elder brother

Half a month later, Jiang Mian finally arrived in the capital.

Jiang Qiyu's house is in the west of the city. Since they have just moved, they don't have that many things yet. Most of the servants in the house are young men, and there are only two maids. Everyone is curious and happy about Jiang Mian's arrival.

Because they had never seen such a beautiful and outstanding girl. Jiang Mian's appearance was so outstanding that she was extremely easy to evoke pity wherever she went. Faced with this kindness, she felt a little embarrassed because she was living under someone else's roof and could not bear their respect.

Although everyone assumed she was the mistress, she would help with some chores when she had nothing to do, and Jiang Qiyu would get angry every time he saw her doing so.

"Sister Mian, I didn't hire you to do chores for me." Jiang Qiyu was a little annoyed. Even if she turned his yard upside down, he wouldn't be angry. But now, she was actually doing the work of a servant.

"Brother Qi Yu, I feel uneasy. I feel guilty if I don't do something for you." Jiang Mian said helplessly. She had been in the capital for almost two months, and Jiang Qi Yu had not restricted her freedom. He was even willing to lend her money so that she could buy things she liked.

Although he said it was a gift for her, Jiang Mian automatically considered it a loan, and she would definitely pay him back when she had the money in the future.

Jiang Qiyu softened his tone. He wasn't deliberately angry; he just felt uncomfortable thinking about how she had trampled on his status.

"If you really feel embarrassed, there's a banquet in the palace next month. Come with me."

Jiang Mian was stunned, somewhat embarrassed.

"Don't worry, this is essentially your payment for eating and staying here for free. To be honest, the Duke of Ningguo wants to marry his daughter to me, but I have no intention of doing so. I'll have you accompany me, and you can become my... concubine. When the Duke of Ningguo sees this, he might give up the idea. Sister Mian, this is how you've helped me."

Jiang Qiyu originally wanted to say "madam," but seeing the frightened look on the girl's face and knowing that everyone knew he was unmarried, he changed his words to "concubine."

He observed Jiang Mian's expression and saw that she showed no dissatisfaction and was even grateful that she could help him. For some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

He deliberately referred to her as a concubine, and she showed no displeasure whatsoever.

It's clear that deep down, she didn't care about any of these things.

He sighed softly, "I'll take you out to buy some clothes tomorrow when I have my day off."

"Okay, thank you, cousin." Jiang Mian obediently agreed. Over the past two months, she and Jiang Qiyu had become closer, and sometimes, when she got used to it, she would call him cousin, just like Shen Yan.

However, this title is rarely used.

After all, the word "cousin" always brought back some unpleasant memories for her.

The next day, Jiang Qiyu took her to the most bustling clothing store in the capital. Before entering, Jiang Mian vaguely felt that someone was watching her. The gaze seemed to be coming from the opposite side. She looked up, but there was nothing unusual there.

It seems to be just her imagination.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Qiyu asked gently. He stood beside her, his tall figure almost completely enveloping her. The proprietress saw that the two of them had extraordinary bearing and said with a smile in her eyes, "Whatever style you like, Madam, our store has it all."

Jiang Mian smiled. She wasn't used to being addressed as "Madam" and was about to clarify.

Jiang Qiyu acted as if she hadn't heard him and went inside first. Jiang Mian had no choice but to follow her in.

On the second floor across the street, the window was open at some point.

There stood a handsome figure, his face cold and his gaze fixed on the spot where Jiang Mian had just stood.

"Young master, shall we bring Miss Jiang back?"

When Yun Qing saw Jiang Mian appear, her eyes lit up with joy, but when she noticed the familiar person next to her, she felt something was off. Wasn't that the Second Madam's nephew? How could he be with Miss Jiang?

Judging from the relationship between the two, they seem to be... husband and wife.

Yun Qing carefully observed the young master's expression. During the days when Miss Jiang disappeared, the young master locked himself in his room almost all day. It wasn't until half a month later, when someone discovered traces of Miss Jiang in the capital, that the young master reacted. He had originally planned to come to the capital a month later, but he brought it forward.

