Surprise! My Cohabiting Sister is Actually My Fiancée - Chapter 44

As they finished the fruit, Jun Xizhi remembered the dishes still in the kitchen. She offered to wash them, but Jian Suixin pressed her back onto the sofa, insisting she take over the task herself, citing Jun Xizhi’s “hard work overtime.”

Jian Suixin had indeed been busy all day. After tidying up everything, she said goodnight to her elder sister and went to her room to rest.

Before bed, she opened WeChat and remembered the message she’d sent Ying Tao that afternoon.

The last message was timestamped 4:43 PM, and there was still no reply.

Jian Suixin frowned. What’s wrong with Ying Tao? Normally, Ying Tao would reply within an hour, except when she was asleep. But now, over half a day had passed without a single response.

Jian Suixin sent another message: Where are you? Did you reply with telepathy again?

Ten minutes passed, but still no response.

Frowning with growing concern, Jian Suixin called Ying Tao.

The call went unanswered.

She tried twice more, with the same result.

Jian Suixin’s worry deepened. What’s happened to Ying Tao? Why isn’t she replying?

It’s not like she hasn’t checked her phone since 4 PM, right?

Even if her phone was off, she should have charged it by now.

Unable to shake her unease, Jian Suixin finally decided to be cautious. She got dressed, got out of bed, and prepared to go check on Ying Tao across the hall.

Jian Suixin ran into Jun Xizhi as she was getting a drink of water.

Noticing her hurried expression, Jun Xizhi asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

“Ying Tao isn’t answering my calls,” Jian Suixin replied. “I’m going to check on her.”

When she arrived at Ying Tao’s apartment, the door remained tightly shut. Jian Suixin knocked repeatedly and rang the doorbell, but no one answered.

Now genuinely worried, Jian Suixin thought, No replies to messages, no answer to calls, and no one home.

After a moment’s hesitation, she posted a message in the apartment building’s group chat, asking if anyone knew where Ying Tao might be.

Just as the message went out, a private message from Ying Tao arrived.

 One Cherry : Xin Xin Xin Xin! Take it down! I’m fine!

Jian Suixin’s heart immediately relaxed.

 Jian Suoyou : You’re okay? You scared me to death!

 One Cherry : Let’s talk about it, but take down the message first!

Jian Suixin complied, deleting the group chat message. “What’s going on?” she asked Ying Tao.

Ying Tao hesitated. “It’s… complicated.”

 Jian Suoyou : Are you home now?

 One Cherry : Yeah.

 Jian Suoyou : Then why didn’t you answer my calls?

 One Cherry : I… I… It’s hard to explain.

What could be so hard to explain? Jian Suixin thought. It’s not hard to guess.

Jian Suixin’s mind flashed back to the girl’s hesitant expression from earlier that afternoon.

Jian Suoyou: Is it about your former roommate?

One Cherry: Yeah.

One Cherry: Peaceful.jpg

Jian Suoyou: Is it really that complicated? She’s just your former roommate, not your ex-girlfriend. What exactly happened between you two?

One Cherry: It’s a long story.

Jian Suoyou: Then make it short.

Jian Suoyou: Do you owe her money?

One Cherry: Not that bad!

Jian Suoyou: True, she even mentioned wanting to return your share of the rent.

One Cherry: Rent?

Jian Suoyou: Didn’t you break the lease early and run off? It must be about that portion of the rent.

One Cherry: No need, no need. I don’t want the money.

Jian Suoyou: Holy cow, what kind of love-hate drama is this? You’re even willing to give up money?

One Cherry: Ugh, it’s hard to explain. Let me calm down and think it through first, then I’ll tell you.

One Cherry: Also, I’m just at home, nothing’s wrong. Don’t go spreading rumors!

Jian Suoyou: Send me a photo to see if you’re okay?

One Cherry: Seriously?

Jian Suoyou: You haven’t replied all day. I was worried.

One Cherry: You’re such a good neighbor! I haven’t spoiled you for nothing.

She obediently sent a photo.

Jian Suoyou: Okay, then you should lie down and rest.

Relieved that Ying Tao was safe, Jian Suixin relaxed.

The tangled web of love and resentment could be unraveled slowly; what mattered most was her well-being.

Back home, Jun Xizhi was still waiting in the living room. Only after confirming Ying Tao was unharmed did he return to his room.

