“I had no choice, I had no choice.” Li Jiǎo held Li Hui tightly. “Who knows what that beast would have done? If I had said my name, what if it aroused his bestial nature even more? After all, he and I were once engaged for over ten years.”

Li Hui let his arms hang down, allowing Li Jiǎo to embrace him, his face deathly pale as he asked: “Elder Sister, when you gave Third Sister’s name, did that beast let you go?”

He wasn’t stupid. Elder Sister revealing her identity was like grasping at a piece of driftwood in desperation, gambling on that one-in-ten-thousand chance that the beast might have a moment of conscience. But in truth, Elder Sister knew in her heart that this was futile, so she used Third Sister’s name—if there were any consequences, Third Sister would naturally bear them.

Li Jiǎo was left speechless by Li Hui’s question, only able to sob.

Li Hui gently pushed her away: “Does Elder Sister truly feel no guilt toward Third Sister?”

“I do! Third Brother, what kind of person do you take me for? Afterward, I felt terrible and blamed myself. Whenever I think of that scene, I’m filled with regret.”

“If that’s the case, why is Elder Sister dissatisfied that I stepped forward?”

Li Jiǎo was stunned by the question.

Li Hui’s lips curved in a mocking smile: “Are we all precious people, while only Third Sister deserves to have her reputation ruined and be worthless?”

Li Jiǎo’s face paled as she stepped back several paces: “Third Brother, are you blaming me? Yes, in my heart, you are naturally more precious. You’re the only male heir in our family—the entire West Residence depends on you to bring honor to our ancestors. If you ruin your future, it’s not just your matter alone—all the elders will be heartbroken. If I had known you would step forward, I would rather have stepped forward myself.”

“I know Elder Sister has always thought of me.” Li Hui closed his eyes, the smile at the corner of his mouth making Li Jiǎo’s heart uneasy.

He opened his eyes, his dark, bright pupils staring directly at Li Jiǎo: “Now Third Sister has already resolved the external matters—Elder Sister needn’t step forward anymore. So, Elder Sister should go apologize to Third Sister.”

“Apologize?” Li Jiǎo’s eyes widened suddenly, looking at Li Hui in disbelief.

Had her brother gone mad?

Since this matter had already been suppressed, why couldn’t it just pass like this?

If she apologized, wouldn’t Grandmother and the others all find out?

She absolutely couldn’t apologize. If she did, how could she maintain her standing in the West Residence in the future?

“Does Elder Sister mean there’s no need to apologize to Third Sister?” Li Hui’s disappointment was visible.

Li Hui’s expression startled Li Jiǎo: “No, that’s not what I mean. Third Brother, think about it—Third Sister originally didn’t know I did it. If she finds out, wouldn’t that hurt our sisterly relationship even more?”

She stepped forward and grasped Li Hui’s hand: “Third Brother, I’m begging you—please leave me some dignity. I promise I won’t do such things again in the future. If I go to apologize, Third Sister will surely hate me for life. You wouldn’t want to see us sisters turn against each other, would you?”

Li Hui withdrew his hand and asked softly: “Is Elder Sister saying this matter should just pass like this?”

Li Jiǎo was in tears, her shoulders trembling constantly: “Must Third Brother force me to my death?”

“Elder Sister, think it over carefully. I’ll think it over too. I’ll leave first.”

“Third Brother, Third Brother—” Li Jiǎo reached out to stop Li Hui, but he walked out without looking back.

Li Jiǎo collapsed back onto the beauty couch, viciously striking the porcelain pillow once.

The cool porcelain pillow was painted with a beauty chasing butterflies—those bright flowers seemed to transform into the blood on the back of Jia Shu’s head.

Li Jiǎo shuddered and suddenly pushed the porcelain pillow to the floor.

The loud crash of the heavy object hitting the ground echoed, and Qiu Lu hurried in: “Miss, what happened?”

“Clean this up immediately! Remember, never let me see porcelain pillows again!” Li Jiǎo screamed hoarsely, then threw herself on the bed, crying bitterly.

She and Third Brother had once been so close—how had things become like this?

Li Zhao—

If there were no Li Zhao, she wouldn’t have encountered such trouble, and she and her brother wouldn’t have argued like this.

It was all Li Zhao’s fault!

Why wouldn’t Li Zhao just die, just die!

Li Hui no longer wanted to think about all of Li Jiǎo’s unwillingness and pain. He wandered around Yahe Courtyard like a lonely ghost.

Tears flowed down the young man’s face, but he was unaware of them.

“Hui’er? What are you doing here?” A voice both strange and somehow familiar rang out.

Li Hui looked over in confusion, murmuring: “Madam?”

He Shi walked over: “Have you eaten dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my, why are you crying?”

Li Hui raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye, only then realizing his cheeks were wet. Embarrassed, his ears reddened as he made up an excuse: “I just tripped and fell. It hurt a bit.”

“Did you break anything?”

“No.”

“Then hurry back. It’s dark and hard to see the path. I’ll have a maid carry a lantern to escort you.”

“No need. I’ll go see Third Sister and then return. Madam doesn’t need to worry about me.”

“Oh, alright then. Go ahead. Zhaozhao was wrongly implicated in all this trouble—she must be feeling terrible. Seeing you visit her might make her feel better.” Hearing that Li Hui wanted to see her precious daughter, He Shi’s tone became even gentler.

She was an only child who had always longed for siblings to keep her company since childhood, but unfortunately didn’t have that blessing. Now that Li Hui was willing to be good to her daughter, she was genuinely happy.

Li Hui bowed to He Shi in farewell and went to the West Side Courtyard.

The study in the West Side Courtyard was lit, showing the silhouette of a slender young lady.

Li Hui stopped, watching in fascination.

Third Sister wasn’t even fourteen yet.

But it was this same Third Sister who had today turned the tide, resolving such earth-shaking events into nothing.

And he was still agonizing over whether to confess to Elder Sister.

Another silhouette appeared at the window, standing beside the slender figure, seemingly trying to persuade her of something.

The elegantly seated young lady raised her head, but never put down the book in her hands.

The other silhouette withdrew.

The young lady by the window continued reading with her head lowered.

Li Hui finally took a step forward.

“Miss, Third Young Master is here.”

“Please invite Third Young Master in.”

Li Hui was led directly into the study by A’Zhu, and indeed saw Qiao Zhao sitting beside the writing desk with a book scroll in her hands.

“It’s so late—Third Sister is still reading?”

Qiao Zhao put down the scroll and, under the lamplight, revealed a faint smile: “Third Brother has come.”

It wasn’t a question, but a certainty that Li Hui would come.

Li Hui was startled: “Third Sister knew I would come?”

A’Zhu served tea and withdrew.

Only then did Qiao Zhao say: “I guessed Third Brother surely had something to discuss with me.”

After learning the perpetrator was Li Jiǎo, she understood: Li Hui must have discovered the truth!

On one side was his sister, on the other his younger sister; on one side was family affection, on the other his conscience.

Li Hui had no choice but to step forward and confess.

So she waited.

If she could wait for Li Jiǎo’s apology, then she could give Li Jiǎo one last chance for Li Hui’s sake.

Unfortunately, Li Jiǎo didn’t even grasp that final opportunity.

Could one expect someone who had nearly destroyed her sister and wouldn’t apologize even after her blood brother’s persuasion to have a change of heart?

No, such a person would only intensify their efforts to blame others for their mistakes!