Chapter 21: Shi Jingfei's struggles // Sisterhood

After some time, one of the young nobles made a move. It didn't take long for them to recognize him as the Young Master of the Shi Family.

Just like his younger sister, He also possessed a remarkable appearance. Shi Zedong had jade skin and long black hair that fell to his back. A handsome face complimented by his sharp golden eyes. His most noteworthy trait was his ever-calm and gentle face.

Shi Zedong always wore a smile that would seem warm to the other party. His posture was refined and his discipline could be seen in the way he walked.

Once Shi Zedong reached Mei Xiang's table, all the young nobles stretched out their neck and perked up their ears as they tried to listen to their conversation.

"Greetings, your highness." Shi Zedong smiled and greeted.

Mei Xiang and Shi Jingfei quieted down as they noticed his presence. Shi Jingfei kept the same expression but when Lan'er saw her face, she could tell that she was feeling uncomfortable. Lan'er's brows slightly furrowed as she looked at Shi Zedong.

'So this is her brother...' Lan'er's face crumpled in disgust as he knew Shi Zedong's current face was nothing but a facade.

She knows how much her best friend Fei had been suffering under her brother, Shi Zedong because he had an inferiority complex against his little sister.

Mei Xiang acknowledged his presence with a simple nod.

Shi Zedong's smiling and gentle expression remained unchanged despite receiving silent treatment from Mei Xiang.

'Ugh, his face disgusts me.' Mei Xiang thought inwardly. She also knows how Shi Zedong had been treating her junior sister.

"May I take a seat at her highness' table?" Shi Zedong asked in a respectful tone.

Xia Meixiang wanted to reject but they were in front of every noble and if she rejected him then it would be hinting that there is a feud between the Royal Family and the Shi Family. It was her duty to make sure that there was order and harmony in their kingdom.

"You may take a seat."

Shi Zedong nodded and sat next to Shi Jingfei, much to the latter's discomfort.

Originally, Shi Zedong was indifferent to Shi Jingfei meanwhile all Shi Jinfei wanted was her brother's love. So she tried to get his attention by performing well in all her studies and practices.

When she showed better results than him in all of them, she thought she would receive praise from him but, contrary to her expectations, she received scorn from her brother.

Her brother's indifferent attitude turned to hatred towards her. She didn't know why and tried to ask for forgiveness for a long time.

But every time she did, she would only end up receiving harsh words that wounded her heart.

Keep in mind this happened when she was at a very young age and continues to happen to this day.

Fortunately, she met Xia Meixiang who healed her heart. When Shi Jingfei explained her circumstances, Xia Meixiang was angered but the former begged her not to make things worse.

Xia Meixiang could only relent and let the siblings resolve this on their own. What she did know is that she must support her junior sister.

"Are you feeling alright, Sister?" Shi Zedong asked in a worried tone.

Shi Jingfei's face turned pale but desperately tried to maintain her expression. Her brother's years of abusive words resulted in her cowering subconsciously whenever he was present.

Hearing her brother's words now, she paled when she realized that she would receive harsh words later from her brother again.

After all, the only promise the two had was to not let their negative relationship show to anyone, whether it be to their family or in public. Shi Zedong especially mentioned the public since he cared about his public image very much.

Shi Jingfei thought that she was acting strange and so she's immediately trying her best to act normal.

She managed to speak with a timid voice. "I-I am fine... I thank brother for his concerns."

Unfortunately, Her performance wasn't satisfactory to Shi Zedong, and wanted to advise her to hide her discomfort better.

How will he accomplish that?

"Nh!.." Shi Jingfei's eyes squinted as she felt a harsh pinch on her thighs.

She fearfully looked at her brother and saw his unfeeling cold gaze.

'I-I have to do better! or... I'll get reprimanded again. No, I'm sure he'll reprimand me again...' Shi Jingfei thought so while trying her best not to cry.

Zed, Lan'er, and Xia Meixiang were watching this spectacle with clenched, trembling fists. They were angry to the point that they almost wanted to make their move and attack Shi Zedong.

Lan'er was staring daggers at Shi Zedong. Her arms were itching to cut his limbs one by one after seeing him treat her best friend like that.

Xia Meixiang was also the same but she hid her expression better. 

Zed disdained Shi Zedong, thinking that he wasn't qualified to be Shi Jingfei or anybody's brother.

He then remembered the first time Shi Jingfei opened up to him.

