Chapter 863: Chapter 863: Tea Aroma Su Qingqing 2.0 Version Chapter 863: Chapter 863: Tea Aroma Su Qingqing 2.0 Version Qiao Yun was quite indifferent, her expression calm as she said, “If they want to cause trouble, I’m not afraid.”

Pei Ya thought about it for a moment and agreed, thinking on their own turf, what was there to fear?

Since the AI system was now targeted, going public seemed the best method. Otherwise, following one Huo Chi, it’s tough to guarantee that there wouldn’t be a second Huo Chi.

…
Meanwhile.

After a few days of calming herself, Jiang Jing’s emotions had finally stabilized quite a bit. She had thought it through– if she collapsed now, wouldn’t that be exactly what Qiao Yun wanted?

So, she had to be strong, and she absolutely couldn’t let Qiao Yun have something to laugh at. She was still young; if she couldn’t win over Qiao Yun now, maybe she could in the future.

Even though she thought this way, her mood was still somewhat low. Just then, a friend asked her out, and she agreed without thinking.

Jiang Shaocheng saw Jiang Jing willing to come out of her room, and seeming like she wanted to go out, he asked in surprise, “Jingjing, are you going out?”

Jiang Jing nodded, “Yes, Xu Lu asked me out.”

Xu Lu was her cousin, and the two were only a few months apart and usually close.

Jiang Shaocheng examined Jiang Jing and, seeing her face looking normal, couldn’t help but nod. She was indeed his daughter. He had thought she wouldn’t make it through, but she had returned to normal in just a few days.

It seemed Jingjing’s mental resilience was even stronger than he had imagined.

Jiang Shaocheng smiled, “Have a good time and don’t overthink. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Jiang Jing pursed her lips, and her expression was enigmatically, “Okay.”

Actually, she wasn’t as strong as she imagined. Just the thought of suffering here while Qiao Yun might be happy upset her deeply.

Seeing Jiang Jing getting ready to leave, Xu Qiao struggled internally for a moment, then opened her mouth and called out to Jiang Jing, “Jingjing, why don’t you rest for a few more days?”

Jiang Jing noticed something odd about her mother’s tone, but without overthinking, she shook her head, “No need, I’m feeling good now. Besides, I’ve already promised Xu Lu, it wouldn’t be right to go back on my word.”

“Is, is that so…” Xu Qiao chuckled nervously.

Jiang Jing acknowledged with a hum, “I’m heading out.”

Xu Qiao watched Jiang Jing’s departing figure, her eyes filled with worry.

Jiang Shaocheng sighed, “If Jiang Yuan could be even a fraction as excellent as Jingjing, I wouldn’t have to worry so much.”

Xu Qiao was not pleased, “Yuan’er just likes to play a bit, but hasn’t he been very well-behaved recently?”

“He’s well-behaved because his hand hasn’t recovered,” Jiang Shaocheng waived his hand, not wanting to discuss further but instead said, “I think we don’t need to send Jingjing abroad; staying in the country with Qiao Yun around might toughen up her mind.”

Xu Qiao guiltily said, “Going abroad is also good, wasn’t it you who said that technology abroad is more advanced than at home?”

Jiang Shaocheng was puzzled, “What’s going on with you? You were the one who opposed Jingjing going abroad, and now you’re the one wanting her to stay.”

Xu Qiao’s eyes dodged, “I’ve just thought it through.”

Jiang Shaocheng narrowed his eyes suspiciously, “Have you done something again and are afraid to let me know?”

“I haven’t,” Xu Qiao quickly denied, her heart aching.

The last time she tried to smear Qiao Yun and failed, she feared that the words Su Mian had said might spread, and she worried about Jiang Jing hearing them.

Xu Qiao hoped against hope that it wasn’t so.

…
Lanting Pavilion.

Jiang Jing pushed open the private room door and found that it was fairly crowded, with both men and women from their social circle.

Her eyelid twitched, and for some unknown reason, she felt oddly anxious and hesitated to go in.

However, Xu Lu saw her, smiled like a blossoming flower, and hurriedly stepped forward to pull Jiang Jing inside, “Cousin, why didn’t you come in when you arrived?”

Jiang Jing said impatiently, “Didn’t you say there were only a few people? Why are there so many?”

Xu Lu replied awkwardly, “It was supposed to be just a few people, but when they heard you were coming, they all wanted to join. I couldn’t really refuse them.”

Jiang Jing furrowed her brows and, seeing Xu Lu’s apologetic face, ultimately held back from saying anything. Her eyes scanned the room, but then she spotted someone in a corner.

It was Su Qingqing.

She almost left on the spot out of anger.

“Why is Su Qingqing here too?”

Xu Lu said, “The circle is small, one leads to another, and here we are.”

Jiang Jing didn’t want to see anyone related to Qiao Yun at the moment, but since she was already there and the others were greeting her warmly, she couldn’t just turn around and leave. She would have to endure it.

She glanced at Su Qingqing again.

Su Qingqing was also looking at Jiang Jing, first raising her eyebrows and then displaying a mockingly smug smile before she stood up.

Jiang Jing felt like she was facing a formidable enemy as she watched Su Qingqing draw nearer, her spine tensing.

“Jingjing, you’ve finally decided to come out,” Su Qingqing’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, and she radiated the aura of a gentlewoman.

Jiang Jing’s smile stiffened at the corner of her mouth, sensing that Su Qingqing meant no good.

Surprisingly encountering Jiang Jing, Su Qingqing coldly chuckled inwardly after learning what Xu Qiao had done through her aunt.

She couldn’t attack her elders, but she could definitely give the younger ones a hard time.

Thus, upon finding out Xu Lu organized this gathering, she hurried over.

With this in mind, Su Qingqing put on a worried face and said, “Though you didn’t get selected for Tianqi, it’s okay. You can double your efforts next time and maybe still have a chance.”

Jiang Jing’s face turned distinctly ugly. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, and her expression, unable to control her seething anger, glared at Su Qingqing.

She could guarantee that Su Qingqing was deliberately saying these things in front of so many people.

Looking at the others present, their gazes at her filled with sympathy, disdain, and pity…
She nearly fell back in frustration.

Xu Lu, not realizing Su Qingqing’s intentions, genuinely thought she cared about Jiang Jing and quickly followed with comfort, “Qingqing is right; you still have a chance.”

Jiang Jing glared at Xu Lu as if trying to convey, Are you blind, can’t you see Su Qingqing is mocking me?

Xu Lu, confused by the glare, felt quite unhappy inside.

As if oblivious to Jiang Jing’s expression, Su Qingqing smiled slightly and gently continued, “Jingjing, about the bet you had with my cousin, don’t worry, I’ll speak up for you. I won’t really let you leave the circle, after all, this is all you have. If you really left, what would you do later?”

Jiang Jing’s face turned deathly pale, and she struggled fiercely to control her emotions in order to not curse out loud at Su Qingqing.

She lowered her voice and said, “Su Qingqing, stop pretending. You’re happy now, aren’t you?”

Su Qingqing with an innocent face replied, “What are you talking about? I genuinely want to help you. I know you’re someone who keeps promises, and now that you’ve lost the bet, you’d definitely quit the circle as promised. It’s heartbreaking.”

Jiang Jing was infuriated by Su Qingqing’s insincerity.

And Xu Lu chimed in obliviously, “Yeah, cousin, my mom told me that you lost a bet to someone named Qiao Yun…”

“What did you say?” Jiang Jing’s face drastically changed, “Where did your aunt hear that from?”