Chapter 266

The plane was a bit bumpy. Jing Zeyou glanced at Jing Yi beside him and gently tucked her in. Her eyes were still slightly swollen.

Jing Zeqian approached, and Jing Zeyou signaled him to talk in the rest area. Before getting up, he took one last look at the sleeping Jing Yi and quietly walked out.

Jing Zeqian looked like he had just "come back to life," lazily leaning on the sofa.

Everything that had happened in the past two days had drained all his energy.

"Brother, what are we going to say when we get back?" Jing Zeyou poured himself a glass of red wine and swirled it casually.

"Say about what?"

Jing Zeqian reached out his hand, clearly asking for something. Jing Zeyou, as usual, handed over what he was holding.

"Of course, about Jing Yiyi's identity? Don’t let there be another rumor about a fake heiress like before."

Jing Zeyou glanced at him, "I remember, back then, someone didn’t even want her to have the title of 'fake heiress.'"

Jing Zeqian seemed to bristle, sitting up straight abruptly, almost spilling the wine in his hand. "Brother! Don’t bring up old wounds like that!" How long was this going to be brought up? Couldn’t they just chalk it up to his youthful ignorance?

Jing Zeyou smiled faintly and downed his glass of wine in one go. "We’ll say what needs to be said. Since when does the Jing Family care about what others think?"

As long as they stood firm, no matter who it was, they’d have to accept that Jing Yi was the Jing Family’s heiress.

Jing Zeqian raised an eyebrow. Arrogant enough—just the way he liked it!

"However, I think you should start thinking about your own problems now."

Jing Zeqian moved the glass away from his lips, puzzled. "What problems?" Jing Zeyou studied the person in front of him. "Don’t you think you look like a high school student right now?"

Jing Zeqian wasn’t aware, but Jing Zeyou knew his appearance all too well.

Jing Zeqian paused, then gasped, frantically looking for a mirror to check his reflection.

He couldn’t accept it. "No way! I should’ve graduated by now, right?!" Please tell me I’m not stuck in my senior year of high school!

Jing Zeyou remained calm, pouring himself another glass of wine, leisurely watching his brother, who looked like he’d just stepped on a tail.

Jing Zeqian slumped on the sofa, muttering, "This is bad. Am I really going to have to go through it all over again? Brother, hurry and tell Dad I know what I’m doing. There’s no need for me to relive it."

Jing Zeqian had genuinely gone through three years of high school, but he’d been severely unbalanced in his studies, with math and science almost completely eluding him.

The thought of going through it again made him feel utterly defeated.

Jing Zeyou seemed to agree, swirling his wine glass. "That makes sense, but what if Jing Yi asks?" He watched as Jing Zeqian immediately became alert, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "What if she asks why Second Brother doesn’t have to go to school? What if she asks about your grades?"

As if that wasn’t enough, he added, "What if she asks you elementary school questions and you can’t answer them?" He even emphasized the word "elementary."

Seeing the despair growing in his brother’s eyes, Jing Zeyou smiled. "Alright, I’m just teasing you. You’ll just have to stay at school a bit longer to look after your two sisters."

Jing Zeqian didn’t have to go to school, but his sisters still did. Nothing made for a safer school life than having an older brother as a "bodyguard" at the same school.

…

Little Jing Yi had just recovered from the shock of riding a private jet.

Her big brother had told her this was a private jet that could take her to the orphanage. Whenever she missed her grandma, she could just say the word and they’d go—quick and easy.

Little Jing Yi was happy. When she had a break, she could go back to see her grandma! That way, she could have her family without having to give up her grandma!

But there was still one thing troubling her.

Her big brother had said her parents and sister were waiting for her. She didn’t know if they’d like her, or if it would be better not to call them Mom and Dad right away.

Hearing Jing Yi’s thoughts, Jing Zeqian immediately said, "Of course not! They’ve been waiting for you for so long. If they don’t hear you call them Mom and Dad, they’ll be heartbroken!"

Jing Zeqian spoke earnestly, and Jing Yi seemed to understand, her round eyes peeking at Jing Zeqian. "Like when Second Brother cries?" That did seem pretty sad.

Jing Zeqian paused, looking a bit uncomfortable. "That wasn’t crying! It was just windy!"

Jing Yi nodded understandingly. She knew how to be considerate of adults.

Jing Zeyou, standing nearby, smiled, while Jing Zeqian just wanted to move past the topic.

"Anyway, just remember they’re your parents, and they’ll definitely like you as much as I do!"

Little Jing Yi’s nervousness eased a bit, but as they approached the Jing Family home, those feelings resurfaced.

The wealthiest people she’d ever seen were the kids who used to bully her. They had cars to pick them up and lived in fancy neighborhoods.

But even they didn’t have private jets or such a big mansion.

Little Jing Yi instinctively held onto Jing Zeyou, as if that would make her feel safer.

Lin Ruiqing and Jing Beicheng, now decades younger, along with Jing Zejun, were waiting at the entrance.

When Lin Ruiqing woke up, the first thing she saw was the young Jing Zejun, and tears immediately streamed down her face. Not being able to witness Jing Zejun’s growth had been her greatest regret.

She never thought that one day, that regret would be filled.

After the initial joy subsided, she began to worry about Jing Yi and the others who weren’t there yet. But soon, she received a call from Jing Zeyou.

She had wanted to go pick up Jing Yi herself, eager to see her youngest daughter, but after hearing Jing Zeyou’s reasoning, she decided against it.

For the first time in a long while, she felt nervous, constantly checking her outfit and Jing Zejun’s.

Jing Beicheng teased, "Why are you so fidgety now that you’re younger?" Lin Ruiqing shot her younger husband a glare. He seemed to have regained his youthful mindset, even finding time to tease her.

Jing Zejun held Lin Ruiqing’s hand and reassured her, "Mom, don’t be too nervous. Otherwise, Jing Yi might get nervous too."

In truth, she was also a bit nervous. She hadn’t seen Jing Yi as a child before. She must be even cuter than she was when she grew up.

The three of them waited with anticipation until they saw Jing Yi, clinging tightly to Jing Zeyou, trying to appear calm but clearly frightened.

Jing Zejun finally saw Jing Yi as a child, and she was indeed adorable.

But her heart ached.

Jing Zejun walked up to Jing Yi, forcing a smile, her eyes red and filled with tenderness.

"Jing Yi, welcome home."