Chapter 22: Xiyan couldn’t lie to me!

Under the shade of the trees, Song Wan stood frozen, completely bewildered.

“Did Shen Xiyan… train in martial arts or something?”

What just happened?

Even if it was one against many, they shouldn’t have all been taken down with a single punch each—should they?

Yet reality lay sprawled at her feet: a group of people lying on the ground, completely dazed by the fight.

Impossible… right?

“Qin Sheng?”

“No… No way…”

Every punch Shen Xiyan threw felt like a blade—each one stabbing straight into Qin Sheng’s heart.

Thunder roared in her mind.

When she woke up in the hospital, it felt like her entire world had collapsed.

Hadn’t they already broken up?

Then why… why did he still save her?

If she hadn’t heard him, then he should’ve just let her die. Wasn’t that what she deserved?

She had wanted to die. But she couldn’t. After Shen Xiyan’s death, Shen Wen would be left all alone.

And if no one looked after Shen Wen, what would become of him?

So she desperately tried to make up for everything. She poured everything she had into Shen Wen.

But she knew it wasn’t sustainable. Shen Wen hated her.

So, before her life ended, she wrote Shen Wen an apology letter.

And then, when she opened her eyes again—Shen Xiyan was alive. It was the greatest gift heaven could give.

But life has a way of playing cruel games. If it gives you something sweet, a slap soon follows.

Reality never fails to follow this script.

Shen Xiyan had always been the gentle, scholarly type—not strong enough to hurt a fly. Sure, he had some toned muscles from doing housework, but being good at fighting?

That only emerged because Qin Ge kept provoking him.

At this point in time, how could he possibly fight like this?

Scenes from the past two days flashed through Qin Sheng’s mind, and a bold, terrifying thought began to form…

“No… no… Xiyan wouldn’t lie to me.”

Qin Sheng shut her eyes, her breath catching painfully. The noise around her faded, swallowed by a despairing silence.

“Qin Sheng! Qin Sheng!”

Song Wan shook her hard.

“What’s wrong with you?!”

Qin Sheng stared at her blankly, her eyes slowly losing focus.

“Qin Sheng? Qin Sheng?!” Song Wan shook her harder.

Suddenly, Qin Sheng slapped Song Wan’s hand away. Her expression turned fierce—almost feral—as she roared, eyes bloodshot with rage:

“Xiyan wouldn’t lie to me!!! Something’s wrong!!! Something has to be wrong!!!”

“What the hell is going on?!”

But Qin Sheng didn’t answer.

After a long pause, she seemed to snap back to herself, her voice trembling and weak as she sobbed:

“Xiyan wouldn’t lie to me… He wouldn’t… There must be some mistake… It’s just… just that he can fight now, that’s all…”

Rebirth was already unbelievable. But that? That couldn’t exist… could it?

Yet, the very thought of it was enough to crush her composure. Sorrow and despair surged like a tidal wave, breaching her walls and flooding her tear ducts.

Qin Sheng slowly crouched, hugging her knees as she sat on the ground.

Song Wan could sense something deep and raw in her emotions—like a tiny needle pricking her heart.

She didn’t know exactly why, but… this girl really seemed to be hurting because of Shen Xiyan.

“What is wrong with you?”

Song Wan didn’t care if Qin Sheng flipped out on her. She just wanted to know—what the hell had happened to her little sister?

How could someone change so much in just a single day?

Qin Sheng remained silent, exhaled deeply, and forced out all the negative emotions from her chest. Then she stood up and strode decisively toward Shen Xiyan.

There was something heartbreakingly sorrowful about her retreating figure.

***

Qin Ge gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. “Shen Xiyan, you dare hit me?!”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Shen Xiyan straddled him, fist raised high. “You think you’re better than me? A prince or a crown prince, huh?”

Qin Ge knew he had no chance of winning. If that punch landed, it would probably shatter his nose.

But Shen Xiyan didn’t throw it. He only threatened him.

“Know why I’m not hitting you?”

The pressure instantly lifted from Qin Ge’s body like a retreating tide. He collapsed, gasping for breath.

What is this guy? A monster?!

“Because of your sister.”

When heaven wants to destroy someone, it first drives them mad…

Hitting him now would just repeat the same old story—it wouldn’t even leave a real mark.

If this world’s Qin Ge had truly changed, he’d let it go just this once.

If not? Then he’d save it for later. After all, it was recorded on video.

