I Am the Only Fertile Woman in the Game-Chapter 206: Siblings

This "unexpected misfortune" soon became a thing of the past for Qiao Suisui, but the school forums and various groups were in uproar, even causing a small-scale sensation online.

The short video of Lin Xixi smashing Fang Yuan had been edited into a meme and posted online, garnering over a hundred thousand views by that evening, with likes, shares, and comments in the thousands. Firstly, because Lin Xixi was indeed fierce, and secondly, because Qiao Suisui was captured in the video, her petite face and delicate features, her innocent looks, led netizens to call for her to debut on the spot. Others commented that she could be sent directly to ’Produce 101,’ ready to financially support this sister.

However, the two individuals involved were completely unaware of this as they were at that moment crying their eyes out at a street-side hotpot stall.

Three or four empty beer bottles were on the table in front of them. Lin Xixi’s face was as red as a monkey’s butt; she not only had a low tolerance for alcohol but also blushed easily when she drank. At this point, her speech was slurred.

"I’m telling you, Suisui, I’m telling you... I just knew... I knew you could break away from your mother’s clutches, and your life would get better and better.... Do you believe it, do you believe it? What was it I told you...."

Qiao Suisui had drunk half a bottle and her face was flushed, but she was more sober than Lin Xixi. She had only this one friend, with whom she could talk about anything. When she quarreled with Mother Qiao and was kicked out of the house, it was Lin Xixi who took her in; when she was broke and too stubborn to ask the Qiao family for money, it was Lin Xixi who gave her half of her living expenses without hesitation; they had attended the same elementary and the same middle school, had fought and got angry with each other, but they always made up within a day.

Qiao Suisui held Lin Xixi and sobbed, "Things will get better, our lives will get better."

"Are you, are you keeping secrets from me?" Lin Xixi put out a finger and pointed at her ear, mistaking it for Qiao Suisui’s mouth, and said with conviction, "You’re definitely hiding something from me, tell me!"

Qiao Suisui held her up, afraid she might fall, and hesitated, stammering, "If I tell you, I’m afraid you won’t believe me."

"What’s not to believe? You’re my best friend, I believe everything you say!"

"I... do you remember that game I mentioned to you? I...."

"Ha! I knew it!"

Qiao Suisui was surprised, she and Lin Xixi said in unison—

"You know? You’ve been in it too?"

"I know! Qiao Jiming likes you!"

Lin Xixi looked at her with unfocused eyes, "Hmm? What did you say, been in what? Where?"

Qiao Suisui sighed, "Nowhere, just going home."

She knew Lin Xixi wasn’t clear-headed, so she didn’t take her words seriously. She staggered to settle the bill, propped up Lin Xixi, who had fallen asleep on the table, and was about to go to the street to hail a cab when her phone rang.

Qiao Suisui answered it, "Hello?"

Ji Ming had waited for her until ten o’clock, and when she hadn’t returned, he thought to call and ask when she would be back. But as soon as the call connected, he heard her somewhat heavy nasal voice and tone, and immediately asked, "Have you been drinking?" The background noise from her side was very loud, Ji Ming didn’t wait for her to answer and asked again, "Where are you?"

"Near the commercial street by the school, Xixi drank too much, I need to take her home first."

Ji Ming immediately grabbed his clothes and headed out the door, saying, "Stay in the store and wait for me, don’t wander off, send me your location, I’m on my way now."

Qiao Suisui felt it would indeed be a struggle to deal with the drunken Lin Xixi by herself, so she agreed. Ji Ming arrived very quickly, showing up just ten minutes after hanging up.

Watching Ji Ming arrive sweating all over, she said, "There’s no need to rush; Xixi won’t wake up any time soon."

Ji Ming caught his breath, first scanning the surrounding area to make sure there were no punks or sleazy men trying to hit on or harass her, before finally feeling at ease.

"Why didn’t you tell me earlier, so I could come and pick you... both up."

"It’s close by, just one street away from the hotel."

Ji Ming didn’t argue with her and resignedly squatted with his back to her, turning his head to say, "Bring Sister Xi over."

