The Young Miss Refuse To Love
Chapter 44: Qi You

Chapter 44: Qi You

"Cousin Jianyi, you look so beautiful today. It’s been a long time since I last saw you and I miss you so much!" A sweet-like voice rang out behind Qi Jianyi who was enjoying her food.

The words sounded sweet, as if she truly missed her cousin after so long. Yet, Qi Jianyi couldn’t shake the subtle disdain hidden in her tone.

Qi Jianyi paused the hand that was about to enter her mouth and turned to look at the owner of the voice. What greeted her was a young lady around her age that had an appearance that matched her voice.

The young lady was dressed in an eye-catching pink dress that highlighted her delicate features. She looked soft, almost doll-like, with large teary eyes framed by long lashes, as if she were perpetually on the verge of crying. Everything about her appearance seemed to scream vulnerability, an aura of helplessness that invited protection.

In other words, she was an exact contrast with Qi Jianyi’s cold and independent appearance.

Qi Jianyi stared at the young lady who was smiling sweetly at her for a moment. She did not reply nor greeted back. She was guessing the identity of the woman in front of her.

Yes, Qi Jianyi didn’t know the woman who was calling herself cousin. She expected her to be a daughter from her eldest uncle, Qi Lingxuan. Unfortunately, no matter how much she tried, she still couldn’t recall the name of this particular cousin.

Qi You, the forgotten young lady, could barely hold her smile. She had planned to embarrass Qi Jianyi, but before she could even start, Qi Jianyi didn’t react at all, as if she didn’t exist.

"Cousin?" Qi You called again. This time, she brought Qi Jianyi out of her thoughts.

"I’m sorry but you are?" Qi Jianyi regained her composure and asked, not caring whether her questions might stir gossip or not.

"Ah?" Qi You blinked, wide-eyed. The question hit her like a slap, leaving her fumbling for words.

Not wanting to disrupt her shock, Qi Jianyi decided to wait. Let the girl regain herself first before she continues.

Meanwhile, the four men at the table struggled to hide their laughter. They had heard that subtle disdain in Qi You’s tone before and assumed Qi Jianyi hadn’t noticed. They were ready to step in if needed, but who would have thought that her reply would be a one-shot kill, leaving them amused and impressed.

"Cousin, it’s me, Qi You! Humph, how could you forget about me?"

After a while, Qi You quickly regained her composure and responded to Qi Jianyi loudly, attracting others. Her words and actions were full of coquettishness as if someone had wronged her. Although every sentence was said to complain jokingly, people around her still could hear the subtle sadness of being forgotten.

Qi You’s action of acting pitiful managed to stir the protective side of the other young men around them. They began to cast disapproving glances at Qi Jianyi, thinking she had deliberately humiliated her own cousin.

Yet, despite their urge to defend Qi You, none dared to speak. After all, standing before them was Qi Jianyi, the treasured daughter of Mr. Qi. They all knew it was far riskier to offend her than her cousin.

Though Qi You and Qi Jianyi were cousins, the disparity in their fathers’ status was glaring. Qi Jianyi’s father had built his empire from the ground up, independent of family backing, while Qi You’s father relied entirely on the power of the Qi family name.

"Oh, it’s you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, I almost forgot," Qi Jianyi replied with a curt indifference, her voice devoid of warmth. She could hardly be bothered by the thinly veiled provocation in Qi You’s tone.

Want to act all innocent and wronged, like some white lotus in front of her? Humph. Qi You could keep dreaming.

Her cold, direct response left Qi You momentarily speechless, her carefully rehearsed retorts crumbling. She had anticipated either an apology or some sharp, rude remark—anything she could use to paint herself as the victim. But nothing played out as she had imagined.

"Cousin Qi You," Qi Jianyi’s voice cut through the tension, her eyes, cold as winter frost, briefly meeting Qi You’s. "Is there something you need from me?" Her patience was wearing thin, especially as she felt the weight of the other guests’ stares.

The eyes of those around them lingered on her, expectant and hungry for scandal, as if hoping she’d lose her composure and do something foolish—something that would stain her family’s reputation.

