Xiao Qingyuan couldn’t help but swallow hard. “This woman is too fierce!”
The man beside him had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his face extraordinarily handsome. Dressed in military uniform, he exuded an imposing aura. His brows were slightly furrowed, his expression cold and stern.
Meanwhile, Jian Ning’s hands had gone numb from hitting so much before she finally released Lu Xiaomei. Pointing at her, she said, “Get lost! If you don’t leave, I’ll hit you again. I’ll beat you every time I see you from now on!”
Terrified, Lu Xiaomei didn’t dare say another word. Ignoring the pain all over her body, she hastily scrambled up from the ground and ran outside.
As she turned around, she bumped straight into Song Yan’s chest.
Looking up, she saw a face so handsome it was dazzling. She even wondered if she was hallucinating and couldn’t resist reaching out to touch Song Yan.
Song Yan took two steps back, avoiding her touch.
Just then, Xiao Qingyuan saw Lu Xiaomei’s face swollen like a pig’s head from the beating and couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath before asking, “Are you alright?”
Only then did Lu Xiaomei snap out of it, hurriedly withdrawing her gaze from Song Yan and lowering her head. “I… I’m fine.”
After speaking, she couldn’t resist stealing another glance at Song Yan before limping away.
“Song Yan, are you alright?” Xiao Qingyuan asked, turning to look at him.
“I’m fine.”
Over there, when Lu Xiaomei heard Song Yan’s name, her heart immediately began racing wildly. Hearing his clear, cold yet pleasant voice made her heartbeat accelerate even more.
Suddenly, she became extremely curious about Song Yan.
She couldn’t help but look back and saw Song Yan and Xiao Qingyuan talking to Jian Ning.
She instantly clenched her fists. Damn it, how dare that bitch speak to Song Yan? With her wretched appearance, does she think Song Yan would be interested in her? How shameless!
It’s all because of her—she beat me up like this, making me lose face in front of Song Yan! Ruining my image in Song Yan’s mind…
Meanwhile, Xiao Qingyuan and Song Yan had already realized that Jian Ning was the person they were looking for.
The onlookers had also overheard their conversation and couldn’t hide their shock. “So Jian Ning isn’t really a member of the Jian family? How interesting!”
“Exactly! She and Jian Junhui aren’t biological siblings, yet their reputations are equally terrible!”
Just then, Jian Junhui returned.
He directly slapped the speaker on the head. “Bullshit! What’s wrong with my sister’s reputation? If you dare spread rumors again, I’ll kill you!”
Seeing Jian Junhui’s thuggish demeanor, Song Yan and Xiao Qingyuan’s expressions grew even more unpleasant.
What kind of family is this, raising two such troublemakers!
“Everyone disperse, disperse! Nothing to see here!”
After driving away the crowd, Jian Junhui turned to Xiao Qingyuan. “Come inside.”
Xiao Qingyuan and Song Yan exchanged glances before following him into the house.
Jian Ning also followed them inside.
Once inside, Jian Junhui took the seat of honor, then signaled Jian Ning with his eyes to come over. Jian Ning sat down beside him.
Only then did Jian Junhui look at Xiao Qingyuan and say, “You think you can take Ningning away with just your word? Why should I believe you!”
Xiao Qingyuan took out a jade pendant from his pocket, then looked at the pendant around Jian Ning’s neck.
“These two jade pendants are family heirlooms. Originally, my grandmother personally put them on us. It’s true that the two families accidentally swapped children. The police have already intervened in the investigation of this matter and found witnesses…”
Jian Junhui waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off. “Enough, enough, I don’t want to hear it. Even if everything you said is true, I won’t let you take her away!”
“You can’t make decisions for her! It all depends on her own wishes,” Xiao Qingyuan said.
If not for his father’s strict orders, he really wouldn’t want to bring Jian Ning back. Given Jian Ning’s fiery temperament, if she returned, his younger sister Xiao Yue would likely suffer!
