The Young Miss Refuse To Love-Chapter 84: I never hate you

"She’s so cute that I couldn’t help but wonder how it feels to have a little sister..." Qi Jianyi murmured, her tone soft and thoughtful, though she was lying through her teeth. Her lips curled into a small, amused smile as she watched Qi Jinlu’s face twist in unmistakable jealousy.

She looked up at the sky, her gaze distant as if caught in a reverie. "But when I woke up, I realised that having two little brothers is just as good as having a little sister."

Qi Jinlu stilled, his body freezing as her words sank in. A silent, vulnerable pause passed between them. Qi Jianyi smiled, but the light didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was letting him see only what she could show, holding back the truth that lingered in her heart.

"I won’t talk about the past, but Jinlu... I do like you both now. So you and Jinli can stop trying so hard. You’re my brothers, and I’ll protect and care for you both, just as much as I want to protect the little sister in my dream."

Her voice was calm and gentle, carrying a warmth she hoped would reassure him. Reaching out, she placed a comforting hand on his head, her fingers brushing gently through his hair.

The truth of their past, the story of who she truly was, wasn’t hers to share. It belonged to the original Qi Jianyi, a different person who had left behind scars she could only try to soothe.

Yet, in her heart, she had come to love Jinlu and Jinli as her own brothers, finding herself wishing for nothing but their safety and happiness. It wasn’t an instinct that came from memories, but rather a feeling born of the warmth and quiet devotion they had shown her, little by little.

She remembered how, when she had fainted and been confined to bed for days, the twins had come to visit her without fail. They slipped in like shadows, awkward and silent, keeping her company even though they never had the courage to meet her gaze directly.

It was an act of care that spoke more than words.

Just like her little sister Jianning, the twins were only young boys seeking their sister’s affection. If the original Qi Jianyi had noticed them earlier, she might have had two little ducklings trailing behind her, just as her sister had done.

The thought brought a tender ache to her heart, a vision of the family bond she wished had been there from the start.

Looking down, she spoke softly, almost as if sharing a quiet secret. "I know how hard you and Jinli have tried to be close to me. But, you know, we’re already family, Jinlu. That bond alone is proof that we’re close. I like you both, more than you realise. Don’t be afraid of me hating you anymore, because I never did, not even once."

Her words struck a chord deep within Qi Jinlu, and his eyes began to redden. Tears welled up as he struggled to hold back a sob, his emotions too overwhelming to hide.

To him, her words were a victory—a gentle declaration that all the efforts he and Jinli had made had finally been acknowledged. But a pang of regret filled him as he thought of his twin brother, busy painting alone in his room, missing the moment he’d longed for as well.

"Sister..." he whispered, but his voice broke, the words caught in his throat as he choked on his own tears.

With a soft smile, Qi Jianyi pulled him into her arms, wrapping him in a warm embrace. "It’s okay, Jinlu. Go ahead and cry," she murmured, her hand resting on his back as she rubbed it in slow, comforting circles. "I’m sorry for making you and Jinli think I hated you both. I didn’t mean to."

But in her heart, guilt lingered. I’m sorry for lying, she thought silently. I do care for you both, but I’m not truly your sister. I’m sorry that your real sister couldn’t give you the love you deserved.

The more Qi Jianyi spoke, the more Qi Jinlu’s sadness transformed into a bittersweet relief. His purpose in calling her out for lunch had been so simple, yet the ordinary day had taken a turn he could never have predicted.

Now, it was the happiest day of his life, a moment he would cherish as the day he finally felt the love he had longed for, from the sister he had always dreamed of.

"Don’t apologise, sister. We never blamed you for anything." Qi Jinlu’s voice quivered as he fought to steady himself, holding back the sobs that threatened to break free.

He wanted her to know that she had nothing to feel guilty for—that he and his brother had never resented her, not once.

The twins had understood from a young age that their sister’s coldness wasn’t her fault. They knew that while their parents had showered them with love, Qi Jianyi had been left on the sidelines, neglected and alone. Instead of anger, the twins felt only guilt, believing that they had somehow stolen the love that should have been hers.

"Then, don’t blame yourself," Qi Jianyi replied, her voice gentle but firm. She could see the weight of his unspoken guilt, and she wanted to take it away, to let him know that he was blameless.

"It’s never been your burden to carry, Jinlu."

Her own heart tightened as she thought of Mr. Qi and Mrs. Qi, of how they had failed the original Qi Jianyi. Instead of reaching out to repair the broken bond, they had distanced themselves, assuming they had lost the right to interfere. This self-imposed distance had only deepened her loneliness, and those wounds had become scars Qi Jianyi now carried.

Yet, the twins were different. They hadn’t chosen to be born into this fractured family, nor had they asked to be the recipients of their parents’ redirected affection. The regrets that Mr. and Mrs. Qi held toward their daughter were channeled into Qi Jinlu and Qi Jinli, though it was never theirs to bear.

The original Qi Jianyi’s anger was justified—but the twins were innocent, unworthy of her resentment. They were simply two young boys who wanted a sister’s love, and if anyone was to be blamed, it was their parents.

"We’ve always loved you, sister..." Qi Jinlu whispered, resting his head on her shoulder as he surrendered to the tears he had been holding back.

Qi Jianyi’s heart softened at his words, a gentle warmth easing her guilt. She held him close, a soft smile on her lips.

But in that quiet moment, a sharp, searing pain shot through her chest, cutting off her breath. She gasped, caught off guard by the sudden ache that tightened her lungs. Her smile faded, and a cough erupted from her throat, ragged and strained.

"Sister, are you alright?" Jinlu’s voice was anxious as he listened to her persistent coughing, his worry mounting. Her arms around him only tightened, though her grip felt weak, as if she was struggling to keep control.

"Don’t worry... I just... choked," she managed to reply, though her tone lacked conviction.

She still held onto him, her grip like a lifeline, trying to mask her pain as best as she could. But with every cough, she felt it—a metallic taste rising in her throat, threatening to escape.

Qi Jinlu grew more anxious with each passing second. The more she held onto him, the more uneasy he became.

"Sister, let go! What’s happening to you?" He tried to push her back, but found himself unable to, stunned by her unexpected strength. At that moment, Qi Jinlu realised just how strong his sister truly was.

"Don’t move too much, Jinlu," she whispered, forcing herself to take a steadying breath. She tried to calm the burning in her chest, but her body betrayed her, her breath catching in her throat.

Another harsh cough tore through her, and this time, she could feel it—warm blood spilling past her lips.

Her pale lips were now tinged red, a vivid contrast against her ashen skin. A small stain had bloomed on Jinlu’s clothes, and he froze, feeling the dampness of it sink in. He looked down, horrified to see the crimson smear across her mouth, staining her once-cold expression with something raw and fragile.

The pain was overwhelming, suffocating, but she forced herself to keep holding him, unwilling to let him see the full extent of her suffering. All she could feel was the dull, throbbing ache, an unrelenting force pressing down on her.

Qi Jinlu’s eyes widened as he stared at the crimson stain on his clothes, the shock turning to deep, panicked fear. "Sister... you’re bleeding," he whispered, his voice barely audible, trembling as he reached out to touch her face.

But Qi Jianyi held on tightly, refusing to let go, even as her strength waned. "Jinlu... don’t worry," she managed in a soft, strained voice.

Despite the mounting pain and the metallic taste of blood lingering in her mouth, an odd thought flitted through her mind: I feel like a tragic character in a novel, collapsing at the worst possible moment.

A faint, bitter laugh bubbled up inside her—she knew she was sick, but never thought she would actually cough up blood out of nowhere, especially in front of the crying child. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Sister, please, let me call someone!" Qi Jinlu pleaded, his voice laced with desperation as he struggled to break free, hoping to get help. But her arms held him close, determined to shield him from her pain, even if only for a little longer.

"No, just... stay here," she whispered. The ache in her chest grew sharper, spreading through her body like wildfire. Still, she forced a smile, if only to calm his terrified gaze.

"I’m okay, Jinlu... don’t worry... It’s nothing serious," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.

But her words felt empty, each one slipping away as her strength ebbed. Her breathing grew shallow, her vision blurred, and the world around her seemed to spin. She tried to reassure herself that it was just fatigue, nothing more—just a dizzy spell she’d laugh off later.

Yet, her breaths came quicker, her chest tightening painfully as darkness crept at the edges of her vision. Qi Jianyi’s thoughts grew distant, fading like a dream slipping out of reach. Qi Jinlu’s tearful face hovered before her, but his cries felt far away, echoing like whispers down a long corridor.

"Sister! Please, don’t—wake up, please!" His voice was panicked, his small hands gripping her shoulders, shaking her.

But her strength was gone, her body growing heavy, the world around her quieting. With a final, quiet exhale, Qi Jianyi’s arms fell slack, her eyes drifting shut as she slipped into unconsciousness, leaving Jinlu’s desperate cries lingering faintly in the silence.

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