The obedient girl glances up, and the tyrannical tycoon kneels down to pamper her.

The father-in-law caught his daughter-in-law being intimate with another man, who turned out to be her older brother from her maternal family. It was utterly shocking.

Even the head of the Xing family couldn't help but feel his blood rush to his head.

But it wouldn't warrant a public outburst of anger.

Mr. Xing said with a stern face, "Zhengyu, personally see President Pei out. We have some matters to attend to at home today, so we won't keep President Pei for dinner."

"Uncle Xing, what I just said is not true, and it has nothing to do with Luo Huai." Pei Yuanzhou tried to explain, but Father Xing didn't even look at him.

Xing Zhengyu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let's talk about it outside."

The two went outside, and Pei Yuanzhou looked back inside with concern.

Xing Zhengyu said, "The more you worry, the less your sister-in-law can explain. Yuanzhou, I'll see you to your car first. I'll explain for you and speak up for your sister-in-law when we get back."

“I… sigh.” Pei Yuanzhou sighed heavily, and pinched the bridge of his nose after getting into the car. “Luo Huai probably hates me even more this time.”

Xing Zhengyu watched his car leave, then strode into his house.

Only the mother and Pei Youyou were seen in the hall.

"Where is your sister-in-law?" he asked.

Pei Youyou pouted: "Stand by the pool in the backyard as punishment. Dad said Luo Huai isn't allowed to eat tonight."

The backyard is exposed to the wind and next to the swimming pool; it's freezing cold at night. Xing Zhengyu frowned.

Xing's mother frowned and asked, "What did your father see that made him so angry?"

Mr. Xing has never really interfered in family matters, but once he does, no one can persuade him otherwise.

"It's nothing," Xing Zhengyu said, not intending to elaborate.

Pei Youyou: "Even if you don't tell me, Mom and I know that Luo Huai likes my brother. They must have been entangled in some kind of messy relationship. Before, Luo Huai and my brother were inseparable, even sleeping together."

Xing Zhengyu: "Don't talk nonsense."

“I’m serious, even our servants know.” Pei Youyou pretended not to see her mother-in-law’s dark face and continued, “Luo Huai has always been very attentive to my brother. She would personally pick him up when he was drunk. She always misled people into thinking that she was my brother’s girlfriend. If you don’t believe me, go to Luo Huai’s school and ask. Everyone thinks they are a couple.”

Xing Zhengyu spoke up for Luo Huai: "The past is the past."

"Brother Zhengyu, you're speaking up for Luo Huai, could it be that you've also fallen for her?" Pei Youyou squinted, scrutinizing her.

Xing's mother also looked over.

She couldn't let that fickle Luo Huai ruin her excellent son.

"No," Xing Zhengyu said calmly. "She is, after all, the eldest sister-in-law, and we are the younger generation. It's not appropriate for us to discuss these things."

Mrs. Xing breathed a sigh of relief and said in a calm voice, "Ignore her."

Pei Youyou cursed inwardly, "Serves him right."

As expected, Luo Huai and Xing Yanzhao were nowhere to be seen at dinner.

When Xing's father asked why his brother hadn't returned yet, Xing Zhengyu said, "I heard from the administration that my older brother clocked out early and I don't know where he is."

Mr. Xing didn't say anything, but Mrs. Xing guessed, "He probably went to the Kuang family's house."

"It shouldn't be," Xing Yuru said. "He'll bring his sister-in-law with him when he goes to the Kuang family. By the way, where is his sister-in-law?"

There was silence.

Pei Youyou smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is busy with something."

“Even if you’re busy, you still need to eat. I’ll go call them.” Xing Yuru stood up, and her father immediately told her to sit down.

She sat back down, bewildered.

Xing Zhengyu gave her a wink, signaling her to eat first.

She finished her meal absentmindedly, and as soon as her parents left, she immediately went over and asked, "Second brother, what happened to sister-in-law?"

"Your sister-in-law is being punished by standing by the pool in the backyard. Dad's order is that no one dares to say anything. Go get her a blanket and call your brother." Xing Zhengyu specifically instructed her, "Keep it quiet, okay?"

"Okay!" Xing Yuru went to her room to get a blanket, then took out her phone to call her brother, only to find that she didn't have his number. She tried to send him a message, but he didn't add her as a friend.

