Reborn As The Wicked Little Sister-in-Law - Chapter 35

Jing Ruoyun was a domineering person who never let a slight go, but other than her brother Jing Hongyi, the person she feared most was Wei Chengyan.

Years ago, Jing Ruoyun was always finding reasons to cling to Mu Yan or making excuses to visit the Mu estate. Wei Chengyan had no patience for this. During a flower festival, she had slapped Jing Ruoyun twice and shoved her head into a water vat until she was bloated with water. Afterward, she privately threatened Jing Ruoyun by violently breaking the hand of her personal maid.

This series of events had truly terrified Jing Ruoyun. From then on, she rarely visited the Mu estate and seldom saw Mu Yan in private. For a long time, she would take a detour whenever she saw Wei Chengyan, fearing her own hands would be snapped.

After being barked at by Wei Chengyan, Jing Ruoyun sensibly shut her mouth. Inside the clinic, only Mu Yan’s concerned whispers to Zou Shengsheng could be heard.

Wei Chengyan’s flames of jealousy were nearly overflowing, Jing Hongyi looked dejected, and only Lü Guiyan was busy “shipping” the couple. Listening to their sweet exchanges, Lü Guiyan felt happier than if she were in a relationship herself. This feeling of having a “sugar drop” moment right in front of her eyes was wonderful; she almost wanted to drag the Civil Affairs Bureau right here to marry them.

Amidst her joy, Lü Guiyan noticed Wei Chengyan’s expression and wondered if she should offer some comfort.

Qiyun, what is Wei Chengyan thinking right now?

Apologies. Currently, Wei Chengyan’s hatred toward you is only $5\%$. I can no longer read her inner thoughts.

What level does her hatred need to be?

At least $20\%$.

To hear Wei Chengyan’s voice, she had to make Wei Chengyan hate her. The higher the hatred, the more Lü Guiyan could master her behavior. At $100\%$, she could even manipulate Wei Chengyan’s mind to force her to kill her. However, through her recent actions, Lü Guiyan had reduced the hatred, losing even the basic “mind-listening” function.

[Sigh~ what about her Blackening Value?

It was $13\%$ before; it has now risen to $20\%$.

The Blackening Value was progressing well; it was only the specific hatred toward Lü Guiyan that had dropped. No matter—that bar would rise rapidly later.

After a fierce internal struggle, Lü Guiyan decided to distract Wei Chengyan so she wouldn’t be too heartbroken. She gently tugged on Wei Chengyan’s sleeve and whispered, “Heir, I’m a bit cold.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Wei Chengyan replied coldly.

Lü Guiyan: “…”

Wow, give you an inch and you take a mile, huh? Fine, she wouldn’t bother. It wasn’t her heart that was breaking anyway. Why go looking for trouble?

Jing Hongyi, hearing Lü Guiyan’s words, handed her the coat draped over his arm. “Your health is important. Please, take this.”

“Thank you, Master Jing.”

Just as Lü Guiyan reached out, Wei Chengyan extended her hand and once again slapped Jing Hongyi’s clothes to the ground—this time with even more force.

Thud! Everyone in the clinic heard the sound.

Terrified of Wei Chengyan, Jing Ruoyun hurriedly pulled her brother aside, whispering, “Brother, really! You’re an unmarried man, and she’s the Pingyang Marquis’s concubine. Handing her your clothes right in front of the Heir… people who don’t know better would think you’re her paramour!”

Jing Hongyi said coldly, “Don’t you dare go spreading nonsense.”

“Of course,” Jing Ruoyun answered with a smile, though her heart was dancing with joy. It would be strange if she didn’t talk. Catching Wei Chengyan in a scandalous situation was a rare opportunity; she wouldn’t let it go, even if it involved her own brother.

Lü Guiyan remained silent, watching the treacherous smiles that flickered across Jing Ruoyun’s face. She concluded that a rumor between her and Jing Hongyi was inevitable. Jing Hongyi had been kind to her, and she didn’t want to implicate him; she’d have to find a chance to warn him to watch his sister.

Once Zou Shengsheng woke up, Jing Hongyi forced Jing Ruoyun to apologize. Jing Ruoyun looked resentful. Mu Yan shielded Zou Shengsheng, his rationality returning.

“Slander, insults, and intentionally pushing someone into a river… and a mere apology settles it?”

Jing Hongyi knew Mu Yan was truly enraged. Although he didn’t particularly like his sister, he couldn’t let her be bullied. “Mu Yan, this matter requires Miss Zou to speak for herself.”

Lü Guiyan shook her head helplessly. There was a reason Jing Hongyi couldn’t win over Zou Shengsheng—he never prioritized her. He always weighed the pros and cons. Compared to a beautiful commoner, he would naturally side with the Jing family’s interests first.

Mu Yan, usually a gentle scholar-type, was now ice-cold. His eyes, normally calm like obsidian, hidden a gaze like an eagle’s—a hunter prepared to deliver a lethal blow. The atmosphere in the clinic froze; no one dared to breathe heavily.

“Her business is my business,” Mu Yan’s voice rang out, a dominant declaration before everyone.

Jing Hongyi didn’t back down. “It seems General Mu is coercing Miss Zou.”

Zou Shengsheng, having swallowed too much water, said hoarsely, “I’m alright. I only hope Miss Jing won’t target me in the future.”

The fearful Jing Ruoyun immediately jumped out upon hearing this. “You lie! When did I ever ‘target’ you specifically?”

“It seems words are useless. You only need to jump into the river from Nanyuan Bridge twice, and we’ll call it even.” Mu Yan’s voice was devoid of emotion, his gaze so freezing that no one dared look him in the eye.

Hearing this, Lü Guiyan wanted to applaud him in her heart. That’s how you handle it! You have to show Jing Ruoyun that Zou Shengsheng isn’t someone to be messed with.

Jing Ruoyun hid behind her brother, whimpering, “Brother, I can’t. I can’t swim.”

Jing Hongyi had a massive headache. Miss Zou had given them a way out, but his sister… her IQ was truly identical to her fool of a mother. Like mother, like daughter.

“Mu Yan, my sister was indeed wrong. But she is young, only just reached her coming-of-age ceremony. For the sake of her age, let her go today.” Jing Hongyi’s tone carried a hint of pleading.

“If she can cause a life-threatening incident at this age, she’ll likely be a murderer when she’s older. Better to use this opportunity to give her a beating so she learns her lesson.” Wei Chengyan’s tongue was always sharp toward those she disliked. She didn’t care for the “she’s just a child” excuse.

“No, no! Brother, I can’t! I am the Eldest Miss of the Jing family! That b—… that Zou Shengsheng is just a commoner! How can I be beaten because of her? If word gets out, how will I face anyone?” Jing Ruoyun sobbed, clutching Jing Hongyi’s arm.

“Shut up right now,” Jing Hongyi barked. Jing Ruoyun immediately silenced herself, sobbing quietly.

Jing Hongyi turned his gaze back to Zou Shengsheng, hoping she would soften and let his sister go. “Miss Zou, I know you’ve been wronged. Rest assured, the Jing family will compensate you, and I will punish Ruoyun when we return.”

Wei Chengyan was in a foul mood. None of the three women present sat well with her. “Who knows what happens behind your closed doors? I say we punish her right here so everyone can see.”

Lü Guiyan prayed in her heart that Zou Shengsheng wouldn’t have a “Saint Mother” moment. She should listen to Mu Yan or Wei Chengyan and teach Jing Ruoyun a lesson to cure her of her arrogance.