Chapter 167: Qi Tong

He had never acted this way toward her before.

It was all that damned Lin Sangqian’s fault! She had actually conspired with Wang Qiongshi to set her up…

When they returned home and entered their room, Qi Erliu immediately ordered all the servants to leave, then threw her arms tightly around Yu Jingxiao.

“Jingxiao, if you’re angry, you can hit me or curse me, but please don’t be like this. I’m so frightened.” Her voice was soft and timid, her manner pitiful; there was not the slightest trace of the imperious woman she had been at the tavern.

Yu Jingxiao was in a state of confusion. After a long while, he finally asked, “What exactly happened just now? Why did you…?”

That was precisely the question Qi Erliu had been waiting for. She lifted her tear-streaked face and said, “They asked me to meet them there, then ganged up on me and forced me to drink. When I said I was leaving, they tried to stop me.”

“They bullied you and forced you to drink?” Yu Jingxiao frowned slightly. “Was Miss Lin involved too?”

“She was the one who orchestrated it!” Qi Erliu hurriedly replied. “Think about it. Haven’t they always obeyed Lin Sangqian? Without her orders, how could they possibly have treated me that way?”

Yu Jingxiao said nothing.

Qi Erliu continued, “If that were all, I could let it go. But they also said they all liked you, and that they had always resented me for marrying you. They wanted to join forces and drive me away from your side. Jingxiao, I was terrified. I could endure however they bullied me, but I love you too much. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you, so I… I lost control of my emotions for a moment…”

“They all like me? Lin Sangqian too?” Yu Jingxiao asked, his expression strange.

“That’s right!” Qi Erliu said quickly. “She said she had always wanted to marry you, but I had beaten her to it.”

Yu Jingxiao fell silent.

He truly wanted to believe Qi Erliu.

But how could he believe her when she said something like that?

He had known Lin Sangqian for nearly five years. How could he not know what sort of person she was?

If Lin Sangqian had really wanted to marry him, she would have had countless opportunities to mention it over the years.

Besides, Lin Sangqian had once been involved with Guan Yanqing… Even if she really intended to marry someone, she would surely have chosen Guan Yanqing. What did that have to do with him?

Then why had Qi Erliu said such a thing?

Had what happened truly been as she described?

How much of Qi Erliu’s story was true, and how much was false?

And was the gentle woman she showed him really who she was?

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Jingxiao?” Qi Erliu asked timidly.

Yu Jingxiao drew a deep breath. “Erliu, I remember you once told me that you had always been quiet and gentle since childhood. You never even raised your voice, let alone cursed at anyone.”

Qi Erliu’s heart jolted. She suddenly widened her eyes and clung tightly to his hand, refusing to let go.

“I—I was simply too frightened just now, so I lost control for a moment. My body practically stopped obeying me! Jingxiao, I promise I won’t act like that again. Believe me, all right?”

When Yu Jingxiao remained silent, she put on a disappointed expression.

“So, Jingxiao, do you only love me because I’m gentle and virtuous? If I’m no longer gentle, will you stop loving me?”

“Of course not,” Yu Jingxiao said at once.

To love someone was to love every part of her. Even if Qi Erliu truly had a fiery temper, what of it?

What troubled him was her deception.

If she had been pretending before him all this time, it was truly terrifying.

To be unable to trust even the person who shared your bed—was there anything more tragic than that?

“Then there’s no problem, is there? Jingxiao, you love me, and I love you. We don’t need to trouble ourselves over such insignificant matters, do we?” Qi Erliu gazed at him expectantly. “You promised me that we would be together for the rest of our lives…”

After a long silence, Yu Jingxiao finally nodded and took her hand.

Qi Erliu at last let out a sigh of relief and happily nestled against his chest.

As expected, Yu Jingxiao still loved her.

Just then, a maid’s voice came from outside.

“Master, Madam, your brother has arrived.”

“My brother?” Qi Erliu hurriedly wiped away her tears.

“Show him in,” Yu Jingxiao said.

“Yes, sir.”

A short while later, a young man entered. After greeting Yu Jingxiao, he turned to Qi Erliu and stared in surprise.

“Little sister, what happened? Why have you been crying? Did the two of you quarrel?”

“Brother, don’t be ridiculous. Jingxiao treats me very well. Why would we quarrel?” Qi Erliu wiped her eyes and forced a smile.

“You two talk. I have something to attend to, so I’ll leave first.”

With that, Yu Jingxiao departed.

Qi Erliu watched his retreating figure, her heart filled with unease.

Although Yu Jingxiao had seemed to make peace with her, she could not shake the feeling that something was different from before.

“Close the door,” Qi Erliu ordered Ye Mei outside.

“Yes.”

After closing the door, Ye Mei remained on guard outside.

The young man immediately pulled Qi Erliu into his arms and said suggestively, “We haven’t seen each other for several days. I’ve missed you terribly.”

“Stop fooling around.” Qi Erliu impatiently pushed him away. “Why have you suddenly come here?”

“What’s wrong?” Qi Tong asked, puzzled. “You were crying just now. Did that fellow Yu Jingxiao really bully you?”

“No! It was those wretched women from the Lin family.” Qi Erliu ground her teeth.

“The Lin family? Oh, you mean the ones from that fried-chicken place? How did they provoke you?”

Qi Erliu recounted everything that had happened. Qi Tong frowned and said, “Tell me, why did you have to provoke them? Wouldn’t it have been enough to keep a firm hold on Yu Jingxiao? He likes you so much. Handing the Qi family’s financial authority over to you is only a matter of time, isn’t it?”

“I only did it because I was afraid those vixens would seduce him away!”

“You really are something! A man taking several wives and concubines is the most ordinary thing in the world. As long as you remain the principal wife, what are you afraid of?”

Qi Erliu shot him a sidelong glance. “What, you want several wives and concubines too?”

“Of course not!” Qi Tong hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly. “There’s only you in my heart.”

On the surface, Qi Tong and Qi Erliu were brother and sister. In reality, Qi Erliu had merely been adopted by Qi Tong’s parents, and the two of them were not related by blood at all.

Moreover, they had begun an illicit affair long ago.

Later, when the Qi family fell into decline, Qi Erliu found a way to attach herself to Yu Jingxiao.

Even so, she and Qi Tong continued their disgusting dealings in secret.

“All right, all right. Don’t be unhappy anymore. We haven’t seen each other for several days. Didn’t you miss me? Come here and let me make it up to you…”

As he spoke, Qi Tong pulled Qi Erliu onto the bed.