Chapter 778 - 268: Jie Jingsi, Will You Regret It?

Xiao Duo was so affectionate with Qin Mei that Jie Jingchen felt left out, even a little jealous.

’Watching the heartwarming scene between Qin Mei and Xiao Duo,’ he thought, ’Qin Mei must really like children. They’ve been married for over a year now, and she’ll be twenty next year. Maybe it’s time to think about having a child.’

Jie Jinghun came over with Shen Qing to wish Granny a happy birthday. When he took out the red envelope, he hesitated for a moment before handing it to her.

Granny accepted it, thinking, ’This can’t be another IOU, can it?’

Jing San and his wife might not give her two hundred, but they would at least give her one hundred. She squeezed the envelope and felt that something was off. When she opened it, she went completely numb.

The familiar IOUs. Two of them, for two hundred.

Granny didn’t get angry. She silently put them away. ’I was already forced to accept seven hundred, am I really going to make a fuss over another two hundred?’

Her eldest son’s family hadn’t come to celebrate her birthday; they’d come to cause her grief.

It was as if they thought she’d lived too long and wanted to anger her to death.

The main hall was getting too crowded, so Qin Mei carried Xiao Duo out to the courtyard to play. Jie Jingchen followed behind them. Shen Qing headed for the kitchen, while Jie Jinghun and Jie Huating also went out to the courtyard.

After a moment’s thought, Mrs. Xie went to the kitchen as well.

Zhao Hong, using her pregnancy as an excuse, sat still and demanded one snack after another, with Jie Anlin waiting on her hand and foot.

Lin Yaru wanted to follow Jie Jingchen, but Jie Jingwei stopped her. "Take it easy. Don’t forget where you are, and don’t forget who you are."

Li Axiu was also secretly worried, afraid her daughter would do something reckless without thinking.

Lin Yaru stopped, but not because Jie Jingwei had succeeded in stopping her. It was because of her own insecurity. Especially when compared to Qin Mei, she felt utterly inadequate. Qin Mei was a vibrant, beautiful flower, while she was just a withered petal.

With Qin Mei right there, approaching Jing Si would be pure self-humiliation.

The way Jing Si looked at Qin Mei, his eyes filled with love—that was the very thing she had always dreamed of.

In contrast to the strange atmosphere in the main hall, the courtyard was warm and harmonious.

Xiao Duo, wearing a pretty little dress, danced for Qin Mei. She was surprisingly good.

"You’re amazing, sweetie," Qin Mei praised as she clapped.

Jie Jinghun watched his daughter with a loving expression, while Jie Jingchen gazed affectionately at his wife. Jie Huating felt like a third wheel. Xiao Duo was his third brother’s daughter, and Qin Mei was his fourth brother’s wife. He had no one.

’So envious and jealous.’

Jie Huating nudged Jie Jingchen’s arm with his elbow. "Fourth Brother, when are you and Fourth Sister-in-law going to have one of your own?"

"Your fourth brother has a... problem. He can’t have kids, so all he can do is covet my daughter," Jie Jinghun jibed, showing no mercy. ’My fourth brother has a problem and can’t have kids? Seriously, why do I find that so hard to believe?’

"Huh? Who said that?" Jie Huating asked, shocked. His eyes involuntarily drifted down to Jie Jingchen’s crotch.

"What are you looking at? You don’t want your eyes anymore?" Jie Jingchen snapped, his face dark and menacing.

Jie Huating immediately looked away and jumped back a step to hide behind Jie Jinghun, awkwardly rubbing his nose.

’Fourth Brother’s reaction is so strong. There must be some truth to it.’

"All the neighbors are gossiping about it. The rumors are flying everywhere. How could you not know?" Jie Jinghun said, taking a step back and exposing Jie Huating to Jie Jingchen’s glare.

"Heh, I really had no idea." Jie Huating had been so busy lately, he hadn’t had any time to drop by their neighborhood.

Jie Jinghun was about to stir up more trouble, but Jie Jingchen beat him to it.

"You and Third Sister-in-law are about to get a divorce, and Xiao Duo is going to be raised by the Shen Family. Are you so sure they’ll give her back to you after it’s final?" Two could play at the game of hitting where it hurts.

"Who says we’re getting a divorce?" Jie Jinghun’s expression changed.

"Wen Xingnan," Jie Jingchen said, his words slow and distinct.

The mention of Wen Xingnan left Jie Jinghun completely stumped. He didn’t even have the energy to retort.

Jie Jinghun ran a hand through his hair in frustration and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Before he could even take one out, a small figure shot toward him, snatched the pack from his hand, threw it violently to the ground, and stomped on it.

Jie Jingchen was at a loss for words.

Jie Huating was equally stunned.

Qin Mei stared, completely baffled. The little one had been performing so nicely, then suddenly shot off like a little steam engine. Watching her smooth, fluid movements, Qin Mei was even more impressed by the child’s ability to see and hear everything around her.

"Daddy, you promised me you wouldn’t smoke!" the little girl said, her face full of anger as she glared at Jie Jinghun with an adorably fierce expression.

Jie Jinghun, who doted on his daughter, crouched down and held her little shoulders, immediately trying to shift the blame. "Xiao Duo, you misunderstood. It wasn’t Daddy who wanted to smoke. It was your Fourth... er, Second Uncle who wanted to."