Rendong couldn’t help but glare at them, feeling that Xue Yulang’s words were meant to humiliate Xue Ning.
“Second Young Master, my lady is not here to bring you congratulatory gifts!”
He was so biased, yet he had the nerve to assume that Xue Ning had come to yield and present him with gifts!
Xue Ning knew Xue Yulang had misunderstood and didn’t miss their smug, disdainful looks.
“Rendong, give it to him. He’ll understand once he sees it.”
Xue Ning’s tone was cold. Rendong, seething with anger, shoved the wooden box into Xue Yulang’s hands.
When Xue Yulang opened it and saw the contents, his face darkened completely.
Xue Mingzhu leaned over to take a look, a flicker of surprise crossing her expression.
Inside the wooden box were only two inexpensive hairpins and accessories—simple in style and long out of fashion, yet showing no signs of wear. It was clear their former owner had treasured them deeply.
Xue Yulang gritted his teeth. “Xue Ning, what do you mean by bringing back the things I gave you before?!”
At first glance, Xue Yulang had almost failed to recognize them, even thinking how shabby they looked. But he still recognized the gift he had casually bought to brush off her birthday.
These were all the things he had given Xue Ning after she was brought back from Gusu to Jingdu.
The entire box’s worth couldn’t compare to the value of a single clay doll he had just given Xue Mingzhu.
Unlike his fury and shock, Xue Ning remained calm and detached, unsettlingly so.
“I’ve returned everything you gave me. Now, return all the things I gave you before. From now on, we owe each other nothing.”
Xue Yulang pointed angrily at Xue Ning. “Are you playing these games to cut ties with me? I am your second brother! Xue Ning, do you think I care for a sister with such low character? I’ll have someone find the things you gave me right now. Go inside and count them yourself! As if you ever gave me anything good! Do you think I care to keep them?”
Xue Ning’s heart remained unperturbed. She was even pleased by Xue Yulang’s “indifference,” as it saved her from wasting time with him.
Inside the study.
Xue Ning glanced around, while Xue Yulang stared at her with a dark, handsome face, his gaze fixed intently on her.
Xue Ning watched as the servant gathered the items. Finally, from the floor, he picked up a medical book that had been used to prop up a table leg. She breathed a sigh of relief—at least Xue Yulang hadn’t thrown it away.
The gifts she had given him had never been cherished, but she no longer cared.
Because the moment he abandoned her and chose Xue Mingzhu, she had already given up on him as a brother.
He was now an insignificant person, incapable of hurting her.
“Fifth Young Miss, these are all the items. Please take a look…”
The servant felt a pang of complexity. He didn’t understand why the Second Young Master held such strong prejudice against the Fifth Young Miss.
In truth, the Fifth Young Miss had always treated the servants in the mansion with the utmost sincerity. Whenever anyone faced difficulties and sought her help, she would always empathize and assist them, regardless of whether others were watching.
On the other hand, the Fourth Young Miss, whom the Second Young Master saw as kind-hearted, was only superficially pleasant—in reality, behind the scenes…
But what could a mere servant say to his master?
“That’s not right. There’s still one missing.”
After speaking, Xue Ning turned her cold gaze toward Xue Yulang. “Return the Exquisite Moxibustion Needles I gave you when you entered Shenyigu to study medicine.”
Xue Yulang’s eyes widened in disbelief, then he clenched his fist, gritting his teeth and roaring in fury.
“Xue… Ning! Say that again? How dare you!”
Everyone knew that when he enjoyed the reputation of a divine physician, the exquisite silver acupuncture needles in his possession were also rumored among the people to be priceless treasures. Xue Ning couldn’t possibly be unaware of how important these were to him! Every time he performed acupuncture, it would draw the envy and admiration of his peers, serving as a source of his pride.
Xue Ning sneered. Of course, she knew how rare these exquisite acupuncture needles were. Back then, she had spent countless efforts studying the art of brewing wine, solely to cater to his preferences. She finally brewed a wine that swept through Jingdu, a wine so precious it couldn’t be exchanged for a thousand pieces of gold. She had sent fine wines for an entire year before she could persuade the reclusive master to emerge and craft them.
