Shen Muyuan returned a smile and followed him.
The group sat down in the living room.
Jiang Mian covered her mouth and yawned, "A bit sleepy, I'll go upstairs and sleep for a while. You guys chat."
Shen Muyuan said gently, "Good afternoon."
After she went upstairs, Ji Zhixiu asked, "Are you here to take someone away?"
Shen Muyuan already knew the whole story, but no matter what, Shen Tingyu was still his sister.
He couldn't abandon her.
Shen Muyuan was silent for a moment, "Axiu. Give her to me, and I will give you a satisfactory resolution."
Ji Zhixiu's expression was stern, "It's hard to believe you'll have a good outcome."
His blatant doubt made Shen Muyuan uncomfortable.
His usually gentle face was stiff, and Shen Muyuan said helplessly, "Zhixiu, she's my only sister. For the sake of my parents, please don't hold a grudge against her. Can you forgive her this once?"
He had almost lost Jiang Mian.
Forgive her? What right did he have to forgive her on behalf of Jiang Mian?
"Do you think this is a matter of forgiveness or not?" Ji Zhixiu's voice was very faint, with a hint of mockery in the quiet living room.
Shen Muyuan knew he shouldn't have asked, but he had no choice. Shen Tingyu was his sister.
She had made a mistake, and as her brother, he had failed to discipline her.
He had never imagined that Shen Tingyu's obsession would run so deep, reaching this point.
When he heard the news, he couldn't believe it until he went to the laboratory to find the doctor.
Seeing that she could no longer hide it, the doctor told him the truth.
He only then realized how many things Shen Tingyu had done behind his back!
Her eyes had already recovered, and in secret, she had even undergone cosmetic surgery, all for Ji Zhixiu!
Shen Muyuan felt he hadn't paid enough attention to her, or she wouldn't have reached this stage.
He closed his eyes, in great pain, "Zhixiu."
If he couldn't bring his sister back, what would he say to his mother when she asked for her?
Ji Zhixiu said, "You can go see her."
He called out to Xiaobai, "Take Young Master Shen to the basement."
Xiaobai nodded, "Okay, this way please—"
Shen Muyuan stood up, gave Ji Zhixiu a deep look, and then walked away.
There was little sunlight in the basement, and the dim light gave off a chilly feeling as soon as one entered.
Shen Muyuan's brow was tightly furrowed, and it never relaxed.
Xiaobai opened the door, "This is it, Young Master Shen."
Shen Muyuan said, "Thank you."
Xiaobai repeatedly waved his hands, "You're too kind, too kind."
Having been here for so long, Shen Tingyu couldn't tell how much time had passed.
Day after day, she stared at the ceiling, the walls, the floor. If only she could have another chance.
She would design it better than she did now! It would never have ended up like this!
Hearing the sound of the door opening, she thought it was Nightwing again.
At first, she thought that no matter what, Ji Zhixiu would come to see her.
But she never expected this man to be so heartless, never visiting her once.
Gradually, she gave up.
She lowered her head, leaning against the wall, "Here again?"
"Tingyu."
Shen Muyuan's heart was complex. Looking at her strange yet familiar face, he couldn't immediately articulate what he felt.
Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Tingyu's blood seemed to freeze.
She slowly raised her head, "Brother..."
She hadn't expected her brother to come see her. With this face, she felt an indescribable discomfort for the first time.
In front of her brother, she couldn't deceive herself.
Shen Muyuan looked at her, "You've lost weight."
Shen Tingyu smiled foolishly, "Brother, I've been eating well every day."
Ji Zhixiu hadn't mistreated her in terms of meals.
She wouldn't make things difficult for herself and ate well every day.
Shen Muyuan opened his arms and hugged her, "Tingyu... how could you be so foolish?"
Her brother's embrace was always so reassuring.
Shen Tingyu smiled and hugged him tightly, "Brother, are you here to take me away? You and Zhixiu are good friends, you can definitely take me away, right? It's so cold here, I'm so scared at night..."
With every word she spoke, Shen Muyuan's heart ached more.
He affectionately stroked the top of her head. If it were anything else, he believed Zhixiu wouldn't be so stubborn.
For his sake, he certainly wouldn't be like this.
But this time, Jiang Mian was involved.
Everyone knew the depth of Ji Zhixiu's feelings for Jiang Mian.
Shen Muyuan lowered his head, "Tingyu, why did you provoke Jiang Mian? Didn't you tell me you'd let go? You lied to your family, disrespected your own body, and now you've caused this consequence. Have you ever thought about us? Mom is waiting for you at home, what will you do to her?"
Shen Tingyu couldn't help but cry. She didn't know what to do either.
She had deceived everyone, and at the same time, she thought she could deceive herself.
She thought she could let go of Ji Zhixiu, and she had tried, but she couldn't!
Shen Muyuan felt uncomfortable, but the consequences of this matter were severe. If he didn't say this, how would she learn her lesson?
Shen Muyuan said, "You must bear the consequences of your mistakes. Did you apologize to Jiang Mian? She may not accept it, but you must have the courage to admit your mistakes."
Hearing him say this, Shen Tingyu frantically shook her head.
Ask her to apologize to Jiang Mian? It would be better to kill her!
She couldn't do it!
"No, Brother, I don't want to!"
Seeing her unrepentant demeanor, Shen Muyuan was both angry and annoyed. "Tingyu! Do you even know what you've done! Jiang Mian almost didn't come back!"
"It's best if she didn't come back!"
