Second Aunt Qin looked down at Mianmian from above, curling her lips into a disdainful sneer. “So, what if you’re angry? You ill-mannered thing.”
“Then are you even a thing?” a man’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Of course, I’m not a—” She stopped mid-sentence and whipped her head around. The moment she saw Qin Yunchuan, her heart skipped a beat.
Mianmian had been angry, but the instant Qin Yunchuan appeared, she ran toward him, hugging his leg tightly. Looking up pitifully, she said, “Big Brother, that bad woman bullied me and Brother Gu Xu.”
Qin Yunchuan’s heart ached as he picked her up. “Good girl, Big Brother’s here.”
Mianmian shot a smug glance at the Qin mother and daughter. Qin Yunchuan carried her to the main seat and sat down, gently peeling an orange for her.
He had always doted on Mianmian the most. Qin Tongtong watched with both envy and jealousy burning inside her.
“Yun… Yunchuan, it’s all a misunderstanding. Mianmian is still young and doesn’t understand the rules of a wealthy family. I was only doing it for her own good,” Second Aunt Qin said with an awkward smile, completely different from her earlier arrogance.
Focused on peeling the orange, Qin Yunchuan replied casually, “Mianmian is the Qin family’s young lady. She is not bound by any rules.”
“I’m doing this for the Qin family’s good. Yunchuan, if you keep spoiling her like this, you’ll only harm her—and the Qin family,” Second Aunt Qin said earnestly, as if she truly meant well.
Mianmian’s eyes were full of disgust.
This Second Aunt was really putting on an act!
Qin Yunchuan shot her a sharp look, making her heart jolt.
Did he already find out the truth at the police station?
He was known for being ruthless and merciless. Second Aunt Qin grew increasingly uneasy. She lowered her gaze and signaled Qin Tongtong with her eyes.
Why hadn’t the old master arrived yet?
Qin Tongtong shook her head.
She didn’t know either.
When Second Aunt Qin looked up again, Qin Yunchuan was still calmly peeling the orange. To her, every second felt like torture.
Mianmian could tell—this Second Aunt was truly afraid of Big Brother.
“Yunchuan… say something… today’s matter really wasn’t intentional,” Second Aunt Qin said nervously, unable to bear the tense silence any longer. She feared that at any moment he might suddenly act against them.
The mother and daughter sat restlessly.
Qin Tongtong turned to Mianmian, speaking urgently, “Mianmian, we’re family. We didn’t mean any harm. Explain it properly to Big Brother.”
Now they were afraid?
Mianmian clearly remembered how arrogant and overbearing they had been just moments ago.
She turned her head. “Big Brother, I don’t like them.”
Qin Yunchuan handed her a slice of orange and said casually, “Uncle Jiang, from now on, cut the household allowance we send them in half.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The butler immediately took out his phone.
The Qin mother and daughter exploded.
“Qin Yunchuan, how can you cut our allowance? Your father approved it! You can’t do this!” Without that money, how could she maintain her lifestyle? That money was her lifeline.
Seated at the head, Qin Yunchuan looked at them coldly. “This is the consequence of bullying Mianmian. Also, Second Aunt—let’s talk about you arranging Mianmian’s kidnapping.”
Second Aunt Qin’s face turned deathly pale.
He knew.
Mianmian frowned, then glared at them angrily.
So, it really was them!
Gu Xu, who had already suspected as much, wasn’t surprised.
“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about… what kidnapping? I don’t know!” Second Aunt Qin denied it.
Qin Yunchuan’s gaze remained fixed on her. “Whether you admit it or not doesn’t matter. Uncle Jiang.”
Her expression changed drastically.
As she watched the butler approach step by step, she shouted, “Qin Yunchuan, I’m your elder—you—ah!”
Two sharp slaps sent her collapsing onto the floor in a miserable state.
“Don’t hit my mom! Don’t hit my mom…”
Qin Tongtong cried as she shielded her.
“Qin Yunchuan! Qin Mianmian! You unfilial brats—what are you doing?”
