Chapter Five

  It turned out that Bing Jingtong was actually Fengjian Cheng's younger sister.

  Ming Xiao Xi couldn't digest this fact for a moment, she muttered to herself: "No wonder, her gaze has always been so unique... No wonder, you said it's unacceptable to accept her heart..."

  "She suddenly asked in surprise: 'Senior, when did you know?'"

  "When I was very young...my parents had a fight once...I knew it back then. I was probably around 8 or 9 years old at that time..." Fūjin Chō recalled slowly.

  "Then, then have you fallen in love with her?" she anxiously asked back.

  "She is my sister." His tone was calm.

  Ming Xiao Xi let out a long sigh: "Ah, it's okay..."

  How frightening it is that Kaze no Ito might have liked Hitomi after finding out she was his sister, if so, it would be too cruel to Kaze-senpai.

  "I see, no wonder your mother always gets so excited when she sees you..."

  Kazami nodded: "Yes. As long as Mother sees Tsubasa, she loses control. For her, Tsubasa's existence is a bloody reminder of the fact that Father was unfaithful."

  "...Ming Xiao Xi seemed to have understood many things in an instant."

  "Actually, Mother isn't as bad as you think... Father has always been cold to her, and her pride forced her to pretend to be happy... But Tong's appearance was like a dagger that pierced through Mother's last layer of protection..."

  "So even if your mother did something very wrong to you, you still don't want to blame her."

  Kazehaya's bitter smile: "I understand that this isn't fair to Akane, but... Mother is also in a lot of pain..."

  Hyōga's Byakugan...

  That beautiful woman on that night...

  "So, it wasn't a coincidence that Tsubaki was adopted by Shin'ichi Mochizuki's father either?"

  "She was given to Pastor Maki right after she was born..."

  So it was, from the moment Ling came into the world, her fate was sealed...

  "But!" Ming Xiao Xi asked him in puzzlement, "Why didn't you tell her about her origins? Do you want her to have such a huge misunderstanding?"

  Fujiwara no Toshi sighed in pain:

  "My father, Kazama Yuji... His goal is to become the next Prime Minister of Japan... A clean reputation is a politician's lifeblood... If it weren't for his mother's protection at that time, he probably wouldn't have allowed that woman's child to be born..."

  "How can I tell her what kind of person her father is, and what kind of person her mother is... they don't even bother to look at her... No, I'd rather she didn't know anything... so she can have some dreams about her parents... maybe that way the hurt will be a little less..."

  "I originally wanted to be good to her, even better, using my greatest efforts to make her happier... but..."

  Feng Jian Cheng looked at Ming Xiao Xi and said in a low voice: "I hurt her, didn't I? I made everything worse..."

  Ming Xiao Xi's tears were like a burst dam, surging across her face:

  "Right! You've hurt her! Stupid senior! How could you treat Iori like that? You were so good to her, and genuinely liked her. She thought she could have happiness, and finally worked up the courage to take a step towards it. But then you suddenly tore her heart apart again! You're really stupid! Stupid senior!"

  A suspicious starlight flashed in Fūin's eyes, like a tear: "In the end, I was still wrong, the person who hurt Tōka the deepest... was me..."

  "No!" Ming Xiao Xi shook his head and shouted decisively: "You're so stupid! You didn't notice Ling's intentions... but you're not wrong at all! What's wrong with caring about and loving your own sister? You're not wrong at all! If you ignored her and didn't care, that would be the most shameful thing! What's wrong with you?"

  His long body was deeply buried between his long legs, the night color thickly covering him, with a kind of fragility that made people's hearts skip a beat...

  Ming Xiao Xi's tears were still flowing endlessly...

  Fujiwara no Teika was not wrong...

  What's wrong with Bing Yujian?

  How could it be strange for her to fall in love with him when such an excellent and outstanding person like Fūjin has always been caring for and loving her? What's wrong with wanting happiness?

  But all of this is actually wrong...

  Ice Extreme Pupil...

  That beautiful woman on that night...

  *

  "Class dismissed."

  With a word from the English teacher, the students of Class 2 Grade 3 started to pack up hastily, rushing out of the classroom in a flurry as if competing with each other. Ah, yes, today is the weekend, no wonder everyone was so excited.

