Chapter Sixteen: Another Scumbag Appears
"From today onwards,"
Qin Zhining took a half step back, creating distance between them. "I, Qin Zhining, have no brotherly or sisterly affection for you, Qin Chengxuan."
You protect your dear sister, I'll walk my own narrow path. If you dare block my way again, don't blame me for severing all ties with you right now.
Before she finished speaking, she had already turned around and grabbed Qin Xiaoxiao's hand, leaving Qin Chengxuan frozen in place.
Watching the two resolute figures walk away, I felt a chill run from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.
"Sever ties with family?" Qin Chengxuan was stunned. This younger sister wanted to sever ties with her family? Where did she get the courage to do that? On what grounds did she—want to sever ties?
Qin Chengxuan couldn't understand Qin Zhining, but he felt that he had really pushed this younger sister away completely.
And the sister he had so wholeheartedly protected now seemed utterly repulsive.
He suddenly remembered what Qin Youming had said a few days ago.
The father said that the He family only recognized Qin Zhiyu as their daughter-in-law, and told him to avoid causing trouble and not to delay his sister's marriage.
At the time, I only thought that my father valued my younger sister, but now that I think about it, it seems that my parents and older sister had planned it all along!
"You...you don't go, listen to me." Qin Chengxuan didn't know why he called out to Qin Zhining, and shouted, "Don't go yet."
Hearing his shout, Qin Zhining led Qin Xiaoxiao back, and seeing the light in his eyes gradually dimming, she smiled.
"Qin Chengxuan, you still haven't figured it out, and you're still thinking about the jade that was smashed earlier? Haha... It's okay if you don't understand. I'll give you a little pointer since we both have the surname Qin."
So, let me ask you again, why did He Qilin deliberately give you this fake jade in front of me? Why didn't he give it to Qin Zhiyu?
She picked up the broken jade from the ground and stuffed it back into his hand, deliberately speaking up for him, "Because in his eyes, you and this stone are the same, just paving the way for Qin Zhiyu. If you break, just throw them away."
Qin Chengxuan held the broken jade in his hand, recalling how He Qilin's eyes were always glued to Qin Zhiyu whenever he came to the manor, and how he would only give him perfunctory replies in order to get close to and please his sister.
On several occasions, when my sister met He Sanlang, it was he who helped her, and it was my sister who coaxed him into doing it with sweet words.
Qin Chengxuan felt extremely disgusted at the thought that he was the one being used.
Especially when I think of what my father and mother always said, "You should help your younger sister more; only when she is doing well will you be doing well."
"Once Ayu gets married, your future will depend on the He family." He felt very uncomfortable when he heard these words.
"You...you hate me that much?" His voice lowered, carrying a dejection he himself didn't even realize.
Qin Zhining sarcastically said, "Having been fooled by He Qilin with a fake jade for so many years, and still carrying it around like a treasure every day, I'm afraid the whole of Lincheng County will laugh at you if word gets out."
Your sister has a real pearl hairpin, and you're carrying a fake one. Tsk tsk, you really can't compare to Qin Zhiyu in our parents' hearts.
These words slithered into Qin Chengxuan's heart like a venomous snake. He struggled violently, shouting, "You're talking nonsense! I'm the only son in the Qin family, and my father loves me the most!"
"Is that so?" Qin Zhining suddenly made a move, neatly putting the rope around his neck again and dragging him towards the main house. "That's perfect, let your father be the judge."
"Is He Sanlang looking down on you, that's why he gave you a fake? Let the neighbors see how smug the county magistrate's son has been fooled by a two-tael silver fake jade for so many years."
"Let me go!" Qin Chengxuan was both scared and angry, but he was so choked that his whole body went limp.
The servants were too frightened to step forward, watching helplessly as their master was dragged away by a skinny girl, who kept shouting "fake jade" and "shameful," and they were frantic with worry.
To prevent the servants and guards from launching a sneak attack, Qin Xiaoxiao held a wooden stick and remained on guard at all times.