A booming voice came from outside.
Mianmian and Qin Yunchuan exchanged a glance, then both turned toward the entrance.
Old Master Qin had arrived.
“Grandpa, save my mom!” Qin Tongtong cried desperately.
Seeing the swollen handprints on Second Aunt Qin’s face and Qin Tongtong’s tearful state, Old Master Qin was instantly enraged.
“Meiduo is your elder! How dare you lay hands on her? Qin Yunchuan, you’ve really outdone yourself! Your second aunt raised Tongtong alone with great difficulty—how can you, as juniors, humiliate her like this? Is this your upbringing?”
His words were harsh, his aged eyes filled with displeasure.
“If the younger one doesn’t understand, it’s because the elder lacks discipline. Qin Yunchuan, if you can’t fulfill your role as the eldest brother or lead the Qin Group properly, you might as well step down.”
Mianmian understood.
He wasn’t just here to defend them—he wanted to take Big Brother’s position.
How wicked.
Back in her beast-taming clan, there had been people who tried to seize the position of young clan leader too.
They were just like this old man—bad.
Mianmian rushed forward and stood in front of Qin Yunchuan.
“They bullied people first! We’re just paying them back. How does it become us bullying others when it’s you? Old man, don’t be so biased!”
Old Master Qin slammed his cane against the ground in anger.
“Qin Mianmian, I am your grandfather! How dare you call me ‘old man’? You have no manners!”
Rules, rules, always rules.
Yet their actions had no rules at all.
Mianmian found them hypocritical.
“Dad, Qin Mianmian is too arrogant. It’s one thing for her to disrespect me, but how can she disrespect you?” Second Aunt Qin added fuel to the fire.
She wouldn’t forget those two slaps.
“Respect is reserved for those who deserve it,” Qin Yunchuan said calmly, his gaze turning cold as he looked at her.
She shrank back slightly, but with the old master present, she forced herself to speak. “Yunchuan, I won’t pursue the matter of you hitting me. But the old master is your grandfather. If word gets out, your reputation—and the Qin Group’s—will suffer. As family, I advise you to listen to the elder.”
Using filial piety as pressure?
How shameless.
Mianmian put her hands on her hips and stepped forward. “You long-tongued woman, your heart is so bad. You’re deliberately stirring trouble between grandfather and grandson. You’re the most unfilial one!”
“What do you mean ‘long-tongued’? Qin Mianmian, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn’t what I said the truth? You rely on your brother being the president of Qin Group and don’t respect the old master at all!”
Second Aunt Qin deliberately provoked.
Qin Tongtong chimed in, “Mom, she’s calling you a gossip!”
Pfft!
Mianmian covered her mouth with her chubby hand, giggling.
Even Qin Yunchuan couldn’t help but laugh.
Being exposed by her own daughter made Second Aunt Qin’s face turn ugly.
She glared at Qin Tongtong.
So stupid!
Realizing she had misspoken, Qin Tongtong pressed her lips together and didn’t dare look at her mother.
“Enough nonsense. Yunchuan, look at what she’s become. At such a young age, she has no discipline. Sooner or later, she’ll bring disaster to the Qin family. She needs to be taught proper rules.”
At that, Qin Yunchuan suddenly laughed coldly.
“Do you know why I had Second Aunt punished?” His tone turned dark. “Because she hired people to kidnap Mianmian. If I hadn’t found her in time… Mianmian might have…”
Kidnapping?
Old Master Qin stared at Second Aunt Qin in shock.
Both she and Qin Tongtong avoided his gaze—clear signs of guilt.
Fools.
Why hadn’t they explained earlier? He could have prepared a response.
Now…
His tone softened slightly. “Yunchuan, Mianmian is fine now, isn’t she? Your second aunt just made a mistake in a moment of confusion. Give her another chance.”
In his eyes, Mianmian’s life meant nothing.
Qin Yunchuan let out a cold laugh. “I already showed mercy for my uncle’s sake by only punishing her. Otherwise, she’d already be in prison. Uncle Jiang—continue.”