"Didn’t you say you didn’t have it? That you couldn’t come up with that much?" Granny said sarcastically. She couldn’t do anything about Jing Si, but surely she could handle Xu Chunyan?

Jing Si was Qiao Yanqiu’s biological son, but Jing Er wasn’t. Granny couldn’t control Jing Si, but she could easily manipulate Xu Chunyan.

Xu Chunyan had to suffer in silence. She regretted asking Grandpa and Granny for help—she had really shot herself in the foot.

Xu Chunyan took a key from her crossbody cloth bag and unlocked a cabinet. She pulled out a metal biscuit tin, but when she opened it, it wasn’t full of biscuits. It was full of money, from the smallest one-fen coins to the largest ten-yuan notes.

Xu Chunyan’s heart bled as she counted out twenty-eight ten-yuan notes and four five-yuan notes. "Granny, here you go."

Granny reached for the money, but Xu Chunyan couldn’t bring herself to let go. ’This isn’t a loan,’ she thought. ’Granny is just taking it.’ She was certain that once she handed over the cash, Granny would never give it back.

"Second Daughter-in-law Jing," Granny’s expression darkened as she called out threateningly.

Xu Chunyan’s face was grim, her heart aching, but she had no choice but to release her grip. She watched Granny lick a finger and count the cash right in front of her. Only when she confirmed the amount was correct did a satisfied smile spread across her face. "If you’d been this cooperative from the start, we wouldn’t have had such an ugly scene."

Xu Chunyan ground her teeth. "Granny, that’s all I have."

Granny glanced into the tin. The largest bills left were five-yuan notes. ’She must have a passbook somewhere,’ Granny thought, unconvinced. Still, with the money in her grasp, she was satisfied. "Get some sleep. You have work tomorrow."

As if she could sleep tonight. Xu Chunyan saw Granny to the door, then returned to her room, fuming and cursing the old woman under her breath.

「The next day」

Qin Mei woke up but didn’t want to move. She lay in bed, her entire body aching as if she’d been dismantled and put back together again.

"Meimei."

Hearing Jie Jingchen’s voice, Qin Mei’s first thought was that she was imagining it. She didn’t need to check her watch to guess the time; Jie Jingchen should have already left for work by now.

When she didn’t respond, Jie Jingchen called out again. "Meimei."

Jie Jingchen had worn her out last night. ’I’m hearing things, it must be an auditory hallucination,’ Qin Mei tried to convince herself. Then, a familiar, large hand rested on her cheek. Qin Mei went rigid and snapped her eyes open, staring at Jie Jingchen in disbelief. "You... Why are you still here?"

"It’s your younger brother’s first time visiting, so Dad gave me a few days off to show you two around Shijiu City." Jie Jingchen finished speaking and gently pinched Qin Mei’s cheek. "Meimei, time to get up and get ready," he said softly. "Your brother and Jing Qi are waiting for you in the yard."

"I can’t get up," Qin Mei said, glaring at him reproachfully. She had begged for mercy last night, but he still hadn’t let her off the hook. ’He’s such a bully.’

Jie Jingchen’s heart ached for her, so he didn’t force the issue. "You must be hungry. I made some congee. I’ll bring it in for you."

"Jie Jingsi," Qin Mei called out, stopping him. Her brother and Jing Qi were right outside in the yard. What would it look like if he served her breakfast in bed? "Can you step out for a minute? I need to get up and get ready."

Jie Jingchen sat on the edge of the bed, his heated gaze fixed on Qin Mei.

"Don’t look at me like that." Qin Mei’s cheeks were flushed, like ripe red apples, and she dodged his burning gaze.

Jie Jingchen’s amber eyes were filled with a predatory light as he stared intently at her. "Meimei, I want to..."

"Stop. Just stop right there," Qin Mei cut him off. The corners of her eyes were tinged with red, and her gaze held an alluring charm.

"Let me help you." A slight smile played on Jie Jingchen’s thin lips, and the depths of his dark eyes were brimming with tenderness. He ran the warm pad of his thumb suggestively along her jawline.

"I don’t need your help." Qin Mei hugged the blankets tightly, terrified he would pull them away. After all, she was completely naked underneath.

Jie Jingchen’s gaze, shimmering with affection, was fixed on her. She looked both delicate and bewitching, a sight that could stir anyone’s soul.

Taking a breath to suppress the desires stirring within him, Jie Jingchen said slowly, "Meimei, if you don’t want my help, are you sure you can manage by yourself?"

"I can manage," Qin Mei nodded emphatically. ’I have to manage, whether I can or not. If he helps me and loses control... turning into a ravenous wolf... I’ll be the one to suffer.’

"Alright, then." A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes. He stood up reluctantly, glancing back at her every few steps. "Meimei."

"You’re being a pest. Go on, get out," Qin Mei said, sitting up while still clutching the blankets. She waved a fair, slender hand, shooing him away as if he were a fly.

Jie Jingchen looked at her sitting up in bed, and a strange smile appeared on his devilishly handsome face. It was the kind of smile that made one’s skin crawl, and Qin Mei felt a distinct chill run down her spine.

Qin Mei quickly retracted her arm under the blankets, leaving only her head poking out. She watched him leave, then waited a moment longer just to be sure he wasn’t coming back. Once certain, she finally got out of bed and headed for the bathroom.