But Ming Chuyan released her.
He looked at Madam Ming intently.
Taking a deep breath.
Then, he turned his gaze back to her.
"Rou'er, didn't you say... you'd do anything as long as Mom could get better?"
Ming Chuyan patted her head. "Didn't you say you were willing to kneel and beg Ming Zheng, to not torment Mom?"
"Right now, the only one who can heal Mom's hands is Ming Zheng."
"If you want Mom's hands to get better... it's only you now, kneel and beg Ming Zheng, save Mom."
His tone was filled with suppressed helplessness and pain.
Ming Zhirou's eyes, moist and glistening, widened little by little.
She finally understood now.
The person who could heal Madam Ming was Ming Zheng.
And Ming Zheng demanded they kneel before she would treat Madam Ming.
And then, she arrived.
So she was pushed out.
Clearly, on the phone last time, Ming Zheng had demanded Ming Chuyan kneel and beg her.
But now...
Ming Chuyan, to save face,
Sent her to kneel before Ming Zheng.
Sent her to beg Ming Zheng.
This was the Ming family...
Usually, a loving, harmonious family.
But when a crisis struck,
They would betray each other.
Just to protect themselves.
Indeed...
That man was right.
She couldn't gamble her future on the Ming family.
She couldn't just rely on the Ming family.
Because...
As soon as something happened to the Ming family.
She would be the one pushed out.
Ming Zhirou was furious inwardly.
She cursed everyone in the Ming family.
But in front of the Ming family members,
She still didn't dare to truly reveal it.
She caught a glimpse of Ming Zheng smirking, her expression bright and playful, clearly enjoying the show.
Her anger and hatred were almost unbearable.
Ming Zhirou abruptly buried her face in Ming Chuyan's embrace.
Her expression finally contorted.
But the words that came out of her mouth were still choked with sobs and soft: "I know... because of me, my sister doesn't want to return to the Ming family..."
"Because of me, my sister hates you all so much."
"As long as it's for the Ming family, for Mom..."
"Alright, I'll kneel before Ming Zheng, I'll beg her."
Ming Zhirou spoke, word by word, with a crying tone, softly.
After adjusting her facial expression,
She slowly raised her head.
Her tear-filled eyes were strong and pitiful.
Her lips were pale, yet she managed a reassuring smile.
So obedient, so gentle.
It struck something in Ming Chuyan, Father Ming, and Mother Ming.
Their expressions were somewhat conflicted.
Somewhat reluctant.
But looking at Madam Ming's arms, their mouths moved, and finally, the only words they uttered were: "Go, Rou'er..."
Ming Zhirou wanted to struggle one last time, hoping to evoke pity from Father and Mother Ming.
But it was no use.
The Ming family had already decided to have her beg Ming Zheng.
And she still wanted to depend on the Ming family for a living.
She had no choice.
She could only...
Deepen the Ming family's guilt towards her.
Extract more benefits from the Ming family!
Ming Zhirou pushed Ming Chuyan away.
Then, step by step, she walked towards Ming Zheng.
As she walked,
She deliberately lifted her scattered hair, revealing her swollen face.
As she walked,
She limped, favoring one leg.
She also clutched her stomach,
As if she were seriously injured.
Nothing like the confident stride in high heels when she arrived.
She reached the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor.
Tilting her head up, she looked at the girl standing on the steps, her expression languid and mocking.
In her eyes, hatred burned.
Her heart filled with humiliation, Ming Zhirou's eyes turned a little crimson.
Without the protection of the Ming family,
Without the Ming family's intervention.
This kneel,
She could not resist.
Ming Zhirou's chest surged with anger and unwillingness, and bit by bit, she bent her knees towards Ming Zheng.
She knelt very slowly.
As if still waiting for the Ming family to step out and stop her.
But, by the time her knees touched the cold ground,
The Ming family... still hadn't spoken.
Ming Zhirou felt utterly humiliated.
Her body trembled slightly.
Her hands, resting on the ground, clenched so tightly that her fingertips turned white.
"Sister..."
She spoke, her voice hoarse and soft.
Ming Zheng raised an eyebrow, her expression lazily casual. "Don't call me sister, it's disgusting."
Ming Zhirou's face turned even paler.
The humiliation she felt now had transformed into a deep sense of shame.
Her eyes reddened, she obediently changed her address. "Miss Ming Zheng..."
Her voice began to tremble, laced with tears,
Sniffling, she appeared pitiful yet resilient. "Please, help Mom heal her hands."
"Rou'er..."
Madam Ming looked at her kneeling on the ground, begging Ming Zheng so humbly, her heart ached.
She leaned into Father Ming's embrace and began to cry.
Father Ming patted her shoulder, gently comforting her.
But Ming Zheng, the one being pleaded with, did not speak.
Her starry eyes were filled with a touch of mocking charm, the playfulness on her crimson lips deepening.
She remained silent.
This further fueled Ming Zhirou's shame and anger.
Ming Zhirou's expression could no longer be held back.
She could only choose to slowly rest her forehead on the ground.
Using this posture to conceal her expression.
Then, her voice trembling, filled with humiliation and annoyance, she said, "Miss Ming Zheng, please."
"Rou'er, that's enough! Enough!"
Ming Chuyan finally couldn't hold back, seeing his precious sister so humble.
His heart ached terribly.
His aversion to Ming Zheng grew even stronger.
He rushed forward, crouched down, circled Ming Zhirou's shoulders with his hands, and looked up at Ming Zheng, glaring. "You've knelt, you've begged, what more do you want?"
Ming Zhirou, as if she could no longer contain herself, began to cry, her grievance evident.
But she still reached out and pushed Ming Chuyan. "Sixth Brother, it's okay, as long as Sister is willing to treat Mom, she can humiliate me however she wants!"
Ming Chuyan was pushed and fell to the ground.
His eyes filled with anger, he glared fiercely at Ming Zheng.
At this moment, Ming Zheng finally spoke.
She parted her crimson lips, a mockery in her tone, which was also incredibly playful. "Do you know there's a saying called... seize the opportunity?"
Ming Chuyan's expression changed.
Ming Zhirou also abruptly looked up.
"What do you mean?" Ming Chuyan asked in a deep voice, his tone strained.
Ming Zheng tilted her head, smiling enchantingly.
Her smile was bright and stunning.
But the words that came out were sharp as blades, piercing hearts and drawing blood.
"It means... when I gave you the chance, you didn't cherish it. Now... the chance is gone, and even kneeling is useless."
Ming Chuyan's face turned ashen.
He processed Ming Zheng's words in his mind.
"You're playing us!"
He suddenly stood up from the ground. "Ming Zheng, you never intended to treat Mom from the beginning, did you? You were just toying with us, weren't you?"