Younger Brother?

"Younger brother?"

"Borrow money?" Nie Liu had probably known why she had come long ago, yet he still put on a puzzled look and paused in surprise.

"Mm..." Although this cousin was still within the five degrees of kinship, asking to borrow money the moment they met still made Nie Xiaofeng feel uncomfortable. Her fingers lightly rubbed the corner of her clothes, like a child who had done something wrong.

"Elder Sister..." Seeing Nie Xiaofeng like this, pure as a blank sheet of paper, Nie Yun felt even worse.

If he had not been reborn, this innocent girl might have been forcibly violated in mere moments. If he had not been reborn, half a month later, she would have withered away, becoming a cold corpse that would never speak again!

"Nie Liu, for scheming against my family and my elder sister like this, no matter your purpose, I will make you and your entire branch vanish from this world!"

Thinking of how Nie Liu had actually laid hands on such an innocent elder sister, a chilling frost rose uncontrollably in Nie Yun's eyes!

The Blood Prison Demon Venerable, whose "blood was an ocean and corpses piled into hell," had not earned his name for nothing. Once he acted, he would never leave behind even the slightest hidden danger—not even a dog or a pig would be spared!

This was not cruelty. After fighting the Demon Race for many years, Nie Yun knew that if one slaughtered an entire Demon Race household but left even a single dog alive, they could use special methods to learn who had killed them and unleash fierce revenge!

If the roots were not pulled out, the spring wind would bring new growth!

Having suffered his brother's betrayal and lived two lifetimes, Nie Yun was even more ruthless than in his previous life!

"How much do you need to borrow? Our two branches have always been quite close. I can still make the decision on eight hundred or a thousand taels of silver!" Nie Liu said with a smile.

News of the Elders' punishment had reached even his elder sister. As the young master of the Nie Long Branch, how could Nie Liu not know? Thus, though his words sounded generous, they had immediately blocked her path. He could decide on eight hundred or a thousand taels, but his elder sister wanted to borrow ten thousand!

"I..." Sure enough, Nie Xiaofeng's face reddened even more at those words. Lowering her head, she said in a voice so soft that even she could barely hear it, "I want to borrow... ten thousand taels!"

"What? Ten thousand taels? You..." Nie Liu pretended to be shocked. "Xiaofeng, you know that I'm only the young master right now, not the true head of the branch. I really don't have the authority to lend out ten thousand taels... How about this? If you need it urgently, I'll go ask Father now and give you an answer afterward!"

"I... need it urgently right now. Then thank you, Cousin Nie Liu!" Hearing that he would ask Nie Shengyuan, Nie Xiaofeng's dark eyes lit up. But when she thought of how he was about to leave without even eating, her face filled with apology.

"Hehe, it's nothing. We're both branches of a fallen family; helping each other is only right!" Nie Liu laughed, then turned to Feng Xiao. "It's just that I've let Brother Feng down today. I was supposed to keep you company..."

"No matter. Go deal with your business first. Mine is only a minor matter!" Feng Xiao laughed, without the slightest air of a great family's heir.

"Good. Little Sister Xiaofeng, stay here and keep Brother Feng company while he eats. I'll be back soon!" Nie Liu arranged.

"I... all right!" Nie Xiaofeng had wanted to refuse, but remembering that he was doing this for her sake, she sat down anyway, her restrained fingers clenched so tightly that the knuckles turned white.

"Brother Feng, my apologies. I'll punish myself with a cup as an apology!" Nie Liu rose to his feet and ordered, "Pour the wine!"

Seeing how flawlessly the other party had arranged this whole string of events, Nie Yun sneered inwardly. With the fingers holding the wine pot, he lightly twisted the lid to the right, then filled Nie Liu's cup. Before pouring for Feng Xiao, he twisted it to the left. Both movements were tiny, and with the concealment skills he possessed from living two lifetimes, no one in the private room noticed a thing.

According to what the steward had said earlier, twisting right produced wine laced with Thousand Desire Flower, while twisting left caused no problem. Disguised as a wine server, Nie Yun had directly reversed them. You wanted to scheme against my elder sister? I'll scheme against you instead and make you drink this Thousand Desire Flower wine... Hehe!

After he finished pouring, Nie Liu secretly glanced at him, seemingly asking how things had gone. Nie Yun sneered inwardly, but put on a look of success and blinked.

