After Lu Han's one of a kind gift presentation, a few families took their turn giving Grandfather Ji gifts. Standing in line with 3 families ahead, Ji Jingxu nervously held his gift close to his body.
He sneakily glances at Yue Ling's gift, but seeing it, he purse his lip and couldn't help but steal a glance at everyone else's gifts.
However, seeing their gifts, his lip purse more.
Unlike everyone's gifts, his and Yue Ling's were the smallest. To make things even worse for him, his gift is smaller than hers! So in other words, his gift is the smallest!!
Feeling like a heavy weight was suddenly dropped onto his heart, his head hung low and he stares at the gift with complex feelings. In a very quiet voice, he murmur to himself.
"Will he like my gift…? What if he doesn't..."
Yue Ling stood next to the boy on his left. Hearing his very faint voice that will never escape her ears, she turns to look at him.
Seeing his head down as he stares at the tiny box in his hands, she faintly smiles.
As his older sister who has been in life for so long, how could she not know what he is thinking?
Her gift is the size of a small necklace box, but Ji Jingxu's gift is the size of a ring box.
However, hearing his words continue, she slowly lift her right hand and gently pat the boy on his head.
"Yeye will love your gift."
Hearing her sudden words, Ji Jingxu felt the heavy feeling in his heart disperse into thin air. His sister's voice is the voice that always gives him the touch of being love.
He raise his head and turn to look at her.
"Jie…"
His lips press tightly together, and he sighs a faint smile that did not reach his eyes. Glancing down at the small box in his hand, he sighs again.
"Do you think he will like something like this? I mean, everyone's gifts looks like it must have costed an arm and a leg."
Seeing him fidget nervously like a little boy planning to give a gift to his crush, she smiles a chuckle. Her hand that is still on his head messes up his hair a little.
"No matter what gift it is, expensive or inexpensive, it is the thought that always counts."
She lowers her hand and turn to look ahead at the old man opening his gifts.
As her eyes slowly flutter, her line of sight leaves Grandfather Ji's face and down to his neck. The old man didn't wear any jewelries, but she picture a necklace wrap nicely around his neck. She faintly smiles and her words continue.
"Once you give him your gift, he will have the final piece."
"…"
Ji Jingxu was listening to her words like an understanding student. After seeing all the flashy gifts everyone had presented and yet to give, he started having second thoughts about his. However, having Yue Ling here to assure him, he is glad that she is back.
Only she can take away this insecurity feeling inside him.
Just as he was finally able to relax his shoulders, he suddenly heard her last sentence and was stupefied.
His eyes widen as if he saw something horrifying in front of him and slowly turn his head like a robot to her.
"J-J-J-Jie…"
He opened and closed his mouth, but was only able to stutter one word as he struggles a very difficult gulp. Lifting one hand, he wipes the imaginary sweat away from his forehead.
"H-How did you k-know?"
Seeing his face turn as red as a tomato, Yue Ling didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Did he honestly think that after all these years, she wouldn't know?
Thinking of something, she decides to tease him. She shrug one shoulder with a nonchalant look.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe it's because I am your sister and I know you better than anyone."
She pause in her words and touch her chin as if thinking hard about something.
"Or… Maybe it's because every year you've gifted yeye the same gift."
"…"
Ji Jingxu's face turned even redder than it already is. He inhales a mouthful of air only to raise his shoulders as his neck shrunk in like he had turned into a turtle returning inside its shell.
"Is it that obvious…?"
Glancing to the boy from the corners of her eyes, Yue Ling couldn't help but chuckle sweetly at him. After all these years, he is still the same gullible boy that she loves so much.
She raise her hand and gently pat his head again.
"Only yeye and I know. Your gift is one in million. Not mine or anyone here can win against it."
Ji Jingxu sighs at her words and close his eyes. He felt like his most embarrassing secret had been found out and of all people, it had to be his older sister.
Taking a deep breath, he opens his eyes and subconsciously looks at the black tuxedo coat draped over her shoulders.
He hesistated inside, but decided to ask her the question that has been on his mind all night.
"Jie, are you and Lu Tian really together?"
Yue Ling looks down at the coat that covered more than half of her body. Thinking back to how Lu Tian put it on her, she sighs a smile.
Ji Jingxu is her beloved younger brother and the secret is already out. There is no need to beat around the bush anymore.
Slightly turning her body to face him, she part her lips to speak.
"We are."
Just as Yue Ling spoke, what came out was not her usual angelic voice, but a very deep voice.
Her brows scrunch together, and she touch her throat as she tries to clear her throat a few times.
Something isn't right. Did she catch a cold?
How can she hear her own voice in her head, but hear a deep voice when she spoke?
Ji Jingxu stares at her in utter disbelief. However, it was not her flawless face that he was looking at.
Into her thoughts, Yue Ling sees the look on the boy's face and she slightly tilt her head. Quickly realizing that he wasn't looking at her but looking behind, she slowly turn to see what could have caught his attention.
Her eyes quickly met a pair of dark pupils and both her brows arch up in surprise.
"Tian, why are you standing there?"