"What is taking you two so long in here?" Xiong Mei's voice cut through the silence like a knife.
Xiong Rui's eyes snapped shut, a wave of guilt washing over her.
Zhang Wei, now casually sipping water at the counter, looked the picture of innocence, while Xiong Rui stood frozen, her hands clenched into fists, her eyes shut tightly.
"Sister, I didn't mean any of this, I swear!" Xiong Rui blurted out, her voice laced with desperation.
Xiong Mei, eyebrows raised in confusion, turned her gaze between her sister and Zhang Wei. 'What did you do to her?' her eyes seemed to ask.
Zhang Wei simply shrugged, his expression nonchalant, silently communicating, 'Nothing happened.'
Confused, Xiong Rui opened her eyes, scanning the room, realizing that Zhang Wei was now standing a few steps away from her. "Brother-in-law?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Yeah?" Zhang Wei responded calmly, as if nothing had happened.
