Chapter 52: You Can Call Me Brother, Just Like Zhaozhao

"Fine..." Shen Xin's eyes reddened as she gazed at the young girl surrounded by people, seated in her wheelchair. Suddenly, she let out a desolate laugh.

"Since none of you believe me, since you all think I pushed Chao Xi off the cliff, then nothing I say will matter. The only way I can clear my name is by throwing myself into the river."

Crying, Shen Xin broke free from the cluster of servants in Birch Garden, whirled around, and leapt toward the lake within the grounds.

In that instant, the expressions of those around her changed, and barely anyone had time to react. When the servants realized what Shen Xin's words meant and rushed to stop her, all they saw was that slender figure plunging into the lake.

With a splash, a heavy body hit the water, sending up a violent spray.

At that moment, Shen Chaoxi narrowed her eyes, thinking how Shen Xin was truly willing to risk it all.

Was this her way of proving her innocence with a desperate act?

But then, things had already gone this far. If she didn’t do something dramatic to shift everyone’s attention, no matter how she tried to explain, or weep, or play the victim, no one would be able to erase their doubts about her.

Still, what was the point of trying to drown herself in Birch Garden? Wasn’t she just waiting for people to save her? If she really wanted to make her point, she should have chosen a desolate place in the dead of night.

"Sister Shen Xin?..."

Shen Sisi's eyes trembled as she hurried to the lakeside.

"Miss, is she trying to win everyone’s sympathy and trust?" Xiao Xiao, standing beside Shen Chaoxi, watched the chaos unfold, feeling as if Shen Xin was forcing herself into this pitiful situation, driven to jump into the lake by Shen Chaoxi.

The Shen family’s servants immediately jumped in to rescue her—after all, this was Birch Garden, the Shen estate. There could be no tragedy here.

Shen Chaoxi, however, remained in her wheelchair, unmoving. Her slender fingers tapped her knee, her eyes fixed on the figure being pulled from the water, her expression somewhere between a smile and a sneer.

Who could argue otherwise?

Soon enough, Shen Xin, who had just thrown herself into the lake, was hauled out. Two of the Shen family’s bodyguards brought her ashore, her whole body soaked. They laid her on the ground.

Sunlight fell across her pale, fragile face, her hair in disarray over her brow as she coughed.

Choking on water, her chest tight, it took her a moment to open her eyes and look around. Everyone in Birch Garden was staring at her.

Her eyes were rimmed with red, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Why did you save me?"

Her voice was torn with sobs.

Shen Sisi’s mind was in turmoil. She hesitated a moment, but decided to speak her heart.

"Shen Chaoxi, no matter what happened on the way back from Sanqing Peak that day, you shouldn’t accuse someone so lightly, especially without evidence."

Though she knew nothing of what had truly happened, she felt sure that Sister Shen Xin was not that kind of person. Otherwise, how could things have reached the point where she’d be driven to try to drown herself?

"Are you saying I’ve wronged her?" Shen Chaoxi met her gaze.

Shen Sisi held her eyes. "All I know is, you need evidence to accuse someone of anything."

Soaking wet, Shen Xin lowered her long lashes, listening to Shen Sisi speak up for her.

"Chaochao would never wrong her!"

Suddenly, a cold, clear voice rang out in Birch Garden.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

They saw a young man in a black suit, tall and slender, with striking features, striding toward them.

"Brother?"

Shen Chaoxi frowned as Shen Mo approached her, bent down, and gently touched her head.

"Do you still have a fever?"

Xiao Xiao, who had been frowning at Shen Xin’s shamelessness, now quickly replied with a bright smile, "Second Young Master, Miss's fever went down last night."

"Good," Shen Mo replied coolly, but there was a trace of gentleness in his eyes as he looked at Shen Chaoxi.

Then, his brows furrowed as his dark gaze turned to the girl who had just been pulled from the lake, now dripping and sitting on the ground.

The moment Shen Xin heard his voice, she looked up and met Shen Mo's eyes.

His gaze was cold, his brow tightly knit, and there was a hint of complicated emotion in his eyes as he glanced at her.

"Brother?"

Shen Xin was somewhat surprised. After ten years, the gentle boy who used to cheer her up with candy now looked at her with not a trace of warmth—only a steady, emotionless stare.

"Why did you jump into the lake?"

Standing before Shen Chaoxi, Shen Mo’s figure was tall and straight, sunlight quietly illuminating his face. His features were as refined as ever, his dark, almond-shaped eyes carrying a touch of indifference.

He looked down at the bedraggled figure on the ground. His nose was high, his hair naturally falling over his brow, half-shading his black eyes, his lashes thick and long, lips pressed tight.

"I..."

Suddenly, Shen Xin felt her eyes sting, dry and aching. She truly wanted to cry. "Second Brother..."

Her voice was soft and choked, perhaps because she saw, in him, the boy who once protected her as a child.

The second young master of the Shen family, Shen Mo—that boy who seemed to carry the first rays of dawn with him.

He was the one who, when she was most frightened and alone, would make her laugh with sweets, who told her, "Don’t be afraid. The Shen family is your home now."

"You can call me ‘Brother’ just like Chaochao does."

His voice seemed to echo from that summer, the day after she’d been brought from the orphanage to the Shen family.

But now, here he was, questioning her because of Shen Chaoxi.

Yes, questioning.

When he first appeared, Shen Xin had still held a glimmer of hope in her heart—she thought he would help her, or at least say something on her behalf.

But clearly, he would not.

Shen Mo was here to ask her for answers.

"Brother Shen Mo, why don’t you ask Shen Chaoxi what she’s done?" Shen Sisi ran forward, glancing at Shen Chaoxi before continuing, "She accused Sister Shen Xin of pushing her off the cliff without any evidence. It was raining heavily that day—who knows if she slipped and fell herself? She even forced Sister Shen Xin to jump into the lake..."

But Shen Mo paid no heed to Shen Sisi’s words. He wanted to hear Shen Xin speak for herself.

"Was it you who pushed her?"

"Brother..."

Tears reddened the corners of Shen Xin’s eyes. "It wasn’t me."

Her tears fell, her voice hoarse. "I don’t know why Chao Xi would accuse me after she came back. I really didn’t push her..."

Shen Mo’s gaze was icy.

"Why won’t you believe me?" Shen Xin’s heart ached as she saw the way Shen Mo looked at her—as if she were a stranger.

It felt as if something sharp pierced her heart.

Her breath trembled.

And when he saw her tears, Shen Mo’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.

"It’s not that I don’t believe you," his clear, cold voice said.

"It’s that I know Chaochao would never wrongly accuse you."