C11 Anger

Xiao Chen's gaze fell on Chu Xiaoli again, teasing with a hint of a smile, "When did my brother find himself a girlfriend? I had no idea."

Xiao Jie smiled, perhaps not even realizing that whenever he mentioned Chu Xiaoli, a natural smile appeared in his eyes. To Xiao Chen, that smile was glaringly bright.

"I've known Xiaoli for a long time, just haven't brought her home for Mom to meet. But these days, I'm planning to. Xiaoli will be the only woman I marry."

"Is that so? Well, congratulations to you both," Xiao Chen replied with a smirk. "I'm busy, so I'll leave you to it."

Xiao Jie nodded slightly, wrapping an arm around Chu Xiaoli's shoulders as they turned to leave. Behind them, Xiao Chen watched their retreating figures, his eyes clouded with darkness.

Away from Xiao Chen, Chu Xiaoli was still recovering from the shock, her mind spinning from Xiao Jie's words, yet a sweet smile played on her lips.

"Already smiling like a fool?" Xiao Jie teased, gently tapping her head with affection.

Chu Xiaoli snapped back to reality, chuckling a bit. Suddenly, Xiao Chen's image flashed in her mind. She bit her lip and asked, "Xiao Jie, you and your brother... don't seem to get along."

Xiao Jie pressed his lips together, his expression complicated at the mention of Xiao Chen. "Xiao Chen and I are half-brothers. He's the rightful heir of the Xiao family, while I'm just the illegitimate child living in the shadows."

Chu Xiaoli's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting her gentle and refined boyfriend to be an illegitimate child.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Jie gave a bitter smile. "Surprised, aren't you? Being an illegitimate child isn't exactly something to be proud of."

"No," Xiaoli held onto his arm, her clear eyes filled with concern. "Have you... been through a lot?"

Xiao Jie gently ruffled her hair, speaking softly, "Originally, I was destined to live in the shadows as an illegitimate child. But a few years ago, the head of the family and his wife died in a car accident, and Xiao Chen disappeared. So, they came looking for me."

A few years ago... a car accident?

Images flashed through Xiaoli's mind—rain, blood, a young boy barely clinging to life, and news reports about the tragic death of the family head and his wife.

The first time she did laundry... she wasn't even old enough for that responsibility. Whose blood-stained clothes had she washed?

Xiao Jie seemed to be saying something, but Xiaoli's mind was blank. She could only stare at Xiao Jie's moving lips, unable to process the words.

Finally, Xiao Jie noticed something was wrong. He waved a hand in front of her eyes. "Xiaoli? Xiaoli?"

Xiaoli snapped back to reality, her eyes scanning the room. The nightclub's deafening music pounded in her ears. She suddenly pushed Xiao Jie away, leaned against the wall with a bitter smile, and fled, leaving only a quick, "I need to use the restroom."

Xiaoli had no idea where the restroom was in the nightclub. She wandered aimlessly, checking each door until she finally found the women's restroom and slipped inside.

She still couldn't remember anything, but her mind was too blank to face Xiao Jie alone. Thankfully, the solitude of the restroom gave her a moment to clear her head.

Wiping her forehead, she suddenly realized she was drenched in cold sweat.

In the next instant, her slender wrist was grabbed tightly. Xiaoli's eyes widened, reflecting Xiao Chen's stern face, his eyes revealing a chilling intensity.

He was absolutely furious.

"Xiaoli, you have three minutes to explain your relationship with Xiao Jie," Xiao Chen's voice was cold, as if it came from the depths of an icy abyss.