Zhu Mingyue's expression froze, and it took her several seconds to respond: "...It's nothing."

Zhu Qian arrived home five minutes later. After entering the house, he ran upstairs, still out of breath, and hurriedly pulled Zhu Jinzhao to check everything.

"How are you? Are there any other injuries?"

Zhu Xingye: "No, my arms were just cut by the metal pieces on the chair."

"Scratched by a piece of metal?" Zhu Qian's expression suddenly changed, and his voice tightened instantly. "Was that piece of metal rusted?"

Zhu Xingye paid no attention to this. He turned around and strode out of the study, saying, "I'll go take a look."

He returned a moment later, leaned against the doorway, and said, "It's not rusty. The chair was just replaced; all the parts are brand new."

"Phew..." Zhu Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as it's not rusted, that's fine. If it were rusted, Chaochao would have to go to the hospital for a tetanus shot."

Zhu Jinzhao didn't understand this at all, and just listened with his head tilted back, completely bewildered.

Zhu Qian cleaned his hands with hand sanitizer, took out a first-aid kit from the cabinet under his desk, and skillfully treated Zhu Jinzhao's wound.

Before he started, he looked at Zhu Jinchao and said, "Chaochao, bear with it, the disinfection will hurt a little."

Zhu Jinzhao hummed in agreement and then immediately closed his eyes.

Zhu Qian's eyes showed heartache, but his actions were ruthless. He dipped a cotton swab in disinfectant alcohol and vigorously wiped Zhu Jinzhao's wounds, showing no mercy whatsoever.

Zhu Jinchao frowned deeply, his face turning pale with pain.

Zhu Xingye quickly came in from the doorway, squatted down in front of her, and blew cool air on her wound, trying to ease her pain.

Zhu Mingyue stood alone on the other side, neither participating nor showing any expression.

Now, her two older brothers were surrounding Zhu Jinzhao, and neither of them paid any attention to her. She looked at them coldly, feeling surprisingly little jealousy.

She was still thinking about what Zhu Jinzhao had just said.

Zhu Jinzhao, having the upper hand due to her injury, could have taken this opportunity to complain about her and embellish her story. But Zhu Jinzhao didn't.

Not only did she not do it, she also lied to cover it up for Zhu Mingyue. Has she gone mad?

Zhu Mingyue couldn't understand it. Because if she were Zhu Jinzhao, she would never have done that.

She's not that stupid!

"Alright. Be careful with the wound during this time, and absolutely do not get it wet, understand?"

After applying the medicine, Zhu Qian put everything away and patiently gave instructions.

Zhu Xingye said helplessly, "What's the use of telling Chaochao all this? Her brain can only remember food and fun; she can't remember anything else."

Zhu Qian: "If Chaochao can't remember, then you should. You're the eldest brother, and it's your duty to take care of her."

Zhu Xingye flicked Zhu Jinzhao's forehead, deliberately feigning reluctance: "I really owe her."

"..." Zhu Jinzhao kept his head down and didn't say a word.

She just made a very risky decision—to help Zhu Mingyue lie.

The situation was urgent, and she didn't have time to think before she spoke. She knew that Zhu Mingyue's fall in the room was intentional, and if nothing unexpected happened, she was trying to frame her.

Although she wasn't very bright, she could still tell what was going on. However, instead of exposing it, she chose to cover it up.

This behavior is spineless and, no matter how you look at it, it has a hint of pandering.

In response, Zhu Jinzhao said: Please remove the word "suspect".

Because she was indeed trying to please Zhu Mingyue.

From the very first day she returned home, Zhu Mingyue displayed intense hostility towards Zhu Jinzhao. Zhu Jinzhao was well aware of her own strength; she was no match for Zhu Mingyue.

Her fundamental strategy for dealing with Zhu Mingyue was to hide and run. But now Zhu Xingye wouldn't let her run, so she had no choice but to continue living under the same roof as Zhu Mingyue.

Zhu Mingyue wanted to fight her, but she didn't want to, because she couldn't win. So after thinking it over, she came up with a solution—to please her.

No matter how Zhu Mingyue treated her, she always responded by trying to please her. Over time, Zhu Mingyue would surely believe that she truly meant her no harm.

She's not one to cause trouble, because she can't afford to offend anyone. She's easier to bully than a soft persimmon.

After treating her wound, Zhu Xingye personally escorted her back to her room.

She thought the day's troubles were over, but to her surprise, Zhu Mingyue sent her a WeChat message shortly after she lay down.

Why lie?

Concise and to the point, getting straight to the point.

Zhu organized his thoughts and replied to her.

—Because I know you didn't do it on purpose.

Zhu Mingyue: I did it on purpose.

Zhu Jinzhao: "..."

Is she playing it this seriously? She's even trying to tell a little white lie...

Seeing that Zhu Jinzhao hadn't replied for several seconds, Zhu Mingyue sent another message.

—I don't like beating around the bush, so you'd better tell me the truth.

"..." He started making threats.

May your defenses be broken down instantly today.

—Alright, I'll tell you the truth then. I lied to my older brother to curry favor with you.

...

Zhu Mingyue fell silent.

Zhu Jinzhao held her phone with trepidation, wondering if her honesty had been too harsh and had offended this real heiress again.

——……

After a long while, Zhu Mingyue finally sent over a string of ellipses.

Zhu Jinzhao: Really, I really want to please you. I swear!

Zhu Mingyue: ...Why are you trying to please me? Can't you see I'm targeting you?

Zhu Jinzhao was very obedient. He promised to tell the truth and he really said everything he was thinking without uttering a single falsehood.

—I can see that, but what can I do? I can't fight you. If I don't try to please you, you'll target me even more harshly, and I'm scared.

—My brain isn't as sharp as yours; you can easily manipulate me. I'm worried that if I secretly complain about you or target you, you'll find a chance to retaliate.

Zhu Mingyue: ...

This person's honesty is incredibly strong.

—If you dare to plot against me behind my back, I will definitely retaliate in an even more severe way!

Zhu Jinzhao shrugged helplessly: See? That's why I have no choice but to try to please you.

Zhu Mingyue: But what's the use of you trying to please me? We're destined to be incompatible!

Zhu Jinzhao: I never meant that. From the moment my true identity was revealed, I knew clearly that you were the true daughter of the Zhu family. I am very self-aware; if my elder brother hadn't stopped me, I would have left the day you returned home.

...

On the other end of the phone, Zhu Mingyue fell silent once again.

Zhu Jinchao lay in bed, staring blankly at her phone, waiting for her reply.

—Do you think I'd believe you?

Several minutes later, Zhu Mingyue finally replied with this sentence.

Wishing you a day filled with diligent typing.

—Believe it or not, I will try to please you until I leave the Zhu family.

—I've confessed, please let me go.