Chapter 1363: Are you trying to play me for a fool?

Before long, Qin Yiyan's nimble hands had peeled a whole plateful.

Then he pushed the plate in front of Liu Xin'ai: "I've peeled the shrimp for you, have a taste."

"Oh, thanks."

Liu Xin'ai ate absent-mindedly, completely lacking the joy of savoring a delicacy.

Moreover, she didn't even realize she had something on the corner of her mouth.

Qin Yiyan shook his head and picked up a tissue to help her wipe it.

Liu Xin'ai dodged, however, and took the tissue to dab at it herself.

Qin Yiyan didn't take this small action to heart, assuming only that he had disturbed her meal.

But after similar situations began to multiply...

Qin Yiyan felt something was wrong.

Recalling carefully, he discovered that Liu Xin'ai's smiles had diminished since she returned from the restroom.

Not only was she preoccupied, but her attitude toward him had also changed.

Thinking back to how Liu Qingze had returned just after Liu Xin'ai...

Qin Yiyan frowned and looked over.

He happened to catch Liu Qingze's smug gaze.

Very well, the matter really did have something to do with him!

Qin Yiyan withdrew his gaze and made no further intimate gestures toward Liu Xin'ai.

Instead, he chatted with his mother and Xu Xiaoxiao as if nothing were the matter.

Xu Xiaoxiao was naturally very good at enlivening the atmosphere.

Because she was enjoying the delicious food and was in a great mood, she was even more high-spirited.

She managed, by her own efforts alone, to drive the overall atmosphere at the dining table.

The others were also very cooperative with Xu Xiaoxiao, laughing when they should laugh and responding when they should respond.

It was just that everyone held different thoughts in their hearts.

Halfway through the meal, Liu Qingze's phone rang.

To avoid disturbing the others, Liu Qingze went to the balcony to answer the call.

The balcony was very quiet; compared to the lively dining room, this place seemed like another world.

Liu Qingze also switched to a calm and composed demeanor, picked up the phone, and listened quietly to the report from the other end.

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Qingze gave simple instructions and arrangements.

Then he hung up the phone.

The moment he put down his phone, Liu Qingze felt someone walking up behind him.

Turning his head to look, Liu Qingze discovered that the person's shadow was very long.

This caused the corners of his mouth to hook up slightly.

Turning around gracefully, Liu Qingze met the gaze of the ill-tempered Qin Yiyan.

"What is it, finally showing your true colors? Honestly, you're more pleasing to the eye like this; that hypocritical look from before was truly nauseating."

Qin Yiyan did not want to speak meaningless words, and he did not take Liu Qingze's provocation to heart.

Instead, he asked very directly: "What did you just say to Xin'ai?"

Liu Qingze knew what Qin Yiyan meant.

Yet he deliberately played dumb: "Oh my, I've said so many things, I can't remember."

"Then recall it—the words you used to sow discord between Xin'ai and me!"

"Brother-in-law, you can't just talk nonsense without evidence. When did I ever sow discord between the two of you?"

Liu Qingze calling Qin Yiyan "brother-in-law" at this moment was not out of respect, but mockery.

The implication was to hint that Qin Yiyan and Liu Xin'ai would not last long.

Qin Yiyan naturally understood what Liu Qingze meant.

But he did not go tit-for-tat with Liu Qingze; instead, he knitted his brows and warned: "Don't disturb Xin'ai because of your own petty thoughts. That isn't being good to her; that's just being self-righteous!"

This warning made Liu Qingze very furious.

He felt that Qin Yiyan had no right to say such things and retorted immediately: "Stop pretending to be selfless. The most selfish person in this world is you! You used every means to monopolize my sister before, and now you still refuse to let go. You are simply a jerk!"

The more Liu Qingze spoke, the louder his voice became.

By the end, he was almost shouting.

His shouting appeared even more obvious in the quiet.

It also caused the furrows in Qin Yiyan's brow to deepen.

He warned: "Are you trying to attract Xin'ai over by being so loud?"

"Is it loud? I think you're just feeling guilty!"

Liu Qingze wore a look of disdain, but the volume of his voice dropped significantly.

Qin Yiyan did not accept Liu Qingze's accusation and replied: "I haven't been bad-mouthing anyone behind their back, so what would I feel guilty about?"

"Who says that's the only reason to feel guilty? Using underhanded methods counts too!"

Underhanded methods...

Qin Yiyan recalled carefully, then asked: "Does acting spoiled count as underhanded?"

Liu Qingze:...

"What about fawning?"

"What about vying for favor?"

"Are you trying every possible way to coax someone into being happy?"

Qin Yiyan still wanted to give examples.

Liu Qingze, however, could not listen any longer and shouted, "Alright, alright, stop splashing dirty water on my sister; I don't believe she could do these things!"

"Xin'ai certainly couldn't, but I could; the things I just mentioned are things I have done."

Qin Yiyan's confession left Liu Qingze choked for words.

He looked at the serious-faced Qin Yiyan and then imagined Qin Yiyan acting spoiled or trying to curry favor...

Eww~

It makes one's skin crawl!!

Liu Qingze could not help but shudder.

Then, somewhat exasperated, he questioned, "Are you playing me for a fool?!"

"I am not that bored; if you don't believe me, I can demonstrate for you in a moment."

"No need! I'm not interested!!"

That image, just thinking about it, is nauseating!

Liu Qingze did not want to see it for even a second!

Since he did not want to see it, Qin Yiyan also saved his energy.

In the silence, Qin Yiyan discovered a problem: no matter how he displayed his sincerity, Liu Qingze would not provide an answer.

Since that was the case...

Qin Yiyan sighed, "I can only go and ask Xin'ai for the answer."

Liu Qingze reacted for a moment before he figured out what answer Qin Yiyan wanted.

Behind that answer, there was a deeper meaning.

However...

Liu Qingze curled his lips, his face showing disdain: "You'll be asking in vain; there are some things my sister hasn't even told me, so how could she tell you? Naive!"

Qin Yiyan slowly turned his head, "She hasn't even told you?"

"Yeah!"

"Then the relationship between you siblings is just so-so."

Qin Yiyan's tone was flat, but the words he spoke were extremely infuriating.

Liu Qingze was indeed angered, and pointing at Qin Yiyan, he warned him again: "Stop trying to sow discord!"

"You were the one who started sowing discord; I am just returning the favor."

After saying this, Qin Yiyan turned and left.

Liu Qingze stared at Qin Yiyan's back, rolling his eyes in anger.

He thought to himself that this guy was truly childish!

But...

Qin Yiyan just said he was going to ask his sister directly...

Oh no!

Liu Qingze cursed inwardly and then quickly followed after Qin Yiyan.

But when he followed Qin Yiyan's footsteps into the dining room, he discovered that Chi Rong was gone.

After asking the servants, he learned that Chi Rong was a bit tired and had gone back to her room to rest for a while.

And the other two women at the dining table...

Both had turned bright red in the face!

Qin Yiyan hurried to Liu Xin'ai's side and asked with a worried look, "Xin'ai, why is your face so red?"

Liu Xin'ai raised her hand to support her head, her eyes half-open and half-closed, and pointed with her small hand: "It might be because... I tasted this."

Qin Yiyan looked in the direction Liu Xin'ai was pointing and immediately frowned: "You drank alcohol?"

"Yeah."

"How could you drink alcohol?"

"I'm an adult, I can drink alcohol!"

Jiang Baobao looked at the man in front of her, her heart feeling as if it had been pricked by a needle.