Chapter 28 Impressive Skill

"Miss Xie, you are very capable."

Xiao Jue removed his mask and looked at Xie Qingran with a half-smile.

Rumors circulated that Xiao Jue had crippled his legs and disfigured his face, but when Xie Qingran met him a few days ago, he was wearing a mask. This was the first time she had seen his face beneath the mask.

The scars on her face were crisscrossed, looking like burn marks, covering her entire face. At first glance, it was indeed quite terrifying, but Xie Qingran showed no other expression.

What she saw was the face beneath the scars. Even now, with his face covered in scars, Xiao Jue's eyes were still impossible to ignore, bright yet revealing an indescribable sinister aura.

"Miss Xie, now that you see my face, it's not too late to regret it."

Xiao Jue quickly noticed Xie Qingran scrutinizing him. He was already used to this kind of gaze, but he still felt a little disappointed.

So, does she really care about her face just like those other people?

Xie Qingran reached out and gently touched Xiao Jue's cheek, her fair fingers lightly tracing the deep lines on his face. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Does it hurt?"

She simply couldn't imagine what kind of injury could leave such a scar; it must have been very painful.

"What?"

Xiao Jue looked at Xie Qingran in disbelief. He thought she would be disgusted or scared, but he never expected that her first reaction would be to ask him if it hurt.

This was the first time anyone had asked him if he was in pain since he had ruined his body and face.

Xiao Jue's eyes softened little by little, and the sinister look within them vanished instantly.

He forced a smile: "It's all in the past."

"It must hurt a lot, right?"

Xie Qingran sighed, then picked up his mask and gently put it on him. The faint scent of orchids wafted into Xiao Jue's nose, and his heart stirred slightly, and he even felt a faint reaction in his lower body.

She immediately changed her posture, covering the unusual area with her hands, afraid that Xie Qingran would discover it.

Xie Qingran did not continue to look at him, but instead pushed him towards the front yard.

"Your Highness, we are both unfortunate people, so I just wanted to stick together with you for warmth."

"Your Highness, I only ask for a place to stand!"

Xie Qingran almost pleaded, gripping Xiao Jue's wheelchair tightly, the veins on the back of her hands bulging.

She had no other desires but hoped to change her fate. After marrying Xiao Jue, she would naturally live a good life and uphold the reputation of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

"Um."

Xiao Jue didn't say whether he was willing or not, he just gave a faint reply and then fell silent.

Xie Qingran didn't say anything more. She had said enough. Continuing to say more would not be good for anyone and would be meaningless.

The banquet ended quickly, but the front hall remained brightly lit.

Xie Yankang sat in the main seat, slammed his hand on the table, and said fiercely, "Tell me, what exactly happened today!"

"Father, what's wrong?" Xie Hanyue was feeling guilty, so she spoke first, looking at Xie Yankang with pleading eyes, as if she really didn't know anything.

Xie Qingran knelt on the ground and said coldly, "After I entered the room, I smelled a strange smell and fainted. When I woke up again, I couldn't open the door. Lu Jinzhi was still lying on the bed. I was afraid that people would misunderstand, so I hid Lu Jinzhi. At this time, the young master passed by, opened the door, and solved my immediate problem."

"Sister, what are you saying?" Xie Hanyue looked at Xie Qingran in disbelief.

She never expected things to turn out this way. According to her plan, Xie Qingran should have been severely beaten and thrown into a nunnery by now!

Xie Hanyue is still too young, and it would be very difficult for her to do something completely flawless in this matter.

Madam Wang frowned as she looked at Xie Qingran: "Didn't you seduce the young master? No, why is Lu Jinzhi in the room?"

"Why would my daughter seduce the young master?" Xie Qingran asked, puzzled. "My marriage to the young master is imminent. I just need to wait patiently. Why ruin my reputation and implicate the entire Xie family?"

Upon hearing this, Wang fell into deep thought, as if there was indeed no need to do so.

But how exactly did Lu Jinzhi get here? What's going on?

She didn't know, she really didn't know anything!

“Father, there will inevitably be traces of this. I beg you to investigate thoroughly and clear my name.”

"This marriage is of utmost importance to our Xie family. Anyone who tries to ruin this marriage is ruining Father's and Brother's future."

Xie Qingran kowtowed deeply, speaking with heartfelt sincerity.

Now, what else could Xie Yankang not understand?

His eyebrows furrowed tightly as he gritted his teeth and said, "Qingran, you've had a hard day. Go back now. I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

Xie Qingran had long anticipated this outcome. In this family, there was no fairness or justice. Even though they all knew that Xie Hanyue was involved and that the matter was serious, they would not blame Xie Hanyue in the slightest.

But Xie Qingran didn't care. In this life, what she wanted was no longer the love of her family. What she wanted was to dismantle the entire Xie family bit by bit.

She didn't say a word, but obediently stood up, gave a proper bow, and turned to leave.

"Father!"

Xie Hanyue's tears fell instantly, and she knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"It's my fault, it's all my fault, I was bewitched."

"But I really didn't mean it. I was just confused for a moment. It was my sister who ruined my reputation first. I... I just..."

As Xie Hanyue was speaking, she suddenly fainted.

Seeing Xie Hanyue's expression, Madam Wang immediately turned hostile: "Master, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to force Yue'er to her death?"

"It's just a few words from Xie Qingran, Father, are you really going to blame Yue'er?"

"Yue'er is still young and doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation. She's just a child. Right now, nothing's wrong."

"Xie Qingran is vicious. Even though the matter has been resolved, she still keeps pressing the issue. I think she's deliberately targeting Yue'er!"

Xie Zhaoye stepped forward, ignoring Xie Yankang's eager gaze, and began to speak up for Xie Hanyue.

Immediately afterward, Xie Zhaoye ignored Xie Yankang's expression, picked up Xie Hanyue from the ground, and carried her outside.

Staring at Xie Zhaoye's back, Xie Yankang's face became even more unpleasant. If they were ordinary siblings, it would be fine, but these two were not related by blood. What kind of behavior was this!