Chapter 49

Li Ming was still waiting outside, looking expectantly. Dai Ning turned to Li Hu and said, “Someone’s waiting for me. I’m leaving now.”

“Is he your brother?” Li Hu had already noticed the person standing outside the school gates.

Dai Ning glanced at Li Ming’s dyed yellow hair and replied, “He’s my second brother.”

“How many brothers do you have?”

Dai Ning thought of her “Lost Love Tribe” family, counting on her fingers. “Fifteen!”

Li Hu’s smile froze. “… Go on, then.”

Li Ming successfully picked up Dai Ning. She opened a bag of dried fruit and even generously handed one to Li Ming. Overjoyed, he asked, “Dai Dai, how’s the school?”

She chewed on the dried fruit. “It’s fine. Must’ve been hard work for you to find it, huh?”

“Of course! Jing-ge…” Li Ming abruptly stopped himself, realizing he almost revealed something. Jing-ge didn’t want Dai Ning to know what he was up to. Changing the topic quickly, he asked, “Do you want anything after school today?”

Dai Ning swallowed the dried fruit with disinterest. Whatever Chen Jing was doing, it likely wasn’t proper work.

Li Ming habitually offered to buy her things, which was why Chen Lianxing had been emboldened in her demands. Chen Jing spoiled his sister without limits; even with little money, he’d still buy her anything.

Li Ming dropped her off at home. It wasn’t until she stepped inside that Dai Ning remembered—oh no! She was still giving Chen Jing the cold shoulder. Coming back home on time like this, Chen Jing wouldn’t even realize he had done something wrong.

Thinking of this, Dai Ning went to her room, changed clothes, packed some snacks, and announced, “Stupid Tuan, we’re running away from home.”

She went to a nearby park. By now, it was dark. Dai Ning activated a communication device, instructing her bodyguards to follow her discreetly. She sat cross-legged on a bench with a stray cat, feeding it jerky from her snack bag while she ate strawberry chocolate.

Dai Ning sighed. “Poor thing. Your mom doesn’t want you, and my brother doesn’t want me anymore.”

The cat mewed softly, “Meow~”

Qingtuan couldn’t stand it. Drama queen! And she’s really committed to the act.

Still, from a distance, the sight of the thin girl and the scrawny little cat curled up together under the warm glow of the park light was undeniably pitiful—a perfect picture of loneliness.

She was just waiting for Chen Jing to come home and look for her.

Chen Jing had a bruised mouth from his last match. In his distracted state during the final fight, he had been slower to dodge and taken a hit.

Riding his bike past a storefront, he noticed a pair of beautiful shoes in the display window.

Sky blue with sparkling rhinestone accents.

Chen Jing didn’t have much experience cheering people up. When Chen Lianxing got upset, giving her money always worked.

But Dai Ning was different. Completely different.

She was like a fragile flower bud that would wilt at the slightest touch. She needed to be nurtured with the finest care—fed the best things, basked in sunlight, and, most importantly, given love and attention.

Her demands seemed endless, yet strangely, Chen Jing didn’t find them annoying.

She was so adorable and lovable. Who could ever blame her?

The newly launched luxury shoes were expensive, costing almost as much as one of his matches. Still, he bought them and rode home.

Chen Jing imagined several scenarios—maybe she’d be mad when she saw the gift, or maybe she’d happily forgive him. But when he opened the door, the house was empty.

The ticking of the clock on the wall echoed in the silence. It was already eleven o’clock. Where could she have gone?

He set the shoebox down. In Dai Ning’s room, there was only a set of school uniforms she had changed out of. Chen Jing called her phone, only to find it turned off.

Immediately, he contacted Li Ming.

Li Ming sounded confused. “She was fine when I picked her up after school. Is she mad at you? Did she run away from home?”

Chen Jing realized the little troublemaker was probably genuinely upset.

Last night, she hadn’t listened to his explanations, only cried. He hadn’t expected her to still be sulking today.

Previously, when he pushed her away, Dai Ning would cry but soon cling to him again. This time, she had left on her own. Did she really think he was some kind of brute?

“Jing-ge, what do we do? Should we call the police?”

What could they do? Get angry with her? Of course not—they had to find her.

