The two men stood facing each other outside the private room. Xiao Yufan appeared completely at ease, while Qing Yuanfeng wore an expression of icy fury. Once a legendary figure in Beijing, he now looked utterly disheveled.
“I’ll ask one last time—will you let me see Qingluan?”
Qing Yuanfeng was furious. How had he ever endured such treatment? Yet, thinking of Qingluan, he suppressed the murderous impulse rising within him, though his tone had completely lost all patience.
“No!” Xiao Yufan sneered. Such threats were far too weak to intimidate him. If it weren’t for Qingluan’s feelings, he could easily have thrown this man out.
“What right do you have to stop me? You may be able to take care of Qingluan, but can you truly make her happy? If not, then don’t keep misleading her!”
“Enough! Why are you always so self-righteous? Do you really think this is for my own good? My happiness doesn’t need your interference…”
Before Qing Yuanfeng could finish speaking, a light, clear voice floated over from behind them. Xiao Yufan’s gaze softened instantly as his eyes shifted toward the approaching figure—Qingluan.
“Qingluan, come back with me. Brother will do everything I can to make up for my mistakes. I promise I won’t let you suffer any more hurt…”
Seeing Qingluan’s delicate, pale face, Qing Yuanfeng’s tone also softened. In his eyes, this younger sister meant more than anyone else. Yet now, she stood so close, and he found himself at a loss for words.
“Can I still believe you? Once, I thought my brother was the one person who truly loved me. No matter what danger I faced, he would never let me get hurt. But what really happened? When I was taken away, my brother did nothing—because you didn’t want to jeopardize the empire you’d built with your own hands. In the end, I was never as important as all that…”
Qingluan’s face bore a trace of sorrow. After everything she’d been through, she had become more sensitive, unwilling to trust anyone. Perhaps the door to her heart had already been firmly shut.
“That’s not true. If I had acted back then, Dongfang Haoran would have certainly harmed you. I didn’t want you hurt, so I was waiting for the right opportunity…”
“So you were just going to let Fan Ge fight him to the death? Or is my life still just a bargaining chip to you?”
Clearly, Qingluan gave him no chance to explain. Her heart had long since gone cold. Qing Yuanfeng was no longer the caring older brother she once knew. Perhaps, in his heart, his career and revenge always came first.
“My happiness doesn’t need anyone’s approval—not even yours. I love Fan Ge, and even if I can’t have his complete love, I won’t regret it. At least, the man I love will never let me suffer any pain…”
Before Qing Yuanfeng could speak, Qingluan continued. Yet, tears shimmered in the corners of her eyes, revealing the emotional turmoil she still felt.
“Will you really not give your brother even a chance to make it up to you?”
A bitter smile tugged at Qing Yuanfeng’s lips. He knew Qingluan wasn’t a heartless person, but once she made a decision, no one could change it.
“Fan Ge, I’m tired. Can you please ask this person to leave?”
Without another word, Qingluan turned her beautiful eyes toward Xiao Yufan, her lips curving into a gentle smile. Her words shattered Qing Yuanfeng’s last hope, sending his heart plummeting into despair.
“I think you know by now that staying will only upset Qingluan. She’s just been frightened, and she shouldn’t be emotionally disturbed any further. If you really care about her well-being, please leave now.”
Suddenly, Xiao Yufan felt a twinge of pity for this man. No matter how powerful or successful he had been, he had still lost—utterly and completely—when it came to family bonds.
“Fan Ge is my man. If anyone dares to harm him, I will do everything in my power to make them pay. You’d better believe it!”
Without looking back, Qingluan glanced at Qing Yuanfeng, whose body had gone stiff, but she didn’t pause. Anyone could hear the threat in her voice. When a woman gives her heart completely to a man, she dedicates her entire being to him—and Qingluan was living proof of that…
Xiao Yufan was momentarily stunned, then could only shake his head with a faint smile. That statement had clearly been meant for Qing Yuanfeng. But did this little lady really believe that the Fengyun Group still had any power to challenge the Huisheng Corporation?
Qing Yuanfeng’s lips twitched violently as he silently turned and walked away. At least now he had seen Qingluan, and his heart could finally settle. As for taking action against Huisheng, he had already abandoned all such thoughts…
Tears streamed down Qingluan’s face. Her heart twisted painfully. Not only had her brother failed to come for her in her most helpless moment, but the two of them had also endured so much longing and separation. She couldn’t bring herself to forgive this self-righteous older brother.
“If you want to cry, don’t keep it inside. It hurts me too…”
Seeing Qingluan’s trembling figure, Xiao Yufan wrapped his arms around her fragile frame, gently resting his lips by her ear, his soft voice slowly calming her turbulent emotions.
“Why does he always treat me like this? I’ve always considered him my closest family, yet he keeps trying to control my life. I could forgive all that, but why must he interfere with my happiness? Why did he ignore me when I was taken away?”
“Perhaps he truly meant well. He didn’t ignore you—he was just under great pressure and didn’t want to take reckless action. He really cared about your safety…”
Even Xiao Yufan himself wasn’t sure why he was defending Qing Yuanfeng at this moment. Perhaps it was out of pity—seeing how pitiful the man looked. Fengyun was no longer glorious, and Qingluan now carried deep resentment toward him. In other words, he had lost everything.
“If he truly cared for me, he wouldn’t have come to disturb our lives again. He shouldn’t have said Fan Ge isn’t worthy of giving me happiness. I know exactly what I want…”
In Xiao Yufan’s arms, Qingluan gradually calmed down. She believed that the life she truly desired was simply to have the one she loved quietly by her side. And at this moment, that was exactly what she felt.
Though Qingluan wasn’t expressive with words, there were some things she understood deeply in her heart. She could clearly tell who truly cared for her—no explanation needed.
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