CHAPTER 30: 30: ONE YEAR AGO (PART 3)_1

"This doesn’t seem like something Yixuan would do."

Shujun thought to himself that whether it was for the greater good or due to Yixuan’s character, even if that monstrosity was overly offensive, Yixuan couldn’t possibly do such a thing.

As he was pondering, Shujun suddenly felt dizzy, his face turning pale as death in an instant. Fortunately, Yue Ning’s quick reflexes caught him, preventing a fall to the ground.

"Third Brother?" Yue Ning was startled.

Shujun weakly waved his hand, "I’m fine, really."

But Yue Ning felt something wet when he touched his brother’s back—a pus-filled liquid, filthy yellow in color. He was slightly stunned, and then he tore open Shujun’s shirt with one swift move.

The sight of Shujun’s back covered in wounds, those that were a few days old now festering with pus, pained Yue Ning’s eyes.

"Third Brother..."

He couldn’t help but lament miserably, "Why... why is our fate so harsh?"

About half a month ago, Third Brother had returned home, coinciding with that vile creature’s violent outburst.

The scars on his back were from that time.

Shujun casually fixed his clothes back in place.

"Our fate is indeed harsh. But people like us can’t depend on heaven or earth; we can only rely on ourselves. Dong Dabao is undoubtedly our betrothed, and there’s no question about it. So, Yue Ning, try to see it clearly. Many of Dayuan Dynasty’s laws favoring women are not something we can fight against. And since we can’t resist them, we must be smart, learn to make our lives smoother. You should try to control your temper more in the future. Don’t always provoke her, lest you suffer more grievances."

Yue Ning hung his head in silence.

He knew Third Brother meant well, but he really couldn’t control his temper.

Whenever he saw that woman eating from the Liang family’s plate, using the Liang family’s resources, treating them like beasts of burden, his temper flared up with fists and insults, often leaving them covered in bruises. He just couldn’t help himself.

He really wanted to kill her.

But he couldn’t, he just couldn’t. Just like what Big Brother had said, that person couldn’t be killed or harmed. If one searched for a reason, it could only be blamed on the cruel world that was pushing them to the brink of survival. They had no choice but to endure, to suffer, to barely keep breathing.

The brothers wore glum expressions, their hearts filled with desolation, a mournful bleakness...

...

"Are you okay?"

Yixuan moved closer to Dong Huiying, his body exuding a fresh scent of woods and grass.

Dong Huiying was stunned, holding her breath unconsciously, but a wave of heat climbed up to her dark and speckled little face.

They were too close, and luckily for her dark complexion, otherwise her ugly pockmarked face would have surely turned into a monkey’s butt within minutes.

Yixuan’s expression was extremely tender, as if gazing at a cherished one.

His fair fingertips overflowed with a faint coolness, gently brushing her cheek, and then lifting the stray hair that had fallen across her face, tucking it behind her ear.

"Yixuan has realized his mistake, not knowing why he suddenly went mad, but no matter what, it was an intrusion. Please, Baobao, forgive me."

Dong Huiying felt embarrassed, the atmosphere was too intimate. She coughed awkwardly but before she could speak, her jaw almost dropped to the floor. For the fresh and handsome man in front of her was disrobing right before her eyes?

He, who was like a magnolia personified, now added a touch of tender charm to the moment.

"Come."

As his garments fell to the ground, his slender body adorned with lean muscles was more beautiful than Dong Huiying had imagined, elegant and exquisite, like an outstanding piece of art.

But across his alabaster skin were countless scars, crisscrossing every which way. Some were unhealed, others scarred, almost leaving no part of his body untouched. Yet he appeared unaffected and at ease, not embarrassed by his nakedness at all. It was Dong Huiying herself whose cheeks were heating up again and again, almost burning...