“Shi Qingyin,” Shi Ning’s voice cut through the air, colder than ice. “What is wrong with me? When have I ever hurt Jiang Huaijing?”
Shi Qingyin froze, a deer caught in headlights, yet she persisted in pushing Jiang Huaijing, urging him to flee. Shi Ning, her patience worn thin, strode forward, her hand closing around Jiang Huaijing’s arm. With a firm tug, she pulled him into the ward.
Jiang Huaijing looked down at her grip on his arm, a bewildered, flattered expression on his face. “Miss.”
A flurry of hidden comments flashed before Shi Ning’s eyes.
“Wow, the female supporting role just called him ‘big brother’, and Jiang Huaijing was so flattered. I suddenly started to support them, the vicious female supporting role and the affectionate male second! So supportive!”
“Don’t support everything, Jiang Huaijing only has the affection of a sister to Shi Ning. As for the Shi family, he treats them as relatives and benefactors, and repays them in the same way!”
“He can listen to Shi Qingyin in everything just because her last name is Shi. She is the niece of Shi Guoqiang and the cousin of Shi Ning! Later, he fell in love with her and became the affectionate male second!”
A wave of relief washed over Shi Ning. Good. As long as Jiang Huaijing harbored no romantic feelings for her, only gratitude and familial affection for the Shi family, everything would be fine. The barrages had proven invaluable, guiding her to rewrite her life.
She looked up at Jiang Huaijing, her gaze steady. “Call me sister. I’ll give you this one chance.”
Jiang Huaijing knew Shi Ning’s character well. She was, in truth, a little overbearing, with a fiery temper. She abhorred repetition, detested lengthy explanations, and expected her commands to be obeyed without question. When she said “one chance,” she meant it; there would never be a second.
He savored the moment, then, with a hint of awkwardness, uttered the word. “Sister.” Seven years had passed since he’d last called her that, and the word felt strange, unnatural on his tongue.
Shi Ning, however, beamed with genuine delight. “Brother.”
Shi Guoqiang, witnessing the scene, clapped his hands together, a joyous, booming sound. “Good! Very good! Excellent!”
Butler Zhao, wiping away a tear, sighed dramatically. “Miss and Master Jing are finally reconciled. The master can now rest in peace…”
Shi Guoqiang shot him a warning glance.
The butler quickly corrected himself, “You can eat three more bowls of rice with peace of mind.”
Shi Guoqiang’s happiness was palpable, as a great weight lifted from his shoulders. “You two have finally made up. Come on, let’s go home.”
Butler Zhao looked up, a wistful sigh escaping his lips. “It’s been three years. This old servant finally saw the master smile again. This is only the second time.”
Shi Ning merely blinked. “Brother, have you read Dad ‘s his medical report? What were the results?”
Jiang Huaijing paused, caught off guard, almost uncertain if Shi Ning was truly addressing him. He discreetly pinched his thigh, a sharp reminder that this was real. She had indeed called him “brother” again, for the third time today! He gazed at Shi Ning with a soft, gentle expression. “I have seen it, Mr. Shi…”
“Change your words. Call him dad,” Shi Ning interrupted, her voice firm. Seven years ago, she had forbidden Jiang Huaijing from calling Shi Guoqiang “dad,” decreeing that if he wished to remain in the Shi family, he would be treated no differently than a servant. For those seven years, Jiang Huaijing had obeyed her command. Now, he did the same.
Jiang Huaijing, with a hint of discomfort in his voice, changed tack. “Dad’s examination report shows no major issues, but his diet is irregular, and he has high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. He needs to control his diet and exercise more in the future.” He emphasized, “Especially no candy, and don’t let Dad drink milk tea!”
Shi Ning glanced at Shi Guoqiang’s face, still handsome and dignified despite his age. “Uh, Dad likes candy and milk tea?” She found it hard to believe. Don’t most men dislike those?
Shi Guoqiang, with a perfectly straight face, denied it. “No! My blood sugar is high because I eat, not because of candy! Not because of milk tea!”
