“I didn’t know you were here.”
Jian Ning still offered an explanation.
She could tell Song Yan looked down on her, and for a man who disliked her, Jian Ning would automatically keep her distance.
She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice after the suffering she endured in her past life!
Song Yan’s starry brows slightly furrowed as he half-leaned against the seatback without speaking.
“It’s fine, Jian Ning, you don’t need to be so reserved. The Song Family and our family have been close for generations. Song Yan and I grew up together – we’re very familiar. Besides, you and he still…”
At this point, Xiao Qingyuan noticed Song Yan’s warning look in the rearview mirror and immediately changed his tone, “We’ll all be friends from now on anyway!”
“Mm.” Jian Ning nodded.
She remembered from her past life that Lu Xiaomei had told her about her engagement to Song Yan.
But later, for some reason, Song Yan called off the marriage, and Lu Xiaomei married another military officer, living quite comfortably afterward.
As for what happened to Song Yan after that, no one ever knew.
Not that she cared about any of this anyway.
Throughout the journey, Jian Ning didn’t speak much, but her mind was racing with thoughts.
In her previous life, everything she knew about the Xiao Family came from Lu Xiaomei, and that was very limited.
How the Xiao Family would treat her this time remained unknown.
Song Yan remained completely silent the entire time, his expression frighteningly cold.
Xiao Qingyuan spoke occasionally and was relatively warm toward Jian Ning.
Tired from the long ride, Jian Ning dozed off in a daze.
Song Yan had originally intended to rest his eyes when he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder, someone’s breathing close enough to feel, and she even tried to wrap her arms around him.
Frowning, Song Yan pushed her away, but the next moment, she leaned against him again.
After this happened several times, Song Yan grew increasingly irritated, suspecting the woman might be pretending to be asleep!
He pushed her away forcefully, but misjudged his strength, causing Jian Ning’s head to bump against the car window. The pain woke her up, and she rubbed her forehead.
Turning her head, she saw Song Yan’s extremely dark expression and instantly understood what had happened.
“Stop the car!” Song Yan said gruffly.
Xiao Qingyuan pulled over, and Song Yan got out and moved to the front seat.
Jian Ning swallowed hard – it seemed she had unintentionally offended someone again!
Two days later, they finally arrived at the Northwest Military District.
As soon as Xiao Qingyuan parked the car, Song Yan immediately got out, as if he couldn’t bear to stay in the vehicle a moment longer.
Xiao Qingyuan awkwardly rubbed his nose and smiled at Jian Ning, “Don’t overthink it. That’s just how he is with everyone.”
“It’s fine, I’m not overthinking it,” Jian Ning replied.
Xiao Qingyuan smiled again. After these two days together, he found Jian Ning wasn’t as unpleasant as he initially thought.
“Let’s go. Mom and Dad are waiting at home!” Xiao Qingyuan opened the trunk to get their luggage, then led Jian Ning toward the house.
The Xiao Family lived in a three-story western-style house in the last row of the Family Compound.
Xiao Qingyuan stepped forward and knocked twice. Footsteps sounded from inside, then the door opened to reveal a fashionably dressed, pretty girl.
She first gave Xiao Qingyuan a sweet smile, “Fourth Brother, you’re back!”
“Mm.” Xiao Qingyuan smiled and reached out to pat her head, his affection evident.
He then briefly introduced them. Xiao Yue smiled sweetly and extended her hand to Jian Ning, “Sister, welcome.”
While smiling on the surface, Xiao Yue secretly felt a wave of relief in her heart.
She had initially worried that with Jian Ning’s return, her own status would plummet, and even feared Jian Ning might steal her fiancé Song Yan.
But the moment she saw Jian Ning, all her worries vanished.
The Jian Ning before her was practically a giant fat pig—forget Song Yan, probably no man in the entire Family Compound would be willing to marry her!
Jian Ning caught the flicker of mockery in her eyes and said calmly, “We’re the same age. There’s no need to call me sister.”
