An Adoptive Older Sister Cannot Become a Wife - Chapter 10

The moment she reached the front door, Qi Nianshu’s nose twitched instinctively, and her eyes lit up. “It smells amazing!”

She couldn’t wait to push the door open. Inside, she saw Qi Yan emerging from the kitchen carrying a plate of steamed tofu with hugged eggs. Seeing them, he smiled and said, “You’re back! Come, let’s eat.”

Nianshu’s father, Qi Yan, was a well-known architectural designer in Rongcheng. He often worked late, but whenever he had a spare moment, he made it a point to come home and cook for the family. Qi Shu’s own impressive culinary skills had been learned directly from him.

Nianshu kicked off her shoes and made a beeline for the dining table. “I love Dad’s cooking the most!”

Qi Shu caught her by the collar, her tone cooling. “Oh? I thought you loved my cooking the most?”

Nianshu folded instantly. “Sister is number one.”

Qi Shu gave a playful huff. “Go wash your hands first.”

Nianshu obediently ran to the sink, pumped out some soap, and scrubbed her hands with focused sincerity.

Qi Shu set her backpack down in the entryway and asked, “Where’s Mom?”

Qi Yan was busy serving the rice and was about to answer when the door, which had just been closed, opened again from the outside. Their mother, Xu Zhiyu, walked in clutching a beautifully wrapped bouquet of flowers.

“Xiao Shu and Nian-Nian are home!”

Xu Zhiyu ran a flower shop on a street corner and often brought home the leftover blooms that hadn’t sold. Today’s bouquet was a delicate mix of lisianthus and freesia. The stems were carefully wrapped in dark green kraft paper, tied with a cream-colored cotton string, and adorned with a single dried eucalyptus leaf, simple and elegant.

She handed the flowers to Nianshu, who had just finished washing up. “A big order came in unexpectedly last night so I didn’t make it home. Were you two okay by yourselves?”

Qi Shu was busy arranging the chairs. “We were fine. Though, someone got punis”

“punished with having to write a hundred-word praise for Mom today!” Nianshu interrupted hurriedly. She took the flowers from her mother and leaned in to sniff them, her eyes crinkling. “Mom, your aesthetic is just incredible! This pairing is so pretty and sophisticated. And even though you worked so late, you still remembered to bring us flowers. You’re literally the gentlest, most thoughtful mom in the world!”

Xu Zhiyu beamed at the praise and reached out to tap Nianshu’s nose. “You and your sweet talk.”

Nianshu gave an embarrassed giggle. “But it’s the truth.”

While clutching the flowers, she pressed her palms together and sent a silent, pleading prayer toward Qi Shu to keep her secret. Seeing her sycophantic display, the corners of Qi Shu’s mouth tilted upward. “Put the flowers away and come eat.”

Nianshu gave a mock salute. “Yes, Captain!”

She scurried into the living room, grabbed a vase, and carefully unwrapped the paper, straightening the lisianthus and freesia one by one. Xu Zhiyu followed to help, teaching her how to cut the stems at an angle and adding a bit of flower food to the water. “This will help them last longer. Keep them by your desk; when you’re tired of studying, looking at the flowers will brighten your mood.”

Nianshu answered without thinking, “Then I’m putting them in Sister’s room. She needs them more than I do. If I want to see them, I’ll just go to her room.”

Xu Zhiyu lightly tapped her forehead. “Just looking for another excuse to sneak into your sister’s room, aren’t you?”

Nianshu gave a sheepish “hehe” and a grin.

Qi Yan finished serving the rice and called them over. “Dinner’s ready.”

Nianshu picked out the most beautiful, fully bloomed lisianthus and sat down, handing it to Qi Shu. “This one is for you, Sister.”

Seeing this, Qi Yan feigned a look of heartbreak. “Truly chilling. Someone spends all morning slaving over a hot stove, and as soon as he gets home, nobody cares. Some people only have eyes for their sister.”

Nianshu chimed in instantly. “Dad, you don’t need me to give you flowers. Isn’t Mom the most beautiful flower you already have?”

Qi Yan burst into laughter. “Nobody has a way with words like our Nian-Nian!”

Xu Zhiyu rolled her eyes at him but couldn’t hide her smile as she placed a rib into his bowl. “Stop being so cheesy.”

