The crowd nodded, remembering how Wang Jin had suffered when he was a lunatic. Their sympathy shifted toward him.
Seeing his strategy work, Wang Jin pinched himself again, forcing a tear to roll down his cheek.
This time, the pain made his voice even more nasal and pitiful. “A-Mu has always been close to me. When something like this happens, he gets protective… and emotional.”
His tears fell - not in a flood like Yue ger’s, but like droplets from a mountain spring. Few, yet striking straight at the softest part of the heart.
This Jin ger… had truly suffered.
If not for Mu ger’s care back then, he might not have survived.
Ju ger and his gang had been vicious. If Mu ger hadn’t been fierce, how could he have protected himself and Jin ger?
His earlier reaction was completely understandable…
Some of the gers sighed and spoke up for Wang Jin and Mu ger.
“This was all just a misunderstanding. Mu ger and Jin ger were treated terribly before, so it’s natural they’d react this way. Yue ger, don’t take it to heart.”
“That’s right, Yue ger. Even if you meant well by sewing the cushion, forgetting to remove the needle was still careless. If Mu ger hadn’t stopped Jin ger in time, sitting on such a thick, long needle would’ve…”
“Exactly! Thank goodness no one was hurt, or you’d feel awful too. Really, we should all thank Mu ger.”
After a moment of stunned silence, Mu ger quickly caught on and said, “No need for thanks. Just be more careful next time.”
Wang Jin silently praised Mu ger’s quick thinking, then added, “I really like the cushion. Thank you, Yue ger.”
As if to prove his point, he sat down on it first.
This act signaled that he had accepted Yue ger’s goodwill, dispelling any notion that he still held a grudge.
Yue ger’s face stiffened. He hadn’t expected Wang Jin to be such a skilled actor!
That pitiful act just now had been even more convincing than his own. He had thought Wang Jin was just a harmless fool, easy to manipulate—but now, he realized his mistake. This was a fox who knew how to fight back.
Yue ger glared at Wang Jin, seething with hatred but not daring to show it openly. He could only grit his teeth in frustration.
In the end, he forced a smile and said, “I’m glad A-Jin likes it. As long as you don’t resent me, I’m happy. I’ll be more careful next time. But A-Mu, you mustn’t accuse me like that again, it hurts my feelings.”
“Mm, sure, sure,” Mu ger replied dismissively, sitting down as well.
The others, considering the matter resolved, turned their attention back to weaving.
With everyone seated, Yue ger - the only one still standing had no choice but to sit down as well.
Wang Jin, comfortably settled on the cushion, watched Yue ger’s reluctant movements with satisfaction.
He even “guided” Yue ger’s weaving—or rather, bossed him around with an arrogant tone.
Since Wang Jin had taught Mu ger and the others the same way, no one found it strange.
But Yue ger knew better. He was certain Wang Jin was deliberately making things difficult for him, and it took all his willpower not to lunge at him.
Wang Jin, watching Yue ger’s barely contained rage, leaned back on the cushion, thoroughly pleased.
His mother’s methods really worked.
And honestly, the cushion - now needle-free, was incredibly comfortable. He could sit on it for hours without tiring.
Yue ger, however, unused to long hours of weaving, kept shifting in his seat, clearly finding the chair too hard.
Wang Jin glanced around and noticed that none of the others - not even the pregnant Mu ger seemed bothered by the chair’s hardness. Only Yue ger was uncomfortable.
A mischievous glint flashed in Wang Jin’s eyes. Deliberately, he extended today’s weaving session.
While the others were free to leave whenever they wanted, Yue ger, having asked Wang Jin to teach him, had to follow his schedule.
Wang Jin dragged it out until dusk without calling for a break, forcing Yue ger to keep weaving and sitting. If Yue ger dared to complain, Wang Jin would act hurt, saying he was disappointed, that Yue ger couldn’t handle hardship, and that his efforts weren’t appreciated - turning Yue ger’s own tactics against him.
With the others watching, Yue ger couldn’t risk damaging his image and had no choice but to endure.
Only when it was nearly dark and Lai Yuan, who had gone out with Yuan Heng earlier, came to fetch Mu ger, did Wang Jin finally leave with them.
On the way back, watching Lai Yuan and Mu ger walking close together, Wang Jin felt a pang of jealousy and hurt.
“Brother Heng… why didn’t he come to get me?”
Wang Jin had been sure Yuan Heng would come looking for him when he didn’t find him at home—after all, he had never been away this long before, and Yuan Heng had never once returned home to an empty house.
In the past, if he was gone even briefly, the man would search everywhere for him… But this time, he hadn’t come.
Even Lai Yuan had come for Mu ger. Why hadn’t Yuan Heng come for him?
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