Chapter 46: Don't You Want Me Anymore?
“I don’t dislike my sister! Nor do I reject her! Everything I told my friends was true!”
Lu Ting’s face was streaked with tears as she squatted down, covering her face and sobbing.
“I’m just scared, afraid that because my sister is back, you’ll stop loving me. I’m really scared, so I’ve always been restraining my behavior.”
“I admit some of my actions were wrong, but I was just too worried. Every day, I live in fear that you’ll start disliking me. After all, I’m not your biological child, but I’ve always treated this place as my home.”
She felt so heartbroken. Her elder brother actually came to question her, and when she said these words, half of them were sincere.
Lu Jingzhi had never seen Lu Ting have an emotional breakdown, nor had he ever known that she was so scared inside.
He suddenly felt a bit guilty for not having cared more for Lu Ting.
“Elder brother, I realize my mistake. On the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, mom bought such a beautiful dress for my sister, and I was jealous. That’s why I said in front of my friends that I wanted to move out. I regretted it afterward.”
Lu Ting raised her hand slightly, “If I couldn’t accept my sister, why would I keep wearing the bracelet?”
Lu Jingzhi’s gaze fell on the two-dollar bracelet, his expression softened a bit.
But that’s a separate issue.
Even though it pained him, he still said sternly, “I hope this doesn’t happen a second time. You’re all part of the Lu Family, and you should be united when outside.”
“If it happens again, I can only send you to boarding school first, to ensure family harmony. Tingting, I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Lu Ting looked up, her eyes filled with shock: “Are you going to abandon me?”
Lu Jingzhi suddenly felt an unpleasant sting in his heart: “I just want to tell you that if you have worries, you must tell me, so I can resolve these conflicts. You and Qiaoqiao are sisters, and I hope you can get along well.”
He remembered when he was little, as soon as he returned, little Lu Ting would act coquettishly and ask for hugs.
Every time there was something delicious, she would bring it to him and sweetly say, ‘Elder brother, you eat first.’
Thinking back on these memories, Lu Jingzhi’s heart softened.
Lu Ting nodded pitifully: “I understand. As long as you don’t leave me behind, it’s okay.”
Lu Jingzhi furrowed his brows. It seemed a conversation with his parents was in order, about treating Lu Ting and Qiao Yun equally.
Although Lu Ting’s behavior was wrong, put in her place, he could still understand and felt pity for her.
She’d been living in fear for so long, and he hadn’t noticed. He had failed in his responsibility.
Lu Jingzhi stayed in the study for a long time, reflecting on his recent actions.
He suddenly realized he had made many mistakes.
He’d always thought that because Qiaoqiao came from the countryside, she might be inherently flawed.
His words were often critical of her, which is no wonder Qiao Yun had difficulty getting close to him.
He thought of the two times Qiao Yun had asked him.
You don’t trust me.
Lu Jingzhi reached this thought and didn’t know how to cope.
Qiaoqiao hadn’t called him ‘elder brother’ even once until now. Perhaps she never would?
Lu Jingzhi felt ashamed, almost fleeing the Lu Family in disgrace. He guessed it would be a while before he dared to face Qiao Yun again.
**
Lu Ting left the study, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
She glanced at the bracelet. Thankfully, Lu Xue had warned her in advance, allowing her to be prepared. Otherwise, her carefully constructed persona might have collapsed.
Luckily, Lu Jingzhi’s genuine love for her made him relent.
It seems that all of Qiao Yun’s good behavior is just an act, and now she’s learned to tattle, too
Ever since Qiao Yun came back, nothing has gone smoothly for her: she’s been blackmailed, publicly embarrassed, her birthday thunder stolen, and now even her elder brother harbors doubts about her.
Lu Ting’s eyes darkened as she mused that she couldn’t afford any slip-ups for a while.
Picking up her phone, she called Lu Xue.