An Adoptive Older Sister Cannot Become a Wife - Chapter 21

Without giving Qi Shu a moment to react, Qi Nianshu stood on her tiptoes, reached out, and pulled her into a soft embrace.

Qi Shu’s waist was incredibly slender.

As Nianshu wrapped her arms around her, her fingertips nearly touched at the small of Qi Shu’s back. Through the thin fabric of her clothes, she could clearly feel the smooth, delicate curve of her waist.

She’s so thin.

Nianshu was so used to calling her “Sister.” She was used to relying on her for everything, used to her indulgence and pampering, used to her always being the calm, reliable one.

But how could she have forgotten? Qi Shu was only one year older than her.

They were practically the same age.

Why was it that Nianshu got to be the one acting spoiled and willful, taking being looked after for granted? Why did Qi Shu have to be so hardworking, so sensible, and take such care of her?

Even biological sisters didn’t always manage this level of devotion, and Nianshu wasn’t even her “real” sister.

The more Nianshu thought about it, the more her heart ached. Her nose felt prickly, and tears threatened to spill over. But then she realized—if she cried, Qi Shu would just have to work harder to comfort her and make her smile.

She couldn’t let Qi Shu worry about her anymore.

Nianshu buried her face in Qi Shu’s shoulder and took a deep breath. Her senses were filled with Qi Shu’s clean, faint scent a fragrance that always made her feel safe.

Her voice came out muffled: “Sister, from now on, let’s swap. You be the little sister.”

Let me be the one to treat you well. I want to be especially, especially good to you.

When Nianshu had suddenly pulled her into the hug, Qi Shu’s body had instinctively stiffened. But within half a second, she relaxed. She understood the reason behind this sudden outburst. Nianshu had likely been thinking about her past and felt sorry for her.

Then, hearing that “subversive” suggestion of swapping roles, Qi Shu couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. She reached up, her fingertips resting gently on the crown of Nianshu’s head. “What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

Nianshu pulled back slightly, remaining in the embrace as she looked up at Qi Shu. “Sister, I’ve made up my mind.”

“I’m going to be a lawyer.”

Qi Shu paused, looking down at her with a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Why?”

Nianshu stared into her eyes, her brow furrowing in an expression of deadly seriousness, though her tone still held a trace of childish ferocity. “I heard that medical disputes are really serious nowadays. In the future, if your patients hear you have a big-shot lawyer for a sister, they won’t dare bully you.”

“If anyone dares mess with you, I’ll sue them until they’re bankrupt. Ten years in prison, minimum.”

Qi Shu froze for a second before bursting into laughter, the corners of her eyes crinkling with genuine mirth.

Nianshu stared, a bit dazed. She rarely saw Qi Shu laugh so heartily—an uninhibited, lighthearted laugh. She gazed at her blankly. “Sister, you’re so beautiful when you smile.”

Qi Shu’s laughter gradually subsided, though her voice remained playful. “Alright then. I’ll look forward to seeing how you back me up.”

“But before the ‘backing up’ begins, could my ‘big-shot lawyer sister’ please let go of me?”

Nianshu only then realized that they were still standing in the middle of the road, locked in an embrace. Occasional glances from passersby were filled with curiosity. Her cheeks instantly flushed a pale pink, and she hurriedly let go of Qi Shu’s waist.

“Sister…” She bit her lip. “I’m serious. I’m not joking.”

Qi Shu smiled warmly. “Mm, I know.”

Nianshu’s indignation flared up again as she thought about it. “And those scumbags who traffic children… I’m going to send every single one of them to jail. I’ll make sure they rot there for the rest of their lives to atone for what they did.”

Qi Shu walked beside her, watching how Nianshu could barely walk straight yet was talking so tough. Her heart softened.

The feeling of being protected by my little sister every once in a while… isn’t so bad.

As the time drew near, Nianshu said goodbye to Qi Shu and headed to Xu Zhiyu’s flower shop. She wanted to pick out a bouquet for Xi Muyao.

The name of the shop was simple: “Shi Hua” (Gathering Flowers). When Nianshu pushed open the glass door, the wind chime jingled crisply. The afternoon sun spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the shop in a warm, bright glow.

