Bright tears streamed down her face, a few strands of hair fluttering on either side, making her look exceptionally pitiful. She bit her lip, choking back sobs, "Second Brother, I know I'm not good enough for him..."
Ming Zhan sneered, "You do have some self-awareness."
Her bright eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings. She took a deep breath, her expression sorrowful and pitiful. "When he told me about this, I initially refused, but he..."
Ming Zhan's gaze turned cold. "Big brother needs to rest, so stop with the nonsense."
Mingmei sniffed, her slender white fingers wiping her cheek, her voice slightly hoarse, "Big brother, things have come to this, I have nothing to say in my defense. Please, for the sake of us being all members of the Ming family, help me plead with Sister Wan, beg her not to blacklist me..."
Upon hearing this, Ming Zhan's pupils contracted, and a chill spread through his eyes. "You've caused such a huge mess; banning you is the lightest punishment you can get."
Mingmei's chest heaved violently, and tears clinging to her eyelashes rolled down her cheeks. With a thud, she knelt on the ground, her shoulders shaking slightly. "Please give me a chance to make amends. I promise I'll never do it again..."
Ming Zhan's eyes narrowed, and he angrily rebuked, "If you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"
“I…” Mingmei choked, looked up at Mingxiao on the hospital bed, “Big Brother…”
Seeing her like this, Mingxiao couldn't bear it. He frowned slightly and said softly, "Get up first."
Tears welled up in her bright eyes, and her beautiful face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, so fragile and heartbreaking.
Seeing that she was kneeling and not moving, Mingzhan was so angry that his face darkened, and he reached out and pulled her up.
"Second brother... hiss..." A soft groan escaped from Mingmei's tightly clenched lips, like the weak, mournful cry of a wounded little animal.
Ming Xiao frowned and said to Ming Zhan, "Zhan, why don't you go out first?"
Mingzhan was taken aback and looked down at him. "Big brother, how can this be?"
Mingxiao lowered his brow slightly. "Let me talk to Lao Si alone for a while."
Ming Zhan hesitated for a few seconds, his gaze darkening as he warned Ming Mei, "If you dare to disrespect my elder brother again, I will definitely kick you out of the Ming family."
Mingmei twisted her fingers, lowered her head, and looked aggrieved and pitiful.
Ming Zhan suppressed his anger and walked out.
The hospital room door closed softly with a "click." Mingxiao leaned against the headboard, his eyelids slightly lifted. "The one who truly wants Haitang Garden isn't Rong Zhi, is he?"
Mingmei was startled and looked at him in disbelief, "Big brother, you..."
Mingxiao slightly tugged at the corner of his lips and smiled faintly, "You want to ask me how I knew, right?"
Mingmei opened her mouth, "Yes..."
Mingxiao's gaze fell on her red and purple eyes, and he said softly, "Rong Zhi would never hit a woman."
The bright sunshine froze.
Mingxiao continued, "Fourth brother, from childhood to adulthood, you've always targeted Wanwan. Now you're actually colluding with outsiders to deal with her..."
Mingmei's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by a large hand, making it hard to breathe, and her face instantly turned bright red.
The air was silent for a few seconds.
Mingxiao's expression suddenly tightened. "Fourth brother, the person who instructed you was Shen Yilin, the eldest son of the Shen family, right?"
Mingmei gasped, her body trembling uncontrollably.
The warmth in Mingxiao's eyes faded, replaced by a cold glint. "You've provoked him; it's tantamount to courting death."
Mingmei felt a chill run down her spine and involuntarily shivered. "Big brother, what should I do now?"
Mingxiao's expression was grave. "Do you know why Shen Yilin keeps targeting Wanwan?"
Mingmei pursed her lips, her eyes were frighteningly red, and her lips trembled, "I...I...don't know..."
"If you don't tell the truth, no one will be able to help you." Mingxiao looked at her, his tone gradually becoming stern.
Mingmei's fingertips almost pierced her palm. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke with difficulty, "Big brother, I'm telling you, but please don't tell anyone else."
Mingxiao replied, "Speak."
-
As Mingmei stepped out of the ward, a fleeting glint of light flashed in her eyes.
She looked at Mingzhan's tense face, sniffed, and said in a hoarse voice, "Second brother, eldest brother wants you to come in."
Ming Zhan lowered his eyes, stared at her for a moment, his eyes filled with resentment. "Remember what I said. If there's a next time, I won't let you off easily."
Without waiting for Mingmei's response, he pushed open the door and went inside.
Mingmei stood still, clenching her fingers, a deep ruthlessness surfacing in her eyes.
"Next time, I won't let you off the hook either."
Buzz—
My phone vibrated.
Mingmei suddenly snapped out of her daze and hurriedly headed towards the emergency exit.
Ming Zhan walked into the ward and saw Ming Xiao lying on the bed with a calm expression. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly. "Big brother, what did Ming Mei say to you?"
Mingxiao slightly curled the corners of his lips. "Can you call Wanwan for me? If time allows, I'll ask her to come over."
Mingzhan frowned. "Big brother, are you planning to plead for fourth brother?"
Mingxiao turned to the side, picked up a water glass, and took two sips of warm water. His tone was indifferent, "We're all members of the Ming family. If things really escalate, it won't be good for the Ming family."
Ming Zhan said angrily, "I think it's better if things get out of hand."
Mingxiao put down his water glass and whispered to him, "You'll need your second uncle's support in the future. If things get out of hand, it'll be very difficult for you later."
Ming Zhan's chest heaved violently, and the hatred deep in his eyes was very obvious. "Brother, if you have to swallow your anger just so that I can secure my position as heir, then I don't want this position."
"Nonsense!" Mingxiao's expression changed drastically, and he scolded in a low voice, "Azhan, if you say such things again, I will pretend that you are not my brother."
"Big brother, I..." Mingzhan's eyes widened.
Mingxiao looked at him, his breath pressing down on his chest. "Azhan, I'm not swallowing my anger, nor am I trying to appease you. I'm just considering the bigger picture."
Ming Zhan's blood rushed to his head, and his face turned pale.
Mingxiao added, "If you won't fight, I'll fight myself."
Mingzhan's heart clenched, and he whispered, "I'll call Wan'er right now."
-
Sang Yuwan had just come out of Ning Wanzhen's ward when Ming Zhan called.
"Second brother..."
"Wan'er, do you have time now? Your elder brother wants to see you." Ming Zhan suppressed his emotions and spoke gently.
Sang Yuwan's heart skipped a beat, thinking that Mingxiao was not in good condition, and she asked him anxiously, "What's wrong with my brother?"
Mingzhan said, "He just wants to see you..."
"I'm coming right away. That's all for now." Sang Yuwan hung up the phone before he could finish speaking.
Mingzhan slowly removed the phone from his ear, his insides clenched, and he thought to himself, "She doesn't want to say another word to me. It seems she really wants to cut ties with me."
Seeing that his face was a little pale, Mingxiao couldn't help but feel a hint of worry in his eyes. "What's wrong?"
Ming Zhan snapped out of his daze and gave him a forced smile. "Wan'er said she'll be here soon."
Mingxiao did not speak again.
The saying goes, "Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly."
He saw it more clearly than anyone else: in this battle for love, Ming Zhan had lost to Rong Zhi.
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