An Adoptive Older Sister Cannot Become a Wife - Chapter 16

Only after Qi Nianshu agreed did Qi Shu turn and leave the Grade 11 building.

Nianshu stood at the classroom door, watching her figure disappear around the corner before pulling back her gaze and limping her way into the room. As soon as she entered, several pairs of eyes snapped toward her simultaneously.

Lin Xiao stood up, watching Nianshu’s uneven gait with an amused expression. “What’s this about? You were fine yesterday. How’d you turn into the ‘One-Legged Hero’ overnight?”

Nianshu was already feeling sentimental and a bit pained over last night’s events. Being teased by Lin Xiao only made her huff. “What are you laughing at? Hurry up and make way for the Hero.”

Laughing, Lin Xiao pulled out the chair next to Nianshu’s seat and offered a steadying hand. “Understood! Making room for our One-Legged Hero!”

Nianshu sat down carefully. No sooner had she settled than Zhang Ruomeng turned around from the front row, eyes gleaming with gossip. “So what happened? You just signed up for the 400-meter yesterday and twisted your ankle today? That is some rotten luck. Is the universe trying to tell you not to run?”

Nianshu’s heart was too weary for explanations. She gave a lethargic wave of her hand. “I brought it on myself.”

Seeing her so drained, Lin Xiao felt a pang of pity. She took a carton of milk from her pocket and handed it over. “Here. Milk has calcium; wishing the Hero a speedy recovery.”

Nianshu took the milk, twisted the cap, and downed it in one go.

“Do you need me to tell Lao Chen to cancel your event for the sports meet?” Zhang Ruomeng asked.

Nianshu shook her head. “No need. I’ll be recovered by then.”

Qi Shu had promised to wait for her at the finish line. There was no way she was canceling.

Zhang Ruomeng wanted to say more, but the teacher at the podium cleared their throat loudly, and the girls quickly sat up straight.

Two periods flew by. When the bell rang for the long break’s calisthenics, Nianshu realized she’d forgotten to ask for a leave of absence from the exercise.

Supported by Lin Xiao, she found Lao Chen. Before she could even speak, the teacher beat her to it: “Twisted your ankle, right? Qi Shu already told me. You’ll sit in the stands for a bit; you can keep an eye on the class and see who isn’t doing the exercises properly.”

Nianshu froze. When did Qi Shu talk to Lao Chen?

She knew Qi Shu was always thorough, but she hadn’t expected her to be this meticulous. Even a small detail like a calisthenics excuse had been handled perfectly. It sent a surge of sweetness through Nianshu, mixed with a hint of panic.

Qi Shu is so good to me… what if I just get more and more greedy?

“It must be so nice to have an older sister,” Lin Xiao sighed, her tone a bit envious. “May the heavens grant me a ‘Goddess’ sister too gentle, thoughtful, beautiful, and a straight-A student.”

Nianshu instinctively whispered a rebuttal: “Not sister.”

The hallway was too noisy; Lin Xiao didn’t hear her. “What did you say?”

Nianshu shook her head. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

She hurriedly thanked Teacher Chen and let Lin Xiao help her downstairs. As they reached the ground floor, they saw Qi Shu leaning against a railing with her eyes downcast. She ignored the crowds passing by, as if an invisible three-meter barrier separated her from everyone else.

Nianshu’s eyes lit up instantly. She let go of Lin Xiao’s arm, blurted out “My sister’s here for me!” and hopped toward Qi Shu as fast as her injury allowed.

“Sister, why are you here?” Nianshu hopped to a stop in front of her, looking up with a face full of joy.

Hearing her voice, Qi Shu looked up, her brow furrowing slightly. She stepped forward to catch the “rabbit” lunging at her. “What’s the rush? What if you fall?”

Nianshu clung to her arm and gave a sheepish smile. “Because I didn’t want you to wait too long.”

Lin Xiao looked at her now-empty arm, then at the two of them glued together. She gave a helpless smile and walked over to greet her politely. “Hello, Sister Qi Shu.”

Qi Shu nodded. “Sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble at all! Well, Sister Qi Shu, Nianshu, I’ll be going now,” Lin Xiao said.

Nianshu waved at her. “Bye-bye!”

Once Lin Xiao was gone, Nianshu looked up at Qi Shu and couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, when did you ask Lao Chen for my leave?”

Qi Shu guided her through the crowd. “After dropping you off at your classroom this morning. Her office was on the way.”

Liar, Nianshu thought. Lao Chen’s office was on the floor above theirs; it wasn’t on the way at all. Despite the thought, the corners of her mouth twitched upward.

The two slowly walked to the stands by the track. Qi Shu helped her sit steadily on the steps before returning to her own class’s formation. Nianshu rested her chin on one hand, her eyes involuntarily following Qi Shu’s figure.

On the green turf, Qi Shu stood in the front row of the Grade 12 block, her posture tall and straight. Because Qi Shu did everything with such focus, the homeroom teacher had picked her to lead the exercises for the class. She was tall, her uniform looked sharp on her, and her movements were clean and elegant. She drew many eyes effortlessly.

