“I won’t! This time, I’ve seen his true colors. I absolutely won’t change my mind!” Jian Ning declared with firm resolve.
“I hope you mean it!” Jian Junhui snorted coldly, then glanced at Jian Ning and said, “You haven’t eaten yet, right? Let me make you a bowl of noodles.”
Jian Ning was indeed hungry, but when she looked down at her plump figure, she couldn’t help shaking her head. “I’m not hungry. I won’t eat.”
“Cut the nonsense. I know you better than that!” After saying this, Jian Junhui headed straight to the kitchen.
Feeling helpless, Jian Ning stood up and wandered around the room, a nostalgic expression on her face.
Three years ago, she had argued fiercely with Jian Junhui in order to marry Lu Changzheng.
Since then, she had never returned.
In her previous life, her elder brother Jian Junhui had been involved in the Black Market. Not long after, he was reported and sent to prison. After his release, he was hunted down and killed by his rival.
The thought of this made Jian Ning’s heart ache.
Although Jian Junhui was reckless and sharp-tongued, after their adoptive parents passed away, he was the only relative who truly cared for her.
Just then, Jian Junhui emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of noodles. He motioned with his lips for Jian Ning to come over.
Jian Ning walked to the table and sat down. Before her was a steaming bowl of noodles with shredded pork and vegetables, topped with two poached eggs.
Her nose tingled, and she nearly burst into tears.
Seeing her like this, Jian Junhui assumed she was upset about Lu Changzheng and said with a curl of his lip, “Enough already. What’s the big deal? Why cry? It’s hard to find a three-legged toad, but there are plenty of two-legged men out there!”
Jian Ning chuckled through her tears.
In her past life, she had been utterly foolish, believing the lies of the Lu family and drifting apart from her brother.
Reborn into this life, she was determined to ensure her brother lived a good life.
She slept soundly until the next morning. When she woke up, she smelled the aroma of food and found Jian Junhui setting the table.
Seeing her emerge, he said, “Let’s eat.”
Jian Ning went over and sat down to eat. Tasting the familiar flavors again, her heart felt as if a whirlwind of emotions had swept through her.
But she quickly composed herself. Looking up at Jian Junhui, she said, “Big brother, don’t contact that woman from yesterday anymore. She’s one of Li Heizi’s people.”
Li Heizi was Jian Junhui’s rival. Both had been trying to take over each other’s territory, but neither had succeeded.
“That bastard! How dare he mess with me!”
Jian Junhui’s face darkened instantly. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he looked at Jian Ning suspiciously. “How do you know about this?”
“When the Lu family was short on money, I went to the Black Market to sell things and saw them there.”
After saying this, Jian Ning stood up to leave.
“Wait, where are you going?” Jian Junhui immediately asked.
“I have things to do,” Jian Ning replied without turning back.
Jian Junhui scratched his head in frustration but didn’t press further.
After leaving the Jian residence, Jian Ning headed straight to the neighboring Family Compound and knocked on the Xia family’s door.
In her previous life, she had succumbed to Lu Xiaomei’s persistent pleas and given her job to her.
As a result, before Lu Xiaomei replaced her and went to the Northwest Military District, she resold the job to a leader in the factory, gaining both money and a favor.
This lifetime, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to pave the way for unrelated people.
The door was opened by Xia’s mother. When she saw Jian Ning, she immediately tried to shut the door.
Jian Ning knew that Xia’s mother looked down on Jian Junhui. Back when Jian Junhui and Xia Hong were dating, she had constantly tried to interfere.
She must be afraid I’d plead on my brother’s behalf, Jian Ning thought as she quickly blocked the door with one hand and said to Xia’s mother, “Auntie, don’t misunderstand. I came to see Sister Xia Hong because I want to sell my job to her, nothing else.”
Xia’s mother was surprised to hear this. After a moment’s consideration, she let Jian Ning in.
Still, she couldn’t resist adding, “Xia Hong is getting married next month. Don’t you dare cause trouble!”
“I know, Auntie. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything unnecessary.” With that, Jian Ning headed toward Xia Hong’s room.
Xia Hong couldn’t hide her surprise at seeing her. “What are you doing here?”
“Let’s talk inside.”
Xia Hong studied her for a moment before allowing her into the room.
Xia’s mother glared at her daughter in warning, but Xia Hong ignored her, closing the door and turning back.
Then she faced Jian Ning and asked, “What is it?”
“My job at the textile factory—do you want it?” Jian Ning came straight to the point.
“What?” Xia Hong thought she must have misheard. “You mean you want to sell your job to me?”
“Yes.” Jian Ning briefly explained the situation before concluding, “Two hundred yuan. If you want it, I’ll take you to complete the paperwork now. If not, I’ll find someone else!”
“I want it! I want it!” Xia’s mother suddenly burst through the door, exclaiming repeatedly.
Everyone knew Jian Ning held an office position at the textile factory—light work with good pay, earning dozens of yuan each month. For such a desirable job, people would fight over it even at eight hundred yuan, let alone two hundred. How could Xia’s mother let such an opportunity slip away?
“Wait here, I’ll get the money right now!” Xia’s mother said, already turning to leave.
“Mom, wait!” Xia Hong stopped her, then said to Jian Ning, “I’m getting married next month. If this is for your brother’s sake…”
“There’s no need, understand?”
“This has nothing to do with my brother,” Jian Ning stated. “If it were for him, I wouldn’t be asking for money.”
Xia’s mother shot a glare at her daughter before telling Jian Ning, “Ning Ning, wait here. I’ll go get the money!”
Soon, Xia’s mother returned with the cash. Handing it to Jian Ning, she couldn’t help asking, “Shall we go handle the paperwork now?”
“Alright.” Jian Ning nodded.
Xia Hong watched Jian Ning’s retreating figure with a complicated expression. She felt something was off about Jian Ning but couldn’t pinpoint what.
“Let’s go home! We should celebrate properly today!” Overjoyed, Xia’s mother pulled her daughter away.
Meanwhile, when Jian Ning returned home, she found Jian Junhui drinking alone in misery.
Seeing him like this, she knew he must have already uncovered the truth.
Hearing the noise, Jian Junhui looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot. “You were right. I fell into Li Heizi’s trap!”
Jian Ning stepped forward to pour him a glass of water, seizing the opportunity to advise, “Big Brother, the crackdown is strict now. You should quit the Black Market and find something else to do!”
Jian Junhui looked up at her. “It’s not that easy to back out.”
He wiped his face as if steeling himself. “Don’t worry about me. I have ways to deal with them!”
Jian Ning nodded. Jian Junhui was clever. Now that he was on guard, he definitely wouldn’t end up being killed by Li Heizi like in their previous lifetime.