Even bringing up Qin Second Uncle couldn’t shake Qin Yunchuan’s decision.
The butler held Second Aunt Qin firmly, slapping her again and again.
The crisp sound of each slap echoed sharply through the living room.
“Stop! Stop right now… do you want me to smash my head to death in front of you?” Old Master Qin roared in anguish.
But without Qin Yunchuan’s order, the butler would not stop.
Qin Tongtong had already cried herself hoarse, sitting on the floor in tears.
Mianmian and Gu Xu watched the scene together. There wasn’t the slightest trace of fear on her face. Gu Xu raised an eyebrow—this little girl really had guts.
Finally, Qin Yunchuan gave the order to stop.
Second Aunt Qin’s face was badly swollen, blood slowly trickling from the corner of her mouth.
“Throw her out.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The butler dragged her away. Old Master Qin and Qin Tongtong hurried after her to check on her injuries. Even from the living room, their furious shouting could still be heard.
“Big Brother, that biased grandpa… Mianmian doesn’t like him either. Mianmian likes Big Brother the most.”
Mianmian cupped Qin Yunchuan’s face with both hands and spoke seriously.
After everything just now, she could clearly see Old Master Qin’s favoritism.
Gu Xu clicked his tongue in envy.
Qin Yunchuan smiled softly and held her close. “Big Brother likes Mianmian the most too.”
“Hehe.”
Mianmian tilted her head up and kissed his cheek. He froze for a moment, then seemed much more energized.
A thought rose in his heart—ever since she had been rescued, Mianmian had become much livelier. Before, she had been quiet and withdrawn. Now, she was finally acting like a child.
He had once worried that the kidnapping might damage her mentally, but instead, it seemed to have changed her for the better.
“Cough, cough, cough…” Qin Yunchuan suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit.
“Yunchuan, you should go for a check-up.”
Gu Xu’s words immediately caught Mianmian’s attention.
What check-up did Big Brother need?
After calming down, Qin Yunchuan replied casually, “Whether I go or not, the result is the same. No need to waste time.”
“Yunchuan, you—”
Qin Yunchuan glanced at him lightly, and Gu Xu instantly fell silent.
The two men grew quiet.
Mianmian sensed there was a secret between them.
Just then, the butler returned with an acupuncturist.
Qin Yunchuan went upstairs first to prepare for the session. Downstairs, Mianmian watched him leave, her thoughts unclear.
Gu Xu patted her little hair buns. “Yunchuan gets acupuncture once a week. It helps his health. Don’t worry.”
Mianmian nodded.
Gu Xu added, “Little Mianmian, I’m heading out.”
“Brother Gu Xu, you can’t leave!”
Mianmian hugged his leg tightly, refusing to let him go.
“So reluctant to part with me?”
Mianmian blinked slyly and nodded.
“Brother Gu Xu, what check-up is Big Brother going for? Is he sick?”
Gu Xu narrowed his eyes slightly.
So, this little one was trying to get information out of him!
He pinched her soft cheek again—nice feeling.
“Yunchuan isn’t sick. I was just reminding him to do his annual physical. Your Big Brother is a workaholic. Little Mianmian, you should remind him—work isn’t more important than health.”
He couldn’t tell the truth, but getting Mianmian to nag him didn’t break any promises.
He didn’t believe a sister-obsessed man like Qin Yunchuan would ignore her.
“Brother Gu Xu, you’re not lying to me, right? Adults shouldn’t lie to children.”
Mianmian looked at him with pure, clear eyes.
For a moment, he felt guilty.
This little girl was not easy to fool.
He puffed out his chest and said confidently, “I’m a doctor. I never lie.”
Mianmian stared at him with her bright eyes.
He secretly clenched his fingers, nervous.
She’s just a three-and-a-half-year-old child. Don’t panic.
“Alright then, I’ll believe you.”
Gu Xu quietly let out a breath of relief.
“Go play with Sister Xiaohong for a bit. I’ll go check on Yunchuan.”
With that, he hurried upstairs.
Mianmian blinked.
He ran really fast.
Resting her chin on her hands, she recalled something Big Brother had said earlier.
“Sister Xiaohong… why did my dad agree to give Second Aunt money? Is it extra money?”
“I’m sorry, Miss. That’s a matter for the main family. I don’t know.”
“It’s okay. I’ll ask Big Brother later. Sister Xiaohong, you can go. I can stay by myself.”
Xiaohong left.
[Ah… your father gives money to your second aunt because of your second uncle. But money isn’t the important thing—your father is. After Madam Qin gave birth to you, she disappeared. There’s been no news all these years. You grew up without a mother… such a pitiful child. And that old witch even wants to seduce your father—but you can’t hear me! Ahhh, I’m so thirsty! Someone saves me!]
Disappear?
Old witch?
Seduce Father?
Mianmian looked around.
Who was talking?
[Eh? What is Mianmian looking at?]
Finally, she found it.
A narcissus flower sitting on a tall cabinet.
“Sister Narcissus, is the old witch you mentioned my Second Aunt?”
[Ahhh! You can understand me?!]
“Yes! Am I right?”
[Exactly right! That old witch has been widowed for years. She wants to seduce your father and become the mistress of the Qin family. Mianmian, be careful of her—and your cousin Qin Tongtong too. She wants to take your place.]
The more Mianmian listened, the more shocked she became.
They wanted to take her father… and her brothers…
How hateful!
Her father and brothers belonged to her. They were bad people—very bad people!
“Sister Narcissus, thank you for telling me. I’ll water you.”
Her small finger poked the hardened soil—it was completely dry.
It had clearly been neglected for a long time.
There were so many servants in the house—how had this one plant been forgotten?
Mianmian dragged over a stool, climbed up with a cup of water, and carefully watered the plant.
As soon as it was nourished, the narcissus seemed to come back to life, swaying happily. Its dry leaves instantly regained vitality.
Mianmian chatted with it for quite a while.
Only then did she learn that the narcissus had been a gift from her father to her mother.
After her mother disappeared, her father lost interest in managing the company. He moved to Plum Garden, living a secluded life, eating vegetarian meals and praying daily.
Because of their mother’s disappearance, her brothers held resentment toward their father. The third brother, especially, refused to let anyone touch anything related to him.
Mianmian crossed her arms, frowning. “But it doesn’t seem like Dad is staying out of everything. Second Aunt and Qin Tongtong rely on his authority to bully others.”
Just how many secrets were hidden here?
[That’s because your second uncle died—and his death is related to your eldest brother.]
“Sister Narcissus, what exactly happened?”
There was no such memory in her mind.
She urgently wanted to know the truth.