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Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Too Absurd
Han Jiaojiao looked at Han Yi, blinked once after a long while, and wore an indescribable expression.
Seeing no reaction from Han Jiaojiao, Han Yi took it that she was too upset by the news to speak and said, "Baby, leave this matter to your brother to handle. You just need to be aware of it, don’t overthink the rest."
After a moment of thought with her head tilted, Han Jiaojiao’s face turned slightly red. "Actually... this rumor isn’t entirely unfounded."
Han Yi was astonished.
Han Jiaojiao’s face grew even warmer, she glanced at Han Yi and muttered, "...We were already together anyway."
Regarding the scandal of sibl*** love, they weren’t exactly wrong... Although not related by blood, the sibling relationship was nailed down and solid. Initially, to register her into the household, Father Han went through a lot of trouble to change her surname to "Han," whereas Han Jiaojiao originally bore her mother Bai Yan’s surname, White.
Han Jiaojiao sighed inwardly. If she had known it would turn out this way... she shouldn’t have changed her surname at that time, even if it was only a formality, it still felt like lifting a rock only to drop it on her own feet.
Upon hearing this, Han Yi couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle, opened his arms to hug her, thinking that the little treasure in his arms probably didn’t know, her words almost melted his heart...
"Are you not bothered by being the subject of people’s gossip?" he asked softly.
Han Jiaojiao’s chin rested on Han Yi’s shoulder, and she spoke gently, "It is a little unpleasant for sure... but isn’t it the case with everything in this world, where choices always have to be made? When Mom married Dad Han, she endured a lot of gossip, Dad Han also faced many challenges to marry her... Both of them knew the path was difficult, but they were willing. Brother... I am willing too."
Han Yi’s embrace tightened instantly. The soft, gentle words of Han Jiaojiao thundered in his ears like a rumbling drum, shaking his heart!
His sister said she was willing.
...What a beautiful sentence.
He didn’t realize that her resolve was as firm as rock, unafraid of the world’s cold sneers and disdainful looks. She intended to stand by his side steadfastly for the rest of her life.
"Jiaojiao..." Han Yi cupped her face, his gaze tender, "...I love you, Jiaojiao, Han Jiaojiao, did you hear that? I, Han Yi, love you."
The stars twinkled in Han Jiaojiao’s eyes, touched by such a direct confession, and shy at the same time. Her face flushed, she said in a coy voice, "I love you too, Han Yi."
Han Yi laughed, his laughter infused with an unprecedented sense of ease. Only at this moment was he truly certain that Han Jiaojiao’s heart and his were linked together, that they would never part.
The two kissed each other, spending the whole night doing what lovers do best, fully indulging their desires and voicing their love for each other.
—The next morning, Yang Qi and Zhou Xiaoliang and others went out to gather information.
Although Han Jiaojiao acted as if nothing had happened, the others were indignant, especially Yan Xiao and Xiao Jian, their faces as unpleasant as if they had swallowed a fly.
Han Jiaojiao really didn’t understand why they were reacting so strongly. She herself had foreseen this day the moment she decided to be with her brother. After all, they bore the title of siblings, and even in an apocalyptic world, they couldn’t escape being the subject of gossip. As time passed and the novelty wore off, people would stop talking.
Moreover, she herself had a clear conscience.
Just before lunchtime, Tian Xinyue suddenly came looking for her.
Han Jiaojiao was somewhat surprised; this time should be right after the Special Training Team’s morning practice, Tian Xinyue would normally be rushing to the cafeteria for a boxed lunch. Why would she come to find her? Given Tian Xinyue’s personality, it wasn’t likely she came to mooch a meal...
Seeing Tian Xinyue enter the yard but not the house, standing by her window and waving, Han Jiaojiao responded and ran downstairs.
Tian Xinyue looked around, and seeing no one in the courtyard, pulled Han Jiaojiao aside and asked, "Do you know about the rumors circulating outside about you and your brother?"
Warmth bloomed in Han Jiaojiao’s heart. It turned out Tian Xinyue had heard about it and had specifically come to inform her.
She nodded and said, "My brother told me about it yesterday."
Tian Xinyue was taken aback, and seeing Han Jiaojiao’s composure, she questioned with suspicion, "You’re not angry?"
"Being angry doesn’t help," Han Jiaojiao said with an embarrassed smile, "Who told me to like the very person who happens to be my brother."
Tian Xinyue froze completely, looking at Han Jiaojiao with a strange expression, "...With everything that’s being spread outside, you can still smile?"
Seeing Tian Xinyue’s serious demeanor, Han Jiaojiao felt something was off. She and her brother were not related by blood; how bad could the rumors really be? Plus... she had never intended to hide the fact that she was with her brother. Although she had never explicitly told Tian Xinyue, she should know something about it. Why was she acting like this now... Could there be something she didn’t know?
Her smile fading, Han Jiaojiao asked with confusion, "What’s being said outside?"
Tian Xinyue’s eyes widened, and she spoke with agitation, "They’re saying you and your brother—" Her words cut off abruptly, and Tian Xinyue’s expression started to mirror that of Yan Xiao and Xiao Jian, repulsed as if she had swallowed a fly. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
A sinking feeling settled in Han Jiaojiao’s heart. It seemed her brother had only given her a rough idea...
"Just tell me," Han Jiaojiao said calmly. "Tell me exactly what they’re saying. I’m not afraid of harsh words. I just want to know what exactly is being spread outside."
Tian Xinyue pursed her lips tightly, then said, "Okay, I’m telling you so you can be prepared. Don’t get angry when you hear it; there will come a day when the truth emerges."
Han Jiaojiao nodded her head.
Taking a deep breath, Tian Xinyue closed her eyes and blurted it out, "They’re saying that after your foster parents died, you were worried about being thrown out of the Han Family and no longer being the young mistress, so you climbed into your brother’s bed at the age of fourteen or fifteen! The reason the old Han estate has nothing to do with you is that you siblings committed incest!"
Han Jiaojiao was stunned!
When she regained her senses, she felt her blood churning! Darkness flashed before her eyes, and she nearly lost her balance!
Tian Xinyue hastily supported her, "Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao! Are you okay?"
Opening her eyes, Han Jiaojiao tried to steady her breathing, yet she still felt the world spinning around her.
——She was truly, about to explode with anger!
At fourteen or fifteen years of age, she was just a middle school student! How shamelessly were the gossipers trying to depict her? As a woman of loose morals? And her brother! To think he would take advantage of his middle school-aged sister! How indecently depraved and utterly insane must one be to do so?!
Her brother was currently gathering support, and if this rumor continued to spread, everyone would think her brother dishonorable, vile, even worse than a beast! By that time, who would want to follow her brother?!
Their reputation as siblings would be tarnished and disreputable!
The person spreading these rumors was out to destroy not only her but also her brother!
"Jiaojiao, don’t panic. Right now, the most important thing is to stop the rumors!" Tian Xinyue was also worried for Han Jiaojiao. "It’s already all over the Special Training Team, and people in the labor center are discussing it too. It’s impossible to find out where these damned lies started for the time being!"
Han Jiaojiao closed her eyes, her voice ice-cold to the extreme, "I think, I might know who’s saying it."
