CHAPTER 593: CHAPTER 593: BIOLOGICAL BROTHER

Su Jiyai sighed and looked at Han Weilin. "This is Qiang Zhi, my brother."

Weilin blinked in surprise. "Brother? Wait... is he adopted?"

Su Jiyai shook her head. "No. He’s my biological brother."

Weilin’s mouth dropped open. She stared at Qiang Zhi for a long time, then suddenly said,

"You know... now that I look closer, he really looks like you!"

Both Su Jiyai and Qiang Zhi froze.

"What?!" Su Jiyai raised her brows. "Where?"

"Yeah! Look at his face!" Weilin nodded quickly, convinced.

But honestly, it wasn’t true at all. Su Jiyai had pale skin, blue hair, and blue eyes. Her features were delicate, like carved jade.

Qiang Zhi, on the other hand, had black hair, darker skin from playing outdoors(that was her assumption), and plain dark eyes.

His nose was a little flat, and his face still looked round with baby fat.

Yet Weilin ignored all of that and walked right up to Qiang Zhi.

She bent down and held out her hand like she was greeting a little adult.

"Hi there. I’m Han Weilin, your sister’s best friend."

Qiang Zhi paused. His tiny face was serious.

Then he stretched out his small hand, shook hers with perfect manners, and said in his soft childish voice,

"Hello. I’m Qiang Zhi. Jiyai’s brother."

The moment he spoke, Weilin’s eyes sparkled.

"Ohhh my god! Why are you so cute?!" She squealed and couldn’t stop herself. She pinched his cheek with both hands.

Qiang Zhi frowned, puffed his cheeks, and shook her hands off. "I’m not cute," he said stubbornly. "I’m mature."

Weilin giggled so hard she nearly fell over. "Mature? Hahaha, why do you want to be mature?"

Qiang Zhi puffed his chest proudly. "Because I will protect my sister. I don’t need to become mature. I already am."

Hearing this, both Su Jiyai and Weilin froze for a second. Then their hearts softened like melted candy.

"Awwww..." Weilin whispered. "So sweet."

Su Jiyai’s eyes warmed. She reached over and ruffled his black hair. "Silly boy."

But Weilin wasn’t done. She suddenly scooped Qiang Zhi up into her arms, hugging him like a teddy bear.

"Okay! You win! Today is supposed to be girls’ day out. But you’re such a good boy, I’ll make an exception. You can join."

Qiang Zhi frowned again. He wriggled in her arms, then crossed his arms with a serious face.

"It’s not an exception. You two are alone. So I’ll protect you." His tone was so firm, like a mini-soldier giving orders.

Both girls couldn’t help it. They burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright," Su Jiyai said with a smile. "Then we’ll be under your protection."

Hearing them agree, Qiang Zhi finally relaxed. He even let out a tiny sigh of relief. Inside his mind, he thought seriously,

’Now I don’t need to protect them from shadows anymore. They already promised to be careful.’

If Su Jiyai or Weilin had heard his inner thoughts, they would have rolled on the floor laughing.

Later, Su Jiyai busied herself in the kitchen. She cooked several dishes, filling the whole apartment with rich, savory smells. When she placed them on the table, Qiang Zhi’s little face lit up like the sun.

"Sis’s cooking is the best!" he said, stuffing food in his mouth.

Han Weilin also tasted one bite. Then her eyes went wide. "Oh... my... god. Jiyai! This is amazing! In just one year, your cooking improved so much! What happened?!"

Su Jiyai rolled her eyes.

"It’s not me. It’s the seasonings. Before, there were no spices. Food was plain, bland, and boring. But now supermarkets stock many things again. So of course it tastes better."

Weilin froze. Then she smacked her forehead.

"Ohhh. That makes sense. Still... you found them and used them. That’s already amazing."

She looked at Su Jiyai with shining eyes. "I swear, there’s no better best friend than you."

Su Jiyai snorted. "Stop flattering me. Just eat."

And eat they did. The three of them dug in until they were stuffed, stomachs round like little drums.

For Weilin, especially, it was like heaven. She hadn’t tasted food with spices for almost twenty years.

"This..." she whispered with tears in her eyes. "This is the best meal of my life."

Afterwards, Su Jiyai and Weilin both rubbed their bellies, feeling too full. They decided to take a stroll outside.

Naturally, Qiang Zhi tagged along, walking between them with a proud look, as if guarding two princesses.