  Ming Xiao Xi also started to listlessly pack her textbooks and stationery into her backpack. Her movements were slow, as if she wasn't in a hurry at all, completely unlike her usual energetic self.

  "Hey," Koizumi said curiously, looking at her, "you look like you're really tired."

  Ming Xiao Xi nodded: "Yes, I feel like I don't have any energy today."

  "Is it...?" Looking at Koizumi's expression, Ming Xiaoxi knew that what she was about to say wouldn't be anything good. "Is it that your beloved has too much energy, so he's exhausted you?!"

  A tiger can't change its stripes.

  "Right, so I'm going to go home and kill myself."

  "Nonsense!" Koizumi protested.

  Ming Xiao Xi exclaimed in surprise: "You also know what nonsense is?!"

  "You scold me!" Koizumi came rushing over to get revenge, but suddenly her movements stopped.

  Koizumi looked out of the window and then turned back to her with a wink: "I've got a date."

  Akira Mizuki also looked out the window and found it was Hiroshi Tōji.

  "She let out a sigh: 'I'll give it to you then.'"

  Koizumi shrunk her neck: "It's better to leave it to yourself. Toudou Hiroshi, that fiery young man, is beautiful but can only be admired from afar, not up close. Only a 'strong' woman like you can tame him, if a weak woman like me were to encounter him, I'm afraid she'd end up dead and buried."

  "You're still pretending to be a weak girl?" Ming Xiao Xi looked at her with a mixture of laughter and tears, slowly moving towards the classroom door.

  "Hello, Dong Si!" Ming Xiao Xi bowed to him politely. Some time ago, Dong Si Hao Xue said he was emotionally unstable and had a bad temper. (He even hit Dong Si Hao Xue when they were eating hot pot that day.) She still wanted to be careful around him, so as not to provoke an "intense" scene. It wasn't because she was afraid of him, but rather because she didn't want to lose face in front of the monks and Buddha, for the sake of Dong Si Hao Xue and his mom, it was worth holding back her temper a bit.

  Toji Hiroshi expressionlessly said to her: "My mother told me to pick you up and take you home for dinner."

  "Oh," Ming Xiaoxi thought for a moment, she hadn't been to Dong Si's house in a long time, but...

  "Makino Ryuhi has already gone." Tōji Hiromu added awkwardly.

  Is that so? Then she won't have to bear the infamy of "abandoning" Makino-sama and "guarding an empty house". Ming Xiaoxi smiled: "Alright, then let's go now?"

  "My car is parked outside the school gate."

  Akira Akechi walked with Toshiyuki Higashide towards the school gate and gained a lot of "attention" along the way.

  "Look! It's Dong Si Xue Sheng and Ming Xiao Xi!"

  "Really! The two of them can actually walk together!"

  "Huh? Didn't they used to be like fire and ice whenever they met?"

  "It seems that world peace is not completely hopeless after all..."

  Ming Xiao Xi's ears, which had automatically shut down, still caught a few words. Hmm, she was actually great enough to bring hope to humanity?

  "Ah! ——"

  Suddenly a sharp cry burst out of nowhere!

  "Wow!!———————"

  Seven or eight voices screamed in response!!

  "Ah!!!!!!"

  Scream of Elephant Wave generally surging and foaming makes campus boiling!!!!!

  This excited and thrilling scream was something Ming Xiao Xi hadn't heard in a long time.

  Is something strange going to happen again?

  "It's her!"

  "It really is her!"

  "She's here again!"

  The students of Rende Academy who had not left yet all stopped in their tracks and automatically took up the best viewing angles.

  Accompanied by the audience's anxious and eager anticipation, the screaming "reason" - the gorgeous maiden, Makino Fuyu's "fiancée" Akame Aoi makes a grand reappearance!

  Last time Akane Akatsuki came to Rinden Academy alone, but this time it's different. Behind her are two burly men with thick waists, their hands on their hips and muscles bulging out, quite intimidating!

  Akane's chin jutted out, and she struck a pose: "Ming Xiaoxi!"

  Ming Xiao Xi rolled her eyes and didn't bother to respond to her.

  "Xiao Xi!" Akane Akatsuki was furious, "You dare not answer me, you stinky woman?!"

  Ming Xiao Xi thought to herself that talking to this foolish woman was a complete waste of breath, what she wanted to say could be understood even with just her toes.

