Ai Qing shook her head but refrained from making a caustic retort.

In the vast Yin's family, ever since her parents passed away, this cousin, deemed to be the future head of the family, had always shown her, the cripple, much care and attention.

Had it not been for Yin Ya, she probably would never have had the chance to study abroad in London, let alone anything else.

Seeing this cousin who had always cared for her again, to say she felt displeased would be a lie.

However, many years had passed. She had transformed from a little girl into an Inspector of the Astronomical Society. His achievements, meanwhile, had become even more astonishing—it was said that he had recently broken through the Third Stage and entered the Domain of Fourth Stage·Stellar Antimony on the Border.

Such a person, in the Current Circumstances, was already sufficient to support an entire family or clan. It was expected that after Old Master Yin passed away, he would become the head of the Yin Family.

The status of the two had completely changed from the past.

Even though Yin Ya had always treated her with care, now he would be representing the Yin Family.

After a brief silence, not wishing to continue in the awkward atmosphere, she brought up the subject directly, "Big brother, did you come to see me for a reason?"

"Won't you have some fruit first? I brought them especially for you on my way back from the Border... Give them a try, they're really tasty!"

Yin Ya reached out to pick up a net bag from beneath the table. Several white fruits inside, resembling dragon fruit, gave off a sweet aroma that was mouthwatering.

Ai Qing didn't speak, just looked at him.

After a while, he also began to feel somewhat helpless and placed the fruits on the table, "Whether this matter succeeds or not, I brought the fruits especially for you. You have to accept them, right?"

Ai Qing nodded.

Yin Ya's expression then turned to relief, feeling joy from the bottom of his heart.

After pondering for a moment, not wanting to beat around the bush in front of his sister, he asked outright.

"Now that I can protect you, would you like to come home with me?"

He sincerely added, "Before coming here, I discussed it with Grandfather: as long as you come home, all the family's businesses can be given to you. All the Yin Family's assets and operations, you can decide with a single word."

"What about Yin Yan?"

Smiling upon hearing this, Ai Qing couldn't help but laugh. "Hasn't he already become successful? It's better to leave such matters to a man than to a woman like me, right?"

Yin Ya replied earnestly.

"He's still young."

For Yin Ya, even if this cousin of his had now become a Reviewer candidate for the Astronomical Society, he was still an immature kid who always acted willfully. Without proper tempering, he would find it hard to shoulder great responsibilities.

He had already punished Yin Yan for an incident on the Open Ocean before coming here.

Ai Qing was indifferent. "He can grow up, can't he? Someday he'll be able to take on the heavy responsibilities."

"When he's grown, he should be a man," Yin Ya replied calmly. "A man has to learn to support a family, not think about taking from his brothers and sisters every day. Over the years, Little Yan has been slightly spoiled; I've already sent him to the Border. Unless he becomes a Sublimator, he shouldn't even think about coming back."

Ai Qing was taken aback for a moment, her eyebrows involuntarily raising.

With Yin Yan's spoiled demeanor, sending him to the Border was practically worse than killing him.

"Aren't you afraid he would hate you?"

"When kids suffer a little, they feel like the sky is falling. Once he truly grows up a bit, he'll know what a man should and should not do," Yin Ya said, shaking his head somewhat awkwardly. "If he really can't grow up, then forget it; I'll support him for life if I have to. If he wants to hate, let him hate; it's better than being butchered like a chicken by someone someday."

...

After a long silence, Ai Qing couldn't help but sigh, "After so many years, you haven't changed at all."

"Almost thirty now, should at least have grown taller, right?"

Yin Ya shrugged, looking earnestly at his sister. "As a big brother, I can't be incompetent. I must shelter my brothers and sisters from the wind and rain... Little Qing, I truly mean this from the heart."

"I know," Ai Qing nodded.

Yin Ya's expression immediately filled with hope. "So, will you come back?"

"I won't," Ai Qing shook her head, calmly refusing. "I'm living quite well now. To be honest, I don't want to have any dealings with the Yin's family."

...

Yin Ya was stunned for a long time, then sighed helplessly. "In a few days, it will be Grandfather's birthday. You should at least come back for a visit, right?"

"What would I do there? Offer congratulations?" Ai Qing laughed, looking down at her wheelchair. "With these legs, wouldn't I just be an annoyance?"

"I know some things in the family were done too harshly in the early years, and it's perfectly reasonable for you to have grievances. But Grandfather has changed now." Yin Ya hesitated for a while. "He has already admitted... that he made a mistake back then. If you come home, he can apologize to you in person."

The notion of Old Master Yin, who had always presented himself with an air of toughness and never bowed down in his life, apologizing seemed like a joke.

But Yin Ya's expression was serious and solemn; moreover, he had never lied to Ai Qing.

"He sounds much more reasonable than before, doesn't he?" Ai Qing remarked.

She then nodded slightly. "That's to be expected. After passing through the bloody stage of accumulation, don't all capitalists start to appear benevolent? Once they no longer need to fight like wild dogs for food, they begin to champion themselves as a house of kindness. Otherwise, they would be looked down upon."

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