“Hehe.”
A rare smile surfaced on Qin Yao’s face as she gently stroked the kitten in her arms.
“Meow~”
The little cat let out a soft, contented cry, clearly enjoying her touch.
“Meow~” Qin Yao mimicked back playfully, and for once, her usually cold demeanor took on the air of a girlish charm.
If Qin Yuanyuan or Qin Xue had seen her like this, they probably would’ve assumed their big sister had finally gone senile from overworking.
“Little kitty, do you think... Qin Xue hates me?”
“I only did it for her own good.”
Qin Yao murmured to herself, casting a glance toward Qin Xue’s bedroom door.
She hadn’t meant to drive that girl away on purpose.
It was just that, in her eyes, someone like that—a flower vase of a girl—could never protect Qin Xue for the rest of her life. That kind of person would only leave behind anger and heartbreak once the novelty wore off.
If that was the case, then wouldn’t it be better… if she took on the responsibility instead?
Qin Xue had no long-term plans.
She was still young, and Qin Yao understood that. But as an older sister, she felt it was her duty to ensure her little sister would live a better life in the future.
That thought had taken root in Qin Yao's mind since she was a child.
As an elder sister, she had to be a role model, a protector. So she worked hard—so hard she ended up with no friends, so hard that even her own sister started to resent her.
Now, after all these years, she had built connections with numerous business partners her mother had introduced, and both her capabilities and networking skills had matured.
Qin Yao truly believed that if she just pushed a little harder, she would be able to protect her sisters herself.
And yet, despite all that... her sisters had long distanced themselves from her.
Qin Yuanyuan wouldn’t talk to her. Qin Xue hadn’t said a word to her in days.
Even now that they were living under the same roof again, it felt like they were strangers. The maids were more affectionate than her own siblings...
After twenty years of effort, had she really gone down the wrong path?
Her mother had told her that doing this was the best way to protect her sisters...
Staring blankly at the closed door, Qin Yao wished with all her heart that Qin Xue would come out and say a few words to her—anything. Even a simple “Good evening, sis” would do.
“……”
Qin Yao remained silent for a while before finally placing the kitten gently onto the sofa.
“Xuexue, studying hard in there? Want to come out and eat something?” she asked in her usual calm voice, adjusting her glasses.
“……”
No one answered.
“Qin Xue?”
She called a few more times. Normally, she would’ve just assumed her sister was asleep and left it at that—but tonight, she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
It was time to let go of the pride of being an older sister, and apologize.
No matter how many times Qin Yao called, there was no response from inside the room.
“Qin Xue!?” Her tone turned urgent as she pounded on the door.
Weren’t Qin Yuanyuan and Xia Rou the ones in the bath?
Then Qin Xue should still be in her room.
Finally, Qin Yao reached for the door handle.
She never entered her sister’s room without permission.
Click. Click…
“It’s locked?”
Was Qin Xue inside? Then why wasn’t she answering?
Qin Yao stood frozen at the door, her sharp mind running through every possible scenario.
The first thought that came to her was that Qin Xue had fainted. It wasn’t impossible.
The door was locked from the inside—definitely a critical situation.
But then she considered the second possibility.
What if the door had been locked from the outside? And locking it while taking a bath... it only meant one thing: someone didn’t want others going in.
And then…
Those cardboard boxes that Qin Xuanyuan had taken out yesterday—were they really just trash?
And this afternoon, did Qin Xuanxuan really come back late just from cleaning Xia Rou’s room?
Qin Yao quickly reached a third conclusion:
Those boxes were Qin Xue’s belongings—clothes, maybe—and she hadn’t had time to take them when she fled.
As for Qin Xuanxuan? She had helped clean the room today because Qin Xue had already left.
…
In other words, Qin Xue had run away.
And everyone in this house—Yuanyuan, Xia Rou, Xuanyuan—had lied to her!
“……”
“No… I don’t believe it!”
Qin Yao stubbornly clung to the first possibility.
She turned and was just about to head to her room for the spare key—when a girl in a bath towel walked out from the direction of the bathroom.
“Yuanyuan…”
“Sister Yao, what are you doing? Sister Xue is still sleeping,” Qin Yuanyuan replied calmly, as if stating a simple fact.
But in truth, she was panicking inside.
She had leapt out of the tub the moment she heard Qin Yao calling Qin Xue’s name—didn’t even bother getting dressed—just wrapped herself in a towel and rushed out.
“Qin Xue is sleeping? Then go wake her up and have her open the door,” Qin Yao said sharply, pointing at the bedroom.
If Qin Yuanyuan refused, she’d open it herself.
Compared to the tense atmosphere in the villa, things were peaceful and blissful inside the little rental apartment.
Qin Xue lay in bed, sound asleep, holding her soft, petite Xiaoyun in her arms.
“……”
She had fallen asleep early—maybe around eleven.
But as time passed, the clock gradually ticked past midnight.
It was late…
And Su Yun still couldn’t sleep.
She lay miserably in the warm embrace of her big sister, tossing and turning but unable to doze off.
They had to make up the physical fitness test tomorrow morning, after all.
But as for the reason she couldn’t sleep… well, Su Yun knew very well.
It was because…
Qin Xue was still wearing that white shirt—with not a single button done.
Sure, she had said it felt tight to button up, but this…
One glance when she opened her eyes and… “Whoa!”
Two soft, pink…
If she wasn’t careful, the moment Qin Xue hugged her in her sleep, those would end up right in her face.
Who could endure that?
She had scolded Qin Xue just after 10 p.m., and yet here they were again.
(The content of that scolding: One, don’t casually call her “wife.” Two, wear proper clothes at home.)
“Sigh… Sister Xue, if you ever run off with a man in the future, I might just have to lock you up and keep you all to myself.”
And then she’d make her cry—teach her the price of betrayal. Watching her cry in fear and despair, her tear-streaked face twisted in anguish…
Exciting!… Wait no, that’s weird.
Su Yun couldn’t help but squint her eyes and sneak another glance.
“Ugh.” Her cheeks flushed bright red, and a strange sensation bloomed across her body.
Ugh, you big dummy. You say you don’t like me, yet you keep calling me your wife. Tempting me like this…
Wife…
If Qin Xue really married her, she’d belong to her alone.
“Ha…” Su Yun sighed dreamily, her mouth unconsciously hanging open.
She knew now—there was no way she’d fall asleep like this.
Quietly, she slipped out from under the blanket.
She tiptoed over to the wardrobe and carefully pulled it open, retrieving a pair of underwear.
Tonight was going to be another sleepless night.
For the third time…
All of this… was Qin Xue’s fault.
Night passed, and Wednesday morning arrived as promised.
Su Yun and Qin Xue, for the first time in a while, got up together and headed to the school track field.
Qin Xue stood on the stone steps, stretching and warming up.
Even with pants on, her long legs looked flawless—those straight, elegant lines were impossible to hide.
And just like her legs, even her jacket couldn’t fully conceal her enticing curves.
She looked full of energy and radiance—as if she had been utterly pampered and rejuvenated.
The campus belle maintained her perfection at all times.
This youthful beauty drew admiring glances from those jogging or strolling around the track.
Desire. Envy. Longing.
“……”
Meanwhile, sitting nearby on the steps, Su Yun was the complete opposite of the glowing Qin Xue.
She didn’t even bother stretching—just curled up, head down, dozing off.
Completely spent.
(End of Chapter)