  "I want you to leave Makino Fuyu no Ice!" Akane Akagami said menacingly.

  "Anything else?" Ming Xiaoxi asked politely.

  "Otherwise, you will suddenly lose an arm, a leg, or even your life."

  "Ah......" The students of Rende School gasped in unison. What a terrifying woman...

  "Is this why you came here today?"

  "Not bad!"

  "Alright, goodbye." Ming Xiaoxi nodded and was about to leave leisurely.

  "Stop right there, Ming Xiaoxi!" Akane's face turned red with rage, her nose twisted in anger. "Don't move a step further!"

  Ming Xiao Xi helplessly slumped her shoulders: "You've said what you wanted to say, I've heard what you wanted me to hear, what more do you want?"

  Akane hummed: "I want you to agree now! Otherwise..."

  Ming Xiao Xi was piqued by her repeated threats: "Oh? Or else what?"

  "Awi! Awo!"

  "Yes! Miss!" The two big men shouted in unison, puffed out their chests and walked forward.

  "Your answer had better meet my expectations, or I'll shave off your eyebrows and have you crawl out of the gates of Rende Academy with a black nose and a swollen face!"

  "Shh!......"

  The audience booed. This black-bellied girl actually dared to come to Rende and bully people openly today, which is too much of a bullying.

  "Go Ming Xiaoxi! Go! Ming Xiaoxi! Go!"

  Just in time, the lively Xiaoquan swung her fists and cheered for Ming Xiaoxi! Although she didn't want to admit it, in fact, she had always been proud of having Ming Xiaoxi in Class 2-3. She was not willing to see Ming Xiaoxi lose to that arrogant woman, Akane Akame!

  Koizumi's shouting was supported by the masses, who also shouted in unison: "Ming Xiaoxi! Come on! Ming Xiaoxi! Come on!"

  Ming Xiao Xi politely returned the greetings to her supporting audience, then said calmly: "Firstly, my relationship with Makiyuki Kori is none of your business; secondly, this intimidating behavior of yours is despicable; thirdly, I am not afraid of any threats."

  Akane's face twisted in rage: "Ahh! I'll kill you! Awi, up!"

  That big man named Ah Wei swung his arms and walked towards Ming Xiao Xi.

  "To move her, you have to ask my fist first."

  Tōji Hiroto, who had been silent until now, stepped in between Akira and Taika.

  Akane glared at Cheng Yaojin, who had suddenly appeared: "Who are you? Do you want to interfere?"

  Toji Koji said coldly: "I'm someone who doesn't like you."

  Akane laughed coldly: "You want to take her place, huh? It seems that Ming Xiaoxi, this little slut, is quite popular."

  "Shut up!" Higashi Tera Hiro shouted, "You disgusting witch!"

  Ming Xiao Xi choked for a moment, oh my god, she didn't expect that scolding someone could be so interesting.

  "Awi! Kill him!" Akane Akagami screamed at the top of her lungs.

  Awi violently pounced over and threw a straight punch fiercely at Terauchi Hiroo's face!

  "Ah......" Ming Xiao Xi was startled.

  Just as it seemed like ōtera Hiroshi's big teeth were going to be knocked out, he suddenly struck the large man's abdomen!

  As she watched, Ming Xiao Xi's heart gradually calmed down. It turned out that Dong Si Hao Nan's skills were not bad at all, and after more than a dozen rounds, he was not at a disadvantage in the slightest. Of course, compared to her, he still had to be slightly inferior.

  Akane An saw that Daihan was attacking for a long time without success, and she became somewhat anxious. She ordered Daihan's Awu to go ahead and launch a pincer attack.

  Da Han Ah Wu crept behind Higashide Hiroo's back, just about to launch a sneak attack...

  Suddenly, a meteor leg appeared out of thin air, carrying the force of a thousand pounds, accompanied by a loud whooshing sound, and with one kick, he was sent flying into the crowd of "spectators"!

  Ming Xiao Xi patted her pants where there was no dust and raised an eyebrow, shouting: "Despicable rodents, how dare you try to secretly harm people?!"

  She shouted again: "Fellow students of Rende Academy, keep an eye on this sneak attacker and let Dong Temple senior have a fair duel with the enemy!"

