After all, she was his sister. Just from Bo Jixi’s expression, Bo Pengpeng could tell his mood. But precisely because of this, she felt even more terrified.
She didn’t dare sit down. Standing in front of Bo Jixi, she shrank slightly and said timidly, “Brother, I… I’m back.”
Bo Jixi opened his eyes but remained silent, simply staring at her.
Under his piercing gaze, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, Bo Pengpeng grew even more uneasy. She knew her brother’s temperament well—if he scolded or reprimanded her outright, it meant the situation wasn’t too serious. But if he remained silent like this, it indicated he was truly angry, and resolving the matter wouldn’t be so simple.
Bo Pengpeng could roughly guess why he was angry. From the start, she hadn’t been confident she could deceive him about sneaking out to drive. Still, she clung to a sliver of hope and feigned confusion, saying, “Brother, you called me earlier, but I didn’t see it. By the time I noticed, you’d already hung up. I thought it had been so long since we last saw each other, so I came straight home to find you. Is something wrong?”
Seeing Bo Pengpeng still stubbornly refusing to admit the truth, Bo Jixi lost his patience. Frowning, he said bluntly, “You know my temper. I’ll give you one last chance.”
Bo Pengpeng’s heart sank. She knew it was truly over. With a bitter expression, she admitted her mistake, “Brother, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have threatened the driver into letting me drive. I was wrong. I’ll accept any punishment. Please forgive me?”
Her last sentence lacked conviction, spoken so lightly it could have been blown away by the wind.
Bo Jixi’s aura turned icy. “I told you not to drive. Are you treating my words as empty air?”
Bo Pengpeng panicked. He despised disobedience—it was his taboo. Typically, he would outright abandon anyone who defied his orders, no matter how capable they were. And those he abandoned rarely fared well. It wasn’t that he explicitly ordered it, but given his status, too many people sought to curry favor with him. He was like an emperor in ancient times—his words were law, and defiance meant death.
Even though she was his sister, she wasn’t entirely sure how much weight she held in his heart. Wasn’t it ironic? She was his full-blooded younger sister, and now, she was his closest living relative. Yet she had no idea if he truly cared about her.
She admired him, but she also feared him.
Bo Pengpeng opened her mouth, wanting to say something—anything. But what could she say? That she hadn’t expected sneaking out to drive would lead to such severe consequences? Or that she simply hadn’t thought things through?
The more she spoke, the more mistakes she’d make. So, she lowered her head in silence.
Bo Jixi felt a headache coming on. He didn’t know how to interact with his sister. The age gap between them was too large. By the time she was old enough to understand the world, he was already buried in managing the family business. After their parents passed away, he had been too busy protecting their legacy. As a result, they had spent very little time together, leaving a clear barrier between them. He could sense her fear of him but had no idea how to bridge the gap, allowing it to grow until it seemed insurmountable.
Bo Jixi sighed inwardly. Even billion-dollar contracts didn’t leave him this uncertain.
“Forget it. Just this once. Don’t let it happen again.”
Bo Pengpeng’s head snapped up in disbelief. Had her brother really let her off so easily?
Seeing her shock, Bo Jixi suddenly felt exhausted. What kind of person did his sister think he was?
He gestured to the sofa. “Sit. Let’s talk properly.”
It had been too long. He had neglected his sister. Now was as good a time as any to reconnect.
Bo Pengpeng gave him a strange look. *Talk?* This was completely unlike her brother. He was always decisive, never wasting time on what he deemed trivial matters.
Despite her confusion, she obediently sat down, her posture stiff, as if she were a child again, being lectured by their mother for misbehaving.
Bo Jixi said, “It’s not that I don’t want you to drive. It’s just that you used to drive recklessly. For your safety, I banned you from driving. But given your recent behavior, if you really want to drive, go ahead.”
Bo Pengpeng’s eyes widened in delight. “Really? Thank you, brother!”
Seeing her joy, Bo Jixi felt an unexpected warmth in his chest. But recalling her past misdeeds, he warned sternly, “One condition: if I hear you’ve been street racing again, I’ll permanently revoke your driving privileges.”
