Chapter 298: Chapter 276: Settling Accounts After Autumn

Translator: 549690339

Qiao Zhen knew, Xiao Yu was truly different now.

The Xiao Yu of the past was always carefree and ready to forgive anyone.

The look on Qiao Zhen’s face was somewhat hurt, he was still unsure why Xiao Yu’s disappearance panicked him so much, or why he wanted to explode that bad guy’s head.

A friend had introduced him to a potential partner, he figured he was getting on in years and so agreed. In fact, they had only met once and had dinner together. Nothing was truly official yet.

He had also planned to explain the situation to Shi Yu after he returned from his business trip. He assumed that the little sister who clung to him would be upset.

But before he could say anything, she had an accident.

Qiao Zhen didn’t have time to think about this woman, his mind was filled with thoughts of Shi Yu, the little one who had grown up in his arms. He feared she wouldn’t come back, that she’d be in danger, or that she’d be traumatized.

But she returned safely, showing no signs of trauma, and even seemed like a whole new person as if she had suddenly matured.

When she said calmly that he should go and find a girlfriend, he suddenly felt a great void in his heart.

Wasn’t this the outcome he had always been hoping for?

Why did it ache so much when she expressed it?

It wasn’t pain, but a suffocation in his heart, his little sister no longer needed him.

If it weren’t for the hints given by Yu Minglang, he would have blown the guy to bits. Not for anything else, but to vent his anger for her.

The look of confusion on his face was apparent to Xiao Yu.

The look on Shi Yu’s face still feigned maturity and aloofness. Inside, the little person in her heart made a victory gesture. Bravo to Boss Qian! See how deeply I understand men. Qiao Zhen’s look of confusion delighted her.

He deserved it, deserved to find a girlfriend, deserved to have a fickle heart.

Come on, let’s hurt each other!

“Xiao Yu, in fact, she can hardly be called my girlfriend yet, just someone a friend introduced. I haven’t made up my mind yet. I realize that I’m not in a position to date anyone. Elder brother has neglected you. Elder brother wants to spend more time with you.”

Hahaha, Boss Qian, you’re brilliant! Xiao Yu kissed Boss Qian a thousand times in her heart, but her face remained indifferent.

“No, don’t accompany me. I have lost interest in men now. I am tired of all men. After this incident, I realised that only the bond between two women is real. You can see how talented and capable Boss Qian is, very good.

“What?!” Qiao Zhen was heartbroken. What happened? Did she get traumatized?

This won’t do, he has to let Xiao Yu see that not all men are scum, there are good men too, at least, elder brother is a good man!

“Don’t waste time, hurry up, take me to settle accounts.”

“Where to?”

“To Xiao Xuanzi’s house.”

“She… Xiao Yu, don’t be sad, people like her are not worth your anger.” Qiao Zhen was also furious; he constantly heard his little sister praising her childhood friend.

Facing betrayal by her best friend, he was worried that Xiao Yu would collapse.

But Xiao Yu merely gave a faint smile.

“I’m not upset, I’ll make her upset.”

As Qiao Zhen watched Shi Yu’s mature demeanor, he couldn’t pinpoint the taste in his heart.

He should be glad that his sister has grown up, yet why does it feel like, once she’s grown up, she no longer clings to him…

It hurts so much.

Xiao Xuanzi’s house is in a very ordinary neighborhood in Qiang City. The house is already old, with mottled walls, and it is very close to a gutter. In summer, if the window is open, one can smell the rancid water.

This place is the preferred residence for migrant workers; it’s very chaotic.

When Qiao Zhen drove Shi Yu here, he hesitated for a moment.

“Are you sure you can stay calm when you see her?

“I’ve been through the worst, there’s nothing to be afraid of. When people who do wrong things are still lively, why should I be afraid to see her? Let’s go upstairs.”

Shi Yu walked confidently into the building first

In the stairwell during winter, there were stacks of cabbage because they had been left there for a long time. The aroma of mold filled each floor, and people even put their pickled vegetable jars in the hallway. Various smells mixed together, and the stair handrails, not cleaned by anyone, were covered with a thick layer of dust.

Shi Yu knocked on Xiao Xuanzi’s door. She kept knocking, and there was no answer from inside.

Due to her pregnancy, Xiao Xuanzi wasn’t taken into custody. The case was still being processed, and she was awaiting trial at home.

Shi Yu knocked patiently all the while, while speaking.

“I know you’re in there, open up, best friend.”

Ever since Xiao Xuanzi was scared by Yu Minglang, she had been jumpy the past few days. Added to that, she knew she was in trouble and felt hypersensitive. Hearing Shi Yu’s voice felt like a chill down her spine.

“Best friend, do you want me to keep knocking? Do you want everyone in the building to know what you’ve done?” Shi Yu’s voice was neither warm nor fierce.

But it was like a sharp sword piercing into Xiao Xuanzi’s heart. The repeated “best friend” tore at her, leaving her heart bleeding.

Seeing that she wouldn’t open the door, Shi Yu simply started singing softly. “Aster flower, aster flower, braving the wind and rain. Hard working people are speaking, blossoming now!”

This was the nursery rhyme that she and Xiao Xuanzi liked to recite as children. The reason Shi Yu gave Boss Qian the Aster flower ankle chain was because her subconscious held on to the childhood yearning for treating a friend well.

Qiao Zhen watched Shi Yu, she was not angry, but just stood there, using a method she had never used before to deal with a person who had hurt her.

This was not his kind little sister, but this altered version of his little sister evoked a feeling in him that he couldn’t articulate.

His heartbeat, seems a bit fast…

When Shi Yu sang for the third time, Xiao Xuanzi finally couldn’t stand it anymore and opened the door, falling to her knees with a thud.

“I’m sorry, beg you, stop singing, please stop!”

Shi Yu reached out to help her up while smiling faintly, her eyes revealing an insurmountable distance to Xiao Xuanzi.

“Best friend, what’s wrong? I’m just singing a song, why are you so agitated? Oh no, you’re on your knees? Why the long face, I am the one who was sold. Best friend, your expression might make people think that I’m treating you unfairly.”

Xiao Xuanzi kneeled on the ground, looking up at her in despair.

“Xiao Yu, spare me, I beg you. I’m pregnant, can you tell your family to drop the lawsuit, please, I beg you!”

Shi Yu chuckled a little, her fingernails brushing Xiao Xuanzi’s face.

“Not to accuse you, huh…”

“Yes, we are such good friends, we grew up together, don’t take it to the extreme ”

“Bastard! Who took it too far? You thought about her being your friend when you sold her?!” Qiao Zhen couldn’t bear it any longer.

Shi Yu turned around, pressing a finger to his lips.

“Brother, don’t interfere in my business, I’ll handle it myself.”

Qiao Zhen sadly realized, his little sister really didn’t need him anymore.

“Give me a reason, Xiao Xuanzi, where did I go wrong, why, why did you do this to me.’