Indeed.
Du Yuanhang and the other 22 people were all gathered at Liushui Pavilion at Bai Yujing's behest.
As a mother, Madam Bai was also considered by the eldest son Bai to be a crucial tool for him to integrate various local influential families in Tiandong, thereby strengthening the Bai family's power and elevating them to the ranks of national conglomerates!
Madam Bai could not, or rather, dared not defy her filial son's wishes.
Li Qianfan could forgive her for this.
The problem was—
While Madam Bai dared not resist her filial son's wishes, she could have secretly called Li Qianfan to inform him of the matter.
But she didn't.
Why didn't she?
When confronted with Li Qianfan's questioning, Jiao Yin, who had been slumped in the small pavilion the entire time, simply lowered her head, trembled, and said nothing.
When faced with a thorny and difficult-to-explain problem, remaining silent and trembling was a rather effective way for a woman to cope.
"It seems you quite enjoy having so many men simultaneously."
Li Qianfan stared at Jiao Yin for a long while before saying indifferently, "Since you're unwilling to speak, I won't force you. From now on, you can associate with whomever you please; it has nothing to do with me. That's all."
After speaking, he turned and quickly walked towards the courtyard entrance.
His reaction was quite normal.
After all, he had already received an exorbitant membership fee through Madam Bai.
After this incident, it was unlikely anyone else would join the Qianfan Hat Association.
Beyond that rather attractive, yet soiled, physical shell, what other value did Madam Bai hold for Li Qianfan?
The money was in his pocket.
Discarding her like a worn-out shoe was in line with the habits of a man from the Li family.
As he left, Du Junlin and Du Tianci instinctively moved to follow.
Jiao Yin, however, suddenly looked up and cried out hoarsely, "Wait!"
Li Qianfan stopped and looked back.
Trembling, Jiao Yin slowly stood up, her hands gripping the pillar for support.
As she rose, her eyes remained fixed on Li Qianfan. "I have just two questions for you."
Li Qianfan nodded.
"First."
Jiao Yin asked, "Why do you only like my lips but not my person? Is it because deep down, you know I'm tainted and unworthy of being your true lover? That the only relationship we can have is that of acquaintances. Am I right?"
Faced with Jiao Yin's aggressive questioning—
Li Qianfan found himself at a loss for words.
"Second!"
Jiao Yin slowly descended the steps of the small pavilion and walked directly up to Li Qianfan, tiptoeing.
She raised herself to eye level with him. "As a weak woman controlled by others (first Bai Lingtang, then Bai Yujing), why did I risk accompanying you on your westward campaign to the Blackwater Forest?"
Regarding this question—
Li Qianfan's lips moved, but he still remained silent.
"I just want you to treat me as your lover! To give me the sense of security I desperately need! But you can't give it to me! You think I'm so dirty, unworthy of you!"
Jiao Yin's voice suddenly turned sharp. "If that's the case! Then I will let more and more men take your place in fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations you should have! Let you, Li Qianfan, see that you don't cherish me! But there are plenty of men who want to have me!"
Her voice was piercing.
Her acting was superb—
Li Qianfan instinctively took a step back.
But Jiao Yin grabbed his collar and cried out hoarsely, "Li Qianfan! Either you have me today! Or you kill me today! If you neither want me nor kill me! Then don't blame me for finding men all over the world under the banner of 'Li Qianfan's woman'! I'll cheat on you at least three times a day! And I swear, I will only seek out men who are old, ugly, and poor. If you have the guts, then kill them all, one by one."
Li Qianfan's expression changed drastically.
"Come on, kill me. Kill me now."
Jiao Yin was completely desperate, stretching her elegant swan-like neck. "I'll give you three minutes to consider. Remember, only three minutes."
Li Qianfan—
Du Junlin and Bai Ziyan exchanged a swift glance.
Du Tianci looked as if he had seen a ghost, staring blankly at the couple.
Three minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Qianfan, who could easily snap Jiao Yin's neck, made no move and spoke no word.
"You can go."
Jiao Yin released him, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and said, "Li Qianfan, now when I look at you, my stomach feels so uncomfortable."
After saying that, she turned and walked unsteadily towards the backyard.
This acting—
It wasn't just acting!
Li Qianfan was certain that as soon as he left Liushui Pavilion, Jiao Yin would summon Jiao Meibai to find men all over the world for her.
She would seek out old, ugly, and poor men, and then proclaim to the world: "Free! Free to sleep with Mr. Qianfan's woman!"
