Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Just Because I Like You Doesn’t Mean I Deserve to Be Bullied by You
Xie Jinbai was stunned. "So, this is my fault?"
"..."
Cui Mingrui’s lip twitched. She was his sister, after all; how could he say that Xie Jinbai had spoiled her rotten?
He sighed softly and said, "This is all just our speculation. If you want to know whether she’s telling the truth, you just have to test her."
Test her...
Xie Jinbai shook his head. "I can’t test her."
He had tried before.
He had used Li Wanrong to test her.
The consequences were something he regretted to this day.
Cui Mingrui said, "...No wonder Yaoyao is so confident."
Heavens above, he felt a surge of exasperation.
’How could any man be so pathetic?’
Especially a man who could kill without blinking an eye, a man who struck terror into the hearts of his enemies on the battlefield.
Xie Jinbai didn’t argue. He only said, "I promised her I wouldn’t make her angry again."
"...So, you really plan to listen to her and take a concubine to have a child?"
Cui Mingrui couldn’t hold back any longer. "Yaoyao might just be confused right now. If you really do this, and a child is born, it will be a thorn between you that can never be removed. You need to think this through."
Xie Jinbai fell silent.
’He’d never thought of having a child with another woman.’
’But if it was truly a matter of her life and death, did he have any other choice?’
Seeing him so conflicted, Cui Mingrui was left speechless.
Before, he had only suspected it, but now he was almost certain.
’He’s the one who spoiled her.’
’His completely spineless indulgence had spoiled her so much she didn’t even take him seriously anymore!’
"I am Yaoyao’s older brother. I absolutely will not allow her to make such a foolish mistake. Since you’ve told me about this, I can’t just stand by and watch you two torment yourselves."
Cui Mingrui said seriously, "Listen to me and test her. If she truly doesn’t care, then... then do as you wish."
’Even if it means taking a concubine.’
’If his sister didn’t mind...’
’...then he, as her brother, would naturally have nothing more to say.’
Xie Jinbai’s expression softened slightly.
"How do I test her?"
He stressed, "I can’t make Yaoyao sad."
"..." Cui Mingrui pressed his fingers to his forehead in frustration. "I’m her brother. Why would I actually want to hurt her?"
With that, he lowered his voice and laid out his plan in detail.
As Xie Jinbai listened, his expression changed. "Will this work?"
"It’s a better bet than you just going ahead and taking a concubine," Cui Mingrui said. "If Yaoyao gets the news and does nothing, then you can stop struggling and just do as she says. Take the concubine."
Take a concubine...
Xie Jinbai’s brow furrowed slightly. He was about to say more when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure walking toward them.
She had a slender frame and was dressed in light clothing. When a gust of autumn wind swept over, she looked as if she might be blown over.
Xie Jinbai immediately stopped talking, rose to his feet, and went to meet her. He took off his own cloak, draped it over her, and chided, "The wind is so strong. Why didn’t you wait for me to come get you? What are you doing wandering around by yourself?"
The heavy cloak enveloped her, and Cui Lingyao felt herself surrounded by that familiar scent. She sniffled and said softly, "I was waiting for a long time. It’s almost dark."
It really was getting dark.
Cui Mingrui also approached.
Cui Lingyao called out, "Brother," then tilted her head up to look at him with a smile. "You two never get along. Why so much to talk about today?"
Cui Mingrui gave a half-smile. "Perhaps your husband felt greatly wronged by you and came running to his big brother-in-law to complain."
Xie Jinbai: "..."
Cui Lingyao: "..."
She blinked, looking at the man before her suspiciously. "Complain?"
Xie Jinbai actually looked a little embarrassed.
He bent down, scooped her up by the back of her knees, and lifted her into his arms. He said to Cui Mingrui, "Thank you for your time today. Yaoyao and I will be heading home now."
Cui Mingrui nodded and walked them to the entrance of the estate. He said to his sister, nestled in her husband’s arms, "Come home more often when you have time. Mother and Father miss you."
"I know," Cui Lingyao said, peeking out from the cloak. Her face was flushed red. She waved at her brother. "It’s so cold. Brother, you should go back inside."
This was her unique way of saying goodbye.
Cui Mingrui was long used to it.
As was Xie Jinbai.
He carried her into the carriage.
The wheels began to turn slowly. Inside, only the husband and wife remained.
Cui Lingyao pulled the cloak away from her face and asked curiously, "What did you and my brother talk about?"
"Nothing much."
Xie Jinbai took her by the shoulders, pulled her into his embrace, and wrapped the cloak tightly around her again. "Are you cold?" he asked.
"I’m not cold," Cui Lingyao said, looking up from his arms. She pressed on, "Do you really feel you’ve been greatly wronged by me?"
Xie Jinbai’s body stiffened. He looked down at her. "What do you think?"
’Was he wronged or not? Did she really not know?’
’Or was Cui Mingrui right?’
’Because he was the one desperately chasing after her, she never took him seriously.’
’Did she just take it for granted that she could ignore all his feelings?’
’Bullying him just like that?’
Cui Lingyao did a little self-reflection.
"Maybe a little," she said after a moment’s thought. She tilted her head up and pecked him on the chin. "Does that make you feel better?"
The soft touch on his chin made Xie Jinbai’s body go rigid.
He felt no joy, only a chilling bitterness.
’All this time, just how pathetic had he been?’
’Pathetic enough for her to think that no matter how deep the wound, a tiny, weightless bit of sweetness was enough to fix it.’
’Just like now. After treating him like that... treating him like *that*...’
’...she still thought a soft little kiss...’
"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Cui Lingyao asked, surprised. She pushed herself up from his embrace, wrapped her arms around his neck, and went to kiss him again.
Her familiar, refreshing scent drew near. The instant before their lips touched, Xie Jinbai tilted his head back.
...He avoided it.
For the first time, her initiated kiss missed its mark. Cui Lingyao froze, at a bit of a loss.
"What’s wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
Xie Jinbai leaned his head back against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, and said no more.
Inside the carriage, the air grew still.
His hand was still on her waist.
’He was still holding her, still worried about her being cold.’
’But... he wouldn’t let her kiss him.’
After a moment of helplessness, a flicker of annoyance rose in Cui Lingyao.
She cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips forcefully against his, kissing him several times. "Go on, dodge again!" she said, annoyed. "Am I not allowed to kiss you?"
"..." Xie Jinbai opened his eyes and looked at the girl before him, her face full of vibrant anger.
"What do you want me to do?"
He took a deep breath and pulled her hands from his face. "Humiliate me, trample all over me, and then when I’m grievously wounded and on the verge of death, toss me a piece of candy? And I’m supposed to happily accept it and thank you for your profound grace?"
"Yaoyao, you can’t treat people like this."
Xie Jinbai looked at the woman in his arms, his tone calm. "I’m just in love with you. That doesn’t mean I deserve to be bullied by you."
’Deserve to be bullied by you...’
Cui Lingyao’s breath hitched. She wanted to retort, ’Who’s bullying you?’
Then she wanted to say, ’Weren’t you the one who shamelessly begged me to come back?’
’What’s wrong with bullying you a little?’
But his eyes were too still, like a bottomless, dark pool.
Unstirred by any ripple.
Cui Lingyao’s heart tightened. A strange panic set in, and she felt she had to say something.
Her lips parted, and she stammered, "I... I didn’t mean to bully you."
Xie Jinbai tightened his grip on her waist and gave a miserable smile, saying nothing more.