Chapter 638 - 222: Jing Er Settles Old Scores with Jing Si

There was no denying it. Lin Yaru’s artless response gave him a sublime pleasure, causing him to become utterly captivated and unable to extricate himself.

At first, his thinking was that since Lin Yaru had brought this on herself, what was done was done. Selfish as he was, he never planned on taking responsibility for her. But when faced with her aggressive parents, he made a snap decision to protect himself: he would get a divorce and marry Lin Yaru.

Besides the pressure from her parents, he also coveted her beauty. He figured that once they were married, she would have to fulfill her wifely duties no matter how unwilling she was. Even if her heart still longed for Jing Si, with time, and once they had children, she would eventually give up and devote herself to serving him.

But as it turned out, he had underestimated Lin Yaru’s obsession with Jing Si. Marriage and children couldn’t restrain her in the slightest, let alone make her into a traditional, obedient wife. When she flew into a rage, even he couldn’t handle her. It made him seriously wonder, ’Is she really that gentle and elegant teacher who nurtures students?’

Jie Jingwei concealed his guilty conscience, his voice laced with accusation. "Why don’t you try being drugged and see how you like it? If you had ended up with her, you’d be the one getting a divorce."

"I wouldn’t. Even if I were drugged, I wouldn’t be controlled by it," Jie Jingchen said, his tone resolute. ’A drug for breeding cattle is too potent; I’d be helpless against that. But for a drug meant for humans, with my willpower and my feelings for Qin Mei, I would never allow myself to make that mistake.’

"Hmph! Easy for you to say. The hot coal didn’t land on your foot, so of course you don’t know the pain." Jie Jingwei didn’t want to argue with him anymore, grabbing his car keys and turning to leave.

Jie Jingchen’s expression was grave, his thin lips pressed into a tight line as he watched Jie Jingwei’s retreating figure.

After Jie Jingwei left, Qin Mei came out of Jie Jingshan’s room. Cupping her cheek with one hand, she came to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Jie Jingchen. "Jing Si, what do you think your second brother meant by that? Was he blaming you for not cheating with his wife?"

Jie Jingchen’s face darkened. He looked down at the shorter Qin Mei and flicked her lightly on the forehead. "Don’t be ridiculous. He’s worried about the baby in our sister-in-law’s womb."

’She even brought up the cheating talk. Does she really think I’m that despicable of a person?’

’If something had really happened between me and Lin Yaru, where would that leave her?’

"He wasn’t just here to hold you accountable, was he? It was more like he came to settle old scores, right?" Qin Mei rubbed her forehead, which stung from his flick. Despite Jie Jingwei’s accusations, he hadn’t sold her out.

’She was the main reason Jie Jingwei and Lin Yaru got together. She was the one who convinced Jie Jingchen to play along with the ’honey trap’ and lure Lin Yaru into using the drug. Without Jie Jingchen’s cooperation, there’s no way Lin Yaru would have administered the drug so readily.’

’Lin Yaru tasted her own medicine, and Xu Chunyan got hit by the blowback. Killing two birds with one stone—it was perfect!’

"He’s already divorced, remarried, and has a child on the way. It’s too late to settle scores now." Jie Jingchen stretched out his long arm and wrapped it around Qin Mei’s shoulder.

"He’s only looking to settle scores because he’s unhappy in his marriage. If he were happy, your second brother wouldn’t be here blaming you. He’d be thanking you profusely for being his matchmaker." Qin Mei leaned her head against Jie Jingchen’s shoulder. "The bride being a no-show at her own wedding banquet is all the proof you need."

Jie Jingchen was silent. ’Only a marriage based on mutual affection can be a happy one.’ He knew this from experience. He, too, had been forced into his marriage with Qin Mei, even considering it the greatest humiliation of his life. Their relationship had been a case of her one-sided affection. But his brother and Lin Yaru? Lin Yaru’s target had never been his brother. It couldn’t even be called one-sided. ’It’d be a miracle if a marriage like that turned out to be happy.’

"Jing Si, what do you think?" Qin Mei toyed with a button on Jie Jingchen’s shirt. "If something really were to happen to the baby in Lin Yaru’s womb, do you think your second brother would blame you for it?"

Jie Jingchen stared at Qin Mei, his expression faltering for a second before he spoke coolly. "What does that have to do with me? On what grounds could he blame me?"

