Chapter 3

Yang Ying blocked Ji Zhenshi in one swift motion, nearly thrown off by the girl’s whirlwind of actions. Once she regained her composure, she snapped, “You ungrateful brat! That’s your brother—your own flesh and blood you haven’t seen in six years! How can you talk like that? I called you so many times and you ignored me, and now you’re blocking your sister-in-law from going? How can you be so heartless?”

“He’s not my brother since they haven’t even gotten married, and that bastard Ji Tingjun isn’t family to me—she’s not my sister-in-law!” Ji Zhenshi shot back through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at Yang Ying. Her eyes held no trace of looking at her own mother; instead, they were like those of a provoked little beast facing an enemy stealing its territory.

Every word stung like a thorn, impossible to bear.

Her mother had always been so overtly patriarchal, favoring sons over daughters, so Ji Zhenshi had been at odds with her since childhood, fighting countless battles that painted her as the rebellious one in everyone’s eyes.

But wasn’t this the only way to avoid being suffocated by Yang Ying?

“Ji Zhenshi! You don’t believe I’ll call your dad over?” Yang Ying had no way to handle this worry-from-day-one rebellious daughter. Ji Zhenshi never listened anyway, forcing her to pull out the dad card.

Ji Zhenshi could barely hold back, bristling like a cat with exploded fur, just about to retort when Li Yunli quickly held up her notebook to Yang Ying. “Auntie, I already promised to go to Xiao Zhen’s school celebration today, so I can’t pick up Ji Tingjun. Sorry. And don’t blame Xiao Zhen—she’s been preparing for this performance for a long time and really can’t get away.”

A clear refusal of Yang Ying’s demand to bring her along to pick up Ji Tingjun from prison.

In truth, she had been refusing all along, whether by message or in person, but Yang Ying’s domineering nature always ignored Li Yunli’s rejections outright.

Never mind that she had no real ties to Ji Tingjun—even if they were truly married, how could anyone morally bind her to go if she didn’t want to?

She was mute, not without human rights.

“Hey, Li Yunli, have you forgotten your place? You agreed to this marriage yourself back then, and the money was paid in full to your family. Now you’re backing out at the last minute?” Yang Ying’s eyes immediately locked on the top line of the notebook: the part about not marrying Ji Tingjun. Her face darkened instantly.

Over these six years, no matter what happened, Li Yunli had never complained. Yang Ying thought she had settled into the Ji family, wholeheartedly caring for it.

But now that Ji Tingjun was getting out, she refused to get married?

What kind of international joke was this?

“It wasn’t me who agreed—the money went to my father. I’ve said I’m willing to return it in full, plus interest.” Li Yunli corrected her.

Back then, fresh out of university, she had no room to resist. Her father took the money, and she couldn’t scrape together enough to “buy herself back,” leading to this mess.

“You’re insane! Completely insane! We’ll sort this when Tingjun gets out! No matter what, it was agreed upon—you can’t just decide not to marry!” Yang Ying was so furious her head spun. She never imagined being speechless from anger at a mute. She spat one last line and stormed off.

Probably to find her husband—Ji Zhenshi’s father—without so much as a glance at her own daughter nearby.

Ji Zhenshi watched Yang Ying’s indignant retreating back, rubbing her temples with a headache. She had just closed her eyes when they suddenly flashed with green light as she turned to Li Yunli. “Sister Ayun, you’re really not marrying him?”

Startled by Ji Zhenshi’s sudden intensity, Li Yunli stepped back. Especially when the girl leaned in close—her smile oddly made Li Yunli feel like prey in a hunter’s sights. Clutching her chest to steady her breath, a gentle expression slowly bloomed on her face. “Mm, I won’t. But you don’t need to worry. If you want, you can always think of me as your sister. Though, Ji Zhenshi… do you really have to fall out so badly with your mom?”

The more Ji Zhenshi acted this way, the more Li Yunli could see her craving parental attention.

Unfortunately, by insisting on violin and refusing to be the obedient daughter her parents wanted, how could she win their favor?

Ji Zhenshi was the only one in the family who treated her kindly—even more than her own father. So Li Yunli repaid her with all the kindness she could muster, boundless patience.

“I don’t care.” Ji Zhenshi shrugged, fixating on an unexpected part of Li Yunli’s words. “So you’re only taking care of me because of Ji Tingjun? That’s why you treat me like a little sister?”

