Chapter 218 How could this happen?
Xiao Jue was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted and took the initiative to kiss him.
Xie Qingran put her arm around his shoulder and affectionately nuzzled his nose: "Are you still scared now?"
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid!"
"Xie Qingran, you'll always stay by my side, right?"
Xiao Jue looked at Xie Qingran with a smile on his face.
"Yes, I will always stay by your side, accompany you, and love you."
Xie Qingran made a very serious promise.
She had never felt at home in either of her previous lives, but in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, she found a sense of belonging and a feeling of home, so how could she bear to leave?
The next day, early morning.
Xie Qingran went to the estate early to visit Wang Shi.
After divorcing Xie Yankang, Wang did not go home but lived alone here. Everything here was good and had everything she needed, so Wang's life was actually more comfortable than when she was in the Xie family.
It was only because of guilt and depression that he was bedridden and unable to get out of bed.
Looking at Wang's weathered face, Xie Qingran felt somewhat unfamiliar with her. In her memory, Wang was always glamorous and successful, completely different from how she looked now.
"You've arrived."
"Your brother said some unpleasant things yesterday, don't hold it against him. You know he's never been very bright!"
Wang looked at Xie Qingran with some worry, as if she was afraid that Xie Qingran would hold a grudge.
Seeing Wang Shi like this, Xie Qingran felt a little uncomfortable. She lowered her head and said softly, "He's been like this for a while now. If I were always angry, I would have died of anger long ago. Don't worry, I won't hold it against him."
"It's good that you don't mind. You came to see me, that's kind of you."
"Don't worry, it's not a serious illness."
Wang smiled faintly, noticing that Xie Qingran seemed to have improved somewhat after arriving.
Xie Qingran stepped forward, acting just like a daughter should, serving tea, water, and medicine. Unfortunately, Xie Qingran's movements were cold and indifferent, her eyes devoid of any concern or tenderness. So the whole process was devoid of any emotion; she was merely acting as a daughter, simply playing the role, without any real feeling.
Seeing Xie Qingran like this, Wang felt even more awkward and pained. She sighed helplessly and then said, "It's really unfair of you to have to serve me like this."
"This is what a daughter should do." Xie Qingran smiled slightly and looked at Wang Shi: "Mother, you should take good care of yourself and get well soon."
"You really did a great job playing the role."
"Qingran, you despise me, don't you?"
As Wang spoke, tears streamed down her face.
She held Xie Qingran's hand, choking back tears, and said, "Everything in the past was my fault, I'm so sorry for you. Please, please don't do this. We are mother and daughter, connected by blood!"
After raising those two children, Xie Qingran became even more certain that in both her past and present lives, Wang Shi had never truly loved her as her daughter.
She simply watched Wang Shi break down in silence: "If Xie Hanyue weren't the daughter of the Imperial Concubine, would you still say such things? Mother, isn't it good that we're living our lives as we are now? Why force things? Forced relationships are never sweet!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang was stunned and looked at Xie Qingran in disbelief: "You... how could you think like that? I admit that I did favor Xie Hanyue in the past, but I didn't wrong you, did I? Even your marriage was carefully chosen by me. I selected the best young men in the capital for you. I have you in my heart, and I have always had you as my daughter!"
Wang really couldn't understand what heinous things she had done that made her daughter refuse to acknowledge her as her mother, even to the point of death.
Seeing Wang Shi like this, Xie Qingran didn't even know where to begin to argue. After all, many things take time to develop. If Wang Shi truly believed that there was nothing wrong with what she was doing, then even if Xie Qingran spoke up now, it would be futile.
Left with no other choice, Xie Qingran could only sigh and say, "I'm not ignoring you, I'm just not close to you. No matter what, you will always be my mother, and that will never change!"
"Mother, I'll go check on the kitchen." Xie Qingran stood up, gave a proper bow, and then turned to walk outside.
Watching Xie Qingran's retreating figure, Madam Wang coughed violently, tears streaming down her face: "She hates me so much, she must hate me so much!"
"Please don't say that, young lady. That's not what you meant."
"She's still willing to come see the girl, which means she cares about you. Take it slow, you can take it slow."
Aunt Liu was very worried when she saw how weak Wang was, and quickly gave her a sip of ginseng soup!
Xie Zhaoye was waiting in the corridor. When he saw Xie Qingran come out so quickly, he immediately went over to her and looked at her with some dissatisfaction: "Mother is sick, and you're leaving so soon?"
"I'm not leaving, I'll go check the kitchen," Xie Qingran replied calmly.
There was a time when Xie Qingran would get annoyed whenever she saw this person, but now she doesn't care at all. She just thinks that this person is sometimes cutely silly, which is quite nice.
Xie Zhaoye hesitated for a moment when he looked at Xie Qingran's indifferent eyes before speaking, "I've thought about what you said that day carefully. I'm indeed not a good brother, and I can't unconditionally spoil you, but you're not a good sister either, so we're both wrong in this matter! You... you don't need to apologize to me. Just let's get along well in the future."
Why should I apologize to you?
Xie Qingran found him utterly ridiculous.
"You! Why won't you apologize to me? You haven't been very nice to me either, have you?"
"Xie Qingran, why can't you be nicer to me? I'm your brother. Would it kill you to smile at me?"
Xie Zhaoye couldn't understand why Xie Qingran was always so cold towards him.
Xie Qingran took a deep breath, then casually sat down on a chair and said lightly, "When I was on the estate, I had to get up before dawn every day to stand in line. Back then, Granny Wang wouldn't let me talk or laugh. She would even say I was being inappropriate if I breathed a little too loudly. After more than ten years on the estate, I had long forgotten what it looks like when someone laughs."
What?
Hearing this, Xie Zhaoye was somewhat surprised: "How could this be?"
"Otherwise, what did you expect it to be like?"
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