Ironically, they yearned for this spectacle at her grandfather’s birthday banquet, of all places.

"Oh, no... I just missed you. It’s been years since we last met, so I wanted to catch up." Qi You’s voice wavered, her pitiful act fully on display. Her head lowered, shoulders drooping, as if in shame. "Cousin, did I disturb your meal? I’m sorry if I did..."

Yes, you’re disturbing me, Qi Jianyi thought with a sharp retort in her mind, but held her tongue, unwilling to give the crowd what they so clearly craved.

Though Qi Jianyi was irritated by Qi You’s sudden appearance, she couldn’t help but marvel at the young woman’s uncanny talent for theatrics. With a single question, Qi You had masterfully twisted the situation, painting Qi Jianyi as the villain.

Now, to the eyes of onlookers, Qi Jianyi was the arrogant woman who looked down on others, while Qi You played the innocent victim—a subtle performance worthy of applause.

"What a talent," Qi Jianyi muttered to herself.

Without warning, she switched tactics. "Well, what university did you attend?" she asked, seemingly out of nowhere, her voice casual yet laced with a hidden agenda.

"Tsinghua University," Qi You replied, though a sense of unease prickled at the back of her mind. Something about this question felt off, as if she were walking into a trap.

A smirk flickered across Qi Jianyi’s face, brief as a flash of lightning, before her expression returned to its usual icy calm. She set down her cutlery with deliberate grace, taking her time to wipe her mouth.

Every movement was slow, calculated, and the room seemed to watch her in silent anticipation. It was as if she were making Qi You wait on purpose, savouring her control over the moment.

Then, her cold eyes blinked, and for just a moment, a spark of mischief gleamed in them. Her lips curved into a soft, almost playful smile.

"Oh, what a coincidence. I go to Tsinghua University as well," Qi Jianyi said, her tone suddenly light and enthusiastic, as if they were the closest of friends.

"Cousin Qi You, why didn’t you come find me? Of course, I’m not saying you’re obligated to—don’t get me wrong. It’s just, well, you know how I am. I have a terrible memory, so I tend to forget people. But you seem to remember and miss me. So why didn’t you come see me?"

She leaned back, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she added, "Anyway, maybe you didn’t know we attended the same university. I don’t blame you. I live in the dorms now, so when you have time, we should hang out. You can visit me anytime."

In one swift breath, Qi Jianyi had shifted the entire conversation, twisting the narrative to her advantage. You want to make me the bad guy? she thought with a sneer. I don’t even remember you, but you still remember me. So why didn’t you come looking for me?

The four men seated at her table exchanged confused glances. They had never heard Qi Jianyi speak so much in one sitting. The woman, who normally valued her words like they were precious gold, had just expended an unusual amount of energy on Qi You.

Meanwhile, Qi You stood frozen, caught off-guard by the sudden turn of events. How had the blame shifted so seamlessly onto her? What just happened?

The entire courtyard fell into a heavy silence, the tension thick enough to cut through. All eyes were on Qi You, waiting for her response. Her face flushed a deep red, the color creeping up her neck as embarrassment clouded her thoughts. She had no one to blame but herself.

After all, it was she who had raised her voice earlier, eager to draw the attention of the crowd—including the elders. In a bid to make Qi Jianyi look bad, she had instead turned the spotlight onto herself. It was inevitable now. She had shot herself in the foot.

"Ah, really?" Qi You forced a smile, her teeth gritted behind the sweetness of her words. "I didn’t know you also went to Tsinghua University. Cousin, if I had known, I would have come to find you on the very first day!"

Her voice, though laced with apology, trembled slightly, betraying her frustration. But it was her eyes that gave her away. Beneath the forced politeness, they burned with barely concealed hatred. And while Qi You tried to mask it, Qi Jianyi saw it clearly.

And if she could see it, then it was impossible for their grandfather not to notice.

Qi Jianyi’s table sat right beside Grandpa Qi’s, and with Qi You standing so close, she was in full view of the old man. Whether she realised it or not, her entire expression—hatred, jealousy, all of it—was laid bare before him.

