Qin i and Jie Jingchen remained silent, listening quietly. Qin i couldn’t help stealing a few more glances at Jie Jingchen. ’This guy is so devious.’ She’d thought he had co to Second Auntie’s house without changing clothes because he genuinely didn’t care, or perhaps to win her sympathy. But now, it seed he didn’t want sympathy—he wanted to use a borrowed knife to kill.
Mr. Xie didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but Jie Jingchen was determined to make it public knowledge. And Second Auntie was the perfect person to spread the word.
She was warm-hearted and loved to ddle, and she was also on good terms with Mrs. Xie.
Qin i was very curious. How could a refined lady like Mrs. Xie have ever befriended the boorish and formidable Second Auntie?
You offer a true heart in exchange for another. If you can’t win one in return, you give up hope. If you can, you forge a deep friendship.
"Jing Si, Second Daughter-in-law Jing slashed you up like this, so where are your parents? What do they have to say about it?" Second Auntie asked.
"Second Auntie, you know how our family is," Jie Jingchen said with a helpless tone. "To my dad, it’s like choosing between the palm and the back of his hand—both are his flesh and blood. Since I wasn’t killed, he just wants to turn a big problem into a small one, and a small one into no problem at all."
Second Auntie was not pleased to hear that. "Both are his flesh and blood? I don’t think so. When you’re in danger, you instinctively protect your palm. It’s obvious who’s the palm and who’s the back of the hand."
Qin i blinked. ’Are you sure you’re not trying to drive a wedge between them?’ she wanted to ask Second Auntie.
Jie Jingchen simply smiled, saying nothing. His expression of silently bearing the humiliation was so moving that even she felt an urge to sharpen a knife in the dead of night and hack up Xu Chunyan to avenge him.
"And your mother? You think Doctor Qiao would let Second Daughter-in-law Jing off so easily?" Second Auntie asked. If anyone dared to slash her son, she would fight them with her life.
Jie Jingchen gave the sa reply. "I wasn’t killed."
Qin i was utterly speechless. ’This guy has completely mastered the art of manipulating people’s hearts.’
"What kind of nonsense is that? Does she have to wait until you’re dead to stand up for you? If that really happened, Doctor Qiao would regret it for the rest of her life," Second Auntie fud, slapping her thigh as she shot to her feet.
"If I were killed, the law would deliver justice," Jie Jingchen said, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile.
"Jing Si, you’ve been slashed and you can still smile? You really are sothing. Not even holding Second Daughter-in-law Jing responsible. How magnanimous!" Her last two words were dripping with sarcasm.
Jie Jingchen patted the back of Qin i’s hand. His thin lips parted, and he uttered four heart-wrenching words. "A harmonious family prospers."
Second Auntie was struck speechless. She stared at Jie Jingchen for a long ti before finally saying, "Fourth Wife of Jing, you should hurry and take Jing Si ho to recover. Honestly... getting slashed up like that and still coming over for dinner. You two should be resting at ho. You could have just had your mother tell , and I’d have had her take so food back for you."
"We’ve imposed, Second Auntie. Thank you for dinner," Jie Jingchen said gratefully. Qin i helped him to his feet. Leaning on her, Jie Jingchen put on an expression of barely suppressed pain, his other hand clutching his lower back.
"SIGH!" Second Auntie sighed yet again. "You injured your back on that business trip to Shanghai and haven’t even been able to go to work, just recovering at ho. And now look at this! Your back wasn’t even healed, and now you’ve been slashed. Jing Si, you’re just down on your luck this year. I’m going to have to talk to Doctor Qiao and tell her to take you to..."
"Second Auntie." Jie Jingchen’s expression darkened as he cut her off. "Loose lips sink ships," he warned. "Be careful soone doesn’t report you."
Engaging in feudal superstitions could get you arrested for "re-education." Second Auntie imdiately clapped a hand over her mouth, glancing around warily. She’d been so furious she’d lost her head and started spouting nonsense.
After seeing Jie Jingchen and Qin i out of the courtyard gate, Second Auntie looked around, still a little spooked. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she confird that no one from the other two households had co out.
"Xiao Ping, Xiao Bing, Grandma’s taking you back inside to bed," Second Auntie said to her two grandsons.
By the light of the moon, Qin i helped Jie Jingchen walk toward the Jie Family residence.
They hadn’t gone far before Qin i glanced back. Seeing no sign of Second Auntie, she let go of Jie Jingchen. "Okay, you can stop the act now."
Jie Jingchen kept a hand on his lower back, looking down at her. "My back really does hurt."
"Are you sure?" Qin i asked, unconvinced.
Jie Jingchen shot her a look and continued walking, one hand still pressed to his back.
Qin i stood rooted to the spot, watching him shuffle forward with difficulty, his hand on his back. ’He wouldn’t bother putting on an act for ,’ she thought. ’It must really hurt.’
’During the day, he took and Jing Qi out to the departnt store for a shopping spree. He walked all the way ho with because I get carsick, all while pushing Jing Qi. Not long after we got back, I got into a fight with Xu Chunyan, and he was slashed protecting . Then he took to crash dinner at Second Auntie’s. After all that, he must be completely exhausted.’
Qin i hurried to catch up with Jie Jingchen, taking his arm to support him. "I’ll give you so acupuncture when we get ho," she offered, trying to sound helpful.
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