She helped Lin Xixi climb onto Ji Ming’s back. Since Lin Xixi was wearing a short skirt that day, she also took off her own jacket and tied it around her waist. Ji Ming carried Lin Xixi, and along with her, they left the commercial street, walking on a path showered in moonlight.

"Why did you drink?" Ji Ming asked.

"Xixi wanted to celebrate for me."

A gentle breeze blew towards them, and Qiao Suisui smiled, tilting her head back to enjoy it, feeling extremely comfortable. By this time, they had left the noisy streets, with only the chirping of cicadas around them.

"Ji Ming, I’m planning to rent a place to live out on my own."

Ji Ming was taken aback for a moment, using the stray hairs on his forehead to conceal his expression, murmuring, "That sounds good."

"I’ve saved a bit of money, and I’ve been looking at apartments these days. There’s one I really like, and the price is right, too. But don’t tell mom; I don’t want her to find me."

"Hmm."

"I want to go to the building materials market myself and buy a can of paint to freshen up the walls, that way the house will look a bit newer."

"Hmm."

"I also want Xixi to live with me, and then we can get a small dog. When we have nothing to do, we can walk the dog, and on weekends, we can cook together."

"..."

Qiao Jiming clenched his sour throat, his heartbeat becoming even more irregular. The panicky feeling made him weak in the hands and feet, and his steps slowed more and more.

Qiao Suisui noticed he wasn’t keeping up and turned back to call out, "Ji Ming? Are you tired?"

Qiao Jiming just stared at her, the emotions in his chest surging like a tidal wave, rolling non-stop, but he couldn’t utter a word. He clenched his teeth tightly, afraid he couldn’t hold back and would spill his hidden secrets.

After a long pause, Qiao Jiming squeezed out a few words through his teeth, "And what about me?"

Qiao Suisui paused, thinking he was envious of the independent life. So she walked back, smiling, and patted his shoulder, "You can come over whenever you want."

She didn’t remember...

She didn’t remember the promise they made as children to live together when they grew up.

She didn’t remember they were supposed to build a home together, just the two of them.

She could fit Lin Xixi into her life, but she left no room for him.

Qiao Jiming looked up, exhaling a long breath of turbid air.

Qiao Suisui was puzzled by his sudden drop in mood. Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, she saw Qiao Jiming, carrying Lin Xixi, continue to move forward.

"We’re almost there. It’s dark in the alley, so wait for me under the streetlight here."

After he spoke, Qiao Jiming quickened his pace without saying another word, each step accompanied by persistent melancholy.

Turning the corner was Lin Xixi’s house. He had walked a distance into the darkness when the person on his back suddenly spoke, "I thought you were pretty bold."

Qiao Jiming, immersed in his emotions, got startled by the sudden voice. "You’ve been awake all along?"

Lin Xixi said, "Your heart was beating so hard, it would’ve been hard not to wake up."

Qiao Jiming stopped, intending to put her down, but Lin Xixi playfully refused to get off.

"Carry the Buddha to the West. We’re almost there," she coaxed.

Qiao Jiming didn’t respond and quickly walked towards her apartment building, carrying her.

"Hey, stinky little brother, do you have a sister complex?"

"..."

"Then consider me. I’m your sister too."

Qiao Jiming dumped Lin Xixi in front of the apartment door, took two steps backward, distancing himself from her.

"Don’t talk nonsense to her!"

"Too late. I’ve said it all."

"You!"

Lin Xixi watched the young man’s face under the moonlight redden with anger and couldn’t help but laugh. She puckered her lips and said, "But guess how your sister reacted? She doesn’t believe a word."

She was indeed out of it when she said that, but although she was confused, she never fully blacked out and was actually quite lucid. In fact, she had been awake since Qiao Jiming started carrying her but didn’t want to miss the opportunity to keep pretending.

"You are her family member, her brother, you cannot..."

"I am not." Qiao Jiming interrupted her before she could finish, "We have no blood relation."

His face, under the dim streetlight, flickered. The young man’s eyes were reserved, his hands clenched into fists, his expression determined but repressed.

"Please don’t interfere, and don’t talk nonsense in front of her. I will tell her this myself and, besides, I have a lifetime to make her accept me. I can wait."