ct warm backdrop that highlighted her innocent and beautiful face flawlessly; even Qi Lin couldn't help but glance at her twice.But now, although she wore light blue elegant clothes, her body seemed m...Chapter Ten: Sisterly Ties Severed, One Drunken Night Cannot Alleviate a Thousand Sorrows 2

Qiao Er's words were devoid of emotion, and her eyes no longer held the innocence they once did. Instead, there was a coldness laced with sarcasm that left Qi Lin無奈and disheartened. She realized that Qiao Er was not the same person she used to know, and understood that an unbridgeable chasm had silently grown between them.

Even so, Qi Lin couldn't help but exchange a few pleasantries: "I heard from Qing Shuang that you’re staying with Miss Peony. Are you doing well there I was planning to visit you guys long ago, but I've been unable to leave."

Qiao Er sneered. Was she doing well Yes, she was thriving by others' standards—she dressed and ate better than most—but who knew of the humiliation she endured daily All this was due to the person standing before her. If it weren't for her abandoning herself, would she have suffered such indignities in the past Just thinking about those days filled Qiao Er with hatred, causing her to grind her teeth until blood filled her mouth.

Qi Linxin painfully lifted her head. She knew that Mu Dan was hypocritical, and Qiaoer must have been living poorly; the surface繁華was merely superficial decoration. But if she had known earlier, she definitely wouldn’t have allowed Qiaoer to fall into Mu Dan’s hands. However, in the next moment, Qiaoer tightly grabbed Qi Linxin's hand, and the hatred and anger in Qiaoer’s eyes pierced her heart. Her wrist was painfully pinched, but Qi Lixin didn't cry out.

"Qiaoer, I... "

Before she could finish speaking, Qiaoer pulled her away. Along the way, branches brushed against her face and snowflakes continuously struck her face. Finally, they stopped at the Washing Courtyard.

Arriving here, scenes of laughter from days gone by were still vividly imprinted in her mind. She had long known that such peaceful days wouldn’t last too long, but she never expected them to end so quickly.

Qiaoer walked to the door of her old room, pushed it open without hesitation. The interior remained as before. She went to the wardrobe; since no one had lived there for a long time, dust had accumulated. Qiaoer didn't mind, opened the wardrobe and took out a black wooden box. Then she turned around and walked outside.

"I'm returning these items to you, none missing. This is repayment for your lifesaving grace on that day." Qiaoer handed the wooden box into Qi Lin's arms, her tone cold. "From now on, we are no longer sisters."

With those words, Qiaoer turned and left but was held back by Qi Lin’s hand. Upon freeing herself from Qi Lin's grasp, Qiaoer took a few steps backwards in disgust.

Seeing the disdain in Qiaoer's eyes, Qi Lin did not advance another step and said, "Even if you sentence me to death, please give me a reason. If it is because I am by Yumu’s side now, let me tell you that being his personal maidservant was also against my will. I had tried every possible means to come see you all, but I was always obstructed by the hateful Maid Mai Dong."

However, in Qiaoer's eyes, Qi Lin did not find any sign of understanding; instead, she saw a hint of ridicule. Qi Lin realized that her explanations would be futile and turned away helplessly.

Qiaoer curled up the corners of her mouth and said coldly, "You speak so sweetly, but if you weren't interested in the Ashwood公子 (Note: The word '公子' is a title for an aristocratic young man or son), why would you keep all his belongings If you hadn’t planned to stay by his side from the start, how could Zhu Bao have targeted you And if I hadn’t been shut out by you, we wouldn't be in this dire situation. Do you know what kind of humiliation I suffer every day Don’t you know that Su Feng lost her eyesight and was kicked out of Drunken Flower Tower because of you, living a worse-than-death existence Don’t you know that Xue Xi was forced to marry an eighty-year-old man as his concubine because of you And don’t you know that Xue Xi already has someone she loves, and once winter passes, they will be able to get married."

What! These words were like a thunderbolt, leaving Qi Lin stunned and unable to process them immediately. She stared blankly at Qiaoer; so much had happened in the month-plus since she was gone, no wonder there was such intense hatred in Qiaoer's eyes. But she hadn't done anything herself, nor did she know that Qiaoer and the others had tried looking for her. Qi Lin wanted to explain but when she looked up at Qiaoer, she saw the cold tears and growing resentment in her eyes and decided against it.Lin in confusion. "Second-generation officials and rich kids What’s that"Qi Lin was taken aback; bad, when excited she would say everything. How should she explain now She quickly thought about it for...