The younger sister mistakenly identified her brother when visiting relatives and was kissed by the c

Qiao Mingzhu felt completely powerless; the hem of her top was almost torn to shreds by her sharp fingernails.

She was in a daze, her mind buzzing.

Next month's sixteenth... Haha... Less than thirty days! It's like Mom and Dad got rid of a stinky burden; they couldn't wait to kick her out the door!

Are these the same parents who always said, "Mingzhu will always be our precious darling"?!

"Alright, it's settled then."

After discussing the specific procedures, Qiao Shouguo finally felt relieved, and the smile on his face relaxed considerably, regaining some of the composure of a businessman.

He turned his head to look at Qiao Mingzhu, who was still standing there dumbfounded. He frowned and reminded her in a commanding tone, "Mingzhu, what are you still standing there for? Come over and thank your Uncle Zhou and Aunt Liu!"

Upon hearing the shout, Qiao Mingzhu jolted awake, finally snapping out of her despairing nightmare.

She moved forward stiffly, like a puppet on a string, taking two steps forward.

Her lips were bloodless, and she trembled several times before forcing a smile that was a hundred times uglier than crying: "Thank you... thank you uncle, thank you aunt..."

Zhou's parents watched her coldly as she was about to faint, but their expressions softened slightly.

In any case, the Zhou family has taken control of the situation.

"Alright, it's settled then!" Zhou Zejun picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Marriage is a big deal. If you need anything, just let the Qiao family know. Our Zhou family will make sure it's a grand and successful event."

The atmosphere in the living room seemed to have finally warmed up a little amidst the false politeness.

In a corner unnoticed by everyone, Qiao Xinxin, an observer, lowered her eyelids slightly, concealing the cold, mocking glint in her eyes.

She watched this wonderful drama of "filial piety and parental love" in silence.

However, what surprised Qiao Xinxin slightly was—

From the initial heated argument between the two families to the final decision on the marriage, Qiao Shouguo's elder brother, Qiao Lijun, who stood behind him the entire time, remained completely silent.

In the past, if Qiao Mingzhu had suffered even the slightest grievance, or even just shed a single tear, this older brother would have jumped out like a mad dog protecting its cub, cursing and arguing for his good sister, even at the cost of talking back to his elders.

But today, watching Qiao Mingzhu being driven to the brink of despair, he remained completely silent, like a ghost, from beginning to end.

It wasn't that he didn't dare, but rather that his mind was in complete chaos and he couldn't figure it out at all!

Qiao Lijun stared intently at Qiao Mingzhu, who was being dragged away by her parents, his brows furrowed into a tight knot.

Why would Mingzhu deceive him?

He had always wondered why his sister, who was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper and so kind that she would cry even if she stepped on an ant, would lie to their parents and even to him without batting an eye!

Even if she really dislikes Zhou Liguang because he is disabled and doesn't want to marry him, she can just say it directly. Her parents love her so much, they will always find a way.

Why would she use such a clumsy lie that's so easily exposed, putting both families' faces in jeopardy?

Qiao Lijun felt as if a wad of water-soaked cotton was stuck in his chest.

For the first time in twenty years, he began to have some doubts about the younger sister he cherished so much—was she really as innocent and kind as he thought?

……

As Qiao Mingzhu left the Zhou family home, the cold autumn wind blew against her head, making her feel stiff all over.

Her mind was filled with Uncle Zhou's decisive statement, "The sixteenth of next month."

It's over, it's over.

She walked at the very back in a daze, her steps unsteady as if she were stepping on cotton, feeling as if everything that had happened today was an absurd and terrifying nightmare.

Once the dream ends, she will still be the high and mighty daughter of the Qiao family, and Zhou Liguang will still be the promising battalion commander...

Just as she was feeling lost and disoriented, a very light footstep suddenly drifted by beside her.

Immediately afterwards, a figure leaned close to her ear.

"Congratulations, Mingzhu!"

The girl's voice was soft and sweet, yet her enunciation was exceptionally clear, striking Qiao Mingzhu's ears.

Qiao Mingzhu turned her head stiffly like a rusty machine, and happened to meet Qiao Xinxin's clear but cunning eyes.

Before she could react, she saw those rosy, unpleasant lips part slightly, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, she lightly added, "Congratulations, little sister, on your upcoming wedding! Next month on the sixteenth, I'll definitely give you a big red envelope!"

boom--

Qiao Mingzhu felt as if the string of reason in her mind had snapped completely!

These words instantly pulled her from her illusory dream back to harsh reality.

A metallic sweetness surged into her throat, and she almost spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot!

What does she mean?! Is this bitch laughing at her?!

Qiao Mingzhu was so angry that she trembled all over, her hands clenched into fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her flesh, and her teeth chattered.

It was clearly this country bumpkin who refused to obediently marry in her place; it was clearly this bitch who exposed her lies in public, causing her to end up in this state. And yet this bitch still dares to come up to her, shamelessly humiliating her to her face?!

"Qiao Xinxin, you bitch..."

With bloodshot eyes and a ferocious expression, Qiao Mingzhu raised her hand, ready to slap that smiling face to pieces without a second thought.

But just as her hand was halfway through the air, Qiao Xinxin, as if she had expected it, deftly took half a step back, patted off non-existent dust from the corner of her clothes, and without even giving her a second glance, turned and walked away with light steps.

Qiao Mingzhu was left standing there like a clown, her hands raised, frozen in place, her chest heaving with anger, her nostrils flaring, and tears welling in her eyes.

……

Back at the Qiao family home, the atmosphere was terribly oppressive.

Qiao Shouguo and Qin Fangfang were also annoyed. For the first time ever, they didn't try to comfort Qiao Mingzhu and went straight back to the master bedroom to rest with dark faces.

