Surprise! My Cohabiting Sister is Actually My Fiancée - Chapter 10

The next morning, Jian Suixin received the job offer she had been expecting. After completing the necessary registration and paperwork, the company informed her that she could start work the following week.

By evening, having finished all the formalities and returned home, Jian Suixin’s steps felt light and airy.

As soon as she got back, she rushed to share the good news with Jun Xizhi: “I’m treating Elder Sister to dinner this weekend to celebrate getting the job!”

Jun Xizhi was equally delighted: “That’s wonderful, Xiao Jian! Thank you.”

After sharing her triumph, Jian Suixin noticed two large boxes in the corner of the living room. Jun Xizhi stood before them, looking perplexed about how to move the contents inside.

Recognizing immediately that these were the items Jun Xizhi had ordered, Jian Suixin hurried over: “Elder Sister, let me help you.”

The boxes weren’t particularly heavy, and the two of them carried them into the bedroom together.

Jun Xizhi was a highly organized person, her belongings neatly stacked and arranged. Like Jian Suixin, she owned relatively few possessions, many of which appeared brand new.

While most people’s moves involve days of packing and unpacking countless bags and boxes, their move was strikingly similar: both seemed to have fled their homes with nothing, forced to start anew.

As roommates, Jian Suixin took the initiative to help Jun Xizhi unpack.

Jian Suixin opened one of the boxes, which was filled with clothes. She carefully took each item out and put it in the closet. Halfway through, she was surprised by the remaining clothes.

It wasn’t that there were too many clothes or anything like that. Jian Suixin removed the top few coats and saw a sea of white underneath.

Her vision swam for a moment. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were all white shirts, each meticulously wrapped in its own bag.

The shirts were identical. Jian Suixin counted them: twelve in total.

Jian Suixin: ……

A dozen identical white shirts.

Some deeply ingrained DNA stirred within her, and a voice automatically played in her mind: “The shirt costs nine pounds fifteen pence, so you…”

Shaking her head to banish the unpleasant memories, Jian Suixin wondered if her elder sister wore white shirts to work every day.

She suddenly wanted to ask Jun Xizhi if her colleagues would suspect she never changed clothes if she wore the same outfit to work every day.

Despite her thoughts, she carefully took out each shirt. White shirts wrinkle easily, so Jian Suixin hung them in the closet one by one.

After carefully hanging up all the clothes, Jian Suixin couldn’t resist asking Jun Xizhi, “Elder Sister, did you buy so many identical pieces at once?”

Jun Xizhi was expertly putting a duvet cover on the comforter. With practiced ease, she grabbed two corners of the comforter, gave it a quick tug and shake, and had it done in seconds.

This was a far cry from Jian Suixin’s earlier struggle, when she had nearly gotten the comforter tangled around herself in the bedroom, wrestling with it alone in frustration.

Hearing the question, Jun Xizhi glanced over with a smile. “Yes, I did. Since I wear formal attire to work so often, I figured I might as well buy several at once.”

The explanation seemed plausible, though buying so many at once still seemed a bit excessive.

Remembering that she would also need formal attire for work, Jian Suixin recalled the cheap suit she had recently bought for job interviews. Due to her tight budget, the quality was poor, and a button had already fallen off after just a few days.

“Elder Sister, what brand are your shirts? I’ve been meaning to buy some myself.”

As she spoke, Jian Suixin reached out to check the clothing tag.

But just as her hand touched the closet door, Jun Xizhi swiftly stepped forward and slammed the door shut with a thud.

Jian Suixin’s hand froze in mid-air, caught off guard by the sudden movement.

Realizing her reaction had been a bit excessive, Jun Xizhi quickly explained, “It’s not a famous brand. They offered a discount for buying multiple items, so I bought a few extra. They probably won’t fit you. You should ask around and check out other brands.”

Jun Xizhi clearly didn’t want to discuss the topic further. Sensing this, Jian Suixin wisely refrained from pressing the issue.

Looking down at the neatly packed clothes in the suitcase, Jun Xizhi thanked her. “Thank you, Xiao Jian. You packed so quickly. Let’s go have dinner now.”

The mention of dinner immediately reminded Jian Suixin of Jun Xizhi’s culinary masterpiece from the previous night.

