The Young Miss Refuse To Love
Chapter 40: Cheap son

Chapter 40: Cheap son

Old Qi’s family house.

"Jingxuan, do you think Jianyi will make it?" Mrs. Qi asked, her voice lined with worry.

The air in the car was thick with tension as the Qi family waited outside the Old Qi mansion. Mrs. Qi leaned forward, glancing nervously at the grand gate, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her light blue dress.

Mr. Qi, sitting beside her, exhaled deeply. His hand moved to rub the center of his forehead, as if trying to press away the stress that had been building all morning.

"I just hope she does," he muttered, glancing at the rearview mirror where the mansion’s grand facade reflected back at him.

"It’ll look bad if we’re all here and she’s the one missing. You know how people talk." His voice trailed off, the weight of the family’s reputation pressing down on him.

Turning his attention to his eldest son, Mr. Qi asked, "Jinlu, has she answered your calls yet?"

Qi Jinlu, his phone pressed tightly against his ear, frowned as he listened to the ringing on the other end. "Not yet, Dad," he replied, his frustration evident.

He pulled the phone away, glaring at the screen as if it were personally responsible for his sister’s absence. "I’ve been calling for the last half hour."

In the back seat, Qi Jinli leaned forward, a curious glint in his eyes. "Do you think she’s still asleep?" His question was innocent, but the suggestion hung in the air. His head tilted as he pondered the possibility.

"No way, it’s almost noon," Qi Jinlu countered, frowning. "She can’t still be sleeping."

"But it’s the weekend," Qi Jinli persisted, his voice filled with longing. If he had the chance, he’d be sleeping in too. The idea of his sister lounging in bed while they were all waiting felt almost unfair to him. "She’s probably still in her beauty sleep."

Mrs. Qi turned sharply, her eyes narrowing as she reprimanded her sons. "Stop it with your nonsense." Her tone was firm, yet there was a slight tremor to it, betraying the worry she was trying to hide.

"Just keep trying to reach her. She’s not asleep. She’s probably... in the bathroom or doing something else." Her words trailed off as though she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.

Qi Jinlu sighed, rolling his eyes as he pressed redial once more. "I’m trying, Mom. I’ve been trying," he grumbled under his breath, though he knew the longer the phone went unanswered, the worse things would look.

After what felt like the hundredth attempt, Qi Jinlu’s phone finally connected, and his sister’s voice came through, icy and distant as always.

"What do you want?" Qi Jianyi’s cold tone had a slight edge of puzzlement, as if she hadn’t expected the call.

The tension that had gripped Qi Jinlu’s chest loosened, and he allowed himself to breathe again. At least she had answered.

"Sister," he blurted, his words tumbling out in a rush before she could cut him off, "where are you right now? You didn’t forget today’s Grandpa’s birthday, did you? We’re all waiting at the front gate—are you coming?"

For a brief moment, there was silence on the other end, and then Qi Jianyi’s reply came, curt and to the point. "I just entered the community. Wait a moment, I’ll be there."

Before Qi Jinlu could respond, the call disconnected with a finality that left him blinking at the phone screen. He let out a sigh, both relieved and slightly annoyed at his sister’s brisk manner.

"She’s on her way," he said, turning toward his parents with a shrug.

Mrs. Qi’s shoulders visibly relaxed, though the worry in her eyes didn’t fully fade. "Good," she murmured, her fingers still tapping lightly on her lap.

Qi Jinli, leaned in again. "Was she still asleep?" he asked with full of curiosity.

"No," Qi Jinlu retorted, rolling his eyes. "She’s already in the community. She’ll be here soon."

"Well, that’s a relief," Mr. Qi said, shifting in his seat. But despite his words, there was an air of unfinished business hanging in the car.

A few minutes later, a sleek black sedan pulled up a short distance from the Qi family’s car. The door opened, and Qi Jianyi stepped out with a graceful, effortless motion. Her black dress swayed gently around her figure, the soft fabric hugging her curves before fluttering in the warm breeze.

Her long black hair, meticulously straightened, cascaded down her shoulders, giving her an air of elegance that belied the rushed morning she had just endured.

As she stepped onto the pavement, she was preoccupied with applying a final touch of lipstick, her reflection caught in the small mirror of her compact. The cool, detached expression on her face gave nothing away, as if she hadn’t just overslept and almost missed an important family event.

From inside the car, Qi Jinli’s eyes widened with mild satisfaction. "See? I told you she probably overslept," he muttered under his breath, nudging his brother, who gave him a withering look.

