Chapter Ninety-One: The Little Cat Has Scratched Someone

No wonder, she murmured with a lowered gaze. No wonder Brother Junle has been running around everywhere lately, even canceling several concerts.

And yet she had always claimed to like him. She had not even bothered to learn the full story behind such a major matter, while he had been willing to tell it to Xianyu Qing.

Now that Xianyu Qing had helped him so much, would Brother Junle not think even more highly of her?

Nangong Xin felt a sharp twinge of jealousy. “Why are you helping Brother Junle like this?”

Xianyu Qing knew she was feeling sour again and was at a loss for words. “I’m helping Xiao Yu.”

“But that will only make Brother Junle think even better of you!”

“Xinxin,” Xianyu Qing sighed, “I don’t understand what it means to like someone, but it is certainly not like this—always trying to keep that person clutched in your hands and driving everyone around him away.

It should be about walking toward him on your own, letting him see you, feel you, and come to like you. Then, naturally, there will be no one else in his eyes but you.”

Nangong Xin stared at Xianyu Qing for a long while, carefully mulling over her words.

Could it be that, all along, she had been going about this the wrong way?

After a moment, Nangong Xin was still lost in confusion. “Then what if I confess my feelings to Brother Junle and he rejects me? What should I do?”

She was not afraid of losing face by being rejected; she was afraid that once that sliver of hope in her heart was gone, she would not be able to bear it.

“If you’re good enough and he still refuses you, then he simply has no taste.”

“You are not allowed to say that about Brother Junle! It would truly be a matter of bad taste if he chose you.”

Xianyu Qing: “...”

Maybe she should not have meddled in the affairs of this Third Young Lady after all.

“Miss, we’ve arrived at the hospital.” Those words from Jiang Mohe saved Xianyu Qing from her awkward moment.

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By the time Xianyu Qing and Nangong Xin reached the ward, Cui Hao was standing guard at the door.

Seeing them, he hurriedly greeted them first. “Welcome, ladies!”

Xianyu Qing nodded to him. “We came to visit Sister Zhiyun.”

“Is Big Brother inside?” Nangong Xin asked.

Cui Hao replied, “The boss went to the attending physician’s office. He instructed that Second Miss Xiao needs rest, and no one is to disturb her.”

His words were mainly aimed at the Xiao family. Cui Hao did not know whether they included the two of them as well, but it was safer to be cautious. Especially now that Second Miss Xiao was even weaker than before—she truly needed rest.

“Big Brother is really protecting her, huh? He won’t even let us see her!”

Nangong Xin’s voice was rather loud, and Xiao Zhiyun, who was already a light sleeper, woke at once.

“Is that Xinxin?”

Hearing Xiao Zhiyun call from inside, Cui Hao had no choice but to let them in.

“Qingqing came too?” Seeing Xianyu Qing, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Zhiyun’s haggard face.

Xianyu Qing stepped forward. “Sister Zhiyun, are you all right?”

Xiao Zhiyun nodded softly. “Mm, there’s nothing serious now.”

Nangong Xin looked around and asked in surprise, “But why didn’t Uncle and Auntie, and Sister Zhiying, come over?”

Xiao Zhiyun did not want to mention what had happened earlier, so she only said, “They went back to make soup for me.”

“Oh.” Nangong Xin was straightforward and did not think much of it.

Xianyu Qing sensed that something was off, but since it was someone else’s family matter, she could not ask further.

They had only spoken for a moment when Nangong Ao returned from the attending physician’s office.

He seemed fine upon seeing Xianyu Qing, but when he saw Nangong Xin, he frowned. “Why did you come too?”

At that, Nangong Xin was displeased. “Big Brother, what do you mean by that? Sister Zhiyun is hospitalized—can’t I come and visit her?”

In truth, Xiao Zhiyun had often been hospitalized before, and back then Nangong Xin had not been nearly so attentive. Usually, she was more in contact with Xiao Zhiying, and because of Madam Nangong, she was not especially warm toward Xiao Zhiyun.

