His dearly beloved sister was bullied by others, and beyond comforting her and holding her, he was powerless, unable to even seek justice for her!
"Big brother, don't talk like that!" Ye Jingzhi's words pierced Ye Qingci's heart like a knife. She hugged Ye Jingzhi's body tightly, choking up as she spoke, "Big brother, you are the strongest person in my eyes. With big brother here, Cici feels that life is beautiful. The first thing Cici wants to do every day when she opens her eyes is to push big brother around the yard for a walk. Big brother is Cici's hope. Only when I'm by big brother's side do I feel like a child who is loved and cherished by others. No one can replace big brother's place in my heart... no one..."
The Ye family parents may have adopted her, but they were not kind to her.
Ever since she was little, it had been Ye Jingzhi who had always doted on her, protected her, and taught her.
In her eyes, Ye Jingzhi played multiple roles, like a brother, a father, and even a mother.
Though he had a disability, it was he who had supported her entire life, making her feel as though her life was complete, without any shortcomings.
Just like now, after she had been kidnapped and tortured by others, he was willing to offend the man whom nobody dared to offend, just to take her from that man's hands and into his embrace.
She was already very happy.
Even though her birth parents had abandoned her, and her adoptive parents didn't cherish her.
But it didn't matter, at least there was one person in this world who put her in the most important place, who cared for her and felt heartache for her.
That was enough, it was already enough!
Back at the Ye family home, Ye Jingzhi once again applied medicine to Ye Qingci's fingers.
Despite his gentle demeanor, Ye Qingci could see the hidden guilt and self-reproach in his heart.
Ye Qingci knew that big brother felt guilty and blamed himself for not being able to protect her.
Seeing big brother like this made Ye Qingci blame herself even more.
Why had she gotten involved with Jian Shichu, causing big brother to worry and fear for her?
Knowing that Ye Jingzhi hadn't eaten properly for a long time, Ye Qingci wanted to cook for him personally and make some food for him.
Ye Jingzhi wouldn't allow it, and ordered the kitchen to prepare a few simple dishes and cook some porridge.
After the meal was ready and served on the dining table, Ye Qingci sat opposite Ye Jingzhi and ate with him.
Ye Jingzhi's health was poor, and so was his stomach. Even though he hadn't eaten much for a long time, he only picked at a few bites of food and drank a small bowl of porridge.
His face was terribly pale, and there was weariness between his eyebrows and eyes.
Ye Qingci felt great heartache and harbored even more resentment towards Jian Shichu.
That lawless man, just because he had money and power, did he think he could kidnap her and keep her confined for no reason?
She disappeared without a trace so quietly; how worried and anxious must big brother have been?
Dragging his weak body, he had searched for her for so long, even going to the Jian family's gate to demand her return in person!
Big brother cherished her so much, yet she had done nothing for big brother. And now, she had even dragged him into worrying and toiling over her.
Noticing her pale face, Ye Jingzhi gently said, "Cici, you must be tired too, go upstairs and rest."
"Big brother, you should go back to your room and rest too," Ye Qingci stood up, walked behind him, and pushed his wheelchair, "Big brother, let me take you."
For the sake of convenience, Ye Jingzhi's bedroom was on the first floor.
Ye Qingci took Ye Jingzhi back to his room, helped him to lie down, and watched him close his eyes before she turned off the light and left his room.
After the door closed, Ye Jingzhi slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the ceiling with clear, beautiful eyes and sighed silently.
He grasped his thigh with his palm, feeling powerless as he closed his eyes again, his eyes filled with anguish and unwillingness.
What a pity... he was just a disabled person.
If it weren't for these legs holding him back, he could have taken better care of his sister, keeping her safe under his wing, preventing her from being bullied by anyone.
The other party was Jian Shichu.
Lawless, supremely arrogant, the Jian Shichu that no one dared to provoke.
For the safety and survival of the entire Ye family, he could only watch helplessly as his sister suffered abuse and humiliation, unable to reclaim even a bit of dignity for her.
He was so useless!
His palms were clenched tightly, feeling nothing but his own thigh, his eyes firmly shut, his body trembling uncontrollably.
His Cici was hurt, and all he could do was endure the insult in silence alongside her.
He knew all too well that he was no match for Jian Shichu, so, no matter how unwilling, how heartbroken, or how angry he felt, he could only hide these feelings deep inside.
He really was a cripple!
A useless cripple.
Although he said nothing, Ye Qingci could feel his heartache and reluctance.
Ye Qingci was also in a bad mood, firstly because she knew that Ye Jingzhi was heartbroken, and secondly because of Jian Shichu's entanglement.
Jian Shichu said that after school the next afternoon, he would have Xiao Ying pick her up at the school gate.
And she had agreed to Jian Shichu to make him something tasty to eat.
Also, she had signed some damn agreement with Jian Shichu.
The entire agreement was in French, and she had no idea what it said.
But she knew that for the time being, Jian Shichu was probably not going to forget about her.
How long would she have to be entangled with Jian Shichu?
When would Jian Shichu let her go?
Lying on the bed in a daze after a bath, dressed in pajamas, she pondered these thoughts.
Probably because she was tormented so harshly, despite being heavily burdened by her thoughts, she fell asleep quite quickly.
The next day, after school in the afternoon, Ye Qingci dawdled for a long time, then with a mindset as if she was going to break off cleanly, inch by inch, she slowly made her way out of the school like a snail.
Most of the students had already left, and the area in front of the school gate was much emptier.
As a result, the custom-designed Silver Charm Son of Light parked under the streetlight outside the school gate was particularly eye-catching.
Without even thinking, Ye Qingci knew it was Jian Shichu's car.
The limited edition Silver Charm Son of Light; there was only one in the entire Empire Country.
That show-off Jian Shichu used everything custom-made, never sharing with anyone else.
The Silver Charm Son of Light shone just like its name, dazzling, enchanting, radiating brilliance—it was hard for it not to catch someone's eye.
Everyone within sight couldn't help but stare at the car for a long time before leaving reluctantly.
Ye Qingci knew that if she got into this car now, by tomorrow the whole school would be swirling with rumors about her.
She didn't want to be famous.
Especially not in this way!
Hugging her books, she bowed her head and hustled along the edge of the wall, swiftly walking forward.
Inside the car, Jian Shichu, peering through the window, saw Ye Qingci walking with her head down, skirting the wall like a mouse, not even glancing his way, which annoyed him enough to narrow his eyes, "Xiao Ying!"
"Yes, Young Master!" Xiao Ying, recognizing the anger in Jian Shichu's voice, suppressed a laugh as he responded.
Jian Shichu watched Ye Qingci's slender figure, saying coldly, "Follow her!"
He really wanted to see where she thought she could escape to!
"Yes!" Xiao Ying started the car and lurked behind Ye Qingci, driving slowly.