The Green-Tea Husband of the Top Scholar

Shen Jiu was reborn. In his previous life, after his parents were exiled, he was entrusted to his adoptive older brother's family. He lived under their roof, was disliked by everyone, and even the older brother who had once loved him most came to see him as a burden. He died young. (The blurb may get a few minor revisions.)

After death, his soul did not disappear. He followed his adoptive older brother, watching him take the imperial examinations, place third in the palace exam, and reunite with their parents and family. Everyone was there except him.

Shen Jiu had just one word: regret. He had died too soon and never got to enjoy the good life.

Reborn, he looked at the Qi family, who were always making snide remarks, and had just one plan: pretend.

With his almond-shaped eyes lowered and tears gathering, he said, "Brother~ Do Uncle and Auntie dislike me? Maybe I should leave."

His older brother's biological younger brother was always competing with him over everything.

"Brother, you two are real brothers, bound by blood. I'm just an outsider. I shouldn't compete with him."

Qi Jing'an looked at his parents and said only, "If you can't accept Xiao Jiu, I'll take him and move out."

The Qi parents... quickly fell into line.

Looking at his younger brother, Qi Jing'an said nothing more and simply taught him a lesson by force.

The younger brother: quickly fell into line.

In his previous life, when the Qi family came calling, his older brother left with them without hesitation. Shen Jiu thought his brother was heartless. Later, after a sudden change at home, he worried himself to death.

Now that he knows how it ends, Shen Jiu just wants to cling to his older brother's coattails. His brother may seem cold, but he treats him wonderfully. Why should Shen Jiu make himself suffer?

A doting older brother can indeed be terrifying, but if you're the younger brother he's doting on, it's just wonderful~

His older brother cherished him, protected him from childhood onward, and had no flaws except that he was a little strict. Only... why is this starting to feel more and more off?

His older brother washed his clothes, taught him to read, and washed his feet, doing everything an older brother should. But while he was washing them, how did his hand end up on Shen Jiu's thigh?

Qi Yuanhe hated Shen Jiu the most. He was sickly, full of schemes, and whenever Qi Yuanhe couldn't win an argument with him, he'd start calling, "Brother, brother, brother..." He was noisier than the chickens at home.

One day, he saw his older brother walk into the room with a cold expression. Hearing someone crying inside, Qi Yuanhe couldn't help feeling pleased.

"That little invalid finally offended Brother and got beaten, huh? I'll go in and laugh at him in a bit."

He crouched in the corner for half an hour before he finally heard the door open. Qi Yuanhe saw the little invalid lying crookedly, covered in purplish bruises, and couldn't help gloating.

"Now you know better, huh? Call me big brother, and next time my brother hits you, I'll put in a good word for you."

Shen Jiu, who'd been bullied so badly he couldn't even lift a finger...

The author... "Good boy, you can sit at the kids' table."

Shen Jiu: What the hell! It was true in my past life too. Qi Jing'an left home because he didn't want to be brothers with me. He wanted to be my husband! I died for nothing!

Bonus scene

Qi Jing'an chuckled. "That's right. Good thing it wasn't you running away, Xiaobao. I'm a very petty person. If someone runs off before paying me back, I'll collect it myself."

Qi Jing'an pinched his younger brother's cheek and chuckled. "I raised every inch of this body. If you try to run... I'll cut you to pieces, and you can repay what you owe before you go."

Shen Jiu shuddered and shook his head. "I'm not running! I want to be with you in every life, Brother!"

Qi Jing'an looked at him and said gently, "Then you'd better mean it."

Theme: Cherish life