The Eldest Brother as Minister

[Pseudo-incest / raising from childhood / lovers reunited / bittersweet tension / age gap / proud one learns to yield]

Fragile, sweet, clingy sweetheart x Noble, cold-blooded, arrogant eldest son|Brother complex x sister complex

[A story about someone who thought they were full siblings who loved each other, then thought they were half-siblings doomed to tragic love, only to learn they had different fathers and mothers and decide there might still be something they could do about it]

1

Ji Rujiao was the little princess of the Ji family, spoiled and willful, and doted on so much by her older brother Ji Huaishu that she could do no wrong.

Ji Huaishu was the eldest son of the prestigious Ji family, born to wealth and privilege. A staunch believer in self-interest, he was sharp, cruel, and calculating, looked down on everyone equally, and made an exception for only one person: Ji Rujiao.

A friend teased him, “Someone like you is probably going to hell someday.”

Ji Huaishu casually crossed his long legs and glanced at the girl having fun in the distance. “Whatever. As long as she doesn’t go.”

Sure enough, with Ji Huaishu’s attitude of “I’d rather betray the world than let the world betray me,” his sister was probably where he’d stowed his last, and only, scrap of conscience.

Though Ji Rujiao was in poor health, under Ji Huaishu’s careful care she bloomed like a rose.

Of course, that was all in the past.

Later, it was revealed that Ji Rujiao was the illegitimate daughter of her father’s mistress.

Pale-faced, Ji Rujiao staggered over and grabbed Ji Huaishu. Her usually pampered face was streaked with tears. “Brother, listen to me…”

Ji Huaishu pulled her hand away and slowly looked at the person he had once cared for most, who had now betrayed him. His words were solemn, as if he meant to tear her apart with them. “You disgust me.”

Then he left the country, letting her be cast out of the Ji family and fend for herself for years.

Years later, in the long-sealed old bedroom, Ji Huaishu casually pulled a dusty notebook from the shelf.

Written inside, earnestly and clumsily, were the words:

[I love my brother most, and my brother loves me most. My brother and I only have each other.]

Excerpt from Ji Rujiao’s Diary

2

Ji Huaishu returned to the country and claimed the inheritance. He was unstoppable, and Ji Rujiao could no longer avoid him.

As a storm raged outside, the man pinned her in a dark corner and easily gripped her chin. Each word was laced with menace. “Now it’s your turn to serve me.”

Ji Rujiao was forced to live with him and attend to his every need.

Pouring tea. Bringing water. Tying his tie. Massaging his shoulders. She even had to help him get dressed.

Knowing she owed him, she silently accepted it all.

Until one day, she discovered a surveillance camera in the house, its red light flashing.

3

After hating each other for so long, the two finally made up.

Their friends all marveled at how hard it had been.

At a banquet, Ji Huaishu left early with a drunk Ji Rujiao in his arms.

Seeing the man lovingly carry Ji Rujiao to the car, Friend A felt that something was off. “They’re both adults now. That’s way too intimate, isn’t it?”

Friend B thought only people with dirty minds saw everything as dirty. “They’re siblings. It’s totally normal. It’s just a hug.”

Friend A: “He kissed her forehead.”

Friend B replied irritably, “It was just a kiss on the forehead. They’re finally repairing their sibling bond, and I worked hard to make it happen. Don’t start trouble.”

Friend A suddenly shrieked in horror, “He’s kissing her on the mouth now, and he’s using his tongue!”

Friend B: ?

-The male and female leads are not blood relatives or related by marriage. They have never been on the same household register, and both are adults when they reunite.

-The female lead will eventually regain her health and live happily.

-Monogamous happy ending

Completed story in my profile:

[Unrequited love comes true / angst before sweetness / healing and redemption / boyfriend with big-brother vibes]

-Resilient, cool-headed, naive poor girl x Fake gentleman, scheming, secretly passionate, cool rich boy

Blurb: After years of secretly loving him without daring to confess, her crush finally couldn’t stand it and took the lead in luring her in. Nothing but romantic tension and flirtation throughout.

Xu Xi was the eldest daughter of a poor family. She had lived in darkness since childhood, and every step was a struggle.

On the day she decided to die, she met a boy who stopped for her and saved her from the depths of despair.

Xu Xi fell in love with him and loved him for four years. When they met again, he didn’t remember her.

At seventeen, Zhou Yunjing was the golden boy.

At seventeen, Xu Xi was covered in dust.

Everyone said the two of them had no chance whatsoever.

Later, Zhou Yunjing held Xu Xi in his arms and kissed her slowly in every place where she had once secretly watched him.

*Lighthearted version:

1

Zhou Yunjing was a well-known young gentleman in the international department. Born into an elite family, he was tall and long-legged, with excellent grades and countless competition awards. With a cool face that looked like he had eight hundred girlfriends, he was a force to be reckoned with, always surrounded by admirers and attention.

Yet he always regarded his many admirers with indifference.

Xu Xi knew there was a huge gulf between them, so she kept her unrequited feelings buried deep inside.

She never expected Zhou Yunjing to become her deskmate.

He was cold and arrogant, and seemed so proper and untouchable that Xu Xi kept herself in check, again and again.

But then…

She accidentally brushed his warm forearm, the veins faintly visible beneath the skin.

She accidentally caught a glimpse of his handsome Adam’s apple and collarbones beneath his low neckline.

Xu Xi felt that if things went on like this, she’d only fall deeper. She was telling him, but also warning herself, when she said, “You and I will always be just friends.”

2

But after the “just friends” speech, things started to get weird.

Zhou Yunjing fed her water himself, holding the glass to her lips and staring at her without blinking. When she choked and splashed water onto his fingers, he told her to lick them clean, saying that was what friends did;

when she dropped her pen beneath the desk and crawled down to retrieve it, the tip of Zhou Yunjing’s shoe brushed her wrist;

and worst of all, he even suggested that they share a bed.

Xu Xi finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Please put your shirt back on.”

Zhou Yunjing’s broad abs were still dotted with water droplets, and his breath was hot. He leaned leisurely against her ear and teased her on purpose. “Why are you embarrassed? We’re friends.”

#After I stopped chasing my crush, he started flirting with me

#How is a regular poor girl supposed to resist this male seducer?

#Aren’t you supposed to be cool? Why are you such a flirt in private?

#I always thought you were a gentleman

Theme: Even the odd kids can be loved.