Chapter 240 So That's It

For a moment, the room fell silent, a terrifying, oppressive silence that made it almost suffocating. Xier sat there blankly, her expression numb. She didn't have the panic she'd felt before, nor did she feign anger. She was as if struck by something, completely unresponsive, as if she had subconsciously shut herself off, avoiding the so-called truth.

Zhong Min didn't say anything else. After asking why, she really didn't know what else to say. She just waited quietly, waiting for Xier to speak.

She knew that now that Xi'er had admitted it, she would definitely tell it all, make it clear. However, perhaps she should give Xi'er some time. Let her sort things out, let her adjust her mindset. After all, no one would be completely indifferent to such a situation. After all, she could feel that no matter what Xi'er had done to her, one thing was true: Xi'er had been so kind to her for so long.

She believed that Xier must have some reasons for doing this, and she would rather think so, because it would make her feel a little better.

After waiting for a moment, Xier finally looked up at Zhong Min again. Her expression was no longer as gloomy as before, no longer as if the world was about to end and one's heart was sinking. She actually wore a faint smile, as if she had finally put down a heavy burden, feeling much more relaxed and relieved.

Perhaps, as she had said before, this day had finally arrived, and the arrival of this day might be Xier's true spiritual liberation. She wasn't a particularly evil person to begin with, and doing something that went against her conscience had already been secretly condemned. She was also constantly worried about the consequences of being discovered by Zhong Min. Therefore, ever since she agreed to work for Ning Zhiyuan, her heart had been constantly in a state of confusion.

Fear, worry, self-blame, terror... everything was there. But now that Zhong Min knew about it, everything felt easier. At least, she didn't have to live in self-blame and worry all day long.

"I'm sorry, Min'er." Xi'er finally spoke, looking at Zhong Min with an indescribably complicated expression. "I know that no matter how I explain, it won't change what I did to you. You've always trusted me so much and treated me like your best sister, but in the end, I still betrayed you."

"Xi'er, don't say sorry. I just want to know why you did this! Since you've already admitted it, just tell me everything today. I don't want to say anything else before I hear all your explanations, because that would be unfair to you and not objective."

Zhong Min didn't immediately blame Xi'er. As she said, she just wanted to know what happened and why Xi'er became like this. As for how she would treat Xi'er in the end, she didn't know. She would wait until she knew the real reason.

Seeing that Zhong Min actually mentioned that he should be fair and objective to her at this time, Xier felt a pang in her heart. She nodded, no longer hesitated, and told him everything in detail.

"Min'er, do you still remember what happened when we were together in the capital? One time, you, Chu'er, Xiang'er, Xiaowu and Xiaoliu all went out, and I was the only one at home. And Ruyi happened to be missing that day." Xier didn't know where she was looking, as if she had no focus, and was obviously lost in memories.

"Later, you were chased on the street, rescued by Qin Ke, and moved to a safe place. Then you asked Xiaowu and Xiaoliu to come back to look for me, but I was gone. It was a long time before Xiaowu and Xiaoliu went back again and found me unconscious at the alley entrance. At that time, I explained to you that when I was looking for Ruyi, I accidentally ran into human traffickers and was captured. Later, I took advantage of their inattention and escaped and ran back, right?"

Hearing Xier's question, Zhong Min suddenly understood. She sighed slightly and said, "I remember this incident. It seems that you weren't kidnapped by human trafficking at that time, right?"

In fact, that time, Zhong Min was indeed a little surprised by Xier's disappearance and return, but he did not think too much about the reasons on Xier's side. In addition, there were many things to do, and nothing happened afterwards, so he did not think about it anymore.

Now it seems that she was negligent that time. She thinks that Xier's change must have started from that time. If she is not mistaken, the person who took Xier away that time should be none other than Ning Zhiyuan's people.

"You're right. Everything I explained back then was completely false. It's true I was kidnapped, but it wasn't by human traffickers. I just happened to run into people sent by Ning Xiang. They'd seen Qin Ke driving away the secret organization, so while you were retreating to safety, they took advantage of the opportunity to get to our place before Xiaowu and Xiaoliu. I was out looking for Ruyi at the time, and I didn't expect to run into them and be captured by them."

