Surprise! My Cohabiting Sister is Actually My Fiancée - Chapter 1

Ding! The elevator doors slid open, and Jian Suixin stepped out, her face etched with exhaustion.

After a day of fruitless job hunting, she finally arrived home after ten at night, empty-handed once again.

Clutching her bag in one hand, she fumbled for her keys with the other, her body and mind utterly drained.

Back when she was living the life of a pampered heiress in the Jian Family, she never imagined finding a job could be this difficult.

Exhausted from the past two days, she dragged herself listlessly to her door. As she was still fumbling for her keys, she suddenly heard a click—the sound of her door unlocking.

Jian Suixin froze in confusion. How could the door be open when I haven’t even taken out my keys yet?

Then it dawned on her: the sound had come from behind.

Turning around, she saw her neighbor across the hall, Ying Tao, standing with her door ajar, her head poking through the gap. Ying Tao grinned at her, baring her teeth. “Hi, Xinxin~”

Jian Suixin: ……

Jian Suixin’s composure cracked for a split second before she regained her composure. “What is it?”

Ying Tao smiled brightly. “I have some great news for you!”

Jian Suixin’s half-closed eyes snapped open, her drooping lips curving upward as her face lit up. “You found me a job?”

“……” Sensing her neighbor’s eagerness for work, Ying Tao’s smile faded slightly, a hint of awkwardness creeping into her voice. “Um, no, not exactly.”

Jian Suixin’s face instantly fell. Finally finding her keys, she turned to unlock the door. “For me, there’s no good news besides finding a job.”

Ying Tao tried to pique her interest. “Don’t rush off! I wanted to tell you that someone’s moving into the empty room next door.”

“Already?” Jian Suixin paused, surprised. She’d only moved in a few days ago, and now a roommate was arriving so soon. “Guess my rental ad worked wonders.”

Ying Tao nodded, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. “Let me tell you, you’ve struck gold this time.”

“What kind of gold?” Jian Suixin asked, puzzled. “Does she assign jobs for free?”

“Suixin, wake up! Put your job hunt aside for a moment. If someone had that kind of power, they wouldn’t be renting rooms—they’d be living in a mansion!” Ying Tao first gave Jian Suixin a disdainful look, then added, “She’s an exceptionally beautiful woman.”

“I ran into her while she was moving in. This new roommate is beyond gorgeous!” Ying Tao exclaimed, her exaggerated expression vividly conveying her admiration.

Jian Suixin chuckled, well-acquainted with Ying Tao’s penchant for embellishment. “Is she really that stunning?”

Ying Tao immediately adopted a serious tone. “I’m not exaggerating at all! I’m telling you, one glance at her and you’ll never forget her for the rest of your life.”

Jian Suixin raised an eyebrow. Though she couldn’t vouch for her roommate’s beauty, Ying Tao’s words conjured the image of the person she’d met a few days prior.

No one else could possibly live up to such a description, Jian Suixin thought. Dismissing Ying Tao’s claims as hyperbole, she retorted, “I don’t believe it. She can’t be prettier than the woman I rescued.”

The mention of this incident reignited Ying Tao’s frustration. “You’re one to talk! It’s all your fault for hiding her so fiercely. I didn’t even get a glimpse! Just how beautiful was she?”

Her complaint was fleeting. The new roommate had already given Ying Tao enough confidence to forget about the unseen beauty. Now, only the roommate before her mattered.

Ying Tao declared confidently, “Your sister definitely isn’t as pretty as our new roommate.”

Jian Suixin raised an eyebrow, unhurried to leave. She shifted her bag to her other hand and replied casually, “So what if she isn’t?”

Ying Tao blinked. “What do you mean, ‘so what’?”

Jian Suixin politely reminded her, “Regardless of who’s prettier, I’m the one who saved my sister, not you. She’s my roommate, not yours. Why are you so concerned?”

Ying Tao: ……

You win this round.

Jian Suixin didn’t bother arguing, confident that no one could surpass her sister’s beauty.

Seeing Jian Suixin completely dismiss her words, Ying Tao grew anxious. “What’s with that expression? Don’t you believe me? This new roommate is seriously stunning!”

Jian Suixin teased, “Did you fall for her the moment you saw her?”