"How could it not have to do with you? Didn’t you hear your brother? She’s your sister-in-law. You saw her in distress and didn’t help, which makes you the bad guy. The way he was talking, it’s like ’an elder brother is like a father, an elder sister-in-law is like a mother.’ I guess that means you’re supposed to respect her like your own mother. Hahaha." Qin Mei couldn’t even finish her sentence before she burst out laughing.

’Neither Xu Chunyan nor Lin Yaru seemed worthy of the saying ’an elder sister-in-law is like a mother.’ On the other hand, Jie Jingling definitely fit the description of ’an elder sister is like a mother.’’

"My parents are alive and well," Jie Jingchen said, glaring at Qin Mei irritably.

Qin Mei stopped laughing and patted her cheeks. "Okay, we got sidetracked. Back to the topic at hand."

"My brother’s mother-in-law came here looking for Dad, not me," Jie Jingchen said. "Jing Qi told her Dad wasn’t home, but that I was. She never asked me for help. Besides, Jing Qi also suggested she let you go check on her, and she refused. If treatment was delayed and she loses the baby, what’s that got to do with us?"

"She didn’t ask for your help, but you could have offered," Qin Mei pointed out. ’Following Jie Jingwei’s line of thinking,’ she thought, ’that’s exactly what he’ll say if something really happens to the baby.’

"I know she has designs on me. Why would I volunteer to help her? I’m not crazy." Jie Jingchen tightened his arm around her shoulder, turning her toward the house. "It’s too hot out here. Let’s go back inside with the fan."

Back inside, Qin Mei continued to pepper him with thorny questions. At first, Jie Jingchen answered them seriously, but as they became more and more absurd, he switched to giving vague, noncommittal replies.

At the Lin family home, Lin Yaru stood in the doorway, staring at the courtyard gate with desperate anticipation, her ears strained for any sound.

Lin Yaru was growing anxious. ’Mom’s been gone for so long. Why isn’t she back yet?’

’I’m faking a stomach ache, and I’m pregnant. I don’t believe Jing Si could be so heartless as to refuse me.’

Lin Yaru’s hand clenched around the doorframe, the anticipation in her eyes giving way to impatience as time passed.

Hearing footsteps, Lin Yaru felt a secret thrill. She quickly turned, clutched her stomach, and curled up on the floor, letting out a pained moan.

The moment Li Axiu entered the courtyard and heard moans coming from the main room, she breathed a sigh of relief. ’At least she’s making noise, that means she’s okay. Silence would have meant real trouble.’

Suppressing the rage boiling inside her, Li Axiu entered the main room. "Yaru."

"Mom, my stomach hurts so much," Lin Yaru asked weakly, her hopeful gaze fixed on the door. "Has Jing... Has my father-in-law come?"

"He’s almost here. Just hold on a little longer." Li Axiu moved to help her daughter up. ’Fake or not, she shouldn’t be lying on the floor.’

’Jing Si is really coming!’ A secret thrill shot through Lin Yaru.

"Mom, don’t touch me! My stomach hurts too much! Wait until my father-in-law gets here, then you two can help me up together." Having waited this long, Lin Yaru had the patience to wait a bit more.

’Once Jing Si comes in, I’ll figure out a way to get Mom to step aside and have him carry me. It would be best if he carried me all the way to the car, and I want him to still be holding me when we get to the hospital.’

Li Axiu was furious, yet helpless. ’Is my daughter so sure that it’s Jing Si who’s coming?’

Li Axiu poured half a mug of water and took a huge gulp, but it did nothing to quench the fire of her anger.

The sound of a car door shutting came from outside. Lin Yaru grew tense, but it was mostly from uncontrollable excitement, her cheeks flushing red.

Qin Mei’s vicious words echoed in her ears. Remembering her reflection in the mirror, Lin Yaru touched her cheek. ’This face is so ugly, even I’m repulsed by it. When Jing Si sees me like this, will he be repulsed too?’

Suddenly, Lin Yaru was afraid to see Jing Si. ’I should have made myself beautiful while I was waiting.’

Sitting on a stool, Li Axiu watched every flicker of emotion on Lin Yaru’s face, her own brow furrowing deeper. ’This daughter of mine... her obsession with Jing Si is a poison that has seeped into her very bones.’

"Mom, why is Yaru lying on the floor?" Jie Jingwei’s rushed voice was tinged with reproach.

Hearing Jie Jingwei’s voice, Lin Yaru froze completely, and the hopeful expression on her face shattered.