The liveliness was due to the arrival of Old Master Jing. Accompanying him were Jing Ning, Jing Yan, and Ye Qian, and Gu Yan.

However, I couldn’t see Auntie Lan or Auntie Bai Rui. I was understandably puzzled.

Ye Qian was the first to see us. She stood up with a smile. “Nanxing, you’re here! Jing Ni? When did you come back? Mai Qi…”

Even for this master manipulator, I was sure she felt a great deal of pressure. I laughed internally. If I had brought Lu Yan along, I might get to see Ye Qian’s face crack.

The liveliness in the house came to an abrupt end with our arrival.

Mai Qi said plainly, “Jing Ni has been back for some time already. I just came back yesterday. I was not expecting to run into you here.”

Ye Qian was a little embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.

Gu Yan was not as annoying as usual because Old Master Jing was there.

Jing Yan immediately looked to the side when she saw Jing Ni. Jing Ni’s hand trembled. I held her hand and came to greet Old Master Jing.

Old Master Jing didn’t have a kind response for me, but I didn’t mind it.

After Jing Ni greeted her grandfather, she didn’t say anything else. She didn’t look at Jing Ning or Jing Yan either.

People must have been feeding lies into Old Master Jing’s head because he was very cold towards Jing Ni. Perhaps only Auntie Lan could deal with this old man. I didn’t intend to challenge him head-on because I knew it would be a waste of time.

Jing Yan couldn’t help but sneer. “Things have really changed. The Jing family is ultimately too small for these two birds who want to fly.”

She must be talking about Jing Ni and me.

I asked Mai Qi with a smile, “Mai Qi, do you know why M City’s mental hospital is famous all over the country?”

Mai Qi raised her eyebrows. “I heard it’s because the best psychiatrists in the country are all in M City?”

I nodded. “Yes, but unfortunately, some people can’t even be cured by the best psychiatrists. A trip to the mental hospital did nothing to help their conditions.”

Jing Yan charged at me. “What are you insinuating?!”

I faced her. “Miss Jing Yan, I wasn’t talking about you. Why do you have to be so sensitive?”

“You!” Jing Yan’s expression changed.

Gu Yan quickly walked over and grabbed Jing Yan’s hand. “Jing Yan, calm down. You’re the eldest daughter of the Jing family. Don’t be led around by gangsters. Some people don’t know anything but to go around stirring up trouble!” She glared at me.

“It’s better than being shameless. My 7th uncle doesn’t like you, but you have to stick yourself to him,” Jing Ni uttered coldly.

Everyone was so silent. We could hear a pin drop. Mai Qi and I didn’t expect Jing Ni to say anything.

Gu Yan immediately exploded. “Who, who are you calling shameless?”

Jing Ni looked at her and smiled as an answer.

Ye Qian quickly stood between Gu Yan and Jing Ni. She forced a smile. “What’s wrong with everyone? How about we split up for everyone to calm down?”

Ye Qian shot me a look.

Jing Ni said, “Sister Ye Qian, are you sending us away to appease Miss Gu Yan? But I’m afraid Miss Gu and Miss Jing wouldn’t appreciate your good intentions. If anything, they might suspect you of being secretly in cahoots with us.”

Ye Qian’s expression changed as she anxiously looked at me.

I felt helpless. Jing Ni had accidentally touched upon the truth. Ye Qian naturally didn’t want people to know she and I were in private contact.

So when Jing Ni said this, Ye Qian was shocked. She must have assumed I told Jing Ni about our private meeting.

I shrugged at her to express my innocence.