"On the Day of Reunion, The Heir to the Wealthy Family Became My Brother" - Chapter 22

Ning Xin’er returned to the dorm and casually packed a few sets of clothes.

Just as she was about to leave, the dorm door opened.

Qiao Shan walked in, carrying a big bag of items, and their eyes met.

Qiao Shan looked Ning Xin’er up and down and asked, “Where are you going? ”

“Why didn’t you come back last night? Was it a late-night, part-time job? ”

Late-night part-time job?

Qiao Shan’s tone carried a hint of curiosity, as though she wanted to know Ning Xin’er’s whereabouts.

Hearing this term, Ning Xiner frowned slightly. “Why are you so nosy? ”

Qiao Shan was stunned for a moment but quickly flashed a smile. “I just wanted to ask what kind of job it is. Does it pay well? A job that only… happens late at night? ”

“Just an ordinary part-time job. I went to stay at a friend’s place for a few days.”

Ning Xin’er felt that Qiao Shan’s words had another meaning, but there was no clear evidence to prove it.

Noticing Ning Xiner’s unhappy expression, Qiao Shan quickly squeezed into the dorm and placed her items in her spot.

“These are snacks Jingtian bought for me. Do you want some? ” Qiao Shan’s face lit up with ‘happiness,’ and she looked shy when she mentioned Huo Jingtian.

“No, thank you,” Ning Xiner replied coldly.

After speaking, Ning Xin’er pushed the door open and left.

To her, Qiao Shan always felt odd. When they didn’t interact, she seemed like a quiet girl, but after some interaction, she didn’t seem so simple.

Wang Niu’s words resurfaced in Ning Xin’er’s mind: was it Qiao Shan who gave Wang Niu the access card?

As she pondered, Ning Xin’er suddenly noticed a trace of a red thing near the staircase. Looking closely, she realized it was her candy boxes—wedding candy!

How did her wedding candy end up in the trash bin?

She recognized these two boxes—they were the ones she had given to Qiao Shan and Wang Yan yesterday.

Wang Yan had gone to meet her boyfriend over the weekend and wasn’t in the dorm, so I’m sure she wasn’t the one who threw them away.

There was only one possibility left: Qiao Shan did it!

Why would she throw them away?

Ning Xin’er turned back to the dorm.

Inside, Qiao Shan was alone, sorting through the snacks from two large shopping bags, looking very pleased.

Suddenly, a notification popped up on her phone: “Did you give the snacks to Ning Xiner? ”

Qiao Shan’s fingers paused. She glanced disdainfully at the snacks on the floor, then replied, “I did. She even asked me to thank you on her behalf.”

Bang! The dorm door suddenly flew open.

Qiao Shan froze, guilty as a thief, and quickly put her phone away, slowly looking up.

Seeing Ning Xin’er standing in the doorway staring at her, Qiao Shan’s tiny voice asked, “Did you decide not to leave after all? ”

Ning Xin’er didn’t respond. She strode up to Qiao Shan, raised her hand, and asked, “Did you throw these away? ”

She held up the two boxes of wedding candy, dangling them in the air.

Qiao Shan’s eyes widened, darting around nervously.

Her brief embarrassment quickly faded. Qiao Shan grabbed Ning Xin’er’s arm and hurriedly explained, “Ah? I thought they were empty boxes, so I accidentally threw them away as trash.”

The boxes were heavy; how could she mistake them for empty ones?

Ning Xin’er didn’t seem convinced.

“Why did you throw away Wang Yan’s share too? ” Ning Xin’er’s sharp gaze locked onto Qiao Shan.

“I just did it casually. I thought I’d help Wang Yan throw hers away too,” Qiao Shan mumbled again in her tiny voice.

Ning Xin’er narrowed her eyes.

Qiao Shan and Wang Yan didn’t have a good relationship; they had even quarreled before. How could Qiao Shan suddenly be so thoughtful?

