CHAPTER 209: 191: DOES MY BROTHER REALLY HATE ME?

Shi Yin remained silent, but the hands around her waist tightened significantly.

It was as if a drowning man had finally found a lifeline—reluctant to let go, and afraid to release it.

He was lost in his thoughts, his entire being radiating a sorrowful aura: "Even if he hates me, it’s deserved...it’s all deserved..."

His unusual state immediately flustered Ruan Yuan. She cupped his cheeks and kissed his lips tenderly.

"Shi Yin, calm down, okay? Don’t scare me."

"Does my brother... really hate me?"

The man’s humbled, yet slightly hopeful gaze made Ruan Yuan ponder over the interactions between him and Shi Wei in recent days.

Softly, she began: "How could someone who knows all your preferences and helps you when you need it the most possibly hate you?"

Though she didn’t truly understand what had happened, nor knew much about Shi Wei’s temperament.

From his every word and action, however, it was clear that he wouldn’t tolerate even the slightest fault. If he genuinely hated Shi Yin, he would never have coexisted with him peacefully.

"He knows my preferences?" Shi Yin’s eyes lit up upon hearing these words.

"Mm-hmm. Back when I was pursuing you, I asked him about it."

"Really?"

"Would I lie to you?" Ruan Yuan pinched his cheek. Only when she saw the hint of joy in his eyes did her heart settle somewhat.

Shi Yin shook his head, and a pleased smile appeared at the corner of his lips. Holding her hand, he said, "So it was my brother who told you."

Earlier, he had suspected that she had investigated him in secret. But now...turned out it was revealed to her in this manner.

Seeing him act like he’d just received candy, Ruan Yuan felt an indescribable pang of sadness deep in her heart.

Yet ultimately, she didn’t press him further.

*

*

The moon hung bright in the sky.

From the lawn behind the Yu Family villa’s back door came faint rustling sounds.

A girl dressed in black stood under the pristine moonlight, her expression serious as she fastened a rope to the second-floor balcony.

She tapped the Yellow Star on her watch twice, adjusted the brim of her baseball cap, gripped the rope tightly with one hand, and drew out a dagger with the other, swiftly ascending.

Yu Zhi quietly pushed open the sliding glass door but didn’t step inside immediately. Instead, she rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a prepared incense stick, lighting it with a match.

Wisps of smoke curled upward and soon wafted around the bedroom, seeping into the nostrils of those fast asleep.

Covering her mouth and nose, Yu Zhi waited until the moment was right, then quickly extinguished the incense and stepped toward the door, pressing the light switch.

Warm yellow light poured down from above, scattering unevenly onto the double bed where Yuan Li and Yu Baisheng lay.

With an indifferent glance at the pair, Yu Zhi tossed her backpack aside and began searching through the vanity dresser and wardrobe.

Her movements were far from subtle—or rather, entirely unapologetic.

Taking advantage of their deep sleep, she brazenly combed through every nook and cranny where things might be stored.

"Screech—"

A faint scraping noise echoed.

Yu Zhi stared at the redwood box she had dragged out from under the bed. After fumbling in her pants pocket for a moment, she retrieved a slender wire and went to work on its lock.

Holding her breath, she carefully twisted the wire, then turned it slightly to the right.

With a ’click,’ several documents and a transparent plastic bag containing a substance appeared before her.

Yu Zhi quickly skimmed through the contents of the documents. Upon finding a few intriguing details, she scanned them with device 099, recording them.

Afterward, she opened the plastic bag and brought it to her nose for a sniff. When the familiar scent reached her, her delicate brows arched slightly.

As minutes and seconds ticked away, Yu Zhi stowed away the substance and pulled out a black ceramic bottle engraved with a peculiar symbol from her backpack.

Approaching Yuan Li, she rolled up the sleeve of her nightshirt, uncorked the ceramic bottle, and sprinkled its powder onto her exposed wrist.

In an instant, the powder was absorbed into Yuan Li’s body, silently coursing through her blood and spreading to her limbs and bones.

"Lucky you," Yu Zhi muttered, shaking the ceramic bottle as a faint tsk escaped her lips, her abyss-dark eyes gleaming with a sinister smile.

The chill of the 2 AM night was bone-piercing.

With every gust of wind that struck like needles buried in snow, icy stabs penetrated the skin, leaving trails of biting cold.