Jian Suixin deeply respected Ying Tao and never brought up their roommate situation unless Ying Tao initiated the conversation.

The girl hadn’t approached Ying Tao again—at least, Jian Suixin hadn’t encountered her.

With filming for this project completed, Jian Suixin’s manager was still working on securing her next role. This meant she could finally enjoy a well-deserved break.

Lanterns Like Daylight wouldn’t air for several more months. Although she lacked a signature work, Jian Suixin had gained considerable buzz during this period, making future opportunities less challenging to secure.

Staying home during this time was comfortable, but Jun Xizhi worked every day, only returning in the evenings. Spending her days alone grew monotonous.

She needed something to occupy her time.

After hours of online research, baking seemed like a promising option.

Having mastered basic cooking skills, Jian Suixin was ready to advance to more advanced techniques.

Following online tutorials, she bought a chaotic assortment of supplies, from a large oven to various molds, filling the kitchen to the brim.

Before even starting, she felt a quiet sense of pride in her newfound financial independence.

With all the ingredients and equipment purchased, she asked Jun Xizhi, “Elder Sister, can you bake cakes?”

Jun Xizhi was an excellent cook, but her skills didn’t extend to baking. “No,” she replied.

Hearing this, Jian Suixin grinned and pulled the newly arrived Jun Xizhi into the kitchen. “Ta-da! It doesn’t matter if you can’t bake, Elder Sister—I’ll make one for you!”

Having gained some experience in the kitchen, Jian Suixin found it relatively easy to get started.

Of course, there was a learning curve. She failed countless times at first, but to avoid waste, those days’ main meals consisted of various failed half-finished products.

Gradually, she began producing successful batches, earning high praise from her “official taste tester,” Miss Jun Xizhi: “It tastes just like the ones they sell outside!”

Jian Suixin, puffed up with pride, immediately posted on Weibo to show off.

@Jian Suixin: “It tastes just like the ones they sell outside!” (Cool)

The comments section erupted with praise:

Wow, Jian Jian is amazing! She can even make cakes! (Drooling)

Xin Xin Xin, I want some too! Ahhh!

Haha, Little Jian Classmate, don’t get too cocky! Your skills are pretty good, though—just like the ones they sell outside! (Cool)

Just a minor detail: why are the quotation marks around that sentence? Did someone say that? Jian Jian’s friend?

Online fans “virtually ate” the cakes from the photos, while Jian Suixin, who had actually tasted them, marveled, “I never would have imagined a few months ago that I’d actually enjoy cooking so much.”

After all, she used to find it such a hassle.

But now that she loved it, everything felt different.

Especially when she was cooking for someone she cared about.

The System chimed in with a sigh, “She’s growing up so fast.”

Without any fanfare, the full payment for her role in the drama was settled, and Jian Suixin spent a blissful period of leisure at home.

As late December approached, marking the end of another year, Jian Suixin began meticulously planning how to spend New Year’s Eve with Jun Xizhi. Her plans were elaborate and romantic, but then her manager called.

“We’ve got work,” the manager announced bluntly. “I’ve secured you a variety show appearance. It’s a good opportunity to boost your visibility.”

Jian Suixin’s spirits lifted, her excitement tinged with nervousness. “What kind of variety show?”

“It’s a lifestyle show—nothing too demanding, don’t worry,” the manager explained briefly. “It’s hard to explain over the phone. Come to the office tomorrow, and we’ll discuss the details in person. The filming schedule is quite tight, so you might want to start preparing.”

Jian Suixin agreed. She trusted her manager’s judgment; Sister Zhao always had her best interests at heart, so she wasn’t too concerned about the quality of the script.

More pressing was another question: “Sister Zhao, I need to ask something.”

“Will filming for this show start before New Year’s?”

The manager chuckled. “The schedule is tight, but not that tight. Relax, you’ll have plenty of time to celebrate New Year’s properly.”

Jian Suixin breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good, that’s good.”

The manager chuckled. “Why are you asking about that specifically? Are you really that concerned about New Year’s Eve?”

Since the manager wasn’t fully aware of the situation between Jian Suixin and Jun Xizhi, Jian Suixin simply replied, “I just want to have a nice New Year’s Eve at home.”

While Jian Suixin was on vacation, Jun Xizhi remained busy with work.

