Volume One, Chapter 14: Cheng Qian Was Doused with Water by Her Younger Brother-in-Law

She was gradually taking Cheng Qian’s place in the Li family. Now, she had the old matriarch’s approval; in fact, she had even become friends with Xia Mengjiao.

The only obstacle in her path was Jiang Meng.

Cheng Yan was not in a hurry. Years ago, her eldest uncle’s lawsuit had left her parents in such disgrace.

That hatred was deeply rooted in Cheng Yan’s heart.

Cheng Qian no longer had the protection of powerful parents.

From this moment on, Cheng Yan intended to take away everything and everyone Cheng Qian cared about, bit by bit.

Cheng Qian looked at her angrily, hesitating to speak.

She actually wanted to persuade Cheng Yan to halt the drug’s release to prevent further harm to patients.

Seeing the anger on Cheng Qian’s face, Cheng Yan simply smiled: “Cousin, if you don’t welcome me… then I’ll leave first.”

Cheng Qian sneered coldly: “Do you think you’ll leave just because I tell you to?”

Cheng Yan was stunned for a moment, then said reasonably, “Cousin, I won’t disturb you then.”

With that, Cheng Yan’s expression darkened as she turned to leave.

“Cheng Qian…” A low male voice came from behind: “Mind yourself.”

As Cheng Yan was about to turn, Li Zhennan reached out and grabbed her wrist. “Dinner is about to start. Stay, please.”

A trace of discomfort crossed Cheng Yan’s face. She said helplessly, “Zhennan, you didn’t say today is the Li family’s banquet. What am I as an outsider doing here?”

As she spoke, she glanced at the angry Cheng Qian: “I don’t want to cause more misunderstandings. You and cousin talk it out; I’ll leave first.”

After saying this, Cheng Yan truly left.

Li Zhennan’s face darkened unpleasantly. He turned his gaze to Cheng Qian. “Are you satisfied now?”

Cheng Qian was at a loss for words, feeling bitter.

She had intended to talk about something else entirely, but it ended up causing misunderstanding.

Forget it. If Li Zhennan thinks she is a jealous woman, she doesn’t need to explain.

Cheng Yan’s departure changed the entire atmosphere of the family gathering.

The old matriarch slammed down her chopsticks heavily, turning her face away disdainfully. “Cheng Qian, instead of wasting time being jealous, you should learn how to be a good wife.”

Once the matriarch spoke, everyone dared not breathe loudly.

Cheng Qian said, “I didn’t ask her to leave; she left on her own.”

“Hmph, if you hadn’t spoken so harshly, how could she have left?” the old matriarch sneered.

At that moment, Li Zhiyi suddenly slammed his bowl onto the floor, pointing at Cheng Qian and yelling, “You wicked woman! You don’t deserve to be my sister-in-law. Why did you drive Sister Cheng away? The one who should leave is you!”

At seventeen, the rebellious age, Li Zhiyi’s chronic illness made his temperament volatile.

He had been confined to hospital treatments since he was eight. Cheng Yan was one of the few women who showed him kindness. At the cusp of first love, Li Zhiyi developed inexplicable feelings for Cheng Yan.

He had waited a long time for this day—to have dinner with Cheng Yan.

Yet the elder sister he adored had been driven away by Cheng Qian.

Startled, Cheng Qian immediately hugged little Ye tightly. The child clung to her clothes in fright, hiding in her arms.

“Get out of here. I don’t want to see you again!” Li Zhiyi grabbed a cup of tea from the table and splashed it at Cheng Qian. “You’re not worthy of my brother. I will never acknowledge you as my sister-in-law.”

Water droplets covered Cheng Qian’s face and hair; little Ye’s hair was soaked too.

“Enough, Xiao Wei,” Li Zhennan scolded sternly. “Apologize to your sister-in-law.”

“I won’t!” Li Zhiyi screamed. “Sister Cheng is the only hope I have to live. She cares for me, feels sorry for me. To me, she’s the only one worthy of my brother.”

Jiang Meng immediately spoke seriously, “Xiao Wei, don’t talk nonsense.”

Li Zhiyi’s chest heaved with anger, his face pale.

Li Zhennan took some tissues and handed them to Cheng Qian, then carried little Ye away.

Cheng Qian didn’t take the tissues. She picked up her bag and stood. “Sorry for ruining the atmosphere today. I’ll leave first.”

Turning around, she prepared to take little Ye with her.

Li Zhennan said, “You’re upset now. Little Ye will stay with me.”

Cheng Qian didn’t argue and turned to leave.

Sitting inside the car, her bottled-up emotions burst forth like a dam breaking.

Cheng Qian covered her face with her hands, feeling heavy-hearted and distressed.

Li Zhiyi’s few words had jolted her awake.

She was not worthy of Li Zhennan.

Everyone thought so.

The root cause of today’s farce was simply that Li Zhennan did not love her.

Cheng Yan’s tactics had become more refined; she had merely shown up and pushed Cheng Qian into an abyss.

Cheng Qian didn’t go home; she went to the Seed Research Institute.

The laboratory was still receiving equipment, not yet fully assembled or operational. Ji Nan was gathering the team.

This laboratory was funded by several major foreign pharmaceutical companies aiming to develop new drugs tailored to the domestic population’s constitution.

The experimental equipment was all top-tier internationally.

“Uncle Ji, I have something important to discuss with you,” Cheng Qian said quickly upon seeing Ji Nan.

