The Young Miss Refuse To Love
Chapter 76: They’re my brothers

Chapter 76: They’re my brothers

As soon as the winner was announced and stepped onto the podium to receive his prize, Qi Jianyi stood up and stretched, ready to leave.

The race had turned out to be far more thrilling than she had anticipated. She had almost forgotten how much she enjoyed the excitement the first time she experienced it.

With a flushed face, she smiled and turned to her brothers. "So, how was it? Did you bet on the right person?"

The twins nodded arrogantly, their expressions full of pride. "Of course, I didn’t waste my breath earlier for nothing," Qi Jinlu responded.

He had switched to his talkative mode during the event, immersing himself in the conversation to figure out which racer had the highest chance of winning.

After all, this was their first time participating in such an event, and with their sister’s warnings ringing in his ears, Qi Jinlu was determined not to make a mistake with his bet.

Fortunately, his efforts paid off. Both brothers had bet on the right racer and won double their original stakes.

The more Qi Jianyi looked at their proud expressions, the more amused she felt. Still, she kept silent, not wanting to dampen their spirits. After all, first-time experiences should be memorable for the right reasons. She had no desire to be a killjoy.

"Go collect your winnings, and then treat me and your brother Chengfeng to lunch," she said, nudging them with her chin to hurry them along.

Pouting, Qi Jinlu retorted, "Since when did I have an older brother?"

"Qi Jinlu, mind your manners," Qi Jianyi warned, narrowing her eyes.

Dissatisfied, he clicked his tongue but walked off to collect his prize, grumbling internally about how his sister always seemed to take Song Chengfeng’s side.

His thoughts were a little dramatic, but he couldn’t help feeling annoyed at the idea of his sister, who was just starting to warm up to them, being ’stolen’ by another man.

Meanwhile, Qi Jinli glanced from side to side—his sister on one side, his twin brother walking away sulkily on the other.

And there he stood, the youngest, caught between them.

"Sister, I’ll treat you both. I have money too," he said softly after a moment’s pause.

The look on his face was serious, as if he had just made the biggest decision of his life.

Hearing his offer, Qi Jianyi laughed, while Song Chengfeng smiled. The youngest Qi sibling truly had a kind heart.

Qi Jinli couldn’t bear to see either of his siblings upset, so since Qi Jinlu had refused to treat Song Chengfeng, he would step in. That way, both his sister and his brother could be happy.

Nodding, Qi Jianyi’s expression turned playful. "You’re really something, Jinli. Did I ever tell you that you’re my favorite brother?" she teased.

Qi Jinli blinked in surprise before a smile spread across his face. He knew it—his sister really did prefer him over Qi Jinlu!

With a newfound joy, Qi Jinli hurried to follow his brother to collect his winnings.

"You’re going to start a fight between them," Song Chengfeng remarked casually as he watched Qi Jinlu pout and Qi Jinli smirk, likely showing off that he was, indeed, their sister’s favorite.

"They’re twins. They’ll never truly fight. Besides, if I don’t say that, Qi Jinlu will keep being rude to you. I don’t like that," she replied nonchalantly.

"Why?" Song Chengfeng’s gaze was intense as he asked, "Why do you care if he’s rude to me?"

Qi Jianyi tilted her head, momentarily puzzled. "Because no one should be disrespectful unless that person isn’t worth talking to. Manners are a basic virtue. If he can’t even manage that, I won’t bother claiming him as my brother."

"You treat them like they’re kids. They’re already seventeen."

Song Chengfeng’s eyes never left her face. He hadn’t really paid much attention to the race itself. Her smile and the excitement lighting up her features were far more captivating than any event unfolding around them.

"Seventeen is still young. It’s good that they act like immature teens sometimes, even if it makes me want to smack them," she said with a hint of fond exasperation.

"It’s better than being forced to grow up too soon and bear the weight of independence. They’re the youngest, after all. They don’t need to be so hard on themselves or rush to be self-reliant. Mom and Dad will always have their backs." Her voice softened as she spoke, memories of her own teenage years surfacing.