It hadn’t been long enough to report her missing, so Chen Jing texted him: “Get Douzi and the others to help. She can’t have gone far. Check the nearby areas.”

Chen Jing also searched, riding his bike along Dai Ning’s usual school route, but he didn’t see her.

He checked the riverside paths, scanning every corner. The early summer air was still mild, yet he was drenched in sweat.

It was a feeling he couldn’t quite express. Dai Ning had come into his life by chance. If he couldn’t find her, would she simply vanish from it?

For the first time, Chen Jing felt like something in this world belonged to him—Dai Ning.

Every word she spoke and every trusting, affectionate glance seemed to silently affirm that she was his. He had found her, and from then on, she was his.

This was his first time owning something, and now, under the night breeze, an unease he couldn’t shake clung to him.

When he reached a park near their home, he stopped his bike and walked in, not expecting much.

Would she really only walk a few steps away to “run away from home”?

Among the flowers blooming in the night and the occasional sound of insects, a faint meow caught his attention. He turned and saw her under a streetlamp.

The girl was hugging her knees, fast asleep.

A stray cat nestled beside her, its moist eyes staring at him.

Chen Jing walked over and crouched in front of her.

Under the light, her long lashes cast delicate shadows on her face.

For some reason, at that moment, the weight in his chest lifted.

He brushed aside her curls. The girl sleepily opened her eyes, and upon seeing him, she smiled and called in a soft voice, “Gege.”

Then, as if remembering something, her smile vanished, and she buried her face in her knees with a pout.

Her antics might have caused trouble, but seeing her there, safe and close, hit him somewhere deep.

She hadn’t gone far. She wouldn’t leave him—not like his wolf-mother or the ever-distant Chen Lianxing.

Even upset or distressed, she stayed close enough for him to find her after just a few steps.

Neither of them spoke for a while until the talkative one finally broke the silence.

Her watery eyes peeked out as she scolded, “I’ve been gone so long, and you only just came. Were you planning to abandon me again?”

Chen Jing looked at her and quietly said, “No.”

She huffed. “Then do you know what you did wrong?”

Chen Jing sighed. “Yes.”

Hearing his admission, Dai Ning still felt aggrieved. She thrust her pale wrists in front of him. “You hurt me yesterday.”

Chen Jing held her wrists, examining them. There were no marks. Her wrists were slender and soft, resting in his broad palm like she was seeking protection.

Dai Ning refused to admit she was exaggerating. “It was red yesterday! No, wait—it’s bruised now!”

Chen Jing almost laughed. Using a grave tone, he apologized, “I’m sorry.”

Her chin tilted up slightly, finally satisfied, and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes.

Chen Jing asked, “Shall we go home?”

Dai Ning nodded and started to stand. Just then, Chen Jing’s phone rang. Dai Ning’s sharp eyes caught the name on the screen: Chen Lianxing.

Chen Jing ruffled her hair and walked a few steps away to answer.

Dai Ning turned to Qingtuan. “Stupid Tuan, listen in. What does Chen Lianxing want with Chen Jing?”

Qingtuan focused its senses. Though it wasn’t very useful, it could pick up sounds within two meters.

On the phone, Ji Tian’s worried voice said, “Chen Jing? Lianxing accidentally got hurt today. It’s pretty bad. Do you want to come check on her?”

Before Chen Jing could respond, Chen Lianxing, growing impatient, switched the call to speaker and said sharply, “Chen Jing, I hurt myself during rehearsal for the play. I’m in the school infirmary now. Come here immediately!”

She spoke with an imperious tone, completely unaware of how unreasonable she sounded. Over the years, Chen Jing had always prioritized the safety of Chen Lianxing and her mother, taking care of them no matter the circumstance. Naturally, upon hearing she was injured, it was only expected for him to rush to her side.

Chen Jing frowned. His long-standing habit urged him to go check on her immediately. After all, Chen Lianxing was the only child of his foster father. If anything serious happened to her, Chen Jing would have no way to explain when his foster father was released from prison.

After ending the call, Chen Jing turned back to glance at Dai Ning, who was still seated on the park bench.

Before he could think of what to say, Dai Ning stretched her arms toward him. “Brother, my legs are numb. Carry me home, okay?”

