“Fang Yi, wait for me! I’m going to the interview with you.”
Ni Manxin saw Fang Yi standing at the school gate and rushed to catch up with her.
Fang Yi stopped walking and looked suspiciously at Ni Manxin running toward her, completely puzzled.
Unlike herself, Ni Manxin had no siblings or frail parents. Why would she want to do part-time work with her?
“Manxin, what did you just say? You want to do part-time work with me? Why?” Fang Yi couldn’t help but ask eventually.
Ni Manxin glanced around, then took Fang Yi’s hand and strolled along the path with her.
A gentle breeze blew, and the lake surface reflected the warm sunlight.
Gazing into the distance, Ni Manxin’s thoughts drifted back to a few days ago. A group of robbers had broken into her home, ransacking the house without a word and stealing all the valuable items, even the gold watch her mother had left her before passing away.
Only after her persistent questioning did she learn that her father had borrowed ten million in loan shark debts due to gambling.
Ni Manxin never imagined that her seemingly honest father would borrow from loan sharks—and such a huge amount at that.
How could they ever repay it? The only option now was to try working part-time.
“I need money too, just like you! Let’s not talk about it anymore, hurry up and let’s go!”
Unwilling to say more, Ni Manxin quickly grabbed Fang Yi’s hand and dragged her toward the dessert shop.
Ni Manxin needed money? Who was she trying to fool? Fang Yi had heard her say that before her mother passed away, she bought a large villa worth tens of millions in the city center as a dowry for her. Unlike herself, who had to earn everything, how could she claim to need money?
Since she didn’t want to talk about it, Fang Yi let it go.
“Are you both sophomores at Jianghai University? Besides weekdays, are you available all day on Saturdays and Sundays?”
A bald man in black wearing gold-rimmed glasses squinted at them.
Ni Manxin quickly replied, “Yes, yes, yes! Our coursework isn’t too heavy, so we can come.”
Fang Yi observed the man and felt something was off. This was Manxin’s first time applying for a job, and her innocence was like a lily untouched by worldly concerns.
But Fang Yi had been navigating society for years. The man’s expression as he looked at Ni Manxin was lecherous. She wanted to stop Manxin from agreeing too readily, but a little devil inside her held her back.
Fang Yi asked, “How is the pay calculated?”
The man adjusted his glasses and glanced at Fang Yi. “Part-time work is 10 yuan per hour, with a minimum of four hours per day. Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and you can choose your shifts freely during that time.”
“That’s too little! Boss, you’re too stingy! Other places pay 15 yuan per hour. Can you raise the pay a bit?” Fang Yi was very dissatisfied.
Unfamiliar with the current part-time job market, Ni Manxin let Fang Yi negotiate on her behalf.
She greatly admired Fang Yi’s negotiation skills. Soon, the pay was raised from 10 to 15 yuan, but on the condition that they work at least six hours daily.
After thinking it over carefully, Ni Manxin concluded that working wouldn’t conflict with her studies. Without another word, she signed the contract with Fang Yi, agreeing to start officially a week later.
After signing the contract, she bid farewell to Fang Yi. She bought some groceries casually by the street and hurried home.
“Dad, I’m back!”
Ni Manxin shouted loudly even before stepping over the threshold.Seeing the empty living room, her heart skipped a beat. She quickly opened the window to check downstairs—thankfully, nothing was amiss, and she relaxed slightly.
After a long while, she watched her father Ni Yuan stroll in, humming a tune with a bottle of baijiu in hand.
“Dad, where have you been? I thought you might have…”
Ni Yuan staggered over and collapsed onto the sofa, propping his feet on the coffee table. Squinting at his daughter, who stood before him looking deeply worried, he gave a slow nod.
“Why are you back today? Aren’t you supposed to be at the dormitory?”
“Dad, I was afraid you might…”
“Afraid of what? That I’d kill myself? Hah! You’re underestimating your old man. Do I seem like that kind of person?”
Hearing this, Ni Manxin felt a wave of relief and headed to the kitchen with the groceries to start cooking.
Her father’s singing drifted in from the living room—she hadn’t heard him sing since her mother passed away. Was he in a good mood today? But how could he be, with such a massive debt hanging over them? Unless… he already knew she’d found a job?
As Manxin brought the freshly cooked dishes to the table, she watched her father devour the food ravenously, lavishing praise on her cooking without restraint.
She couldn’t resist testing the waters: “Dad, Fang Yi and I found jobs today. It’s not much—just about a thousand a month—but something is better than nothing. I believe if we work hard, we can pay off that debt.”
Ni Yuan snorted dismissively. “With that pittance? It’d take ages to pay back. I’d starve to death before then.”
Though his words were harsh, she knew he wasn’t wrong—the money was barely enough for pocket change, let alone repaying the debt.
Ni Yuan grew impatient seeing his daughter’s troubled expression. She looked just as delicate as her mother, but she was far too meddlesome.
“Alright, alright, I’ll be straight with you. I sold that villa your mother left you—got a cool ten million for it. Not bad, eh?”
He swung his leg casually, utterly unbothered.
