Chapter 9

The whole way, we said nothing.

Not until the car stopped at the door of our house did I mechanically get out, walk to the door, and unlock it with my fingerprint.

The faint click of the lock turning struck the last line of defense in my heart.

The moment I closed the door, my body instantly lost all support. I slid down against the door, sitting weakly on the floor.

Tears burst out like a flood breaking through a dam, unstoppable at last.

I buried my face in my knees, muffling the sobs that threatened to escape.

Ji Ming stood in front of me, not leaving, not making any move, just silently looking down at me.

I looked up, my eyes red from crying, gazing at him: “Brother, do you think I’m not worthy of love?”

He didn’t answer, just stood there, his fingers trembling slightly, but still never reaching out.

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.

I buried my head again, my voice broken and intermittent as I cried, “Dad and Mom don’t love me… Brother doesn’t love me… Even… my boyfriend… he wants to betray me too. He really liked me before, we were so in love…

“Did I do something wrong? Why… why does everyone treat me like this?”

My sobs were uncontrollable, desperate, each word leaving my mouth like I was tearing myself apart.

Ji Ming’s tightly clenched jaw loosened a little, and he closed his eyes, as if swallowing all the bitterness.

After a long time, he finally gave up struggling, bending down and pulling me into his arms:

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

I rested on his shoulder, crying, my tears soaking through his jacket.

His arms tightened around me just a bit: “To cry like this over that man–is it worth it?”

I didn’t answer, only cried harder.

Ji Ming’s arms grew even tighter, as if he wanted to mold me into his very self, his voice trembling: “Didn’t you say you wanted to experience what it feels like to be loved? Let brother give it to you, alright?”

I laughed.

So even the invincible brother would one day beg his own sister so humbly.

The always-sharp brother, at last, was worn down by his sister’s tears, leaving only raw, messy emotion.

For the first time, Ji Ming felt panic: the little sister who’d always trailed after him, now crying her heart out for a man who wasn’t him.

He wasn’t afraid of her kissing other men, or even sleeping with them.

What he feared was her truly falling for someone else.

He feared she would no longer belong to him.

I gently pushed him away, tears still clinging to my damp lashes.

Looking down, I realized Ji Ming was kneeling in front of me like a devout believer, using his fingertips to carefully wipe away my tears.

“Brother, what did you say?”

“I can’t bear you being with another man, especially such a fickle man,” Ji Ming’s voice was low, restrained, almost cautious, “So, be with brother, okay?”

He finished and slowly lowered his eyes, like a criminal awaiting sentence. The pride that once soared above all was now reduced to ashes, scattered, nowhere to be found.

I froze for a moment, then forced a smile: “Okay.”

Ji Ming’s eyes lit up.

“But…” I hesitated, “What about Mom and Dad… and the engagement in the future…”

Ji Ming let out a cold laugh, regaining his usual arrogance: “If the company still needs to sacrifice you through a marriage alliance, then all my work these years would be for nothing.”

I wiped away my tears, finally letting out a true smile from my heart, and threw my arms around Ji Ming: “Alright!”

Ji Ming was relieved, patting my back.

“Okay, now get up.”

I tried to move my numb legs: “My legs are asleep, I can’t get up. Brother, carry me.”

Ji Ming tapped my nose, and before I could react, he swept me up in his arms, carrying me toward the room upstairs:

“Pushing your luck!”

“This is called making–good–use–of–my–boyfriend!”

I deliberately emphasized the last three words, and sure enough, Ji Ming’s cheeks flushed red.

“You and your sharp tongue.”

That’s what he said, but his face showed nothing but happiness.

I wrapped my arms around Ji Ming’s neck, a sly smile flashing in my eyes: “Brother, did you know? Right now, you’re the other person.”

“Why?”

“I haven’t broken up with him yet.”

Ji Ming’s face darkened. After opening the bedroom door, he put me down “heavily” on the bed.

I leaned against the headboard, and he leaned over, trapping me in his arms, whispering, “So, when do you plan to make me official?”

I cupped his pouty face in my hands, lips lifting in a smirk: “That depends on your performance.”

“What performance? Like this?”

The next second, Ji Ming’s lips crashed down on mine–urgent, a little vengeful, wild and fierce, possessive and scorching.

Finally, he let go of me, breathing hard, his forehead pressed against mine, lips still close, our breaths mingling.

“Is that enough?”

I looked up at him and shook my head: “No, your kissing technique isn’t good enough.”

Ji Ming was stunned for a moment, then raised his brows.

“Well, brother doesn’t have as much experience as you,” he teased, “So why don’t you teach me, hmm?”

His breath brushed softly against my face, urging me on.

I tilted my chin, pressing my lips to his, not lingering too long, just a gentle, lingering kiss.

But Ji Ming wanted far more. He grabbed the back of my head, as if locking me in place.

But this time, his kiss was no longer urgent, but slow and lingering.

As I was kissed nearly breathless, I reached to take off Ji Ming’s jacket.

But Ji Ming grabbed my hand: “So skilled?”

I opened my eyes to find his brows deeply furrowed.

Like someone caught doing something bad, I gave a flattering smile and helped him put his jacket back on:

“No, no, just slipped.”

“I’ll ask you again–how far did you go with him?”

He wasn’t buying it, just got even angrier.

“Why are we talking about him again? Why are you asking?”

I turned my head, avoiding his questioning gaze and looking off into the distance.

Ji Ming held my chin, forcing me to look at his sharp face.

“What did you do with him, and how many times? I’ll pay you back a thousandfold.

“If you slept with him, then tonight, I’ll take you right here.”

When he said this, his tone and eyes were deadly serious. His knee even pushed my legs apart.

I could only answer, a little shyly, “At most, just kissed a few times. We never went that far–you stopped me, didn’t you…?”

“Kissed a few times?”

“Just… a dozen or so?”

“You sure?”

I nodded firmly.

Only then did he let go of my hand, pulling back his leg that had been pressing forward, and gave me a kiss on the cheek: “Good girl!”

Ji Ming kept kissing me for a long time, as if he really was planning to pay me back a thousandfold, just as he’d said.

That night, he held me as we slept, and I slept especially soundly.

Probably because the act had been rather exhausting.