Bo Pengpeng nodded eagerly. “Of course! I won’t do it again!”
Bo Jixi’s relaxed demeanor made Bo Pengpeng realize her brother wasn’t as terrifying as she’d imagined. Perhaps she had built him up in her mind, layering him with fear until she distanced herself completely. But family was like that—no matter how much you feared them, blood ties were unbreakable.
So when Bo Jixi showed even a hint of warmth, Bo Pengpeng mustered the courage to reconnect. “Actually, this time, I was just driving to drop off a roommate at Tongrentang. She’s really nice—I like her a lot.”
“Oh?” Hearing the affection in his sister’s voice, Bo Jixi couldn’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity. Though he hadn’t spent much time with her, he knew the Bo family’s inherent pride. If she spoke so warmly of someone, it meant she genuinely liked and trusted them.
“Then this person must be quite remarkable.”
Bo Pengpeng was stunned—her brother was actually engaging in conversation with her? Overjoyed, she eagerly began promoting Qin Chaoyu. “She is! Chaoyu is amazing—gentle, beautiful, and sincere. Even though we’re the same age, when I’m with her, I feel like a little sister. I can be playful and spoiled because I know she’ll always indulge me. And her medical skills are incredible! Absolutely top-notch!”
As she spoke of Qin Chaoyu, Bo Pengpeng’s face lit up with admiration. Bo Jixi felt a pang of bitterness—his sister’s closest confidante wasn’t him but someone he’d never even heard of. But the rare warmth between them was too precious to ruin.
So he pretended to listen attentively, letting Bo Pengpeng continue. Though he doubted this “medical prodigy” was as exceptional as she claimed—probably just slightly better than her peers.
When Bo Jixi chose to conceal his emotions, no one could read him. So Bo Pengpeng didn’t notice his skepticism. But sensing his disbelief, she elaborated eagerly, “It’s true! Once, during an acupuncture class—the instructor was Wei Bolan, that renowned expert—a classmate suddenly fainted. The teacher wasn’t there, and the situation was critical. Even I, who’d just started studying TCM, could tell the person was in mortal danger. Then Chaoyu stepped in. With a few swift needle insertions and removals, she saved them. When the teacher returned, he praised her, saying her skills rivaled his own.”
When trying to impress someone they admire, people often go all out. Bo Pengpeng was no exception. She racked her brain, using every descriptive word she could muster to make the story vivid.
Now, Bo Jixi began to take notice. He’d heard of Wei Bolan—anyone in high society had. Wealth and power made people crave longevity, so exceptional doctors naturally drew attention. Though he’d never met Wei Bolan, he’d heard enough at social gatherings. If even Wei Bolan praised this girl, she must be extraordinary.
Seeing her brother’s surprise, Bo Pengpeng swelled with pride. *This was her friend!*
“And Chaoyu isn’t just good at acupuncture. Today, I went with her to Tongrentang, where I saw her treat all kinds of patients—cervical spondylosis, rheumatism, you name it. Nothing seemed to stump her. It was impressive.” As if remembering something, she added, “That’s why I drove today—to go to Tongrentang with her.”
She didn’t mention the medicinal cuisine incident, as it was just speculation.
And for some reason, she felt compelled to keep Lu Yaoqing’s involvement a secret, though revealing it likely wouldn’t matter.
After hearing everything, Bo Jixi had to admit his sister’s friend was a rare TCM prodigy. It reminded him of something.
A while back, Old Master Gu had fallen gravely ill—reportedly on the brink of death—but suddenly recovered. Now, he was even mobile again. According to Madam Gu, a young girl had cured him. The news had caused quite a stir in their circles, with many trying to uncover her identity. The only lead was her connection to Tongrentang’s Dr. Li. But after that incident, she seemed to vanish, and people eventually forgot.
Could these two be the same person?
The more Bo Jixi thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. The coincidences were too striking to ignore.
If true, this girl was worth getting to know. But there was no rush—he could wait.
Someone who could cure coronary heart disease? *Interesting.*
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