Chapter 68◇
◎You're so jealous!◎
In the end, Duan Jingyin didn't help Feng Ran look at the account book. While eating, Duan Jingyin casually mentioned some gossip about a family, which immediately made Feng Ran's ears perk up. She enthusiastically and without any hesitation threw the account book at Duan Jingchuan, without even saying thank you, her eyes shining as she waited to hear the gossip.
Duan Jingchuan shook his head helplessly, prepared grapes that Feng Ran liked to eat, and also prepared a bowl of plum juice for each of the two adults and one child.
Duan Jingyin was even more flattered. Before she could even taste the plum juice, her stomach was churning with sourness, and her eyes turned red.
"Little sister, what's wrong? Don't you like plum juice? I can drink it if you don't like it." Feng Ran saw that the little girl was about to cry and thought that she couldn't get used to the taste.
Duan Jingyin's voice was trembling with tears, and her tone was very low as she said, "I like to drink."
Huang Que kept giving Feng Ran meaningful glances, her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets as she looked at Duan Jingchuan and Duan Jingyin. In a flash, Feng Ran seemed to understand something, and lowered her voice, "Is it because of this bowl of plum juice your husband gave you? Don't you like your husband?"
Feng Ran couldn't help but feel annoyed. Her memory was really bad; she had actually forgotten that the girl in front of her and her husband didn't get along. She had watched the girl chatting happily right under her husband's nose. She hoped her husband wouldn't be unhappy, or he wouldn't let her have sex with her tonight.
Duan Jingyin looked at Feng Ran, who was out of sorts, with a complicated expression. Her heart was like boiling water, constantly bubbling with sourness. This time, she didn't point her sharp thorns at the outside world as usual. Feeling somewhat powerless, she muttered listlessly, "It's because he doesn't like me."
Feng Ran frowned, glancing in Duan Jingchuan's direction with a puzzled look. She noticed a rare look of disappointment on his face, and when she turned back to look at Duan Jingyin's aggrieved expression, she was completely confused.
"Isn't it normal that people don't like you? You're not exactly likable anyway." Feng Ran pointed out this fact in an extremely cruel way.
Duan Jingyin's expression gradually stiffened. She slowly raised her eyes and looked at Feng Ran in utter shock, tears welling up in her eyes, which were red and swollen.
Even Huang Que couldn't listen anymore, and his face twitched a few times.
Duan Jingyin moved her lips several times before finding her voice, but the last syllable was weak, "Is that so?"
The little girl's pitiful appearance failed to win Feng Ran's comfort; instead, she continued to hurt her, "Otherwise, it's not just me who doesn't like you; your brother doesn't like you either."
Duan Jingyin wanted to get angry, but the person in front of her had just saved her life and was very caring towards her. He must have said that on purpose to provoke her. But she was still so angry. Her lips trembled as she asked with great difficulty, "You took such good care of me a few days ago." The deeper meaning was, "Don't be so hypocritical."
Feng Ran shattered her illusions without hesitation, "That has nothing to do with whether you like it or not. Human life is much more important than personal preferences." Seemingly realizing that her words were somewhat hurtful, Feng Ran even tried to comfort her, "If you're unhappy, try looking at it from a different perspective. You don't like us either."
Duan Jingyin's face was flushed red and pale, quite a lively scene. Even Duan Jingchuan, who was eavesdropping, couldn't help but shed a tear of sympathy for her. Why did she have to seek comfort from Feng Ran? He didn't know if she could be comforted, but he was sure she would be speechless.
Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere any longer, Huang Que pushed the plum syrup towards them and said softly, "Did you eat too much just now? Drink some plum syrup to help with digestion."
Duan Jingyin was so embarrassed that she was about to burst. With an excuse to ease her embarrassment, she didn't care about anything else, picked up the bowl and gulped down the wine until she saw the bottom of the bowl before putting it down.
Seeing Feng Ran staring thoughtfully at her stomach, Duan Jingyin, emboldened by some unknown source, raised her voice and said angrily, "I don't dislike you!"
Hmm? Feng Ran's gaze shifted from Duan Jingyin's stomach to Duan Jingyin's face, as if to confirm the truth of her words, making Duan Jingyin feel quite uncomfortable.
Unable to bear Feng Ran's direct gaze any longer, Duan Jingyin was about to explain herself when Feng Ran suddenly smiled brightly and nodded, "Yes, that's right, we like you very much too."
"You're so fake! You're trying to fool me!" Duan Jingyin's inner voice screamed. Looking at Feng Ran's nonchalant expression, she finally gave up resisting and said weakly, "No matter what, thank you for helping me that day, Second Sister-in-law."
Feng Ran revealed a row of neat, pearly teeth. "You're welcome. Didn't you just thank me?" She had eaten all the pastries and accepted all the thanks.
Having already said all that, Duan Jingyin wasn't afraid of losing face anymore and vented her unhappiness clearly, "I entered here without any hindrance today, and I thought it was because my second brother and sister-in-law had given their permission. I didn't expect the reason was that I was shameless and forced my way in."
Even if Feng Ran was oblivious, she could hear the grievance in Duan Jingyin's tone, and her teasing words turned into words of comfort, "You could have come in here anyway, you were overthinking it."
This really touched a nerve with Duan Jingyin, who became very depressed and her voice grew even weaker. "No, you can't get in." She picked up the empty bowl of plum juice with both hands. "Look, I only got this bowl of plum juice because of you. I've never spoken to him in my life, and I've never even touched him."
Perhaps it was because the atmosphere was too good today, or perhaps because she had already lost face enough, Duan Jingyin became unrestrained and directly poured out her grievances to Feng Ran.
Now, Duan Jingchuan, who was looking at the ledger in another corner, could no longer pretend he hadn't heard anything. His face was filled with shame and embarrassment, and he didn't know what to do.
The little girl was anything but pretty when she cried. She had completely abandoned her usual refined demeanor, with snot and tears streaming down her face, and she was still clutching the empty bowl tightly in her hand. She was truly pitiful.
Wax Plum stood by, unsure of what to say, and in the end, she helplessly shed tears along with Duan Jingyin.
In an instant, the cries of the master and servants rose and fell in the room, leaving Feng Ran completely bewildered.
Feng Ran looked at Duan Jingchuan with pleading eyes, but Duan Jingchuan responded with an innocent face.
After crying for a long time, Duan Jingyin became even more upset when no one comforted her, and she sobbed louder than twice as loud.
Feng Ran gently patted the other person's back, trying to soothe her in the same way she would a small animal, but it had no effect whatsoever.
Having no other choice, Feng Ran steeled her heart, stood up, and hurried towards Duan Jingchuan.
Duan Jingchuan felt a chill run down his spine. He stiffened as Feng Ran pulled him in front of Duan Jingyin. Under Feng Ran's warning gaze, he awkwardly rubbed Duan Jingyin's head and said softly, "It's my fault. I've neglected you in the past. I'll buy you whatever you want from now on."
Duan Jingyin sobbed uncontrollably, her eyes red and swollen as she looked up at Duan Jingchuan and roared, "It's all your fault! I have a brother! I have a brother!"
The words were incoherent, but Duan Jingchuan understood them.
This is a way of blaming him for not having a brother. She clearly has a brother, but she has never received any care from him.
Feng Ran, watching from the side, felt uneasy. She couldn't bear to see anyone complaining about Duan Jingchuan, so she couldn't help but explain on his behalf, "Little sister, your brother was sick before, and he has only just recovered. I hope you can understand him."
Duan Jingyin wiped away her tears and accused Feng Ran, "When did my brother become sick? When you were spouting nonsense at the entrance of the Duke of Lu's mansion, didn't you say my brother was normal? Are you disgusted with him now, that's why you say he's sick?"
Duan Jingchuan and Feng Ran looked at each other, both stunned by Duan Jingyin's outburst.
Seeing that Duan Jingyin was starting to act spoiled and unreasonable, Feng Ran also lost her temper. She pulled Duan Jingchuan behind her and threatened, "If you cry again, your sister-in-law will be gone, and your brother will be gone too."
"Hiccup," Duan Jingyin swallowed hard and said angrily, "Couldn't you have coaxed me a little longer? I didn't throw a tantrum."
"Pfft~ Alright, little sister, you'll have older brothers and sisters-in-law in the future." Feng Ran finally understood that this little girl wasn't really unhappy; she was just using this as an excuse to get someone to coax her more.
This time, Duan Jingchuan's actions were much more natural. He gently rubbed Duan Jingyin's head and said softly, "I didn't do well before. From now on, you'll have your big brother to support you."
Duan Jingyin was a little embarrassed. She wiped her face haphazardly with a handkerchief, her voice filled with unease, "Second brother, I was ignorant before. Please don't be angry with me, okay? I will definitely be a good little sister from now on."
"Hehe," Duan Jingchuan chuckled, and casually ruffled Feng Ran's hair. "It's okay to be a little silly, you can't outwit your sister-in-law anyway."
"Me? Nonsense?" Feng Ran frowned slightly, quite protesting. "Where am I being nonsensical? Duan Jingchuan, you just don't cherish me after you get me. You don't love me anymore." She even pretended to cry.
Duan Jingchuan gritted his teeth, afraid he would burst out laughing. He lightly pressed his fist against the corner of his lips and said to Duan Jingyin, "See? Can you get away with this?"
Duan Jingyin was so disgusted by the cheesy sentimentality that every hair on her body seemed to be telling her how uncomfortable she felt, and she shook her head repeatedly.
The siblings reconciled so easily, without mentioning past unpleasantness or making any promises about future harmony. Feng Ran and Duan Jingchuan looked as usual, no different from any other day. Only Duan Jingyin's playful laughter echoed throughout Jinghua Courtyard, telling the story of one of the protagonists' joy.
"Second brother, Father must be extremely jealous of me right now." Ever since Duan Jingyin tentatively grabbed Duan Jingchuan's sleeve and was not objected to, she became even bolder, holding onto the sleeve tightly and laughing like a cat that had stolen some cream.
"Oh, what do you have that makes Father jealous?" Duan Jingchuan let Duan Jingyin act coquettishly, and looked at Feng Ran's eyes, which were staring at his cuffs with amusement.
“I’m the first person in our family to have my head rubbed by you. Even Father doesn’t get this treatment!” Duan Jingyin thought she would never have the chance to meet her nominal brother in her life. Suddenly, they became closer, and she didn’t know how to express her joy.
Duan Jingchuan's lips twitched. His father probably wouldn't want to compete over "rubbing heads".
"Sister-in-law, stop staring at my hand. I didn't even touch my second brother's skin. You're so jealous! I'm still your own sister, your own sister-in-law." Duan Jingyin looked like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl at this moment, saying whatever came to mind and wanting to show off any good things she got to the whole world.
A note from the author:
Many of you may have had Yangkang (a type of gynecological treatment), so please be careful about the aftereffects. If you experience symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, or nausea, please seek medical attention promptly.
I went to the hospital and had a lot of tests done. In the end, I was diagnosed with myocardial ischemia. I was sent home with a bag of medicine. I was really miserable.
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