The Young Miss Refuse To Love-Chapter 104: Xiao Qing

The moment Qi Jianyi let out a cough, her whole family panicked. Even He Zeqing, who had been kneeling on the floor, quickly stood up and rushed to her side.

"Jianyi, are you okay?" he asked, panicked himself, as he stood motionless in front of her. He wanted to help but didn’t know what to do.

Grandma He, noticing her grandson standing there uselessly while her granddaughter was coughing, smacked his arm. "Xiao Qing! Why are you standing here like an idiot? Go pour her a drink!"

As soon as Grandma He scolded him, He Zeqing immediately grabbed a teapot and poured a cup of tea, rushing to hand it to Qi Jianyi.

But before she could even reach for it, Grandpa He smacked the back of He Zeqing’s head. "You brat! Your cousin is coughing, and you’re giving her tea instead of plain water? Use your brain!"

The scene turned chaotic as the grandparents bickered with their anxious grandson, each growing more frustrated with his blunders.

Amid all this, Qi Jianyi, the main protagonist of their concern, continued to cough uncontrollably.

Her face turned slightly red from the effort, and no matter how much she tried to stop, the coughs kept tearing through her chest.

Once again, she silently cursed her frail body. Out of all illnesses, why did it have to be a persistent cough? She hated it, the tightness in her chest and the sharp pain with each breath making her feel utterly helpless.

"Water..." she whispered hoarsely between coughs.

Her left hand patted her chest in a futile attempt to ease the pain, while her right hand stretched weakly toward the glass on the table.

The burning in her throat was unbearable—she needed relief, and fast.

"Here, water!" Qi Jinlu, who had run to the kitchen moments earlier, hurried back with a glass of plain water. He handed it to their mother, who quickly passed it to Qi Jianyi.

As Qi Jianyi took a sip, Qi Jinlu’s face turned pale. The memory of his sister collapsing in his arms two weeks ago came flooding back.

He clenched his fists, silently vowing to never let that scene repeat itself. Seeing her so vulnerable again made his chest tighten with fear.

After a while, with her mother softly patting her back, Qi Jianyi finally calmed down. The flush of red that had overtaken her face from the lack of oxygen slowly faded, and she leaned back on the couch, utterly exhausted.

Coughing like that was no small feat—it left her drained, her chest aching as though she had run a marathon. Qi Jianyi had nearly thought she would faint.

No—she decided fainting might have been better. At least she wouldn’t have to endure the pain of struggling for breath.

"I’m hungry..." she whispered hoarsely, her voice faint but accompanied by a small, innocent smile. She glanced at her family, who hovered around her, their expressions still tinged with worry.

Truthfully, Qi Jianyi was hungry after all that effort. Though, part of her was secretly grateful she hadn’t eaten earlier—otherwise, she might have ended up vomiting everything during her coughing fit.

Seeing that she still had the strength to smile, her family collectively sighed in relief. The tension that had gripped the room melted away.

They had almost sacrificed the eldest son of the He family in exchange for her health, but thankfully, He Zeqing still had another day to live.

He Zeqing, noticing the sharp glares aimed at him from all directions, stood awkwardly and tried to explain himself. "...."

He had been completely wronged! First, Qi Jianyi lashed out at him, and before he could make amends, she started coughing uncontrollably.

Now, he had become the scapegoat for the entire family’s frustration.

And yet, as much as he wanted to protest, He Zeqing couldn’t shake the belief that perhaps Qi Jianyi had been too stimulated by his earlier actions. Maybe, just maybe, her coughing was his fault.

Seeing the smile on her granddaughter’s face, Grandma He quickly nodded and replied, "Okay, okay. Grandma will bring out the food soon. Xiao Yi, you rest first, and I’ll call you to eat in a minute."

With a relieved smile, Grandma He tugged her daughter and daughter-in-law back into the kitchen to prepare lunch in haste.

Meanwhile, the men of the family decided to end their earlier discussion, choosing instead to sit on the couch and accompany Qi Jianyi as she rested.