"Haha, Brother Feng, I'll drink mine. You may do as you please!" Seeing his "subordinate" confirm it, Nie Liu's heart settled completely. With a loud laugh, he tipped back his head and drained the cup.

"Brother Nie, you're too courteous! I'll finish mine too!" Feng Xiao had no idea the other man was playing tricks on him. Thinking only that Nie Liu valued their brotherly bond and would feel awkward if he drank less, he also opened his mouth and drained the wine in his cup.

"Brother Feng, you're forthright. Then this little brother will take his leave first!" Nie Liu gave a meaningful look, called for Manager Nie Lin and the others, and headed outside. When he reached Nie Yun, he ordered, "Stay here and serve Young Master Feng Xiao! If you neglect our Distinguished Guest, just see how I deal with you!"

With that, he walked out.

Leaving the "wine server" behind was part of Nie Liu's plan as well. For something like rape... there had to be a witness, after all. And when the time came, killing the "wine server" would both prove his innocence and win the other party's gratitude—a win-win situation. Why not?

"Yes!" With his task complete, Nie Yun had been considering whether to keep the other man behind. Hearing this, his thoughts shifted, and he agreed.

From Nie Liu's series of arrangements, it was clear that this man was deeply calculating. If he exposed him now, Feng Xiao likely would not believe it at all. Before his strength was enough to intimidate everyone, acting rashly might well bring losses that outweighed the gains. It would be better to use the opportunity while Nie Liu was gone to win Feng Xiao over first!

"Xiaofeng, Brother Feng, enjoy your meal. I'll be leaving first!" Nie Liu turned and shut the door, a smile of control over the situation curling at his lips.

According to his plan, everything was perfect. All he needed to do now was sit outside and wait for the plan's perfect conclusion!

Of course, that was because he did not know the wine server had already been replaced. If he knew that the prepared Thousand Desire Flower had gone into his own stomach, he would probably go mad on the spot!

"Hehe, you must be Young Master Feng Xiao. I've long heard of your great name—an honor, an honor!"

Seeing that the other party had even shut the door, Nie Yun no longer bothered to pretend. With a chuckle, he sat down directly.

"Hm?"

Seeing that the wine server before them was so rude, both Feng Xiao and Nie Xiaofeng could not help raising their brows.

In this world, the distinction between masters and servants was still deeply ingrained. A wine server being so disrespectful toward a young master's guest would anger anyone.

"Don't be in such a hurry to get angry. Once I'm done speaking, even if you want to be angry, it probably won't be at me!"

Nie Yun wiped a hand across his face. The disguise fell away, revealing his true appearance before the two of them.

"Nie Yun? Why are you here? You..."

Nie Xiaofeng had never expected the wine server to suddenly turn into her younger brother. She jumped in fright, but then seemed to think of something, and her face turned deathly pale!

Her younger brother had a gloomy personality, but he hated it most when others acted on their own initiative. That could be seen from how he had treated Nie Tong!

She had originally planned to borrow the money as soon as possible, then quietly give it to Auntie, Nie Yun's mother, so that he would not find out. Yet she had never imagined that every move she made had been watched by him!

For secretly coming out to borrow money and making such decisions on her own, there was no need to think about it—he would definitely scold her to death!

At the thought of being scolded by her younger brother, Nie Xiaofeng twisted the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her delicate body trembling slightly!

If Nie Yun knew that seeing him had not made his elder sister wonder how he had awakened from his coma, but instead made her fear his scolding, he would likely regret it even more!

"Elder Sister, I'll explain why I'm here in a moment! First, I need to discuss something with Young Master Feng Xiao!"

Nie Yun smiled at Nie Xiaofeng, then turned to Feng Xiao.

"What? Little brother wants to explain himself to me... and he even smiled at me? I didn't see that wrong, did I...?"

Seeing the boy's expression, Nie Xiaofeng's somewhat tense body jolted. Her lovely eyes widened as she vigorously shook her head, deep confusion spilling from her face!

Her little brother had grown up before her eyes. No one knew his personality better than she did—gloomy and withdrawn, forever tangled in their father's shadow, unable to free himself. No matter what he did, even if he was wrong, he would never offer a word of explanation. His face was taut all day long, his attitude toward everyone as cold as snow!

With that kind of personality... how could he smile at her?

Smile at her... the last time she seemed to have seen him smile was when he was four years old...

"I must have seen it wrong..."

Shaking her head, Nie Xiaofeng thought to herself.