8:20 PM. Evening self-study had just ended.
Groups of day students walked out of the school together, chatting and laughing.
Only Qin Yi walked alone.
Just like always.
In the past, he would glance longingly at those who had friends to go home with. But today, he didn’t.
And he didn’t feel lonely either.
Because now, he had a new home.
A plump calico cat was there. And so was the gentle Sister Rumeng, waiting for him.
Thinking of that, his steps quickened without him realizing it, his heart filled with anticipation as he walked toward the nearest bus stop.
That morning, when they reached school, Sister Rumeng had told him which bus route to take on the way back. She had even secretly slipped him some money—for lunch, dinner, and the ride home.
These were things he had never experienced in the past ten-plus years.
There were many students at the bus stop.
Most of them were on their phones.
Qin Yi had no phone, so he pulled out a textbook and used the waiting time to review.
Just as he was getting into focus, a loud car horn shattered his concentration.
He looked up and saw a black Porsche parked by the bus stop—he hadn’t noticed when it arrived. It instantly drew the attention of the students nearby.
Qin Yi frowned. He recognized that car.
And as expected…
The window rolled down, revealing the face he hated most—Qin Huizhu.
“Get in the car!”
She looked at Qin Yi and coldly said those two words.
But Qin Yi didn’t even acknowledge her. He simply turned back to his textbook, treating her like air.
“…”
Qin Huizhu’s face darkened from being ignored. Her knuckles on the steering wheel turned white.
She wanted to scold him but held back. With other students around, she restrained herself and pressed the horn again.
Still, Qin Yi remained unmoved.
A few moments later, her patience snapped.
Just as she was about to get out of the car, she saw Qin Yi put away his book and start walking forward.
Seeing that, a cold smile crept onto her face.
So he finally gave in?
He’s still just a kid throwing a tantrum.
In the end, he wants to come back home.
She had given him so many chances. It was about time he understood how to treat his elder sister.
But…
After waiting a few seconds, the car door remained closed.
Where did he go?
Puzzled, she looked around and finally caught sight of him in the rearview mirror.
That brat had gotten on the bus?!
“Damn it!!”
Seeing this, Qin Huizhu exploded in rage, cursing out loud.
She had humbled herself and given him every opportunity to come back, and this was how he treated her?
Was something wrong with his head?
How far was he planning to take this tantrum?
Furious, she jumped out of the car, trying to drag him back.
But the bus doors had already shut, and it pulled away from her Porsche, disappearing into traffic.
“I can’t believe this!!!”
Qin Huizhu was utterly livid. She rushed back into her car, slammed the pedal, and sped after the bus.
There’s no way she was letting that brat get away.
The bus stopped at one station after another.
Inside, Qin Yi quietly stared at his book. Occasionally, he glanced up to check the stop names.
Not once did he pay any attention to Qin Huizhu.
Over half an hour later…
The bus reached the final stop. Qin Yi closed his textbook and got off.
Earlier that morning, Sister Rumeng had passed by here with him on the scooter, pointing out the path.
It was just a five- or six-minute walk to the street where he met her the night before.
Her bakery was on that street.
He had just taken a few steps when the familiar black Porsche roared up and stopped at the roadside.
Persistent as a ghost.
Qin Yi glanced at it but ignored it and kept walking.
“Stop right there!”
Qin Huizhu jumped out of the car, slammed the door shut with a bang, and ran to block his path.
“Stay away from me. I don’t know you,” Qin Yi said coldly, stepping around her and continuing on.
“I’m your sister!” Qin Huizhu snapped.
“Oh yeah?” Qin Yi replied indifferently. “Then prove it.”
“What’s there to prove? When you were brought back to the Qin family, our parents already got the test results. You know that as well as I do!”
“So what? Just because there’s a test result, that makes you my sister?”
“You—”
Qin Huizhu was so furious she couldn’t even form a retort.
“Come home with me!”
Qin Huizhu didn’t want to argue anymore. She reached out to grab his arm.
But Qin Yi had expected it and quickly stepped back.
“You’re mistaken. That’s not my home.”
He stared at her coldly.
He had never once felt like the Qin house was his home.
If anything, Sister Rumeng’s place was the first place that felt like a real home.
“What will it take for you to come back?”
Qin Huizhu was about to lose her mind.
She couldn’t understand what benefit there was for him to stay away from the Qin family.
Why was he so stubborn?
If it weren’t for Xiaofeng, she would’ve already abandoned him here to rot.
“Come back? Give me one good reason,” Qin Yi asked coldly.
“Mom and Dad are worried about you! Xiaofeng wants you back too!”
“Hah… hahaha…”
Qin Yi burst into laughter, as if he’d just heard the world’s funniest joke.
“What are you laughing at?!”
Qin Huizhu hated that mocking expression on his face.
“Let’s not even talk about those hypocrites you call our parents. Let’s talk about Qin Xiaofeng.”
Qin Yi’s smile faded. His eyes were ice-cold. “You said he wants me back? You’re wrong. He’s the last person who wants me to return. If anything, he wishes I were dead.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Xiaofeng’s not like that!”
Qin Huizhu was furious. The one thing she couldn’t tolerate was anyone speaking ill of Qin Xiaofeng.
“I don’t care to argue with you about right or wrong. You’re not even worthy of that.”
“And I’ll say this one more time—may you always sleep peacefully at night.”
With that, Qin Yi stepped around her and walked on.
Hearing those words, Qin Huizhu panicked and caught up to him quickly. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you planning to hurt Xiaofeng?! I’m warning you—if you lay a finger on him, I swear I’ll make you regret it!”
Qin Yi glanced sideways at her. “Relax. I won’t ruin my current life over someone like him. He’s not worth it.”
Because that replacement won’t live much longer anyway.
Qin Yi added silently in his heart.
“I’ll ask you one last time!” Qin Huizhu’s voice turned cold. “Are you sure you won’t come back to the Qin family?”
“Then I’ll answer you one last time too. Never. Not even if you all get on your knees and beg. From now on, just assume I died out here. Or that I never existed.”
“Fine! But don’t you dare regret this! And don’t even think about touching Xiaofeng. I’ll be watching you!”
Completely enraged, Qin Huizhu stopped trying to hold him back. She turned around and got back into her car.
With the roar of the engine, the Porsche sped off into the night.