Ji Xiao looked at the petite figure curled up in the seat, a faint curve lifting the corners of his cool, thin lips.
His tall frame leaned toward her, the crisp, pleasant scent of soap penetrating her nose and mouth, his thin lips almost touching her cheek. His slender, well-defined fingers reached around her, pulling the seatbelt with a crisp click.
Ji Xiao straightened up, started the car, turned the steering wheel smoothly, and looked ahead.
“A friend happens to be visiting Haishi. After buying you some clothes, you’ll come with me to meet him.”
Su Nuannuan turned her head to look outside the car.
There were no towering skyscrapers or endless streams of vehicles like in later eras.
The environment here was simple and crude. People wore monotonous blue work uniforms, hurrying along under the blare of loudspeakers, full of energy and spirit.
“Integrate with production practices, conduct comprehensive safety inspections…” A loud broadcast echoed through the streets.
The military-green jeep weaved through the crowd, drawing envious glances.
In this era, cars were a symbol of power and status.
The Ji family held high positions and great influence. If they wanted to quietly get rid of her, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
For now, all she could rely on was Ji Chuan’s guilt toward the original host and that meager bit of affection.
Lost in thought, the car stopped outside a state-run restaurant.
Around eight or nine in the morning, there were few customers.
The empty hall had only one attendant cleaning.
Seeing them enter, the attendant didn’t even bother to lift an eyelid. “We open at nine. No food now.”
Su Nuannuan looked around. The restaurant was fairly large, with over a dozen tables in the hall. A small blackboard on the wall listed the day’s prices.
Stir-fried vegetables: 30 cents, fried tofu with vermicelli soup: 40 cents, braised spare ribs: 50 cents, stir-fried pork liver with garlic: 50 cents, braised crucian carp: 70 cents.
Staples: plain noodles: 8 cents per two liang, vegetable noodle soup: 15 cents, rice: 30 cents per half jin (requires six fen worth of grain coupons).
Her fingertips brushed against her trouser pockets, which were cleaner than her face, and she stood quietly behind Ji Xiao.
She needed money and coupons.
“Oh, who do we have here? Parking the car right in front of the shop so early in the morning. It’s Regiment Commander Ji.” A loud male voice rang out from the kitchen.
A cloth curtain was pushed aside by a plump hand, and Chef Wang emerged with a big belly, smiling broadly.
“On leave? What would you like to eat? Just tell Uncle Wang.”
“Uncle Wang.” Ji Xiao nodded. “Then we’ll have sweet and sour spare ribs, braised crucian carp, a tofu soup, a plate of vegetables, and a jin of rice.”
“Tsk, that’s a lot. Can you finish all that by yourself? We can’t have waste, you know.”
“We’ll finish it. I brought my sister today.”
Only then did Chef Wang notice Su Nuannuan hiding behind him. His plump face twitched, his expression turning odd.
The Ji family’s adopted daughter was quite notorious in Haishi. She acted like she had a manic episode every day, biting anyone she saw—truly frightening.
Why had Ji Xiao brought her out today?
Taking a cautious step back, Chef Wang forced a dry laugh. “Alright, you two wait a moment. I’ll fire up the stove and cook right away. It’ll be ready soon.”
Ji Xiao led Su Nuannuan to a window seat and sat down.
Silence hung between them.
Su Nuannuan stared at the patterns on the tabletop like a lifeless mannequin.
Ji Xiao’s lips moved slightly as he sighed inwardly. He used to find her noisy and annoying, but now that she had suddenly turned quiet, he actually felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
“Later, just say what you want to buy. We’ll get everything sorted in the next couple of days and leave the day after tomorrow.”
Su Nuannuan fiddled with her chopsticks, resting her chin on one hand. Her clear, bright eyes seemed to peer straight into the depths of his heart.
“You’re afraid I’ll complain to Uncle Ji, so you’re going to all lengths to take me away. What if I refuse?”
He wanted family harmony, but she was determined to tear off Mother Ji’s hypocritical mask!