If that happened, Li Qianfan would become a laughingstock of the world.
Li Qianfan frowned slightly and looked at Bai Ziyan.
Bai Ziyan, who was trembling—
After biting her lip firmly, she slowly nodded.
The two of them made a decision in the shortest possible time.
They had no choice but to do this.
Jiao Yin's spectacular performance had cornered Li Qianfan into a situation where he could not retreat.
Li Qianfan turned and said to Du Junlin, "Brother, wait for me at Zhizhi Club first."
"Okay."
Du Junlin readily agreed and, as he quickly left, he also glanced at Bai Ziyan.
Bai Ziyan silently followed (it was normal for a weak woman to slip away quietly after such a major family event. In reality, she would secretly go to Zhizhi Club to discuss important matters with Brother Ya).
After Bai Ziyan, driving Du Junlin, sped away, Li Qianfan discarded his cigarette butt.
He said to Du Tianci, "Du Tianci, go home first. On the sixth day of the New Year, come find me at the Su family in Si Jiu."
"Ah? You want me to go home?"
Du Tianci was startled.
He hurriedly said, "Boss, if you send me home now, aren't you afraid my father will flay me alive? Don't forget, it was my betrayal that turned Du Yingjun into a eunuch and cost the Du family four hundred million yuan. Especially my father's reputation, it's utterly ruined."
Li Qianfan frowned. "If you can't even grasp the profound meaning behind me telling you to go home. Then you are not qualified to assist Young Master Tang of Si Jiu in managing my business over in Dongyang."
What?
You want me to go home, and there's a profound meaning behind it?
You want me to cooperate sincerely with Young Master Tang and create a bright future together in Dongyang?
Young Master Tianci was once again stunned on the spot—
Li Qianfan no longer paid attention to him and walked towards the backyard of Liushui Pavilion with his hands behind his back.
"What profound meaning could there be in telling me to go home?"
Du Tianci scratched the back of his head and walked out of Liushui Pavilion helplessly, racking his brains to decipher the profound meaning.
Lost in thought, he bumped his head into the doorframe.
A thunderous slap on the head!
A sudden realization!
"That's right! I'm Li Qianfan's subordinate now."
"But not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can be his subordinate."
"At the very least, the arrogant Bai Yujing and Du Yingjun aren't qualified to be his subordinates."
"Since I'm already Li Qianfan's subordinate, what can Old Du do to me? They say you have to look at the owner before hitting a dog, right?"
"Pfft! Why am I a dog?"
"The most crucial point is that my good relationship with the Young Master of Longxu will undoubtedly bring countless benefits to the Du family."
"If Old Du is smart enough, not only will he not flay me when I return home, but he will also train me as his most capable son and the heir to the family!"
"After all, Du Yingjun and I are his legitimate sons."
"Du Yingjun has already become a cripple and has completely lost his eligibility as an heir."
"As for the other three illegitimate sons, heh, do they have the right to compete with me for the position of heir?"
"I—"
"Young Master Tianci is the only hope for the Tiandong Du family to remain dominant in Tiandong for the next few decades!"
"Ha, haha."
Finally understanding all this, Young Master Tianci threw his head back and laughed heartily a few times, then walked briskly towards his car.
The backyard of Liushui Pavilion.
Li Qianfan entered the living room and habitually looked up at the painting on the east wall.
The painting depicted Jiao Meiren's alluring figure reclining.
Below the painting was a three-seater sofa.
Jiao Yin, dressed in a black cheongsam, was also reclining, silently weeping.
Li Qianfan sat beside her and placed his left hand on her curvy, gourd-shaped figure.
Jiao Yin raised her hand and pushed it away.
The sulky demeanor of a little woman wronged was undeniably real.
Li Qianfan didn't mind and placed his left hand on her again.
Jiao Yin raised her hand and pushed it away again—
After doing this three times, she finally relented.
She allowed that damned left hand to playfully roam along her curves.
She also cooperated, slowly becoming alluring.
"Actually, there's a question I've always wanted to ask you."
Li Qianfan looked at the woman with a blushing face, smiling gently. "And I'll bet my head on it. When I ask this question, you will be incredibly shocked."
Jiao Yin couldn't help but ask, "What question?"
"When you sleep at night—"
Li Qianfan looked into Jiao Yin's eyes and asked slowly, "Do you curl up on your side like a normal woman? Or do you sleep in a squatting position like a frog?"