You've already caught the embroidered ball, and you still say it's not my husband?

Lu Xuan looked embarrassed and weak, while Shen Jinglian's clothes and hair were disheveled... Lu Qingqing immediately concluded that something unspeakable must have happened between the two of them last night!

"Sister, don't talk nonsense! It's not what you think!" Lu Xuan explained vehemently, his face dark. "I... I didn't keep a mistress. I'm innocent. Miss Shen and I are just... ordinary friends!"

"I swear, I guarantee with my integrity, it's really not what you think!"

Lu Xuan spoke with righteous indignation and conviction, even raising his hand to swear an oath.

However, Lu Qingqing simply rolled her eyes.

Does she really think her own sister is so easy to fool?

If any normal person saw Lu Xuan and Shen Jinglian like this, do you think nothing inappropriate would have happened?

Seeing is believing! In the face of facts, any explanation is a weak and feeble excuse!

Lu Xuan is in a situation where he can't clear his name even if he jumps into the Yellow River!

Of course, Lu Qingqing was only shocked, not angry. On the contrary, she felt somewhat... relieved.

She let out a soft breath, and her gaze towards Lu Xuan suddenly softened and became kind, just like an elder looking at a junior. Her voice also became more earnest.

"Little Xuanzi...you've finally grown up."

Ahhhhh!

Lu Xuan jumped up, utterly frantic. He was on the verge of tears, "Sister! Please stop talking nonsense! Don't force me to kneel down and beg you!"

Lu Qingqing ignored her younger brother's cries and pleas.

She turned to look at the mourning hall in her home, her voice choked with sobs, "Father, Mother, can you see? Xiao Xuanzi has finally grown up... Waaah, he's grown up, it's been so hard for him."

Lu Xuan rolled his eyes and fainted from anger.

He lay on the ground, his eyes vacant and lifeless, looking utterly despondent.

He was too exhausted to argue anymore; let his older sister think whatever she wants.

In any case, heaven and earth can bear witness that Lu Xuan is innocent!

"Is this Sister Lu?"

Shen Jinglian stood there, her eyes showing a slightly strange and surprised expression.

Yesterday, Lu Xuan had told her that his older sister, Lu Qingqing, often came back to visit. Today, upon seeing them, the siblings looked somewhat alike, but their personalities were completely different...

As for her relationship with Lu Xuan being misunderstood by Lu Qingqing, she didn't mind, and even thought about... going with the flow?

"No, no, I can't let Miss Su down!"

Shen Jinglian gave herself a strong warning.

Just then.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Tongtong ran towards her excitedly, calling out in her childish voice, "Auntie... Auntie."

The little girl was very happy!

She didn't know what it meant to keep a mistress in a golden house, nor did she know why her mother said that her uncle had grown up.

All she knew was that her uncle had promised to bring her aunt home, just like the gentle older sister who had visited their home a few days ago.

No one told her that she couldn't have multiple aunts, so the little girl assumed that any older sister who appeared at her uncle's house was her aunt!

whee.

The little girl had already run to Shen Jinglian's side, her smile innocent and pure. "Sister, are you... Tongtong's aunt?"

Seeing such an adorable little girl, Shen Jinglian felt a surge of maternal instinct, and her heart melted.

She knelt down and gently patted the little girl's head. "Your name is Tongtong? Tongtong is so cute!"

She gently pinched the little girl's cheek again, smiled and nodded, "Yes, that's right, I'm Tongtong's aunt."

whee.

The little girl smiled even more brightly; the older sister in front of her was indeed her aunt!

Tongtong has another auntie now!

Lu Xuan, who had fallen to the ground, was speechless.

Can you stop lying through your teeth?

Doesn't your conscience hurt when you lie to children like this?

Wouldn't that make it even harder for him to explain?

Sigh, I'm so tired!

Lu Qingqing took out a handkerchief and wiped away the hot tears from the corners of her eyes.