Grandpa Qi frowned, his weathered brow furrowing in confusion. What was the meaning behind that hatred in Qi You’s eyes? As far as he could recall, his two granddaughters had barely interacted when they were children, let alone now. There was no past grudge, no rivalry he knew of.

But the venom in Qi You’s gaze was unmistakable—it was real.

Meanwhile, Qi Jianyi’s smile only grew wider as she watched Qi You’s carefully crafted mask crumble. Internally, she sighed. Too immature, she thought, almost pitying her cousin’s lack of self-control.

"That’s fine, don’t blame yourself," Qi Jianyi said with a falsely sweet tone, her voice dripping with condescension. "Let’s have lunch together sometime in the future."

The words were meant to comfort, but there was no sincerity in them. Both of them knew that such a lunch would never happen.

"Qi You, why are you disturbing your cousin’s meal? Go back to your seat," Grandpa Qi’s voice rang out across the yard, his stern tone rippling through the crowd like a silent command.

The subtle authority in his words wasn’t just directed at his granddaughter, but served as a warning to the other guests, a clear message: no one was to gossip about his two granddaughters.

"Yes, Grandpa," Qi You stammered, startled by the sudden reprimand. Her face flushed, but she dared not argue.

Without another word, she hurried back to her table, each step feeling heavier than the last. She couldn’t help the sharp sting of jealousy twisting inside her—once again, Grandpa had chosen to side with Qi Jianyi. Her resentment festered with every pace she took, the injustice of it gnawing at her.

Qi Jianyi clicked her tongue softly, casting a quick glance at her grandfather. His intervention had come at just the wrong moment. He was clearly trying to prevent a scene, to shield them both from an embarrassing public fallout.

Not that she didn’t appreciate the gesture—she did—but a small part of her had wanted to see just how far Qi You would go, how well the younger girl would play the victim.

"Sister, are you upset?" Qi Jinli’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. He spoke in a hushed tone, leaning slightly toward her with concern etched on his face.

"Upset?" Qi Jianyi’s lips curled into a wry smile as she shook her head.

"Why would I be upset?" Truth be told, she wasn’t.

How could she be? Qi You had barely begun her performance when Grandpa had swooped in to stop her from pulling her usual tricks.

"But didn’t she come here just to annoy you?" Qi Jinli pressed, his voice laced with uncertainty, though he tried to sound confident.

"Well, you’re not wrong," Qi Jianyi admitted, her gaze flickering toward the spot where Qi You had been standing moments ago.

"She is annoying, no doubt about that. Honestly, I’d prefer if she didn’t show up in front of me again." Her tone was perfunctory, but the truth in her words was undeniable. She meant every bit of it.

Qi Jinlu, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but jump in. "Sister, you’re being too hopeful. Judging by how that girl reacted, I bet she’ll pester you even more in the future. She’s like one of those fake white lotuses—she’ll cry the moment anyone so much as looks at her funny. Sis, don’t fall for that innocent face of hers."

Qi Jianyi shot him a glare, "You think I don’t know that already?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing.

"Do you really need to rub it in my face?"

Qi Jinlu met her glare with a sheepish grin, unbothered by the sharpness in her tone. "I just didn’t want you to get your hopes up too high. You’ll only be disappointed if you expect her to disappear so easily," he said, a guilty smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The more Qi Jianyi stared at him, the more her irritation grew. Now she fully understood why their father kept calling Qi Jinlu as his cheap son.

"One more word out of you, and I’ll have Dad disown you," she threatened, her voice low, but the warning clear.

Qi Jinlu’s eyes widened in mock horror, though his lips trembled as he fought back a pout.

"Disown me? Sister, I was just looking out for you! And this is how you repay me?" He pouted, genuinely hurt for a split second.

Watching his pitiful expression, Qi Jianyi couldn’t suppress a grin. Her mood lightened considerably, her earlier annoyance melting away. Truly, watching her younger siblings pout and sulk in indignation was one of the small joys that came with being the eldest.

"Being the older sibling really does have its perks," she thought, her smile growing as she prepared herself for whatever round of banter would come next.

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