Ying Tao, usually so carefree, suddenly turned serious. “Don’t say things like that! I’m just expressing my appreciation for a beautiful woman. There’s absolutely no other meaning behind it.”

Jian Suixin had only made a casual remark, but Ying Tao had taken it to heart. “Alright, alright, you’re not interested in her.”

Still unwilling to give up, Ying Tao insisted on settling the matter, determined to prove her own judgment.

“Let’s call it a draw for today. She’s already left and probably won’t officially move in for a couple of days. Once you meet your new roommate, we’ll see who’s prettier—the sister you rescued or your roommate.”

“Wanna bet?”

Jian Suixin, confident in her judgment, agreed without hesitation. “Sure.”

“I expect you to maintain a fair and objective aesthetic assessment, without letting personal biases or subjective filters cloud your judgment,” Ying Tao clarified her terms upfront. “If the new roommate is prettier, you treat me to dinner this weekend. Otherwise, I’ll treat you.”

“Deal.”

With the bet settled, they parted ways and headed home. Jian Suixin unlocked her apartment door and stepped inside. As expected, some of the new roommate’s belongings were already neatly arranged in the living room—various daily necessities, all meticulously organized.

She must be a clean and meticulous person, Jian Suixin thought.

Not only had the roommate tidied her own things, but she had also helped organize Jian Suixin’s belongings.

Jian Suixin, who had been rushing between work and home these past few days, hadn’t noticed how messy her apartment had become. Now, seeing the order, she felt a pang of embarrassment.

The new roommate’s door remained locked, but the thought of someone moving in soon filled Jian Suixin with curiosity.

She recalled Ying Tao’s glowing description, praising the newcomer as if she were a celestial being, unmatched in beauty.

Is she really that beautiful?

The thought had barely surfaced when she immediately added, Definitely not as beautiful as the sister I met.

The next day, Jian Suixin rushed home after a long day of job hunting, still worried about her prospects.

Her academic credentials were certainly impressive—the Beijing Film Academy ranked among the top art schools in the country. But her major was acting, and transitioning to another field proved difficult, as finding a job that aligned with her skills was challenging. Moreover, her contract with an entertainment company meant she might not receive assignments regularly, leaving her to rely on temporary work, which employers naturally hesitated to offer.

After visiting multiple companies, she returned home still unemployed.

The System’s voice echoed in her mind, persistently urging, “Host, you should focus on your acting career. With your talent and my support, success is guaranteed.”

The poor Jian Suixin didn’t even own a car, relying instead on shared bicycles for transportation.

After parking her bike in the designated area, she scanned her face to enter the residential community, answering the System’s questions listlessly, “I’d love to, but resources don’t just materialize, do they?”

“You know, if she’s really that beautiful, could she be a celebrity?” Jian Suixin’s thoughts drifted again. “I think it’s possible. As a public figure, she might have avoided the hospital to avoid making headlines.”

There was no need to ask who “she” was; the System knew instantly. It poured cold water on Jian Suixin’s speculation with blunt realism: “If she were really a celebrity, how could you not recognize her?”

The System sensed something amiss. “It’s been several days, and you still can’t forget her? You haven’t fallen for her, have you?”

Jian Suixin coughed twice, trying to explain, “I just admire her.”

“Oh,” the System replied.

Jian Suixin’s tone remained calm. “She’s so beautiful. Is it my fault I can’t forget her?”

The System had no retort and grudgingly agreed, “Yes, yes, yes, it’s all her fault.”

Having witnessed Jian Suixin’s lingering thoughts about her sister and her strong aversion to the arranged marriage partner, the System’s suspicions solidified.

If they ever meet again, I must keep her identity a secret at all costs.

While Jian Suixin was on her way home, her new roommate had already moved in.

After finalizing the rental agreement, Jun Xizhi’s assistant had been running errands tirelessly, handling everything himself to spare Jun Xizhi the trouble. He was the epitome of reliability.

As the primary force behind organizing the apartment, the assistant had nearly finished. During a break, he chatted with Jun Xizhi about her future roommate.

“Boss, you’ve never shared an apartment before. Living with someone requires patience and compromise. If you encounter any inconveniences, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“I wonder what my roommate will be like,” the assistant muttered, “Are they a night owl or an early bird? Do they have any weird pets?”

Jun Xizhi sat on the living room sofa, still scribbling in her notebook, calculating what else needed to be purchased.