Seventeen. At that age, she had been the target of hatred and death threats from across the country. The thought stirred a wave of nostalgia and relief as she looked at the carefree, clueless twins.

At least now, she could protect them—and her sister in the real world—from the harshness of life.

"You love them," Song Chengfeng said, his voice steady, though a subtle longing for her affection lingered beneath the surface.

Qi Jianyi, however, didn’t pick up on it as the hint of yearning was buried too deeply.

"They’re my brothers. How could I not love them?" she murmured.

They reminded her of her younger sister, with their big, flattering smiles that could sometimes be endearing and at other times, maddening.

There was also the way their faces lit up whenever she spoke to them. It was obvious they wanted a close relationship with their older sister.

But the original Qi Jianyi, ever cold and indifferent, had never once granted them that attention.

Maybe it was because the twins were connected to her by blood, even if she wasn’t truly their sister. She couldn’t help but feel a touch of affection toward them.

Or maybe she just missed her own sister, the one she used to bicker with endlessly.

Seeing the twins’ excitement when she agreed to bring them to the event, and noticing how they watched her carefully as if reading her emotions, afraid of annoying her—these small gestures softened the coldness in her heart.

Unknowingly, she had begun to accept them as her little brothers, even though she knew she would have to leave them one day.

She had vowed not to grow attached to anyone in this world, fearing it would anchor her here and prevent her return. Yet, the twins—despite their awkwardness—had somehow found their way into her heart.

...

"Why do you want to eat hot pot in this hot weather?" Qi Jianyi grumbled as she took her seat, with Song Chengfeng settling in beside her.

Across from them, the twins eagerly scanned the menu, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

"This mapo tofu looks delicious. Let’s get it," Qi Jinlu said, barely looking up from the picture of the dish. He felt especially proud knowing he was treating everyone with the money he had earned through his keen eyes.

"Let’s order all these ingredients for our hot pot," Qi Jinli chimed in, matching his brother’s enthusiasm.

Qi Jianyi, feeling ignored, rolled her eyes. "Can you guys really finish all of this?" she asked, her tone low and threatening.

With a shrug, Qi Jinlu glanced at Song Chengfeng and said, "Isn’t that what Brother Chengfeng is here for? He’ll finish whatever we can’t."

"What do you take him for? Your garbage disposal?" Qi Jianyi shot back, narrowing her eyes.

"Sister, I never meant it like that. I just thought that since soldiers usually have big appetites—and we’re just teenagers who already eat a lot—then Brother Chengfeng must eat even more. If we can’t finish, he can handle the rest," Qi Jinlu explained, nodding confidently.

"I can eat, don’t worry," Song Chengfeng responded, a slight smile playing on his lips. For once, he decided to go along with the future brother-in-law’s reasoning. After all, he was serious about their sister so giving in was only right for now.

Hearing Song Chengfeng’s words, the twins beamed, feeling victorious in their battle of wits against their sister. They quickly turned their attention back to the menu, their excitement palpable.

Noticing how pleased the two were now that Song Chengfeng had taken their side, Qi Jianyi leaned closer to him and whispered, "Why are you siding with them?"

Song Chengfeng leaned in as well, narrowing the space between them. "Because I want their approval, so I’ll be one step ahead in winning you over," he said sincerely.

She tilted her head, puzzled. "You want me to accept you, so why do they matter?"

"It’s just easier that way," he replied, keeping his answer intentionally vague.

Winning over the twins meant they could help cover for him when he needed to slip past Mr. Qi and take Qi Jianyi out on dates in the future.

It also meant they could advocate for him when the time came to convince Mr. Qi to trust him with his daughter.

Song Chengfeng was thinking so far ahead that he momentarily forgot he had yet to win over the woman he longed for.

Qi Jianyi found his answer ridiculous. Where was the cold, arrogant young master she had first met? When did he become so warm and gentle, saying things that made her cringe?