Chapter Thirty-Nine: Xiao Ruoli Found Out-Filho biológico não é tão bom quanto o filho adotado? Se você se arrepender, não me procure!(O sonho solitário do garoto de rua)

"Scream, damn it, scream!"

Xiao Chusheng’s face twisted abruptly. The slap he had just delivered left him feeling unsatisfied; if anything, it only fueled his manic impulses. "I told you to scream, damn you!"

The maid’s face was unrecognizable, swollen and bruised to a point that was unbearable to look at. Even her frail, thin frame seemed to be swaying, barely able to hold itself up. Seeing this, Xiao Chusheng showed no signs of stopping; a flicker of perverse, intense desire flashed in his eyes.

Because the Xiao family had indulged him excessively, his heart had grown dark, his psyche had become distorted, and his behavior had turned increasingly depraved. He often used various cruel methods to beat and torment the servants. Given his status in the eyes of the Xiao family, the servants dared not voice their anger, forced to swallow their suffering in silence.

"Are you going to scream or not, you bitch!"

Xiao Chusheng suddenly pressed a flamethrower against the maid’s face, threatening, "If you don't scream, do you believe I’ll burn you to death?"

Hearing this, the maid was finally struck with pure terror. Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes as she let out a whimpering sob, pleading, "Young Master, I beg you, please let me go."

Seeing her beg like this provided Xiao Chusheng with immense satisfaction. He chuckled, "Wouldn't it have been better to just do that earlier? Once I..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a graceful figure approached quickly from the distance.

Seeing this, Xiao Chusheng’s expression shifted as quickly as a performer changing masks. He trotted over, his voice dripping with affection: "Big Sister..."

Xiao Caiyue, exhausted after a day of managing affairs, had returned home. Seeing her little brother clinging to her so warmly, the gloom in her heart vanished instantly. Her cold, stern expression softened into one of warmth and kindness.

"Little brother, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing much, just playing hide-and-seek with this big sister," Xiao Chusheng replied with a look of naive innocence.

"Is that so? Well, be careful. Come over later to watch the fireworks and have the reunion dinner!"

With that, Xiao Caiyue went off to find the others, failing to notice the maid whom Xiao Chusheng had shoved into the bushes to hide. She had been in a foul mood today after an argument with Xiao Ruoli.

The latter had insisted on having Lin Tian come over for the reunion dinner, which truly infuriated her. What was Lin Tian, anyway? Did he deserve to eat with her?

Right now, she was looking to see if that person she loathed so much was present. Fortunately, after scanning the area, she saw no sign of Lin Tian; even Xiao Ruoli was nowhere to be found.

"Hmph, second sister is really something. Not back even at this hour—it’s as if she’s busier than me, the one who actually runs the household!"

After grumbling for a while, she couldn't help but look at Mother Xiao, who was sitting at the table. "Mom, have you seen where Ruoli went?"

"Ruoli? I haven't seen her. Didn't she say this morning she was going to find you to talk at noon?"

After hearing Mother Xiao’s words, it dawned on Xiao Caiyue. So, she had likely gone to find that detestable wild child! At the thought, she waved her sleeve in annoyance. "Forget it, let her go wherever she wants!"

Seeing her fuming, Mother Xiao narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Xiao Caiyue poured herself a glass of wine and, feeling stifled, stood up and downed it in one go.

Just then, a sharp, angry shout rang out from the distance.

"That's Ruoli's voice!"

Both women instinctively thought something had happened. Xiao Caiyue hurried toward the sound.

On the other side, near a small stone stool, the moonlight illuminated three figures.

"Second sister, you... when did you get back..."

Xiao Chusheng quickly threw the flamethrower to the ground and stomped on it with his shoe. But how could such a desperate attempt to cover his tracks fool Xiao Ruoli?

She first glanced at the maid nearby. Seeing the injuries on her face and body, and combined with Xiao Chusheng’s suspicious behavior, she understood the situation instantly. Her anger flared up immediately.

"I never imagined my little brother could be such a person!"

With that, she angrily raised her hand and struck him across the face with a sharp, ringing slap.

Xiao Chusheng, caught off guard, clutched his burning cheek and instinctively burst into loud, wailing sobs. This, naturally, drew the attention of Mother Xiao and Xiao Caiyue. Their hearts tightened, and they rushed over one after the other.

"Second sister, what is going on here?"

Xiao Caiyue rushed up and pulled the sobbing, disheveled Xiao Chusheng into her arms. Her beautiful eyebrows were knitted together, and her entire being radiated a dangerous aura.

"I hit him!" Xiao Ruoli said indignantly, recounting what Xiao Chusheng had done.

Hearing this, Xiao Caiyue froze, then turned to interrogate the maid who stood nearby, trembling with fear. "What is the meaning of this? I want you to tell me yourself! Tell me every single detail!"

The maid opened her mouth, struggling to find the courage to tell the truth, but Mother Xiao, who had just arrived, spoke in a stern voice: "You wretch, you have such malicious intentions! Trying to seduce my son—I’ll beat you to death!"

This move terrified the maid out of her wits; she fell to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly. "Madam, I... I have absolutely no such intention."

Seeing Mother Xiao’s extreme protectiveness, Xiao Ruoli felt even more disappointed. She stepped in to defend the maid. "Mom, this isn't her fault; it was little brother who..."

"Shut up!"

Mother Xiao’s face was cold, and she snapped back with extreme bias: "I have watched Chusheng grow up since he was a child; how could he possibly do such a thing? It must be the fault of this shameless wretch!"

Xiao Ruoli’s heart trembled; she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She sighed, feeling as though she had lost all hope. "From now on, I will never interfere again. You and Big Sister can continue to spoil him and indulge him without any boundaries!"

"Ruoli, I don't like the sound of that!" Xiao Caiyue retorted loudly, as if offended. "You’d rather take the side of an outsider than believe your own brother who grew up with you? Do you even deserve to be his sister?"

"Besides, she’s just a servant. Even if something really happened, wouldn't a bit of money have settled it? Was it necessary to make such a scene and hit your little brother?"

Xiao Caiyue’s words were even more biased than Mother Xiao’s, showing total favoritism toward Xiao Chusheng.

Xiao Ruoli couldn't bear to watch or listen any longer. Enraged, she turned and walked away, not even wanting to stay for dinner.

"Mom, Second Sister, she..." Leaning against Xiao Caiyue’s shoulder, Xiao Chusheng let tears well up in his eyes, acting as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Seeing this, Mother Xiao and Xiao Caiyue showered him with soft, comforting words until he finally stopped crying.