Where did this unspoken understanding come from?

Mu Jingchi had always been arrogant. Among the brothers of the Mu family, his temperament was the most ruthless. Yet it was precisely because of this that the old patriarch chose him as the interim head of the family.

At this moment, faced with Mu Jingchi’s cold fury, everyone in the Mu family held their breath, not daring to make the slightest sound. Even the old man stood silently to the side. Though his grandson had just called him an “old fool,” he could only listen quietly. After all, not a word of what Mu Jingchi said was wrong.

That morning, the old man had indeed tried to stop Mu Qingcheng from attending the equestrian friendship competition, fearing Ran Siya harbored ill intentions and might harm her. The Si family’s stables were never open to outsiders, and there was always a risk things could spiral out of control. At first, the old man thought Mu Jingchi was making a fuss over nothing, but now… he realized he had been far too careless.

“Qingcheng, does it hurt?”

“It’s nothing, Third Brother. I’ve already put medicine on it.”

Looking at the wound in Mu Qingcheng’s palm, the third master of the Mu family, whose brow rarely ever relaxed, now wore a look of utter consternation. In the Mu family, everyone knew that the one who treasured Mu Qingcheng the most was not her own grandfather, but her third brother—Mu Jingchi—who had silently protected her for five years.

Ever since this young girl had “descended from the heavens” and entered the Mu family’s world, Mu Jingchi had changed, guarding his little sister like a fierce wolf protecting its cub. Seeing his precious sister hurt today, the fact that Mu Jingchi hadn’t exploded in public was already a rare act of restraint.

...

“Ran Siya, have you lost your tongue?”

Mu Jingchi kept his head bent, carefully examining Mu Qingcheng’s injury, but when he spoke, his voice was ice-cold and razor-sharp.

“Third Brother, I… I didn’t…”

“Don’t tell me it wasn’t on purpose. Who the hell would believe you? Who do you think I am?”

“I…”

After confirming her injury was not serious, Mu Jingchi finally let go of the small hand he’d been holding in his palm. He raised his hand and tugged loose the tie at his neck. His brows were knotted with a fierce intensity as he fixed his gaze on Ran Siya, not caring in the least that she was a girl, and ground out every word:

“Your behavior at school is an open secret—how many people have you bullied, how many outrageous things have you done? Do you really think I don’t know?”

“I—I haven’t…”

Ran Siya frantically waved her hands, her face pale as death, drained of all color. As Mu Jingchi said, she had always been domineering at school, almost lawless. Yet she had always been careful; even if she did something, she was confident no one would ever find out.

Or else, she made sure the other party… would never dare betray her.

But now, judging by Mu Jingchi’s words, it was as if everything she’d ever done was laid bare before his eyes.

Impossible. Impossible.

Ran Siya tried to comfort herself over and over in her mind, but her hands twisted together in anxiety, her palms already clammy with cold sweat.

Just then, Si Qingchen, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke, picking up where Mu Jingchi had left off.

“Third Young Master speaks the truth. I can attest to it.”

…

As soon as he said this, Ran Siya’s face crumpled in utter despair, all hope of resistance snuffed out.

Mu Jingchi glanced sideways at him, and with only the two of them meeting eyes, questioned silently,

“When did I ever talk to you about this?”

Si Qingchen gave a subtle nod, an inscrutable smile on his lips.

“No need for thanks. I’m only doing this… for your sister.”