Chapter 698: The Sterile Heart
Wei limped inside the mansion, his knuckles white and phalanges aching. Rain trickled from his short hair onto the dark blue carpet embroidered with four golden dragons as he glared at the opulent hall.
Red cushions of exquisite quality, sewn by the village’s best tailor, crowned wooden chairs carved from rare dark wood. Like the door, it came from the dangerous forest to the north, making this household the only one that owned such masterpieces.
Anger boiled in his veins when he saw the paintings of Min, his arm wrapped around Qiao’s shoulder while she cradled a toddler, not the girl gripping his pants. How could it be when her parents wore those fine robes and jewellery? A year and two months, that’s all it took them to replace her after...
He forced his thoughts aside, knowing he would fail to suppress his anger if he continued. It would blow up, though. He just needed the right opportunity.
"Humph." The servant who guided him inside snorted and threw him a clean piece of cloth. "We seldom let rats in. They’re too dirty for this noble mansion and only add unnecessary cleaning work to our already busy schedule. Wipe yourself, remove your shoes, and roll your muddy pants up."
Catching the cloth, Wei exhaled. Still, he did as told, using the movement to whisper in the frozen Qing’s ear. "I know it’ll be hard on you, little Qing, but can you trust your uncle and not reveal your identity? In fact, it’ll be better if you don’t speak, or they’ll lie in your face."
With a sigh, he removed the drenched woollen coat he had used to shield her from the rain. He gazed into her pink eyes, blocking off the painting she had been glaring at, a soft smile curving his lips. "Today, you’ll understand the truth. Even if it’ll hurt you, I know you’ll recover. You’re strong, little Qing. You’ve always been."
She shuddered, lowering her head and biting her lips. "I-I don’t understand anything. They were ill and poor. But now they’re wealthy and healthy. T-They even made another baby..."
"They did worse, much worse. And you deserve to know. No, you must know because you’ll never move forward if you continue to adulate them. So please, do as I say." He rose to his feet, sighing.