"Slap."
A crisp slap echoed in the room.
Shen Muyuan's palm went numb. This slap was delivered in his rage, and it was not light.
From childhood to adulthood, he had never laid a finger on Shen Tingyu. He also would never allow anyone else to harm her.
And now, he had struck her himself...
That summer, their father brought home two strangers.
Their father told him that these were his sisters, and he had to take on the responsibility of an elder brother and take good care of his sisters.
He should not look down on his sister just because she came from the mountains.
Shen Muyuan remembered this for many years and never forgot it.
But now, what had he done?
Shen Muyuan's heart ached unbearably. He reached out a trembling hand, wanting to touch her cheek.
But Shen Tingyu turned her head away and dodged it. Shen Tingyu wanted to laugh, and she did.
Her favorite brother actually hit her for an outsider?
She laughed, tears streaming down her face, laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight. "How ridiculous! For her, my brother, who doted on me the most since I was little, actually hit me!"
"And what did you, who always talked about justice and morality, do? You fell for your good brother's wife. You like Jiang Mian too, don't you, Brother?"
She looked directly at Shen Muyuan, her gaze fearless and audacious.
Shen Muyuan's heart trembled, feeling a guilty conscience of being exposed. "Don't talk nonsense!"
"Am I talking nonsense? If I am, why did you name that cat 'Yuan Tou'? Are you going to tell me it's a coincidence?"
"Why is it that every time you look at Jiang Mian, your gaze is different? Why do you care so much about Jiang Mian? Are all of these my illusions? You keep telling me to stay away from Ji Zhixiu, but what have you done, Brother?"
Liking someone, no matter how well disguised, will always show in the details.
"Brother advised me not to target Jiang Mian. Is it for my own good, or are you afraid that something will happen to Jiang Mian again?"
Now that things had come to this, Shen Tingyu was no longer afraid. She might as well vent all the resentment in her heart.
Shen Muyuan took a step back, his gaze at her incredibly complex. "In your heart, is this how you think of me?"
Shen Tingyu saw the pain in his eyes and looked away. "Yes!"
"I have an undeniable responsibility for things turning out this way. No matter what, you are my sister, and I will not give up on you. Zhixiu won't let me take you away, but I will find a way. You... wait for your brother."
Shen Muyuan said in a deep voice.
Shen Tingyu gave a self-mocking smile. "Why are you still bothering with me? Pretend you don't have a sister like me from now on."
"I will pretend I didn't hear some of the things you said today. Tingyu, your family is waiting for you."
The basement returned to silence. The person had already left.
Shen Tingyu tilted her head up, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
Why would someone like her be worth worrying about?
Shen Muyuan returned upstairs. "You don't need to send me back. Please tell Zhixiu that I'm going home."
Xiaobai nodded, clearly seeing his low spirits. "Should I find someone to escort you?"
Shen Muyuan forced a smile. "No, thank you."
Xiaobai looked at his dejected back and scratched his head.
...
Jiang Mian slept from afternoon until eight in the evening.
She opened her phone by the bedside, and there was a message from Ji Zhixiu.
Xiū: [I'm going to the study for a meeting. Call me if you need anything.]
The message was sent half an hour ago.
Jiang Mian guessed he hadn't finished yet.
She yawned, got out of bed, put on slippers, and walked downstairs.
The living room was quiet and brightly lit.
Jiang Mian slowly descended the stairs and walked towards the kitchen.
Suddenly, she felt a bit hungry and came down to find something to eat.
The lights in the open-plan kitchen were also on.
As she walked closer, Jiang Mian faintly heard rustling sounds.
She frowned slightly and slowed her steps.
Song Yin was starving. He hadn't eaten all day.
Yesterday, after throwing a tantrum in front of Ji Zhixiu, he ran back to his room and regretted it.
Even his father had told him not to offend Ji Zhixiu, so why couldn't he control himself?
However, he simply couldn't accept Jiang Mian, and therefore couldn't accept this "brother-in-law."
He had come reluctantly in the first place. If his uncle hadn't persuaded him, he would still be at home now.
How good that would be.
He thought about it all night and didn't dare to come down for meals the next day.
But he didn't expect that no one called him for lunch and dinner! How hateful!
Seeing that there was no one in the living room, he tiptoed downstairs, intending to find something to eat.
However, this villa was so big, why were all the refrigerators filled with raw food?
Song Yin's face fell. He didn't know how to cook.
As she got closer, Jiang Mian finally saw a cautious figure in front of the refrigerator.
She couldn't help but laugh, "What do you want to eat?"
This sudden voice startled Song Yin.
He turned around and saw Jiang Mian.
He immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then put on a stern face and said angrily, "It's so late at night, are you trying to scare me to death?"
Jiang Mian ignored him and took two eggs from the refrigerator. "Don't you want any?"
Song Yin turned his head and snorted, "I don't want any."
If he didn't want any, why was he in the kitchen?
Jiang Mian secretly rolled her eyes.
"Gurgle..." An untimely sound suddenly appeared.
Song Yin's face instantly turned red. Trying to cover it up, he said, "It wasn't me!"
Jiang Mian suppressed a smile. "Okay, it wasn't you, it was me. I'm hungry, I'll eat."
She wanted something simple for dinner tonight and suddenly decided to make something herself.
Jiang Mian turned on the range hood and skillfully cracked two eggs.
Song Yin looked at the bottom of the pot, disdainfully mumbling, "Can you eat this? Do you know how to cook?"