"Cousin Jianyi, you look so beautiful today. It’s been a long ti since I last saw you and I miss you so much!" A sweet-like voice rang out behind Qi Jianyi who was enjoying her food.
The words sounded sweet, as if she truly missed her cousin after so long. Yet, Qi Jianyi couldn’t shake the subtle disdain hidden in her tone.
Qi Jianyi paused the hand that was about to enter her mouth and turned to look at the owner of the voice. What greeted her was a young lady around her age that had an appearance that matched her voice.
The young lady was dressed in an eye-catching pink dress that highlighted her delicate features. She looked soft, almost doll-like, with large teary eyes frad by long lashes, as if she were perpetually on the verge of crying. Everything about her appearance seed to scream vulnerability, an aura of helplessness that invited protection.
In other words, she was an exact contrast with Qi Jianyi’s cold and independent appearance.
Qi Jianyi stared at the young lady who was smiling sweetly at her for a mont. She did not reply nor greeted back. She was guessing the identity of the woman in front of her.
Yes, Qi Jianyi didn’t know the woman who was calling herself cousin. She expected her to be a daughter from her eldest uncle, Qi Lingxuan. Unfortunately, no matter how much she tried, she still couldn’t recall the na of this particular cousin.
Qi You, the forgotten young lady, could barely hold her smile. She had planned to embarrass Qi Jianyi, but before she could even start, Qi Jianyi didn’t react at all, as if she didn’t exist.
"Cousin?" Qi You called again. This ti, she brought Qi Jianyi out of her thoughts.
"I’m sorry but you are?" Qi Jianyi regained her composure and asked, not caring whether her questions might stir gossip or not.
"Ah?" Qi You blinked, wide-eyed. The question hit her like a slap, leaving her fumbling for words.
Not wanting to disrupt her shock, Qi Jianyi decided to wait. Let the girl regain herself first before she continues.
anwhile, the four n at the table struggled to hide their laughter. They had heard that subtle disdain in Qi You’s tone before and assud Qi Jianyi hadn’t noticed. They were ready to step in if needed, but who would have thought that her reply would be a one-shot kill, leaving them amused and impressed.
"Cousin, it’s , Qi You! Humph, how could you forget about ?"
After a while, Qi You quickly regained her composure and responded to Qi Jianyi loudly, attracting others. Her words and actions were full of coquettishness as if soone had wronged her. Although every sentence was said to complain jokingly, people around her still could hear the subtle sadness of being forgotten.
Qi You’s action of acting pitiful managed to stir the protective side of the other young n around them. They began to cast disapproving glances at Qi Jianyi, thinking she had deliberately humiliated her own cousin.
Yet, despite their urge to defend Qi You, none dared to speak. After all, standing before them was Qi Jianyi, the treasured daughter of Mr. Qi. They all knew it was far riskier to offend her than her cousin.
Though Qi You and Qi Jianyi were cousins, the disparity in their fathers’ status was glaring. Qi Jianyi’s father had built his empire from the ground up, independent of family backing, while Qi You’s father relied entirely on the power of the Qi family na.
"Oh, it’s you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, I almost forgot," Qi Jianyi replied with a curt indifference, her voice devoid of warmth. She could hardly be bothered by the thinly veiled provocation in Qi You’s tone.
Want to act all innocent and wronged, like so white lotus in front of her? Humph. Qi You could keep dreaming.
Her cold, direct response left Qi You montarily speechless, her carefully rehearsed retorts crumbling. She had anticipated either an apology or so sharp, rude remark—anything she could use to paint herself as the victim. But nothing played out as she had imagined.
"Cousin Qi You," Qi Jianyi’s voice cut through the tension, her eyes, cold as winter frost, briefly eting Qi You’s. "Is there sothing you need from ?" Her patience was wearing thin, especially as she felt the weight of the other guests’ stares.
The eyes of those around them lingered on her, expectant and hungry for scandal, as if hoping she’d lose her composure and do sothing foolish—sothing that would stain her family’s reputation.
Ironically, they yearned for this spectacle at her grandfather’s birthday banquet, of all places.
