Standing before her was a woman dressed in long robes, her hair tied in a single ponytail, holding a precious sword in her hand. She bore a certain resemblance to Lin Huānhuān.
Lin Shuāng Yè snorted coldly, clearly displeased, as she stared at the dumbstruck Lin Huānhuān.
“So? What are you going to do to me? We haven’t seen each other for a few days and you don’t even recognize your own elder sister anymore. Were you planning to teach me a lesson?”
“How—how could I? I just didn’t realize it was you, Sister. If I had known, I’d have run out to greet you myself.”
Lin Huānhuān rubbed her hands together, an uneasy smile on her face, just like a mouse that had grown used to being cocky suddenly running into its natural enemy—the cat.
“So it’s only when you see someone else that you can act so unreasonable? What did I teach you? You must always be reasonable when dealing with others. Where did that lesson go?”
Lin Shuāng Yè clearly didn’t intend to let her off so easily, pressing her step by step. Lin Huānhuān was left speechless, forced to accompany her with an awkward grin, secretly shooting a fierce glare at the helpless-looking Dǒng Yǔn’er.
With her eyes, she signaled: ‘Just wait, I’ll deal with you later! You didn’t even warn me!’
Lin Huānhuān might act arrogant in front of others, not caring for them at all, but that didn’t mean she was like this before everyone.
At least, in front of her elder sister, she was instinctively fearful.
Lin Shuāng Yè was two years older than her. Their parents had always been busy, so for the most part, it was Lin Shuāng Yè who took care of her, taught her, and protected her.
There were many times when, as a child, she’d gotten into trouble and it was Lin Shuāng Yè who smoothed things over, even covering for her before their parents to spare her greater punishment—though of course, Lin Shuāng Yè would still scold her.
The elder sister is like a mother. Perhaps it was precisely because of this, combined with the innate bond of blood, that Lin Huānhuān always felt a bit ill at ease in front of Lin Shuāng Yè, never daring to show her true self.
Seeing Lin Huānhuān like this, Lin Shuāng Yè didn’t continue to press the matter.
“Let’s go inside. We’ll talk in there,” Lin Shuāng Yè said.
After all, this was outside the room. If others overheard their conversation, it wouldn’t be good for their reputation.
Lin Huānhuān, eager to please, led Lin Shuāng Yè to the main seat, personally poured her a cup of tea, and then cautiously inquired,
“Sister, did you come to see me for something?”
She had more or less guessed Lin Shuāng Yè’s purpose for coming, but to maintain her image as a well-behaved girl in front of her sister, she had to put on an act, at least to put her sister at ease.
Though it might not do much good—after all, Lin Shuāng Yè had probably heard all about her deeds—there was still a chance that her sister believed those so-called rumors were just gossip rather than truth.
“Hmph.”
Looking at her well-behaved appearance, Lin Shuāng Yè gave a noncommittal snort. She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, then said quietly,
“Don’t play dumb with me. Did you tie up Yè Jǐnxiù? If you did, hurry up and let her go.”
“Do you know you’re breaking the sect rules? That’s punishable, and you could even be expelled from the sect. If you listen to me now, I’ll go with you to apologize. Maybe the matter will pass.”
Lin Shuāng Yè spoke earnestly and with concern.
Ever since she heard that Lin Huānhuān had kidnapped Yè Jǐnxiù, she’d been filled with despair.
When she’d learned before that Lin Huānhuān was Mójìng and liked women, it took her a long time to accept the truth—after all, they were blood sisters.
But now, her once well-behaved little sister had actually gone as far as to kidnap someone after her pursuit failed—how was that any different from a bandit?
She didn’t want to believe it, but she couldn’t help but worry that it might be true.
‘Before my sister does something truly irredeemable, I have to pull her back onto the right path. That’s a sister’s duty!’
With that thought in mind, she’d hurried over, scolded her thoughtless sister, and then started her lecture.
“As long as you’re willing to admit your mistake, no matter what, your sister will help you.”
Looking at Lin Shuāng Yè’s earnest expression, Lin Huānhuān could only give a wry, helpless smile and say,
“Sister, you’ve really misunderstood me. I’m not stupid—I wouldn’t do something like kidnapping.”
“Even though Yè Jǐnxiù rejected me, we parted on good terms. If we’re not suitable, I won’t force it. I’m not that extreme.”
She put on an innocent face, silently thinking to herself: ‘Sorry, Sister. To keep up my image as a well-behaved girl in your heart, I have no choice but to hide the truth.’
“Really?”
A look of hesitation crossed Lin Shuāng Yè’s face. She’d watched Lin Huānhuān grow up and knew her character well. Though she was mischievous, she was still generally good-natured—not born a villain.
‘Could I have really misunderstood her?’
Lin Shuāng Yè even felt like apologizing right then and there, but to keep her sister from straying down the wrong path, she forced herself to put on a stern face.
“Words aren’t enough. I want to go check your room and see if anyone is there. Is that alright?”
Though she worried her sister might fall to the ways of evil, there was no evidence. Besides, her sister was grown and deserved privacy, so she always asked before checking.
“Of course,” Lin Huānhuān replied obediently.
Luckily, she’d already let Yè Jǐnxiù go earlier. Otherwise, things would have gotten messy.
Lin Shuāng Yè checked every corner of the room thoroughly. Once she was sure no one was hidden, she let out a breath of relief.
“Sorry, Huānhuān, I really misunderstood you just now. I mainly heard people saying you’d tied up Yè Jǐnxiù and worried something might happen to you. That’s why I was so anxious.”
“It’s alright, Sister. I know you’re just looking out for me—I understand.”
“That’s good, then.”
*****
Dǒng Yǔn’er stood off to the side, rolling her eyes as she watched this display of sisterly affection.
‘Miss’s acting skills just keep getting better and better. She’s a born liar.’
‘I wonder what Eldest Miss would look like if she saw Miss’s true colors?’
*****
“Yè Jǐnxiù, are you alright?”
As soon as Yè Jǐnxiù returned to her residence, she saw a youth in tight martial attire, strikingly handsome, waiting at her door, concern in his voice.
“I heard you seemed to have gone missing earlier. There were even rumors you were kidnapped, but you look fine, so it must have been just gossip, right?”
“Mm.”
Yè Jǐnxiù thought for a moment, then nodded slightly. “That’s right. I just went to the town to buy a few things and got delayed. I have no idea who spread such rumors.”
‘Since I didn’t suffer any real loss, there’s no need to worry my friend.’
“I see.”
The handsome youth cupped his hands lightly and smiled. “Since you’re fine, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, feel free to come find me.”
With that, he turned and walked away.