Xu Zhiyu was at the workbench trimming a bunch of sunflowers. Hearing the door, she looked up and smiled. “Niannian, what brings you here? Is your foot feeling better?”

“Much better!”

Nianshu hobbled over and looked curiously at the various floral materials on the bench. “How’s business today?”

“Not bad. I took an order for a wedding arrangement this morning.” Xu Zhiyu set down her shears and washed her hands, handing Nianshu a box of washed strawberries from the fridge. “Where’s Xiao Shu? She’s not with you?”

Nianshu took a strawberry and sat on a woven rattan chair, swinging her legs. As the sweet-tart juice burst on her tongue, her eyes crinkled. “Sister went to the library.”

She added proudly, like she was fishing for a compliment, “I went too! I finished all my homework this morning, and then Sister took me for some incredible mutton noodles.”

Xu Zhiyu smiled at her. “Our Niannian is so diligent.”

As she watched her mother expertly wrap a bouquet, Nianshu suddenly asked, “Mom, how did you and Dad meet?”

Xu Zhiyu’s hand paused for a fraction of a second. She looked up, a soft curve appearing at the corners of her mouth. “Why the sudden interest?”

“Just curious” Nianshu mumbled around another strawberry. “I feel like you and Dad are so happy together, just like the leads in a TV drama.”

Xu Zhiyu laughed. She tied a silk ribbon around the bouquet and set it aside. Looking out at the sunlight, her voice was soft. “It wasn’t anything special. We were university classmates. We met at a social event.”

She paused, a tender smile spreading across her face. “Your father didn’t talk much back then. He did everything by the book, but he was incredibly cute.”

“We were playing Truth or Dare, and it was his turn. He was dared to confess his feelings to the girl sitting next to him. Everyone knew it was just a game, no one would have taken it seriously, but your father refused. He said, ‘How can you just confess to someone so lightly?'”

“And then? What happened next?” Nianshu was hooked, forgetting to even eat her strawberry.

“Then he had to take three penalty shots. But he’s a lightweight; he ended up dizzy and wandering around aimlessly. Everyone teased him for ages.”

“Were you the girl sitting next to him, Mom?” Nianshu asked eagerly.

When Xu Zhiyu nodded, Nianshu sighed. “Dad was so silly.”

Xu Zhiyu shook her head. “He wasn’t silly at all. I found out later that he was the one who organized the whole social event in the first place.”

Nianshu’s eyes widened. “It was a long-term scheme!”

“We just slowly got to know each other after that,” Xu Zhiyu said.

Looking at her mother’s happy face, Nianshu sighed. “As long as you’re happy, Mom.”

Xu Zhiyu reached out and stroked her hair. “You girls are part of my happiness, too.”

Feeling that gentle touch, Nianshu felt a pang of guilt. Xu Zhiyu was the best, most gentle mother in the world. She absolutely could not let her mother know that her adopted daughter had developed “inappropriate” feelings for her biological daughter.

Nianshu made a silent vow. “Mom, I’m going to make you even happier.”

Xu Zhiyu blinked and laughed. “Your happiness isn’t your responsibility to carry for me. Besides, I’m already very happy. So Niannian, just focus on growing up happily yourself.”

**

Nianshu arrived at the hotel to find Xi Muyao waiting at the entrance. She almost didn’t recognize her.

Usually, Muyao was a quiet girl in glasses and a clean school uniform. But now, her glasses were gone, she was wearing a cream-colored dress, and her hair was styled in a beautiful princess braid. With light makeup and a soft smile, she was surrounded by a few girls from their class.

When she saw Nianshu hobbling in with flowers and a gift, she hurried over. “Nianshu! You’re here!”

“It’s the 18th birthday of our beloved Class President! I’d have crawled here even if my leg was broken,” Nianshu joked. “Happy birthday! You look stunning today!”

Muyao blushed slightly and smelled the flowers. “They’re beautiful and smell so good. Thank you.”

The banquet was lively. They chatted about their “Mediterranean” (balding) physics teacher and shared school gossip.