"Oh, no... I just missed you. It’s been years since we last t, so I wanted to catch up." Qi You’s voice wavered, her pitiful act fully on display. Her head lowered, shoulders drooping, as if in sha. "Cousin, did I disturb your al? I’m sorry if I did..."
Yes, you’re disturbing , Qi Jianyi thought with a sharp retort in her mind, but held her tongue, unwilling to give the crowd what they so clearly craved.
Though Qi Jianyi was irritated by Qi You’s sudden appearance, she couldn’t help but marvel at the young woman’s uncanny talent for theatrics. With a single question, Qi You had masterfully twisted the situation, painting Qi Jianyi as the villain.
Now, to the eyes of onlookers, Qi Jianyi was the arrogant woman who looked down on others, while Qi You played the innocent victim—a subtle performance worthy of applause.
"What a talent," Qi Jianyi muttered to herself.
Without warning, she switched tactics. "Well, what university did you attend?" she asked, seemingly out of nowhere, her voice casual yet laced with a hidden agenda.
"Tsinghua University," Qi You replied, though a sense of unease prickled at the back of her mind. Sothing about this question felt off, as if she were walking into a trap.
A smirk flickered across Qi Jianyi’s face, brief as a flash of lightning, before her expression returned to its usual icy calm. She set down her cutlery with deliberate grace, taking her ti to wipe her mouth.
Every movent was slow, calculated, and the room seed to watch her in silent anticipation. It was as if she were making Qi You wait on purpose, savouring her control over the mont.
Then, her cold eyes blinked, and for just a mont, a spark of mischief glead in them. Her lips curved into a soft, almost playful smile.
"Oh, what a coincidence. I go to Tsinghua University as well," Qi Jianyi said, her tone suddenly light and enthusiastic, as if they were the closest of friends.
"Cousin Qi You, why didn’t you co find ? Of course, I’m not saying you’re obligated to—don’t get wrong. It’s just, well, you know how I am. I have a terrible mory, so I tend to forget people. But you seem to rember and miss . So why didn’t you co see ?"
She leaned back, her eyes twinkling with amusent as she added, "Anyway, maybe you didn’t know we attended the sa university. I don’t bla you. I live in the dorms now, so when you have ti, we should hang out. You can visit anyti."
In one swift breath, Qi Jianyi had shifted the entire conversation, twisting the narrative to her advantage. You want to make the bad guy? she thought with a sneer. I don’t even rember you, but you still rember . So why didn’t you co looking for ?
The four n seated at her table exchanged confused glances. They had never heard Qi Jianyi speak so much in one sitting. The woman, who normally valued her words like they were precious gold, had just expended an unusual amount of energy on Qi You.
anwhile, Qi You stood frozen, caught off-guard by the sudden turn of events. How had the bla shifted so seamlessly onto her? What just happened?
The entire courtyard fell into a heavy silence, the tension thick enough to cut through. All eyes were on Qi You, waiting for her response. Her face flushed a deep red, the color creeping up her neck as embarrassnt clouded her thoughts. She had no one to bla but herself.
After all, it was she who had raised her voice earlier, eager to draw the attention of the crowd—including the elders. In a bid to make Qi Jianyi look bad, she had instead turned the spotlight onto herself. It was inevitable now. She had shot herself in the foot.
"Ah, really?" Qi You forced a smile, her teeth gritted behind the sweetness of her words. "I didn’t know you also went to Tsinghua University. Cousin, if I had known, I would have co to find you on the very first day!"
Her voice, though laced with apology, trembled slightly, betraying her frustration. But it was her eyes that gave her away. Beneath the forced politeness, they burned with barely concealed hatred. And while Qi You tried to mask it, Qi Jianyi saw it clearly.
And if she could see it, then it was impossible for their grandfather not to notice.
Qi Jianyi’s table sat right beside Grandpa Qi’s, and with Qi You standing so close, she was in full view of the old man. Whether she realised it or not, her entire expression—hatred, jealousy, all of it—was laid bare before him.