Yun Qing had assumed that when the young master found Miss Jiang, he would bring her back immediately.

But the young master did nothing; he simply bought the house next to the Jiang family mansion, which offered a view of Miss Jiang's courtyard.

He saw the intimacy between Jiang Qiyu and Jiang Mian almost every day. He watched as the smile on Jiang Mian's face became more and more genuine. Shen Ji couldn't understand why he had never seen Jiang Mian like this before.

He secretly observed her for over a month. His initial resentment and obsession had gradually subsided. The only certainty was that he loved her more and more and couldn't live without her.

He didn't understand why she chose Jiang Qiyu and refused to accept him when he could give her all of these things.

Shen Ji watched her enter the clothing store, a cold smile appearing in his eyes. In the past, Jiang Mian used the plight of a caged bird to describe himself. He had softened for a moment then and let her go out for a stroll, but she was like a weary bird returning to the forest, and could not be found again.

Since she doesn't cherish his affection, he doesn't need to consider her feelings anymore.

After all, from the very beginning, she approached him with a specific purpose in mind.

"We can prepare for action now."

Shen Ji closed his eyes briefly, staring at the person opposite him with great interest.

Jiang Mian was trying on clothes when she suddenly felt sleepy. When she woke up again, she was suddenly flustered.

Her hands and feet were tied up, her eyes were covered with a red cloth, and her lips were gagged.

She lay there in despair and helplessness. After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly heard footsteps outside. Jiang Mian began to struggle violently, but apart from rubbing her wrists until they were red, it was of no use.

"woke up?"

The person walked up to her, and Jiang Mian felt that the voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had heard it before.

Only after the man removed the object from her mouth with his fingertips did she gasp for breath: "Who are you?"

The man chuckled softly but did not answer. Instead, he patiently stroked her lips.

Jiang Mian turned her head away, feeling a surge of fear, but still mustered her courage and said, "If you let me go, I can give you a lot of money."

Where did you get the money?

She was increasingly certain that she knew the person in front of her, but the situation was urgent and she didn't have time to think before blurting out, "My cousin is very rich. The person I'm with today is my cousin. If you let me go, he will be very grateful to you."

The moment the words were spoken, a deathly silence fell over the air.

Shen Ji seemed to laugh in anger. He had been patiently dealing with her before, but now he didn't even bother to pretend and directly removed the red cloth covering her eyes.

"Mianniang, take a good look. Who exactly is your cousin?"

When the familiar face came into view again, for a moment, Jiang Mian thought she was seeing things. She checked several times in disbelief before she had to accept the fact that Shen Ji had found her.

She thought she had completely left him, but unexpectedly, he still haunted her like a ghost.

Why are you here?

"Why doesn't Mian Niang explain? Didn't we agree to go out for a stroll? Why did it take you so long?" Shen Ji sneered. This woman didn't care about him at all, yet he had been looking for her for so long. He even stayed alone in the room that still held her scent for several days after she left.

"Shen Ji, let me go." Jiang Mian's tone calmed down. She had been imprisoned by him, and she had escaped before. Now that he had found her again, she was tired.

“Very well, Mian Niang has finally revealed her true colors.” Shen Ji smiled and slowly adjusted the strap that was rubbing her wrist. He said unhurriedly, “All the affection you showed in the past was just an act. Mian Niang, the worst thing you ever did was lie to me.”

"When did I lie to you?" Jiang Mian was a little taken aback.

"You said you liked me, weren't you lying to me?" Shen Ji stared directly into her eyes, trying to find a trace of surprise in them, but there was none. The girl's eyes flickered slightly, clearly showing some guilt.

"Mianniang, if you're going to lie to me, can't you lie to me forever? Why did you stop lying? Or have you found someone new and think I'm useless now?" Shen Ji lowered his head slightly; if he were just a little closer, he could touch her lips.

Jiang Mian had never seen Shen Ji like this before; he had never been so humble in front of her.