Jian Suixin had mentioned wanting to go out together on New Year’s Day, so Jun Xizhi planned to work overtime in the coming days to finish her tasks ahead of schedule, ensuring she could spend New Year’s Eve with Jian Suixin.

bSales Manager Xiao Zhang of AAAA City/b: Boss! Check this out!

bSales Manager Xiao Zhang of AAAA City/b: (link)

bSales Manager Xiao Zhang of AAAA City/b: I knew it! Those old fogies never stood a chance against you! Taking them down was as easy as snapping your fingers! Clapping hands emoji

Jun Xizhi clicked the link, glanced at the content, and closed it without surprise.

Since she needed to speak with her assistant anyway, she called her directly.

After the call connected, Jun Xizhi relayed recent business matters and concluded, “Accompany me out this afternoon.”

“Yes, Boss! Is there a business meeting?” The assistant, still buzzing from the good news, was ready for action.

Jun Xizhi smiled. “No, it’s personal.”

“What is it?”

“Preparing New Year’s gifts.”

After discussing the business matters, Jun Xizhi glanced at her memo, adding an asterisk after the red, bolded “Gifts” entry. “That’s all. See you this afternoon.”

“One more thing, Boss,” the assistant quickly called out as Jun Xizhi was about to hang up.

“Go ahead.”

The assistant hesitated, stammering.

Jun Xizhi chuckled. “If you don’t speak up, I’m hanging up for real.”

“No, no, wait! I’ll tell you,” the assistant finally blurted out. “Boss, now that the family issues are resolved, are you still planning to stay there? Should we look for a new place?”

The assistant held her breath, waiting for Jun Xizhi’s response.

“I’ll stay for now,” Jun Xizhi replied. “The lease hasn’t expired yet.”

“But you can afford to pay the rent, right?” the assistant asked softly.

“Affordability isn’t the point,” Jun Xizhi said. “It’s about not wasting resources.”

The image of her eating cake every day to avoid waste flashed through her mind.

She quoted her roommate’s motto: “Waste is shameful.”

“So, does the apartment have an expiration date?” the assistant asked. “Will it go bad if you don’t live there during the lease term?”

Jun Xizhi smiled. “Let’s just say it does.”

The assistant fell silent. Well, this proves I shouldn’t have asked. I should have known the answer all along.

Without another word, the assistant hung up.

Ah, daughters grow up too fast.

After observing Jun Xizhi for some time, the assistant gradually resigned herself to fate.

After Jian Suixin returned, Jun Xizhi stopped working overtime for a while.

Well, not exactly stopped. To be more precise, she switched to working from home at night.

Home was definitely much more comfortable, especially with a good roommate next door who was always free to drop by, chat, and offer warmth and concern. The difference was striking.

Every day after work, she could come home to a carefully prepared dinner, and occasionally they’d even order late-night snacks together.

One evening, Jian Suixin came to bring warmth to her dear roommate again.

She knocked, but there was no answer. Calling Jun Xizhi’s name also drew no response.

Puzzled, Jian Suixin noticed the door wasn’t locked. She gently pushed it open.

The room was eerily quiet and empty. A neat stack of books sat on the desk, and the computer was still on.

She must have stepped out for something, Jian Suixin thought.

Then she remembered hearing a faint door closing earlier in the kitchen. The sound had been so soft she’d dismissed it as her imagination.

Holding a plate of sliced fruit, Jian Suixin set it down on the desk and glanced casually at the computer screen.

She didn’t pay much attention at first, but her eyes snagged on a few familiar words, and her gaze froze.

Wait, what is Elder Sister watching?

Unable to resist, Jian Suixin leaned closer to the screen, wondering if she’d misread something.

The interface of a certain video platform was open, and a video had already finished playing. Jian Suixin spotted the words “Jian Suixin,” “Elder Sister Jun,” and “Sweet Moments Compilation” in the title.

Jian Suixin: ……

This world suddenly felt a bit surreal.

Lost in thought as she stared at the computer screen, Jian Suixin didn’t notice Jun Xizhi had returned. Jun Xizhi paused at the doorway, surprised to see her. “Xiao Jian, what are you doing here?”

Snapping out of her daze, Jian Suixin explained, “Elder Sister, I… I came to bring you some fruit. When I saw you weren’t here, I just left it on the table.”

As she spoke, she quickly averted her gaze from the computer screen.

Jun Xizhi remembered what was on her computer and closed her eyes briefly.

Her assistant had brought her the gifts she’d bought earlier, and she’d rushed out to get them, forgetting to close the browser.

