048. Heartache, Taking Action

“What? You want us to give you money? On what grounds?” Su Juan immediately cried out in disbelief. She hadn’t even gotten her hands on the supplies she wanted, and now they were asking her for money?

Gao Wei was just as surprised. He glared and asked, “Miss, are you confused? Weren’t you here to visit relatives? Why are you asking for money all of a sudden?”

“Why shouldn’t I be paid?” Jing Qingxin replied coolly. “I’m sorry, but I don’t even know anyone from the Gao family—who am I supposed to be visiting? Besides, you are Gao Shen’s relatives, so it’s your responsibility to take care of him. If you’re not willing to help, the least you can do is provide financial support. I’m not part of your family. I’ve been tending to Gao Shen’s daily needs, treating his leg, and don’t food and medicine cost money? I bought a few things—what of it? I haven’t even asked you for any medical fees, and now you want to take my things?”

Jing Qingxin sat upright, her posture as cold and aloof as Gao Shen’s, chin slightly raised. Her voice was calm and low, each sentence ending on a note of icy authority. It lent her the imposing air not of a young, delicate girl, but of a leader in a position of power, emanating a pressure that made others feel small.

For some reason, Gao Wei and Su Juan felt a chill run through them. They didn’t find her words particularly harsh, but there was something in her gaze, in the way she spoke, that unsettled them and made them uneasy.

Observing their subtle expressions, Jing Qingxin laughed inwardly: Hmph, I graduated from a top university at eighteen—I’m not one to be trifled with!

She had once read a few books on psychology. Just now, she’d only adjusted her gaze and expression, adding a pause and an uptick in her tone. That alone was enough to throw those with guilty consciences off balance—a neat little psychological trick.

Su Juan snorted, “It’s not like we asked you to take care of him. Whoever asked you, go find them! What’s it got to do with us?”

“Then what do the things I bought have to do with you?” Jing Qingxin narrowed her eyes, her words light but pointed.

She continued, “And if you’re not here out of genuine concern, then please leave!”

Su Juan snorted and turned her face away, ignoring Jing Qingxin completely. She turned to Gao Shen, her tone soft and cajoling: “Little brother, you know how things are for us these days. Your nephews haven’t had meat for almost a month, and our parents—they’ve lost so much weight lately. They…”

“I’ve turned over all my salary and allowances to you, isn’t that enough?” Gao Shen’s face darkened as he growled. Hearing Su Juan’s words, he immediately knew what she was getting at and couldn’t help but cut her off.

“Little brother, you’ve never had to keep a household, so you don’t know how expensive things are. We have so many mouths to feed, and what the commune hands out just isn’t enough,” Su Juan said with a pout.

“I’ve given you all my allowances. I have no money,” Gao Shen replied bluntly. As for his brother and sister-in-law, he’d long since given up any hope or sense of family with them. Especially his own brother, who had disappointed him deeply.

“No money, fine, but you have food and supplies! You bought so much—you can’t spare some for your parents?” Su Juan muttered as her eyes darted around the main hall, sharp enough to spot the supplies still piled up on the table, not yet put away.

Upon hearing this, Gao Shen’s eyes flashed coldly, his whole being emanating an icy aura. His hands, resting at his sides, clenched tightly into fists. If it weren’t for societal constraints and the fact that Su Juan was a woman, he would have long since let his fists do the talking.

Long ago, he’d learned how fickle people could be, how cold the world was. A little selfishness was only human—even he had his moments. But to be so cruel and greedy, even to your own kin, was simply inexcusable.

Su Juan’s attention was fixed entirely on the supplies on the table, oblivious to Gao Shen’s expression. She started toward the main hall.

Gao Shen reacted quickly, standing to block her way, warning, “I won’t say it again. Brother, take your wife and go home—don’t make me get physical!”

“You—!” Gao Wei was left speechless with anger.

Su Juan’s eyes blazed as she glared at Gao Shen. “We’re your brother and sister-in-law! Have you no respect for your elders? You’d dare to lay a hand on us?!”

With that, Su Juan rushed toward the main hall, refusing to believe Gao Shen would actually stop them. She was determined to get her hands on those supplies today.

Gao Wei was about to follow his wife in, but Gao Shen grabbed him, and the two became entangled.

Seeing things getting out of hand, Jing Qingxin immediately stepped forward, grabbing Su Juan’s wrist. With a deft twist of her left hand, a woman’s cry of pain rang out.

“Ow! Let go, let go, it hurts!” Su Juan twisted, her face contorted in agony.

At this, Jing Qingxin felt a surge of anger. If she didn’t let it out, it would eat away at her—she was not one to suffer in silence! If someone insisted on running into her, she wasn’t about to show mercy. Unlike Gao Shen, she wasn’t bound by such scruples. Normally, she considered herself easygoing and good-tempered, but she wouldn’t tolerate such overreach.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but feel for Gao Shen. In just this short time, she understood why he, despite his serious injury, lived alone in this remote corner with no one to care for him.

She could now see why he avoided mentioning his family, why he was so cold to his brother and sister-in-law. The man was weak and indecisive, unable to tell right from wrong, and couldn’t even control his own wife. As for the woman—she was selfish, unreasonable, and utterly inconsiderate.

They were supposed to be Gao Shen’s closest family, yet since entering the house, they hadn’t once inquired after his injury, not a single word of concern. All their attention was fixed on the things she’d bought that morning, and now they wanted to force their way in.

Jing Qingxin’s face was set, her eyes cold as she fixed Su Juan with a stare. “So you know what pain is? Do you still want to snatch things?”

Gao Wei, caught by Gao Shen, shouted anxiously, “Let Xiao Juan go!”

At that moment, Su Juan felt a searing pain in her right wrist, as though it might break. She could think of nothing else and cried out, “I wasn’t trying to take anything, I was just looking! Please, let go! My hand—it’s going to break!”

While Jing Qingxin acted, Gao Shen held his brother in check, but kept an eye on her, worried for her safety. To his surprise, with a single deft move, she had subdued his sister-in-law. His eyes flashed with admiration and amazement.

－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－

I’ve seen many of you urging for more updates, and I want to thank you for your support and love for this story! However, since the current chapters are still public, I can’t add too much new content at once. I hope you understand! Once the story is officially released, there will be more updates! Until then, I can only add extra chapters on weekends or during special events. Love you all!

This book is first published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not repost!