Jian Junhui scoffed coldly and turned to Jian Ning. “Tell him to get lost!”
“Brother, I’m going with him,” Jian Ning said.
“Did you hear that—” Jian Junhui stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing what she had said. He leaped up from his chair. “What did you just say? Say it again!”
“I’m going with him!” Jian Ning declared firmly.
Xiao Qingyuan and Song Yan had already anticipated that Jian Ning would make this choice!
Jian Junhui was so angry that veins bulged on his forehead. Pointing at Jian Ning, he snapped, “You want to leave? Fine, go! Leave right now and never come back. I’ll just pretend I never had a sister!”
He could have accepted it if she had hesitated even a little, but she hadn’t hesitated for a single second!
Jian Ning turned to Xiao Qingyuan and Song Yan. “I’d like to speak with my brother alone. Could you step outside for a moment?”
“Alright,” Xiao Qingyuan agreed, and he and Song Yan walked out.
Meanwhile, Jian Junhui said coldly, “You’re leaving anyway. What else is there to say? Hurry up and pack your things and get out of here!”
“Brother, the incident with Lu Changzheng has become common knowledge. People may not say it to my face, but they’re all talking behind my back. I really can’t stay here anymore.”
Hearing this, Jian Junhui’s heart softened slightly, and he felt a pang of guilt. How had he, as her brother, failed to consider this?
“Are you really leaving?” he asked, looking at her.
“Yes.”
Jian Ning nodded and continued, “Brother, no matter where I go, I will always be a member of the Jian family, always your sister. That will never change!”
“Hmph, don’t just say pretty words. Once you’re with the Xiao Family, you’ll forget all about us!” Jian Junhui retorted with a curl of his lip.
“I won’t,” Jian Ning said, unable to hold back tears as she hugged him, burying her face in his shoulder.
“What are you doing? You’re getting my clothes dirty!” Jian Junhui complained, though inwardly, he couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.
Jian Ning pulled away from his embrace and was about to speak when Jian Junhui cut her off. “Stop dawdling! Go pack your things. If you’re leaving, then hurry up and go!”
“Okay.”
Jian Ning turned and went into her room. Soon, she emerged carrying a travel bag.
Jian Junhui was still sitting in the main hall, head bowed as he smoked.
“Big brother!” Jian Ning called out.
Jian Junhui looked up, stubbed out his cigarette, went over to take the bag from her, and strode outside.
Jian Ning followed him.
Xiao Qingyuan and Song Yan were chatting by the car. Seeing them come out, Xiao Qingyuan approached.
Jian Junhui handed him the bag and patted him on the shoulder. “Brother, treat my sister well!”
“Of course, she’s my sister too!” Xiao Qingyuan replied.
Although his first impression of Jian Ning hadn’t been great, she was, after all, his biological sister—their blood ties were unbreakable.
“Alright, go now!”
Jian Junhui resumed his usual carefree demeanor.
“Let’s go.” Xiao Qingyuan said to Jian Ning, then picked up his bag and headed towards the car.
Jian Ning didn’t move. She looked at Jian Junhui and said, “Brother, stop messing around. Go win Xia Hong back!”
After saying this, Jian Ning didn’t care what expression Jian Junhui had on his face and turned to leave.
“That damn girl, even when leaving she won’t let people have peace of mind!” Jian Junhui scratched his head irritably.
Meanwhile, Jian Ning reached the car, opened the door and got in. Only after sitting down did she notice there was someone beside her.
Song Yan had thought Jian Ning would sit in the front, so he had specifically made space for her. He never expected she would come directly into the back seat.
From the rearview mirror, Xiao Qingyuan saw that Jian Ning was practically taking up two seats’ worth of space, which resulted in her and Song Yan sitting closely pressed together. Their expressions made the situation even more amusing.
Tsk tsk, to be honest, even as her brother, he felt these two were really unsuitable. It seemed Old Master Song’s plans would likely come to nothing!