Li Yunli paused for a beat, then nodded. “Not entirely because of him. Don’t worry, Xiao Zhen. If you want, our relationship won’t change just because I don’t marry your brother.”

I’m good to you because you’re good to me.

I’m good to you because you treat me like a normal person.

One sentence—like a knife piercing her heart in bone-chilling wind—plunged Ji Zhenshi into an ice pit, her body numb to any warmth.

“So that’s how it is. Our relationship won’t change—good, as long as it doesn’t change.” Ji Zhenshi murmured lowly, her teeth sinking into her lip, eyes turning to Li Yunli with an indescribable bleakness.

A complex gaze, one even Ji Zhenshi couldn’t control, as a chill slowly enveloped Li Yunli.

Why did she suddenly feel so sad?

A suffocating pressure, like a oxygen-deprived hood crushing down, filled her with unbearable chest pain that clutching couldn’t ease.

There was still a part of it—positioning herself as Ji Tingjun’s wife—that made her treat Ji Zhenshi like a sister, wasn’t there?

“What’s wrong? What do you want to say, Xiao Zhen?” Li Yunli’s soft eyes probed Ji Zhenshi, visibly noting how her expression soured even more than during the argument with her mom after hearing her words.

Had she said something wrong?

Ji Zhenshi shook her head, her smile tinged with bitterness. “Nothing to say. Just realizing Sister Ayun really is smart. A guy like my brother isn’t worth entrusting your life to. You’re so rational to see that.”

Ji Zhenshi didn’t want Li Yunli trapped in the abyss either.

Li Yunli thought for a moment, then gestured, “I feel like you’re still upset, Xiao Zhen. So I want to say, even if we won’t be family, I think we have a strong fate. Don’t be unhappy about this—our closeness has never been just because of your brother.”

Li Yunli absolutely wouldn’t compromise and be with Ji Tingjun because of Ji Zhenshi. Ever since her father took the Ji family’s money and Ji Tingjun’s imprisonment by twist of fate gave her breathing room, she had resolved to sever ties with him.

The person she loved wouldn’t be someone like Ji Tingjun.

“Xiao Zhen, don’t be unhappy, okay?”

Deep down, Li Yunli truly adored this girl—sunny, bright, and warm like a little sun.

She had warmed those days when no one cared because she couldn’t speak.

So she couldn’t bear for Ji Zhenshi to become a stranger. Just imagining it made her heart ache.

Seeing Li Yunli like that softened Ji Zhenshi’s heart. She forced a smile but earnestly comforted her. “I won’t. Why would I make things hard for you? I’ve never been like my brother—not once.”

She had never been like Ji Tingjun, or even her parents.

Li Yunli should have sensed it from the first time they met.

Li Yunli gestured, “Yes, Xiao Zhen is different from everyone.”

“Really? Then starting today, stop treating me like Ji Tingjun’s little sister. He’ll definitely come looking for you once he’s out. If anything happens, you have to tell me. The school’s close by—I can rush over anytime.” Ji Zhenshi grabbed Li Yunli’s hand, her words earnest.

In front of you, I just want to be Ji Zhenshi—not Ji Tingjun’s sister, not Yang Ying’s daughter.

Only then could Ji Zhenshi feel that Li Yunli’s gentleness was hers alone, not as an extension of Ji Tingjun.

Li Yunli nodded lightly, using a tissue to wipe the inexplicable thin sheen of sweat from Ji Zhenshi’s forehead. Her fingertip lingered on her nose bridge, eyes tender. “What good would you rushing over do? He’s your brother—do you really plan to fight him over me?”

Ji Zhenshi, to me, you’ve always just been Ji Zhenshi.

The genius violinist dubbed “left-hand prodigy,” the rebellious daughter, the top-scoring talented university student—these were just labels behind her, nothing more.

“He’s never treated me like a sister. So what if we fight? I don’t like him—never have since I was little. Fight we will. I’m good to you, only to you.” Ji Zhenshi lifted her chin proudly.

“Not afraid of being called heartless, little one?” Li Yunli chuckled at her.

Ji Zhenshi shot her an indignant glare, defending herself. “I’ve been ‘heartless’ since I started violin—no one’s money from home went to it. I don’t care what they say—they know nothing. Anyway, you have to promise: don’t treat me like Ji Tingjun’s sister. I’m not like him!”

“Alright, Xiao Zhen is just Xiao Zhen—no one’s sister. Happy now, little one?” Li Yunli had no choice but to agree.

Unable to speak, so many words stayed buried in her heart, her inner turmoil unknown to all.

After Li Yunli’s firm assurance, light flickered in Ji Zhenshi’s eyes. She looped her arm through Li Yunli’s, her hair tips radiating pure bliss. “Happy! I knew Sister Ayun doted on me most. Come on, time’s almost up—I’m gonna stun everyone today!”

The girl boasted shamelessly, brimming with bold confidence.

“Be humble—I taught you that. So cocky—if you lose like in your freshman comp and cry, how embarrassing.”

Li Yunli’s reproachful gaze met hers as they headed out together.

Side by side, Ji Zhenshi originally towered half a head over Li Yunli, but with her heels, they were now level.

Ji Zhenshi hooked Li Yunli’s arm, shoulders brushing as they walked out.

Ji Zhenshi raised her arm triumphantly, like a victorious young general, grin impossible to hide. “No way, I’m thrilled today—I won’t cry no matter what. Even if I botch it, no tears. Besides, I’ve practiced that piece countless times—even in my dreams. No way it’ll flop.”

In the end, Li Yunli went to the school celebration with her—the chosen one was finally Ji Zhenshi.

Arm in arm, they left together, spring breeze rippling smiles across their faces, as if Yang Ying’s interruption had never happened. They tacitly ignored the troubles Ji Tingjun’s release would bring.

As if she could just decide not to marry—no way. Ji Tingjun wasn’t one to let it slide; he could land himself in prison for years over a fight.

From any angle, Li Yunli was no match—mute, unable to argue back if bullied. Utterly powerless.

But Ji Zhenshi said she could come!

Ji Zhenshi’s rebellious streak was growing more exceptional, sometimes shocking even Li Yunli.

How did a family like the Jis raise such an independently minded girl?

On the way back to school, Ji Zhenshi didn’t take a cab—Li Yunli drove them both.

The event had started a bit, but the lengthy leader speeches and guest introductions up front meant Ji Zhenshi hadn’t missed her performance.

“I’ll head backstage first. Sit here, Sister Ayun—I’ll be on soon. Just four or five acts. Text me if you’re bored.” Ji Zhenshi settled Li Yunli in a prime viewing spot, crouching beside her and thoughtfully handing over a bottle of water.

“Text you for corny jokes? Won’t that make it more boring? Hm?” Li Yunli took a sip.

“Li Yunli!” Ji Zhenshi bristled like her tail was stepped on.

She just wasn’t good at jokes—why tease her like that?

Didn’t she have any pride?

Li Yunli frowned. “No manners.”

Poke her temper and out comes full name—scolded how many times, yet no improvement. So stubborn, so cute.

Li Yunli’s face cooled, and Ji Zhenshi instantly regretted it, meekly correcting herself. “Fine, should call you Manager Li.”

“…You’re really disobedient.”

“Manager Li, gotta go backstage—they’ve been waiting.”

“Mm, go for it, Xiao Zhen.” Li Yunli knew it was deliberate but let it slide, giving a thumbs-up.

Ji Zhenshi nodded, then—as if premeditated—propped her elbow on Li Yunli’s knee, raised the Polaroid, and pulled a goofy face at the lens.

The selfie captured Ji Zhenshi squatting beside her: one silly and cute, the other gazing warmly at the camera, accommodating her pose.

Amid the crowd, Ji Zhenshi laughed freely, her peripheral vision full of Li Yunli. The slightly blurry Polaroid lens added an inexplicable ambiance to them.

Like an old photo, tiny in her palm—as if the whole venue held only Li Yunli and Ji Zhenshi.

She flipped it over and over, lavish with praise. “So pretty! Back when beauties sold tofu, they were tofu Xi Shis. Now Sister Ayun sells coffee—shouldn’t you be Coffee Xi Shi?”

Li Yunli’s features were perfectly balanced—no standout traits like Ji Zhenshi’s eye-catchers, yet stunning beyond reason. Light makeup perfected it; long hair flowing in poised elegance.

Her long skirt paired with short-heeled boots matching it; those eyes the clearest moonlight, jade-like glow impossible to look away from—gentleness unreal.

“What Coffee Xi Shi? Such a sweet mouth—you’ll be a real charmer someday, little one. Alright, off to backstage. You’ve practiced tons, but don’t get complacent.” Li Yunli let her ear-tucked hair fall, hiding her faintly flushed ears.

Ji Zhenshi was always so blunt—love or hate, plain on her face.

Unrestrained, all emotions worn like a child’s.