An Adoptive Older Sister Cannot Become a Wife - Chapter 32

The latter half of the sentence was swallowed back, causing Qi Nianshu to snap back to her senses.

She stood up hurriedly, stammering, “Mom, you’re back!”

Qi Shu also rose and walked forward naturally to take the bouquet of flowers from Xu Zhiyu’s arms.

Everything that had just happened seemed to vanish like mist. No one pressed Nianshu about her unfinished words, and no one questioned the weight of Qi Shu’s promise.

Xu Zhiyu stepped lightly toward the cat bed, leaning over to look at the tiny calico kitten curled into a ball. Seeing it sleeping so peacefully, she couldn’t help but smile. “What a lovely little cat.”

She looked up at Nianshu. “Does she have a name yet?”

Nianshu shook her head. “Not yet”

And so, the first formal “Family Meeting” in the history of the Qi household was grandly convened after dinner.

Meeting Theme: “Regarding the Follow-up Arrangements for the New Member of the Qi Family—The Little Calico Cat.”

Since it was their first time holding such a meeting, Nianshu whispered to Xu Zhiyu, “Isn’t this a bit too serious?”

Xu Zhiyu laughed and rubbed her head, handing her a peeled orange segment. “Once a pet has a name, there’s an emotional bond—it means they’re family. Important family members deserve a sense of ceremony.”

Back when she and Qi Yan decided to adopt Nianshu, they had deliberated for a long time before making the decision. Nianshu didn’t know this, but she nodded in earnest agreement.

The meeting officially began. The little calico was placed in the very center of the table; she clearly had no idea she was the protagonist of the event, as she was sleeping spread-eagled.

Qi Yan, acting as the moderator, cleared his throat and solemnly opened a notebook. “Today, our family gathers here to formally welcome our new member—Comrade Little Calico. We will clarify feeding responsibilities, lifestyle planning, and relevant precautions to ensure our new member grows up healthy in this home.”

Nianshu had never heard such a pompous meeting theme before and couldn’t help but snicker.

Qi Shu turned her head and reached out to pinch Nianshu’s ear lightly, causing the younger girl to sheepishly stick out her tongue.

Qi Yan ignored these little interludes, pushed up his non-existent glasses, and continued: “First, the first item on the agenda: nominating a name. As the holder of the highest authority in this house, Ms. Xu has the right of first nomination.”

Xu Zhiyu looked conflicted. “We had to flip through dictionaries to find names for the girls. For a kitten… how about Mimi?”

Nianshu couldn’t help but protest softly, “Every cat in the world is named Mimi. That’s way too generic.”

Qi Yan nodded. “It seems there is an objection. Then, the microphone goes to our little princess, Niannian.”

Xu Zhiyu handed a flower, acting as a makeshift microphone, to Nianshu.

Nianshu took it and suddenly got stuck. “Uhh”

While she agonized, she stole a glance at Qi Shu, silently pleading for help. Qi Shu merely shrugged, signaling she was on her own.

Nianshu frowned in thought, her hand slipping into her pocket where she suddenly felt the medal Qi Shu had given her. A flash of inspiration hit her. “How about Three Thousand Meters?”

Qi Shu let out a light laugh. “Why don’t you just call her Four Hundred Meters?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she earned a light punch from Nianshu.

Qi Yan coughed. “Please explain your reasoning.”

Nianshu’s brain worked at high speed as she began to talk nonsense with a straight face: “She’s a calico a ‘three-colored’ cat. ‘Three’ corresponds to ‘Three Thousand.’ It’s a perfect fit.”

“Also, we found her right after Sister won the 3000-meter long-distance race. It’s fate! It means she’ll be able to run and jump freely and live a long, healthy life.”

“And” Nianshu racked her brain for more reasons. “‘Three Thousand Meters’ is such a unique name. You won’t find another cat in the world named that.”

Qi Yan remained noncommittal and moved the process along. “Now, it’s Xiao Shu’s turn to speak.”

Qi Shu smiled. “Three Thousand Meters it is, then.”

Nianshu’s face immediately lit up with joy. She remembered what Qi Shu had said earlier: Whatever you want to do, I will be with you. Those weren’t just empty words.

Qi Yan asked, “So you’re waiving your naming rights?”

Qi Shu shrugged. “Yeah, I abstain.”

Qi Yan tapped the table. “Alright. We have two options: Mimi and Three Thousand Meters. We shall now hold an open vote.”

Nianshu felt there was no need for the trouble and was about to yield, but Xu Zhiyu smiled and said, “Let’s go with Three Thousand Meters. It’s unique and has a good meaning.”

Since the person who proposed the first option had defected, Qi Yan followed suit. “Since the motion has passed unanimously, our new family member is officially renamed Three Thousand Meters!”

“Now, everyone, please offer a blessing to Little Three Thousand Meters.”

Xu Zhiyu gently stroked the kitten’s head. “Eat well and grow up strong.”

Qi Shu smiled thinly. “Don’t get sick all the time like a certain someone.”

Nianshu gave her another light shove. “Hey! I’ll raise her to be perfectly healthy.”

Qi Shu just smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Nianshu reached out and gently poked the kitten’s soft belly. “Three Thousand Meters, you have a home now.”

The sleeping kitten rolled over obliviously, having no idea she now possessed such a grand name.

