Chapter 157 - Sow Dissension
After they returned to their room, Shang Xiaojie found himself lying on the bed, placed there by Mu Sifa. He suddenly tugged at Mu Sifa, who was about to get up, and in a hesitant voice, asked, “Can I really, truly stay here? Is that even possible?”
“What's wrong? Do you want to leave?” Mu Sifa's expression turned instantly serious.
Unlike his usual nervous explanations, Shang Xiaojie kept his head down. It took a while before he shook his head. He had initially assumed he was simply feeling down, but now his eyes had started to well up with tears.
Sniffling, he spoke in a tearful voice, “Am I doing something wrong? Taking my sister's husband away?”
This question had long troubled Shang Xiaojie. He had contemplated letting it go, but he couldn't bear to be without Mu Sifa.
Seeing Shang Xiaojie cry so bitterly, Mu Sifa realized that Shang Xiaojie had never really pondered this issue from his perspective. In the eyes of outsiders, Shang Xiaojie was the one who had intervened, and the burden on him was immense.
Mu Sifa embraced Shang Xiaojie, assuring him, “Give me six months. I'll resolve this matter properly and provide you with an explanation.”
At this point, Mu Sifa couldn't take advantage of Shang Xiaojie any further. He genuinely wanted to care for the person in his arms, but could things unfold as he wished?
“Alright,” Ye Zichen held Mu Sifa tightly and wept, then buried his head in Mu Sifa's chest.
“Stop crying. Are you hungry?”
Ye Zichen released Shang Xiaojie and kissed him, then asked with a tender smile.
Shang Xiaojie nodded obediently, his face returning to its usual blush.
“I'll go downstairs and get you something to eat. You go take a bath.” With that, he tousled Shang Xiaojie's hair and left with a smile.
Shang Xiaojie touched the spot where Mu Sifa had ruffled his hair and blinked in dazed contentment. Finally, he smiled radiantly, “He's so gentle today.”
At that moment, Shang Xiaojie was immersed in his own happiness, unaware that Shang Minjie, with a steely gaze, stood just outside the door.
“You're still so cheerful, Shang Xiaojie, even after being used as a pawn by others,” Shang Minjie remarked coldly. She didn't enter the room but remained outside, her icy glare potent enough to pierce through him.
Shang Xiaojie was taken aback by his elder sister's sudden voice. He looked at Shang Minjie in bewilderment and stammered, “Wh-what do you mean?”
Used? As a pawn? Me?
Shang Xiaojie couldn't wrap his head around it because Shang Minjie had dropped this bombshell out of nowhere.
“You really don't know? Do you have any idea why I'm supposed to marry Mu Sifa? Or has he not told you the truth?” Shang Minjie stared directly at Shang Xiaojie, her demeanor as cold as ever.
“What… what truth?”
Shang Xiaojie was genuinely ignorant about the relationship between the Mu and Shang families.
It seemed he truly didn't know, and that's how Shang Minjie liked it.
Shang Minjie sneered internally, thinking about Little Jiu Jiu.
“Our Shang Family and the Mu Family have always been rivals. The arranged marriage between us was meant to solidify both sides' interests and positions. But after Mu Renying, Mu Sifa's father, agreed to let Mu Sifa marry me, he suddenly changed his mind and married you instead. Doesn't that strike you as suspicious?”
Shang Minjie enticed Shang Xiaojie step by step, leading him down the path of revelation.
Still somewhat dazed, Shang Xiaojie couldn't comprehend the extent of the rivalry between the Mu and Shang families.
“Mu Renying plans to use this situation to weaken our Shang Family and create discord within our own ranks. Afterwards, the Mu Family will reap the benefits as opportunistic bystanders.” Shang Minjie explained to him, knowing that it was merely an illusion and not an established fact.
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