The Qi family placed great importance on the quality of life and never treated a meal as an afterthought. The table held three dishes and a soup, each perfect in color, aroma, and taste. In the center sat the golden, glistening tofu with hugged eggs, its edges seared to a fragrant crisp; a poke of the chopsticks sent the silky egg yolk flowing through the crevices of the tender tofu. There were bright green stir-fried seasonal vegetables drizzled with sesame oil, looking fresh and crisp. The braised chicken wings were cooked until the meat was falling off the bone, each inch coated in a rich, savory glaze. Finally, there was a clear, steaming bowl of winter melon and kelp rib soup, garnished with a few scallions, its fragrance making their stomachs growl.

Xu Zhiyu ladled a bowl for each of the girls. “Eat up and replenish your energy. High school must be exhausting.”

Nianshu took a spoonful, blew on it carefully, and took a bite, her face the picture of contentment. “Sister is the one working hard. I’m doing fine.” She picked up a chicken wing and put it in Qi Shu’s bowl. “Here, Sister, eat.”

Qi Shu smiled and began to eat with her usual slow, methodical grace.

The Qi family didn’t follow the “no talking at the table” rule. Nianshu suddenly remembered the sports meet and turned to Qi Shu. “Sister, has your teacher announced the sports meet yet?”

Qi Shu nodded. “They did.”

Nianshu looked immensely proud. “Then guess which event I signed up for!”

Qi Shu took a bite of greens. “The cheerleading squad?”

Nianshu looked defeated. “You’re underestimates me! This year, I signed up for the women’s 400-meter sprint!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, not just Qi Shu, but Qi Yan and Xu Zhiyu stopped eating.

Qi Yan frowned in deep thought. “I should tell your homeroom teacher to have the school doctor waiting at the finish line in advance.”

Xu Zhiyu looked worried as well. “Can you actually finish it? Do you want Xiao Shu to run alongside you?”

Qi Shu was even more direct; a small scoff escaped her lips, but she said nothing else.

Nianshu bristled like a cat, erupting in “impotent rage.” “What is that supposed to mean?! Why do you all have so little faith in me!”

Qi Shu calmly took a sip of the rib soup. “You might not have a sense of how long 400 meters is, but don’t you have a sense of your own limits?”

Just as Nianshu was about to snap back, Xu Zhiyu smiled and smoothed things over. “All right, all right. Your sister is just worried about you. 400 meters is no small feat for you.”

Deep down, Nianshu knew they were right, but she was still stubborn. She muttered softly, “If Sister waits for me at the finish line, I could definitely take first place.”

Qi Shu paused, looking at Nianshu.

After being teased by all three of them, Nianshu’s head was hanging low, her long eyelashes cast down in a look of profound grievance. She looked exactly like a drenched puppy.

Qi Shu sighed. “For the next few days, go to bed earlier. In the morning, you’re coming with me for my runs.”

Nianshu snapped her head up. “I don’t—”

Qi Shu finished her soup. “I’ll wait for you at the finish line.”

The refusal at the tip of Nianshu’s tongue did a quick U-turn. “It’s… it’s not like it’s impossible to train a little.”

Qi Shu gave a small smile but didn’t push further.

Qi Yan then turned his attention to Qi Shu’s studies. “You’ve started the first round of review, right? How’s it feeling?”

Qi Shu remained calm. “It’s fine.”

Xu Zhiyu asked, “I’m not worried about your level, Xiao Shu, but have you thought about which university you want to apply to? No. 1 High has recommendation slots. With your grades, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Qi Shu nodded. “I’ve decided.”

Nianshu’s ears practically perked up. “Sister, which university are you going to?”

Qi Shu wiped her mouth and said calmly, “Yanjing University, School of Medicine.”

Nianshu was stunned. She hadn’t expected that answer.

Qi Yan and Xu Zhiyu exchanged a look and nodded. “Medicine. A good career path. Very stable.”

Nianshu knew that Qi Shu always had a plan for everything. Since she had said it aloud, she wouldn’t change her mind. But Yanjing… it was so far from Rongcheng.

Nianshu felt a lump in her throat. She whispered, “Why medicine? I heard it’s really, really hard to study.”

Qi Shu looked at her, her expression as calm as a summer breeze. “Because there’s an idiot at home who’s always getting sick and has a weak constitution.”

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