An Adoptive Older Sister Cannot Become a Wife - Chapter 7

What exactly did Qi Shu mean by that?

Qi Shu was certainly an adult. Both of them had started school a year later than most, so by the time Qi Shu reached her second year of high school, she was already eighteen.

But even if one is an adult, does it stop being “puppy love” if it happens in school?

Qi Nianshu felt like her brain was short-circuiting. Reading comprehension was hard enough, but it was nearly impossible when it came to her sister’s words.

She thought back to what Qi Shu had said during the day: “The well-behaved, obedient type.”

There’s a saying that a person only clearly defines their “type” once they have someone they like. Did Qi Shu have someone in her heart? Why else would she say those things?

Qi Shu was so capable; if she said a relationship wouldn’t affect her studies, then it definitely wouldn’t. She was an adult, so it technically wasn’t “underage dating” anymore. Everything made sense. There was no logical problem at all.

And yet… did Qi Shu really have someone she liked?

The more Qi Nianshu thought about it, the more her heart ached. It felt like she had bitten into an unripened green plum a sharp, lingering sourness that made the bridge of her nose sting.

As if sensing the unease beneath Nianshu’s silence, Qi Shu reached out and rested a hand on her head. She gave it a gentle pat and said, “Don’t overthink it. It’s late. Go to sleep.”

Qi Nianshu didn’t say a word. She simply burrowed deeper into Qi Shu’s arms, pressing her head tight against her chest until her senses were filled with Qi Shu’s scent. That sour feeling coiled around her heart like vines, tightening until her voice carried a hint of aggrieved, nasal congestion.

“Sister, you didn’t really answer my question.”

She had asked so clearly, but Qi Shu had given her a vague, non-committal answer and told her to go to bed. It wasn’t fair.

Qi Shu’s voice remained calm. “Then what answer do you want to hear?”

Qi Nianshu didn’t know. She just felt a wave of sadness she couldn’t name. In a fit of pique, she rolled over in Qi Shu’s arms, leaving her sister with nothing but the view of her huffy, stubborn back.

“I don’t want to hear anything anymore. I’m going to sleep. Goodnight, Sister.”

In the darkness, Qi Shu let out a soft, silent sigh.

“Goodnight.”

Qi Nianshu was exhausted. The messy thoughts swirled in her head a few more times before slowing to a halt. The air conditioning in the room was a bit low; in her hazy state, she instinctively gravitated toward the only source of warmth nearby.

In the shadows, Qi Shu kept her eyes open. Feeling the girl beside her shifting and inching closer, Qi Shu reached out with practiced care. She took the stuffed animal Nianshu was loosely clutching and tossed it aside.

Finding her arms suddenly empty, Qi Nianshu frowned in her sleep. Her hand wandered across the bed until it touched something warm and soft. Like a person finding an anchor, she scrambled to wrap herself around it, limbs tangling together.

A tiny smile played on Qi Shu’s lips. She reached out, circling the girl completely and pulling her into a firm embrace. With her arm hooked around Nianshu’s waist, she drew her flush against her.

She leaned down, pressed a soft kiss to Nianshu’s forehead, and closed her eyes.

In her dreams, Qi Nianshu felt as though she had fallen into a soft, warm cloud. Even the physical discomfort of her body seemed to be cushioned and soothed.

The next morning, sunlight pierced through the gap in the curtains. Qi Nianshu’s thin eyelids fluttered. She snapped her eyes open and, ignoring the now-empty space beside her, bolted for the bathroom.

By the time she emerged, clutching her waist and freshly padded, Qi Shu had already returned from her morning run, carrying breakfast from the shop downstairs.

Seeing Nianshu’s pale face, Qi Shu knew exactly what was happening. She began setting the breakfast items out on the table. Qi Nianshu slumped into a chair, her voice floating out weakly: “Thanks, Sister.”

Noticing her small, listless sips of porridge, Qi Shu reached into the cabinet under the TV and pulled out the first-aid kit. She popped a tablet of Ibuprofen and handed it to Nianshu, followed by a hot water bottle wrapped in a fluffy cover.

“Stay home today. I’ll help you catch up on your schoolwork when I get back.”

“No,” Nianshu shook her head. “I worked so hard on that self-reflection essay last night. I won’t be satisfied until Old Zhao sees it.”

“Besides, I really do feel much better now.”

More importantly, Qi Shu was in her senior year. Her workload was intense, and Nianshu didn’t want to be a burden unless it was absolutely necessary.