Ning Xin’er once again doubted that Qiao Shan was as innocent as she appeared.

She pulled Qiao Shan’s hand off her arm, turned her head, and looked at her with a complicated expression, asking, “Did you let Wang Niu into the school and then tell her the location of our dorm? ”

“Wang Niu? Who is that? I don’t know her.”

“Xiner, the injuries on your face, did she do that? ”

“Oh my, she really hit you hard.”

Qiao Shan’s exaggerated performance was abruptly interrupted by an audio recording.

Her expression froze as Wang Niu’s words from the school gate played word for word.

Ning Xin’er stood there, silently observing the changes in Qiao Shan’s expression.

After a long time, Qiao Shan finally spoke in a low voice, “I thought she was your friend, so I helped her get in.”

Ning Xin’er shook her head with a soft scoff.

She said no more and walked away.

Now she was sure—Qiao Shan was not as innocent as she seemed.

It would be best to keep her distance from her in the future.

Watching Ning Xin’er leave, Qiao Shan’s eyes instantly grew cold, and she let out a contemptuous sneer.

At the same time, her phone rang. Her expression turned blank as she picked it up.

Seeing the caller ID, she quickly forced a smile and sweetened her voice, “Ah Jing (Jingtian), have you arrived…? ”

…

Ning Xin’er walked out of the school gates with a heavy heart.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Qiao Shan harbored hostility towards her—deep and well-hidden.

Did they even have any major grudges?

“Ning Xiner, get in the car.” Suddenly, a voice cut through her thoughts.

She looked in the direction of the voice and saw a tall figure standing some distance away.

Huo Jinyan? Why was he here?

“Why are you here? Ning Xin’er hurried over”.

“I’m afraid you’ll run off,” Huo Jinyan replied lazily. “If you run off, who will cook at my place these few days? ”

“Oh,” Ning Xin’er muttered under her breath. “Let’s go then. I’ll cook.”

She headed straight for the car, unusually refraining from bickering with him.

Huo Jinyan grabbed her wrist and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you not happy? ”

He could tell from her expression that she wasn’t in a good mood.

Ning Xin’er shook her head and gently tapped his palm, signaling him to get in the car.

Huo Jinyan paused for a second.

That gesture—she used to do that to him often…

In the car, Huo Jinyan kept staring at her, while Ning Xin’er seemed lost in thought, leaning against the seat.

Her expression shifted unpredictably—sometimes pensive, sometimes bright-eyed, sometimes…

After a long while, Huo Jinyan reached out and ruffled her hair, as if comforting her.

Suddenly, Ning Xin’er slapped his leg and, as if snapping back to reality, loudly exclaimed, “Let’s go buy groceries! ”

Huo Jinyan chuckled lightly. “Are you sure… you can cook? ”

In his memory, she could handle simple breakfasts, but more complex meals? He was skeptical.

“It’s my responsibility. Trust me,” Ning Xin’er boldly promised, her mood suddenly uplifted.

So, they went to the supermarket, bought the ingredients, and returned to the apartment in a flurry.

Finally, Ning Xin’er served the dishes on the table. They were simple home-style dishes but looked very appealing.

Huo Jinyan looked at the dishes with a surprised expression in his eyes, though he didn’t seem particularly happy.

He remembered how she couldn’t cook before.

In just three years, she had learned to effortlessly prepare such beautiful dishes.

He couldn’t help but wonder—how much hardship had she endured in these years?

Unlike Huo Jinyan, Ning Xin’er was beaming. “Try my cooking and see how it is.”

Her crescent-shaped smile made his heart soften.

“Why are you staring at me? Look at the food,” Ning Xin’er teased, reaching out to tap his head and divert his gaze.

Huo Jinyan picked up his chopsticks and tried the dish closest to him.

He was stunned. The taste was excellent.

She…

“Are you not happy?” Ning Xin’er asked, puzzled.

It was the same question Huo Jinyan had asked her earlier.

And just a few hours later, she was asking it back.