Chapter 92 - Awkward Dinner

Jin Qing took Long Mei back home to dress up for dinner at the Jin estate. 

Long Mei put on a classy silver dress and earrings, wearing her hair down. When she finished, she met with Jin Qing, who gave her a once-over glance that left her cheeks heated. 

He then took her by the waist, escorting her to the car. "He will try to break you," Jin Qing warned her. 

Long Mei smiled cruelly. "I won't let him." 

Jin Qing's mouth curved upward slightly. 

When they arrived, there was short of a friendly welcome, but that was to be expected. 

Jin Qing kept an arm around her waist as they stepped into the dining hall. Jin Qing's relatives spoke, but they hushed into awkward silence once they walked into the room. 

Long Mei could see the judgement in their faces as they looked towards them as if their presence was unwanted, but they had to put up with it. Long Mei was guilty of looking at Jin Qing like that before, but now she was standing beside him, and she was not going anywhere. 

Long Mei's hand dropped to hold his, entwining their fingers together. 

Jin Qing stiffened in her grasp, not expecting the gesture, but he quickly gave into it. He most likely thought it was to keep up with the pretense of their fake relationship, but Long Mei did not have the time to tell him she did it out of instinct—to provide him with some comfort and relief. 

Jin Qing took her hand, walking them to take seats at the long table. 

"Well, isn't it nice that my eldest son took out of his precious time to join us," his father spoke sarcastically. "But did you have to bring that money-hungry whore with you to the table?"

Some of his relatives laughed. 

Long Mei suddenly began to feel cheap. She did not expect Jin Yun to hit her with an insult right away, but Long Mei only braced herself and smiled. "If I were really a money-hungry whore, I would have fucked all your business partners, and you would have heard about it by now." 

Another relative choked on a laugh, looking at Long Mei with some newfound respect. But Jin Qing's father only seethed with anger, and his wife was unamused. 

Jin Yun proceeded to talk amongst his other, more "sophisticated" children as if he had already forgotten about her presence. Jin Qing put a hand over hers beneath the table and squeezed slightly. 

The dinner became boring very fast. Most of Jin Qing's cousins and other relatives ignored them. For most of the courses, Jin Qing stared down at his plate as if he was used to it. She never realized how lonely it had been for him this entire time. 

There had a time where Long Mei sat seated next to Jin Hu, talking to his parents and siblings but ignoring the half-brother that ate from the other side of the table, unaccompanied, unwanted. But she was with him now. She wanted to change things. 

Long Mei raised her napkin, turning to face Jin Qing. "You have something on the corner of your mouth."

Jin Qing went to wipe it, but Long Mei interrupted him. "Let me," she said, lightly dabbing the napkin on his lips. Jin Qing watched her, and she could sense that Jin Yun was watching them with disgust. 

Long Mei then leaned in and lightly pecked Jin Qing on the mouth. He tasted of the oranges he was snacking on, and she felt like kissing him deeper, but they could not do that here, so she withdrew. Long Mei did not look at Jin Qing, afraid of what she might find in his expression. 

Soon after, guests had started to leave once the dinner ended. Jin Qing told her that they had to stay back because his father wanted to speak to him, so they watched as guests stood up, thanked the hosts, and left until there was only Jin Yun and his wife left. 

"Tell your mistress to leave," Jin Yun said to Jin Qing. 

Jin Qing scowled. "She stays." 

Jin Yun's expression narrowed and fell onto Long Mei. "Wasn't Jin Hu enough? You had to slut it up with my other son? Who's next? My youngest?"

"Your youngest is a minor, and I'm not after your relatives," Long Mei countered. "But last I remembered, your son doesn't even consider you a father." 

"Stay out of our fucking business," Jin Yun seethed. 

"Enough," Jin Qing's deathly calm voice charged through them. He looked toward his father. "Long Mei stays, and may I remind you that if I don't kill you for speaking to her that way, her family will. Don't fucking mess with her." 

Long Mei could imagine Long Xia and Long Yat-sen drawing him out slowly, like a cat and mouse. They liked to take their time with their enemies, but it would be Long Ken to finish him because he's impatient, and he really hated when someone messed with his family. 

"It's about the inheritance. Even though Jin Hu's dead, you will still inherit nothing."

"Is this what you wanted to talk to me about? As if I did not already know that, and I want to remind you I want none of your shit." 

"All your life, I was generous in giving you everything until you grew into an ungrateful, unappreciative bastard that killed the only son that made me proud!" 

Jin Qing's eyes narrowed. "I did not kill your precious child because I've already stated before that I wanted nothing to do with your family, and his death had only caused you all to be a bigger pain in my ass. I only pity little brother now. I hope he does not grow to be rotten." 

"He's already a disappointment," Jin Yun said, "He cries every time I scold him. Jin Hu was never like that, but I will shape him to be better. Jin Hu should not have lowered his guard. Maybe he would still be alive." 

Jin Qing clenched his hand. "Now, if that's all, I rather you do not invite me to these dinners. I hear the same shit every time." 

Jin Qing went to take Long Mei by the hand, to storm out when Jin Yun said, "Miss Long if the son is threatening you to be in a relationship with him. Tell me now, and I will offer help." 

Long Mei cringed. "You knew I needed help from your other son more than well, and you did not do anything about it. You are an enabler, so don't act like you can be my hero now." 

She then grabbed onto Jin Qing's hand, holding it tight as they charged from the room. 

When they passed the stairwell, they caught Jin Yun's youngest, the new heir, watching them. Jin Qing paused, conflict crossing his face. He approached his youngest brother, a teen boy. "You might hate me the same way Jin Hu did, maybe even more if you believe what father tells you. But if you need any help, call me. I will come." 

His younger brother stared at him with wide eyes before he ran off. 

"That was nice of you," Long Mei commented. 

"I don't want him to feel like he has nowhere to escape to. Jin Hu and I never had that." 

Long Mei felt like kissing him, but she only blushed, biting down her lower lip. "Let's go home." 

"You often apologized about your family drama, but mine is way worse," Jin Qing told her.

Despite the mood, Long Mei chuckled, and Jin Qing laughed with her.