Ling Chuxia narrowed her eyes deeply, trying hard to recall. A vague impression seemed to linger in her mind, but it was just that—a fleeting impression. For her, everything about the orphanage represented a stained past she could never want to remember. All that mattered to her was the fact she was a daughter of the Shi Family and would become the future Young Madam of the Shi Family.
Gripping Bai Yixuan’s arm tightly, Ling Chuxia could not dare to look at him, afraid to see the disappointment in his eyes—for it was clear she was just using him now.
She gazed at Ling Yunshu, suppressing her own guilt as she continued, "I’ve liked Brother Xuan since I was a child, and elder sister, you know that too. Brother Xuan liked me as well, which is why he has been searching for me all these years. Just the other day, when I visited the orphanage, I ran into him. I was truly moved when I found out he’s been looking for me all along."
Ling Chuxia’s hand unconsciously tightened on Bai Yixuan’s arm, squeezing a bit too firmly. Bai Yixuan slightly furrowed his brow in response, but looking at Ling Chuxia’s pale face, her swollen eyes, and her trembling body, he couldn’t bring himself to call her out on her blatant lies.
"You say I love Shi Che, and yes, I admit it," she spoke, "but you are wrong about one thing. I did love Shi Che, but the moment I decided to be with Brother Xuan and came here, I stopped loving him. My agreeing to serve as his secretary this time was also for Brother Xuan, nothing improper with Shi Che, who... who is now my brother-in-law. I still have that bit of decency."
When Ling Chuxia raised her voice on the last sentence, it was almost a roar, startling even Ling Yunshu into silence for a long while.
The entire house fell deathly quiet in an instant. After a long pause, Ling Yunshu collected herself, her eyes darting around before settling on Bai Yixuan, pondering. Original content can be found at novel fire.net
Bai Yixuan met her gaze head-on, not flinching in the slightest, his eyes even held a trace of firm defiance, and endless mockery.
He finally understood what had really happened during the three years of marriage that Xiaxia had briefly described to him, the tragedies that befell her. It turned out Ling Yunshu had played a significant role.
Even though he didn’t know the details, as her elder sister—her own blood sister! The way she pressurized Xiaxia, forcing her to lie and bear all the grievances, was utterly laughable.
Back when they were children in the orphanage, he had noticed that Ling Yunshu’s kindness towards Xiaxia wasn’t genuine; she was merely using Xiaxia as a minion to highlight her own goodness.
And then, when his father had agreed to adopt Xiaxia, who had gleefully accepted, the very next day, she abruptly refused, insisting on bringing her sister along.
At the time, he thought it was just sisterly affection, but now he wondered if that was truly the case.
Perhaps Ling Yunshu had spoken ill in the background, and since Xiaxia was someone who valued relationships deeply, she couldn’t just abandon her sister.
The more Bai Yixuan thought about it, the colder and sharper his gaze became. He looked at Ling Yunshu and spoke with a deep voice, "Ling Yunshu, Xiaxia is with me now. She is my girlfriend, and I’m the one she likes, not your fiancé. Moreover, instead of coming here to attack her, you’d better keep an eye on your own man. If his heart isn’t with you, no amount of effort on your part will make any difference!"