She composed herself, turned around and walked towards Shen Jinglian, asking, "Miss, your surname is Shen? Where are you from?"

Shen Jinglian lifted Tongtong up with one hand, her posture perfect, a soft smile spreading across her eyes, displaying the demeanor of a virtuous wife and loving mother.

"Um."

She nodded gently, looking at Lu Qingqing with sincere eyes, and replied in a gentle tone, "My name is Shen Jinglian, and I live in Anbao Township of this county. Yesterday, I met Doctor Lu by chance in the neighboring Huangshi Town..."

Lu Qingqing listened and nodded.

Shen Jinglian continued with a smile, "I heard Doctor Lu mention you, Sister Lu, yesterday, but seeing is believing. I am fortunate to meet you today, Sister Lu. I feel that you are like a fairy in a painting, with graceful bearing and the inner and outer beauty of a well-bred lady..."

"Tongtong is so cute." She gently tapped Tongtong's cheek with her finger. "This is the first time I've ever seen such a well-behaved and clever girl. I like her very much..."

Ha ha.

Lu Xuan couldn't listen anymore. He sat up from the ground, his lips twitching violently.

He couldn't help but wonder if women were naturally good at lying.

Despite her spoiled and willful nature, Shen Jinglian put on a gentle and virtuous act in front of Lu Qingqing, speaking in a refined and literary manner. She even praised Lu Qingqing as a lady of a noble family without changing her expression, disregarding any objective facts.

Could this... get any more outrageous?!

"Oh dear, look at what you're saying, Jinglian! I'm so embarrassed, hahaha." Lu Qingqing was overjoyed and started to praise back, "You're so much prettier, little sister! Your face is round and full, and even without makeup, your eyes shine. You're so gentle too. I'm really not as good as you..."

The two of them complimented each other for quite a while.

It felt like Lu Xuan was listening to a science fiction novel; the more he listened, the more fantastical it became!

The two outwardly praised each other, but in reality, they each harbored their own little schemes...

"Jinglian, are your parents still alive?"

Lu Qingqing began to investigate Shen Jinglian's family situation in detail.

Shen Jinglian had already prepared her words and began to cry with great emotion: "I originally had an ordinary and happy family, but ever since my father became addicted to gambling, he lost all of our family's savings of decades in just half a month. My mother died of anger... and my father still did not repent. In order to raise gambling funds, he actually... he even sold his own daughter, selling me to a brothel dealer for twenty taels of silver."

"Fortunately, I met Doctor Lu when I passed through Huangshi Town yesterday. Doctor Lu is a kind-hearted doctor. He couldn't bear to see me fall into prostitution, so he spent an extra ten taels of silver to redeem me from the traffickers... But I have nowhere to go and I'm afraid of running into bad people, so I have no choice but to stay here with Doctor Lu for the time being..."

Shen Jinglian spoke with tears streaming down her face, her words filled with emotion.

It was an Oscar-worthy performance that almost made Lu Xuan believe it was real!

In fact, Shen Jinglian wasn't "acting." This was her true story, and her tears were genuine. Only her encounter with Lu Xuan was fabricated...

What a deeply moving story!

Lu Qingqing burst into tears upon hearing this, "Waaah, poor Jinglian, your father is such a scoundrel, so hateful. Don't worry, sister, now that Xiao Xuanzi has redeemed you, he won't sell you again... Stay here for now, there are still many days ahead, take it slow."

Tongtong also reached out her little hand to wipe away the tears on her "aunt's" face. "Aunt... don't cry, Tongtong... here's some candy, it's in my pocket."

Shen Jinglian's eyes were brimming with tears, and she was sincerely grateful. "Thank you, Sister Lu, thank you, Tongtong. I'm so sorry to have troubled you..."

As she spoke, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she winked at Lu Xuan discreetly, her face showing a hint of playfulness and smugness.

It was as if it were saying: How about it, Lu Xuan? See how amazing I am?