-Flashback-

It had been a year since Zed and Lan'er lived in Fengshu city. 

Sitting by the porch of their house, Zed and Shi Jingfei were watching Xia Meixiang and Lan'er sparring in the courtyard.

Zed and Shi Jingfei were busy resting and drying their sweat because they had just finished sparring.

"You were amazing today, Jingfei! You completely outmaneuvered me!" Zed said while thinking about their spar earlier.

Shi Jingfei smiled and replied. "Brother Zed, you are the amazing one and you have only been using the spear since what? A year?"

She shook her head while making a grim smile. "As expected of siblings... both are talented and harmonious... I'm envious." She muttered.

"Ah!" She immediately snapped back when she realized she said her thoughts out loud.

She turned to Zed wanting to apologize but the latter stopped her.

"It's fine, It's fine. I don't mind it. Rather, I would like you to express yourself. It's just us here so I don't mind if you stop pretending." Zed said while looking at the courtyard.

Shi Jinfei's eyes widened but tried to maintain her calm. "W-what do you mean Brother Xin?"

(A/N: In case you forgot, Zed's Chinese name is Li Zixin.)

Zed turned to her with a gentle expression while smiling warmly. "Isn't it tiring to keep pretending like that? Although I appreciate you wearing your cheerful personality when you're with Lan'er, You don't have to do that with me."

Shi Jinfei laughed, "Hahaha! Brother Xin must be joking. Jingfei has always been acting like Jingfei!"

Zed looked back at the courtyard. "...If you say so."

"..."

"..."

They both turned silent for a while.

"....Also, we might be siblings but Lan'er and I are not blood-related," Zed spoke when he remembered what Shi Jinfei said earlier.

Shi Jinfei turned to Zed with a shocked expression. "Wait, really?!"

Zed smiled at her reaction and nodded. "Yeah. Did Lan'er never tell you? In the first place, my name is Li Zixin and her name is Xue Ruolan."

"Our family names are different so how could we be siblings? It's just that her parents are close friends of my parents."

"I see..." Her curious expression slowly darkened as the smile on her face disappeared.

Zed didn't notice this because he was still looking at the spar.

Seconds later, Shi Jingfei spoke. "....How?"

"Hm?"

She continued, "How is it that you two are... so close even though you aren't blood related? Why do you treat her as if she's your real sister?"

She was genuinely puzzled, but the emotions in her voice implied that she was feeling something else.

Zed noticed the tone of her voice but didn't mind it as he answered with what he felt.

"You see... I raised Lan'er when she was just a few months old. Lan'er indeed grew up to be a splendid girl but... sometimes I can't help but feel regretful for lacking as her parent."

Shi Jingfei could hear the bitter tone in Zed and tried to comfort him. "I don't understand. Lan'er is a very wonderful person and I love her as my best friend, so I don't understand what brother Xin meant by lacking."

"I mean, she grew up like that because brother Xin raised her, right? I think brother Xin did a wonderful job at it!"

Zed slightly smiled and continued, "Thanks.. but there are plenty of things that I wasn't able to give her and one of them is the comfort of a friend."

"That's why..." Zed turned to Shi Jingfei. "I thank you with all of my heart for being friends with Lan'er. I'm grateful that you expanded her world that used only to be limited to me."

Zed bowed and said emotionally. "Thank you... Thank you very much."

After lowering his head for a couple of seconds, he was met with silence from Shi Jingfei.

Zed thought that he made it awkward by suddenly saying his heavy gratitude, but what could he do? He really did feel grateful to her.

"...unfair." Shi Jingfei's small voice replied.

Zed thought he did something wrong so he raised his head and saw Shi Jingfei crying.

"I- uh-..." Did he perhaps say something bad?

Shi Jinfei continued to cry. "It's so unfair...."

Zed didn't know what to do so he gently approached her and offered his shoulder.

Shi Jingfei hid her face on Zed's chest and wailed louder as if she was throwing a tantrum.

"Why! Why! Why! I'm so jealous.. damn it! I hate myself! I'm so jealous of my best friend and I hate myself for that!"

She kept screaming but fortunately, Xia Meixiang and Lan'er were too focused on their fight, and so they didn't hear anything.

"She didn't do anything wrong but... I feel so bitter! Why... why can't I have a brother like you! Why?!"

Years of accumulated feelings finally blew up in front of her ideal brother.

