"Jie Jingsi." Qin Mei tried to grab for it, but Jie Jingchen caught her in an embrace. Remembering last night, she didn’t dare cross his lines again. The man was far too sensitive. He wouldn’t beat her senseless the way he had Jie Jingjue, but for Qin Mei, his "punishment" felt no less severe.
Case in point: her entire body ached so much she felt like she couldn’t even get out of bed, yet here he was, telling her to get up.
Jie Jingchen held her tense frame, a sense of helplessness washing over him as he gently patted her back. "Relax. When you’re like this, I won’t... I’m not that much of a beast."
’Only she knew just how much of a beast he could be.’ There was no way she could relax while he held her like this. Qin Mei tried to push him away. "Jie Jingsi, have mercy."
Jie Jingchen lowered his head and pecked her soft, pink lips. He then pulled over the blanket he had tossed to the corner of the bed, covering her body. ’Can’t look, can’t hold.’ If this went on any longer, he’d lose control.
Qin Mei hid under the blanket, with only her head peeking out. She quietly scooted back a little, putting a safe distance between herself and Jie Jingchen.
Jie Jingchen took it all in, his smile deepening. He ruffled her hair. "I’ll go find you some clothes."
Jie Jingchen rummaged through the closet and finally pulled out a red dress he had bought for her but that she’d never once worn. Qin Mei rarely wore dresses. She had her own unique sense of style, cutting long pants into shorts and long sleeves into short ones. And you had to admit, they looked better than anything off the rack. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but he just felt that whatever she wore looked exceptionally good on her.
"Hurry and get dressed. We don’t have much time," Jie Jingchen said, tossing the red dress to Qin Mei.
Qin Mei ignored him, looking at him in confusion. "Don’t you have to work today?"
"I took the day off," Jie Jingchen replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Again?" Qin Mei frowned. ’This guy has zero enthusiasm for his job. He always clocks in at the last possible second but is eager to clock out, and he takes days off at the drop of a hat. With an attitude like that, he’s bound to get fired sooner or later.’
"Hurry and get dressed," Jie Jingchen urged. When Qin Mei still didn’t move, he reached for the red dress with one hand and tugged at the blanket covering her with the other. "I’ll help you."
"Dressed? Forget it. I’m not getting dressed. I want to sleep." Qin Mei really wasn’t fully awake. Every time Jie Jingchen wore her out like this, she’d sleep well past noon the next day.
The blazing sun outside streamed in through a gap in the curtains, promising another sweltering day.
It was summer; the days were long, the sun rising early and setting late.
"Meimei."
"I’m going to sleep," Qin Mei said, lying back down.
"Big Sis is arriving today," Jie Jingchen said.
"I don’t care. Even if the heavens themselves came knocking, I’d still... Wait, what did you say?" Qin Mei shot up, the sudden movement jarring her back and making her hiss in pain.
"Easy there." A wave of jealousy washed over Jie Jingchen. A moment ago, she was completely listless, but the mention of his sister’s arrival had her perking right up.
"What did you just say? Say it again." Qin Mei suspected she had misheard.
"I said, ’Easy there’," Jie Jingchen replied, deliberately misunderstanding her.
"Not that part!" Qin Mei waved her hand in frustration.
Jie Jingchen stopped teasing her. He gripped her by the shoulders and said seriously, "You heard me right. Big Sis is arriving today."
"Ah!" Qin Mei shrieked with excitement. ’I’ve been waiting for ages, and now Sis is finally coming!’ Yesterday she’d asked him, and he’d said it wouldn’t be so soon. ’He lied to me.’ Her expression turned to one of fury as she glared at him. "You lied to me."
"I didn’t lie," Jie Jingchen protested, feeling wronged.
"What did you tell me when I asked you yesterday?" Qin Mei demanded, poking him in the chest.
It dawned on him. He let go of her shoulders and pinched her nose affectionately. "I wanted it to be a surprise. I was also worried that if I told you, you’d be too excited to sleep."
Qin Mei pouted, her eyes wide. ’Listen to him, acting like he’s so considerate. But did he let me get to sleep early last night?’
’He’s the worst. He knew Sis was arriving today and that I’d want to go to the train station to meet her, but he still wore me out like that last night. Now my whole body is aching, and I don’t even want to get out of bed.’
"When does Sis get in?" Qin Mei asked.
"Ten o’clock," Jie Jingchen answered.
"What time is it now?" Qin Mei asked.
