“You’re too kind, Miss Ming…”

Sun Hongyue knew full well that he was no greenhorn without any experience in reading people.

Yet when he stood face to face with Ming Yue, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

The moment she gave him a gentle smile, his heart rate shot up uncontrollably. He hastily waved his hands, reluctant to accept her gratitude yet unable to finish what he wanted to say.

It almost felt as if…

In fact, he didn’t even want to say it at all.

He chuckled, unable to contain his emotions—or his racing heartbeat—like a little thief whose palms were already slick with sweat.

Ming Yue said nothing, a rare, soft smile playing on her delicate features.

“Let’s go. It’s nothing; I’ll just see you to the door. Mr. Sun, there’s no need to overthink it. I’m simply grateful you went to all that trouble twice.”

“Then…” Sun Hongyue paused, a faint smile spreading across his lips. “You’ve gone to so much trouble, Miss Ming.”

Ming Yue had already lifted her slender feet and was walking away, smiling as she said, “Next time we meet, just call me Ming Yue. I’m not some pampered young lady, nor do I have the life of one.”

“Then… Miss Ming… Ming Yue, you can just call me by my name from now on,” Sun Hongyue murmured softly, stepping out after her.

“Alright.”

Ming Yue agreed without hesitation.

The two walked side by side through the Ming family courtyard, saying little.

Within the courtyard, vibrant blossoms still lingered, their beauty undiminished.

Fluttering butterflies took flight, industrious bees busied themselves with their work; colorful wings and delicate silhouettes swirled around both men and women.

Men naturally towered half a head above women.

They were lean yet exuded an air of unwavering resolve.

Women, by contrast, had narrow shoulders and waists.

Their upright postures resembled solitary pines standing tall on a cliff.

Both were strikingly beautiful.

Liu Qinxin stood at the doorway, casting a cold glance toward the street, a faint, icy smile curling at the corners of her mouth before quickly fading, leaving only the breeze in the courtyard and the air in the sky.

When someone came along, however, she would once again become the dutiful wife and loving mother Liu Qinxin.

“She’s a jinx—anyone who gets near her is bound to suffer misfortune. And you still want to help her? Why on earth would you help her? Aren’t you afraid she’ll bring bad luck to our Lai Lai?”

It was Old Lady Liu speaking.

This was her first visit to the Ming household since she’d fainted in the living room last time, her gaze following the retreating figures of Ming Yue and Sun Hongyue.

Liu Qinxin smiled faintly. “Mom, what era is this anyway? How can there still be such things as ‘killing’ or ‘bringing bad luck’? It’s all superstition—please don’t believe it.”

“You’re so indecisive! All you ever care about is making your husband happy!” Old Lady Liu shot Liu Qinxin a sharp look, clearly furious.

Liu Qinxin kept smiling, quietly watching the two figures receding into the distance, saying nothing and refusing to argue.

Old Lady Liu sighed and reached out to poke her on the head:

“Qinxin, let me be clear: I don’t care what happens to Jiajia. I only have one precious grandson, Lai Lai—and if anything should happen to him, I won’t forgive you!”

“I know, Mom. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of our Lai Lai.”

Liu Qinxin smiled even more brightly, slowly pulling her gaze back from the distant figures and turning instead to help Old Lady Liu back inside.

Neither woman noticed that, hidden among the flower shadows not far away, stood another person—a girl named Liu Jia, who had only ever heard her grandmother and mother speak fondly of her younger brother, Liu Lai.

Liu Jia watched her grandmother and mother walk into the house, then glanced at Ming Yue, who was seeing off the fair-skinned young man at the gate, before recalling her father’s and grandmother’s attitudes. Suddenly, she felt as though something was terribly wrong:

End of Chapter 56: An Apology