Zed on the receiving end, gently wrapped his arm around Shi Jingfei's shoulders and comforted her.

He caressed her head forward and back, the same way he did when he comforted Lan'er.

Zed didn't know why she was crying but what he did know was that she was a child in pain and needed someone to comfort her.

"Uwaaa.... sniff sniff.. uwaa..." Shi Jingfei continued to wail as the dam on her years of bitterness was broken.

Looking at Shi Jingfei's current state, Zed couldn't help but think of how hard it must've been for Shi Jingfei to act cheerful and bright as everyone's idol when she was hiding a wound like this in her heart.

Half an hour passed and Xia Meixiang and Lan'er were still fighting, refusing to lose to one another.

Their clothes were drenched in sweat and their hair was messy.

At the same time, Shi Jingfei was still buried in Zed's chest.

She had calmed down, now that she vented all her pent-up feelings.

But she enjoyed Zed's warm and comforting caresses so she let herself stay in Zed's arms.

Zed's chest was drenched in her tears and snot but he didn't mind and continued to provide comfort to Shi Jingfei.

"Sniff.. sniff.." Shi Jingfei was snuffling as she had just finished crying.

Eventually, she spoke from Zed's chest. "You... I mean brother Xin said earlier...sniff."

Zed let her continue.

"T-that... sniff. Jingfei doesn't need to pretend around him, right?"

"Yes, that's right." Zed affirmed while slowly caressing her head.

"Jingfei... is actually a really spoiled girl who likes to be spoiled. She's also a needy and lonely girl..."

Zed chuckled. "I guess that means I'll have another lovely and adorable little sister."

Shi Jingfei continued, "Jingfei has an ugly heart who is jealous of her best friend's brother and her sister's talent but even so..."

She leaned back and looked Zed in the eyes. Her face was flushed and her eyes were still puffed but she spoke with a serious voice.

"Even so... will you still accept Jinfei?"

Zed smiled and didn't hesitate to answer. "Of course."

Shi Jingfei's expression brightened up and a heartfelt smile appeared on her face.

She hugged Zed again while speaking. "Thank you... thank you... and.. please call me Fei'er."

He patted her head.

"Of course. Anything for my little Fei'er."

Shi Jingfei trembled as she didn't expect that being called endearingly would make her so happy and fuzzy inside.

She complained. "You're going to make me cry again..."

Zed chuckled. "Then I'll comfort you again."

"Mhmmm.... I'll take you up on your offer."

She nestled deeper into Zed's chest and couldn't help but think about how good Zed smelled. The scent gave her a relaxing feeling that calmed her mind.

'I might get addicted to this...' Shi Jingfei thought.

"Oh, what's this?"

Shi Jinfei was brought back to reality when she heard her sister Mei's voice.

Xia Meixiang was looking at them with a teasing expression. "It seems that you've sunk your teeth into your little sister's best friend, you beast."

Meanwhile, Lan'er was looking at them with a stupefied expression.

"W-w-w-whaaat?" She was flustered and didn't know how to react when she saw her best friend hugging her brother.

Lan'er loved both her brother and her best friend, but when seeing them getting intimate with one another made her feel something she couldn't explain.

Shi Jingfei chuckled when she saw Lan'er's expression. "You don't have to look like that. It's just that brother took me as his little sister too, so we're sisters now!"

"Ehhh? We are?" Lan'er repeated.

Her best friend excitedly nodded. "Yes! We're sisters now, better than best friends!"

Lan'er started to get excited too. "Really?!"

But she became worried as soon as she noticed Shi Jinfei's puffy eyes.

"Ah! Did you cry? Did someone hurt you?" Lan'er was mad thinking that someone had the gall to make her cry like this in their home.

Shi Jingfei shook her head. "It's nothing. I was just so happy that brother accepted me as his little sister too."

"Oh, I see!" Although Lan'er knows that she should be happy right now, she doesn't understand why there was an uncomfortable feeling in her heart.

But when she looked at her brother's ever calm and gentle gaze, she decided to not mind it anymore.

After all, she knows that no matter what happens, her brother loves her so much that she will always take the number one spot in his heart.

But she felt the need to mark her territory first so with a pouting face, she sat in Zed's lap.

Zed, Xia Meixiang, and Shi Jingfei were surprised by her sudden action but soon laughed as they found her actions adorable.

-End Flashback-

Edited By: WorthyAdversary