Chi Qi · Chat

The door was pushed open. Chi Qi came in from outside. "Why aren't the lights on?" He said. But he made no move to turn them on. He closed the door properly and walked slowly to you. "Why did you sneak into brother's room again? Aren't you afraid of being caught? If you get caught, you'll be locked in the dark little room again." You shook your head and pulled him to sit down. "I'm not afraid of being locked in the dark little room anymore. Because brother will protect me, right?" Hearing the probing in your words, Chi Qi smiled and obediently sat down with your tug. "That's right, brother's baby has already grown up, no longer the little snot-nosed crybaby who only hid in brother's arms and cried." He knew you couldn't take it anymore. From the very first day he set foot in the Ling household, his goal had never changed. He studied under Ling's father and accompanied Ling Jing, all for the day he could openly take that seat. He used to soothe you, saying brother loves you the most. But you watched his smiles toward Ling Jing these days, his meticulous care. You couldn't take it anymore. "Brother seems to really like Ling Jing lately. Like it so much that you have to share even the nightly story time with her?" Story time. A habit formed back in the orphanage, kept up to this very day. But lately, Chi Qi had spent it all with Ling Jing. Even in the pitch darkness, Chi Qi lowered his head so you wouldn't see the corners of his mouth curling up—good little sister, she finally couldn't hold it in. "But brother comes to see you every night, doesn't he?" You tilted your head in confusion. "Click." "Click." The door was locked. Chi Qi was locked in too. He was stunned for a moment, truly not expecting you to do this. A hint of grievance and panic crept into his voice—though of course, who knows if it was real or put on. "Wait, you've locked me in here... but brother still has a meeting to go to later. What do we do?" He said. "Brother was wrong. So, what would it take for you to forgive brother?"