After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Chapter 223 A stark contrast: A couple consumed by pure hatred.

Xie Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Xie Yuze with surprise.

Xie Yuze's gaze was fixed on her.

Why would my brother ask such a question?

Xie Mingzhu's eyes darted around, her heart filled with doubt and unease.

Did he discover something?

Thinking of this, Xie Mingzhu tilted her head and looked at Xie Yuze, asking in return, "Brother, do you think I'm hiding something from you?"

"Could it be that my brother has been cold to me lately because he thinks I'm hiding something from you and therefore suspects me?"

If someone only has some suspicions about Xie Mingzhu but no concrete evidence, they would definitely feel guilty upon hearing these words.

But Xie Yuze witnessed firsthand Xie Mingzhu's entanglement with remnants of the previous dynasty.

He asked the question with the truth in mind, so when he heard Xie Mingzhu's evasive answer, he was still disappointed.

He held the wooden figurine in his hand, sighed, stared into Xie Mingzhu's eyes, and asked again, "Are you really not hiding anything from us?"

"Mingzhu, your brother and I grew up together. Don't you trust your buddy?"

Xie Mingzhu was startled by his serious gaze and panicked, taking several steps back.

Seeing this, Xie Tongchen stepped in front of Xie Mingzhu, his eyes warning: "Third brother."

Xie Yuze withdrew his gaze, stuffed the wooden carving in his hand into Xie Tongchen's hand, and said, "Second brother needs this more than I do."

With that, he turned and left.

Upon seeing this, Xie Mingzhu burst into tears.

"Mingzhu..." Xie Tongchen anxiously tried to wipe away Xie Mingzhu's tears, but his hand froze on the spot just before he touched Xie Mingzhu's face.

"Brother?" Xie Mingzhu looked up at Xie Tongchen through teary eyes.

Xie Tongchen gently wiped away Xie Mingzhu's tears with his sleeve and said softly, "Mingzhu, don't cry."

"I will always be..." Xie Tongchen found himself unable to say the words his brother had said.

His feelings for Xie Mingzhu surpassed those of an ordinary brother for his sister.

He couldn't bring himself to say that he would always be Xie Mingzhu's brother.

What Xie Xing said...

Will it really happen?

A hint of confusion flashed across Xie Tongchen's eyes.

“Brother.” Xie Mingzhu grabbed Xie Tongchen’s hand, a single tear still glistening in her eye. She looked up at him and said, “I don’t know why my eldest brother and third brother suddenly seem like completely different people.”

"My heart aches."

Will you end up like your second and third brothers?

Xie Tongchen's voice was dry, but his tone was unwavering: "Mingzhu, don't worry, my feelings for you will never change."

Madam Xie, who was standing to the side, was initially looking on with a puzzled expression.

What's wrong with the third brother?

What is Mingzhu hiding this time?

But as she looked at Xie Mingzhu and Xie Tongchen, Madam Xie began to feel that something was amiss.

She walked between the two, separated Xie Mingzhu and Xie Tongchen's hands, and said with a smile, "Mingzhu, don't be sad. That brat Lao San is just asking for trouble. How dare he talk to you like that? Next time, I'll stand up for you."

"Mother will teach him a lesson!"

Xie Mingzhu lowered her eyes. "Thank you, Mother."

Her voice was choked with sobs, but her eyes showed no emotion.

I was just saying it to her. If she really thought it was too much, I should have stood up for her earlier. Why did I wait until now, after she had left, to say it?

Next time? Will there really be a next time?

……

the other side.

Jun Lanjin followed Xie Xing leisurely behind him.

Xie Xing walked ahead with his head down, and he followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Her inner thoughts, however, were quite complex.

Does my cousin Jiaojiao really have a way to legitimately humiliate Luo Hanfeng?

The system announced: "Host, based on the accumulated hatred points from last time, I've found a solution."

Xie Xing: [What method?]

The system chuckled: [This system has discovered that Luo Hanfeng's hatred towards the host only increases rapidly when the host is kind to Jun Lanjin.]

Therefore, host, you only need to treat them differently.

Xie Xing was bewildered: [What kind of logic is this?]

[An unhappy childhood requires a lifetime to heal.] The system's voice sounded somewhat cold at this moment. [The male protagonist's life was filled with misfortune; he was never truly loved, only loved based on weighing the pros and cons.]

In contrast, Jun Lanjin was born under the spotlight, favored by the emperor, and intelligent, achieving his peak right from the start. The author of this book intended this stark contrast to highlight the protagonist's pitiful state and evoke greater sympathy from the readers.

[However, the author did not expect that even though readers sympathized with the male protagonist, they would also like Jun Lanjin after his defeat and losses in battle.]

Junlan Jin never lacks love; those who never lack love often receive even more, while those who lack love, even when they beg for a little, receive nothing.

In comparison, hatred naturally shifted to the person who bestowed love.

Xie Xing was even more surprised. "Didn't Xie Mingzhu love him?"

[In the early part of the story, the male lead didn't love Xie Mingzhu either, because he felt that Xie Mingzhu's love for him was based on pity and charity, and he looked down on that kind of love.]

Xie Xing found it even more outrageous. "The problem is, I don't love him either!"

She hated Luo Hanfeng from beginning to end.

Indeed, Luo Hanfeng had an unfortunate childhood, and he was portrayed as very pitiful in the book.

But so what?

She's not a savior.

Moreover, her mission was to oppose Luo Hanfeng. She hated Luo Hanfeng, and it's normal that Luo Hanfeng wanted to kill her.

Surely she wouldn't fall in love with him after being tortured like this, would she?

That's outrageous.

What is she doing?

[Sigh!] The system sighed. [Maybe he felt good about it.]

I want to be your devoted husband and wife, even if it's just a matter of pure hatred.

Xie Xing: [6.]

Thank you very much, but she doesn't need it.

"Puch."

A soft laugh came from behind.

Xie Xing turned around and saw Jun Lanjin following right behind her.

The sunlight fell on him, making his skin appear even whiter and more delicate.

It was so white it was practically glowing.

"Your Highness." Xie Xing's eyes lit up. She skipped and hopped over to Jun Lanjin's side, put her hands behind her back, and asked, "Were you following me the whole time?"

Jun Lanjin reached out a hand to rest his chin: "I'm wondering when the Fifth Miss will finally notice me."

"But I never expected that Miss Xie wouldn't notice me at all if I didn't make a sound."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xie Xing with a half-smile: "No wonder the Fifth Miss was suddenly kicked into the lake while walking."

Xie Xing: "..."

She was a little embarrassed.

"Your Highness, please don't make fun of me."

Jun Lanjin looked at her for a while, then tapped her forehead with his finger and said in a low voice, "I'm curious what's going on in your head. Why do you keep using these little tricks to please me?"

Xie Xing covered his head.

This time, Jun Lanjin didn't knock hard. Xie Xing rubbed it and then said with a grin, "Doesn't Your Highness deserve someone to go to the trouble of making you happy?"

As she spoke, she took her hand out from behind her back and pulled out a painting.

Her hand trembled, and the painting fell to the ground with a clatter.