She had no choice but to find her brother's WeChat in the family group chat and add him as a friend.

After adding the blanket, I grabbed it and headed to the poolside.

It was really cold at night, with the wind howling. Xing Yuru was dressed warmly, but her neck was a little bare, and she still couldn't help but shiver.

From afar, one could see a person standing by the pool. The dim yellow light from the house next door shone on Luo Huai, elongating her figure, making it appear thin and long.

People were dressed in thin clothes.

"Sister-in-law." Xing Yuru rushed over, bumping into someone while covering her with a blanket. The cold made her almost pull her hand back. "Why were you punished by Dad to stand in the corner?"

Even with an extra blanket, Luo Huai still shivered and asked, "Why are you here?"

"My second brother told me." Xing Yuru noticed that her lips were purple from the cold, and she could smell a faint scent of blood when she got closer. "Where are you bleeding?"

"I've started my period."

"You're on your period and still getting cold, sister-in-law, you'll be in so much pain." Xing Yuru ran off, then came back a moment later with a hot water bottle in her hand. She handed it to Luo Huai and thoughtfully wrapped her up in a blanket.

As Luo Huai's body gradually warmed up, she said gratefully, "Thank you."

"I haven't even thanked you yet," Xing Yuru muttered softly.

Luo Huai heard this and responded with a soft "Hmm?"

Xing Yuru looked up and said, "I really like the icy jadeite with spring colors. That was the first time I made my own decision to buy something."

She held up her hand, showing off the bracelet on her wrist, "I'm always happy to see it."

Luo Huai smiled sincerely, "The spring with colors you like is not bad at all."

"I know." Xing Yuru tilted her head happily, like a child asking for a reward, innocent and carefree.

The only time Luo Huai could be considered innocent and carefree was when Pei Yuanzhou was beside her; only then could she act like a child.

Thinking of Pei Yuanzhou, Luo Huai felt bitter.

The person who allows her to be innocent and carefree will also be punished.

But what does that "also" mean?

"Sister-in-law, I've already contacted my brother. Don't be afraid, I'll go plead with Dad now."

"Don't go." Luo Huai reached out to grab her, but before he could even touch her sleeve, she had already run away quickly.

Xing Yuru will definitely be scolded if she pleads for her.

As she expected.

Mr. Xing said to his daughter with a stern face, "Don't worry about your sister-in-law's affairs. She's just standing there for a few hours."

"Dad, it's so cold outside, and even colder by the pool. My sister-in-law is on her period, what if she gets sick and has a fever?" Xing Yuru was very anxious.

“We have a family doctor; we can just call someone over,” Mr. Xing said without looking up, flipping through important company documents that required his signature.

"dad……"

"Yu Rou, go out."

After her father gave the final notice, Xing Yuru had no choice but to leave, gently closing the study door behind her.

Turn around.

"Mom, Second Sister-in-law."

"Did you go to plead for Luo Huai?" Xing's mother gently poked her forehead. "You dared to go and plead with your father without first asking me and your second sister-in-law what happened. You acted on your own."

The last time Xing Yuru heard her mother say that she had acted on her own initiative, it was Chun Daicai's matter.

"Mom, I just took it upon myself to do it." This was the first time she had directly confronted her mother, and she didn't dare to look her in the eye; her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

The two people in front of them could still hear it.

After being surprised, Xing's mother questioned, "What's wrong with you, child? You're twenty and still rebellious?"

"Mom, I'm sleepy." In reality, Xing Yuru was holding her phone, trying to find a way to contact her older brother.

Xing's mother was stunned again, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with Yu Rou lately?"

“I don’t know either, but I’ve always heard people say that you raised Zheng Yu and Yu Rou very well, especially Yu Rou, who is well-behaved, filial, and kind…” Pei Youyou kept praising her. “When I first married into the family, Yu Rou wasn’t like this. Recently, Yu Rou has become closer to my sister-in-law.”

Instead of blaming her daughter, Xing's mother immediately attributed the cause to Luo Huai.

"It's Luo Huai again. Yu Rou is really going to become a bad person."

Unaware that she had already gone astray, Xing Yuru was looking at her phone with a worried expression. Why hadn't her older brother accepted her friend request yet?