm and pure—gracing her face. "Jie Jingsi, I’ve thought of another brilliant plan."

"What plan?" Jie Jingchen asked, sounding uninterested.

"You could use Xu Jiali’s stepmother," Qin Mei suggested, earning a deep look from Jie Jingchen. She didn’t dwell on it, trying to persuade him. "Stepmothers don’t just have malicious hearts, they have greedy ones, too. You can use her stepmother’s greed to demand a bride price from the Gao family."

’With his grandparents retired, it would be a bit much for Jie Jingchen to be the one demanding a bride price. But it would be perfectly justifiable for Xu Jiali’s biological father and stepmother to do it.’

’The stepmother wouldn’t have so many scruples. All she’d care about is getting a bigger bride price. She’d be shameless, and no one would be able to handle her. She might just make such a fuss that the Gao family gives up on marrying Xu Jiali altogether.’

"Xu Jiali has already cut ties with the Xu Family," Jie Jingchen said.

"Jie Jingsi, your Granny was right about one thing: family ties are like bone and sinew. Even if a bone breaks, the sinews still connect them." ’All the better that she’s cut ties,’ Qin Mei thought. ’Xu Jiali won’t get hurt, her biological father and stepmother won’t have to worry about her, and the Gao family will be thrown into utter turmoil.’

"Even the connecting sinews have been severed." Jie Jingchen’s frigid eyes glinted with a cold light.

"Jie Jingsi, are you worried your maternal grandmother won’t agree?" Qin Mei asked.

Jie Jingchen shook his head. "No."

"Then what is it?" Qin Mei pressed.

Meeting Qin Mei’s gaze, Jie Jingchen’s expression grew complex and profound. He hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "The Xu Family is in Huaxia."

"Isn’t the Xu Family in Xiangjiang?" Before the words were even out of her mouth, Qin Mei seemed to realize something, and her expression completely froze. "Are Xu Jiali and Xu Chunyan related?"

They both shared the surname Xu, so it was no wonder Qin Mei would make the connection. The Qiao Family, after all, had moved from Shijiu City to Xiangjiang.

"They’re somewhat related," Jie Jingchen replied.

"Don’t tell me Xu Jiali is Xu Chunyan’s paternal half-sister?" After asking the question, she felt like a complete idiot. ’Xu Jiali’s father only remarried after her mother died. If Liu Guihua was the stepmother, then Xu Chunyan would have to be younger than Xu Jiali... unless Xu Jiali’s father knew Liu Guihua before he even married her mother, and the two had a secret child.’

’No, that’s not right. Liu Guihua is the first wife.’

The corner of Jie Jingchen’s mouth twitched, and he flicked her lightly on the forehead. "Xu Jiali’s father and Xu Chunyan’s father are paternal cousins. Xu Jiali’s father is from the main family line, while Xu Chunyan’s father is from a side branch."

’The Xu Family’s relationships were so convoluted.’ Qin Mei rubbed her forehead where Jie Jingchen’s flick had stung. "From the sound of it, Xu Jiali’s father must have a pretty high status."

"If he weren’t impressive, would my maternal grandmother’s sister have married him?" Jie Jingchen reached out and gently rubbed her forehead, a hint of guilt in his amber eyes. "Did that hurt?"

Qin Mei hugged his arm. She had little interest in the Xu Family’s business, but she was quite curious about his grandmother’s maiden family. "Jie Jingsi, was your maternal great-grandmother a powerful woman?"

Seeing the curiosity in Qin Mei’s eyes, Jie Jingchen was filled with an indescribable, complex feeling.

Qin Mei wasn’t stupid. In this particular era, family connections were even more convoluted. The Qiao Family had relocated all the way to Xiangjiang, so her grandmother’s maiden family... Seeing Jie Jingchen’s conflicted expression, how he seemed to struggle to find the words, Qin Mei tactfully dropped the subject.

’Knowing too much could get you silenced.’

AHEM. Qin Mei cleared her throat, deciding that discretion was the better part of valor. "Jie Jingsi, I think the honey trap plan is more reliable after all."

"Then we’ll use the honey trap." Jie Jingchen let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. ’Good, she stopped and didn’t press for details. I don’t want to lie to her, but I don’t want to tell her, either. Knowing too much wouldn’t do her any good.’

Qin Mei let go of Jie Jingsi’s arm and picked up an apple, taking a bite. But as she chewed, an image flashed through her mind: the scene from Room 209, with her older brother snuggled in Jie Jingchen’s arms, feeding him a piece of apple. Qin Mei’s expression twisted, and the crisp, sweet apple in her hand suddenly lost all its flavor.

"It’s a damn good thing that was my brother," Qin Mei muttered, glaring at Jie Jingchen.

Jie Jingchen was baffled for a moment. But seeing the way she was gnawing on the apple, combined with her strange expression, he instantly understood. "We were just acting. It was to help your brother with his undercover work."

"Ha," Qin Mei scoffed, then took a vicious bite of her apple, chewing it as if to vent her frustration. Suddenly, a sly smile appeared on her face. She leaned in closer to Jie Jingchen, nestled against his chest, and held up the apple. "Darling, have a bite."

Jie Jingchen lowered his gaze to meet hers. Her eyes, seductive and full of emotion, held a hint of playful revenge. Playing along, Jie Jingchen leaned down and took a bite. "Delicious."