Hearing the assistant’s words, Jun Xizhi paused, a smile spreading across her eyes as she said softly, “I doubt it.”

The assistant, unaware of Jun Xizhi’s reasons for choosing this place, strongly disagreed. “You never know! I’ve had roommates before—you get all sorts. They might be a handful, constantly causing trouble.”

Jun Xizhi glanced at her roommate’s tightly closed door and merely smiled. Before she could reply, the assistant had already moved on to other tasks. “Just a moment, I’ll grab the rest of the things and tidy up.”

With that, the assistant hurried downstairs.

Left alone on the sofa, Jun Xizhi surveyed the apartment layout once more, her mind drifting.

It was just like their first meeting.

Some things are simply inexplicable. Though she had only been here once before, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

After a moment of reverie, despite the quiet in the room, she seemed to sense something and suddenly turned her head toward the door.

Jian Suixin parked her car and walked to the community entrance, where she happened to run into Ying Tao. The two walked back together.

What perfect timing! As they stepped out of the elevator, chatting and laughing, they bumped into their landlady, Sister Li.

Before Jian Suixin could greet her, Sister Li’s eyes lit up like she’d seen a lucky star. She excitedly grabbed Jian Suixin’s hand. “Oh, I was just about to call you to thank you properly! And here we meet!”

Jian Suixin was still confused. “What’s this about, Sister Li? Why are you thanking me so much?”

“Remember how I asked you to help find a tenant? The house is rented! Thank you for your trouble.”

Understanding dawned on Jian Suixin, and she smiled. “Sister Li, don’t be so formal. You’ve been so kind to me since I moved in. Helping you out is the least I could do.”

“Is my roommate back?” Jian Suixin asked casually.

“She’s back and unpacking right now. Go say hello!” Sister Li replied with a smile, adding as she left, “I must be incredibly lucky. Every girl who comes to rent here is more beautiful than the last. Just looking at them is a treat for the eyes!”

After a few more pleasantries, Sister Li departed.

Ying Tao was practically vibrating with excitement. “She’s back! Go see her right away!”

Ying Tao, even more excited than Jian Suixin, pushed her forward.

At that moment, Jian Suixin still didn’t know who she was about to meet. She tugged at Ying Tao’s hand, saying, “Don’t rush me. I can walk myself.”

The door was ajar, and through the crack, they could see a corner of the room.

For some reason, Jian Suixin suddenly felt nervous, her heart racing slightly.

Pushing the door open, the interior of the room came into view.

Just then, her new roommate was in the living room.

Jian Suixin opened the door quietly, but the woman inside seemed to sense something, turning around the moment the door opened.

Their eyes met.

Jian Suixin’s heart skipped a beat.

She stared at the person sitting in the living room. It was the same beautiful face she had seen a few days earlier, but now the woman was no longer disheveled as before. Instead, she was impeccably dressed and exquisitely made up, her beauty elevated to a whole new level.

Before either of them could speak, Ying Tao rushed forward, waving at the woman inside. “Sis, you’ve moved in!”

Then, she nudged Jian Suixin with her elbow, her face beaming with pride, and whispered in Jian Suixin’s ear, “What do you think? Isn’t she stunning? Even more beautiful than that other girl you met before?”

Jian Suixin’s expression was complicated. “Hmm… she’s just as beautiful as the girl I saw that day.”

Ying Tao draped an arm over Jian Suixin’s shoulder, her eyes sparkling as she waited for praise. But when she heard this “both are equally beautiful” nonsense, her eyes widened in disbelief. “You… you’re lying! Your eyes were practically glued to her just now! How can you say they’re equally attractive?”

Her voice was so loud that Jian Suixin heard a soft chuckle from inside the room.

Embarrassed, Jian Suixin pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation and casually brushed Ying Tao’s arm off her shoulder. “Keep it down, please…”

Ying Tao refused to back down. “First, tell me clearly: who’s prettier?”

“They’re equally beautiful. Last time…”

Before she could explain, Ying Tao cut her off, blurting out, “Wait, don’t tell me you were staring at that other woman too?”

Jian Suixin choked, her ears flushing crimson.

Fortunately, the woman didn’t tease her like some people would. She interjected smoothly, changing the subject. “Is this your friend?”

