What a familiar scent…
Before he could dwell on it, a sharp pain shot through his wrist, causing him to instinctively release his grip.
Su Nuannuan held the blood-stained brooch, taking a cautious step back. “What are you trying to do, Regiment Commander Ji?”
Ji Xiao glanced at the bleeding puncture on the back of his hand, his thin lips pressing together as he forced out a stiff sentence.
“I’ll handle this matter. You don’t need to…” He swallowed the words “go crazy.”
“In a few days, the organization will transfer me to the island. You’ll come with me as a military dependent. I’ll give you all my salary. If you don’t want to return to this home, you never have to.”
“I’ll protect you!”
Su Nuannuan pursed her lips and smiled, her clear, unruffled eyes narrowing like a fox tempting its master.
She tilted her head, studying the man before her, raised her hand, and gently stroked his sharp jaw. Her breath was fragrant, her soft voice like a hook.
“Only family members can accompany the military. What, Brother Ji Xiao, are you thinking of marrying me?”
Ji Xiao stiffened all over, stepping back with a cold expression to avoid the finger that made his heart race. His voice was icy and rigid.
“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re my sister. Taking you with me is legal and compliant. Go pack your things. We leave tomorrow.”
Taking her away was the only solution he could think of that satisfied both sides.
From now on, he would do everything to make it up to her. The debts his mother owed, he would repay.
The smile on Su Nuannuan’s lips faded as she wiped her fingers on his sleeve. “You’re surnamed Ji, I’m surnamed Su. What kind of sister is that? Ji Xiao, shielding a criminal is also illegal. Do you want to be like them?”
Her voice was soft, but it struck Ji Xiao like a massive rock, causing him to sway slightly.
Reason told him he shouldn’t interfere in this matter, but emotion compelled him to act.
They were his mother and sister below.
The hum of a car engine sounded outside.
Su Nuannuan turned and went downstairs, interrupting the mother and daughter. “A good plan, but unfortunately, I woke up early. You should blame Ji Xiao—that hit just now was too light, didn’t knock me out long enough.”
“Su Nuannuan? What… what do you want?” Mother Ji was truly frightened.
Ji Chuan was upright and principled. If he found out how she had treated Su Nuannuan, he would divorce her.
She was already in her fifties, having lived a life of comfort for half her life, long since losing the ability to survive on her own.
Leaving Ji Chuan, her fate would be unimaginable.
Panicked, she stood up, grabbed Su Nuannuan’s hand, and pleaded in a low voice, “Nuannuan, it was my fault. Your Uncle Ji has been busy all week and is exhausted enough. I beg you, don’t bother him with this trivial matter, okay?”
“Trivial matter?” Su Nuannuan lowered her head, looking at the person almost kneeling before her. “So, a human life is just a trivial matter in your eyes.”
The hum of the engine stopped, followed by the sound of a car door closing outside and then firm footsteps.
Mother Ji panicked completely, sweat beading on her temples, her voice sharp.
“I didn’t want you to die. You’re alive and well now, aren’t you? All these years, I’ve paid for your schooling, fed you, housed you. I’ve already done more than enough by not letting you become an orphan. Do you really want to repay kindness with enmity and tear this family apart?”
The footsteps grew closer, but the frantic Mother Ji didn’t hear them.
“If you want me to hide this from Uncle Ji, it’s not impossible.” Su Nuannuan sat down on the sofa, her gaze cold. “It’s eight o’clock. Uncle Ji will be back soon. Kneel, kowtow to me three times, and say you abused the orphan of a martyr, that your crime is unforgivable. If you do as I say, I’ll forgive you.”
“You’re dreaming!” Ji Xue’s face flushed red with anger, glaring fiercely at Su Nuannuan with furious eyes. “No matter what, my mom is an elder. How dare you make her kneel to you? Aren’t you afraid it’ll shorten your life?”
Su Nuannuan picked up a large apple, took a crisp bite, and said leisurely, “Suit yourselves. The opportunity is only once, and it won’t wait.”
Mother Ji was terrified out of her wits and didn’t dare to gamble. Gritting her teeth, she nodded in agreement. “Fine, I’ll kneel. I hope you keep your word.”
Su Nuannuan curled her lips, glancing at the figure about to enter the hall, her eyes gleaming with even greater interest.
She was very curious about what expression Ji Chuan would have when he learned the truth.
Mother Ji bent her knees, her back hunched as if she had aged ten years in an instant.
Just before her knees touched the ground, a cold voice echoed from the staircase.
“Mom, Dad’s back. What are we having for dinner today?”
Mother Ji abruptly stood up, glaring fiercely at Su Nuannuan and gritting her teeth as she whispered, “You did this on purpose.”
Su Nuannuan frowned slightly, turning her head coldly to look at the tall figure on the staircase.
Troublemaker.
Ji Xiao strode downstairs and walked straight toward Su Nuannuan, his hawk-like eyes filled with helplessness. “Stop causing trouble. I’ll take you to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some clothes.”
If it were the old Su Nuannuan, hearing these words would have made her forget her hatred in excitement.
But now, the master of this body was her.
“Ji Xiao, do you deserve the military uniform you’re wearing?”
“I only feel undeserving toward you.” Ji Xiao gave a bitter smile and forcefully pulled her up.
Su Nuannuan couldn’t break free and was half-dragged, half-carried out of the house by him. On the way, they ran into Father Ji.
Father Ji looked at their intertwined hands in astonishment. “What are you two…”
“Nuannuan’s clothes are too small. I’m taking her to buy a couple of outfits. We won’t be back for lunch, so don’t wait for us.”
With those words, Ji Xiao quickly led her away.
Father Ji chuckled in disbelief. “How strange. Even an iron tree knows to care whether his sister has clothes to wear.”
Mother Ji came out with a forced smile, blocking his view, and chided, “How can you talk about your own son like that? Look at you, covered in mud. Hurry back inside and wash up.”
“Don’t push, don’t push. I’ll go myself.”
The courtyard gate closed behind Su Nuannuan as Ji Xiao half-embraced her and pushed her toward a jeep.
“Get in.”
Ji Xiao opened the passenger door, his long arm resting on the car body as his tall frame encircled her. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable authority.
The System sat on the hood of the car, looking utterly captivated. 【Host, he’s your destined partner—broad-shouldered, slim-waisted, handsome, and with a limitless future. Are you really not considering claiming him?】
【Kiss him once, and you can gain Luck Points. Now’s the perfect opportunity, Host. Hurry and pounce on him.】
Su Nuannuan’s temple twitched as she gritted her teeth inwardly.
【Are you saying that Luck Points can only be obtained through that method?】
System: 【Currently, yes. You need to get close to men with great Luck Aura to gain Luck Points. Luck Points can be exchanged for rewards like elixirs, food, clothing, space, and more.】
Space? Su Nuannuan’s eyes lit up.
That was the essential golden finger for looting and confiscating property. With it, she could strip Mother Ji down to her last undergarment.
【How many Luck Points are needed to exchange for space?】
The light screen changed, displaying the rewards page. It flipped rapidly before finally stopping.
Space Skill: Requires 100,000 Luck Points.
Current Host Luck Points: 1,000.
Su Nuannuan: …
Last night, she was pushed to the brink of exhaustion, and she only got 1,000 Luck Points?
[“Host, hurry up and kiss, just one kiss, 100 Luck Points, the spatial function is within your grasp.”]
[“No way, one hundred per kiss, even if my lips get chapped I still won’t be able to gather a hundred thousand.”]
Su Nuannuan was pushed into the car, her petite body curled up in the corner, her face full of displeasure.