139: A woman's carefulness is deep and profound

"Then do you want to leave?"

Jun Siyu had been mumbling with her head down since entering the room, as if she had suffered a lot of grievances.

Jun Lingxiao sat on the bed and listened, not asking her who bullied her, but asking that one question.

That question stumped her.

"I don't like it here, but Father said to wait for him here..."

"I have nowhere to go, and I don't want to leave..."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, perhaps thinking of her parents?

Jun Lingxiao did not know, but after getting her answer, he merely nodded faintly:

"If you don't want to leave, then don't leave."

As soon as these words came out, Jun Siyu suddenly looked up, meeting Jun Lingxiao's golden eyes.

There was indeed a golden light, appearing in the blink of an eye and disappearing just as quickly, majestic and noble.

She had originally thought that her older brother disliked her the most, but from his words... was that not the case?

"They say I'm a burden to you..."

"What do you think?"

"I am me, you are you, and I won't be a burden..."

"Indeed."

"They also said I'm the demoness's bastard, and they all look down on me..."

"You can hold your head high; you are still Jun Chengtian's daughter."

"They! They also..."

Suddenly, the vexing grievances found an outlet. Jun Siyu looked up, meeting Jun Lingxiao's eyes once more.

But this time she was stunned. She had only looked at his eyes just now, not his expression.

Jun Lingxiao sat there, looking at her steadily, with no sorrow or joy in his eyes, listening attentively to her words, without any interruption, occasionally nodding in thought, without any hint of disdain.

Only now did she realize that her older brother... was different from others.

Since entering the Jun Family, the most common look she received was disgust—unconcealed, blatant disgust. Not a single person welcomed her arrival.

She had always overlooked her older brother before, and only when they were alone did she suddenly realize.

Jun Lingxiao... Brother... He was different... Then she recounted more, many more grievances, including those she suffered from the True Dragon Clan after her parents left, or those she encountered upon arriving at the Jun Family. She poured out everything, even turning her own grandfather into a 'bad old man' in her narration.

And even a bad woman?

An Luoxin hadn't returned yet, and Lin Qingxi was extremely innocent. Was she perhaps referring to Chu Yuxi?

Jun Lingxiao listened while thinking. Although it was a strange description, Jun Siyu spoke with great effort, and he listened very carefully.

"I see. You've worked hard all these years."

"But everything will be fine from now on, and no one will look down on you again."

"It's really, really hard! Everyone looks down on me... But those people...?" Jun Siyu spoke with doubt, meeting Jun Lingxiao's confident gaze.

"It's alright, I'll take care of it."

He nodded frankly, without the slightest hesitation, as if he had pondered it for a long time already.

This sincerity moved Jun Siyu. She fidgeted, and finally spoke somewhat shyly:

"Why are you so good to me?"

After speaking, she looked at Jun Lingxiao with expectation, wanting to hear that answer from him.

You are special.

You are not a bastard.

You are unique to me... Jun Siyu desperately wanted to be acknowledged.

But Jun Lingxiao's answer was not what she expected; it was, in fact, extremely simple.

"Good to you? No, I just do what I should do, nothing more."

He had always been an extremely rational person. It wasn't her fault, so he naturally wouldn't vent his anger on her.

Jun Lingxiao said, tidied up, and then got out of bed, as he felt his grandfather should be arriving soon.

He then looked at Jun Siyu and continued, his gaze frank.

"Regardless of the process, ultimately, you are Jun Chengtian's daughter, my younger sister. No one can change this fact."

"Besides, I haven't been exceptionally good to you. I'm just trying to be a qualified older brother. This is my duty and responsibility."

"Regarding the gossip in the Jun Family, I apologize to you on their behalf. They are just too concerned for me and feel it's unfair to me. But actually, I never cared about that father before, and I won't in the future either."

"I am Jun Lingxiao, destined not to be bogged down by such trifles. I have no feelings for you, or that father. I don't know if he feels guilty towards me, nor do I need him to. I only ask that I am blameless towards others."

