"On the Day of Reunion, The Heir to the Wealthy Family Became My Brother" - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Becoming a Nanny?

“Are you sure?”

Huo Jinyan narrowed his dark eyes slightly, as if giving her a chance to rephrase her words.

Ning Xin’er, however, stubbornly nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”

The atmosphere became tense. Huo Jinyan’s expression darkened. “I helped you today, and you just want a free favor?”

Ning Xin’er was momentarily stunned.

She never intended to take advantage of him.

It was just that it was already late, and she felt it was inappropriate to be alone with him.

“How about I treat you to a meal another day?” she suggested tentatively.

Huo Jinyan remained silent. “…”

“Or if you ever need help in the future, I can return the favor?”

Still no response from Huo Jinyan. “…”

Ning Xin’er sighed, thinking of a way to repay him. “If none of that works, I can pay you?”

She assumed that someone as wealthy as Huo Jinyan wouldn’t care about her money.

As expected, he still didn’t respond.

Ning Xin’er was at a loss.

She couldn’t back out, but she also couldn’t move forward.

At that moment, Huo Jinyan spoke slowly, “I happen to need a housekeeper at my place.”

“Huh?” Ning Xin’er’s mouth fell open.

A housekeeper? Her?

“My housekeeper takes weekends off. You can fill in for two days as your ‘payment.’”

Huo Jinyan’s dark eyes locked onto hers, but his tone remained calm.

“Is there another option?” she asked.

“No.”

“This is unreasonable.”

Ning Xin’er was a little angry. He was clearly trying to make her work like a servant.

Huo Jinyan casually spun his phone between his fingers.

“Or, I could call Auntie and tell her that you were called to the principal’s office today?” He opened his contact list, deliberately letting Ning Xin’er see her mother’s phone number.

“You…” Ning Xin’er cursed him in her heart for being shameless. He was using her mother to threaten her.

Her mother was in Nancheng. If she found out that she was suddenly attacked today, she would be worried sick.

After thinking for a moment, she looked up and glared at him reluctantly. “Fine, I agree. Two days.”

Just two days!

“But I’ll start tomorrow. It’s too late today,” she insisted, trying to avoid staying the night.

“As my housekeeper, you’ll need to arrive at 4 AM to start cleaning. Do you think your school will let you leave that early?” Huo Jinyan glanced at her.

Ning Xin’er’s school only allowed students to enter and exit at 6 AM.

Leaving at 4 AM was impossible—not to mention she wouldn’t even be awake by then.

“Don’t worry, my house has a room for the housekeeper,” Huo Jinyan added, seeing through her hesitation.

He was assuring her that she would have a private room.

That he was… safe.

She frowned. “At least let me go back and grab some clothes.”

Huo Jinyan lazily replied, “My house provides free uniforms for housekeepers. Don’t worry.”

Ning Xin’er clenched her fists in frustration.

He clearly just didn’t want her to leave the car—he wanted her to follow him immediately!

Without saying anything, she slumped into her seat and closed her eyes, deciding to give up on arguing.

Huo Jinyan smirked slightly, but she didn’t see it.

***

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at a high-end apartment complex.

Ning Xin’er was surprised.

She had thought he was taking her to a villa. A villa would be huge, and working as a housekeeper there would exhaust her!

But instead, he brought her to an apartment.

Compared to a villa, working in an apartment would be much easier.

She followed him into the elevator.

Just then, her phone rang loudly in the small space.

She pulled it out and saw the caller ID: “J Boyfriend.” It stood for “Fake Boyfriend.”

It was Huo Jingtian.

She really didn’t want to answer. When she needed him earlier but he ignored dozens of her calls. Now that everything was settled, he suddenly wanted to talk? Meaningless.

But after thinking it over, she realized the atmosphere between her and Huo Jinyan was awkward. To ease the tension, she answered.

“Hello?”

“Xin’er, did something happen? I was with Qiao Shan earlier and didn’t see my missed calls.” Huo Jingtian’s concerned voice came through.

So, he really was with Qiao Shan.

Qiao Shan seemed weak and timid, but apparently, she could hold a grudge.

It was natural for a guy to be with his girlfriend. She had no right to be angry just because he didn’t step up to help.

Even though… this whole situation was caused by him.

“It’s fine now. You two carry on, I’m hanging up.”

“Wait, don’t. Tell me what happened.”

“Does it even matter? You’re no help anyway.” Ning Xin’er suddenly felt frustrated.

She shouldn’t have had to deal with any of this. Wang Niu came looking for trouble with Huo Jingtian’s girlfriend, but every time, she ended up taking the blame instead.

She was always the one getting hurt.

Back when they made the agreement, Huo Jingtian had sworn that whenever she needed help—especially with enemies of his real girlfriend—he would step in.

And now? When she actually needed him, he was nowhere to be found.

She suffered for his girlfriend’s sake while he spent time enjoying himself with her.

She started to question whether she had made the right decision back then. Had she been too impulsive?

The other end of the call was silent for a few seconds before Huo Jingtian finally spoke. “Xin’er, did someone bully you again?”

This wasn’t the first time it had happened—sometimes minor, sometimes serious.

But never before had she been beaten up this badly!

“Yeah, someone bullied me again. Goodbye.” Ning Xin’er hung up immediately.

At the same time, the elevator door opened.

Huo Jinyan walked out quickly and did wait for her.

She had to jog to keep up.

Why did it feel like the atmosphere was even more awkward now?

She had wanted to ease the tension, but it only got worse!

Huo Jinyan stopped at the door, entered the passcode, and walked in without saying a word.

Ning Xin’er stood there. “…”

Wasn’t he going to invite her in?

Maybe he was just too used to having her around.

She stepped inside and sat on the couch, waiting for him to speak.

Maybe he’d explain her duties, give her some rules, or at least tell her where her room was?

Surely, he wouldn’t just leave her sitting there.

But Huo Jinyan didn’t say a word. He calmly poured himself a glass of red wine and drank slowly.

Ning Xin’er was at a loss. Couldn’t he at least acknowledge her?

Just as she was about to speak, Huo Jinyan turned to her.

His sudden movement made her pause.

“Your boyfriend’s last name is ‘Jia’?” he asked.

Ning Xin’er froze. He saw it?

He really saw it.

Without changing her expression, she confidently answered, “Yes, his last name is Jia—Jia Feng.”

Huo Jinyan was silent for a while before asking, “Do you still want to be with him?”

Ning Xin’er tilted her head. Why wouldn’t she?

Seeing her confusion, Huo Jinyan continued, “A man who can’t be there for you when you’re in trouble and only gives excuses—is he really suitable to be your boyfriend?”

“Break up with him.”

Again with this!

Ning Xin’er yelled in her heart. She didn’t actually care about her “fake boyfriend.”

“No, I like him. Even if he’s not around, I don’t mind.”

Huo Jinyan fell silent. “Ning Xin’er, are you slut?”