The words that were originally meant to be spoken are now replaced by a soft sigh: "Shen Ji, it's impossible between us."

"Why? What will you do if I insist on forcing you?"

“Cousin, wouldn’t it be better if you just be my cousin? If I were with you, I’m afraid my grandmother wouldn’t be able to handle it. Besides, you don’t even understand what I want.”

Jiang Mian closed her eyes. She had never said these words before. She was the one who was wrong in the first place and should not have provoked Shen Ji. But now, she did not want to hold a grudge against him for what he had done to her. She only hoped that they would leave each other alone and never see each other again.

“Cousin, I’ve kissed you, hugged you, and possessed you. Tell me, how could we be like ordinary siblings when we were so close? Don’t dream, Mian Niang, you are mine, and you will never escape me in this lifetime.”

The only way to distance yourself from him is to kill him.

Otherwise, she was destined to be entangled with him for the rest of her life.

"Cousin, please let me go, I beg you, please let me go. I want to live like a normal person, I don't want to be locked up by you anymore. If you keep me locked up, I will die, cousin." Jiang Mian's eyes suddenly reddened, and hot tears fell involuntarily.

Shen Ji frowned, feeling a slight tightness in his chest.

Even though Jiang Mian resented and hated him, he didn't want to hear her say these things. He couldn't bear to see her cry, so he couldn't help but reach out and wipe the corner of her eyes.

"Why are you crying? Is it really that hard to stay by my side?"

Jiang Mian nodded immediately, tears sliding down her beautiful almond-shaped eyes. Shen Ji felt inexplicably upset, especially when he touched the red marks on her wrists where they had been tied. He suddenly felt a little scared. When he was a child, he had raised a bird, but it died not long after.

He didn't understand at the time. He fed it the best every day. Compared to the birds that flew around outside, it ate almost the best food. But it died after he kept it in a cage for only a month.

He was very sad at that time, and even grieved for a long time.

Seeing Jiang Mian like this, the feeling of regaining what he had lost was gradually replaced by panic. He lowered his eyes and, for the first time ever, took a step back.

If you are uncomfortable, I will not force you.

He unlocked the chains on Jiang Mian's hands and feet, and gave a bleak smile: "Mianniang, you are free. From now on, I will not keep you locked up."

Jiang Mian's eyes lit up instantly, as if afraid he would go back on his word. She immediately jumped off the bed and moved a few steps away from him: "You said it, cousin, you can't go back on your word."

"Hmm." Shen Ji nodded, looking at her with a mixture of helplessness and amusement. In his heart, however, he felt no pain. Jiang Mian had used her own life to coerce him, forcing him to agree. But he had one condition.

"Mianniang, promise me you won't let any other men get close to you, okay?"

Jiang Mian frowned, not understanding why he would suddenly say that, but she was immersed in the joy of freedom and agreed to his request without thinking: "I promise you."

Shen Ji nodded and suddenly moved closer to her. Jiang Mian instinctively tried to back away, but he hugged her first.

“Even if we’re not in that kind of relationship, I’m still your older brother.” Shen Ji patted her head, seemingly indicating that he hadn’t done anything inappropriate.

Jiang Mian's heart gradually calmed down. She should have been happy, but for some reason, seeing Shen Ji like this, she felt a bit complicated.

After he let go of her hand, she immediately said, "Then I'm leaving, cousin."

"Mm." Shen Ji restrained himself and withdrew his hand. Even though a voice in his heart urgently told him not to think about anything and that keeping her was the most important thing, he did not break the promise.

After receiving permission, Jiang Mian left without looking back.

A bitter smile appeared on Shen Ji's lips. He had originally thought that if he used any means necessary to keep her here, she would eventually fall in love with him.

But he forgot that Jiang Mian was a living, breathing person.

It's not that objects can be manipulated at will.

She threatened him with her own life, so what reason did he have not to let her leave?

But to think you can completely make her give up on her feelings is just a pipe dream.

She will definitely come back willingly.

Shen Ji believed that as long as he had enough patience, Mian Niang would fall in love with him again.