Chapter 9: Try Relying on Me, Okay?

Li Yunli was forced back until she had nowhere left to retreat, her back pressing against the cold wall. Ji Tingjun loomed right in front of her, the flames in his eyes seeming ready to devour her whole.

Ji Tingjun wasn’t about to let Li Yunli off the hook that easily.

His humiliating words hammered down on her one syllable at a time, leaving no room for rebuttal—as if he were dead set on pinning the label of “shameless” squarely on her head.

“I didn’t!” Li Yunli snatched up a metal ornament, eyeing Ji Tingjun warily as her fingers flew through rapid sign language.

If he took even one step closer, she was calling the cops.

“Your mouth is filthy, Ji Tingjun.” Ji Zhenshi leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, tilting her head at him. Her smile held not a trace of warmth as she cut abruptly between him and Li Yunli.

She looked like she was smiling, but that expression—which usually carried a gentle warmth—now felt eerily somber. Her emotions had reached the breaking point of barely contained fury.

“Xiao Zhen? Why are you back?” A surge of intense unease flooded Li Yunli’s heart, and she signed at her frantically.

Ji Zhenshi beckoned to Li Yunli with a wave, letting out two light, cheerful laughs before arching a brow. “To back you up, obviously.”

The person who’d stormed off in a rage had come right back.

Li Yunli, you think I don’t see through you? Trying to provoke me into leaving for good?

Ji Zhenshi then turned a cool, faint smile on Ji Tingjun, her gaze utterly flat and calm—far beyond what anyone her age should manage. “I’ve never seen anyone sling lies like you do. No, wait—second time. Mom was the first. You just flap your gums and ruin a woman’s reputation. Got no shame? You’re a real chip off the old block when it comes to slapping labels on people. Look at that ugly mug of yours.”

Li Yunli had never seen this side of Ji Zhenshi before. Her thoughts grew chaotic, her fingertips turning ice-cold as a sense of foreboding crept in.

But she’d said she was here to back her up.

A layer of sweet warmth wrapped around Li Yunli’s heart. She drifted for a moment, brushing against the softness deep inside her.

No one could resist someone as radiant as Ji Zhenshi—someone whose blatant favoritism shone so boldly.

“Back her up? And who the hell are you?” Ji Tingjun scoffed.

“Enough already.” Ji Zhenshi lifted her chin, arrogance radiating from her every pore, her impatience spilling over.

This was the most terrifying version of Ji Zhenshi. She’d turned back despite herself, unable to stomach leaving Li Yunli alone. Only she knew the resolve that had driven her.

Nosy or not, she’d rather be the laughingstock than let Li Yunli get bullied. Ji Tingjun was nothing but a thug throwing his weight around.

Ji Tingjun glanced sideways and saw Ji Zhenshi gearing up to crash the party again. His face darkened. “Enough? That’s you. When are you gonna quit? Got nothing better to do all day? I’m warning you, Ji Zhenshi—cut it out. What’s this tantrum for? Throwing your weight around? You forget how I used to handle you? Being young doesn’t give you a free pass to act out. My patience isn’t endless.”

Ji Zhenshi was like a bad penny, turning up everywhere to ruin his day.

As Ji Tingjun started toward Ji Zhenshi, Li Yunli—terrified he’d strike—grabbed his arm and forced a hoarse croak from her throat. “Don’t.”

The sound was so faint it might have been an illusion, or perhaps it hadn’t emerged at all. With his emotions running hot, Ji Tingjun had no patience left for her feelings.

He shook off Li Yunli’s hand and shoved her aside, rolling up his sleeves as he advanced on Ji Zhenshi, seething. “How much is this mute paying you to stick up for her everywhere? Don’t forget—I’m your brother. You forget how I used to put you in your place as a kid?”

Back then, Ji Zhenshi had taken plenty of beatings from Ji Tingjun. He’d been even more hot-tempered in those days, young and full of himself—lashing out at the slightest provocation.

Not just Ji Zhenshi; she’d been his prime punching bag, but even their parents often caught the brunt of his rage.

“Call her a mute one more time, I dare you. You really think I’m still the pushover you used to bully? Who’s laying a hand on her today? This is a society with laws—you trying to go back inside for another stretch?”

Ji Zhenshi’s words rang out like steel on stone.

But she figured her aura needed more punch. She straightened up abruptly, and a sleek black mechanical baton slid from her sleeve. With a sharp flick, it extended to about three feet of solid metal rod.

Her left hand gripped it tight, feral light flashing in her eyes.

Family be damned, heartless or not—she only had eyes for Li Yunli.

Let Ji Tingjun try her. She’d been preparing for this day in secret for who knew how long.

Ji Tingjun tsked mockingly. “Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got!”

He shoved Li Yunli aside with a cold sneer.

He truly couldn’t fathom what had gotten into his sister. The change was too drastic; her rebellion had gone way too far.

Li Yunli slammed hard into the wall, but she barely registered the pain before throwing herself between Ji Zhenshi and Ji Tingjun, her face etched with terror as she stared at him.

