TSFLIP Chapter 452

Time always slips away quietly when you least expect it. By the time Fengguang had grown from a little girl into a beautiful young teen, she had also become a middle schooler. In her opinion, as an unmotivated slacker, middle school life wasn’t much different from elementary school. But Ji You was different. She was the definition of a straight-A student.

While Fengguang napped during class or spaced out, Ji You was always studying. Studying, studying, and more studying.

Fengguang thought she was too into it and couldn’t help asking, “Xiao You, wouldn’t it kill you to relax a little?”

“I can’t. I need to work hard to get into the same college as my brother,” Ji You replied firmly, convincing herself she truly loved studying.

By the time they hit ninth grade, Ji You’s overachiever habits had only intensified. Fengguang often watched her with a mix of confusion and admiration, though never with the desire to be like her. Her dad used to say, “Back in the day, your mom was always bottom of her class too. And now? Those same classmates call her ‘Queen of the Market.’”

Fengguang wasn’t sure if he was trying to be encouraging or sarcastic — or both. Either way, she didn’t bother figuring it out. Her parents were always quietly throwing shade at each other behind closed doors. She was used to it.

But during the summer of ninth grade, something happened that changed everything. Unfortunately, no one in the world has the power to see the future.

Ji Mian, Ji You’s older brother, had gone overseas for his senior year of college to further his research. He ended up staying there for over half a year, not even returning home for the Spring Festival. So when Ji You heard that he was finally flying back tonight, she was over the moon. She ran straight into Fengguang’s room, bubbling with excitement.

“Let’s go to the airport and surprise my brother!”

Fengguang glanced outside at the pitch-black sky. “But… it’s already dark. He’ll have a driver to pick him up.”

“We can go and wait for him — surprise him! C’mon, don’t be scared. I’ll be with you,” Ji You said cheerfully.

After a bit of hesitation and persuasion, Fengguang caved. The two snuck out of the house without telling the nanny.

The Xia family estate was far from the city center, so there weren’t many cars on the road at that hour. They had to walk a bit before reaching the nearest bus stop.

And that’s when it happened.

The airport in City A was never quiet.

At twenty-two, Ji Mian had the kind of calm maturity that only time could give. His face had always been handsome, but now he carried a kind of magnetism that made hearts race. There was a composed, refined smile in his dark eyes — one that always seemed effortless.

He’d worn his polite mask for so long now that it had become second nature.

But after answering one phone call, that perfect, gentle expression shattered in an instant.

“Brother! My sister—my sister’s gone! I don’t know what to do…”

Ji Mian gripped the phone so hard that the veins stood out on the back of his hand. Still, his voice stayed calm and gentle, full of patience. “Xiao You, speak slowly. Don’t panic. Tell me — where are you right now?”

Yes. Don’t panic. He kept repeating that to himself.

In an alley lit by a single streetlamp, Ji You was curled up in a corner. When she saw that familiar figure step out of the car, she immediately ran into his arms, crying, “Brother!”

Ji Mian kept his breathing steady and asked, “Where did you lose Fengguang?”

“I…” Ji You was only fourteen, and she couldn’t stop sobbing. It took her ages to get even one sentence out. She’d always had a hard time calming down once she started crying — and after tonight’s scare, it was even worse.

“Stop crying,” Ji Mian said.

It didn’t help.

He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up. “I said, stop crying.”

The gentle warmth he usually carried was gone, replaced by a chilling coldness she had never seen from him before.

Ji You froze. She’d never seen her brother like this.

But just moments later, he returned to his usual calm demeanor, as if that outburst had never happened.

“Xiao You, tell me. Where did Fengguang disappear?”

“It was… it was right here. Two men tried to grab us, but I tripped. My sister… she hid me in a pile of trash and told me to stay quiet. But I got scared and came out to look for her, and… and I only found this in the alley.”

Her voice trembled as she raised her hand.

She was holding a pink-wrapped lollipop.

Strawberry — her favorite flavor.

Three years ago, she had promised Ji Mian she wouldn’t waste money on sweets anymore. But she just couldn’t help it. So she made a rule for herself: once every two weeks, she’d spend just a tiny bit of her allowance on her favorite candy.