Today, she had merely happened to be going to find Xianyu Qing, so she had come along the way.

Nangong Ao knew well that Nangong Xin was the noisy type and did not want her to disturb Xiao Zhiyun, so he said, “Yun'er needs rest right now. You’ve seen her—go home.”

Nangong Xin pouted. “Do you have to be so protective? We can’t even look at her a little longer!”

Xianyu Qing could understand. “Since Sister Zhiyun is fine now, we won’t disturb her any longer.”

After that, she tugged lightly at Nangong Xin, indicating that they should leave.

At that moment, Xiao Zhiying’s voice came from outside the door. “Assistant Cui, I’m here to bring soup for my little sister. Am I not allowed in either?”

As soon as Nangong Xin heard Xiao Zhiying’s voice, she immediately went to open the door. “Sister Zhiying, you’re here!”

Xiao Zhiying feigned surprise. “Xinxin, you’re here too?”

Long before Xianyu Qing and Nangong Xin got out of the car, Xiao Zhiying had spotted them. She had merely lingered downstairs for a short while, waiting for the right moment to come up.

“We came to visit Sister Zhiyun! But Big Brother won’t let us stay and is kicking us out,” Nangong Xin said, sounding displeased.

Xiao Zhiying curved her lips in a light smile. “Young Master Ao has always cared deeply for Yun'er, so of course he would send people away. Xinxin, don’t blame Yun'er for it!”

Xianyu Qing listened and frowned slightly. This elder sister of Sister Zhiyun’s really was skilled at sowing discord.

Sure enough, Nangong Xin snorted. “How dare I blame Sister Zhiyun? Big Brother would never let her suffer any grievance!”

“Xinxin,” Nangong Ao reminded her from the side, “didn’t I tell you to go out less if there’s nothing urgent? Hurry home!”

After what had just happened with Nangong Lu, he did not want this younger sister to run into trouble as well.

Nangong Xin pursed her lips, her expression full of grievance.

At this point Xiao Zhiying stepped in as peacemaker. “Young Master Ao, we all know you treasure Yun'er and can’t bear to see her get poor rest.

But Xinxin came with good intentions to visit. Yun'er is not an unreasonable person—she should not mind.”

It was obvious that this was implying Xiao Zhiyun was relying on being Young Master Ao’s precious darling, and that even when Nangong Xin was reprimanded, she did not speak up for her.

The more Nangong Xin listened, the angrier she became, and her gaze toward Xiao Zhiyun carried a trace of complaint.

Xianyu Qing could not stand it any longer and could not help retorting, “Miss Xiao, the one lying in the hospital bed is your younger sister. Yet you’ve been here all this time, only chatting with us. Why haven’t you bothered to ask how she is feeling?”

Xiao Zhiying was instantly speechless.

A moment later, she forced a stiff smile. “With Young Master Ao taking such attentive care of her, Yun'er naturally has no problems.”

“Big Brother is not a doctor. How can he guarantee that Sister Zhiyun is fine?”

“...”

Xianyu Qing’s tone was calm, yet her words always left Xiao Zhiying choking on them.

Still not satisfied, she continued, “Besides, Big Brother is caring for Sister Zhiyun out of a boyfriend’s concern. As her family, should you really feel at ease and simply leave everything to him?”

“I...”

Xiao Zhiying tried to argue, but Xianyu Qing did not give her the chance. “Big Brother is considering Sister Zhiyun’s health and does not want anyone disturbing her rest. We can all understand that. Heart disease is not a trivial illness—once it flares up, it can take a life.

And as her elder sister, shouldn’t you be the one defending your younger sister even more? How is it that you are demanding the seriously ill one be understanding instead?”

“...”

Xiao Zhiying was so furious her face turned red.

A flicker moved through Nangong Ao’s eyes.

After living with this sister for some time, he had almost forgotten that she was not some meek little cat on the surface—she could scratch.