Butler Zhao, however, relished in the revelation. “The master secretly ordered milk tea yesterday and was caught by the doctor and got scolded.”
Shi Guoqiang glared at him, a clear threat in his eyes. “If you spill one more secret, you’re fired!”
Butler Zhao remained unfazed. “Then I’ll write a letter to late madam and burn it to complain about you!”
Shi Guoqiang instantly backed down, defeated. The mere mention of his late wife, and her favorite drink, milk tea, was enough to silence him. He had promised to bring her milk tea when she was giving birth, but she hadn’t been able to drink it. So, he had drunk it for her.
Shi Ning felt a prickling sense of confusion. “Wasn’t Dad’s relationship with Mom bad?” she wondered. “He cheated on her with his mistress when she was pregnant with me, causing her to miscarry and die after my birth. Why does it feel so strange now?”
Tao Bichun and Shi Qingyin watched the family of four, an impenetrable circle of conversation, unable to interject. When Butler Zhao spoke of Shi Ning’s mother, Tao Bichun’s anxiety flared. She quickly approached Shi Ning, taking her hand with an overly affectionate grip.
“Xiao Ning,” she cooed, feigning concern. “You haven’t been back for three years. Why are you back today?” The question, laced with insincerity, clearly conveyed her desire for Shi Ning to remain absent.
Shi Ning promptly pulled her hand away, her tone blunt. “I haven’t seen you for three years. How is it that Second Aunt is still alive?”
Tao Bichun flushed with anger and embarrassment. “Second Aunt is just concerned about you. Why are you talking in such a strange way?”
Shi Ning blinked innocently. “I’m merely using Second Aunt’s words to express my concern. Why is it strange?” She smiled, a saccharine sweetness that didn’t reach her eyes. “Second Aunt doesn’t like it? Then I’ll change my concern. Why doesn’t Second Aunt die?”
A dog can’t spit out ivory! Tao Bichun was seething. “Fine, you’ve been like this since you were a child. I’m a grown woman; I won’t bother with you.”
Shi Ning’s gaze was icy. “What have I been like since I was a child? What bad things have I done?” Her voice rose. “Is that why you two, mother and daughter, always say I have a weird temper and that I’m strange?” Before, she hadn’t noticed, perhaps swayed by the overarching plot. But now, Shi Ning recognized the insidious pattern: every time Shi Qingyin or Tao Bichun spoke of her, it was a twisted blend of praise and criticism, designed to sow discord between her and her father, and between her and her adopted brother, Jiang Huaijing! In short, she had been a fool. But no longer. They would not have their way!
Shi Qingyin quickly interjected, “Sister, you misunderstand! My mother has no ill intentions; she’s just concerned about you being wronged in the Qin family.” She continued, twisting the knife. “I also think your personality has become weird these days. You used to get angry when you saw Brother Jiang, felt disgusted, and wanted him dead. Now you’ve taken the initiative to pull his arm! We’re just worried you’ve been wronged, that’s why you’re acting so abnormal.”
Her words were a bitter reminder to Jiang Huaijing of the past seven years, of Shi Ning’s intense aversion, her physical discomfort in his presence. He recalled the time, driven by a desperate need for understanding, he had approached her to ask why she hated him, only to be slapped and pushed into the swimming pool. Another memory surfaced: when Shi Ning fainted becaus of menstrual cramps , and he had carried her to the hospital. Upon waking, Shi Ning had scrubbed herself raw for three hours, leaving her body bleeding and scratched. Since then, his very name had triggered nausea, tremors, and profound hatred in her. For her well-being, he had made himself scarce. He still couldn’t fathom how his once adorable sister, who had always clung to him, had become this stranger.
Shi Ning saw the pallor of Jiang Huaijing’s face, the subtle shift as he instinctively retreated, creating distance between them. She knew he was reliving those painful memories. A sneer touched her lips as she looked directly at Shi Qingyin. “Since you brought it up, let’s confront this today. Tell us, why do I hate my elder brother?”