Ying Tao assumed the question was directed at her and opened her mouth to answer, but Jian Suixin spoke first. “Yes, she’s my friend. We met right after I moved in.”

Ying Tao swallowed her words, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Ying Tao: ?

The woman across from them showed no awkwardness at having been interrupted. Instead, she smiled and nodded politely at Ying Tao.

Ying Tao: ?

What’s going on here? You two are already this close after just meeting?

More naturally friendly than me?

Even though she was standing closer to Jian Suixin, Ying Tao felt completely isolated by the two of them.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ying Tao finally caught on. “Wait, you two have known each other all along?”

She glared at Jian Suixin, grinding her teeth. “You knew each other the whole time and still made that bet with me? Were you just messing with me?”

“This is the sister I mentioned to you,” Jian Suixin quickly reassured her friend, explaining, “I only just found out my new roommate was her too.”

Ying Tao nodded in understanding. “So this is the sister who slept in your bed the other day?”

Jian Suixin: “…That sounds a bit ambiguous.”

“Oh, you know what I mean,” Ying Tao waved dismissively, crossing her arms and muttering under her breath, “No wonder you said they were equally beautiful. How can one person have two different appearances?”

Jian Suixin decided not to dwell on the matter with Ying Tao. She stepped forward to stand beside Jun Xizhi. Seeing her again, the smile on her lips widened involuntarily, and her voice softened as she said, “Sister.”

The woman returned the same warm smile. “It’s good to see you again, Xiao Jian.”

In truth, this was only their second meeting, yet Jian Suixin felt an overwhelming sense of joy, though she also felt inexplicably reserved in Jun Xizhi’s presence.

After a moment of hesitation, Jian Suixin couldn’t resist asking the question that had been weighing on her mind. “Sister, did you… specifically rent this apartment?”

Jun Xizhi smiled. “Yes and no.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm,” Jun Xizhi lowered her head, frowning in thought for a moment before teasing, “Didn’t you promise the landlord you’d help rent out the place? To help you keep your word, I had no choice but to rent it myself.”

Of course, this was just a joke. No one would rent an unnecessary apartment just to fulfill a casual promise.

Jian Suixin understood the jest but played along. “Then I really must thank you, Sister. I ran into Sister Li earlier, and she was still thanking me too.”

After a few more playful exchanges, Jun Xizhi revealed the real reason. “I asked a friend to find me a place to live, without mentioning any specifics. And she ended up finding this place.”

“I think,” Jun Xizhi turned to look at Jian Suixin, her eyes soft and earnest, “maybe it’s just fate. We were meant to meet again.”

This opened the floodgates, and the two fell into easy conversation.

They chatted happily, trading stories and laughter, gradually losing track of time.

After talking for a while, Jian Suixin remembered their previous agreement and asked, “Sister, now that we’ll be living together, can you finally tell me your name?”

“Mm,” Jun Xizhi finally relented, no longer hiding or deflecting. “I’m Jun Xizhi.”

The name struck a chord in Jian Suixin’s heart. She instinctively asked, “You’re from the Jun family?”

Jun Xizhi smiled and countered, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Suixin, now acutely sensitive to that surname, immediately jumped to conclusions. “Wait, she also has the surname Jun. Didn’t you say my arranged marriage partner left the Jun Family? Could it be…?”

The System’s alarm bells blared. “What are you implying? This is your arranged marriage partner? Impossible!”

“Your arranged marriage partner is unattractive, ill-tempered, and a notorious playboy! This woman is the complete opposite—she’s kind, beautiful, and refined!”

“You’re right,” Jian Suixin mused, realizing her blind spot. “Ah, you finally admit she’s not a good person.”

“……” The System ignored her jab, focusing instead on nipping the potential exposure in the bud. “Besides, she’s a young lady from a wealthy family. Even if she left, she’d still live in a mansion. Do you think everyone runs away penniless and ends up renting a miserable apartment like you?”

“Fine, you’re right. I also think she couldn’t possibly be that person.” The fledgling suspicion was ruthlessly crushed.

Relieved to have dispelled Jian Suixin’s doubts, the System breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, there’s one more thing.”

The System’s heart sank again. “What now?”

Jian Suixin frowned, her tone resentful. “Impossible is impossible. Stop taking this opportunity to insult me! I’m just temporarily broke. I’ll be rich again someday!”