In the wind and snow, Qin Zhining dragged Qin Chengxuan toward the main house, her thin figure exuding a ruthless and destructive aura.
She knew that to bring down Aunt An and her daughter, she had to first break up the seemingly harmonious relationship between the illegitimate siblings and defeat them one by one.
Qin Chengxuan, a pawn with a strong sense of jealousy and a great desire to save face, was just the right person to use.
The laughter from the main house grew closer, and an even bigger storm was brewing amidst the snowstorm.
However, before they could even get close to the main room, they suddenly heard light footsteps coming from around the corner of the veranda.
Qin Zhiyu, supported by Chun Tao, walked out gracefully.
Her plain white skirt was covered with grass clippings, and her eyes were red as she looked at Qin Chengxuan, tears falling like pearls from a broken string. "Brother, how could you listen to her instigation?"
I sent Chun Tao to find you earlier because I was afraid you'd act impulsively and make a mistake! Look at her, she tied you up and said such hurtful things; she clearly wants to turn my brother and me against each other..."
It turned out that Qin Zhiyu had appeased her father in the main room, but worried about her younger brother's situation, so she hurriedly changed her clothes and wanted to come and check on him.
When she arrived at the Moon Gate, she ran into He Sanlang and He Qilin, who had come uninvited.
Qin Zhiyu was lost in thought, twisting her handkerchief with her head down, when she caught a glimpse of that familiar figure in a green robe out of the corner of her eye, and was so startled that she almost dropped the handkerchief.
When she looked up and met He Qilin's smiling eyes, her cheeks flushed instantly, and even her voice trembled slightly with a hint of shyness, "Mr...Mr. He? What brings you here?"
Before she could finish speaking, her fingertips had already crumpled the handkerchief, and her waist was unconsciously twisting slightly. Yet, afraid that he would see her panic, her posture carried a hint of coquettishness, as if she was trying to hide it.
Seeing her like this, He Qilin's smile deepened.
He didn't show it at all, but deliberately avoided her gaze, scratched his temple, and said in a somewhat "hasty" flattery tone, "I...I came to see you."
As soon as she finished speaking, as if afraid of being too abrupt, she hurriedly changed her words, her eyes drifting towards the courtyard, "Oh no, I wanted to ask Brother Chengxuan for a cup of tea."
He spoke hastily, his voice still carrying a hint of barely concealed panic, but his stolen glance lingered on her face for a moment before moving on.
It's clearly a pretext that shows a lack of sincerity.
Qin Zhiyu felt a mix of sweetness and panic at his attempt to cover up his true intentions. Her earlier shyness was now tinged with an indescribable reproach. Her fingers, which were tightly gripping the handkerchief, twisted gently, and she forgot how to respond.
"You... is that Brother Chengxuan in the manor?" He Sanlang asked, trying to make conversation.
Qin Zhiyu nodded. "Yes, she is. She was just talking to me for a while. Right now, she's probably going to see my younger sister who just entered the manor."
Mentioning his younger sister, He Sanlang's eyes narrowed slightly, which was exactly what he wanted. He patiently coaxed Qin Zhiyu a few more times, and the two of them were so affectionate that anyone who didn't know better would think they were childhood sweethearts with a deep bond.
"Ah—Ah Yu," He Sanlang had other things on his mind, so he made up an excuse and left first, heading towards the artificial rockery.
Qin Zhiyu watched him hurry past the artificial rockery with lingering reluctance, and then, with Chun Tao's help, hurried towards the moon gate.
As she approached, she overheard Qin Zhining and Qin Chengxuan talking behind her. Anxious and disregarding everything else, she quickly adopted a weak and vulnerable demeanor, tearfully explaining to her brother.
Hehe... The moment they met, her tears, which seemed made of water, started flowing without warning. She even pretended to be sad and scolded Qin Chengxuan, looking like she had been hurt by her own younger brother.
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