Ji Nan nodded. “Let’s talk in the office.”

Cheng Qian handed over the drug and its documentation, which she had taken from the private hospital. “This is the drug Cheng Corporation is about to launch. It’s been in development for three years.”

Ji Nan read the instructions, frowning. “I believe your father worked on this too, but for some reason, the project was shut down.”

Cheng Qian nodded. “I saw in my father’s diary that the side effects outweighed the benefits. It was harmful as well as helpful to patients.”

Ji Nan nodded thoughtfully. “I see. So Cheng Corporation must have overcome that obstacle to launch it?”

Cheng Qian shook her head. “Impossible.”

Ji Nan’s expression grew serious. “If they hadn’t solved that problem, how could they launch it?”

Cheng Qian replied calmly, “Money can move mountains. If they want to, they can do it. They are just preparing to launch.”

Ji Nan slammed his fist on the table in frustration. “The Cheng family father and daughter can’t escape the nature of businessmen.”

“Uncle Ji, this is a good opportunity for me,” Cheng Qian said. She had not forgotten that her father was driven to the hospital by stress.

Ji Nan pondered briefly. “You don’t want Cheng Corporation to launch this drug?”

Cheng Qian nodded. “There are suspicious circumstances surrounding my father’s accident. I want to uncover the truth and give them an explanation.”

Ji Nan looked at her sympathetically. “Xiao Qian, you’re a sensible child. The accident was officially deemed accidental, but you have doubts?”

Cheng Qian nodded. “My parents were always cautious. I don’t believe they would leave me alone in this world.”

Ji Nan agreed. “Alright. Uncle Ji will help you. I won’t allow businessmen to prioritize profit over morality and commit deeds against medical ethics.”

Cheng Qian breathed a quiet sigh of relief. With Uncle Ji’s support, she felt more confident.

Suddenly, Ji Nan asked, “Are you free tonight?”

Curious, Cheng Qian replied, “Does Uncle Ji have something?”

Ji Nan took out an invitation card. “You’ll attend a banquet on my behalf. Yi Chen will be there, along with some investors. You should greet them.”

Cheng Qian took it with both hands. “Okay, I’ll be there.”

Ji Nan hesitated, then asked, “By the way, what does your husband do? You’ve never mentioned him.”

Cheng Qian’s face paled. She really didn’t want to speak of the unfaithful man.

“Uncle Ji, I’ll introduce him to you another day,” she said, not wanting to trouble him.

“Alright. How about this—I’ll host a dinner, and you can bring your husband. Uncle Ji wants to know what kind of man our excellent Qian has married,” Ji Nan said with a smile.

Cheng Qian gave a bitter smile and nodded.

…

At seven in the evening, Cheng Qian arrived punctually at the banquet hall, holding her admission card.

It was held at a seven-star hotel by the sea in the city.

Luxury cars gathered; the banquet was a formal occasion. Cheng Qian had changed into a light blue evening gown.

She took off her coat and handed it to a waiter, lifting her skirt slightly as she walked toward the elevator.

“Little Qian…” A warm, elegant male voice called to her.

Cheng Qian turned to see a tall, upright figure emerging from behind white Roman columns.

It was Ji Yichen, dressed in a dark gray formal suit.

The man had captivating peach blossom eyes, handsome and dignified, exuding the noble aura of someone in power—a mysterious hunter drawing the gazes of surrounding women.

Being addressed this way by him, Cheng Qian’s fair face flushed slightly.

“Brother Yichen, were you waiting here especially for me?”

“Sort of. My father insisted I take good care of you,” Ji Yichen said, not daring to ignore the old man’s repeated admonitions.

Tonight, his sole focus was on this charming woman before him.

Ji Yichen then appraised Cheng Qian’s attire. She usually dressed plainly and casually but had a beautiful, tall figure.

Tonight’s gown was understated yet perfectly highlighted her elegant temperament with a touch of nobility.

Her long hair was styled in a princess wave, revealing her smooth, high forehead. Her delicate, oval face bore features full of feminine charm.

Ji Yichen’s expression shifted subtly, smiling: “Let’s go upstairs.”

“Okay!” Cheng Qian nodded.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, they were opened again.

A striking figure in rose red caught attention.

Cheng Qian looked closely and recognized the alluring face—it was Cheng Yan.

Standing beside Cheng Yan was none other than Li Zhennan.

There were few people in the elevator, so Li Zhennan and Cheng Yan naturally saw Ji Yichen and Cheng Qian as well.

“Cousin… President Ji?” Cheng Yan showed a look of disbelief. “You two…”

She hesitated, which only deepened the suspicion.

Cheng Yan glanced at Li Zhennan.

His face visibly darkened.

“Zhennan, what a coincidence. I was sent by my father to bring Cheng Qian here to meet some investors,” Ji Yichen quickly explained to avoid misunderstanding.

Cheng Qian pursed her red lips, silent.

Li Zhennan nodded. “I see.”

Cheng Yan was puzzled. Cheng Qian was so valued by Doctor Ji; she really was lucky.

Her excellent parents had died, yet now she had the support of a capable Uncle Ji.

Cheng Yan sneered inwardly. Even with so many powerful people helping her, a hopeless fool was still a hopeless fool.

The elevator reached the third floor. Cheng Yan stepped out first. Ji Yichen followed, and Cheng Qian trailed behind.

But in the next moment, Li Zhennan grabbed Cheng Qian’s arm, saying to the two who had just left, “I have something to say to her. You go ahead.”