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Jing Shun: "… Ow!"
Please don't misunderstand; this is not a cry of surprise, but a scream of agony!
His dear older brother's slap had landed right on the stick wound on his back, twisting his facial features in pain.
Of course, Jian Shichu did it on purpose.
Such a foolish brother should indeed be rewarded with a whipping, a proper lesson.
However, considering he was already in such a pitiful state, a symbolic slap would suffice.
Jing Shun grimaced in pain, while Ye Qingci pressed her lips together, trying to stifle her laughter.
Jian Shichu finally let him off the hook and left Jing Shun's room with Ye Qingci, heading back to his own bedroom.
After washing away the fatigue, Jian Shichu lay in bed, with Ye Qingci's shoulder in his arms.
Ye Qingci snuggled into his embrace, looked up at him, and asked, "Are you so certain that Ah Shun was set up by Jing Beiliang?"