My Dragon Baby and Billionaire Husband

Chapter 283: You Can Walk Sideways on My Turf 2

Ji Qishu’s face was grim as he handed his car keys to Si Mingjing.

"You drive my car home first. Leave this car here for now; I’ll have someone take care of it."

For the time being, that was all they could do. She couldn’t drive this car on the streets, or she’d be misunderstood.

"Thank you, Uncle Ji, for the trouble."

Ji Qishu and Ye Junqing were of the same generation and good brothers. "What are you talking about, making it sound like you are an outsider?" he said. "Junqing called personally to say you were coming to handle the paperwork and asked me to take care of you. If Junqing knew I ’took care’ of you like this, he would flay me alive!"

Si Mingjing drove away in Ji Qishu’s black sedan, wondering if it would be too low for Bai Jiusi to play such a disgusting trick? Perhaps the woman in black had other plans.

Si Mingjing became vigilant, not delaying for a moment on the road, and drove straight back to the palace.

Fortunately, the journey was safe and uneventful.

No sooner had she arrived home than the butler informed her that Ye Junqing had asked her to go see him in the South Garden.

On the way there, Si Mingjing speculated about why Uncle Ye wanted to see her. It must be about the car being spray-painted. Perhaps Uncle Ji had reported the incident to Uncle Ye, who then called her over to question her and learn more details.

Si Mingjing went straight to the study in the South Garden of the palace, where Ye Junqing was dealing with affairs.

"Uncle," Si Mingjing greeted respectfully.

"Sit down."

Ye Junqing’s expression was stern, but his face bore a gentle affection for her as he personally steeped a cup of tea to help calm her nerves.

"I’ve heard what happened at the municipal building from Ji Qishu, and you handled it well," he said. "If someone in Yecheng dares to bully you by abusing their power, do not hesitate to hit back without any reservations."

Si Mingjing held the teacup with both hands, feeling warm inside.

"Uncle, it’s already kind of you not to scold me; why are you even encouraging me to bully others with my position?"

"If my future daughter-in-law can’t walk proudly in my territory, do I still deserve to be your father?" Ye Junqing said with the tone of an overbearing CEO father, his voice filled with affection. "You won’t call me ’Dad’ and only ’Uncle,’ but in Dad’s eyes, you’re the same as Si Yuan. Do you understand what I mean?"

A gleam of emotion flickered in the depths of Si Mingjing’s eyes.

She had never had a father, nor did she know who her biological father was, but Ye Junqing had cherished her like his own daughter from the start, giving her the warmth of being a daughter-in-law, without a hint of insincerity; she could feel it.

"Uncle, I understand," she said. "In Yecheng, I won’t cause trouble for you lightly, but if trouble comes my way, I won’t let anyone bully me. Actually, today wasn’t a big deal. Those young people misunderstood, and I just didn’t want them to circulate photos or videos and cause a bigger misunderstanding."

Ye Junqing nodded, liking her temperament; his family’s daughter-in-law didn’t need to be a pushover.

"Do you have any suspects in mind for the spray paint incident?"

Si Mingjing shook her head.

She had suspicions, but without evidence, she would not make accusations; she was always cautious.

Si Mingjing simply said, "Uncle, which car I drove today and where I went were all spur-of-the-moment decisions, without any prior planning. Besides, that car isn’t mine; I just randomly picked one in the parking lot..."

What did that statement imply? Ye Junqing understood instantly: Someone at home had seen which car she took and relayed the information to the suspect. By checking the surveillance footage of the parking lot at home, they would know who was aware of which car she drove out today. That would be easy to investigate.

Ye Junqing’s face darkened as he said, "Wait here. Dad will tell you the names of everyone who knew you went out today."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Si Mingjing sat in Ye Junqing’s study, drinking tea.

Ye Junqing took out a property deed from the drawer and handed it to her.

Ye Junqing had mentioned before that he wanted to give her a building, and now the property deed was ready.

Ye Junqing always kept his word: an entire building, twenty stories high, all hers.

Si Mingjing, overwhelmed by the favor, dared not accept it.

"Uncle, this is too valuable!"

"This is your consultation fee for treating Yinhe’s illness. My son’s life is worth more than a building. You should accept it without hesitation. Why be so formal?"

If Si Mingjing had not heard Su Cheng say that the land on the island was even more expensive than inside the first ring of the Imperial Capital of A Country—absolutely every inch worth its weight in gold—she wouldn’t have felt such immense pressure.

"Uncle, during the New Year, Mo Yinhe gave me a large red envelope, and you gave me one too. I’ve already received more than enough. To take any more would be overwhelming."

Ye Junqing deliberately sterned his face. "Just take it. Sooner or later it will turn into a dowry to bring back to the Ye Family. In and out, my family loses nothing. Consider it temporarily in your safekeeping. If you’re still unwilling to accept, then I’ll be annoyed! I’ve been looking forward to the day you call me ’Dad’!"

Si Mingjing’s cheeks blushed slightly. Unable to refuse such graciousness, she accepted the property deed, expressing her thanks profusely.

Before long, the butler walked into the study with a girl who was crying and wailing, saying, "Master, we’ve found her. It’s this girl."

Si Mingjing narrowed her eyes slightly. A cold glint flashed in them, and her stare pierced the tearful young girl.

The girl appeared to be about her age, wearing the uniform of a domestic servant, evidently one of the household staff.

Si Mingjing asked curiously, "Who is she?"

The butler said, "Her name is Bing Xiu. She’s usually responsible for tending the garden. She sent the license plate number of the car you used to go out today... to someone else."

The butler hesitated, not finishing his sentence.

Si Mingjing knew what the butler was wary of, but she had to clear this up. "That ’someone else,’ is it a person with the surname Bai?"

This girl named Bing Xiu had lived in a family where sons were valued over daughters.

Her parents were unkind to her, and when she was sixteen, they wanted to sell her to a forty-something bachelor for a higher bride price to provide for her brother’s future betrothal gifts.

Bing Xiu refused and fled to the Imperial Capital of A Country to work, but her relatives caught her and brought her back.

It was Bai Jiusi who saved her, bringing her to Yecheng.

So when Bai Jiusi called Bing Xiu yesterday, asking her to tell Bai Jiusi about Si Mingjing’s whereabouts, Bing Xiu agreed without hesitation.

Now, she was caught red-handed.

The butler said if she dared to conceal anything, she would be dismissed and sent back to her vampire parents.

Bing Xiu was terrified, sobbing inconsolably.

Fearing she would be thrown out, she had been earnestly apologizing and begging for forgiveness since she came in.

Ye Junqing did not intervene, leaving the matter to his daughter-in-law.

Si Mingjing then asked her, "Since you know you’re wrong, I need to ask you, did Miss Bai ask you to do anything else besides spying on me?"

Bing Xiu said, "She said she missed Liangliang, but the Crown Prince wouldn’t let her see Liangliang. She hoped I could steal Liangliang’s phone for her. But I’m just a maid who takes care of bonsai in the garden; the hierarchy is strict at home, and I simply couldn’t get close to Liangliang. She then asked me to report your daily outings to her, and that was all."

Si Mingjing’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. What did she want with Liangliang’s phone?