From then on, there would only be this one set of exquisite acupuncture needles in the world, unparalleled by any other.
Unmoved, Xue Ning spoke word by word, “Xue Yulang, give it back to me.”
Xue Yulang was truly infuriated, never having been so angry and enraged in his life.
He yanked the brocade pouch from his waist, gritting his teeth as he threatened, “Xue Ning, the exquisite acupuncture needles are right here. If you have the guts, come and take them. Once you take them away, I will no longer have you as my sister!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Xue Ning stepped forward, snatched the brocade pouch, and ignored Xue Yulang’s forceful tugging, unwilling to let go.
She opened the pouch, checked its contents, and after confirming it was the exquisite acupuncture needles, turned and left without a moment’s delay.
She didn’t even glance at Xue Yulang.
What did it matter to her whether he was angry, furious, or hurt?
“Xue Ning!”
Xue Yulang shouted her name angrily, staring intently at her, but she showed no intention of looking back.
Xue Yulang instinctively took two steps forward, wanting to stop her. He had a strong premonition that if he let her leave like this, she might truly no longer acknowledge him as her second brother!
But his pride forced him to halt abruptly, his face flushed red with suppressed anger, panting lightly.
A servant stepped forward and whispered, “Second Young Master, Fifth Miss might be angry with you for favoring the pearl clay doll. Perhaps you could give the doll…”
Xue Yulang didn’t immediately refuse, and a flicker of hesitation and anxiety truly crossed his face.
Xue Mingzhu’s eyes widened, but she quickly lowered her gaze, concealing her disbelief. Second Brother was actually wavering!
That wouldn’t do!
Xue Mingzhu hatched a plan, hurried after Xue Ning, and tightly grasped her wrist.
“Ningning, if you want to blame someone, blame me. I know you resent me because of what happened yesterday, but Second Brother was only thinking of the Xue family. You shouldn’t blame him. How could a younger sister find fault with her elder brother?”
Xue Yulang put on a cold face and said stubbornly, “No need to persuade her!”
But in reality, his gaze never left Xue Ning, closely watching her expression.
Xue Ning remained unmoved, but her arm was pinched painfully by Xue Mingzhu. She turned her cold eyes to Xue Mingzhu, slapped her, and then forcefully pushed her to the ground!
Xue Mingzhu cried out in pain, tears welling up in her eyes immediately.
Xue Yulang exclaimed anxiously, “Mingzhu!”
He helped Xue Mingzhu up and carefully examined her.
Xue Mingzhu revealed her palm, scratched and bleeding slightly from the ground, her tear-filled eyes looking pitifully at Xue Yulang.
Xue Mingzhu sobbed, “Second Brother, don’t blame Ningning. I think she didn’t mean it.”
All the doubts and hesitations in Xue Yulang’s heart vanished, replaced only by pity for Xue Mingzhu and anger toward Xue Ning.
His eyes were filled with disgust, and if not for Xue Mingzhu stopping him, he would have wanted to strike Xue Ning.
“Xue Ning, I will tell Mother and have her punish you, sending you to the Buddhist hall to kneel and reflect on your actions!”
Xue Mingzhu’s eyes gleamed with triumph, yet she feigned concern as she advised Xue Ning, “Ningning, if you apologize to me properly, I’ll forgive you. Hurry up and kneel to admit your mistake, otherwise Second Brother truly won’t let you off. If Mother finds out, she’ll be disappointed in you!”
Xue Ning disdained to explain, her gaze icy. “I won’t apologize. Xue Mingzhu, if you provoke me again, I’ll hit you again. Put away your petty schemes—the brother you care so much about means nothing to me. From now on, stay away from me!”
Before, she had endured it all because she didn’t want to deepen their dislike for her, knowing no one would believe her explanations anyway.
Now that she was on the verge of death, she refused to waste any more time on people who didn’t matter.