C18 Chapter 18

“How?” Nuochu almost laughed. Overnight, her own father had set her up and ruined her, leaving her body covered in humiliating marks—yet he still expected her to make things work for Lijue and Ni’an.

She had no interest in being the Gu family’s young madam, but Ni’an still let out a bitter laugh. “Young Master Jue won’t listen to me.”

“How? Just show your true colors.” Ni’an’s voice came fast, eager. “Trashy, sneaky, shameless, born to flirt and hook men. And how hard can it be? If you and I stand in front of Young Master Jue together, he won’t even look at you. A prized peony next to a rotten weed—who’s going to notice the weed?”

“Ni’an.” Mrs. Jiaang cut her off.

Then Mrs. Jiaang suddenly pried Nuoqing’s mouth open and shoved a few pills in. With no water, Nuoqing choked and coughed nonstop. Nuochu stayed on the floor, fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms.

Thankfully, after Nuoqing took the medicine, the spasms from her allergic reaction slowly eased.

“Nuochu, I know you’re a smart girl. Your mom and your sister are, too,” Mrs. Jiaang said, almost like she was praising her. “It’s just a shame your sister’s been so fragile since she got sick. If I have to keep worrying about Ni’an’s situation, I may not have time to look after Nuoqing. With her like this… I’d hate for an accident like that to happen again…”

“I understand, Mrs. Jiaang.” Nuochu lowered her head.

“You’re such a sensible child.”

“I know what I need to do.” Nuochu looked at Nuoqing, now calm again. “I want to be alone with my sister for a while. Is that okay?”

“What are you plotting now—stalling for time?” Ni’an snapped, her voice rising into a roar. “Nuochu, are you that desperate for men? The second a man touches you, you cling to him? Take me to see Young Master Jue. Now!”

“Ni’an.” Jiaang Wanmei shot Bai Ni’an a look. She was sick of Bai Nuochu wasting time too, but when it came to Gu Lijue, nothing could go wrong. Let the little bitch have a few minutes with Bai Nuoqing—maybe it would make her try harder.

Bai Ni’an left, reluctant to the very end. “You’d better hurry up. If you don’t, I’ll kill this lunatic myself!”

Once everyone was gone, Bai Nuochu checked Bai Nuoqing’s temperature, carefully calculated her dosage, and sorted out the medicine. Then she climbed onto the bed. After a moment’s hesitation, she wrapped her thin arms—so slender you could see the joints—around herself, the way her sister used to hold her when they were kids.

The second she settled into that position, her voice cracked. “Sis… it’s Nuo. It’s me.”

Bai Nuoqing struggled to respond, but only two words came out: “Sen…”

Tears Bai Nuochu had been holding back finally spilled over. “Sis… do you feel any better?”

“Sen…”

Her sister—the one who used to shine so brightly, the one who loved her and protected her more than anyone—didn’t even recognize her anymore. All she remembered was that man’s name.

Bai Nuochu held her tighter, sobbing. “Sis… I’ll get you out of here, okay?”

She was exhausted. She wanted to leave.

With her medical skills, she and her sister could live comfortably. If Qinnuo had destroyed what she built, she could build it again. And if it came down to fair competition, she’d make the Bai family spit back everything they’d taken from her, piece by piece.

But her mother’s last words still rang in her ears: if her sister ever left the Bai family villa—the place she’d promised that man she would stay—she would completely fall apart…

No matter how hard the road ahead was, no matter how many thorns lined the way, even if she had to crawl, she would make it to the end.

“Young Master Jue is here!” Just as Bai Nuochu clung to her sister and finally allowed herself to break, the announcement rang out from downstairs.

Gu Lijue was here?