The base streets were calmer in the evening. People gave respectful nods when they saw Su Jiyai, but no one dared to disturb her.

Then suddenly, ahead of them, they saw a girl with a cold face arguing with a teenage boy.

"I told you already, Su Han," the girl said in a tired voice. "I can’t find Mom. I searched everywhere."

The boy, around fourteen years old, stomped his foot angrily.

"Liar! You must have found something good and now you don’t want to share! Don’t think I don’t know! If you don’t bring Mom back, I’ll make your life hell, Su Rong!"

Su Rong’s expression turned sharp. "You think I’d lie about Mom? How dare you..."

Before she could finish, Su Han suddenly looked up and spotted the group walking toward them. His eyes widened, and he pointed.

"Look! It’s Su Jiyai!" he shouted.

Both Su Rong and Su Jiyai froze for a moment.

Han Weilin whispered to Jiyai, "Oh no... trouble?"

Su Jiyai’s face stayed calm, but her eyes sharpened. "We’ll see."

Su Han shouted so loud that everyone nearby turned to look. "Finally! I found you, Su Jiyai!"

Without waiting for anything, he ran straight at her, his fat body wobbling like a rolling ball.

His finger shot out toward her like he was pointing at a servant.

"You!" he barked like a little king giving orders.

"You have to find my mother right now! Do you hear me? Right now!"

Su Jiyai didn’t even blink. Her voice was calm and flat.

"I don’t know where your mother is. And I’m not interested in helping you."

Her cold refusal made Su Han’s face twist red with anger. He stomped the ground so hard that dust flew up.

"You dare talk to me like that?! You think you’re so important just because you became leader? I’ll teach you a lesson!"

He clenched his fist and charged forward, fat body shaking, looking like he wanted to slam straight into Su Jiyai.

But before he could even reach her, a small figure stepped right in front of him.

Qiang Zhi.

His little hand shot out, stopping Su Han’s wobbling body like a wall. Even though Qiang Zhi was smaller, his eyes were sharp and firm.

"Maintain distance," Qiang Zhi said seriously, his soft, childish voice carrying surprising weight.

Su Han blinked in shock. He froze.

But then Su Rong’s sharp voice cut through the silence.

"Who is this kid?" She pointed at Qiang Zhi, her brows furrowed. "Why is he blocking Su Han?"

Qiang Zhi puffed his chest proudly. "I am Su Jiyai’s brother."

Both Su Rong and Su Han went completely stiff.

"What?!" Su Rong gasped. "Brother? Impossible!"

Su Han’s mouth hung open, then he suddenly laughed coldly.

"What nonsense are you saying? She can’t have a brother. She’s our family’s slave!"

He jabbed his fat finger at Su Jiyai, his voice sharp and cruel.

"She doesn’t deserve a brother! She doesn’t even deserve a family name!"

The moment those words fell, Su Jiyai’s eyes darkened. But before she could speak, Qiang Zhi’s face turned furious.

His small hand shoved Su Han’s chest with surprising strength, making the fat boy stumble backward two steps.

"She is not your slave!" Qiang Zhi’s childish voice rang out like a bell.

"She is my sister! And if you dare say otherwise, I will beat you into pulp!"

Everyone around gasped. A little boy speaking like that to Su Han? Incredible.

Su Han’s face turned red like boiled crab. He clenched his fists and shouted,

"You little brat, you’re going too far!" He rushed again and tried to push Qiang Zhi.

But before he could hurt him, Su Jiyai moved fast. She pulled Qiang Zhi back into her arms and steadied him gently. Her cold eyes locked onto Su Han.

"Enough." Her voice was sharp like ice.

"You’re going out of hand. If you dare touch him, even a single finger, I’ll throw you out of this base myself. And once you’re out, you’ll never step back in."

Su Han froze on the spot. For the first time, he felt fear.

Still, his pride wouldn’t let him bow. He fumbled and stammered,

"Y-You... you have to find my mother. If you don’t, then... then I’ll... I’ll tell everyone what kind of leader you are!"

Han Weilin rolled her eyes and muttered, "Here we go again with his nonsense."

But Su Jiyai only chuckled softly, her tone full of mockery. "Go ahead. Do it. Shout all you want. Tell them."

Her confident eyes made Su Han’s stomach sink. His fists trembled.

He thought hard. He knew she wasn’t wrong. Everyone already knew she had let his mother go before.