Xiao Yue awkwardly withdrew her hand, sounding somewhat aggrieved as she replied, “I thought calling you sister would be more affectionate. If you don’t like it, then forget it.”
Just then, the Xiao Family members came out to greet them, led by Xiao Zhengjun and his wife Luo Susu.
Following behind were the wife of the eldest son, Song Hualan, the second son’s wife Xie Yan, and the fourth son Xiao Qinghe.
The eldest son Xiao Qingbei and the second son Xiao Qingchen were both out on missions and hadn’t returned yet.
Upon seeing Jian Ning, Luo Susu couldn’t hold back her tears and stepped forward to embrace her, “My dear child, you’re finally back!”
Jian Ning felt somewhat uncomfortable with such intimacy, but her originally anxious heart miraculously calmed down.
Even Xiao Zhengjun, usually stern-faced, showed emotion and said, “Let’s go inside.”
“Yes, yes, inside, inside.”
Luo Susu finally released Jian Ning and took her hand instead, “My dear child, from now on, this is your home!”
Then, she looked at Jian Ning with hopeful anticipation.
Jian Ning knew what she was hoping for, but the word “Mom” stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.
At that moment, Xiao Yue came over and hugged Luo Susu’s arm, saying sweetly, “Mom, let’s go inside. The food will get cold soon.”
“Yes, yes, let’s go!” Luo Susu’s gaze remained fixed on Jian Ning, unwilling to look away for even a moment.
How could she not cherish her long-lost biological daughter, finally found after all this time!
Once inside, Luo Susu took Jian Ning upstairs for a quick wash before bringing her down for the meal.
The Xiao Family members were already waiting in the dining room. Luo Susu intended to have Jian Ning sit next to her, but noticed Xiao Yue was already seated there.
She wanted to say something but ultimately held back.
Xiao Yue seemed to sense something, her eyes reddening slightly before she obediently stood up and said, “Sorry, Mom, it’s just habit. I’ll make room for Ningning right away!”
As she spoke, she began to move away.
The eldest daughter-in-law Song Hualan beside her pressed her back down, saying, “Yueyue, stay seated.”
Then she turned to Luo Susu, “Mom, even though Yueyue isn’t your biological daughter, she’s lived in this family for eighteen years. You can’t favor one over the other! This seat has always been Yueyue’s—why should she give it up? Besides, with Jian Ning’s size, I doubt she’d even fit here anyway!”
While saying this, Song Hualan looked Jian Ning up and down with a scornful expression.
Across from them, the fourth son Xiao Qinghe couldn’t help but snort with laughter!
Xiao Zhengjun glared at him and said, “You move to the back! Ningning, come sit here!”
Xiao Qinghe: “…”
What did he do to deserve this?
But he didn’t dare oppose the old man, so he reluctantly got up and moved to the back.
“Go ahead, Ningning.” Luo Susu smiled and nodded at her.
Only then did Jian Ning go over and sit down. When she looked up, she met Song Hualan’s contemptuous gaze across the table and immediately glared back without hesitation.
Song Hualan hadn’t expected Jian Ning to dare confront her. She couldn’t help curling her lips into a cold smirk.
Just wait, you fat pig. I won’t let you off easily!
Being new here, Jian Ning didn’t want to start conflicts with them. But if anyone tried to walk all over her, they shouldn’t blame her for not holding back!
“Let’s eat.”
Luo Susu, realizing she had neglected Xiao Yue’s feelings earlier, first served her favorite dish to her. “Yueyue, eat more. You’ve lost weight recently.”
“Thanks, Mom!” Xiao Yue smiled sweetly, then couldn’t resist glancing at Jian Ning across the table, a flash of triumph in her eyes.
At that moment, Xiao Zhengjun also served a piece of meat to Jian Ning. “Ningning, you should eat more too!”
“Thanks, Dad.” The words slipped out before Jian Ning realized it, surprising even herself.