Still, He Zeqing was left kneeling awkwardly in front of her. The once-proud youngest president of the He family was reduced to the role of an eldest cousin who had wronged his younger cousin. His earlier status had crumbled like dust.

The other men in the He family made no effort to disguise their disapproval. Their scrutinizing gazes bore into He Zeqing, silently warning him that if he dared to utter even one more word that upset Qi Jianyi, he might be disowned on the spot.

"Jianyi, how are you feeling?" Mr. Qi asked, his voice filled with concern as he moved closer and sat beside her.

Though she appeared calmer now, his anxiety lingered. He couldn’t forget how she had coughed up blood in the garden not long ago, terrifying the entire family.

Qi Jianyi nodded, her tired eyes softening as she reached out to place her hand gently on her father’s. A small, helpless smile formed on her lips.

"Dad, I’m fine. I might have just choked earlier," she said softly, her voice still weak and tinged with exhaustion. There was a faint trace of coquettishness in her tone, a subconscious attempt to reassure him.

Her words did little to ease Mr. Qi’s worry, but he didn’t push further, squeezing her hand gently in response.

Despite Qi Jianyi’s assurance, the atmosphere in the room remained tense. Mr. Qi’s furrowed brow showed that he wasn’t entirely convinced. He continued to sit by her side, holding her hand as though afraid she might disappear if he let go.

The silence was broken by He Zeqing, who finally decided to speak, though his voice was hesitant.

"Jianyi... I didn’t mean to upset you earlier. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, just let me know."

Qi Jianyi tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes meeting his with a calm but piercing gaze. Her expression was unreadable, leaving He Zeqing unsure whether she was amused, annoyed, or both.

"You’ve already done enough, haven’t you?" she replied lightly, her tone deceptively casual.

She leaned back against the couch, her slender fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the pillow on her lap. "But if you really feel so guilty... I suppose you could stay kneeling a little longer."

A soft gasp came from one of the younger cousins seated nearby, they were happy to see him got punished while the other men exchanged furtive glances.

None of them dared to intervene—after all, Qi Jianyi had every right to make such a request.

He Zeqing opened his mouth to protest but stopped himself. He clenched his fists, his pride warring with his guilt.

Finally, with a resigned sigh, he shifted his position slightly but remained on his knees.

"Fine," he muttered, shooting her a look that was half-apology, half-exasperation.

Before anyone could comment further, the sound of bustling activity came from the kitchen. Grandma He’s voice rang out like a bell, full of energy.

"Lunch is ready! Xiao Yi, come eat while it’s hot!"

The family members immediately perked up, their earlier tension easing as they helped Qi Jianyi stand.

Mr. Qi supported her carefully, his arm steady around her shoulders. He acted as if his daughter was as fragile as glass, making Qi Jianyi feel helpless in that moment.

As they moved toward the dining room, Qi Jianyi glanced over her shoulder at He Zeqing, who was still kneeling on the floor. She gave him a faint smile, one that was both kind and teasing.

"You can get up now, Xiao Qing. I don’t want your knees giving out before dinner."

Qi Jianyi purposely emphasised his name, trying to annoy him as much as he did hers.

And Her words drew soft chuckles from the family, while He Zeqing grumbled under his breath as he stood, brushing off his pants.

Despite the embarrassment, he couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. At least she was well enough to tease him—that was all that mattered.

He didn’t even bother to argue with her about the name she called him. After all, something as trivial as that was nothing compared to what he had done to upset her.

Let it be. If Qi Jianyi wanted to call him Xiao Qing or even He Zeqing forever, he decided he wouldn’t contest it.

As long as she smiled. Even if it meant lowering his status in the family or enduring endless scolding, he was willing to do so if it pleased her.

After all, he didn’t have a sister to spoil, so spoiling his cousin seemed like the next best thing. He could only swallow his grievances and dote on Qi Jianyi within his means.

However, He Zeqing didn’t realize how much he would regret this decision later. The free pass he had just given Qi Jianyi—to call him whatever she pleased—would end up being a weapon in Song Chengfeng’s hands, used mercilessly to torment him in the future

But that was a story for another day...

Visit freewe𝑏n(o)v𝒆l.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience