Mistakenly recognized as a cousin, thousands of pampered

Tao Jiuxi waited quietly at home, from daytime until nightfall.

Shen Zhiyi and Ji Qingyi left early in the morning and have not been heard from since.

Just as the night was about to completely cover the earth, the maid who was sent to inquire about the news finally returned.

The maid hurried into the yard and reported to Tao Jiuxi, who was sitting on the swing: "Miss, only the young master came back alone."

Tao Jiuxi withdrew his gaze from the distance and looked at the maid. The swing made a slight "creaking" sound as she swayed it slightly.

"Then what do you think of his expression?" Tao Jiuxi asked anxiously, with worry in his eyes.

"I can't see clearly, I just smell the smell of alcohol." The maid replied with a frown, as if she was still recalling the situation.

After hearing this, Tao Jiuxi swung slowly on the swing a few times, his thoughts rising and falling with the swing.

"Xiu'er, ask Hua An to make a bowl of hangover soup and send it over. Don't say I asked him to make it, just say Hua An made it himself."

"Yes, young lady." The maid Xiu'er responded and turned to leave.

"Boil another bowl and send it to me." Tao Jiuxi seemed to suddenly remember something and hurriedly called Xiu'er.

"Girls, do you want to drink too?"

"Well, I haven't tried it yet, so I'll give it a try."

Xiu'er took the order and left, thinking to herself that her daughter was really greedy and that the hangover soup was not tasty.

Tao Jiuxi thought that Shen Zhiyi would come to find her, so she decided to wait a little longer. So, she pushed her legs hard, swung the swing high, and started playing alone.

At this moment, there was a light knocking sound from the open courtyard door. In this quiet night, the sound hit Tao Jiuxi's heart like a drumbeat.

She immediately stopped the swing with her foot and looked up.

Ji Qingyi, dressed in cyan, stood quietly in front of the courtyard gate, like a touch of green bamboo in the night. His figure was a little blurry in the dim light and the night, but it also carried a unique sense of loneliness and desolation.

"Xi'er."

Tao Jiuxi immediately got up from the swing. She had never expected that Ji Qingyi would come to her at such a late hour.

"Brother Yi? Why are you here?"

Tao Jiuxi tried hard to make her voice sound calmer, but her slightly trembling tone still revealed her inner nervousness.

Seeing Tao Jiuxi stand up, Ji Qingyi did not come in. Instead, he took a few steps back and stood at the bottom of the stairs outside Tao Jiuxi's yard.

When Tao Jiuxi saw Ji Qingyi's behavior, he frowned slightly, with a hint of confusion in his eyes, and walked out of the yard.

When she reached the gate, she stopped, as if an invisible barrier was standing between the two of them.

Ji Qingyi wasn't wearing the same clothes he'd worn when he left that morning; it was obvious he'd just gone back to change before coming in. His new clothes seemed a bit out of place in the night, yet they also seemed to convey the importance he attached to this meeting.

"I shouldn't have disturbed you, but if I don't tell you today, I'm afraid I will change my mind." Ji Qingyi's voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of bitterness and helplessness.

When Tao Jiuxi heard this, a wave of panic surged in his heart.

She thought Shen Zhiyi would arrive first and tell her the result of their discussion, but unexpectedly, Ji Qingyi came first.

"Change your mind about what?"

Tao Jiuxi was afraid that Ji Qingyi would say something that she couldn't respond to because he was drunk, and her heart suddenly rose to her throat.

"Do you like Shen Zhiyi?"

Tao Jiuxi was stunned for a moment, but then responded: "I like it very much."

"If you met me first, would you like me?" Ji Qingyi's gaze was fixed on Tao Jiuxi, his eyes full of expectation and uneasiness, as if his whole world depended on Tao Jiuxi's answer.

Tao Jiuxi never thought that Ji Qingyi would suddenly say such a thing.

However, there are no ifs in this world. Things that have already happened cannot be erased. Making further assumptions will only add to your troubles and will be meaningless.

Tao Jiuxi looked at Ji Qingyi's affectionate yet fragile expression, and his heart felt like it was hit hard, and a deep sense of guilt surged.

"I'm sorry, Brother Yi." Her lips trembled slightly as she uttered these words.

"No?" Ji Qingyi's voice trembled a little.

"will not."

Tao Jiuxi gritted his teeth and spoke with great determination.

She felt that only in this way could Ji Qingyi dispel all the inappropriate thoughts in his mind, even if it would cause him pain. A short pain is worse than a long one, and she didn't want him to sink deeper and deeper into this hopeless emotion.

When Ji Qingyi heard this, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, but it was an extremely bitter smile.

"We got engaged when you were young. Although we haven't met each other for many years, there is always a place in my heart for you. When I saw you coming back from outside that day, I felt that God had not treated me unfairly..." His voice flowed slowly in the silent night, and every word seemed to be dug out from the depths of his heart, mixed with unspeakable sadness.

"Xier, if this person wasn't Shen Zhiyi, even if you didn't like me, I would never give in."

When Tao Jiuxi heard this, a hint of joy immediately appeared on his face. What he meant was that because this person was Shen Zhiyi, he chose to give in?

So, Ji Qingyi is willing to give up his engagement with me?

She was so immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't realize that this unintentional expression deeply hurt Ji Qingyi's heart.

But what can he do?

On one side are his siblings whom he regards as his younger brother, and on the other side is his fiancée whose heart is not with him.

He couldn't give up his brotherly bond with Shen Zhiyi, nor did he want to force Tao Jiuxi into a loveless marriage. Should he force her into marriage? No, he wouldn't do that. His love wasn't about possession, but about wanting her to be happy, even if it wasn't him.

"Brother Yi, thank you, really." Tao Jiuxi's eyes were full of gratitude. She knew how difficult it was for Ji Qingyi to make this decision.

"If in the future..." Ji Qingyi started to speak, but hesitated.

Tao Jiuxi guessed that Ji Qingyi might want to say something like if Shen Zhiyi betrayed her in the future, but she didn't want to let Ji Qingyi down again, nor did she want him to have any other thoughts.

She had already chosen to selfishly pursue her own love at this moment and could no longer waste Ji Qingyi's good time in the future. She couldn't let him keep waiting in vain, as that would be too unfair to him.

"Brother Yi, we will be brother and sister for life. I am so lucky to have a brother like you."

After Tao Jiuxi finished speaking, he looked at Ji Qingyi with gratitude, very sincerely.

Ji Qingyi understood. He knew Tao Jiuxi's determination and also knew that everything was irreversible.

"Go get some rest. From tomorrow on, I'll just treat you as my sister."

He spoke softly, his voice a little hoarse, as if he had exhausted all his strength. Then, he turned and left, staggering a little. His back looked lonely and desolate in the dim light, which made Tao Jiuxi feel guilty.