Grandpa Qi frowned, his weathered brow furrowing in confusion. What was the aning behind that hatred in Qi You’s eyes? As far as he could recall, his two granddaughters had barely interacted when they were children, let alone now. There was no past grudge, no rivalry he knew of.
But the venom in Qi You’s gaze was unmistakable—it was real.
anwhile, Qi Jianyi’s smile only grew wider as she watched Qi You’s carefully crafted mask crumble. Internally, she sighed. Too immature, she thought, almost pitying her cousin’s lack of self-control.
"That’s fine, don’t bla yourself," Qi Jianyi said with a falsely sweet tone, her voice dripping with condescension. "Let’s have lunch together soti in the future."
The words were ant to comfort, but there was no sincerity in them. Both of them knew that such a lunch would never happen.
"Qi You, why are you disturbing your cousin’s al? Go back to your seat," Grandpa Qi’s voice rang out across the yard, his stern tone rippling through the crowd like a silent command.
The subtle authority in his words wasn’t just directed at his granddaughter, but served as a warning to the other guests, a clear ssage: no one was to gossip about his two granddaughters.
"Yes, Grandpa," Qi You stamred, startled by the sudden reprimand. Her face flushed, but she dared not argue.
Without another word, she hurried back to her table, each step feeling heavier than the last. She couldn’t help the sharp sting of jealousy twisting inside her—once again, Grandpa had chosen to side with Qi Jianyi. Her resentnt festered with every pace she took, the injustice of it gnawing at her.
Qi Jianyi clicked her tongue softly, casting a quick glance at her grandfather. His intervention had co at just the wrong mont. He was clearly trying to prevent a scene, to shield them both from an embarrassing public fallout.
Not that she didn’t appreciate the gesture—she did—but a small part of her had wanted to see just how far Qi You would go, how well the younger girl would play the victim.
"Sister, are you upset?" Qi Jinli’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. He spoke in a hushed tone, leaning slightly toward her with concern etched on his face.
"Upset?" Qi Jianyi’s lips curled into a wry smile as she shook her head.
"Why would I be upset?" Truth be told, she wasn’t.
How could she be? Qi You had barely begun her performance when Grandpa had swooped in to stop her from pulling her usual tricks.
"But didn’t she co here just to annoy you?" Qi Jinli pressed, his voice laced with uncertainty, though he tried to sound confident.
"Well, you’re not wrong," Qi Jianyi admitted, her gaze flickering toward the spot where Qi You had been standing monts ago.
"She is annoying, no doubt about that. Honestly, I’d prefer if she didn’t show up in front of again." Her tone was perfunctory, but the truth in her words was undeniable. She ant every bit of it.
Qi Jinlu, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but jump in. "Sister, you’re being too hopeful. Judging by how that girl reacted, I bet she’ll pester you even more in the future. She’s like one of those fake white lotuses—she’ll cry the mont anyone so much as looks at her funny. Sis, don’t fall for that innocent face of hers."
Qi Jianyi shot him a glare, "You think I don’t know that already?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing.
"Do you really need to rub it in my face?"
Qi Jinlu t her glare with a sheepish grin, unbothered by the sharpness in her tone. "I just didn’t want you to get your hopes up too high. You’ll only be disappointed if you expect her to disappear so easily," he said, a guilty smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
The more Qi Jianyi stared at him, the more her irritation grew. Now she fully understood why their father kept calling Qi Jinlu as his cheap son.
"One more word out of you, and I’ll have Dad disown you," she threatened, her voice low, but the warning clear.
Qi Jinlu’s eyes widened in mock horror, though his lips trembled as he fought back a pout.
"Disown ? Sister, I was just looking out for you! And this is how you repay ?" He pouted, genuinely hurt for a split second.
Watching his pitiful expression, Qi Jianyi couldn’t suppress a grin. Her mood lightened considerably, her earlier annoyance lting away. Truly, watching her younger siblings pout and sulk in indignation was one of the small joys that ca with being the eldest.
"Being the older sibling really does have its perks," she thought, her smile growing as she prepared herself for whatever round of banter would co next.
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