As the party progressed, a girl handed Nianshu an ice-blue drink. “It’s non-alcoholic,” she promised. “I know you’re still a minor.”

Nianshu, feeling thirsty, took a sip. It was sweet and refreshing. She ended up having quite a few.

What she didn’t realize was that the girl had accidentally grabbed a pre-mixed bottle that did contain alcohol.

By the time the group started playing “I Have Never,” Nianshu was feeling lightheaded and warm. When her friend Lin Xiao admitted, “I have someone I like,” Nianshu looked at the blushing birthday girl, Xi Muyao, and then whispered to herself, “Me too.”

Soon, the “bottle” pointed at Nianshu. She was staring at it as if it were a black hole when her friend Zhang Ruomeng noticed her face was bright red.

The girl who made the drinks realized the mistake. “Oh no! I gave her the wrong bottle! It has alcohol in it!”

“Nianshu, are you okay?”

Nianshu tilted her head, her eyes misty and slow. “Aren’t we playing the game anymore?”

“She’s definitely drunk,” Ruomeng sighed.

Nianshu struggled to pull out her phone and called her sister. Qi Shu answered instantly.

“Finished?”

“Mm” Nianshu slurred, her voice thick and clingy. “Sister… I’m dizzy.”

“Are you drunk?” Qi Shu’s voice sharpened with urgency.

“I think so.”

“Don’t move. Stay where there are people. Give the phone to someone next to you.”

Nianshu handed the phone to Ruomeng. “My sister wants to talk to you.”

Qi Shu’s voice was low over the phone. “Ruomeng, please look after her. I’m coming right now.”

Nianshu took the phone back. Qi Shu’s voice felt like a silk thread wrapping around her ears. “Niannian. Don’t run off. Wait for me.”

“Okay,” Nianshu whispered.

While waiting, Nianshu went to the restroom to splash her face with cold water. On her way back, she accidentally stumbled upon a quiet stairwell.

In the dim emergency light, she saw Lin Xiao pinning Xi Muyao against the wall. Then, Lin Xiao leaned down and kissed her.

Nianshu’s eyes went wide. Her half-drunk brain was frozen. Just then, her phone rang—the special ringtone she had set for Qi Shu.

The two in the stairwell broke apart instantly. Six eyes met. Xi Muyao’s face was incredibly red.

Nianshu answered the phone mechanically. “Sister?”

“Niannian, I’m here. Where are you?”

“I’m at the 3rd-floor stairwell… near the room,” Nianshu stammered. She looked at Lin Xiao and whispered, “I won’t tell anyone.”

Lin Xiao smiled. “Thanks.”

Qi Shu arrived shortly after. The moment Nianshu saw her, all her suppressed dizziness came rushing back. She stumbled toward Qi Shu, who caught her firmly.

Qi Shu smelled the faint scent of rose-flavored alcohol. She sighed and apologized to the friends, then picked Nianshu up in her arms.

“You’ve really outdone yourself today, Qi Nianshu,” Qi Shu muttered as she carried her to the car.

In the back seat of the taxi, Nianshu lay with her head on Qi Shu’s lap. Qi Shu had draped her own jacket over her. The scent of Qi Shu’s laundry detergent and soap filled Nianshu’s senses, soothing her.

Am I a child? Nianshu thought. I’m almost eighteen. In two months, I can drink. And I can.

Her mind flashed back to the kiss in the stairwell.

What does a kiss feel like? Does it feel like this?

The car hit a bump, and Nianshu’s nose pressed against Qi Shu’s thigh. The warmth and firmness of her sister’s leg through the fabric sent a jolt of heat through Nianshu’s body.

She closed her eyes tight, but the images wouldn’t leave.

What if it was Qi Shu? Her lips are so pretty. If we kissed, would they be soft? Would they be sweet?

When they reached home, Qi Shu carried her inside. Qi Shu’s jaw was set tight; she was clearly not in the best mood.

“Behave,” Qi Shu warned softly.

Nianshu, emboldened by the alcohol, suddenly reached up. Her finger brushed against the center of Qi Shu’s upper lip, rubbing it gently.

“Sister,” she whispered, her eyes unfocused but fixed on those lips. “You look so kissable.”

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