The moment he finished speaking, Ni Manxin’s chopsticks clattered to the floor. She couldn’t believe her ears.
To pay off his debts, he’d sold the only dowry her mother had left her? The one thing her mother entrusted to her before she died?
Seeing the hatred in his daughter’s eyes, Ni Yuan knew he was in the wrong, but this was faster than her slaving away at some job. The thought eased his conscience—he saw nothing mistaken in what he’d done.
“Why are you staring at me like that? You won’t be getting married for years anyway! Right now, paying off debts is what matters. If we can’t clear them, who knows if we’ll even live to see your wedding? You should be thanking me. You can quit that lousy job of yours and focus on your studies.”
Ni Manxin was stunned by what she was hearing. What kind of logic was this? He gambled away money, couldn’t repay the loans, and now it was her fault?
He sold the house her mother left her, and she was supposed to thank him?
“Don’t you know that was the only property Mom left me? How could you be so heartless?” Ni Manxin sobbed.
Irritated by his daughter’s crying, Ni Yuan flew into a rage and flipped the table, sending the delicious meal scattering into a messy ruin.Ni Manxin crouched on the floor, silently picking up the broken bowl pieces while weeping over the dishes she had spent the whole afternoon preparing. The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she felt, tears falling like heavy raindrops.
“Worthless brat, all you know is crying. How dare you turn against me for taking a few of your things? Don’t forget it’s still me who pays for your schooling!” Ni Yuan lounged on the sofa, hurling insults while watching television.
Suppressing her grievances, Ni Manxin finally finished cleaning the living room and rushed to her room, locking the door behind her. Gazing at her deceased mother’s photo on the bedside table, her long-contained sorrow burst forth in wrenching sobs.
The locket at her chest glowed faintly in the darkness, though Ni Chang remained completely unaware. Outside, leaves rustled as Yan Lie, son of King Yama, stood watching from a tree branch, his heart aching at the sight of Ni Manxin’s endless weeping.
He wanted to rush in and comfort her, but Black and White Impermanence forcibly restrained him, shaking their heads in warning. They had finally located Ni Chang’s reincarnation after much searching—only thanks to the glowing strand of hair from the Emperor of the Eastern Peak. Yet to their dismay, they found her in such miserable circumstances. Hadn’t the Great Emperor of the Northern Yin promised to place her in a good family? Then why was she crying? Perhaps Northern Yin had made a mistake and reincarnated her into the wrong life?
And this human dwelling—how could this be called a house? It was more like a pen! Smaller than even the Netherworld’s cages. He’d have to ask his father to prepare a grand bedchamber for Ni Chang later.
Yan Lie suddenly declared, “Go back and tell Father I’m staying here with Sister Ni Chang.”
Black and White Impermanence exchanged uneasy glances. How could that be possible? They were all spirits—no ghost could roam freely in daylight. Moreover, the mortal realm’s vibrant yang energy was unbearable for minor deities like them, let alone a young prince barely twenty thousand years old. He’d be reduced to ashes!
No, absolutely not. Thinking this, they hastily decided to take the young prince away. If he stubbornly insisted on staying, they would be doomed.
After a silent exchange of glances, White Impermanence signaled Black Impermanence. Before Yan Lie could react, they dragged him away, vanishing instantly.
“Be careful! I’ll report you to my father for insubordination! Let’s see how he punishes you, hmph!” Yan Lie shouted curses all the way back to the Netherworld, forcibly hauled by the two attendants.
All he wanted was to stay with Sister Ni Chang—was that really too much to ask?
“What’s all this noise? Don’t you know His Majesty is holding court?” The door god initially barked, but upon seeing the young prince, quickly changed his tone: “Your Highness! Why are you here? Ah—Young Highness, you can’t go in—Your Highness!”
Inside the hall, King Yama had just concluded a mortal injustice case when the Great Emperor of the Northern Yin arrived for a visit. Before they could exchange more than two words, the door was violently kicked open by none other than his own heir.
“Who dares cause trouble outside the hall?!” King Yama roared—then froze upon seeing his biological son Yan Lie bouncing toward him.
Noticing the Great Emperor of the Northern Yin present, Yan Lie abruptly halted. Black and White Impermanence urgently tugged his sleeves before he regained his senses.
“Great Emperor of the Northern Yin.” Yan Lie promptly knelt.
Northern Yin smiled and nodded. King Yama felt displeased—usually so composed, why did Yan Lie today behave like an unbridled wild horse, utterly lacking propriety?
Yan Lie wanted to speak about Ni Chang, but seeing the Great Emperor of the Northern Yin present, he decided against it. He would find another opportunity to ask his father later!
“Great Emperor, how is the Emperor of the Eastern Peak faring now?” King Yama asked while brewing a pot of tea for the Great Emperor of the Northern Yin.
The Great Emperor of the Northern Yin glanced at Yan Lie and hesitated to speak directly. Noticing his reluctance, King Yama immediately understood.
“Black and White Impermanence, quickly take Yan Lie away. The Great Emperor and I have important matters to discuss—no interruptions.”
After bowing, Black and White Impermanence took Yan Lie by the hand and escorted him back to his bedchamber.