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

After eating two bowls of rice, Qiao Xinxin let out a satisfied burp, slammed her chopsticks down, and said, "I'm full. Enjoy your meal, everyone. Goodbye!"

After saying that, she didn't bother to look at anyone else's expression and went straight upstairs to her room.

With a "bang," Qiao Xinxin slammed the door shut and locked it from the inside.

She walked to the desk, carefully took the letter out of her pocket again, and read it carefully several times in the dim light of the desk lamp.

As she watched, Qiao Xinxin's eyes involuntarily welled up with a sour red.

She wasn't sure if it was the lingering memories of the original body at work, or if she herself was genuinely moved by this unconditional favoritism.

She had already returned to the Qiao family, and even the Bai family members themselves knew that she was not their biological daughter. However, after receiving her letter for help, Brother Bai still chose to help her escape her misery without hesitation.

A warm tear fell onto the edge of the letter.

If the original owner had known earlier that her adoptive parents and older brother, even knowing she wasn't their biological child, still loved her as if she were their own eyes... would she still have forced herself to integrate into the cold Qiao family, suffering endless grievances and ultimately dying a tragic death from depression?

Although Brother Bai hinted in his letter that he had agreed to take her to live with him at the military base, the approval and housing allocation procedures within the military would probably not be finalized so quickly.

Once everything is settled, Brother Bai will definitely send her another letter.

Qiao Xinxin took a deep breath, carefully put the letter into her spatial storage, and forcefully suppressed the wildly surging anticipation and excitement in her heart.

It is precisely at times like these that we must remain calm!

This matter has not yet been finalized, and she must not become complacent and let the Qiao family see through her act, lest she ruin her great plan at this critical juncture!

But now that she has a space, she should make good use of it. She can't just sit around doing nothing and wait to die with such a great cheat.

With a thought, Qiao Xinxin vanished from the room in an instant.

Qiao Xinxin changed into a set of light and loose clothes, took a deep breath of spiritual energy, and began to jog slowly around the small wooden house in the space.

Qiao Mingzhu and Qiao Lijun, that pair of psychologically twisted fake siblings, have no good intentions whatsoever, and who knows what other despicable tricks they might have up their sleeves later.

Having a thousand schemes is not as good as having a healthy body that can withstand any hardship!

The spiritual spring water in the space can cleanse the marrow and strengthen the body. Combined with her daily physical training, she refused to believe that her sickly body could not be made strong!

"Huff... huff..."

Qiao Xinxin was exhausted, sweating profusely, panting heavily, and her legs felt as heavy as lead, but she bit her lip and refused to stop.

She will become stronger! She will never be a lamb to the slaughter!

……

While Qiao Xinxin was exhausted from trying to survive in the space, another drama was unfolding on the second floor of the Qiao family's house.

Qiao Mingzhu, carrying a steaming cup of milk, gently knocked on Qiao Lijun's door.

As soon as she entered the room, her eyes were red, and she put on the act of a wronged and weak young girl.

She placed the milk on the desk, gently tugged at Qiao Lijun's sleeve, and softly coaxed the still angry man: "Brother, I'm sorry... It was my fault today. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten so angry."

Qiao Lijun's anger was still raging in his chest, but when he saw Qiao Mingzhu's tearful appearance, he could no longer vent his anger.

He was angry at Qiao Xinxin, who was sharp-tongued and talked back to him. How could he bear to scold Mingzhu, whom he had doted on since childhood?

Qiao Lijun casually picked up the milk, and his other warm hand naturally grasped Qiao Mingzhu's slightly cold hand. His tone immediately softened: "What does this have to do with you? It's all that jinx Qiao Xinxin's fault! I really don't know how those peasants in the Bai family raised her. She doesn't understand any manners at all; she's practically a shrew from the marketplace!"

"No..."

Qiao Mingzhu lowered her eyes, revealing a perfectly slender, fair neck, as delicate as a swan's. Her voice was so soft it seemed to drip water. "It's my fault. Brother, if it weren't for me shamelessly staying at home and occupying my place, Sister wouldn't harbor resentment, and she wouldn't have had a legitimate reason to contact the Bai family openly..."

"You, you're just too kind!" Qiao Lijun felt a pang of heartache and reached out to pat her head. "You take everything on yourself! If that ungrateful Qiao Xinxin had half your understanding, Mom, Dad, and I wouldn't be so disgusted with her now!"

"Really? Brother? You really don't mind that I'm taking my sister's place?"

Qiao Mingzhu suddenly raised her head, her shimmering eyes filled with hope, dependence, and deep unease.

Qiao Lijun looked at her reddened eyes and her cautious, frightened appearance, and his breath hitched.

His reason was instantly overwhelmed by emotion, and he couldn't help but reach out and pull the delicate woman in front of him tightly into his broad chest.

"Silly girl..." Qiao Lijun rested his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the faint scent of soap in her hair. "It has nothing to do with you. It's just that my parents and I can't bear to part with you, so we selfishly want to keep you by our side forever."

A triumphant smile subtly curved the corners of Qiao Mingzhu's mouth from an angle that Qiao Lijun couldn't see.

Instead of pushing him away, she obediently pressed her cheek against his firm chest and gently wrapped her arms around his waist: "Brother, you're so good..."

That soft, sweet "brother" made Qiao Lijun feel weak all over.

His hands tightened unconsciously, unwilling to let go of the warm, soft body in his arms, so he held her even tighter.

When he couldn't help but lower his head, his gaze fell precisely on his sister's slightly parted, pink lips, glistening with a captivating sheen.

"Gulp..."

In the quiet room, Qiao Lijun could clearly hear himself swallowing.

Almost instantly, all the blood in his body rushed to his head, his male hormones surged wildly, his body temperature soared, and even the arms he was holding Qiao Mingzhu became as hot as iron.

His Adam's apple bobbed violently, his voice hoarse beyond belief, as he murmured her name softly: "Mingzhu..."

"Brother, what's wrong?" Qiao Mingzhu looked up at him with innocent, wet eyes.

That gaze was like a fire with a hook, burning Qiao Lijun so much that he suddenly shuddered.

He hurriedly looked away, not daring to meet those eyes again, afraid that the shameful and sordid desires in his heart would be completely exposed.

"N-nothing, I..." Qiao Lijun stammered, trying to find an excuse, forcibly suppressing his heavy breathing, "My leave to visit my family is almost over..."

"So fast?!" Qiao Mingzhu was truly panicked now, grabbing his collar in disbelief.

"Yeah, the day after tomorrow. I have to go back to the unit first thing the day after tomorrow." Qiao Lijun gave a bitter smile. "The unit is stationed far away, and company commanders don't get much leave. The next time I come back... I might have to wait until your wedding with Zhou Liguang."

As soon as the word "marriage" was uttered, Qiao Mingzhu's nails dug sharply into her palms.

A wave of immense panic swept over her instantly.

No! She absolutely cannot marry that cripple! If her brother is gone, who will protect her?!

She gripped Qiao Lijun's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with pleading and despair: "Brother, I don't want you to leave! I especially don't want to marry that cripple Zhou Liguang!"

She was desperate. She buried her face in Qiao Lijun's arms and cried out the earth-shattering words hidden deep within her heart: "Please help me! I don't want to marry anyone else... The person I want to marry is you! Brother, please don't abandon me!"