Jie Jingchen glanced at his watch. "Nine."
’Still time,’ Qin Mei thought, breathing a sigh of relief. "Get out. I need to get dressed."
"I’ll help," Jie Jingchen said, refusing to leave. The smile on his lips widened as he held up the red dress, ready to slip it over her head.
Qin Mei wanted to hit him. She snatched the red dress away, glared at him, and snapped, "Who wears a dress without putting on their underwear first?"
Jie Jingchen froze for a second, then let out a low, amused chuckle. "My mistake."
No matter how hot it got, he always wore an undershirt and shorts. Only in front of her would he ever take off his shirt and walk around in just his undershirt.
Jie Jingchen rose and retrieved her underclothes from the closet.
「At the train station.」
Qin Mei was wearing a long red dress. She looked dazzling and alluring, like a red rose in full bloom, so beautiful she seemed to steal the very souls of those who looked at her.
Qin Mei paced anxiously, her expectant gaze darting toward the arrivals gate every few moments.
Jie Jingchen was dressed simply in a white shirt and black trousers, which, on his tall and slender frame, gave him an air of uncommon nobility.
"Meimei, don’t stand in the sun. It’s too hot." Seeing Qin Mei step into a sunny spot again, Jie Jingchen reached out and pulled her back.
"I’m not hot." Qin Mei broke free from his grasp and stepped back into the sun, positioning herself at the main entrance to peer inside.
’Not hot?’ A dark look flashed in Jie Jingchen’s downcast eyes. ’Ever since summer started, all he’d heard her say was, "I’m hot," "Stay away from me," "Don’t get so close, it’s too hot," and the like.’
Jie Jingchen lifted his gaze to the blinding sun, then looked back at Qin Mei. She was dabbing sweat from her brow with a handkerchief, which she then used to fan herself.
’At that moment, Jie Jingchen had to admit it: in her heart, his sister was more important than he was.’ A sour feeling spread through his chest.
’If his sister were to ask her to leave with her, she would abandon him in a heartbeat and go without a second thought.’
A cold, mocking smile touched Jie Jingchen’s lips. He strode toward Qin Mei, grabbed her by the wrist, and forcibly pulled her toward him.
"Jie Jingsi, what are you doing?" Qin Mei demanded, her voice edged with impatience.
"Are you trying to get heatstroke?" Jie Jingchen asked darkly, his expression utterly displeased.
"I’m not hot." ’It was a lie, of course, but the heat was nothing compared to her eagerness to see Jie Jingling.’
Jie Jingchen couldn’t understand her reliance on Jie Jingling. When her soul had transmigrated into this body, Jie Jingling was the first person she saw upon opening her eyes.
In that moment of confusion and helplessness, Jie Jingling had given her care and a shoulder to lean on.
She saw Jie Jingling as her true family. Even if she and Jie Jingchen didn’t end up together, Jie Jingling would forever be her sister.
A shadow fell over Jie Jingchen’s eyes. He gripped her chin in dissatisfaction. "You are hot."
Qin Mei glared at him, wanting to curse him for being insane, but she held back from starting a fight.
Jie Jingchen’s brow furrowed slightly, but even his displeasure was tinged with affection. He released Qin Mei and handed her a military-style canteen. "Drink some water."
"I’m not thirsty," Qin Mei said petulantly, turning her face away from him.
A small laugh escaped Jie Jingchen. He called out over her shoulder, "Big Sis."
Qin Mei froze. A perfect smile immediately lit up her stunningly beautiful face as she turned, calling out sweetly, "Sis—"
Suddenly, Qin Mei’s voice died in her throat. The smile froze on her lips. There was no sign of Jie Jingling behind her.
Qin Mei whipped around and glared at Jie Jingchen. "You tricked me?"
"It’s been too long since I’ve seen my sister. My eyes must be playing tricks on me; I thought I saw her," Jie Jingchen said, his gentle gaze fixed on her as a warm smile spread across his lips.
Qin Mei stomped her foot. If Jie Jingchen wanted her to drink water, she would deliberately do the opposite, vowing to die of thirst before taking a sip. If he didn’t want her to stand in the sun, she would stubbornly run right into it.
Jie Jingchen felt helpless. All he could do was indulge her, spoil her, and stand beside her in the sun.
It was almost ten o’clock, and the sun was punishing. After baking for a while, Qin Mei couldn’t take it anymore. But Jie Jingchen, having spent years in the military, was long accustomed to standing under the scorching sun.