Sitting in the stands, Nianshu immediately caught several people using the turn-around movements of the exercise to steal glances at Qi Shu.

Not happy.

“It’s just calisthenics; what’s there to look at?” Nianshu muttered. She pointedly turned her face away, pretending to look at the distant school buildings, but her peripheral vision kept betraying her, drifting back toward Qi Shu.

Just as she looked back, she caught Qi Shu turning her head. Their eyes met directly, and it seemed Qi Shu even gave her a tiny smile.

I’m going to die.

Why did Qi Shu keep doing these “foul” things? Nianshu felt a surge of playful resentment. Why was she so good to her? Why did she smile like that?

Nianshu thought: If Qi Shu were a little colder, a little more distant, I could give up… probably. Maybe. At least then her emotions wouldn’t be tossed about by a single look or a smile.

But the moment she imagined Qi Shu actually being cold and distant, Nianshu felt even worse. She decided there was no harder dilemma in the world.

The calisthenics finally ended. Before Qi Shu could arrive, Lao Chen showed up. “Sitting up so high, did you see anyone slacking off?”

Nianshu realized she had completely forgotten her “mission.” Before Lao Chen’s face could darken, she quickly quibbled—no, answered: “How could I betray my own classmates!”

Lao Chen knew immediately that she hadn’t been paying attention. Just as she was about to lecture her, Qi Shu interrupted.

“Teacher Chen, I’ll help her back to class.”

Nianshu found her savior. She stood up quickly and grabbed Qi Shu’s hand. “Then I’ll be going, Teacher Chen!” She even gave her leg a little shake, looking weak and helpless.

Chen Shuyue wasn’t truly angry, and Nianshu had been performing well in class lately. Seeing Qi Shu there, she didn’t bother nagging and waved them off. Nianshu gave a polite bow. “Thank you, Teacher Chen! Goodbye!”

As they walked, students were chatting and dispersing. Some who were on good terms with Nianshu offered their concerns, and she responded to each one. However, several students from Qi Shu’s class passed by, teasing them as they saw Nianshu leaning on her sister.

“Now that her little sister’s twisted her ankle, our Study God is heartbroken. Usually, she stays to do a few more problems when the bell rings, but today she bolted out of the classroom the second it sounded.”

Qi Shu usually kept to herself, and there was a bit of a “wall” between her and the others. They only dared to joke like this when Nianshu was around.

Nianshu felt a bit of a sour-sweet sensation in her heart. She grinned. “Of course, Sister is the best to me.”

Qi Shu didn’t engage with them, only reminding her: “Steps. Watch your feet.”

Once they were back in the classroom and Nianshu was seated, Qi Shu left. Nianshu reluctantly pulled back her gaze only to lock eyes with Lin Xiao.

Nianshu blinked. “What?”

Lin Xiao gave a cold laugh. “I wonder who it was that let go of my hand so fast the moment she saw her sister.”

Nianshu knew she was in the wrong. “I just didn’t want to trouble you…”

“As if you haven’t ‘troubled’ me enough already?”

Nianshu opened her eyes wide, blinking innocently in an exaggerated, dramatic tone. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have abandoned my dear Lin Xiaoxiao to throw myself into someone else’s arms.”

Lin Xiao got goosebumps. “You wouldn’t dare say that in front of your sister.”

Nianshu immediately wimped out.

Lin Xiao didn’t actually hold a grudge; everyone knew Nianshu was a total “sister-con.” She just remembered something and reminded her: “The Class Monitor’s birthday is tomorrow. She’s inviting everyone to dinner. Can you still go?”

Nianshu nodded vigorously. “Of course!”

Since the split into science and arts tracks, they’d been in the same class for six months. The Class Monitor, Xi Muyao, was hardworking and responsible, and she had helped Nianshu many times. She had to go show her support.

There was no evening self-study on Fridays, so school let out early. Nianshu asked Qi Shu to take her to a nearby mall to pick out a gift for Xi Muyao.

“What should I buy?”

Nianshu was indecisive the whole way. Ever since she’d bought that fountain pen for Qi Shu and nearly been rejected, she took a long time choosing gifts for others.

Qi Yan watched her through the rearview mirror. “Do you know what your classmate likes?”

Nianshu shook her head. “It’s the first time I’m celebrating her birthday. Usually, all she likes is studying.”

“That’s easy,” Qi Yan said. “Pick a high-quality fountain pen or a hardcover notebook. They’re practical, understated, and fit your status as students.” He paused, looking at the quiet Qi Shu in the back. “Let Xiao Shu give you some advice. She has a good eye and always picks things that are appropriate for the occasion.”

Nianshu nodded in agreement. Qi Shu always managed to give her exactly what she liked most.

As they reached the mall entrance, Qi Yan knew girls didn’t like adults tagging along while they shopped. He only asked, “Are you coming back for dinner tonight?”

Nianshu had only been thinking about the gift, but Qi Yan’s question suddenly made everything click in her mind.

Wait… isn’t this… technically A DATE?

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