Seeing their daughter approach, Mr. Qi and Mrs. Qi quickly exited the car with their sons and made their way toward her. Despite a week apart from their daughter leaving them with a tinge of melancholy, they swallowed their feelings and maintained a composed demeanour. It wasn’t the right moment to confront Qi Jianyi about her recent behaviour.

"Why are you late?" Mr. Qi asked, his tone couldn’t help but sterned at the question.

Mrs. Qi shot a disapproving glance at her husband, irritated that he seized the opportunity to reprimand their daughter. "What’s the point of questioning her so much? At least she made it!" Mrs. Qi muttered under her breath, ensuring only Mr. Qi could hear her, as a warning to temper his tone.

"I went horse riding yesterday and got back to the dorm late, so I overslept," Qi Jianyi explained perfunctorily.

"By the way, do we even have the invitation for the banquet?" Qi Jianyi swiftly changed the subject.

Mr. Qi was momentarily stunned and stood still, his brows knitting together in a serious frown. "I’m the son of the Qi family. Do I need an invitation to attend?" he asked, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Shrugging, Qi Jianyi replied, "I’m just saying. After all, you and grandpa have been at odds for years."

"I didn’t have a fight with your grandfather," Mr. Qi said, his voice lacking conviction.

Qi Jinlu watched his father with a look of disdain. He couldn’t fathom how someone like his father could be the president of a billion-dollar company. When faced with his daughter, Mr. Qi seemed completely disoriented.

Aside from Mrs. Qi, who could always bring a smile to President Qi’s face, Qi Jianyi had a unique ability to outwit her sharp-witted father every time.

"Dad, you must have been utterly useless when you were young, which is probably why Grandpa didn’t hesitate to disown you," Qi Jinlu sneered, shaking his head in mock sympathy.

Fuming at his eldest son’s words, Mr. Qi smacked the back of Qi Jinlu’s head in irritation. "If you don’t have anything good to say, then just be mute!"

He seriously considered the possibility of disowning this cheap son of his.

Qi Jinlu pouted in dissatisfaction, rubbing the back of his head. "You’re so biased. You hate me but love my sister!" he grumbled softly.

As Qi Jianyi watched the interaction between her father and brother, along with Qi Jinlu’s dejected expression, she felt a pang of guilt. How could she harbour any resentment toward this family, who seemed to overflow with love for her?

Taking a deep breath, Qi Jianyi forced a smile and intervened before her father could scold her brother further. "Dad, Jinlu has a point. Don’t be too biased, or you’ll end up like Grandpa, and Jinlu will be like you—caught in a never-ending feud." She murmured softly.

Mr. Qi’s anger, which had been simmering, quickly subsided at his daughter’s words. "You’re right. I shouldn’t be too biased. But how could this troublesome brother of yours keep pushing my buttons?" Mr. Qi seized the moment to vent his frustrations to his daughter.

It was well known that both of his sons feared their sister more than they did their mother.

Qi Jianyi glanced at her brother, who immediately stiffened. Yes, Qi Jinlu was still afraid of his sister.

Turning back to her father, Qi Jianyi smiled. "Well, who asked you to have him?" she said with a playful tone, earning a disapproving glare from Mrs. Qi.

Mrs. Qi had hoped her daughter would help ease the tension, but instead, she seemed to have made it worse.

Noticing her mother’s glare, Qi Jianyi looked apologetic. "I’m just kidding, Mom," she said with a cheeky smile, reaching out to pat Qi Jinlu’s disheveled hair.

"Dad’s not old yet, so you’ll just have to bear with it. When he’s older in a few years, you can have your revenge," Qi Jianyi whispered, deliberately loud enough for their father to hear.

Qi Jinlu managed to suppress a smile and nodded enthusiastically to his sister. "Yes, you’re right, Sis. I’ll endure this torment for a few more years."

Mr. Qi, who had thought his daughter had finally taken his side, felt betrayed. What did she mean by waiting a few more years? Did she intend to let him grow too old to fight back?

"Jianyi, you—"

"Alright, let’s stop this and go inside now. Otherwise, your grandpa will start without us," Mrs. Qi interrupted, cutting off whatever her husband was about to say.

With a triumphant smile, Qi Jinlu cast a smug glance at his father and followed his mother into the mansion, with Qi Jianyi trailing behind, feigning ignorance of Mr. Qi’s hurt look. Only the obedient Qi Jinli remained by Mr. Qi’s side.

However, just as Mr. Qi thought his youngest son was being considerate, he watched Qi Jinli shake his head slightly before jogging to catch up with his siblings, leaving Mr. Qi alone outside.

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