  "Alright!!" The hot blood of the Rende students was ignited by Ming Xiao Xi! They launched a group attack, thoroughly beating up the still dazed Da Han Awu, found ropes and wooden boards as weapons, tied him up like a rice dumpling, and kept him as a "war trophy".

  On this side, Higashi's fight also ended. He threw the big man Awi who was knocked out by him into the excited "audience" crowd.

  "Get back to work!"

  "Hurray!" Cheers burst through the sky!

  Ming Xiao Xi glanced at the two beautiful "big dumplings" and, suppressing the urge to burst out laughing, said to Akane: "We've received your gift, so can we take our leave now?"

  Akane's face was red with rage and she shrieked: "I'll kill you!"

  She rushed over at an astonishing speed, and the unguarded Ming Xiaoxi only had time to push her away, but unexpectedly, Chi Meng Xiao somehow pulled out a sharp dagger from his waist!

  The dagger flashed with a cold light and slashed across Ming Xiao Xi's left arm!

  Fresh blood splattered on the ground like a straight line...

  Tōji Hiromu furiously punched Akane Akatsuki, each punch landing on her face. In just two minutes, a bright red "pighead face" was born.

  Akane Kiyohara covers her long wound with her hand and comes over, disagreeably stopping Tōji Hōnan who is still punching: "You savage, if you keep hitting him like that someone will end up dead!"

  Tōji Kojirō's eyes widened in shock: "Mei Akari..."

  Ming Xiao Xi smiled slyly: "Just give her a small lesson." She blinked, taking the blood-stained dagger from Akane's hand...

  "Hiss, hiss" two sounds...

  A "beautiful" "pig-headed face" with no eyebrows has come out!

  Ming Xiao Xi threw away the razor with satisfaction, and said gently to Akane Akatsuki who had started wailing: "You're not fond of shaving other people's eyebrows? Today I'll be your model. Go take a look in the mirror when you get back, my skills are quite good."

  Akane An wiped her nose with one hand and tears with the other, cursing: "Ming Xiao Xi, I'll kill you, I must kill you!"

  Ming Xiao Xi scratched her ear: "I heard it, all of Rende's classmates also heard it. Ah, the security guard is coming... I believe they also heard it."

  The late-arriving security guards of Rende Academy nodded and forcefully seized the browless Chen Xingyu and the two no-longer-"formidable" big men: "You actually bullied kind-hearted students of Rende in broad daylight, and intimidated them with your words. We will send you to the police station according to law, and reserve the right for further investigation!"

  In the cheers of all the classmates, the three disheveled people were dragged away...

  *

  Arriving at Dong Si's house, the first person to discover that Ming Xiao Xi was injured was actually Muye Liu Bing.

  He grasped Ming Xiao Xi's blood-soaked left arm and his face sank: "What happened?!"

  Ming Xiao Xi ate painfully and pouted: "Ah, it hurts so much... what's going on? Isn't it because of Young Master's boundless charm?"

  Makino Ryū glared at her impatiently: "Speak up!"

  "Today a woman named Akane Akatsuki came to school and threatened her to leave you..." explained Terauchi Hiroshi.

  "Ah!" exclaimed Tōji Kōsetsu, "Then, Akane vowed to never leave Maki no with her life, defending their love to the death in their struggle against Akame Ayan! Ah, what a strong and moving love!"

  Ming Xiao Xi gritted her teeth and said: "Dong Si Hao Xue, shut up! Come and apply medicine for me quickly! I'm in so much pain..."

  "Oh..." Tōji Kōsetsu came running over with a medical kit, but was stopped by Makino Fuyu.

  "I'm coming," he said coldly.

  "Oh no, it hurts so much!... Can't you be gentler?... Let Xiaoxue do it instead......" Ming Xiaoxi cried out in distress. Good heavens, he was so clumsy that he made her hurt even more than when she was injured.

  "Shut up!" The force of Makino Fuyu's ice-packed punch increased by a few degrees.

  "Ah! You did it on purpose!" Ming Xiaoxi protested strongly.

  "Clumsy woman!" Makino Ruka's expression was somewhat unnatural. "Aren't you supposed to be really strong? You can't even beat Akane Akatsuki."

  "I'm not one to be beaten by her! It's just that... I didn't think she'd actually use a knife..."

