"Please don't, it would be inconvenient if you bring a girl home," Ming Yutong hurriedly refused.
"I never bring girls home," Ming Yuqian said, suddenly making a suggestive smirk. "Besides, if I move in, it might interfere with you bringing men home."
"...," Ming Yutong felt like conversations with Ming Yuqian always took unexpected turns. "I don't bring men home either."
"Who said that? You brought my nephew home the other night," Ming Yuqian immediately retorted.
Ming Yutong: "..."
"Ah, let's talk about something serious," Ming Yuqian noticed Ming Yutong's twitching lips and quickly continued, "Although I didn't mind Jiang Lulian pursuing you before, it's mainly because of you. If you like him, I'll support you. If you don't, I won't force you under the guise of doing it for your own good."
"But now," Ming Yuqian looked at Ming Yutong seriously, "even if you do have feelings for him, I don't agree. This is your brother's heartfelt wish, and I hope you respect that."
Ming Yutong: "..."
Faced with Ming Yuqian's serious demeanor, Ming Yutong couldn't muster a smile. "Whether in the past or in the future, I have no romantic feelings for him. I don't mind being friends with him, but that's all."
Ming Yuqian let out a relieved laugh, resumed cracking melon seeds, and reverted to his carefree demeanor, as if his seriousness earlier was just a fleeting impression.
"Good then," Ming Yuqian cracked seeds and gestured with the shells in his hand, "I didn't care before, but after seeing Jiang Lulian's actions today, this guy is no good."
Ming Yuqian shook his head vigorously, "I can see clearly, unlike those few elders downstairs."
"Jiang Lulian isn't some newcomer to love affairs. He's had several relationships in the past, flirted in the business world, and received admiration from women in various circles. He's seen too much. Ming Siling's tricks can't deceive him. Yet, he still enjoys releasing his charm on Ming Siling like a spring breeze. What do you call this? It's despicable!"
"This kind of despicable person thinks he's endlessly charming, attracting women's admiration, and can pretend he doesn't know anything. He thinks he's a gentleman, but he's actually a fake gentleman. He believes that letting Ming Siling openly express her admiration for him, without accepting or rejecting it, is enough. He hasn't wronged anyone. But to revel in his own charm without any shame, that itself is wrong, it's disrespectful to you."
Ming Yutong smiled knowingly, "I didn't expect you to see things so clearly. So, when you find someone you like, I won't have to worry about you doing anything to hurt them."
Ming Yuqian rolled his eyes, "I was talking about you seriously."
Ming Yutong quickly nodded and said earnestly, "Okay, go on."
Despite her mood being slightly disrupted by Ming Yuqiang, Ming Yutong persisted in expressing his views.
"If you really get together with him, truly fall for him, you'll always have to worry about whether he's being ambiguous with other women outside. When your relationship is at its peak, he might still entertain admiration from other women. But with his liking for ambiguity, once your feelings change, who can guarantee he won't accept another woman outside?"
"And even if initially he doesn't accept, the thought of him being ambiguous with others outside, doesn't it disgust you?" Ming Yuqian clicked his tongue in disdain. "Such a person is no good."
"So, having you watch over me, I'm very reassured," Ming Yutong said with a smile.
Ming Yuqian proudly nodded his head, "Of course."
But then, he quickly regained his senses and said seriously, "Be serious."
"Okay, okay," Ming Yutong sat down beside Ming Yuqian, kicked off her shoes, and sat cross-legged on the bed like Ming Yuqian.
Leaning her head sideways, she rested it on Ming Yuqian's shoulder.
"Yuqian," Ming Yutong called softly, her voice warm.
"Mm?" Ming Yuqian lazily responded, the sound of cracking melon seeds ceased.
"Whenever, whatever happens, having you stand by my side, genuinely caring for me, protecting me," Ming Yutong's eyes welled up a bit, "Thank you."
Ming Yuqian blushed uncomfortably, rarely stuttering despite his usual eloquence, "Why... why are you being so formal with me!"
"Ah, it's embarrassing to say, but you're more like an older brother than a younger brother," Ming Yutong said.
Ming Yuqian smiled, reached out and hugged Ming Yutong's shoulder, "Before, it was you as my older sister protecting me. Now that I've grown up, it's my turn to protect you. I'm a man, after all!"
Ming Yutong smiled gently, moved by his words, but then heard Ming Yuqian say with disgust, "But, in the future, stay away from Ming Siling."
Ming Yuqian paused for a moment, then spat out the word with great disdain, "Disgusting."
Ming Yutong patted the hand resting on her shoulder and said, "In the beginning, I thought she was just nervous and anxious about returning to the Ming family, so I wanted to take care of her more. But gradually, I saw through her facade. Naturally, I have no desire for any close involvement with her."
"Jiang Lulian... I have no romantic interest in him, nor do I have any intention of further developing anything with him. My stance is clear, known throughout the Ming family. Therefore, there's no trouble with Ming Siling for me. If she directly came to me and expressed her fondness for Jiang Lulian, I would even help her."
Ming Yutong chuckled sarcastically, "But with her playing these little tricks, even if I don't want Jiang Lulian, I won't make it easy for Ming Siling."
Ming Yutong never considered herself particularly magnanimous; outside, she was bright and capable, not yielding to anyone.