The Young Miss Refuse To Love
Chapter 71: Sibling rivalry

Chapter 71: Sibling rivalry

"Do I really have to wait for you two?" Qi Jianyi sighed dramatically as she unbuckled her seatbelt, glancing at her two brothers with raised brows.

Qi Jinlu merely shrugged, replying nonchalantly, "Dad said you have to wait until we’re done with the game."

She groaned, rolling her eyes. "You’re both old enough and still can’t drive? Why not go get your licenses already?"

Qi Jinlu looked away, pretending not to hear, while Qi Jinli, silent and unbothered as ever, simply nodded to his brother’s response. Unlike Qi Jinlu, he rarely spoke up, much less engaged in her teasing.

Qi Jianyi couldn’t help but feel mildly amused. She’d thought her father would give up on trying to push her out of the house after yesterday’s complaints to her mom. But true to his stubborn nature, Mr. Qi was as persistent as ever, insisting she go out and "do something," even if it meant chauffeuring her brothers to their basketball game.

The morning had started with him handing her the car keys, his gaze firm. "Drive your brothers to school," he’d said, leaving her no room to argue. And here she was, left at their mercy.

"Fine, fine," she relented, a playful eye-roll directed at Qi Jinlu, who only raised an eyebrow at her. "But don’t expect me to sit through the whole game. If you take too long, I’m driving off without you."

"Understood," Qi Jinlu said, his voice carrying just the faintest hint of amusement.

With that, the twins got out, Qi Jinli giving her a brief nod in parting before they disappeared toward the basketball court. Qi Jianyi leaned back in her seat, smiling to herself despite her complaints. She had to admit, it was nice—her dad’s insistence, her brothers’ quiet company.

It was nice to have to ’do something’ in this unfamiliar world. Though she must admit that this world was no longer as unfamiliar as it use to be.

Not a minute had passed before Qi Jinli reappeared by the car, knocking lightly on the window and pulling Qi Jianyi from her drifting thoughts.

"What?" she asked, lowering the window and eyeing him curiously.

Qi Jinli hesitated, glancing away momentarily as if gathering courage. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, a bit jittery. "Do you... do you want to watch us play?"

Surprised, Qi Jianyi leaned back in her seat, feigning consideration. "The sun’s too bright," she said with a casual shrug. "I’ll probably get dizzy."

Without missing a beat, Qi Jinli held up a cap he had with him. "You can wear this, sister."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Qi Jianyi’s mouth. Sensing how eager he was, she couldn’t resist teasing him. "Oh? Do you really want me to watch you play that much?"

Qi Jinli, completely missing her teasing tone, nodded earnestly, his eyes sincere. "Yes. Will you come?"

Unable to hold back a chuckle at his wide-eyed anticipation, Qi Jianyi finally relented. "Alright, alright. Give me the cap," she said, shutting off the car engine and stepping out.

As she took the cap from his hand, she nudged him lightly. "What are you doing just standing there like a statue? Lead the way!"

Qi Jinli, momentarily flustered, quickly straightened up, a happy smile crossing his face. With a quick nod, he began leading her toward the court, glancing back once to make sure she was still with him.

Qi Jianyi followed, amused by her usually quiet brother’s sudden burst of courage. His pace quickened, as if worried she might change her mind.

As they approached the outdoor court, she adjusted the cap he’d given her, pulling it low to shade her eyes from the sun. Around them, players were warming up, the sounds of basketballs bouncing and sneakers squeaking against the court filling the air.

Qi Jinli glanced at her hesitatingly, his hands clenched in nervous excitement. "I’m... I’m glad you came," he mumbled, barely loud enough for her to hear.

Qi Jianyi smirked, nudging him playfully. "Didn’t know my little brother had a sentimental side."

Qi Jinli shot her a sidelong glance, feeling a swell of happiness that his usually aloof sister had, for once, accepted his invitation.

"Just... don’t actually get dizzy or anything," he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck, trying to mask his enthusiasm.

Laughing, Qi Jianyi settled on the bleachers and gave his hair a light ruffle. "You just focus on the game, alright? I’ll be cheering you on... in my own quiet way," she teased, though a hint of genuine pride showed in her eyes.

Qi Jinli offered a rare, sincere smile—the kind that caught her by surprise. With a final nod, he hurried onto the court, but not without glancing back once to confirm that she was still there, watching him.