  Ming Xiao Xi smiled complacently: "However..."

  Dong Si's eyes gleamed with worship as he gazed at her: "Ming sister, you will definitely make her miserable..."

  Ming Xiao Xi chuckled: "Chi Ming Xing isn't 'very' miserable, but 'extremely extremely' miserable!"

  Tōji Hiroshi added: "I'm afraid Akane Akatsuki will never forget this for the rest of her life."

  Akira Meika and Toshihiko Higashi suddenly exchanged a smile...

  That shiny pig head face...

  While eating, I heard them discussing Tera Mizuki heatedly and felt a bit uneasy: "Akane Akana... isn't she the daughter of that Akana Daiki?"

  Makino Ryu nodded slightly.

  "I heard that Akana Daiki's 'Nikkōsha' is extremely ruthless in the underworld, Akiyoshi you've provoked them, won't there be trouble......"

  Dong Si put down his chopsticks nervously too.

  Akane took a deep breath and looked at Tōji Mizuki: "I don't want to cause trouble either, but unless Makino Fuyu is willing to surrender herself to Akamegami An, she won't let me go no matter what. Things have developed to this point, so I'll just have to see how it goes. However... Mother Tōji, you don't have to worry too much either, I'm the invincible Akane after all! As long as I'm a bit careful from now on, it should be fine!" She struck a "power pose", making everyone chuckle.

  Ming Xiao Xi secretly took a glance at Mu Ye Liu Bing, his lips tightly closed. No wonder he wanted to find her to be his shield, Chi Ming Xing that woman was indeed very frightening.

  But...

  This afternoon's lesson to Akane Hinoi has allowed her to vent the frustration that had been building up inside her for days, thanks to Fūjin and Hyōga. What a relief!

  *

  Ming Xiao Xi contentedly held a cup of green tea, curled up in the living room watching TV with a dazed expression. From time to time, she would take a sip of tea to digest the dinner she had at Dong Si's house earlier. Ah, Dong Si's mom was really too enthusiastic, every time she went over there were so many delicious dishes that her belly was always bulging.

  Makino Ryuichi glanced at her and said, "Turn off the TV."

  "Ah," Ming Xiao Xi reflexively hugged the remote control tightly, "You were the one who promised not to interfere with my freedom to watch TV!"

  "It's too noisy."

  "You can go back to your room." Ming Xiaoxi pouted, for the freedom to watch TV, she had given up her bedroom to him and could only live in the living room herself, yet he was still not satisfied?

  "I want to talk to you." Makino Ruka gazed at her with patience.

  "Do you... want to talk to me?" Ming Xiao Xi "slammed" the TV shut, how strange, Flowing Ice Young Master actually had an interest in chatting with her? Wonder what topic he wanted to discuss?

  "What do you want to say?"

  Makino Ayumu hesitated for a moment: "You..."

  "Ding Dong!" The doorbell rang.

  Ming Xiao Xi opened the door: "Tong! It's you!"

  It's only been a few days since I last saw her, and Jie Xue's whole person seems to have slimmed down by a large margin. Her slender waist is as thin as paper, and the sharp chin gives me a feeling of seeing her again with affection.

  Ming Xiao Xi warmly pulled her into the house: "Tong! Come in quickly! I'll pour you a cup of tea."

  Hyōga gently freed his hand from hers and bowed to Yukimura: "Young master, Lord Yukimura requests your return home."

  Makino's voice was cold as he hummed: "You go back."

  Hyōga gazed deeply at him: "Lord Makino entrusted me with bringing you back no matter what."

  Makino Ryu's icy eyes emitted a cold glint like ice:

  "Do you want to take action?"

  The atmosphere is tense and strained.

  Ming Xiao Xi pulled Pastor Ye Liu Bing, making him shut up. She hehe smiled and asked tentatively: "Liu Bing, what happened?"

  Hyōga hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Two hours ago, Akameya Taika and Akameya Hana burst into the Makino residence with many people from 'Nikkōsha'. They threatened Lord Makino that if he didn't hand over Young Master and have him sign an affidavit promising to marry Akameya Hana in two years' time, they would declare formal hostility against the 'Makino Group'."

  "Ah......" Ming Xiao Xi's mouth was agape in shock. How could such a thing happen?

