Chapter 133: Cousin Jian Yumin (1)

Standing in the doorway was a tall, striking man with long legs, his hair dyed in a stylish gray-white blend. A diamond earring sparkled from one ear, adding a touch of flair to his appearance. With fair skin and a handsome face, he had an inviting smile that made his thin, alluring lips even more captivating. He looked just like the kind of tempting young star featured on posters, effortlessly drawing attention.

Jian Yumin leaned casually against the doorframe and called out to Jian Yiling, "Hey, little snot-nosed brat."

His voice was melodious, almost enchanting—just as people online often described it, "the kind of voice that could make your ears pregnant." Jian Yiling furrowed her brow in confusion, unsure why he was calling her that.

"Crying if I hug you, crying if I tease you—what do you say? Are you not just a little snot-nosed brat?" Jian Yumin teased, his tone light but teasingly accusatory.

It had been quite some time since the two cousins had last seen each other. Jian Yumin was eleven years older than Jian Yiling, and when she was still a small child, she would cry whenever he picked her up or played with her. Yet, oddly enough, his younger brother, Yu Jie, could pull the same antics without ever inciting tears; he always managed to make her laugh.

Thus, Jian Yumin developed a lasting impression of "little sisters" in his mind: they were always crying.

"You cried when you were little too," Jian Yiling retorted softly, trying to defend herself.

"You didn't see it, did you?" he shot back, smirking. 

Relying on the eleven-year age difference, Jian Yumin adamantly denied any past tears, a stubbornness typical of older siblings. 

Jian Yiling, feeling the conversation had reached an impasse, turned to leave, not wanting to argue further. However, as she walked away, Jian Yumin furrowed his brow slightly, perplexed by her sudden departure, before retreating back into his room.

"Yuge, where did you go just now? You stopped playing mid-song!" one of his band members inquired as he entered.

Inside the room, Jian Yumin was connected to a group video call, discussing a new track with his bandmates. 

"Nothing much," he replied casually, but then couldn't help but ask his fellow members a curious question, "Do any of you have younger sisters?"

"I don't have a sister; just a bratty younger brother," one chimed in.

"I'm an only child," said another.

"I have an older sister," came another response.

"..." The band members each replied, some sounding bemused.

"Why are you suddenly asking about siblings, Yuge?" one of them asked, curious about the abrupt topic change.

"I have a younger sister who has always been soft and adorable. But every time I get close to her, she bursts into tears—pouting her lips and reddening her eyes like a little drama queen. I just went to talk to her a moment ago, thinking maybe she'd grown up a bit and wouldn't be so scared anymore. But after just two sentences, she ran away," Jian Yumin admitted, shaking his head in confusion.

He couldn't quite grasp the enigma that was "little sisters." Despite his frustrations, he couldn't help but cherish Jian Yiling's fair, delicate beauty; she was the epitome of cuteness that every older brother finds endearing. 

On top of that, since returning home, Yu Jie had been non-stop bragging about all the gifts his sister had sent him, as well as their shared activities together. 

Though Jian Yumin pretended otherwise, he quickly found himself moving back to the old residence. After all, staying at home meant enduring his mother's incessant lectures, and it was far more peaceful to be elsewhere.

"Yuge, why don't you use your charm on your female fans to win over your sister?" one band member suggested playfully.

"Exactly! Aren't your fans from ages eight to eighty? Your sister should fall right within that range, so she shouldn't be able to run away," another added, their camaraderie evident as they teased him.

"Can you all be serious for a moment? When have I ever charmed my female fans? I don't even possess that skill!" Jian Yumin protested, exasperated.

In his eyes, he was simply fulfilling his roles—singing when he needed to, acting when it was required—never once considering himself a master of charm.