When the time comes, he’ll make sure Qin Ge is done for, and no one can argue otherwise.

Getting a second chance in life—he’s not going to play nice this time.

“Here, let me help you up.”

Qin Ge didn’t move.

Shen Xiyan raised his voice, his tone cold: “Didn’t you hear me? I said—get up.”

Why was he so calm? So indifferent?

Qin Ge didn’t understand, but he let Shen Xiyan pull him up.

But the next second, his expression changed—Shen Xiyan suddenly gripped his left hand tightly, the bones in his palm groaning in protest.

“Shen Xiyan, what the hell are you doing?!”

Shen Xiyan scoffed, “Can’t even handle this little pain, and you think you’re tough enough to mess with people?”

His hand turned white under the pressure, the pain intensifying with each second.

Qin Ge tried to break free, but the gap in strength was overwhelming. He squirmed, struggled—but it was useless.

Humiliating.

After a dozen seconds of enduring, his face turned from red to pale. Finally, he started sobbing.

Then he looked over Shen Xiyan’s shoulder—and paled even more. His lips quivered as he mumbled, “…Sis…”

He reached for his pants, feigning innocence.

He looked nothing like the arrogant brat from before.

Qin Sheng walked straight over, ignoring the marks on his face. She raised her right hand—and slapped him hard, harder than Shen Xiyan had earlier.

Smack!

A bright red handprint bloomed across Qin Ge’s cheek. He couldn’t keep his balance and fell to the ground, his eyes swelling and lips trembling.

He couldn’t even speak.

“Who told you to mess with him?”

Qin Ge was stunned.

Sure, he and Qin Sheng didn’t get along. But this?

She slapped him the moment she showed up?

Smack!

“Tell me! Who… who… WHO?!”

Qin Sheng didn’t raise her voice. Her tone was slow, calm—and she slapped him with each word.

Tears welled in Qin Ge’s eyes. “…It was me.”

“Why did you go after him?”

“What right do you have to criticize who I’m with? Who the hell do you think you are?”

Smack!

“Answer me!”

“…I’m sorry.”

Qin Sheng crouched down and grabbed a fistful of his hair, forcing him to look at her.

“You know you were wrong?”

Smack!

“I said, do you know you were wrong?!”

“…Yes.”

Smack!

Another brutal slap, full force. It was like she didn’t care if he lived or died.

“You better get this straight. We’re not that close. Apologizing doesn’t mean I won’t hit you. If you don’t want to get hit, then don’t do it in the first place!”

Half of Qin Ge’s face was swollen, speckled with blood under his skin.

“Are you going to do it again?”

Smack!

“Answer me! Are you?!”

Qin Ge had never seen Qin Sheng like this. His lips trembled. “I won’t… I won’t anymore…”

Smack!

That one broke him.

“I said I won’t! Why are you still hitting me?!”

“Oh? I didn’t hear that.”

Qin Sheng lied without hesitation and glanced around the crowd.

“Hmm. So you’ve got some followers, huh? Must’ve spent quite a bit on them. Impressive, I’ll give you that. A second-gen who doesn’t use his parents’ power? That’s a rare breed.”

Qin Ge’s face twisted. “Sis, I didn’t…”

“Didn’t?”

She cut him off, her tone suddenly cold and domineering—like a real elder sister scolding her younger brother.

“You think I’m blind? You’re all obedient at home, and you pull this crap at school?”

Qin Ge said nothing.

“I’m warning you: if you make trouble for him, then you’re making trouble for me. Either take me on too, or stay the hell in line. Who the hell do you think you are? Really think you’re some big shot?”

His face was covered in slap marks. No matter what, he was still just a middle schooler.

First Shen Xiyan, now Qin Sheng—like they’d planned it together. He couldn’t hold it in anymore, and fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

Song Wan, who had been watching the whole time, finally stepped forward to ease the tension.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough. Don’t want him going home to complain—what a pain.”

“He wouldn’t dare.”

Qin Sheng shot him a glare, her and Song Wan putting on a united front.

“If my dad finds out he’s using his power to bully people, he’ll break his legs! Now get lost!”

Qin Ge lowered his head, lips pressed tightly together.

He got up and staggered away.

The rest of the group lying on the ground scattered like frightened animals.

Qin Sheng didn’t bother with them. She took a deep breath, calmed herself, turned around, and smiled at Shen Xiyan.

“Shen Xiyan,” she asked gently, “where did you learn to fight like that?”