Qiao Xinxin didn't bother to look at the family's mournful faces. She went straight back to her room, clicked the door shut, and locked it in one smooth motion.

"call--"

She leaned against the door and let out a long sigh of relief.

Today's performance at the Zhou family's house, with her pretending to be wronged, stirring up trouble, and having to guard against the Qiao family turning on her, was truly exhausting.

With a thought, Qiao Xinxin's figure vanished from the room and flashed into her personal space.

The air in the space is fresh and filled with a spiritual atmosphere.

She walked quickly to the spring, scooped up a full cup of cool spring water with a bamboo tube, and gulped it down in a few mouthfuls.

The sweet spring water flowed down my throat, turning into warm currents that spread throughout my body.

The fatigue from a long day and the bad luck I had picked up from the Qiao family were finally washed away by the spiritual spring water, and my body felt much better.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the main hallway was extremely tense.

Qiao Mingzhu stood in the empty living room, her panic growing wildly like weeds.

Her parents have abandoned her; they really want to marry her off to that disabled man!

In her extreme panic, she instinctively turned her gaze to her older brother, Qiao Lijun, who was going upstairs.

This was her last straw!

Qiao Mingzhu bit her pale lips and jogged after him, following Qiao Lijun all the way to his door.

The tall man walking in front suddenly stopped.

Qiao Mingzhu was so preoccupied with the matter of announcing the engagement that she didn't react at all and bumped straight into him.

"Ouch!"

Her nose slammed hard against the man's hard back, causing her immediate, sharp pain.

She covered her red nose, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked up at her brother, who was more than a head taller than her.

In the past, if she had just groaned softly, Qiao Lijun would have been so anxious that he would have fussed over her and wished he could take her pain away from her.

But today, Qiao Lijun simply turned around and looked down at her.

Those eyes, which had always been so indulgent towards her, now held scrutiny and complexity.

He merely glanced at her nose, which was red from the impact, without showing any concern.

Qiao Mingzhu keenly sensed this terrifying abnormality, and her heart began to pound wildly.

She panicked.

She trembled as she reached out her slender little hand and gripped the hem of Qiao Lijun's military uniform tightly, her voice trembling with sobs: "Brother, what's wrong? Why aren't you talking to me?"

Qiao Lijun's Adam's apple bobbed as he suppressed the inexplicable irritation in his heart, his voice turning somewhat cold: "It's nothing. I'm going back to my room to rest, you should go back to your room too."

As he spoke, he tried to brush her hand away.

"don't want!"

How could Qiao Mingzhu let him go?

The only person she can cling to now is her eldest brother! If even her most loving brother is disappointed in her and unwilling to help her, then she will really be carried into the Zhou family's inferno next month!

She gripped her hand harder and harder, until her knuckles turned bluish-white.

She tilted her head back, large tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls: "Brother, are you angry with me? I was wrong, I was really wrong. I shouldn't have lied to you to break off the engagement! Brother, you can scold me, hit me, anything, just please don't ignore me..."

Qiao Mingzhu's eyes were filled with clear tears, her nose was red, and she looked pitiful, like a little kitten that had been abandoned in a rainstorm, shivering.

Seeing her cautious, humble, and ingratiating demeanor, Qiao Lijun's tense jawline finally relaxed.

After all, she was his younger sister whom he had watched grow up, and after more than ten years of affection, he still couldn't be heartless.

"well……"

Qiao Lijun sighed deeply, and finally reached out his large, rough hand to clumsily wipe away the tears on her face.

"Alright, stop crying." His tone softened, but a hint of unyielding seriousness remained. "Since you knew it was wrong, why did you lie to me like that in the first place? Do you know how embarrassing this is for both our families today?"

Feeling that rough yet warm hand land on her cheek, Qiao Mingzhu felt as if she had grabbed a piece of driftwood. She immediately hugged that hand with both hands, like a pet that was extremely attached to its owner, and greedily rubbed her cheek against his palm, then began to sob softly.

"Brother, I know I shouldn't have lied to you..."

Qiao Mingzhu sniffed, her voice soft and trembling, "But I really don't want to marry Zhou Liguang. I... I have someone I like..."

After saying that, she immediately lowered her head like a child who had done something terribly wrong, her fair neck flushed pink.

"I..." She bit her lower lip, "I've never liked him! Before... before I couldn't be with the person I liked, I could only accept my fate. But now... now that I have the chance, I never want to marry Zhou Liguang again!"

"What?!"

Qiao Lijun's pupils contracted sharply, and he gripped Qiao Mingzhu's hand in shock, unconsciously increasing the pressure due to his extreme surprise.

"You...you have someone you like? Who is it?!"

He stared intently at his sister's tear-streaked face, a sudden surge of indescribable bitterness and agitation welling up inside him.

Who could it be?!

He always thought his sister was still young, still that little girl who would follow him around calling him "brother".

But now, she has her own worries and someone she likes!

What kind of man could make the usually obedient Mingzhu go to such lengths as to tell such a lie, even risking her reputation, to break off her engagement with Zhou Liguang?!

Qiao Lijun felt as if his collar had suddenly tightened, making it hard to breathe.

Upon hearing his questioning, Qiao Mingzhu's face flushed an unnatural red at a visible speed.

She stammered and refused to speak, even frantically avoiding her brother's intense and piercing gaze, not daring to look at him at all.

"I...I..."

"Who is it?! Tell me, I'll go and find out his background for you!" Qiao Lijun said anxiously.

Qiao Mingzhu took a deep breath, as if she had been forced to the edge of a cliff, and finally closed her eyes as if she were going to take the plunge, shouting with all her might:

"I like my older brother!"