  Makino Ryu's icy smile: "Is Makino Hiroto planning on selling me off?"

  "Pastor Makino, please go back."

  Makino Ryu walked up to the window and looked down, outside the apartment building were eight or nine cars parked tightly together, a group of big men were looking up.

  "Go tell Makino Hiro that even if I die, my corpse will not fall into his hands."

  Bing Jue Tong took a last look at Muye Liu Bing, bowed deeply and backed out of the gate.

  Ming Xiao Xi looked at Mu Ye Liu Bing in a daze, unsure of what to do.

  What's going on? What should he do? What should she do? How did things develop to this point? Was it her fault this afternoon?

  "It's none of your business."

  Makino Ryuhi seemed to have seen through her thoughts: "I'm very familiar with the Akame father and daughter's habits, if they take a liking to something, they won't let go of it even if they die."

  Ming Xiao Xi stared at him blankly, was it really not her fault? If she hadn't shaved off Chi Ming Yao's eyebrows, would things have turned out better?

  A sour feeling surged up her nose, wasn't it really because of Pastor Yang's icy face in the face of this situation?

  Tears slid uncontrollably down her cheeks: "Was I too impulsive? Why was I so reckless? If I had endured a little longer... if I hadn't done that... I really started to regret it... I..."

  Makino Ryū ice pounced on her and held her tightly: "Stupid woman! I said it had nothing to do with you! Don't cry! Don't cry again!"

  Ming Xiao Xi's tears wet his shoulders: "What to do now? How to solve it? How are you going to be okay?...... It's all my fault......"

  Makino lifted her tear-stained face: "I don't like the crying you, there's no usual spirit in you, you should be the most angry and fearless one, why do you cry so ugly?"

  Ming Xiao Xi let out a loud "wa" and cried even harder: "I'm so heartbroken... really heartbroken... it's all my fault, isn't it? It's all because I was too..."

  Makino Ryuusei fiercely kissed her sobbing lips!

  His cold lips pressed against her trembling lips.

  A bit salty...

  Cool...

  Her breath was taken away...

  Her head began to spin...

  Is she going to faint...

  Why is my heart beating so fast, it feels like it's going to jump out...

  Makino Ryu finally let go of her, a strange flush on his face: "Cough, I was watching you cry... wanted to make you stop... so..."

  Ming Xiao Xi stared at him with a confused expression and suddenly asked, "Is this your first time too?"

  His face turned even redder: "You, you stupid woman!"

  "So you're also doing it for the first time?"

  "Ah! I'm telling you, it's my first time kissing a girl, so what?!" Makino shouted back in anger.

  Ming Xiao Xi's heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she couldn't help but want to laugh secretly...

  Makino Ryuhyo gazed at her with a somewhat absent-minded expression: "You just now... were you deceiving me?"

  Ming Xiao Xi threw a straight punch at his chin: "Who wants to cheat you? You're such a scoundrel!"

  *

  Happy times are always short-lived, and harsh reality rushes hastily to the forefront.

  Makino Ryu's guess was right on one point: Makino Hideo was indeed waiting for Hyo's message at the foot of the apartment building.

  Twenty minutes after Bing Jue Tong left, Maki Hiro stood outside the apartment door.

  Makino Ayumu blocked Akira's way: "I don't want to see him."

  "Unless we never go out from now on, these problems will have to be faced sooner or later. And even if we really don't go out, I believe they'll find a way to break the door open. Sticking our heads out is one knife cut, and hiding them is another knife cut - might as well be decisive."

  Makino's icy gaze locked onto her: "Do you regret it?"

  What's there to regret?

  Is it regret for teaching Akane a lesson or is it regret for being kissed by him just now? Just thinking about that kiss, her face turned red again.

  Makino Ayumu furrowed his brow: "I'm asking you, do...you regret meeting me, bringing so much trouble to you?"

  Ming Xiao Xi lost her smile:

  "What a strange question. If I could go back in time, would I regret meeting you? Whether it was misunderstanding you outside the Ren De Gate or running into your drunk self, even if fate came again with my personality, I would still intervene. Since coming again would be the same result, what do I have to regret?"

  "And besides," Ming Xiao Xi pointed at the big gate, "the big trouble is over there, let's wait a bit before discussing this boring issue."