Nianshu wasn’t lying about feeling better, either. In the years since she’d joined the Qi family, her adoptive parents had never let her want for anything and had taken her to various doctors to regulate her health. Plus, with Qi Shu always brewing ginger tea for her, her periods were much more manageable than they used to be.

Qi Shu stared at her for a long moment before finally nodding.

Nianshu took another sip of porridge and beamed at her. “Sister is the best.”

Qi Shu checked her watch. “Eat up. We’re going to miss the bus.”

Nianshu looked disappointed. “We’re not riding the bikes?”

Qi Shu shot her a look. “You think you’re up for that?”

Qi Nianshu responded by taking a spiteful, giant bite of her fried dough stick.

The bus station wasn’t very crowded during the morning rush. Nianshu was prone to motion sickness, so as soon as they boarded, she pulled Qi Shu toward a seat near the front.

Having slept late the night before, Nianshu let out a yawn as soon as the bus started moving. She naturally found a comfortable spot on Qi Shu’s shoulder to catch up on her sleep.

The morning light filtered through the window, casting a soft golden halo around Nianshu’s profile. The fine, downy hair on her face was visible in the glow, and her thick lashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks. As the bus hit a bump in the road, Nianshu’s head wobbled; Qi Shu reached out, gently cradling the back of her head and adjusting her posture so she could sleep more soundly.

The girl in her arms seemed to sense the care, snuggling closer as her breathing grew long and steady.

Qi Shu pulled a vocabulary book from a side pocket of her backpack and began to read, her eyes lowered.

The bus soon reached a busy stop, and a crowd of people surged inside, mostly students from No. 1 High School. They swarmed in, chattering loudly, but many instinctively lowered their voices when they saw the two girls. The morning light hitting their intertwined figures created a scene so peaceful it looked like a painting, as if an invisible wall separated them from the chaos of the bus.

Two girls nearby whispered to each other, stealing curious glances. Qi Shu looked up, her gaze calm but marked by a faint, chilly detachment. The two girls immediately retracted their stares and awkwardly looked away.

“Qi Shu! What a coincidence!”

A surprised female voice suddenly rang out.

Having automatically captured the keyword even in her sleep, Qi Nianshu slowly blinked awake.

Standing there was a very pretty girl wearing the same school uniform. She had her hair in a high ponytail and bright, crinkling eyes. She was holding a bag of steaming buns, clearly her breakfast. Her name tag read: Grade 12, Class 6—Jiang Ye.

Nianshu’s sleepiness vanished instantly. She looked up with a delighted grin. “Senior Jiang, long time no see!”

Jiang Ye had been in the same grade as Qi Shu since middle school. After entering high school, Jiang Ye became a dance major, so they weren’t in the same class anymore, but they had always remained close. They were often seen walking together on campus. Over time, Nianshu had become quite familiar with her too.

To Qi Nianshu, Jiang Ye was one of the most beautiful people she had ever seen. (Though, of course, Qi Shu won every competition by a landslide.)

Jiang Ye gripped the handrail with one hand and waved at Nianshu with the other. “Morning, Nian-Nian! What were you up to last night to be this sleepy?”

At the mention of last night, Nianshu instinctively glanced at Qi Shu, remembering her sister’s strange behavior. She gave an embarrassed smile. “My homeroom teacher made me write a self-reflection essay.”

Jiang Ye let out a laugh and reached out, intending to ruffle Nianshu’s hair.

Just as she moved, her wrist was lightly but firmly caught.

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow, looking over at Qi Shu, who had been expressionless since the encounter began.

Qi Shu spoke tonelessly. “She’s not feeling well.”

Not feeling well doesn’t conflict with a head pat, Jiang Ye thought, amused. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a milk candy, offering it to Nianshu. “If you’re not feeling well, do you want a candy?”

Nianshu, completely dazzled by Jiang Ye’s smile, scrambled to take it. “Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Senior Jiang!”

Jiang Ye caught the stony look on Qi Shu’s face out of the corner of her eye. Her grin widened as she intentionally drawled, “You’re very welcome. After all, I like our Nian-Nian the most.”

Nianshu nodded vigorously, her face full of agreement. “I like Senior Jiang too!”

Despite the rising morning sun, Jiang Ye felt the air around her growing colder. Her smile only grew bigger; she opened her mouth to tease Nianshu a bit more.

“Our stop,” Qi Shu interrupted, looking directly at Jiang Ye. “Time to get off.”

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