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CHAPTER 255

Without a word further, she left her seat and made her way to where Hu Qi sat at the other end of the table and dropped one of the wrapped hair in front of her on the table a bit far from her plate of food and proceeded to where Lin Xuilan sat, doing the same thing.

Li Jing took her time and made her way back to the other end of the table and took her seat.

"Not until you both come back with similar results, please refrain from raining down your insults on me as I would take action. I respect you two as my said grand aunties but that does not give you the right to insult me or my grandfather. Take into consideration, like what uncle said, not all of us are petty. I have a nice job that I loved and I am not willing to trade her peace of mind for anything."

"Is it the same job that you slept your way up to get?" Lin Xuilan asked. She had expected that this would end up making Li Jing angry but it did nothing to even cause her brows to crease.

"Well, why would I bother with the words of people that know nothing about me? I have no need to defend myself to you. Since I cannot control the thoughts of people, let them think. Dogs can keep on barking. It is a free world. I would just keep being me."

Lin Xuilan felt her words were thrown back at her like a huge slap but she was not about to let a young girl's words bring her down. No.

"That is what they all say. We would do the DNA and if we find out that you are lying, then by all means be prepared for a public disgrace. No one can trick the Lin's and think they can go scot-free with it," Lin Xuilan added.

"Just the same way, no one can think they can warm their way up to the patriarch of the Lin family to give their own, positions not meant for them," Li Jing fired back. She had promised herself that in this new year, no one would ever treat her anyhow or make her feel bad. Things and time had changed. It was time to dish out tenfold what she was giving.

In this new year, those who mean her evil would be given back tenfold and those who mean her well and help her, she would do the same for them, money or no money.

She intended to rise from the ashes and live up to whom she was.

At that moment, Lin Zian felt proud of her. He could see his no-nonsense taking daughter in Li Jing. Even though he showered the heavens with praises and thanks, it wasn't enough to thank them for this joy.

'Quinyang, thank you for coming back to me through your daughter.' Lin Zian said inwardly.

"Your DNA result and all are fake but I am thankful that we would have the chance to prove who you truly are. Run your mouth now. It would be your impending doom," Hu Qi said with disdain written all over her face.

"It would not. She is telling the truth."

All of a sudden a masculine voice rang out. Li Jing looked at those on the table and knew the voice did not come from there as they all had the equal look of shock on their faces except for Lin Huilang and Lin Jie.

"What?"

"How come…"

Slowly, Li Jing turned her head, tilting her body to the side a bit to see who had defended her.

Her jaw dropped the moment her eyes landed on the person who had just spoken. It was a man in his late fifties. He looked slightly younger than her grandfather with a streak of grey hair on his shining black hair that was well combed to the back.

He was wearing a white well-designed suit with matching white designer shoes. The aura about him spoke of power, dominance, and bravery. Even though he had a cold look on his face, the smile at the corners of his eyes did well to betray him.

But one thing was sure, she did not need someone to tell her who it was. It was her second grand uncle, Lin Liqin.

In his right hand was a medium-size brown envelop with his phone on the left hand. After her quick assessment of the man, Li Jing finally peeled her eyes away from the brown envelop and looked till their eyes met.

"Hello, grandniece. Won't you come and say hello to your granduncle?" He had been following her eyes with his and knew when she lingered on the envelope that she was wondering what it contained rather than who brought the package.

And given his support of her grandfather's claim, she could almost tell what was inside. Not arguing, Li Jing stood up from her seat and made her way towards him.

Boy was he handsome even after age had taken its toll on him.

"Greetings, sir. Welcome." After uttering those words with the best smile she could muster, Li Jing bowed her head to him.

"No need for that dear, come, let us join the others." Together they made their way to the table and Li Jing took her seat while Li Liqin made his way to the top of the table by his older brother's right-hand side and sat on the first chair reserved for him.

Due to their father being in the military, everything was done with order and respect. Even though a family member wasn't present, no one would dare sit on his seat to eat.

There was hierarchy everyone accorded the order their respect. Li Liqin took a slight bow of his head to his brother before uttering his words of wellness.

"Greetings brother. Good morning. My apologies for being late but even I could not miss this gathering as it was one of the most important ones we had had in a long while."

"Welcome, Liqin. Please do have your seat. It is better late than never my brother. Thank you for coming."

A warm smile enveloped his face before he turned his head to look at the others at the table. "My apologies for being late but I must say, I had to wait to collect this classified document first before coming here as I know it would be of utmost importance."

Hearing him say that had attracted the attention of all of them present. It was not that he did not already have their attention, he only piqued their interest better.

"Welcome brother. I am glad you could make it as it afforded me the opportunity to see you after a year." Hu Qi gave him her best smile. No longer was she the angry person that she was a few minutes ago.

'Chameleon.' Li Jing noted in her mind.

Without being told, she already knew those she should watch out for.

"Dear, you did not tell me you would be attending the get-together," Lin Xuilan spoke up from beside her husband.

"Not everything I do should be said out, right? Besides, what use is a classified document when all is said out?"

"But that is a document and this is a visit, second brother," Hu Qi quickly chipped in correctively. Since Lin Huilan had been supportive of her all along she decided to return the favor.

"Both my movement and the documents are classified, third sister. I do not believe I owe any of you an explanation. If you feel I do, kindly signify."

No one dared to go against him after that, not even his wife.

"Good. Now, shall we proceed?"

"Welcome brother," Lin Jie greeted from where he sat with a slight bow of his head.

"Thank you Jie Jie. Happy you are always for the truth."

"I stand for what is right and follow after you."

'Yet you refuse the military. Too bad, we needed people like you. Notwithstanding, we move." Lin Liqin took his seat and dropped the envelope on the table then moved it to his sister who sat directly opposite him.

"Why aRe you handing it to me since it is classified?" Hu Qi asked.

"Open and read when I give the go-ahead. Now," he turned his attention to the others. "No one is too small to be a part of this meeting and as such, I would accord each and everyone with the same respect."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in.

"As you may all know or have guessed, I have eyes and tabs on all of you and so I was aware when the DNA test was done and the result sent to Lin Zian. Immediately I found out, I myself did a background check on Li Jing and got her sample along with my brother's and did my own DNA test."

GBAGHAN!