Sun Mingjie just walked into the courtyard when someone stopped him. He was quite surprised to see Dong Haoyu, but then he smiled and walked over to hook his arm around Haoyu’s shoulder.

"What are you doing here? Where are you headed on such a late night?" Sun Mingjie looked as if he was in high spirits, clearly in a good mood.

However, Dong Haoyu was in a bad mood, his face remained sullen, and he didn’t say much as he led Sun Mingjie inside, leading him to the small grove in the courtyard before stopping when he saw no one around.

"What’s up with you?" Sun Mingjie looked at him.

"Others might not know, but I do. From now on, keep your distance from Ye Qian. Is our bond with Zhiyuan, the brotherhood we’ve built over the years, really worth less than a woman? Moreover, they’re not even divorced yet. By getting so close to Ye Qian, what are you making others think?" Dong Haoyu spoke little and usually didn’t involve himself in affairs, rarely engaging in conversation regardless of the topic.

But today, with a serious face, he directly pinpointed the issue to Sun Mingjie, whose face alternated between red and green.

Feeling guilty, Sun Mingjie explained, "Don’t overthink it. We’ve all grown up together with Ye Qian since childhood. Now that Ye Qian is going through such troubles and Zhiyuan keeps blaming her, I can’t just ignore her like everyone else, it would be too heartless. If Ye Qian asks you for help, could you outright refuse? You wouldn’t feel right doing that, would you?"

"I wouldn’t refuse. Alright then, tell me how Ye Qian asked for your help. I’d like to hear it too. If it’s quite difficult, I can help you assist her." Dong Haoyu wasn’t letting go this time, persistently pursuing.

Sun Mingjie’s face turned beet red, "Dong Haoyu, can you not look at me like that? And don’t use such a tone, as though I’ve done something shameful. My interactions with Ye Qian are aboveboard, and there’s nothing shady going on. Could you not overthink it? You’re a soldier; keep your thoughts straight, okay?"

"I don’t want to overthink, but I don’t understand your secretly giving Ye Qian good food and going out for dinner together at night. What is that about? These matters I don’t want to control, I just consider you a brother and don’t want you to take the wrong path, so I’ve chosen to speak up. If you find it annoying and feel I’ve exposed your guilty conscience and meddling, then consider my words unsaid." Dong Haoyu finished speaking and turned to walk away.

Sun Mingjie hurriedly grabbed him, "Look at this, you’ve said we’re brothers, how come a few words made you angry? Let’s talk it over properly. Actually, Ye Qian’s been really distressed lately, getting bullied by her mother-in-law at home, beaten and scolded by Zhiyuan, bossed around in the troops, and ostracized everywhere. We grew up together, and seeing her living like this with no one to care for her, it makes me feel bad, so I thought to bring her some food."

Earlier, Sun Mingjie was somewhat impatient with Dong Haoyu’s meddling, but seeing Haoyu angry made that impatience disappear, and he quickly explained nervously.

"Clearly she has family, yet no one cares for her. Just think, Ye Qian is still a girl, don’t even mention the other stuff, right? Even you would feel sympathetic, wouldn’t you?" Sun Mingjie knew Dong Haoyu was soft-hearted, so he sweet-talked him, "I’m just considering how Zhiyuan’s actions have gone too far, right? No matter what, Zhiyuan and her are a married couple, now with everything happening, he should care for her a bit instead of putting all the blame on Ye Qian due to his own mood. You’ve said we’re good buddies, we shouldn’t watch as a good buddy makes such mistakes, you know Zhiyuan never listens to what I say, he might heed some of your words. When you get the chance, talk to Zhiyuan properly. If they can get along, then they should, if not, they should divorce sooner. Why harm each other’s feelings and cause all this gossip in the courtyard?"

Being pulled back, Dong Haoyu quietly watched him, until Sun Mingjie finished speaking, then chuckled and said, "Do you genuinely have no ulterior motive in urging me to advise Zhiyuan like this?"

"What ulterior motive could I have?" Sun Mingjie’s loud response only made his guilty conscience more evident.

Dong Haoyu saw right through him, "Ming Jie, today I’ve said all that I should, as for what you should do, that’s up to you. Don’t blame your good buddy for not warning you. Some things, once done, will haunt you forever, so think it over!"

Leaving those words, Dong Haoyu shook off his hand and strode away. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Sun Mingjie irritably touched his nose, "Meddler."

He muttered softly to himself, wary of being overheard, and scanned around to see no one before heading home. Actually, when questioned by Dong Haoyu moments earlier, Sun Mingjie also felt guilty. Even though he promised so openly in front of Ye Qian, when faced with being questioned, he still lacked the courage to admit the nature of his relationship with Ye Qian.

Even when asked about his relationship with Ye Qian, Sun Mingjie instinctively denied it outright, unwilling to admit such a relationship.

Afterwards, Sun Mingjie consoled himself mentally, thinking he was just scared and not guilty, nor for other reasons.

Meanwhile, at the Liu Family, when Ye Qian returned home, the four members of the Liu Family were all present, sitting in the living room, clearly discussing something. Upon seeing Ye Qian come back, none of them greeted her warmly. Mr. Liu directly ignored her presence, while Mrs. Liu snorted coldly, restrained by her status not to berate Ye Qian. Recently being advised by her daughter, she had reconsidered; no matter how bad Ye Qian might be, with people in the courtyard gossiping about her, it could harm her own reputation to treat Ye Qian harshly.

Liu Zhiyuan was one to conceal his aggression; any temper and scolding aimed at Ye Qian occurred in the bedroom, never evident in the family’s presence, and he naturally didn’t say much.

Liu Rui had her own issues to deal with, without the inclination to concern herself with Ye Qian. Thus, Ye Qian felt that these past few days were some of her most relaxed ones, at least the Liu Family’s focus had shifted to Liu Rui, no longer deliberately targeting her, and she quietly returned to her bedroom.

Wu Mengyi saw Ye Qian’s disregard for the whole family and couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger, her expression turning increasingly dark, yet she couldn’t afford to address it right now.