Chapter 610 - 214: Making Trouble at the Last Minute

"It’s nothing serious. You’re leaving tomorrow, and I just wanted to talk with you," Jie Jinghun said, smiling at Jie Jingling.

Jie Jingling looked at Jie Jinghun. ’Two younger brothers of my own—one insatiably greedy, the other gentle and refined.’ Reining in her turbulent thoughts, Jie Jingling stepped aside. "Come on in."

Once Jie Jinghun was inside, Jie Jingling closed the door. He sat in the chair, and she sat on a small stool. They faced each other wordlessly, and after a long silence, Jie Jinghun was the first to speak. "Sis, I heard from Fourth Brother that Granny fainted."

"Jing San, you don’t have to worry about my feelings. Do what you feel you must. If you want to be a filial grandson to Granny, I won’t stop you. And I won’t use what happened all those years ago to pressure you not to." Jie Jingling’s voice was perfectly calm. ’I’m the eldest, and he’s the youngest. My memories are sharp, but he was so young back then. He probably doesn’t remember a thing.’

A flicker of sorrow crossed Jie Jinghun’s features, and even his gentle smile was tinged with desolation. "Sis, I don’t remember much about what happened when we were children. Even the memories of Granny hitting you behind Mom and Dad’s backs, and how she threatened you not to tell—saying she’d make Dad leave Mom if you did—it’s all a little blurry for me."

The color drained from Jie Jingling’s face, and she began to tremble uncontrollably. It was a bone-deep sense of helplessness, despair, and fear.

’Jing San’s memories were a blur, but hers were as vivid as ever.’

Seeing Jie Jingling’s reaction, Jie Jinghun swallowed the words he was about to say.

’In his memory, Granny hadn’t always hit his sister. It started after that one time Granny was hitting Mom, and Sis rushed in to help, pushing Granny over. That was when Granny started hitting her. Sis learned a harsh lesson that day. After beating her, Granny went to their father to complain. Granny was a great actress; she put on a whole show for Dad, threatening to kill herself unless he punished the sister who had pushed her.’

’Their father, blindly obedient, had beaten his sister viciously. Their mother was too timid to protect her. She just held her two sons in the corner, trembling, forced to watch as their father laid into his daughter.’

Jie Jinghun didn’t really remember how Granny had bullied their mother, but Jie Jingwei had certainly drilled it into him after Jie Jingling was sent to the countryside. As for Granny... to say he hated her to the bone would be an overstatement, but he definitely resented her.

’He wasn’t like Jie Jingwei, who could hate Granny but still keep up a pleasant facade. He wasn’t like Jie Jingchen, either, who would talk back to Granny whenever he felt like it. And he was certainly not like Jie Jingjue, who, once provoked, would disown his own kin, ready to forsake family for the sake of his principles.’

’His way was to escape. He made sure to never be where Granny was. If he was forced to attend the same event, he’d act as if she didn’t exist. Even when he had to drive her home, he’d remain silent in the car unless he absolutely couldn’t hold it in anymore.’

"Sis." Jie Jinghun got up, knelt, and wrapped his arms around Jie Jingling’s trembling form. His voice was warm and gentle. "Sis, I’m capable now. I can protect you."

There was a sense of security in Jie Jinghun’s embrace, a strength that seemed capable of dispelling the fear in her heart. Jie Jingling closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and collected her thoughts.

"Jing San, it’s hot," Jie Jingling said in a lighter tone. She had composed herself.

Jie Jinghun froze for a moment, then let go of Jie Jingling. He remained kneeling before her, his expression exceptionally serious as he repeated, "Sis, I’m capable now. I can protect you."

Jie Jingling smiled, looking with relief at Jie Jinghun, who was still kneeling before her. ’Back when she was being beaten, Jing Er would hide under the bed. Only Jing San had been brave enough to stand up, spreading his little arms to shield her with his small body. But Granny had just picked him up and tossed him aside.’

’Whenever she was covered in bruises from Granny’s beatings, sitting in the corner and licking her wounds, Jing San would run over to her. His eyes would be full of pain for her, and he’d cry as he promised that he would protect her when he grew up and was strong enough.’

"Jing San, I can protect myself now."

"And how do you protect yourself? By just enduring it?" For once, Jie Jinghun dropped his gentle facade, his expression cold as he looked at Jie Jingling.

Jie Jingling didn’t understand at first, but then it dawned on her. She smiled and explained, "My in-laws would never lay a hand on me. They just want me to get the short end of the stick, to do a little extra work."

’Compared to Granny, her in-laws were actually very kind to her. When she had married Sun Debao, her one and only condition was: argue, don’t hit. All these years, her in-laws had remembered it. No matter how bad their arguments got, they never laid a hand on her, because they knew it was her absolute limit.’

Jie Jinghun fell silent, unsure of what to say.

"Losing out is its own kind of blessing," Jie Jingling said, pulling Jie Jinghun to his feet. "Your legs will go numb if you kneel for too long."

’Jie Jingwei had also come to talk to her, and he had nearly angered her to death. Jie Jinghun, on the other hand, made her feel heartened. A person who understands gratitude can’t be a bad person. But someone who doesn’t, even if they aren’t evil, is selfish beyond redemption.’