“Big brother.” Ji Xue knocked on the door and called out.
Ji Xiao suddenly snapped back to reality, hurriedly stood up and stepped back, the tips of his ears turning red.
What kind of outrageous thing had he just been doing? That was Nuannuan—how could he have mistaken her for the woman from last night?
He rubbed his face vigorously. “I must be going mad.”
Turning around, he opened the door.
Ji Xue’s eyes were red, and she pitifully tugged at the hem of Ji Xiao’s clothes, pleading softly, “Big brother, could you please not tell Dad about this? Mom knows she was wrong.”
“Mom is holding onto resentment. Back then, Dad brought Su Nuannuan into our home right after Mom had a miscarriage. If Mom doesn’t vent her anger, she’ll go crazy.”
“Big brother, I’m begging you. Could you just turn a blind eye and pretend you didn’t see it? We’re the ones who are family.”
Ji Xiao’s expression was icy as he pulled his clothes free from her grasp. “Mom’s miscarriage was an accident. How can you blame Nuannuan for it? Don’t say any more—there’s no room for discussion on this matter.”
Ji Xue wept sorrowfully, her eyes red as she looked at him in disbelief.
“Big brother, we’re the ones who are family. Have you forgotten what Su Nuannuan did to you? She has ulterior motives. Haven’t you considered that she might be lying again?”
Over the past few years, Su Nuannuan had clung to Ji Xiao relentlessly. Every time they met, the way she looked at him seemed as if she wanted to devour him whole.
Recalling the past, Ji Xiao’s cold, rigid expression softened slightly.
Seeing this, Ji Xue continued to cry and plead, “She’s already an adult. Our family raised her—we owe her nothing. Yet just now, she caused a scene in front of everyone, clearly trying to provoke Mom to death. Big brother, do you want to drive Mom to her death too? If Dad finds out, he’ll definitely divorce Mom.”
The hallway fell silent, with only Ji Xue’s suppressed sobs breaking the stillness.
Inside the room, separated only by a door, the woman who had been unconscious suddenly opened her eyes. Her gaze was clear, without a trace of confusion.
[Ding! Mission completed. Reward: Host gains 10 Health Points.]
[Current Beauty Points: 10]
[Physique Points: 0, scrawny bean sprout]
[Voice Points: 40, soft and gentle]
[Health Points: 22, vitality restored]
[Combat Power: 0, weakling]
A warm current flowed through Su Nuannuan’s body. Her previously sallow complexion turned rosy, and her injuries healed by thirty percent.
The pink little pig looked at Su Nuannuan with admiration. [Host, how did you know for sure that Ji Xiao would knock you out?]
Su Nuannuan lay lazily on the bed, the scent of the man’s unique soap lingering in the air—fresh and pleasant.
The room was clean and tidy, just like him—sharp-edged and untainted by any impurity.
[The most unpredictable thing in the world is the human heart. I was simply gambling, betting that he wouldn’t dare let me continue speaking.]
The System was speechless.
[You… you really are a madwoman.]
Su Nuannuan closed her eyes, hiding the self-mockery within them.
A madwoman, huh? In her previous life, many people had called her that. In public, she was a quail afraid of crowds; in private, she was the madwoman driving a nation’s technological advancements.
Once she entered the laboratory, she would research as if her life depended on it.
Everyone thought she was strange, but no one knew she was ill.
As if sensing her brokenness, the System said sympathetically, [Nuannuan, don’t be afraid. You still have me. I’ll help you.]
Su Nuannuan chuckled softly and opened her eyes. [Then give me ten Combat Power points, and I’ll believe you.]
System: …
The Mainframe was right—sympathizing with the Host leads to a lifetime of misfortune.
With a flash, it vanished, and Su Nuannuan’s ears returned to silence.
The voices outside continued, and she listened quietly.
“Big brother, I’m begging you. Just send her to the countryside, and no one will bring this up again. You don’t want our good family to fall apart because of her, do you?”
“You go back first. I have my own plans for this matter.”
The voices fell silent, and the tightly closed door was pushed open once more.
Su Nuannuan closed her eyes, listening as steady footsteps stopped by the bedside.
Where would he send her? A remote mountain village or the desolate northern wilderness?
Her sleeve was lifted by rough, strong fingers.
What did he want to do?
Su Nuannuan’s heart raced, but she forced herself to endure the shock and anger, continuing to feign sleep.
A sigh sounded beside her ear.
Ji Xiao murmured softly, his voice filled with guilt, “Our Ji family has wronged you. Don’t worry, I will make it up to you. I promise you’ll never suffer again.”
The hand on her arm kept rubbing, causing waves of itchiness.
Unable to bear it any longer, Su Nuannuan opened her eyes, swatted his hand away, and stared at him with icy disgust.
“Hypocrite. Don’t touch me.”
Ji Xiao hadn’t expected her to wake up. A trace of embarrassment flashed across his cold, handsome face as he awkwardly withdrew his hand. “You’re awake. Are you hungry? I’ll go make you something to eat.”
Su Nuannuan got out of bed. “No need. If you really want to make it up to me, tell Uncle Ji the truth. All I want is fairness.”
The original owner had been bullied and slandered for so many years. Did they think they could just brush it aside as if nothing had happened? Dream on!
She wasn’t the original owner, who only dared to retaliate with a desperate, self-destructive method when pushed to the brink.
Without waiting for a response from the person behind her, she walked out without looking back.
Downstairs in the living room, Mother Ji and her daughter sat with uneasy expressions.
“What should we do? Your father will be home soon. If that little wretch goes crazy and complains to him, he’ll definitely divorce me. Xiao Xue, help me. I don’t want to leave you.” Mother Ji trembled with fear, her voice shaking.
Ji Xue held her hand. “Mom, calm down. Dad only comes home two days a week. We just need to make sure he doesn’t see her.”
“But she’s right here in the house. It’s not that big—how can we avoid him seeing her?” Mother Ji looked confused and lost.
How could she hide such a living person for two whole days?
A shadow of malice flickered across Ji Xue’s gentle, pretty face. “I remember Third Aunt is sick. Our family should send someone to visit her. Why not let Su Nuannuan go?”
Su Nuannuan stood at the corner of the staircase, listening expressionlessly to the conversation below.
Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the railing.
What a black-hearted lotus. The author who made someone like this the female lead must be sick.
Third Aunt Ji lived in the countryside and had three sons. Because they were so poor, all three were still unmarried in their twenties.
Third Aunt Ji was seriously ill, and her only wish before dying was to find wives for her sons.
When people are desperate, their morals and values can collapse. To achieve their goals, they would stop at nothing.
Sending her there now was no different from throwing her into a den of wolves.
[Host, she’s so shameless! Go down there and tear her face apart!] The pink piglet stomped angrily.
[Not yet. It’s not the right time.]
Su Nuannuan’s eyes darkened as she glanced at the wall clock.
It was eight o’clock. Based on the usual routine, the head of the household would be home in five minutes.
If he wouldn’t believe what he heard, then let him see it with his own eyes.
She started to descend the stairs when a strong force suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Su Nuannuan stumbled backward, her waist tightening as her back collided with a broad, scorching chest.
The ends of her hair swayed, brushing past the man’s nose, leaving behind an intoxicating scent of gardenia.
Ji Xiao tightened his arm around her waist, his deep black eyes flickering with hesitation.