Chapter 42

Li Ming was busy running errands for his elder brother, so it fell to Li Hong to deliver the clothes.

Riding her electric scooter, Li Hong arrived at Chen Jing’s house. As she knocked on the door, Dai Ning called out, “Brother, you sit down, I’ll get it!”

She ran to the door. The fake smile on Li Hong’s face froze as soon as she saw her.

Standing before her was an unfamiliar yet stunning young girl. Li Hong’s first reaction, much like Li Ming’s, was to wonder if she had come to the wrong place.

“Sister Hong, I’m Chen Daidai. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?” Dai Ning asked cheerfully.

Li Hong quickly figured things out and immediately plastered a smile back on her face. “So you’re Xiao Jing’s little ‘sister.’ My, you’re quite the beauty,” she said with a teasing tone, mistaking Dai Ning for Chen Jing’s girlfriend.

After all, Chen Jing was 24 now—about the age to start thinking about marriage. Everyone knew his background—an orphan with no family except for Chen Lianxing. Where would a little sister come from?

Dai Ning understood the implication behind Li Hong’s smile but pretended not to.

Chen Jing approached, handed over 1,000 yuan to Li Hong, and took the bag of clothes. Li Hong didn’t linger long, greeted him briefly, and left with the money.

Finally, Dai Ning no longer had to wear men’s clothing. She happily dashed back inside to change. Meanwhile, Chen Jing endured the pain as he tended to his wounds.

The purple dress, if given to Chen Lianxing, would have been overwhelming. But on Dai Ning, it looked entirely different. With her face, she could pull off any style.

“The fabric’s actually not bad,” she commented.

“Of course,” Qingtuan replied. “Even ordinary people can find clothes that are great value for money.”

Qingtuan, however, had no idea what Chen Jing had done to deserve his predicament—being set up, beaten, and even forced to give away an expensive set of clothes.

This wasn’t likely the end of it. Chen Jing had offended Boss Liu at Peace Under Heaven. The club would probably fire him.

At a time when Chen Jing needed money the most, Dai Ning’s actions were like cutting off one of his lifelines. To make things worse, if Dai Ning were driven out by Chen Jing, it would surely upset him even more.

Sure enough, Qingtuan’s prediction was accurate. Just as Chen Jing finished applying his medication, a new text message arrived on his phone:

“Consider the club’s earlier protection as going above and beyond. For your safety, Chen Jing, take some time to settle your wages, but don’t come back to Peace Under Heaven.”

Chen Jing, bare-chested, revealed his lean, muscular build as he rubbed his wounds. He showed no visible emotion, nor did he seem upset. He glanced at the message and promptly turned off his phone.

Dai Ning, meanwhile, had finished changing and was preparing for her next performance for Chen Jing, only to find him passed out.

She circled around him for a while to confirm that he was truly unconscious. As soon as she was sure, her worried expression disappeared, and she gave him a hard kick.

Qingtuan knew full well that Dai Ning had little affection for Chen Jing. After all, when he returned to the Yan family, he had indeed suppressed the Ji family.

These were merely commercial rivalries, which Dai Ning didn’t hold a grudge over. But since Chen Jing might also have had a hand in her grandfather’s death, that alone was enough for her to demand retribution.

Chen Jing’s entire body was burning with fever. His injuries were severe, and he had only held on through sheer willpower. Now, the aftereffects were kicking in.

Dai Ning knew that as the male lead, he wouldn’t die. Bored, she watched him for a while, not even bothering to fetch him a drop of water before going back to her room to sleep.

—

Before dawn, Dai Ning woke early. She went to the kitchen, fetched some water, soaked a towel, and casually tossed it onto Chen Jing’s forehead. Then she leaned on his pillow and went back to sleep.

Qingtuan, with a resigned expression, had long given up expecting anything different.

Chen Jing, plagued by inflamed wounds, had endured a restless night. As dawn approached, he finally felt a cool sensation on his forehead. His breathing was still labored, and when the first light of morning filled the room, he opened his eyes.

In the past, every morning he awoke to an empty room, started another day of work, and returned alone under the moonlight. But this time was different. The soft sound of breathing reached his ears. Turning his head, he saw Dai Ning fast asleep.

She had fallen asleep sitting on a stool, her head resting on his bedside.

Reaching for the towel on his forehead, Chen Jing frowned. His injuries were severe—his internal organs still ached—but after surviving wolf packs as a child, he had endured worse.

