The moment the word "sister" left her lips, Lin Wanning raised her eyes to meet Hu Yuying's gaze.
Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, she could no longer hold back and threw herself into Hu Yuying's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Hu Yuying let Lin Wanning cling to her and cry.
Her gaze, however, drifted past the window to the courtyard outside.
She offered no comfort, waiting until Lin Wanning had cried herself out before finally leading her out of the room.
Outside, Long Aotian was crouched on the ground. Seeing the two emerge, he immediately stood and approached.
Lin Wanning's face was streaked with tears, while Hu Yuying's eyes were red-rimmed.
"Ah-Ying."
"Don’t come any closer."
With those words, Long Aotian halted in his tracks."What do you plan to do?"
"Lin Wanning has already given herself to you. What are you going to do about it?"
Lin Wanning, not wanting to further strain their relationship, sniffled softly and whispered, "I don’t mind." It had all been her choice from the start—she had never expected anyone to take responsibility for her.
"I wasn’t asking you. Who’s the older sister here, you or me?"
This was the first time Lin Wanning had seen Hu Yuying act so harshly, and she immediately fell silent.
The usually gentle Hu Yuying, now stern, carried an imposing and intimidating presence.
"A girl has staked everything, giving you her innocence without asking for anything in return. What do you intend to do?" This was the last chance Hu Yuying was giving her "Long-ge" to make a choice.
"I’ve said before—I’ll marry you and take you home as my wife." Long Aotian glanced at Lin Wanning before finally settling his gaze on Hu Yuying.
Lin Wanning wasn’t surprised by this answer. If she hadn’t interfered, this would have been the natural outcome.
Besides, for her brother to shoulder the blame that should have been hers—wasn’t that his way of protecting her?
She was content. Truly, she was. At least she had acted willingly. At least she had carved out a small place in her brother’s heart...
Hu Yuying’s already reddened eyes grew even more watery at his response, but she bit her lip and forced out, "You said you’d marry me, that you’d always put me first."
"Then in this household, you’ll listen to me."
"Here’s the rule: You’re my man, and I’m your woman. In this house, you don’t act without my permission."
Then she turned to Lin Wanning. "Did you hear that?"
Lin Wanning wasn’t stupid—in fact, she was quite sharp.
Hu Yuying’s underlying message was clear: She was the lady of the house, and Lin Wanning would only get what she allowed.
But what did it matter?
Everything she had done should have been met with scorn.
Her brother had taken all the responsibility to shield her.
Hu Yuying asserting her dominance and setting rules was only natural—after all, Lin Wanning was the one at fault.
So she nodded. "I heard you. You’re the older sister. I’ll listen to you."
"I’m hungry."
At this, Lin Wanning quickly said, "I’ll go buy breakfast."
"That troublemaker can go." Hu Yuying didn’t look at Long Aotian, but the petulance in her tone was unmistakably directed at him.
Suddenly called out, Long Aotian hurriedly got up and left to buy breakfast.
The moment he was gone, Hu Yuying seemed to deflate, as if all her strength had drained away.
Seeing this, Lin Wanning stepped forward and let Hu Yuying lean against her. "I’m sorry."
Hu Yuying shook her head. What use was an apology now? The deed was done. "Show me the video."
Lin Wanning hesitated briefly before pulling up the recording and handing her phone to Hu Yuying.
Watching the scenes play out on the screen, Hu Yuying closed her eyes. "You even used handcuffs. Did you plan this from the start—to steal him from me?"
"No." Lin Wanning lowered her eyes and murmured, "I never wanted to steal him."
"You might not believe me, but all I wanted was to borrow a ‘seed’ from him and then leave."
"Don’t blame him. You saw it—I was the one seducing him."
Her words were earnest. She was prepared to give up everything—her studies, her love for music, all of it...
Back when her period had been late, she had thought of abandoning everything. But Long Aotian had stayed by her side, offering warmth and care, even willing to give up his own future for her.
And yet, she had planned to leave—alone.
"Was it worth it?" Hu Yuying asked softly.
Lin Wanning pressed her lips together and smiled. "Yes."
"There have been two times in my life when I was happiest."
"The first was when I was little, staying at my grandparents’ house."
"The second was meeting him and all of you. Falling for him felt like it happened in an instant—when everyone else laughed at me, he was the only one who stood in front of me without hesitation."
"Meeting you and Qingxue, bathing together, staying up late talking in hotel rooms, watching videos, cooking and eating together... it suddenly felt like having a family."
"I wanted to hold onto that happiness—to selfishly keep a piece of it for myself. So yes, it was worth it."
To give her innocence so resolutely meant she had truly given her heart to this man, even if her love was born from something shameful...
When Hu Yuying heard Lin Wanning say, "It suddenly felt like having a family," her emotions churned. She, too, had felt that way—just a small courtyard, a table, talking and laughing together, and it felt like home.
As a woman, she could empathize with Lin Wanning.
But another part of her refused to pity her.
"You heard him earlier. Long Aotian said he’d marry me." He had chosen her—without hesitation.
"I don’t need any status." Lin Wanning knew how important Hu Yuying was to Long Aotian. She had never intended to compete.
"Then what should you call me now?"
"Sister. Dear sister." Lin Wanning wrapped her arms gently around Hu Yuying.
"I haven’t forgiven you yet."
"Then punish me. I’ll accept any punishment from you."
The next moment, Lin Wanning stiffened as a tingling sensation spread through her body.
Hu Yuying’s hand groped her chest, and her body instantly grew strange.
As those mischievous fingers trailed lower, Lin Wanning shuddered. "Sister..."
"You said I could punish you however I wanted."
Lin Wanning bit her lip and nodded faintly.
"Your body is so sensitive."
Lin Wanning closed her eyes, her cool, delicate face nuzzling and kissing Hu Yuying’s neck. "You made me listen on purpose earlier, didn’t you?"
Feeling Lin Wanning's lips brush and kiss against her neck, Hu Yuying couldn't help but tilt her head slightly. "I thought I'd be furious, but honestly, I'm calmer than I expected. I’ve even already decided how to punish you."
"I don’t know what’s come over me. Maybe it’s because the moment I first saw you, I felt this strange, inexplicable sense of familiarity..."
Lin Wanning gently nipped at Hu Yuying’s earlobe. "I felt it too—that warmth, that pull. I couldn’t help but want to be close to you, to Qingxue... I thought it was just me who felt this way..."