Xier let out a long sigh and continued, "I was terrified at the time. I didn't know what Prime Minister Ning wanted to do by arresting someone like me. Later, I found out that he wanted me to work for him, to stay by your side and keep track of your every move. I also wanted to keep in touch with the people he secretly sent and do his bidding at any time."

"At first, I really didn't think of agreeing, because I knew you trusted me so much and treated me like a sister. How could I possibly do such a thing to betray you? But later, Prime Minister Ning gave me a poison to control me. Min'er, you have no idea how uncomfortable that was. Without the antidote, I would have been worse off than dead." Xi'er's expression revealed an unspeakable self-mockery. "So, in the end, I finally gave in and agreed to his request. I stayed by your side, watching your every move for him, and was always on standby to do things for him."

"But, although I had to agree, I have repeatedly emphasized to Prime Minister Ning that no matter what, I will never do anything to harm your life!" Xier said as if she was swearing, "Really, believe me, Min'er, even if I betrayed you, I never thought of hurting you from beginning to end. Prime Minister Ning promised that he would never hurt you, so, that's why I had to become a spy and a traitor! I know that nothing I say now will be of any use, but, but from beginning to end, I really didn't have the slightest intention of harming you!"

"Ning Zhiyuan! He actually poisoned you and forced you!" Zhong Min was immediately furious. She didn't expect Ning Zhiyuan to be so despicable and shameless. This really made her too angry.

"Xi'er, what kind of poison did he give you? Now that you've done all that for him, did he give you all the antidotes?" Zhong Min calmed down after her anger, and her first thought was Xi'er's safety. This was completely unexpected for her, but she didn't expect that she could hate Xi'er at all, but instead still cared about her so much.

Xier felt indescribably moved and her tears were about to flow. She originally thought that Zhong Min would never forgive her and didn't know how much he would hate her. But now she understood that no matter what, Zhong Min, who regarded her as a sister, still cared about her in his heart.

She fought back the tears in her eyes, calmed herself down, and then shook her head and said, "No, actually, I only just now realized that Ning Xiang didn't poison me at all. The reason I felt pain and discomfort was just because Ah San pressed a few acupoints on my acupoints, and Ning Xiang was just using this as an excuse to scare me. To be honest, it's my own fault for being afraid of pain and death. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so easily fooled, agreed to Ning Xiang's request, and helped him so easily, causing you to be controlled by this now!"

"Min'er, I'm so sorry. I know this is all my fault, and now, no matter what I say or do, it won't change the outcome." Xi'er suddenly stood up, knelt in front of Zhong Min, and cried, "Hit me, scold me, I won't have any objection to anything you do to me. As long as you can vent your anger, that's all! Please, hit me quickly, scold me!"

As she spoke, she pulled Duo Zhongmin's hand hard and hit herself in the face. Her face was full of regret and self-blame, making her look particularly sad.

Zhong Min's heart was filled with complex emotions, but she couldn't bring herself to hit or scold Xi'er. She pulled her hand away, stood up, and walked away. Although she was extremely disappointed with Xi'er's behavior, she also understood that everyone has their own interests. What right did she have to ask others to give up their lives to protect hers?

"Xier, you get up first." With his back to Xier, Zhong Min sighed slightly. He knew in his heart that Xier could not be blamed entirely for everything, but for a moment he still didn't know how to face it head-on.

Xier didn't move for a long time, still kneeling there crying. Seeing this, Zhong Min finally couldn't help but turn around and helped Xier up. After thinking for a while, he said to Xier, "There is one more thing I want to ask you. I hope you can tell me the truth."

When Xier heard this, she wiped her tears and nodded vigorously, saying, "Ask me, I will tell you everything I know."

Seeing this, Zhong Min nodded, indicating that he believed Xier's words. "I'm confused. How could you have taken me away from Muzhou so easily?"