Jiang Juyou finished her dinner, fed by the three of them in turns. During the meal, Jiang Fuping brought up her birthday.
Pei Zongzhi spoke up from the side, "I've bought a cruise ship for Juyou; we can go and enjoy it when the time comes."
"What do you think, Juyou? After all, it is your birthday."
Jiang Juyou replied, "Mom, Dad, either way is fine with me."
Her plan was to use the birthday banquet as the occasion to personally reject Shang Muye’s confession. Since he loved playing games so much, she would see to it that he was eliminated right at the start.
"My thought is that we spend the morning on the cruise ship your brother bought, and hold a banquet at the manor in the evening. We can invite plenty of good friends then."
Jiang Juyou nodded. "That sounds good."
Jiang Fuping and Mother Jiang exchanged glances. Finally, Yu Wanrong spoke up, "Then, what about Shang Muye..."
"There's no need to invite him to the cruise, but we can invite him to the banquet."
Hearing that she still wanted to invite him to the banquet, Jiang Fuping and Mother Jiang sighed inwardly. It seemed their daughter still hadn't let him go.
Yu Wanrong glanced at Pei Zongzhi again. "Very well. We'll go to the cruise as a family, and I’ll have someone prepare the banquet."
Pei Zongzhi nodded, though his interest had clearly waned. Jiang Juyou knew that the three of them were misunderstanding her again, thinking she was still attached to Shang Muye. In any case, explaining now would be pointless; they wouldn't believe her. Once the banquet arrived and everyone saw her personally turn Shang Muye down, her parents and brother would finally understand.
She looked over at Pei Zongzhi, who was eating with his head bowed. He had been feeding her just a moment ago, but now he wouldn't even look at her. She deliberately picked up a piece of beef from her plate and offered it to him.
"Brother, a token of your sister's respect."
Pei Zongzhi pressed his fork down, his voice low and enigmatic. "My sister is truly dutiful."
Even while telling him she no longer liked Shang Muye, she still insisted on inviting him to her birthday banquet. Jiang Juyou felt the flower tucked behind her ear starting to slip. She turned her head stiffly toward Pei Zongzhi. "I've finished my meal already... Brother." She tried to act cute to soothe him.
Pei Zongzhi let out a muffled chuckle, amused by her antics. "You look like a robot right now."
Jiang Fuping and Mother Jiang laughed along. Pei Zongzhi reached out and rested a hand on Jiang Juyou's shoulder. "Come, let big brother escort the robot back to her room."
Jiang Fuping and Yu Wanrong watched them go. "Those two are still like children."
Jiang Fuping stared at their retreating figures as they entered the elevator and sighed. Yu Wanrong knew what was weighing on him. "Oh, aren't the two of them doing quite well right now?"
Who could have guessed that the man originally brought home to be groomed as a husband for Jiang Juyou would end up being called "brother" by her over and over again? And now, their daughter’s heart had been snatched away by that pale-haired youth.
"Can a brother ever be a match for a husband?"
"You're overthinking it. You've watched how well Zongzhi has treated Juyou since she was a child. Even if he stays her brother for his whole life, he will always be good to her."
Yu Wanrong thought of the demands Jiang Fuping had imposed on Pei Zongzhi back then and frowned. "But you forbade Zongzhi from getting close to women, from having a girlfriend, from marrying. He is a man, after all..."
"His life belongs to the Jiang Family. He sits in his current position only because I put him there. He wants to avenge the Pei Family; it’s not as simple as it seems. Preventing him from touching other women is also a layer of protection for Juyou."
Yu Wanrong felt a certain affection for Pei Zongzhi. "If he lacks the ability, how can he remain in charge? If Juyou finds a good man and marries in the future, let Zongzhi marry someone he likes and live a peaceful life."
"As long as his surname is Pei, he will never have a peaceful life."
Inside the elevator, in the cramped space, Pei Zongzhi suddenly leaned down, hovering close to Jiang Juyou. Fearing the flower would fall off, she dared not move. "Brother, what are you doing?"
Pei Zongzhi's eyes were dark. "Jiang Juyou, were you drinking and smoking for Shang Muye’s sake?"
*Ding.* The elevator opened. Pei Zongzhi placed his hand on Jiang Juyou's shoulder and guided her to her room.
Jiang Juyou looked up. "No, it was just the smell from the bar. I didn't drink or smoke."
"A bar?"
*Click, click.* Once inside, Jiang Juyou stood by the door. Pei Zongzhi followed her in, closed the door behind him, and looked at her. "You went to a bar today?"
"Brother, didn't you say you'd forgive me if the flower didn't fall?" Jiang Juyou said, sounding aggrieved. "Why are you still questioning me? Besides, I didn't go to the bar for Shang Muye."
She had only gone to retrieve the jade pendant.
Pei Zongzhi leaned his back against the door, looking down at her. He reached out and removed the flower from behind her ear.
"What are you doing, Brother?" Although Jiang Juyou felt the weight lift, she felt sure there was a reason behind his taking it. Did this mean he wouldn't forgive her?
Pei Zongzhi walked into her room and sat at her vanity. He crossed his long legs, posture relaxed, and inspected the skincare products on her table. "Since the flower fell, I’ll have to come up with a different punishment."
Jiang Juyou watched him deliberately place the flower on the vanity and run his index finger over it. "It didn't fall on its own. You were the one who took it."
Pei Zongzhi laughed. "Then why didn't you stop me?"
"I... I only didn't stop you because you're my brother."
Hearing this, Pei Zongzhi raised an eyebrow. "Because I'm your brother, I can do whatever I want?"
Jiang Juyou hugged a doll on the tatami mat, sitting much lower than Pei Zongzhi, and rested her chin on the doll's head. Her gaze toward him was tinged with a faint sadness. In her previous life, her brother had died on Changbai Mountain because of her. In this life, she was willing to do whatever he asked.
"Yes, I can even give my life to you."
Pei Zongzhi’s fingertips flicked the flower, and he swallowed hard. His long lashes cast a shadow below. He hadn't expected his sister to tease him like this.
"Then tell me, who is more important: your brother or a husband?"
Jiang Juyou thought the question was a bit far-fetched. In her past life, she had desperately wanted to marry Shang Muye. But now? She hadn't even considered the possibility of liking or marrying anyone else.
"My brother, of course." She wouldn't have a husband anyway.
"Good girl." A smile tugged at Pei Zongzhi's lips. He tucked the flower between his fingers, stood up, and walked over to her side. He tucked the flower back behind her ear, brushing back a few strands of hair along with it.
Jiang Juyou held her breath, feeling the coolness of his knuckles. It tickled as they brushed against her cheek. For some reason, she suddenly asked:
"Brother, are you... not interested in women?"
Instantly, the room went dead silent. She couldn't even hear their breathing; Jiang Juyou could only hear her own heart pounding, *thump-thump-thump*.
So this was what it meant for one's mouth to be faster than one's brain. Why had she ever asked such a question?