Chen Jing had experienced Dai Ning’s temper firsthand, and it had taken considerable effort to appease her earlier. Considering the park was close to home, he figured he could drop her off first and still make it to Fengming University in time. Without hesitation, he walked over and picked her up with ease.

Once she was in his arms, Chen Jing felt a strange awareness. Holding her so close, he couldn’t ignore the softness of her form, which caused his steps to falter momentarily.

Dai Ning, on the other hand, thought to herself, Even if Chen Jing has a cold personality, the classic princess carry has to have some impact, right?

When Chen Jing moved toward his bike, she clung to his neck and pouted. “No! I want you to carry me all the way home. This is your punishment!”

Chen Jing had no choice but to comply, carrying her as he walked. The little troublemaker even started to nitpick. “Brother, your muscles are so stiff! It’s not very comfortable.”

Chen Jing had no response.

“Walk under the streetlights! The shadows look prettier there.”

Without complaint, Chen Jing adjusted his path and continued under the lights. The night was calm and quiet, and the girl in his arms finally relaxed, her face lighting up with a rare smile.

Suddenly, her hands cupped his face, and her fingers brushed against the corner of his lips. “Brother, you’re hurt!” Her tone was filled with concern.

Chen Jing glanced down and met her wide, glimmering eyes under the warm light. For a brief moment, he found himself agreeing with her earlier statement—the shadows were beautiful.

“It’s nothing,” he said softly.

She spoke confidently, “Brother, you’re always getting hurt. Why don’t you stop working altogether? I can skip eating good food and just have plain rice. Once I graduate, I’ll take care of you!”

What kind of nonsense was that?

Chen Jing adjusted his hold on her, pulling her closer. Despite her small size, she brought an inexplicable feeling with her—a sense of warmth he had never experienced.

Since the day she took on his surname, their bond had only grown deeper. She wasn’t his sister out of obligation but because he truly cared for her. He wanted to provide for her, not just out of responsibility but because he genuinely liked her. He was willing to support her for a lifetime.

Qingtuan, Dai Ning’s small companion, mentally rolled its eyes at her dramatic performance. Back in the day, when Dai Ning tried this routine with Zhao Yu, he had seen right through it and almost laughed his head off. Now, her acting had improved so much that Chen Jing might even consider selling his blood to take care of her.

When they arrived home, Chen Jing placed Dai Ning down and pulled out a notebook. He didn’t hide anything from her and started explaining the situation with Chen Lianxing.

“I have another sister, named Chen Lianxing…”

Dai Ning listened as he wrote everything down, clearly laying out the facts. But she wasn’t someone who cared for logic.

When Chen Jing stood up, she immediately clung to him, wrapping herself around him like a koala.

“Brother, don’t go to her. Is she as pretty as me? As cute as me? Brother, let’s just not want her!”

With Dai Ning hanging off him, Chen Jing couldn’t even get mad. He tried reasoning with her, but she refused to read what he had written.

“No way. Brother, you’re my brother. I’m not sharing you with her.”

She buried her face into the crook of his neck, completely unwilling to engage in any rational discussion.

Chen Jing, already feeling hot and frustrated, found himself unable to deal with her stubbornness. After several attempts, she still refused to let go, lazily clinging to him.

Veins bulging on his forehead, Chen Jing finally gave in. Pulling out his phone, he transferred a sum of money to Chen Lianxing’s account and told her he wasn’t going over.

For the first time in years, Chen Jing chose to refuse Chen Lianxing. Sitting down with Dai Ning on the sofa, he sighed.

“Get down.”

Dai Ning laughed, sliding off his lap. Perhaps even Chen Jing didn’t realize how much the balance in his heart had already tipped.

People are inherently selfish, and Chen Jing was no exception. Between duty and desire, he chose the latter, and Dai Ning couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome.

“Brother, you’re the best! To celebrate, let’s not watch your boring TV dramas tonight. Tell me a ghost story instead!”

She ran to grab a book titled Bone-Chilling Tales, then tugged on his arm. “Brother, hurry! Your voice is perfect for scary stories—it’s like being in a horror movie!”

Chen Jing stared at her in disbelief.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”