His steps felt lighter, a bit more confident, as he joined his teammates, the simple presence of his sister giving him a sense of pride and encouragement.

"Sister agreed to come with you?" Qi Jinlu asked quietly as Qi Jinli joined their teammates, watching his brother’s smug expression with mild suspicion.

Qi Jinli nodded, an unmistakable pride lighting up his face. "Of course."

Qi Jinlu rolled his eyes, scoffing with mock disgust. "Tsk, don’t get too proud of yourself."

"Sister likes me best," Qi Jinli added with a smirk, clearly intending to ignite a spark of jealousy in his twin.

Qi Jinlu raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Did she actually say that?"

Qi Jinli shrugged, unfazed. "She didn’t have to say it. I just know." His voice brimmed with confidence, and for once, the typically quiet and reserved twin seemed to delight in poking fun at his brother.

Qi Jinlu gave him a pointed look, half-amused, half-annoyed. Only he knew how annoying Qi Jinli could be beneath his quiet exterior. They were inseparable, bound by an unspoken connection that meant Qi Jinlu could usually tell what his brother was thinking without a single word exchanged.

As the older twin, Qi Jinlu had always kept a protective eye on his little brother, who would shy away from attention and retreat into his own world when others approached.

Yet, this quiet little brother knew just how to get under his skin—whether by taunting him about small mistakes, or occasionally "threatening" him to get his way. And now, Qi Jinli had found a fresh way to taunt him: their sister’s attention.

For seventeen years, Qi Jinlu and Qi Jinli had shared everything—clothes, shoes, even their sister’s rare glances, if she offered them at all. In their quiet, balanced world, they were equals.

Whatever one received, the other did too. It was an unspoken understanding between them.

But now, with their sister watching from the bleachers solely because of Qi Jinli, that delicate balance seemed to tilt. Qi Jinlu felt a twinge of envy gnawing at him, an unfamiliar feeling.

They looked identical, yet why was it that she chose to come for Qi Jinli? The question stirred something unsteady in him.

Unwilling to let the jealousy linger, Qi Jinlu straightened his posture and shot Qi Jinli a competitive smile. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Just wait until she cheers me on next."

Qi Jinli chuckled softly, sensing the unspoken promise of another round of sibling rivalry. For once, he didn’t mind letting his brother feel the sting of defeat—if only to savour this rare victory a bit longer.

Unaware of the subtle sibling rivalry she had sparked, Qi Jianyi relaxed under the shade of a sprawling tree, her gaze wandering over the court as the players warmed up.

A gentle smile crept onto her face as she soaked in the vibrant energy of the scene, her mind drifting to memories of years past.

She couldn’t quite remember the last time she’d watched a basketball game. Probably sometime back when she’d snuck into a match at a random school, hoping to capture the essence of a basketball-playing male lead for her novel. How committed she’d been back then, willing to go to any lengths for authenticity in her writing.

The thought made her chuckle, a soft, nostalgic laugh that reminded her of a teen version of herself—fueled by passion and curiosity, chasing stories and characters like they were treasures waiting to be unearthed.

"Why do I always look back on things so nostalgically, like I’m fifty?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head.

Those memories were from just a few years ago—five at most—but it felt as if lifetimes had passed since then. Back then, she’d been so driven, so hungry to create and explore, filled with a relentless energy that had her jotting down ideas in every spare moment.

Now, that fervour seemed like a distant memory, something she could almost reach out and touch yet felt inexplicably out of grasp. Her smile softened, laced with a touch of melancholy as she realised how much she missed that version of herself—the one who saw stories in everything, who chased inspiration like it was something she would lose if she didn’t run fast enough.

Qi Jianyi snapped back to reality as a sharp whistle pierced the air, signaling that the players should get ready for the match to begin. The sound jolted her from her reverie, her focus shifting from her memories to the buzzing atmosphere around her.

Excitement tinged the air as the teams gathered, energy crackling like static. The twins and their teammates lined up, their expressions a mix of determination and nervous anticipation.

She could see her younger brothers stealing glances in her direction, and she felt a warm rush of pride swell within her.

As the referee blew the whistle again to start the game, Qi Jianyi leaned forward in her seat, a smile breaking across her face. For the first time in a while, she felt a flicker of that old excitement, the kind that came from being part of something lively and competitive. She settled in, ready to cheer her brothers on, her heart racing with the thrill of the match.