Her elder sister’s cooking was truly exceptional. After just one taste, Jian Suixin had been eagerly anticipating a second helping. The savory aroma of the garlic ribs still seemed to linger on her tongue, and her eyes lit up. “Then tonight…”

Before she could finish, Jun Xizhi already understood what she was getting at. A gentle smile played on her lips as she patted Jian Suixin’s hair. “Tonight, I’ll make something delicious to properly reward you, Xiao Jian.”

“Yay! Elder Sister is the best!” Jian Suixin’s eyes sparkled with delight as she threw her arms around Jun Xizhi, nuzzling into her embrace.

Jun Xizhi’s body stiffened for a moment before relaxing. She said nothing, letting Jian Suixin hug her.

Jian Suixin, caught up in the moment, had impulsively reached out and embraced Jun Xizhi. Only after pulling her into her arms did she realize it might be inappropriate. She quickly released her and stood up, flustered. “Uh, Elder Sister, I got carried away.”

Jun Xizhi glanced at her with a smile and shook her head. “Let’s go. I’ll start dinner.”

Jian Suixin obediently followed her. “I’ll help you, Elder Sister. I can’t just sit around waiting for food.”

This time, Jun Xizhi didn’t refuse. “Alright, let’s work together.”

Jian Suixin added, “I’ll be your student, and you’ll be my teacher. Once I learn, I’ll cook for you.”

With that, she skipped over to Jun Xizhi, took her arm, and grinned. “I’ll work hard to graduate early so my master can finally rest.”

“Then I shall eagerly await that day.”

The two left the bedroom in high spirits and headed to the kitchen.

Jian Suixin dutifully played the apprentice, washing vegetables while chatting with the System about what had just happened.

Jun Xizhi hadn’t said much earlier, so Jian Suixin didn’t want to pry. But the more she thought about it, the more something seemed off.

“Why do you think Elder Sister wouldn’t let me see those shirts?”

Obviously, it’s because her clothes are all designer brands. If you saw them, her secret would be out.

The System knew the reason but couldn’t reveal too much.

“I don’t know either,” the System replied.

Jian Suixin, feeling guilty for her earlier question, offered a guess: “Do you think Elder Sister bought so many white shirts at once because they were cheaper in bulk? Maybe she’s trying to save money?”

The System paused, reluctant to explain certain things. It could only agree: “Maybe.”

Following this line of thought, Jian Suixin added, “I noticed yesterday that all of Elder Sister’s daily necessities are quite plain. She must be trying to save money, right?”

The System, unsure how to answer, simply echoed, “Probably.”

Now that the System seemed to agree with her guess, Jian Suixin felt even more certain: “I think that’s very likely.”

Convinced her analysis was correct, Jian Suixin recalled the tightly closed wardrobe and had another thought: “And when I tried to check the brand labels earlier, Elder Sister quickly shut the wardrobe door. Could it be because they’re not famous brands and she didn’t want me to see them?”

The System: “…Perhaps.”

Jian Suixin pursed her lips, her heart aching for her sister. “I knew it,” she murmured. “Life isn’t easy for anyone. Elder Sister is beautiful, kind, and perfect in every way, but her financial situation is a bit rough. It’s true what they say: when God opens so many doors for you, He’ll close a window.”

“But why wouldn’t she show me? With Elder Sister’s looks and grace, she’d look stunning even in a burlap sack!”

Jian Suixin mulled over her analysis, finally accepting it as truth.

The System hesitated, debating whether to explain, but ultimately chose silence.

This is all her own deduction, nothing to do with me. I didn’t do anything.

Host, I wasn’t deliberately hiding anything. But for the sake of your relationship’s development, I had to keep it hidden for now.

The System basked in self-pity for a fleeting moment, marveling at its own self-sacrificing restraint.

With the System remaining silent, Jian Suixin had already concluded through her own series of deductions that their financial situation was dire. Her sister couldn’t even afford nice clothes. No matter what, we can’t be without money. I need to find ways to earn more.

For a happy life with my sister, there’s still so much I need to work on.

“Elder Sister,” Jian Suixin called out. Jun Xizhi, busy with chores, turned around, assuming the vegetables were washed. Instead, she found Jian Suixin standing behind her, empty-handed, her gaze resolute as if she were about to join the Communist Party.

Before Jun Xizhi could ask, Jian Suixin grabbed her hand and squeezed it firmly. “Elder Sister, I promise I’ll work hard to earn more money.”

Jun Xizhi: ?