The three of them looked like a family of three.
The middle-aged man wore a military uniform, his presence sharp and imposing, carrying an unmistakable air of authority.
The woman had decent features, but her skin was slightly rough, and a sharp glint occasionally flickered in her eyes.
The third person, somewhere between a teenager and a young man, was full of youthful vigor, his brows carrying a rebellious edge.
“We’re friends of Wen Ya. We came to see Ning You,” the woman said calmly.
Ning Hong (Ning Hong) froze, momentarily stunned.
Wen Ya—she knew who that was. But… did Wen Ya even have friends?
“Aren’t you going to invite us in?” the woman asked again.
Her tone was gentle, but her gaze carried undeniable pressure.
Ning Hong’s body stiffened, and she subconsciously stepped aside.
Shao Yu (Shao Yu) walked in first, followed by the two men.
Ning Hong felt annoyed.
But the moment she glanced at the young man’s slightly roguish handsome face, her heart started pounding, and her cheeks warmed.
“Who are you?” she asked.
Chu Jin (Chu Jin) was nearly 180 cm tall, inheriting his father’s height. He looked down at her, his gaze landing on the oily top of her head.
He immediately shut his eyes.
“Good heavens, what is that? My eyes—if I don’t wash them, they’re ruined!”
Ning Hong’s shy expression froze.
“You—you’re talking about me?”
“Who else?” Chu Jin said irritably, glancing again at the grease on her hair before quickly looking away in disgust.
Ning Hong, humiliated for the ninth time while trying to show affection to a man, felt tears of rage welling up.
“How can you talk like that? That’s too much!” she said, her voice turning soft and coy despite her anger.
Flirting in front of a handsome guy, her voice unconsciously turned sweet and artificial.
But it only made her sound even more awkward.
Chu Jin looked horrified and backed away quickly, as if his feet had wheels, hiding behind his father.
“Dad, there’s a monster!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Chu Tianqing (Chu Tianqing) scolded sharply. How could he spout superstitious nonsense so casually?
Chu Jin immediately understood and patted his mouth seriously.
“I was just joking with the Ning family girl. Right, little sister? You won’t take it seriously, right?”
His bright eyes looked at Ning Hong.
Ning Hong melted under the word “sister” and nodded dazedly.
“Ah… yes, I won’t take it seriously.”
Chu Jin smiled slightly, radiating charm.
Ning Hong floated again.
Chu Tianqing: “…That boy, no proper manners at all.”
He shot Chu Jin a warning glance before asking Ning Hong, “Is Ning You here?”
Chu Tianqing was someone who had served the country and seen blood. When he looked at someone, he carried a strong sense of pressure.
Ning Hong stood straight immediately.
“She’s in her room. I’ll call her.”
She rushed to Ning You’s door and knocked hard.
“Ning You! Someone’s here for you!”
At that moment, Ning You was organizing the original owner’s books.
When she saw the books under the bed, she had first thought they belonged to Ning Hong.
But after flipping through them, she realized they were Ning You’s.
After thinking carefully, she remembered—Ning Hong had stolen them.
Before joining the Ning family, Ning Hong had already been jealous of Ning You. After coming in, she took pleasure in taking everything Ning You valued.
Even these books weren’t spared.
Looking at the detailed notes inside, Ning You sighed.
What a pity…
If university admissions hadn’t been disrupted, that little girl wouldn’t have been trapped in this cold, suffocating family.
Ning Hong didn’t like studying, so she stuffed all the stolen books under the bed, and many had already yellowed.
Ning You was sorting them one by one when she found a few papers inside.
They were the original owner’s high school diploma.
The girl had been careful—wrapped it in plastic, so it hadn’t yellowed.
Just then, Ning Hong’s loud voice came from outside.
“Ning You, stop pretending you’re dead! Someone’s here for you!”
Someone looking for her?
Ning You couldn’t think of anyone who would come for her. She stood up and opened the door.
Ignoring Ning Hong, she looked at the Chu family with unfamiliar eyes.
“And you are?”
After her haircut, Ning You looked more spirited, but still thin and fragile, standing there like she could be blown away by a gust of wind.
This was also why she hadn’t fully broken with the Ning family yet. They were ruthless and had no bottom line—without full confidence, she wouldn’t act recklessly.
She would wait until she regained some strength.
Seeing her up close, Chu Tianqing felt a sharp pang in his chest, as if stabbed by a needle.
“Didn’t recognize Uncle Tianqing?” he asked gently, restraining his imposing aura so as not to scare her.
Uncle Tianqing…?
Ning You searched her memory and quickly remembered.
A childhood friend of Wen Ya’s, someone devoted to the country—a soldier who had gone to build coastal defenses years ago.
“Oh, it’s you. I almost didn’t recognize you,” Ning You nodded politely and stepped out to pour water.
There was no tea, no sugar—only plain boiled water.
Seeing Ning Hong still standing there, Chu Jin said casually, “Can you give us some space? We’d like to talk to her alone.”
He emphasized “alone” deliberately.
Ning Hong: …
She wasn’t even taking up space—this was her house!
“Be quick,” Ning You suddenly said.
Ning Hong froze, then stormed off.
Chu Jin gave Ning You a thumbs-up.
“Smart.”
Ning You just smiled faintly.
Chu Jin raised an eyebrow. “It’s only been a few years and you don’t recognize us anymore? How cold-hearted.”
He spread his arms.
“Your Jin ge is back. Aren’t you going to give me a welcome hug?”
Very roguish.
If not for his good looks, it would’ve been greasy.
“You chubby kid, you’ve lost a lot of weight… but you haven’t changed that much,” Ning You said lightly.
A perfect critical hit.
Chu Jin instantly exploded.
“Ning You!!!”
Gone was his earlier cool act.
“Hey! What’s up?” she replied innocently.
After that little exchange, the awkward distance between them faded.
Chu Tianqing’s eyes softened with a faint smile.
He had indeed come at the right time.
“Yoyou, I’m late. You’ve suffered,” he said softly.
Ning You shook her head.
“You put your life into the country, Uncle Tianqing. You have your reasons. I’m already happy that you still remember me.”
Chu Tianqing felt a touch of bitterness.
Just like Wen Ya—so understanding.
“Yoyou, Uncle found you a job. You can stay at the factory dormitory and don’t have to come back here. What do you think?”
Shao Yu looked slightly surprised.
Chu Tianqing had always been decisive and strict—when had he ever discussed things with others?
But Ning You had already made up her mind.
She had never intended to stay in Haicheng.
The Ning family was powerful here, and Ning Zhongyi was ruthless and unscrupulous.
After ruining his plans, how could he possibly let her go easily?
Most importantly—
Though food shortages hadn’t fully erupted yet, the signs were already there.
Big cities would eventually become chaotic with too many people and too little food.
Better to go to the countryside.
She could always come back later.
Ning You had a feeling—this situation wouldn’t last long.