Leng Yiyao glanced up at the large hand about to land on her face. With a slight shift of her body, she fully exposed her injured waist to her father’s view.
Leng Weiran had only caught a glimpse of the pale skin from a distance earlier, but now, up close, the bandages and white disinfectant pads were clearly visible.
His raised hand froze in midair.
The family doctor inwardly let out a sigh of relief. That was close.
If Leng Weiran had actually struck her, her wound would have split open instantly, and she’d have to get it stitched up all over again.
Was she truly that fearless, or had she simply bet on her father’s reluctance to hit her?
Then again…
The doctor blinked. Given his years of working with the Leng family, he knew that both the father and elder brother’s hearts had long been biased beyond measure.
It was a miracle she still dared to take such risks.
“How did this happen?” Leng Weiran withdrew his hand, forcing himself to stay calm. His younger daughter had always been a troublemaker, causing mischief wherever she went. It wasn’t unusual for her to stir up trouble outside.
But this time was different.
She had vanished without a trace and returned covered in injuries. That wasn’t like her at all.
Didn’t he know his own daughter?
She was nothing but a paper tiger, always acting tough in front of those weaker than her, but the moment she encountered someone truly formidable, she’d read the room better than anyone and tuck her tail between her legs to escape unscathed.
Though she had always been overshadowed by her elder sister at home, she had never actually suffered any real hardship.
It seemed that, despite his favoritism, he still recognised his biological daughter.
Leng Yiyao noticed the deepening furrow in Leng Weiran’s brow and turned to her sister with a smirk.
Sure enough, Leng Yirou’s face darkened as she tightened her grip around her wine glass.
Oh?
So her dear sister was afraid of the truth coming out, huh?
Being a noble young lady sure seemed exhausting—always having to watch out for other people’s gazes.
“That day, jiejie—”
She had barely started speaking when a loud crash interrupted her—the sound of a wine glass shattering on the floor.
The room fell silent.
Leng Yirou turned around with a stiff expression and forced a smile. “I wasn’t feeling well and lost my grip on the glass.”
Leng Weiran’s face darkened as he cast her a long, quiet look. Leng Yirou clenched her fists, turning away in silence.
A father knew his own children best.
Though the outside world praised his eldest daughter to the skies, and he had always supported her, bringing her to formal occasions to pave her way for a good marriage, he was well aware that she despised her younger sister.
He had always dismissed it as petty jealousy between siblings and never took it seriously.
But if Leng Yirou had truly been the one who caused her sister to go missing for so long, then lied about her running away from home—this had gone too far.
Perhaps it was time to bring in a proper etiquette tutor to instill discipline.
Still, he knew Leng Yiyao had been wronged this time, so he softened his tone and asked gently, “Was it Xi Le who brought you back?”
She nodded as if it were obvious, then pointed at her injured waist. “I almost didn’t make it back. I was just gambling on luck when I went to Xi Le’s casino this morning. I didn’t expect to actually find him there.”
Almost didn’t make it back? Leng Weiran’s expression darkened even further.
Just as he was about to press for details, Leng Yiyao suddenly straightened up, cutting him off with a question that sent a chill down his spine—
“Where’s my brother?”
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