She signed frantically at Ji Zhenshi. “Xiao Zhen, don’t do this—you’ll get hurt. Be good, stop messing around. I don’t care what he says about me. I don’t need you backing me up. Put that thing away before you hurt yourself.”

Li Yunli’s eyes brimmed with anxious tears as she reached for the mechanical baton in Ji Zhenshi’s hand, trying to wrest it away.

But Ji Zhenshi pulled back and yanked Li Yunli into her arms by the shoulders, drawing her soft body close. “I care! And I’m not messing around. Sister A-Yun, trust me just this once. I’m not some crybaby kid anymore.”

Ji Zhenshi’s embrace was warm, enveloping her in a reassuring aura. But her quickened breaths betrayed her tension.

Li Yunli shook her head without thinking, desperate to keep Ji Zhenshi out of it. She clutched Ji Zhenshi’s wrist, her eyes pleading as her signs flew. “It’s not that I don’t trust you—this isn’t about that. I’m scared you’ll get hurt. I don’t want you two fighting. Go downstairs first. I’ll talk it out with your brother slowly.”

Ji Tingjun was the type to swing at family if provoked—he wouldn’t hold back. No matter how sharp Ji Zhenshi’s tongue was, she’d lose in a real scrap.

And those hands were her livelihood. Li Yunli cherished them even more than Ji Zhenshi did, terrified any mishap could derail her career. That would be devastating for her.

Ji Zhenshi covered Li Yunli’s eyes and said, “If you can talk sense into him, I’ll write my name backward. Deal?”

Li Yunli, don’t treat me like a kid. I’m all grown up.

I can be the one you lean on. Believe in me. Only by warming each other can we survive the cold winter.

Li Yunli, try relying on me, okay?

“No, Xiao Zhen—listen to me. What if you get hurt?” Li Yunli shook her head, wrestling for the mechanical baton.

Li Yunli was so slender that, hugged close, Ji Zhenshi could feel every delicate curve of her frame—thin and soft, stirring a fierce urge to protect.

Only now did Li Yunli realize just how strong Ji Zhenshi’s grip was. Her arm locked around Li Yunli’s shoulders like an iron band, unyielding.

The girl’s body heat seeped through their clothes, inexplicably stirring Li Yunli’s restrained heart into chaos. Ji Zhenshi’s features filled her vision up close—fiercely wild.

“Ji Zhenshi!” Li Yunli’s signs faltered; her mouth formed the name heavily, as if on the verge of shouting it out.

Ji Zhenshi swung the baton and averted her eyes from those expressive, speaking ones—afraid she’d soften. Pretending not to notice, she huffed coldly. “You don’t know Ji Tingjun like I do. I lived with him for sixteen years—I know better than anyone. His heart’s a bottomless pit; no amount of money fills it. Don’t bother reasoning with him. Calling the cops is the smart move.”

And was making money that easy for Li Yunli?

Running a shop meant massive upfront costs. She’d worked years just to pay off loans, then bought a car right after.

That hundred thousand she’d given Ji Tingjun? Probably every penny she’d saved in nearly thirty years—all handed over without reserve. And the cruelest joke? It hadn’t bought her freedom.

The so-called bride price from the start hadn’t even reached her hands.

Ji Tingjun let out a savage, twisted laugh, fully burning bridges with Ji Zhenshi as violent fury ignited.

Staring at her, he found her ridiculous. “Tsk, what a touching sisterly bond. You know me? Don’t pull TV drama lines out of nowhere, Ji Zhenshi—calling her so sweetly. Forget I’m the one engaged to this mute? You wanna call the cops? The money came from her family, right? She agreed to register back then—now she’s backing out?”

“Li Yunli, your dad bragged you’re some top university grad. No sense of honor? Stringing me along? And Ji Zhenshi, butt out. Always siding with outsiders, you brat. This is arranged by our parents with a matchmaker—what’s our connection need me to spell out for you?”

Ji Tingjun pressed forward relentlessly, not giving Ji Zhenshi a chance to get a word in.

This brat had grown too big to control, constantly stirring trouble. He’d once thought her closeness to Li Yunli might benefit him, but not like this.

Ji Zhenshi’s pale skin flushed red with anger. She tightened her hold on Li Yunli’s shoulder and shot back coldly, “What connection? Bullshit connection. You just think you can bully her because she can’t speak. If words don’t work, you can read, right? She wrote she doesn’t want to be with you. Need me to translate her Chinese into Chinese for you?”

“She said she doesn’t want to marry you. She doesn’t like you. Stop deluding yourself—can you? She’s got zero interest in you. Can’t talk doesn’t mean she’s blind.”

Ji Zhenshi’s words stabbed straight to the heart, ruthless. Nothing of her usual playful demeanor remained when she got serious.

Siding with outsiders?

She just knew who truly treated her right.

“Hey, you brat—are you asking for it?” Ji Tingjun growled viciously.

It wasn’t the first time Ji Zhenshi had mocked him so brazenly.

“Beat me and suddenly give up your delusions of marriage?” Ji Zhenshi released Li Yunli; sweat slicked her palm, making the baton slippery.

She asked with dead seriousness. In the tense air, her sudden shift made Li Yunli turn her head in surprise.

