Chapter 17: The Scumbag and the Vixen Flirt Shamelessly

Jiang Yuning’s acting really was award-worthy.

If Lin Jianxue hadn’t heard her venomous sarcasm on the phone in her past life—hadn’t personally overheard her schemes with Jiang Yubai—she might’ve actually believed this woman was as naive and sincere as she looked.

But Lin Yuefeng didn’t seem too concerned with any of that. He cared more about whether Jiang Yuning could take care of the baby properly.

He gave Jiang Yuning a once-over. Seeing how skinny and fragile she looked, he couldn’t help but frown.

With hands clasped behind his back, Lin Yuefeng cleared his throat and asked Tong Caihe, “In-law, your relative here looks so thin—can she really take care of a baby? Don’t want her overexerting herself and ending up sick.”

Tong Caihe immediately reassured him, “Oh, don’t worry, Lao Lin! Yuning’s been helping raise kids since she was little—she’s very experienced! Back in the village, she helped neighbors and relatives take care of children all the time. Everyone praised her for it!”

As she spoke, Tong Caihe shot a meaningful glance at Jiang Yuning.

Jiang Yuning caught the signal right away. She set down her basket, walked over to the cradle, and carefully picked up the sleeping Xiao Hu.

Her movements were a little clumsy, but at least steady.

Cradling the baby, she began to hum a lullaby—some tune that even she didn’t quite know the words to—looking every bit like a seasoned nanny.

Lin Yuefeng observed her actions with narrowed eyes. Seeing that she seemed capable enough, the suspicion on his face eased slightly.

He nodded and said nothing more.

“Yuning…”

Jiang Yubai stood beside Lin Jianxue, emotions swirling in his chest. He couldn’t help but call her name.

Jiang Yuning looked up sharply at the sound of his voice.

Their eyes met—and for a brief moment, both were utterly entranced.

Tong Caihe’s heart dropped at the sight, alarm bells going off.

Why were these two making eyes at each other right in front of everyone? If Lin Jianxue caught on, there’d be serious trouble.

She quickly forced out a couple of loud coughs, enough to startle baby Xiao Hu in the cradle into a soft whimper.

“Ahem! Yubai,” Tong Caihe raised her voice deliberately, breaking the intense eye contact, “didn’t you say you prepared a room for Yuning? Take her to check it out so she can put her things down and get some rest.”

Jiang Yubai snapped out of it, quickly averting his gaze.

Realizing how inappropriate he had just acted—staring at Jiang Yuning like that for so long—he felt a flash of guilt and instinctively turned toward Lin Jianxue.

She was standing right next to him, smiling gently.

Her smile was soft, lips slightly curved, eyes crinkled pleasantly.

But to Jiang Yubai, that smile felt sharp—piercing. As if she could see right through him.

A strange tension gripped his chest.

How long had she been watching? Did she see how intently he had been looking at Jiang Yuning just now?

Nervous and uneasy, Jiang Yubai didn’t even dare to meet Lin Jianxue’s eyes.

He rushed to explain, voice slightly dry: “Jianxue, Yuning and I grew up together. We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

As he spoke, he closely watched her expression, terrified she might show even a hint of displeasure.

But Lin Jianxue just smiled deeper.

Casually, she replied, “Oh? Then I guess you’re childhood sweethearts. If it’s been that long, I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on. Go ahead and chat—I won’t get in your way.”

Seeing her so composed, Jiang Yubai finally breathed a little easier.

He forced a chuckle. “There’s not much to talk about, really—we’re just relatives. Jianxue, I’ll go show Yuning to her room.”

“Go on,” Lin Jianxue said with a kind smile. “I’ll make formula for Xiao Hu.”

She walked over to the cradle, picked up the baby bottle, and really looked like she was going to make milk.

Jiang Yubai gave a nod to Lin Yuefeng and Shen Wu, then turned to Jiang Yuning. “Yuning, I’ll take you to your room and help you unpack.”

His tone was polite, even a bit distant—a stark contrast to the longing gaze he had just thrown her way moments before.

Jiang Yuning stood frozen in place, watching the interaction between Jiang Yubai and Lin Jianxue, her heart clenched as if something was stuffed inside it.

She knew deep down that Jiang Yubai truly loved her.

But watching him fuss over Lin Jianxue, seeing how tender and considerate he was with her while acting all cold and formal toward herself—it made her seethe with jealousy.

Especially when she noticed how, even wrapped in a thick military-green coat, Lin Jianxue’s slim, graceful figure and fair skin still stood out so effortlessly.

The envy in her heart boiled over.

Lin Jianxue stood there like a radiant pearl—elegant, confident, impossible to ignore.

And her?

Jiang Yuning looked down at her own worn-out red padded jacket and muddy cloth shoes. An overwhelming sense of inferiority washed over her, suffocating her.

She didn’t even dare to meet Lin Jianxue’s eyes, afraid of seeing even a trace of contempt in them.

Forcing a smile uglier than a cry, Jiang Yuning nodded, slung her heavy bundle onto her back, and followed Jiang Yubai into the tiny room prepared for her.

It was originally a storage space—barely 8 square meters. With a single bed, a table, and a basic wardrobe crammed inside, it felt almost claustrophobic.

The window was tiny, letting in barely any light. The gray walls were mottled with water stains.

As soon as Jiang Yubai shut the door, Jiang Yuning threw herself at him, kissing him through her tears with messy desperation.

Caught off guard, Jiang Yubai stumbled back and hit the cold wall with a dull “thud.”

He grimaced, pressing his hands against her shoulders, trying to push her away. He hissed under his breath:

“Jiang Yuning, are you crazy?! This is the Lin household—what if someone sees us? What do you want me to do then?!”

But she clung to him like she didn’t hear a word.

Tears streamed down her face, soaking into the collar of his shirt.

“I don’t care! I don’t care!”

Jiang Yuning sobbed, voice cracking,

“Yubai-ge, I’m jealous—I’m going insane with jealousy seeing you and Lin Jianxue acting like some lovey-dovey couple!”

“I have to watch you treat her gently, watch you smile at her—and I can’t even show my face! I’m just your secret nanny!”

“My heart hurts like it’s being sliced to pieces! Do you even know that?! I want to—I want to…”

She couldn’t even finish. She beat on his chest with trembling fists, trying to release all the pain and bitterness inside.

Hearing her raw, gut-wrenching words, Jiang Yubai actually felt a strange kind of satisfaction.

He sighed lightly, and his tone softened.

“Yuning, I know you’re hurting. But I’m doing this for our future.”

He cupped her tear-streaked face tenderly and wiped her tears with his thumb.

“These days without you, you think it was easy for me? I miss you constantly, but I had to stay away. I had to endure. But you have to believe me—my heart belongs to you alone! Lin Jianxue means nothing to me—it’s all an act.”

He pulled her tighter into his arms.

“Yuning, believe me. Lin Yuefeng already started bringing me into the steel factory as an apprentice. The higher-ups like me a lot and said if I do well, I’ll have a bright future.”

“When I’m established there, I’ll find a way to get you a job too. Once I inherit the Lin family assets, I’ll divorce Lin Jianxue.”

“By then, we won’t have to sneak around anymore. We’ll be together—openly, honorably.”