Manipulative Harem God

Chapter 353 Xiong Rui's despair, sister and mother abondens, the big brother embraces!(1)

Before Xiong Rui could excuse herself, Zhang Wei nonchalantly made himself comfortable on the bed, casually draping his arms around both their waists.

!!

His intrusion into their personal space startled them both.

"Sisterly talk, why don't you include me as well?" he said with a grin, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room.

Xiong Mei's face turned uneasy, a guilty and apologetic smile directed towards Xiong Rui.

The unspoken acknowledgment in her eyes spoke volumes.

Xiong Rui's mind reeled. "Sister!?" she exclaimed, disbelief coloring her tone.

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks – Xiong Mei knew about Zhang Wei's actions, and yet she had remained silent.

Her body trembling with a mix of anger and hurt, Xiong Rui quickly stood up and fled the room. "I-I'll come back later," she stammered, her steps hasty as she descended the stairs, fighting back tears.

Zhang Wei, left in the room with Xiong Mei, looked genuinely confused. "What's wrong with her?" he asked.

Xiong Mei, her expression turning dark, finally confronted him. She punched his chest with her fist, a rare show of physical assertiveness.

"Hey, can't you be a bit more gentler with Rui? She's not like me!" Her voice was a mix of accusation and frustration.

Zhang Wei, taken aback by her sudden outburst, looked at her, searching her face for answers.

Xiong Mei watched Zhang Wei's expression shift from confusion to grim understanding as she relayed what had transpired before he arrived.

"She's more daring than I thought," he mused, his tone a mix of surprise and respect.

"Yes, she is! But you were far too hasty with her," Xiong Mei responded, her frustration evident. "You need to be more patient and gentle, Zhang Wei. You scared her."

Zhang Wei nodded, absorbing her words, but his mind was already racing ahead. "You knew about what was happening between your sister and me?" he asked, his gaze sharp with curiosity.

Xiong Mei, "..."

"I'd have to be blind not to notice," she admitted, her brows knitting together. There was an undercurrent of discomfort in her confession, a sign of her internal conflict over the matter.

"And what do you think about it?" Zhang Wei probed further, genuinely curious about her stance.

Xiong Mei hesitated, taken aback by his directness. "Think what?" she deflected, her cheeks coloring slightly.

"About her and me..." Zhang Wei pressed, unafraid to confront the issue head-on.

Xiong Mei was momentarily at a loss for words. After a deep breath, she replied, "I... I don't particularly restrain you, not that I could... But please, don't be too forceful with her."

Zhang Wei's lips curled into a smile at her response. He reached out, cupping her face gently, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, catching her off guard.

She reacted with feigned annoyance, rubbing the spot where he had kissed. "Hmm! This won't convince my mother!"

"Your mother?" Zhang Wei echoed, slightly puzzled.

Xiong Mei's smile broadened. "Yes, Rui must have gone to her by now to report everything."

"That's troublesome..." Zhang Wei frowned, considering the implications.

"Don't worry," Xiong Mei reassured him, her smile turning mischievous. "Mother already knows everything."

Zhang Wei's expression turned to one of surprise. "??"

Xiong Mei chuckled at his bemused look. "Yes, she's known for a while now. My mother is more understanding than you think. But you should still move carefully."

Zhang Wei, "..."

For the first time in his life, he didn't knew what to say, 'Understanding...?'

What did this girl even mean?

Natural to say, he was pissed off by her smug look, and decided to teach her a lesson, for playing all so secretive in front of him!

______

Downstairs, Xiong Rui's steps slowed as she approached the kitchen, where the aroma of cooking filled the air.

Her heart pounded with a mix of nervousness and resolve.

She knew what she had to do – confess everything to her mother, Qiu Xingyu.

Peeking into the kitchen, she saw her mother busily preparing dinner, her movements methodical and precise. Xiong Rui took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

"Mom," she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

Qiu Xingyu turned, surprised to see her daughter looking so flustered. "Rui, what's wrong? You look troubled," she said, wiping her hands on her apron.

Gathering her courage, Xiong Rui stepped into the kitchen. "Mom, there's something I need to tell you... about Brother-in-law," she said, the words tumbling out in a rush.

Qiu Xingyu's expression shifted from mild curiosity to a troubled look. "About Zhang Wei? What about him?" she asked, her tone, not very serious.

Xiong Rui hesitated, the reality of voicing her experiences making her feel helpless, "He... he's been... acting inappropriately with me," she finally confessed, her eyes downcast.

Qiu Xingyu's eyes narrowed, as she nodded with a nonchalant look. "Inappropriately? What do you mean, Rui?" She asked, her hands continuing to slice the vegetables on the chopping board.

Xiong Rui hesistated slightly, finding her mother not listining seriously, in the end, she sighed and recounted the incidents with Zhang Wei, each word heavy with the discomfort and confusion she had felt. She spoke of his advances, the unwelcome intimacy, and the feelings of guilt it had stirred within her.

As she listened, Qiu Xingyu's face changed with myriad of emotions.

"I see," she said quietly.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do," Xiong Rui said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Qiu Xingyu moved towards her daughter, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. "You did the right thing by telling me, Rui. Don't worry, it's normal, it's just your brother in law, he is not a stranger." She spoke, her words making Xiong Rui's body shook in disbelief.

!!

Xiong Rui's heart sank as she processed her mother's words.

The comfort she had sought in her mother's embrace quickly turned to confusion and disbelief. "Mom...?" she echoed, her voice a mixture of shock and hurt.

Qiu Xingyu, maintaining her affectionate yet dismissive demeanor, gently cupped Xiong Rui's face in her hands. "Rui, it's only your brother-in-law," she reiterated calmly. "Even if he took some liberties, what's the harm? It's not unusual for in-laws to be playful. Just let it go, and soon everything will return to normal."