The rest of the meeting involved a serious discussion about vet check-ups and feline care. Once they finished, it was late. Nianshu cupped the kitten and placed her back into her cozy bed.

She squatted on the floor, watching the cat with eyes curved into crescents: Just like me back then, you’ll grow up happy in this home. You’ll eat well, sleep well, and no big cats will bully you anymore.

She turned her head to look at Qi Shu, who was still standing by her side. “Sister, I’m so happy.”

Qi Shu replied, “Hmm. I can tell.”

Nianshu shuffled closer, then reached out and gently hugged Qi Shu. “Sister, I’m the luckiest person in the world.”

She had met Xu Zhiyu and Qi Yan, she had met Qi Shu and become family with them, and now she had found Three Thousand Meters.

Qi Shu patted her back gently. “You’ll be even luckier.”

Nianshu didn’t doubt her for a second; she nodded emphatically.

The next morning, Nianshu didn’t sleep in at all. The moment the alarm rang, she scrambled out of bed.

After a quick breakfast, she tucked the sleeping Three Thousand Meters into the cat carrier they’d bought the night before and headed to the pet hospital with Qi Shu.

Fortunately, after a full battery of tests, the vet pointed to the reports and said Three Thousand Meters was very healthy. Aside from a bit of malnutrition that required good feeding, there were no issues.

“In about a month, you can bring her back for her vaccinations,” the vet instructed with a warm smile.

Nianshu finally breathed a sigh of relief. On the way home, she kept rambling, “I have a kitten now! As soon as I get home, I’m going to brag to Zhang Ruomeng.”

Qi Shu watched her, how careful she was, how her eyes held nothing but the kitten in her arms and her expression flickered with a strange intensity.

She reached out to take the carrier, placing it on her own lap. “I’ll hold it.”

Nianshu paused, feeling a bit shy. “Then… sorry to trouble you, Sister.”

Qi Shu said, “It’s no trouble.”

Back at home, once the kitten was settled, Nianshu finally remembered her upcoming vacation with Qi Shu. With a face like wilted lettuce, she pulled out a dozen worksheets from her bag and began to bury herself in study.

In the past, Nianshu wouldn’t have bothered. For multiple-choice questions, she followed the “longest or shortest” guessing rules; for everything else, she’d just copy formulas to fill the space.

But now, with Qi Shu acting as her supervisor, Nianshu didn’t dare slack off. She solved every problem honestly, step by step. She was terrified that if she wasn’t serious, Qi Shu wouldn’t take her on the trip.

When Xu Zhiyu came home and saw the two of them studying so diligently, she smiled and moved quietly so as not to disturb them.

Perhaps it was the two weeks of Qi Shu’s ruthless training, but the problems that used to look like gibberish were starting to become clear. Nianshu worked smoothly and finally finished all her homework by the afternoon of the second day of the National Day break.

The moment she put down her pen, Nianshu felt like she had transcended.

She slumped back in her chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. “Sister, do you see her? Marie Curie is waving at me from up there.”

Qi Shu reached out and gently rested her hand over Nianshu’s eyes. “If you’re tired, go rest.”

Nianshu blinked. Her thick eyelashes brushed against Qi Shu’s palm, feeling ticklish.

Nianshu reached up, placing her hand over the back of Qi Shu’s hand, and whispered, “Sister, don’t you ever get tired?”

Qi Shu’s fingers twitched, but she didn’t pull away. Her palm remained warmly pressed against Nianshu’s dry, tired eyes. Her voice held a hint of casual tenderness. “Tired of what?”

“Just” Nianshu’s voice was soft, carrying the exhaustion of her study session. “I feel like I’m dying just from doing homework, but you have to supervise me and do your own work. Don’t you find it troublesome and exhausting?”

Since there were no extra classes, the senior year workload was immense. Compared to Qi Shu’s, Nianshu’s worksheets were child’s play.

Qi Shu chuckled. “No.”

To her, those problems revealed their answers at a glance; they just required the physical effort of writing the steps. As for Qi Nianshu… she was never a “trouble.”

Nianshu finally pulled Qi Shu’s hand away from her eyes, but she didn’t let go.

She looked at Qi Shu very seriously. “Sister, in one month, I’ll be eighteen.”

Qi Shu replied, “I know.”

Nianshu’s eyes curved into a smile. “Then what kind of birthday present are you going to get me?”

Qi Shu countered, “What do you want?”

“I haven’t thought of it yet,” Nianshu tilted her head, pondering for a moment. Suddenly, she leaned closer to Qi Shu. “Whatever I want, will Sister give it to me?“

Nianshu’s eyes were full of mirth, her bright pupils reflecting Qi Shu’s silhouette, filled with the directness and candor unique to a young girl.

Qi Shu’s voice remained steady. “That depends on what you want.”

The corners of Nianshu’s mouth lifted even higher. “Then I won’t tell you now. I’ll tell you when my birthday comes.”

Qi Shu looked at her and gave a slight nod. “Alright.”

Nianshu stretched and stood up. “Then I’m going to pack my bags, Sister! Since I’m going out with you, I have to be well-prepared.”

Qi Shu nodded. “Go ahead.”

Nianshu playfully stuck her tongue out at her and returned to her room.

After closing the door, she sat at her desk, looked at herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and covered her face with her hands.

Try one more time. Just one last time.

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