“You can’t resist, Nuannuan.”
Ji Xiao poured her a glass of water and pushed it toward her. “As compensation, I’ll find you a good match in the military.”
“Not interested.” Su Nuannuan refused outright.
She wasn’t about to rely on a man to survive.
[Ding! The System has issued a new task: Agree to follow the army and tell Ji Xiao to marry you. Time limit: ten minutes. Reward upon completion: 10 Beauty Points. Failure penalty: Spring waters flowing, unable to resist.]
Su Nuannuan’s pupils trembled, and she gritted her teeth. [System, you… are ruthless!]
She had just refused, and now she was being forced to backtrack—wasn’t this slapping her in the face?
The little pink pig happily spun in circles. [I am the best System in history. The Host has a discerning eye, and as a token of gratitude, I’ll give you 10 Figure Points. Host, do your best!]
[Current Beauty Points: 10]
[Physique Points: 10, small lotus buds just peeking out]
[Voice Points: 40, soft and gentle]
[Health Points: 22, vitality restored]
[Combat Power: 0, weakling]
A swelling pain surged from her chest. Su Nuannuan groaned softly, her body curling over the table as a tingling sensation spread through her.
Her cheeks flushed pink, her clear eyes shimmering like spring water. The hair at her temples was damp with sweat, clinging to her face in strands.
So this was what secondary development felt like.
“Nuannuan, what’s wrong?”
Noticing her discomfort, Ji Xiao stood up and crouched beside her, anxiously reaching out to brush the stray hair from her forehead.
Su Nuannuan closed her eyes, suppressing the moan threatening to escape. The intense masculine scent emanating from him made her body go weak and her spine tingle.
She really wanted… to bite him.
“I’m… fine. Go away.” Forcing out the words while resisting the tremors deep in her soul.
She couldn’t hold on much longer—it was unbearable.
Ji Xiao’s brows furrowed tightly. “Where exactly are you hurting? This isn’t the time to be stubborn. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
With that, he moved to pick her up.
Su Nuannuan pushed him away, her cheeks flushed and her breathing ragged. “No need. It’s an old problem—just a stomachache. It’ll pass if I endure it.”
A stomachache? Could it be from hunger?
Mother had really gone too far this time. No wonder she was so thin.
Ji Xiao clenched his fists, offering a dry reassurance. “The food will be ready soon. Have some hot tea to soothe it. If it still hurts, we must go to the hospital.”
The heat within her finally subsided. Her previously flat chest now slightly protruded, like lotus buds just emerging from the water at dawn.
Su Nuannuan looked as if she had been pulled from the water—drenched, disheveled, and pitiful.
Having sweated too much, her mouth felt dry. She licked her parched lips and picked up the glass of water, drinking it all in one go.
[007, next time, could you pick a moment when no one’s around? A sudden transformation like this might get me burned as a monster.]
[Host, rest assured. All System rewards will appear reasonable to others.]
Su Nuannuan let out a long sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead as she met the concerned gaze of the man across from her.
“I’m fine now. If the Ji family wants someone else to repay their debts, that’s far too overbearing. Every grievance has its source, every debt its debtor. I’ll follow the army, but if I’m to marry, it’ll be you. Do you dare?”
[Ding! Task completed. Reward: Beauty Points +10]
[Current Beauty Points: 20]
[Physique Points: 10, small lotus buds just peeking out]
[Voice Points: 40, Soft and Gentle]
[Health Points: 22, Reviving Vitality]
[Combat Power: 0, Weakling]
A flash of white light passed, and the face originally covered in brown spots became much cleaner. The eyebrows were slender, long, and neatly groomed, the long eyelashes were thick, dark, and upturned, and a pair of lips were rosy and full, like freshly washed cherries.
Ji Xiao looked at the person before him, his gaze deep and profound. Upon closer inspection, she didn’t seem that unattractive after all.
Marry her…
“Impossible. I’ve always thought of you as a younger sister. I absolutely cannot marry you.”