He tried to sit up, inadvertently waking Dai Ning.

Her eyes were still closed as she instinctively murmured, “Brother…?”

They locked eyes, and she was the first to smile. “Brother, you’re awake! Do you feel any better?”

The audacity! Qingtuan thought. Leaving him alone all night, and now she had the nerve to ask if he felt better? It was a miracle this male lead hadn’t ended up brain-damaged.

Chen Jing nodded. Just as he was about to tell her to leave, Dai Ning stood up and said, “I’ll make breakfast for you, Brother.”

Chen Jing didn’t have time to stop her. She was already rushing into the kitchen. Soon, the sounds of clattering pots and pans echoed throughout the house. He propped himself up, grabbed a piece of paper and pen, and made his way to the kitchen, knocking on the doorframe with his knuckles.

Inside, a flustered Dai Ning turned her head. “Brother, what is it?”

Pots and pans lay scattered across the floor.

“Leave the kitchen. Immediately.”

If she stayed any longer, there wouldn’t be a kitchen left.

Dai Ning nodded, hiding her hands behind her back as she scurried past him. Chen Jing noticed her pale hand was reddened and streaked with blood.

She likely suspected he was about to ask her to leave again. Feigning ignorance, she declared, “Don’t worry, Brother, I’ll take good care of you!”

Chen Jing had no faith in her ability to care for anyone and tried to intimidate her into leaving with his cold gaze.

Dai Ning, however, took this as her cue. “I understand, Brother. You want to rest!” She quickly shut the door and fled.

Chen Jing stared at the closed door, coughing into his hand as he clutched his chest.

He’d wait to recover before chasing her out.

—

The alleyway at No. 18 was unsafe, but it had one advantage: cheap land and few decent folks willing to live there.

Despite its age, Chen Jing’s home had a spacious courtyard. In a city, such a large yard was practically unbeatable in terms of space.

Wandering around the courtyard, Dai Ning spotted a cluster of vibrant pansies swaying in the breeze.

Without needing Qingtuan’s reminder, she knew these flowers must have been planted by Chen Lianxing. Chen Jing didn’t seem like the type to care for plants. His patience for tending them could only mean one thing: they were precious to Chen Lianxing.

Dai Ning found the flowers particularly annoying.

Chen Lianxing, ugly and vile as she was, remained Chen Jing’s treasure. This obvious favoritism frustrated Dai Ning—not because she cared whom Chen Jing favored, but because she felt her own beauty had been overlooked.

A lover of aesthetics, Dai Ning decided not to destroy the pansies, despite her distaste for them. Her gaze shifted to a sour vine tree in the yard.

The tree looked old and bore a taped-on tag with the character “Xing” written on it.

Another relic of Chen Lianxing’s.

The sour vine had borne fruit, each berry as pretty as a cherry. Dai Ning had seen Zhao An’an eat them before. Without hesitation, she stripped the tree bare.

Leaving a few of the largest fruits behind, she washed some with water and casually popped one into her mouth. The tangy taste was oddly appetizing. Since Qiu Gunan couldn’t deliver her meals anymore, Dai Ning figured she’d make do.

When Chen Jing finally opened the door after resting, he was greeted by the sight of his once-beautiful tree, now completely barren.

Sitting on a stool, Dai Ning looked at him with cat-like eyes.

Chen Jing returned her gaze expressionlessly. His sister Chen Lianxing had a terrible habit: even things she didn’t want, she wouldn’t let others touch.

Dai Ning seemed oblivious to his displeasure. She extended her hand, revealing the reddest two fruits in her palm.

She spoke in a flattering and obedient tone, “Brother, this can help with bruising and pain relief. I searched the entire tree and found only a few edible ones. If you eat them, you’ll feel less uncomfortable.”

If not for the suffocating pain in his chest, Chen Jing would have picked her up in frustration. Well, thank you very much!

Chen Jing’s face remained stoic. In his current state, he couldn’t cook, so he ordered takeout instead. He deliberately didn’t order anything for Dai Ning, assuming hunger would eventually drive her to leave.

Chen Jing was used to solitude. The girl in front of him seemed well-behaved and sweet, but she was endlessly chatty. When she was around, Chen Jing felt as though a noisy band was constantly playing, with every breath of air filled with vibrant energy.

Such vitality reminded him of spring in the wilderness, but spring was also the season when he was nearly killed.