  Ming Xiao Xi once again faced the heroic Muye.

  Makino Hideo's face was gloomy and his expression was unwell:

  "Flowing ice, come back with me."

  Makino Rie's gaze was fixed on something outside the window, as if she hadn't heard a word he said.

  Ming Xiao Xi brought a cup of tea in front of Muye Xiong Ying: "Uncle, please have some tea." After all, he is the father of Muye Liu Bing and can't be too rude to him, she thought.

  But some people don't think so...

  Makino Ryuichi suddenly slammed the tea bowl that Makino Hideo had just handed to him onto the floor, spilling tea everywhere and shattering the cup into pieces!

  "He doesn't deserve this cup of tea!" Makino Rie said coldly.

  Makino Hideo flew into a rage: "You little beast!"

  Makino glared at him coldly: "Didn't you come to ask for my help?"

  Makino Hideo suppressed his anger: "Yes... I'm asking you to come with me, please."

  "Do you think... I'll go back with you?" Murakawa Rikka's voice floated out faintly.

  "You!...... I hope you can answer me."

  "What did I promise you?"

  "The engagement of Akane and her father's hoped-for marriage."

  "Do you think I would sell myself out like you?"

  "Pastoral field ice!" Makino Hiro had reached his limit of patience.

  Ming Xiao Xi looked at Mu Ye Liu in confusion as he teased his own father like a cat playing with a mouse. How could they be so hostile towards each other?

  "Pastoral field ice!" Pastoral hero narrowed his eyes, "State your conditions, how will you agree to this marriage."

  "Oh, I'd better think carefully about this..."

  "As long as you agree to marry, I can guarantee that you will inherit the 'Makino Group' in the future."

  "It seems like it's still not enough..."

  "If you want this woman, I can also guarantee that she will be your mistress and no one will touch her."

  "It seems like something is still missing..."

  "If you need money, I can give you a blank check, and you can fill in the amount yourself."

  "Makino Hideo, do you know what my greatest wish is?"

  Makino Hideo's eyes narrowed into a sharp blade-like slit:

  "What is it?"

  Makino Ryu's icy laughter echoed, with an unspoken sarcasm in his tone: "My heart's desire is for Makino Hiro to suffer a crushing defeat, to be utterly humiliated and left with no way out. Can you help me achieve this? If you can, I'll grant you anything."

  Makino Hiroshi suddenly stood up: "Makino-style Ice!"

  Makino's icy gaze turned back to him coldly: "What, can't you do it?"

  "Ah! You... you beast! What sin have I committed to deserve a monster like you?!"

  "Don't you know what evil deeds you've done? Makino Hideo, I not only know the evil deeds you've done, but also that you're nothing but a beast, worse than an animal."

  "Makino Ryuubi! I'll kill you, you ungrateful child!" Makino Hideo roared.

  Makino Ryu looked at him with disdain: "Can you afford it? If you kill me, how will you appease the Akame Daiki?"

  "Ah!" Ming Xiao Xi worried that Mu Ye Xiong was about to have a stroke, "Alright! Alright! You finally tell me clearly today, why do you hate me so much? Am I not your father?"

  "Do you dare let me speak? Do you dare listen?"

  Makino's voice was as fleeting as a ghost.

  Makino Hideo's body suddenly shook, and then he barely calmed down: "Y...you said..."

  Makino's eyes, colder than ice, stared straight at him: "Do you think a four-year-old child doesn't understand anything and can't remember anything?"

  "When I was young, the only ones in my memory were mom, uncle and grandfather. All the happiness of my childhood was brought by them... You are just a ruthless executioner..."

  "The first person to disappear from my life was my grandfather, because you not only cheated him out of all his property, but also made him bear a false accusation, so he killed himself...... Am I right......"

  "Next to disappear was my beloved uncle... Makino Hidehiko... You shouldn't have forgotten this name, after all he's your older brother... Precisely because he's your older brother, he stood in the way of you inheriting the 'Makino Group', so you ruthlessly killed him too... Am I right?"

  "Finally, it's my poor mother's turn...... Actually, since Grandfather passed away, her tears haven't dried for a single day...... You killing her might be a kind of relief for her...... But you, you beast, in order to curry favor with Akame Daiki, that old lecher, and get the position of 'Makino Group', actually...... actually tied up Mother and let Akame Daiki, that bastard, enter Mother's room to humiliate her...... Do you remember who was the first to find Mother's body? It was me!...... I, her four-year-old son...... was the first to find her battered corpse......"

