Listening to Ye Qiu’s rebuttal, Ye Qing felt a little at a loss. She hadn’t expected that her brother would remember all those things she did. Aren’t boys supposed to be more easygoing?

Considering that her brother is now the top scorer of the college entrance exam, she decided not to ruin their relationship and explained, "Brother, I really didn’t know you felt this way. You never told me what you liked! As for those study materials, I thought you didn’t like studying, so I didn’t want to force you too much."

"Everything is what you thought. Has anyone in this family ever truly understood me? You say I didn’t proactively talk, but has anyone ever listened to what I said? Every time I argued based on facts, wasn’t it met with your criticisms? Who among you has ever actively asked about my feelings? Just even once when I didn’t help buy some milk tea or pick up a delivery, how many times did Mom and Dad criticize me? Is this your way of loving me?

"Sorry, I really can’t handle it. I don’t appreciate this so-called training and love from you all. But never mind, the past is the past. If you didn’t bring it up today, I wouldn’t have bothered anymore. But for my future, I hope I can be the master of my own decisions, not get tripped up by your so-called love." Having said this, Ye Qiu stood there, waiting for their response.

"So you still hate me?" Ye Qing said in grievance, "We are siblings, how could you resent me?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Ye Qiu didn’t even have the strength to explain. He felt there was something wrong with Ye Qing’s mindset, or perhaps she deliberately acted helpless in front of Mom and Dad.

"I’ve said it before, what’s past is past. I don’t want to live in hatred, but I also don’t want to live like a puppet under your control in the future. Do I have to listen to you in everything to be right? We are siblings, but sibling relationships aren’t about exploitation on one side and sacrifice on the other. Maybe in the future you’ll meet a man, your husband, who’ll give his all for you, and Mom and Dad, too, are completely devoted to you. You really don’t have to be this upset because of me." Ye Qiu frankly said.

"Are you trying to sever ties with this family? Do you really think you can fly away now that you’ve topped the provincial exam? Your sister genuinely cares about you, and you’re just making her sad like this?" Ye Peilin glared at him and said.

"So tell me, what’s there for her to be sad about? She’s about to graduate and start working, and I will go to the North to study. We’ll both establish families and careers in the future, and we won’t be together like before every day. What, every time she calls, do I need to fly back to buy milk tea for her like before? What’s wrong with encouraging her to let go of the past and face the future directly? You are indeed completely devoted to her, and her future husband will indeed be her closest person. Did I say anything wrong?" Ye Qiu questioned.

It’s because what he said wasn’t incorrect, or perhaps because he saw things too clearly, that made Ye Peilin so angry.

"Your sister is still young, she doesn’t even have a boyfriend. What marriage are you talking about? After finishing your studies, are you not coming back? You don’t want to take care of your mom and dad?"

"See, no matter what I say, you will misinterpret my words. When did I ever say I wouldn’t take care of you? Is being by your side every single day the only way to repay you for raising me? And you? Are you with Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa and Grandma-in-law every day now? You guys aren’t fond of me, are you? Shouldn’t you let sister accompany you every day?"

"You..."

"Mom, Dad, stop denying it. You’re prejudiced against me. Don’t use any excuse about training. You birthed me and raised me, I don’t blame you, and I definitely won’t leave you without care when you’re old. I am an adult now, and I want to be in charge of my own future. Is that not allowed? I never said I wanted to be a freeloader, right? You love sister, even if you give her all the family assets, it wouldn’t bother me. I just want the power to make my own choices, is that okay?"

Ye Peilin and Han Hui couldn’t say anything. It was the first time they’d understood their son’s inner world, and he wasn’t as weak and useless as they’d previously imagined.

But Ye Peilin, being accustomed to being the head of the family, still stubbornly said, "Don’t regret what you’ve said. If you insist on acting this way, don’t expect any help from me in the future."

"I never expected anything from you. I just want you to know one thing: my future respect for you doesn’t mean doing something for sister."

Ye Qing looked humiliated, retorting, "Even if your grades are good, who knows what the future holds, how can you be certain that I will rely on you? I’m not bad either!"

"Fine, remember what you said today, don’t ever order me around like before to do this and that."

"I..." Facing his gaze, Ye Qing felt mortified but couldn’t find any reason to be angry.

"I really haven’t seen a brother so calculating and clear-headed like you!" She said angrily.

Ye Qiu then turned to Ye Peilin and Han Hui, "Mom, Dad, do you also think I’m too heartless? But isn’t our family and uncle’s family, and us and the brother-in-law’s family living separately? If we weren’t clear about things, how many conflicts would there be between our family, uncle’s family, and the brother-in-law’s family?"

"But neither of you siblings have established families yet!" Han Hui couldn’t help but interject.

"I haven’t taken anything from this family, nor have I asked for anything. I just want to go out and study, venture out on my own, that’s all. Must you keep me trapped by your side? If sister gets married in the future, and I marry, are we going to live in this house forever?"

"Fine, you’re an adult now, we can’t control you. What you said isn’t wrong, except that with a strong personality like yours, you’ll suffer losses sooner or later. Once you enter society, you’ll realize how important having familial capabilities is. I’ve always said, this family is destined to be yours. Why do you insist on being so stubborn?" Han Hui shook her head, appearing as if she conceded.

"No, I don’t think so. Judging by the love you’ve shown sister over the years, this family belongs to her, not me. Don’t worry; even if I don’t succeed in the future, I’ll never disgrace you by using our family name." Ye Qiu bowed his head and said, "I’m a bit tired today, it’s getting late, you should rest early too."

"Won’t acknowledge a single mistake, have to oppose everything, don’t know who his temper takes after. Accusing his sister of exploiting him, if it weren’t for Qingqing, he..."

"Enough." Han Hui stopped her husband from continuing, "Say less, haven’t you scolded him enough today? A happy day turned into this."

"It’s all because he won’t listen."

"If he wants to learn computer science, just let him. We’re still here. If he stumbles in the future, we can guide him, and when he gets older, he’ll realize he’s wrong."

"Simply obstinate and ignorant!"