Chapter 71: The Answer
Yan Ruoxi held up her phone, displaying her call log from the night in question. She scrolled to the long conversation with Ye Tianqing and presented it to Ye Tianlin, her expression calm yet resolute.
"This is the proof," she said softly. "We were on the phone that entire night."
Ye Tianlin glanced at the screen. The undeniable evidence slowly dissolved the doubts he had about his older brother. But even as the truth settled, a flicker of hesitation crossed his face. His eyes darted to Ye Tianqing's face, catching a fleeting moment of weariness that Ye Tianqing failed to mask.
If it wasn't Tianqing… then who?
Ye Tianlin's mind churned. The events of the past few days replayed, and a shadowy figure in his thoughts suddenly crystallized. His suspicions landed squarely on a single name.
"Second Brother, now that you've confirmed your misunderstanding, shouldn't you apologize to Big Brother?" The voice was casual, but there was a hint of nervousness.
Ye Tianhao's words only deepened Ye Tianlin's scowl. His younger brother's attempt to provoke him was as transparent as glass, and the smugness in Ye Tianhao's tone only fueled his anger.
"Shut up." Ye Tianlin's glare was sharp enough to pierce stone, and his voice dripped with menace.
Ye Tianqing, weary of the tension, sighed. Before he could intervene, Yan Ruoxi placed a reassuring hand on his arm and smiled. "It's fine. This is a family matter, after all. No need for apologies. Right, Tianqing?"
"Right," Ye Tianqing replied simply, his voice neutral.
The misunderstanding resolved, Ye Lao beamed with relief. His gaze shifted back to Liang Xiaoluo, his earlier excitement reigniting. "Ah, Xiaoluo, you've yet to tell us what you'd like to eat! Anything at all, just say the word."
Yan Ruoxi gently intervened. "Grandfather, perhaps it's best to let her rest for now. She's been through a lot, and all this commotion isn't good for her."
Her suggestion was met with nods of agreement. Slowly, the crowd dispersed, leaving only Ye Tianlin behind with Liang Xiaoluo.
Liang Xiaoluo remained silent. Even as the room emptied, she refused to meet Ye Tianlin's gaze. The day's events weighed heavily on her heart. The accusations, the humiliation—she felt stripped of any dignity.
Ye Tianlin approached the bed hesitantly, his usual confidence replaced by uncertainty. He sat beside her, his hand resting lightly on the edge of the blanket she had pulled over her head.
"Are you angry?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically stiff.
Her silence cut deeper than any insult. For someone as proud as Ye Tianlin, her refusal to acknowledge him was unbearable. He was trying, wasn't he? His frustration simmered as he struggled with his lack of experience in comforting others.
"Don't test my patience, Liang Xiaoluo." His voice grew harsher, a defense mechanism against his own vulnerability.
When he pulled the blanket away, intending to force her to face him, he froze. Liang Xiaoluo's tear-streaked face met his gaze. Her eyes were red, her expression one of quiet despair.
"You're crying?" he asked, his anger dissipating in an instant. He had never expected to see her like this.
"You want to know what I'm angry about?" Her voice was quiet but filled with anguish. "It's you. I know I'm nothing more than something you bought, but does that mean I deserve this? If you don't believe this child is yours, fine. I'll go to the hospital and end it."
Her words were a slap to his face. His chest tightened as the meaning of her statement sank in. She was serious, her pain palpable. He stared at her, his mind a whirlwind of guilt, anger, and something deeper—fear.
"Liang Xiaoluo…" He tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat.
She pulled the blanket back over her head, her voice trembling. "I'm tired. Let's talk tomorrow."
Her retreat was an act of self-preservation. If she stayed in this moment any longer, she feared her resolve would crumble. She wanted to protect the fragile hope blooming inside her—the child she hadn't even had time to fully process.
Ye Tianlin sat frozen, unsure of what to do. The weight of her words lingered, pulling him into a chasm of regret. He didn't move until her soft, steady breaths filled the room, signaling that she had fallen asleep.
He exhaled deeply, leaning back against the headboard. The sight of her tear-streaked face haunted him. How had it come to this? He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. She looked so peaceful in sleep, so different from the fiery woman who had defied him just hours ago.
"Liang Xiaoluo," he murmured. "What kind of spell have you cast on me?"
Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead. Her warmth soothed him in a way he couldn't understand.
As the first light of dawn crept through the curtains, Ye Tianlin finally allowed himself to close his eyes. For the first time in years, he felt a sliver of calm. Holding Liang Xiaoluo close, he drifted into an uneasy sleep.