Chapter 201 - 199: Call me Brother

Words : 1537 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Xue Ling’s expression turned grim. He had only entertained a few guests, yet his own backyard was already on fire! The little golden canary he had hidden away had been dragged out into the open! "Ling’er!" Madam Xue wiped her tears and stood up, holding Xue Mianmian tightly. "This is your sister, Mianmian!" Xue Ling stared at Xue Mianmian with a sinister gaze, smiling coldly as he enunciated every word: "Sister Mianmian?" Xue Mianmian had long been terrified of him. She dared not meet his gaze, lowering her head and timidly shrinking behind Madam Xue. Xue Ling ground his teeth, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Mother, I only have Qingqing as my real sister. Where did this ’Sister Mianmian’ come from?" Madam Xue clung tightly to Xue Mianmian and choked out, "I know, my child, years ago there was a mix-up with the children that caused you to suffer for over a decade—it’s been an injustice to you. But this was all the scheme of that concubine; Mianmian was just a baby at the time, what could she possibly have known? I’ve adored her for the past ten years and treated her as my own daughter. Ling’er, I can’t bear to let her go, I just can’t part with her!" Madam Xue sobbed pitifully. After a moment of crying, she added, "I only wish to adopt her as a foster daughter. She’s gentle and well-behaved. She won’t take anything away from you, nor will she ever get in your way..." "Has Mother gone mad?" Xue Ling muttered, determined to block her intention. "Even if she’s a foster daughter, when she gets married, you and Father will still have to give her a dowry. Mother, everything in the Xue family belongs to me. I won’t let her take a single coin of my inheritance!" "You disgraceful brat!" The Xue Family’s Chief of Staff finally arrived, pointing at Xue Ling and berating him. "Your mother and I aren’t even dead yet, and you’re already eyeing the family fortunes?! You’re a man—how can you be so petty?!" Madam Xue interjected, "Ling’er, don’t worry about it. Mianmian’s dowry will come out of my own dowry!" "No way!" Xue Ling remained opposed. "Your dowry belongs to Qingqing! Why should it be shared with some unrelated outsider?" "Elder Brother," Xue Qingqing stepped forward, clutching Xue Mianmian tightly and secretly taking her hand. "I don’t mind. I truly don’t mind if Mother splits half the dowry for Sister. Even if Mother wants to give it all to her, I would happily agree! I just want Sister to come home... Elder Brother, please treat her as your sister, just like me. We promise to be good to you and honor you dearly in the future!" Madam Xue urged Xue Mianmian, "Call him Brother quickly." Xue Mianmian shivered, mustered her courage, and bowed slightly toward Xue Ling: "Brother..." Xue Ling felt his jaw ache. "Brother?" He would never accept being called Brother by Xue Mianmian! Yet, the decision was already made. His opinions held no sway in the Xue family. Under the resolute arrangements of the Chief of Staff and Madam Xue, today’s banquet immediately turned into Xue Mianmian’s welcome party and recognition ceremony. Xue Mianmian was escorted by the maid to the girl’s chamber to freshen up and change. Madam Xue treated her like a precious pearl in her palm, even though she had been absent for so many years. Her chamber remained the same as it had been years ago, adorned with even more delightful and charming ornaments. Whatever Xue Qingqing had, Madam Xue made sure Xue Mianmian had as well. The wardrobe was stocked with freshly tailored dresses and embroidered shoes every year, in case Mianmian suddenly returned home and needed something to wear. Xue Mianmian couldn’t help but collapse onto the bed, crying her heart out. Once she’d finished crying, she freshened up and changed into one of the jackets and skirts Madam Xue had purchased for her. She sat before the dressing table. In the bronze mirror, a young girl stared back at her. Her twin-loop bun was neatly styled, her cheeks round, and she wore a tender green narrow-sleeved jacket trimmed with rabbit fur. Her skirt was embroidered with golden thread depicting jade rabbits pounding medicine, and dangling heavily on her chest was a golden Eight Treasures necklace. She reached out to touch her cheek. She was Xue Mianmian again. A legitimate Xue Mianmian who could appear proudly under the sunlight, a Xue Mianmian who could cling to her mother’s arm and act spoiled. The past four years of being imprisoned by Xue Ling suddenly felt