He didn’t like her affectionate and worshipful gaze. That twilight moment when he decided to take her home—he should never have done it.

In the dark alleys, though the place lacked many conveniences, its food delivery service was top-notch. The local gangsters rarely ventured out during the day, relying entirely on takeout for sustenance. The restaurant owners, bold and skilled, thrived in their trade.

Chen Jing ordered spicy boiled pork slices. As he opened the food container and snapped apart the disposable chopsticks, he prepared to eat.

The enticing aroma reached Dai Ning, who hesitated and then inched closer.

She didn’t say a word, only looked at him with wide, watery eyes.

Setting aside her spoiled and talkative nature, Dai Ning was undeniably a beautiful girl. While Chen Jing was cold-hearted, he wasn’t a man without basic manners. Eating in front of such a gaze made it difficult for him to take a bite.

Chen Jing pulled out his notebook and began to write:
“I’ll buy you another meal, and you just—”

Before he could finish, Dai Ning caught a glimpse of the first half and happily dashed to the kitchen. She returned with a small bowl, handing it to him with a grin.
“Thank you, Brother! I want meat, no bean sprouts, and five slices of potato.”

The phrase “…and you just leave” nearly made Chen Jing snap his pen in half.

With a cold expression, he placed five slices of potato and a small pile of meat in her bowl. Never before had he felt that being unable to speak was such an inconvenience; the frustration in his chest was palpable.

The dish was full of chili peppers. Dai Ning, who enjoyed spicy food and was now quite hungry, finally managed to eat something. She devoured the food with relish, finishing a small bowl of rice.

Watching her eat so heartily, Chen Jing found himself slightly influenced and forced down some food despite the pain from his injuries.

After they finished eating, Dai Ning held out a sour vine fruit to him.
“Brother, let me treat you this time.”

She bit into one herself, her expression innocent as she offered the other to him.

Chen Jing accepted it.

Although he had cared for the sour vine tree for years, this was his first time tasting its fruit. The sourness spread across his taste buds, as bitter as the flavor of his life experiences.

Swallowing the fruit, Chen Jing suddenly felt too tired to chase her away anymore.
Fine, let her stay a few more days. Once I recover, I’ll send her off.

—

The afternoon sun blazed down, and the summer heat slowly saturated the air.

Chen Jing lay in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness. The house was dark and suffocating, the atmosphere oppressive. His confusion left him unsure whether he was in the human world or back in the cave where he had once lived with the wolf pack.

He rarely fell ill, but every sickness he had endured had been like this—hovering between dreams and wakefulness until it passed.

Dai Ning ran into the room. The man lay flat, his brows slightly furrowed, exuding a mix of rugged handsomeness and vulnerability.

Chen Jing’s bed was next to the window. Dai Ning took off her shoes, jumped onto his bed, and pulled the curtains open. Sunlight instantly flooded the room.

Chen Jing’s eyes opened.

The summer breeze swept in, and the girl perched on the windowsill, her bare feet swinging playfully. She asked cheerfully, “Brother, doesn’t it feel better to soak up some sunlight?”

His gray-brown eyes turned toward the window.

Summer’s vibrant energy dispelled the gloom in the room. Occasionally, a few sparrows flitted across the city’s sky.

Dai Ning took out a string of seashell wind chimes and hung them on the window frame. The warm wind stirred them, producing crisp, tinkling sounds.

How noisy.

The wind chime was something he had given Chen Lianxing as a birthday gift when he was twelve. She had discarded it casually, and Chen Jing had no idea how Dai Ning had retrieved it.

Some of the fog in his mind cleared, and Chen Jing thought to himself that perhaps she wasn’t entirely disruptive.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the girl leapt down from the windowsill, landing squarely between his legs.

It happened in an instant. Chen Jing’s instincts kicked in, his face darkening. Whatever haze had lingered in his mind was immediately dispelled, and he nearly bolted upright to grab her by the ankle.

Luckily, she was still some distance from his “vital area.” Oblivious, she jumped off the bed and said happily, “Brother, I’ll get you some water.”

The wind chime jingled as wildly as Chen Jing’s pounding heart.

If what Dai Ning claimed about having an elder brother were true, he was probably dead from her antics.

The wind chime tinkled by the window. Chen Jing glanced down at his legs, took a deep breath, and resumed lying down lazily.

Tomorrow, she’s definitely leaving.