  " Makino Hiro... what on earth are you..."

  Makino Hideo's body trembled with fear, his expression like a cornered mouse: "Y...you...how could you possibly know......no......it can't be......impossible......ah......" He suddenly sprang up and stumbled out of the door as if possessed by a ghost.

  "Bang!" The apartment's door was slammed shut violently.

  In the small space, only Mukō Ryūhyō and Myōshi Kei were left...

  Tonight is so long...

  It seems like it will never end...

  *

  Ming Xiao Xi didn't know how long she stood there watching the ice flow in the pasture...

  She only felt that her feet, her body, including her heart, were all as heavy as lead, unable to move, and even thinking had become so difficult.

  If she just listened and it felt like a knife cut to her heart, then what kind of pain was the always silent Makino Fuyu enduring?

  She didn't dare to think about it, nor did she dare to ask.

  At this time, it seems that no matter what I think or ask, everything is wrong. The only correct thing to do is to stand by and silently accompany Pastor Mu Ye's flowing ice...

  It's unknown how much more time has passed...

  Makino Ryuhyo finally saw Ming Xiaoxi.

  He smiled at her, and that smile was surprisingly gentle: "Scared you, did I?"

  Ming Xiao Xi had never seen such a gentle Pastor Liu, his gentleness made her heart tremble, his gentleness brought up a bitter and sour feeling that welled up in her eyes...

  "How are you crying again? Why are you so fond of crying today?" He gently wiped away the tears on her face.

  Ming Xiao Xi shook her head and refused his hand: "Is this the first time you've mentioned this matter?"

  He nodded.

  "Why don't you just say it?! Don't you have even one person you trust?!"

  He nodded.

  "Don't you even care about your own grandfather?!"

  He nodded.

  "Then you haven't told Fūin Kazuki either?!"

  He nodded.

  "So you're just going to bear it yourself?!"

  He nodded anyway.

  "You stupid Pastel! Don't you have anyone in this world that you trust to help share your burdens? Don't you know what suffering is?! Ming Xiaoxi angrily grabbed his arm and bit down, "Stupid! Can't you think of a way to alleviate the pain?! Do you want the pain to accumulate deeper in your heart?!"

  Makino Ryu gazed at Ming Xiao Xi with a mesmerizing gaze.

  His gaze frightened her.

  "At that time... I was only four years old... I heard my mom begging inside... but I was scared... I was extremely scared... I couldn't move a step... could only cower in the corner and tremble... I'm useless, right?... If you were me... you would definitely kick open the door and rescue Mom... if you were Mom's child... maybe Mom wouldn't have died..."

  "It's not like that! When I was four years old, I would even be afraid of seeing a little chick! I didn't have the courage to face any problems at all!"

  "I opened the door to see my mom's corpse... she was completely naked... covered in bruises everywhere... I started vomiting... kept vomiting... vomited all over my mom's body... my stomach hurts so much... it really hurts..."

  "Bang!"

  A scorching slap landed on Mukoyoshi Ryūko's face!

  Ming Xiao Xi used all her strength to hit him: "Mu Ye Liu Bing, you coward! Hurry up and wake up for me! Don't scare me... I'm really so afraid... Waaahhh... Don't scare me, okay? I'm really so afraid..."

  Her tears began to flow down again in a sorry state...

  "Makino Ryūko... I'm so scared... Don't scare me, okay?..." She retreated to a corner, sobbing and curling up into a small ball.

  She was also a timid soul, what fearless of heaven and earth were all deceiving, just listening to Mu Ye Liu Bing made her hair stand on end, what qualifications did she have to accuse him?

  Ming Xiao Xi thought more and more sorrowful, tears kept flowing down...

  At some point, Ming Xiao Xi woke up to find himself curled up in Mu Ye Liu Bing's arms. He looked at him gently: "You fell asleep... sorry, I scared you... don't be afraid, I'm fine... but your expression just now was exactly the same as mine when I was a kid... I just wanted to comfort you..."

  His warm words calmed her down, and with a flicker of her eyes, she fell asleep again...

  Her bed is so warm...