She took a deep breath, maintaining an outwardly calm demeanor, and walked over to the computer to close the browser window.

Then, with a smile, she explained, “It was just a system notification. I clicked on it out of curiosity, but I forgot to close it when I had to step out.”

Jian Suixin remained silent, finding the explanation reasonable enough.

After all, she’d done the same thing before.

An awkward silence settled between them, the atmosphere subtly tense.

Jian Suixin’s eyes unconsciously drifted back to Jun Xizhi’s computer screen. Beneath the closed browser window, she noticed a file of unknown type.

Staring at the screen for a moment, Jian Suixin asked, “Elder Sister, what are these files?”

“Isn’t your company in the media industry? These are…”

Though Jian Suixin didn’t know much about it, the document titles made it clear that they had nothing to do with media.

Jun Xizhi’s expression shifted as she remembered this. Her mind raced. “Ah, this… I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet.”

“The company’s been making us work overtime constantly, and with the recent layoffs, I’m planning to resign,” Jun Xizhi explained.

Since she was already planning to move soon, she decided to use this as an excuse to tell Jian Suixin.

“This is… this is my new job. The main task is writing various documents, so it’s quite different from my previous work. I’m just getting familiar with it in advance.”

Jian Suixin paused, surprised. “But, Elder Sister, this is such a huge departure from your original field!”

Jun Xizhi sighed. “It’s so hard to find a job these days. I don’t have the luxury of being picky.”

Hearing this, Jian Suixin immediately felt a pang of sympathy.

Elder Sister has it so tough.

Her previous company, though demanding with overtime, offered decent compensation and aligned with her expertise. Now, the job content had completely changed, and the salary remained uncertain.

Judging by her sister’s downcast expression, it probably wasn’t good.

Observing Jun Xizhi’s expression, Jian Suixin wisely refrained from asking further questions.

“It’s okay, Elder Sister. It’s probably better to leave. That old boss was terrible—always making us work overtime and the job was exhausting.” Jun Xizhi had already made up her mind, so Jian Suixin naturally offered comfort and asked, “Does this new company require overtime too?”

Jun Xizhi pursed her lips. “I haven’t officially started yet, so I’m not sure about the specific arrangements.”

“Alright, alright, just take your time getting settled in,” Jian Suixin said. “That old boss really had no vision. Losing you was her loss.”

“Oh, by the way, Elder Sister, where did you go earlier?” Jian Suixin asked. “I thought you were in your room.”

Jun Xizhi replied, “Zhang Jin came to deliver something, so I stepped out for a bit.”

Only then did Jian Suixin notice the bag Jun Xizhi was carrying.

“What’s this?” Jian Suixin asked curiously.

Jun Xizhi instinctively hid the bag behind her back, smiling. “Nothing much, just a new watch I bought.”

Jian Suixin didn’t press further. “Alright, Elder Sister, I’ll head out now. Remember to eat your fruit.”

Jun Xizhi nodded obediently, and Jian Suixin closed the door behind her as she left.

Back in her own room, Jian Suixin continued to worry about Jun Xizhi, sighing to the System, “Ah, finding a stable job these days is so tough. Everything’s so uncertain, and she has to start all over again.”

“I think Elder Sister looks like the kind of employee who’s incredibly dedicated and highly valued by her superiors,” Jian Suixin said, puzzled. “Why would she be laid off? And even if she wanted to quit, why take a job completely unrelated to her field?”

The System couldn’t answer these questions, offering only the same explanation Jun Xizhi had given: “It’s just really hard to find a job these days. You can’t be too picky.”

Jian Suixin glanced at her bank account balance and clenched her fist inwardly. She knew she wasn’t doing enough yet and needed to work even harder.

Meanwhile, Jian Suixin was reinvigorated, her mind filled with the determination to earn money, money, money, so her elder sister wouldn’t have to struggle so much.

On the other side of town, Jun Xizhi stared at the gift she had prepared for Jian Suixin, now sitting on her desk, her brow furrowed in worry.

When she had bought it, she had only thought of giving the best possible gift. Now that she held it in her hands, she regretted her impulsiveness.

How am I supposed to give this to her?

Just then, her assistant called to discuss the matter of the watch.

Jun Xizhi’s fingertip lightly traced the seven-figure timepiece on her desk as she asked earnestly, “How can we make it look like it’s worth seventy yuan?”

The assistant: …?