Chapter 273

The woman looked at Little Jing Yi with guilt in her eyes.

“It was a last resort back then. I had no money, the train was about to leave, and your grandparents couldn’t take care of you either…”

The woman’s words were incoherent, her voice trembling as if she were being interrogated.

“Alright, I don’t want to hear anymore. Big Brother, I’ve asked all I needed to.”

Little Jing Yi turned around, holding Jing Zejun’s hand as they prepared to enter the house, but suddenly she stopped.

“Big Brother.”

Jing Zeyou glanced at the two people across from them and crouched down in front of Little Jing Yi.

She whispered, “Big Brother, we can’t give them anything. That money is for me and my sister’s education.” Grandma had said that raising children and paying for their schooling required a lot of money.

Jing Zeyou smiled gently. Just moments ago, he had been firm, but now he seemed so childlike.

“Alright, that money is for your schooling. Go on.”

Only then did Little Jing Yi feel reassured, holding Jing Zejun’s hand as they ran toward Lin Ruiqing and the others.

The four of them went home, ignoring the commotion outside.

……

At night, Little Jing Yi stayed in the tent that Jing Zeqian had set up on the balcony of her room, gazing at the night view of the river.

A knock came at the door. “Yi Yi, can I come in?” It was Jing Zeyou outside.

The little one in the tent poked her head out, slipped on her shoes, and ran to open the door.

She looked up, her smile adorable. “Big Brother!”

Jing Zeyou smiled, holding her hand with one hand while carrying a dessert in the other.

“What are you up to?”

“Watching the scenery on the balcony.”

The balcony?

Jing Zeyou walked over and only then noticed the tent on Jing Yi’s balcony. The corners of his lips curled up. “Why did you set up a tent on the balcony? Did your second brother do this?”

Little Jing Yi looked at him with admiration. “How did Big Brother know? You’re amazing!”

Jing Zeyou’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he led her over.

Probably no one else in the family, aside from Jing Zeqian, would do something like that.

The two of them, one big and one small, nestled by the tent, quietly watching the night view of the river.

Little Jing Yi held the dessert in her small hands, occasionally glancing up at Jing Zeyou beside her.

“What is it? Do you have something to say to me?”

Little Jing Yi’s admiring gaze grew even more evident, and Jing Zeyou’s smile deepened.

His little sister was so cute when she was young.

“Big Brother, why did you adopt me?”

The Jing family treated her so well, as if she were truly one of their own. But earlier that day, she had seen something that made her wonder—even biological parents could treat their children like that, let alone someone without blood ties.

At the same time, Little Jing Yi was also worried. She had seen children in the orphanage who had been adopted and then sent back.

Little Jing Yi loved the Jing family and every member of it. If she couldn’t see them anymore, she would be heartbroken.

Jing Zeyou turned to look at the little girl. “I’ll only answer this question once, okay?”

“Wait!”

Little Jing Yi carefully placed the dessert on a small table nearby, sat up straight, and put on a serious expression.

“Big Brother, go ahead!”

Seeing this, Jing Zeyou’s eyes overflowed with tenderness.

He spoke softly, “Because our relationship isn’t about adoption. It’s about reunion.” Little Jing Yi didn’t quite understand and repeated, “Reunion?”

Jing Zeyou continued to gaze at the scenery outside, his mind filled with memories of the moments he had shared with Jing Yi.

‘Hello, Big Brother, I’m Jing Yi.’

‘Big Brother, do you want to sunbathe?’

‘Big Brother, you’re such a workaholic. Keep it up, my future depends on you.’

‘Big Brother, how did you know I didn’t want to become the sharpest sword of the Jing family?’

‘Big ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‍Brother, being your family must be such a happy thing.’

Jing Zeyou gradually snapped out of his reverie and looked at the expectant Little Jing Yi.

“You don’t know this, but we’ve known each other for a very, very long time. So long that we’ve become the closest of family. That’s why this is a reunion.”

After meeting Jing Yi, Jing Zeyou had come to understand that blood ties only represented one layer of a relationship. Only mutual care and affection could truly make someone family.

Little Jing Yi’s small brows furrowed. Had she known Big Brother and the others for a long time? She remembered their first meeting at the elementary school gate.

And before that, she had lived in the orphanage. She had never met Big Brother before.

Jing Zeyou reached out and gently ruffled Little Jing Yi’s hair. “These are things that happened before you went to the orphanage.”

“The Jing Yi I knew was an amazing girl. Her hobbies were cool, her personality was cool, and she was cool in every way.”

“She was a remarkable person. So many people admired her and liked her. There were even people who came to me asking for her autograph.”

“She was a strong-willed person. Despite her soft appearance, she had her own convictions. Once she set her mind on something, no one could change it.”

“She was a gentle soul. Even when she could have stayed out of trouble, she would step forward to shield others, which often led to her being hurt.”

Little Jing Yi really liked the girl Jing Zeyou was describing. She asked excitedly, “Is this the Jing Yi from Big Brother’s dreams?”

Jing Zeyou smiled warmly. “Yes.”

“So, Yi Yi, we are bound by fate. This kind of connection isn’t measured by blood. This is a reunion—a reunion between you, me, our parents, and everyone else.”

Little Jing Yi suddenly felt her eyes grow warm, and she buried her face in Jing Zeyou’s lap.

Her voice muffled, she said, “Big Brother, what if I can’t become that amazing Jing Yi from your dreams?”

Did this kind of fate truly belong to her?

Could it be that she had taken someone else’s place?

Jing Zeyou gently patted Little Jing Yi, as if to comfort her.

“Little Jing Yi doesn’t need to become anyone else. You just need to grow up happily. That kind of Jing Yi is the most amazing of all.”

Little Jing Yi remained lying there. “But the person Big Brother described is so incredible…”

Jing Zeyou chuckled. “Little Jing Yi is incredible too. You waited safely for Big Brother to find you, and now you’re growing up happily. Isn’t that amazing?”

Little Jing Yi, still lying there, secretly smiled. She loved those words. It felt as though they were always meant to be a family, even if their meeting had come a little later.

“Jing Yi Yi, open the door!”

Outside, Jing Zeqian’s voice rang out. Little Jing Yi got up and ran over to open the door.

Before he even entered, Jing Zeqian’s voice was already filling the room.

“Did you sneak in to play without waiting for me and Jun Jun? Jun Jun only took a little. You didn’t need to help her carry it. If you’re so thoughtful, why not help your second brother out a bit? Oh, never mind. With your tiny arms and legs, what could you even carry? I’ll just do it myself. By the way, I couldn’t find Big Brother. Who knows where he’s gone off to work again…”

Jing Zeqian rambled on as he carried snacks toward the balcony, only to find Jing Zeyou standing there with an amused expression.

“Brother, so you’re here! Quick, quick, take these things off me!”

Jing Zeyou looked at him, laden with bags and boxes, and though he was a bit exasperated, he still kindly took the items from Jing Zeqian.

“Why did you bring so much stuff?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to make Jing Yi Yi’s tent even cozier!”

“Jing Yi Yi, Jun Jun, what are you two doing? Come and help!”

Under the night sky, the bustling city had quieted down. The sounds of laughter drifted from the balcony of a manor, and the leaves rustled in the wind, as if responding to the joy within.