"The kindness of birth is greater than heaven. Since he entrusted you to me, I will naturally take care of you. I will continue to fulfill my responsibility as an older brother until he comes to pick you up. As for other matters, they don't concern me, and I don't want to meddle in them."

Jun Lingxiao's few words made things very clear.

He truly had no strong emotions towards that father. Now he merely had a younger sister, and even that was not a big deal to him; it wouldn't cause any waves.

To ensure she was fed and clothed was already the utmost benevolence.

The only thing to be mindful of was his mother, Chu Yi.

His son bringing the mistress's daughter into the family—that really wouldn't be easy to explain clearly.

"Knock knock knock."

After Jun Lingxiao finished speaking, Jun Siyu was silent for a while, pondering the meaning within, but just then, a sound rang out.

Looking up, she saw Chu Yi standing at the doorway, even mimicking a few knocks.

"I didn't interrupt you, did I?"

She asked after stopping at the doorway, a basket still in her hand.

Although he had thought his grandfather might come, he hadn't expected Chu Yi to arrive even sooner.

"No."

Jun Lingxiao shook his head. Then Jun Siyu said nothing, merely stepping aside, watching the woman pass by her, wondering about her identity.

But Chu Yi's purpose was very clear.

She took a few fruits from the basket in her hand and handed them to Jun Lingxiao, saying as she pulled them out:

"I came to see you when you were unconscious. Now I hear you're awake, and I thought you hadn't eaten anything, so I brought some fruits. They're very sweet."

"Don't push yourself too hard."

"Also, once your injuries are fully healed, let's go back to the Chu Family."

As Chu Yi spoke, in the glow of the night, Jun Lingxiao finally noticed the bracelet on her wrist.

It was a white bracelet, made of unknown material. The string and even the ornaments hanging on it looked like white jade. Looking closely, runes appeared on it, and Dao rhythm flowed, making it extremely striking.

"This is my mother's relic, and also the symbol of the highest point of the Chu Family. They refused to give it to me no matter what before, but now it's given so easily." Chu Yi noticed Jun Lingxiao's gaze and explained. Then she directly took off the white jade bracelet, took Jun Lingxiao's hand, and put it on him.

"This is not like the Medicinal Pill from before; this is given to me personally, so it's quite sincere. And now, it's passed on to you."

A mother's relic, the symbol of the highest point of the Chu Family, something unobtainable before—these few words alone could weave a complex story, but Chu Yi said nothing, making it sound understated.

"Yes." Jun Lingxiao lowered his gaze and responded, then looked at Jun Siyu and spoke.

"I originally intended to bring... No, never mind."

Jun Lingxiao said, then sighed and gave up.

He had originally thought about when to take Jun Siyu to greet Chu Yi, but now it seemed... she understood.

To avoid making things difficult for Jun Lingxiao, she came first, for the sake of an attitude:

She did not object.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have come so openly.

"You must be Jun Siyu."

"Eat a fruit."

Seeing that Jun Lingxiao didn't speak, Chu Yi got up to leave, but before she left, she seemed to pity Jun Siyu and handed her a fruit.

This fruit looked very fresh, bright red in color, with a smooth surface. With one bite, juice overflowed, filling the mouth with sweetness.

"Who is she?"

Jun Siyu looked at the departing back of the woman, then at Jun Lingxiao, who had already started eating the fruit in his hand. Craving a bite, she took one while asking.

˃ ʍ ˂

The next moment, her entire face wrinkled up from the sourness, her expression extremely ugly.

She looked at Jun Lingxiao's half-smiling face, then at the extremely sour fruit in her hand, and for a moment, she questioned life itself.

"My mother."

Jun Lingxiao said, taking another bite of the spirit fruit in his hand. It was still as fresh and sweet as before, every bite a delight.

The two fruits were identical in appearance, but tasted completely different, the reason for which was self-evident. However, he didn't say much, just smiled knowingly.

"Although I let you into my home, it doesn't mean I don't harbor resentment... does it?"

The person most qualified to decide Jun Siyu's stay or departure had made a choice. In that case, her remaining in the Jun Family was a foregone conclusion.