Tears gathered in those gentle, watery eyes. Li Yunli’s expression grew complex—some indescribable emotion taking root deep inside.

Li Yunli tugged at Ji Zhenshi’s clothes, biting her lip as she tried to drag her away. “Xiao Zhen, no fighting. Listen to me.”

In that moment, she desperately wished she could speak, or she’d never feel this helpless. Her heart burned with anxiety, reduced to a mere bystander easily shoved aside, agony gnawing at her like ants.

No one understood her pain right now—except the one standing before her, who fired back without hesitation at the insults Li Yunli had long grown numb to.

Someone usually like a warm sun had bristled with thorns for her sake.

“Will you? Ji Tingjun, just be straight with me. What’ll it take to leave her alone?” Ji Zhenshi’s presence was chillingly detached, laced with unyielding certainty as she demanded an answer.

Ji Tingjun sneered, tapping his temple—almost laughing from sheer exasperation. “You got a screw loose, Ji Zhenshi? Beat you and I ditch my wife? Who do you think you are? Do I look like some brainless idiot to you?”

“Shut up!” Li Yunli glared at Ji Tingjun. She wished so badly she could speak, or she’d never feel this powerless.

Li Yunli tried again to stop Ji Zhenshi, but she stood firm like a rooted tree.

Bloodshot veins threaded Li Yunli’s eyes as she clutched Ji Zhenshi’s collar. “Ji Zhenshi, stop this—please. This is my mess. Stay out of it, okay? What if you get hurt?”

Her brows knitted tight; her signs blurred so fast even Ji Zhenshi could barely follow. All of Li Yunli radiated a fragile, breaking aura.

Ji Zhenshi steadied her trembling shoulders with a helpless smile. “I want what’s best for you—that’s why I’m getting involved, no matter what.”

“Ji Zhenshi!”

“I’m right here. No more signing. This is me getting your dignity back. You really think a guy like him sees you as an equal?”

Ji Zhenshi caught Li Yunli’s signing hand, patted her shoulder, and nodded for her to relax.

“…”

“Ji Zhenshi, bet it’s you badmouthing me to my wife all the time that’s making her balk at registering.” Ji Tingjun cut in.

Ji Zhenshi felt like she was talking to a brick wall and exploded. “Who the hell is your wife? You’re hopeless!”

Challenged, Ji Tingjun’s temper flared. He lunged to snatch the baton. “Ungrateful brat—time for a lesson.”

Ji Zhenshi let go of Li Yunli and swung without hesitation, the baton cracking hard against Ji Tingjun’s arm. She poured all her pent-up fury into it.

Twenty-odd years of holding back—finally unleashed.

How many beatings had she taken? Rebellion felt this damn good?

A thrill of release surged through Ji Zhenshi. She dodged nimbly, leaped onto Ji Tingjun, hooked his leg with hers, and tackled him down. They crashed to the floor. Quick as a flash, she locked the mechanical baton around his neck like she meant to choke him out.

“Call her your wife again—I dare you. I’ll rip your mouth off!”

Only she got to call her that!

“All those books you read—down the drain? No manners!”

“Like you care. Keep yapping and I’ll tear that mouth apart, Ji Tingjun—you loser. What’ve you ever done besides bully me and steal my stuff your whole life? Got any real achievements?”

That baton strike must’ve stung, because Ji Tingjun yanked hard, wrenching Ji Zhenshi’s hand backward viciously. “Going for the kill, huh?”

“Ah!” Ji Zhenshi cried out in pain.

Li Yunli’s heart lurched. She dropped to her knees, trying to pry his hand off.

How well Li Yunli knew what those hands meant to Ji Zhenshi—the ones that played violin.

And now, those veins bulging, trembling hands were defending her honor.

“You think I’m playing? Say it—gonna force her to marry you still?” Ji Zhenshi gasped, teeth gritted against the pain, pressing Ji Tingjun relentlessly.

Li Yunli strained to free his grip, mouth opening soundlessly, powerless to halt the chaos.

Ji Zhenshi had been pushed to the brink, rationality gone—she’d do anything to make him swear off the marriage. That’s why she’d blurted that nonsense about a beating ending his obsession.

Call her naive or crazy, but all Ji Zhenshi wanted was Li Yunli’s freedom.

“It was all agreed! You think this is a game? Her dad took the money; she agreed herself. Now I’m out—registering and marrying is what’s right. You pulling this rogue act, Ji Zhenshi? What the hell?” Ji Tingjun struggled, words hard to force out amid the two women yanking at him. Especially Ji Zhenshi—she really seemed out for blood.

Hitting an iron wall infuriated him. The simplest post-prison task had become his first real hurdle.

Created by his own sister.

Ji Zhenshi gnashed her teeth, roaring low. “I said no!”

“Who says? I do! This mute’s marrying whether she likes it or not.”

“I say—and that’s final!”

They grappled fiercely, neither shutting up. Ji Zhenshi kicked his shoulder hard and bellowed, “I say no and it’s no! Who’s gonna force her now? Call her a mute again and I’ll fucking choke you out!”