like a distant dream... She angled her large, deer-like eyes toward the mirror, a sweet curve forming at their edges. But out of nowhere, another face appeared in the reflection. Red lips, white teeth, and hauntingly handsome yet carrying a gloomy wrath in his expression. Xue Ling! Xue Mianmian gasped in fright, spinning around to find Xue Ling already closing in on her. Xue Ling curled his lips maliciously, reaching out to grip her delicate chin: "What are you afraid of? Weren’t you just happily calling ’Brother’? Call me again—why not keep calling?" Xue Mianmian breathed heavily, her eyes reddened with fear, brimming with unshed tears. Xue Ling teased, "Why are you crying? Call me!" Shaking all over, Xue Mianmian stammered in a soft, trembling voice, "Bro... Brother..." Xue Ling’s temples throbbed angrily. "I told you to call me, and you actually dare?!" "Wahhh..." Xue Mianmian burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. "You were the one who told me to call! If I don’t call, you get angry; if I do, you’re still upset..." Xue Ling was an unpredictable man. She felt like the universe had dealt her the worst possible hand by crossing paths with him. Infuriated, Xue Ling leaned in close, his voice lowering ominously as he threatened, "Don’t think that just because Mother has acknowledged you as a foster daughter that I’ll step aside. Xue Mianmian, what’s owed to me will take you a lifetime to repay." His eyes dropped, landing on her alluring cherry-red lips. His Adam’s apple shifted slightly, and suddenly he kissed her hard. Xue Mianmian’s pupils widened, and her entire body froze. She was supposed to be Xue Ling’s adopted sister now—how could he still dare...? Xue Ling admired the shocked look on her face, smirking coldly. "This is my home—I do as I please here. If you have the guts, go complain to Father and Mother. I’d like to see who they favor more, their foster daughter or their biological son. Xue Mianmian, I will never let you go in this lifetime." The pads of the young man’s roughened fingertips brushed her lower lip in a lingering manner. He gave her one last intense look before scoffing and storming away. Xue Mianmian felt like the world was collapsing. She slumped over the dressing table, sobbing yet again. When her tears were spent, only one thought remained: Marry herself far, far away! Elsewhere. Xue Ling sought out Shen Yinning without preamble. He got straight to the point: "Did you orchestrate today’s events?" Shen Yinning feigned innocence. "What do you mean by that, Young Master Xue? Mianmian’s reunion with her family was clearly the work of Miss Luo. What does it have to do with me?" "Luo Wanxiang is as dumb as a pig—a brain like hers could never concoct this. But before the incident, you were the only one who met with Luo Wanxiang. Shen Yinning, are you relying on the Crown Prince’s backing to think you’re untouchable when it comes to me?" "I don’t understand what Young Master Xue is trying to say." "Just wait." With those two words, Xue Ling left. Shen Yinning knew he sought vengeance. From the moment she helped Mianmian return to Madam Xue and Xue Qingqing, she had braced herself to face Xue Ling’s retaliation. She did not regret it. But she didn’t expect Xue Ling’s revenge to come so swiftly, so ruthlessly. The banquet had barely ended, the guests still gathered in the garden pavilion chatting, when someone arrived looking for her. The visitor was a chubby young merchant with an affable demeanor. It was none other than the man who had presented a set of kingfisher feather jewelry on Lu Ying’s behalf months ago, seeking to become a royal tea supplier. He was led into the pavilion and bowed respectfully to Lu Ying: "This humble one, Qian Duobao, greets His Highness the Crown Prince!" As he raised his head, he noticed the two kingfisher hairpins adorning Shen Yinning’s updo and immediately bowed fervently to her: "This humble one greets Her Highness the Crown Princess Consort!" He recognized the hairpins. It was the pair he had gifted to the Crown Prince earlier in the year in hopes of gaining favor. Appearing in this young lady’s hair, she must surely be the Crown Princess Consort. Shen Yunxi couldn’t believe her ears and scolded, "Why are you bowing randomly?! What makes you think she’s the Crown Princess Consort?! I am!" Xue Ling reclined in his armchair, leisurely caressing his teacup, and remarked with amusement, "Qian Duobao, how could you mistake the person?"

Chapter 201 - 199: Call me Brother

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