Chapter Nineteen: Selling Out That Scumbag He
Qin Chengxuan's wrist bones ached from being squeezed so hard, and the word "fiancée" stung his heart.
He struggled a few times but couldn't move an inch. He could only watch helplessly as Qin Zhiyu hid behind He Qilin, the panic in his eyes gradually replaced by grievance.
And so it is; they are always on the same side, while he is always the isolated fool.
Thinking about how she had been played like a dog by He Sanlang, Qin Zhining felt all her strength drain away and collapsed to the ground.
Qin Zhining glanced at the farce, scoffed disdainfully, and turned to leave.
He Qilin, as if possessed, called out to her, "Ah-A Ning, wait."
Qin Zhining turned around, looking at him with a half-smile, her eyes full of mockery.
"Young Master He, I think I just told you that we are not familiar with each other, so please don't call me by my name. It makes me feel disgusted."
Moreover, you may not have forgotten what you said. I still remember clearly what you said when you broke off the engagement: "The Qin woman is vulgar and unworthy of my attention."
Since we have no connection anymore, why do you keep calling my name despite my warnings? Are you deliberately being a nuisance?
So, Mr. He, please don't call me by my name anymore. It's disgusting to me. You may be shameless, but I still have my pride.
"You—" He Qilin's eyes instantly turned venomous, but he couldn't say anything more; his disgust was impossible to hide.
Although Qin Zhiyu did not use Qin Chengxuan to get rid of Qin Zhining, He Qilin's protection of her made her heart feel as sweet as if it were soaked in honey.
"Chengxuan, what are you standing there for?" Aunt An immediately reprimanded Qin Zhining with a stern expression as she saw her walk away. "Hurry up and apologize to Qilin!"
Qin Chengxuan ignored her and just stared intently in the direction where Qin Zhining disappeared.
The wind under the eaves ruffled his clothes, and the boy's straight spine had somehow acquired a touch of coldness and hardness.
He finally understood.
In this family, the so-called kinship was nothing more than a stepping stone for the older sister and a pawn for the father's promotion.
No wonder my sister went "crazy" as soon as she got back. With family like that, who wouldn't go crazy?
Qin Zhining led Qin Xiaoxiao behind the screen wall, and when she heard the arguing sounds fading away behind her, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
His fingertips unconsciously traced the rough wood grain of the stool, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Qin Chengxuan's position has been temporarily secured, but this is far from enough.
Qin Youming's hypocrisy, Qin Anshi's meanness, and Qin Zhiyu's ruthlessness—they owe the original owner the blood debt they owe to that little girl who was tortured to death in the dilapidated house in their ancestral home. They must collect it all back, bit by bit, with interest.
As the sun gradually slanted westward, its golden-red light spilled onto the blue brick ground, casting her shadow long and thin.
Qin Zhining gripped the bench tightly, her palms aching from the wood grain, yet she felt incredibly secure.
It's time for a change in the Qin family's situation.
She simply pulled Qin Xiaoxiao behind the screen wall, wanting to see for herself how Qin Zhiyu would put on airs in front of He Qilin.
Let's see how Aunt An is courting death in front of her son.
I'm even more curious to see how much more Qin Chengxuan can wake up this time.
Sure enough, a moment later, Qin Zhiyu's soft voice was heard, "Sanlang, I...I embroidered a purse for you."
She didn't mention her younger brother who was slumped on the ground at all, but instead went straight to He Qilin to fawn over him.
The purse was indeed exquisitely embroidered, with fine stitches depicting mandarin ducks playing in the water, showing that it had been carefully made.
It seems that Qin Zhiyu is not entirely without merit.
He Qilin beamed with joy and quickly reached out to take it, saying, "Then I thank Miss Ayu very much."
Qin Zhiyu lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushed, and her voice was so sweet it could drip water, "Sanlang, you're too kind. If you like this purse... it would be my honor."
The two walked away side by side, chatting and laughing, without glancing at Qin Chengxuan once, as if the person on the ground was just an eyesore.
Qin Chengxuan stared at their well-matched backs, his clenched fists turning white at the knuckles, and his face drained of all color.
Aunt An didn't care about her son's sadness at all. She just stared at the direction where Qin Zhining disappeared and cursed through gritted teeth, "That jinx, she brought a little mute into the house and caused trouble as soon as she entered."
Chengxuan, remember this: stay away from her from now on. Hmph, shameless little bitch, why doesn't she just die in her ancestral homeland? What is she doing back here causing trouble?
"I'm meddling? I'm causing trouble?"
Qin Zhining suddenly darted out from behind the screen wall, her figure as fast as the wind. Before Aunt An could react, she delivered two resounding slaps to her face!
"Crack! Crack!" The sharp sound silenced the surrounding area.
Aunt An was spun around on the spot after being slapped. Her left cheek burned and went numb, while a five-finger mark instantly appeared on her right cheek. Both sides were swollen and red, making them appear "symmetrical".
She was stunned for a moment before screaming like a pig being slaughtered, "You dare hit me? Qin Zhining, you jinx, are you crazy?"
Qin Zhining was still not satisfied after hitting her, so she snatched the real jade stone hidden in her sleeve, held it up in front of her, and said slowly, "Compared to you throwing me to my ancestral home to die, what is this?"
"Aunt An, look carefully—how much is this jade worth compared to my life?" Before she finished speaking, she flicked her wrist and threw the jade hard at the stone table not far away.
"Crack."
The jade shattered with a crack, sending up shimmering white fragments. Upon closer inspection, the delicate patterns at the break revealed it to be a piece of truly fine jade.
"Stop! Qin Zhining, stop right now!"
Qin Youming had just entered the backyard when he witnessed this scene. His face turned ashen as he rushed over, pointing at her and trembling with anger.
Aunt An, ignoring the pain in her face, screamed, "Stop her! You little slut, if you dare to ruin Zhenyu, I'll take your life!"
Unfortunately, the shout came too late; the jade pendant had already shattered into dust.
Qin Zhining threw her head back and laughed loudly, her laughter full of sarcasm. "County Magistrate Qin, Aunt An, open your dog eyes and take a good look."
It's just a rock; I can smash it whenever I want. So, I advise you not to mess with me in the future.
Treating the cold as precious things, yet being cold-blooded and heartless towards your own children—only your whole family could be so ignorant and so despicable.
She abruptly changed the subject, her gaze sweeping over Qin Zhiyu's retreating figure in the distance, her tone growing colder, "Oh, by the way, that He Qilin—"
The so-called son of a prefectural magistrate is nothing more than someone who climbed the social ladder by having his sister become a concubine of the prefect, and he thinks he's all that.
"Tch, I don't want that kind of sycophantic, bullying man anymore. I'll give him to my sister. Father and Aunt An must keep him safe and sound, don't lose him, otherwise it would be a disservice to your servile, obsequious ways."
"Qin Zhining, don't think I can't deal with you." Qin Youming was almost furious. "If you dare to cause any more trouble, I'll send you back to your ancestral home and never let you come back."
"Oh? You want to send me away?" Qin Zhining sneered disdainfully. "My legs are my own, try sending me away and see what happens."
Alright, enough with the nonsense. I'll just tell you both straight: I, Qin Zhining, don't give away my things for free.
She changed her tone again, holding up five fingers, "The He family man was given to my sister, so you have to compensate me with five hundred taels of silver. I need to see him now."
"If you lose even a single penny, I'll tear this family apart, and I'll make sure your position as county magistrate is secure, let alone your promotion!"
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