Si Nian's tone of gratitude left Si's Father and the others momentarily stunned, their anger dissipating.
"What... what do you mean?"
With an innocent expression, Si Nian said, "Si Si already told me. She said you were worried I wouldn’t go to work and didn’t want me to lose the job, so you asked her to fill in for me. I’m really touched! But don’t worry, I’ve already handled it. From now on, you won’t need to trouble yourselves—I’ve decided to sell the job to Qianqian."
Fu Qianqian nodded in agreement. "That’s right, I’ve already agreed to buy the job from Si Nian. Uncle Si, you don’t need to worry."
Si's Father looked awkward, his anger now replaced by guilt. After all, that wasn’t their intention at all. They simply thought it was a waste to leave the position vacant, and since Lin Sisi had nothing to do at the moment, they wanted her to take over temporarily. Once she left for school, they could sell the job.
At least, that was their plan.
They never expected Si Nian to come back...
"Uncle Si, the HR department is about to close for the day. Could you please give Si Nian the household register so we can complete the formalities?" Fu Qianqian urged helpfully.
If it were anyone else, Si's Father might have found an excuse to refuse. But this was Fu Qianqian!
His lips twitched before he finally managed to say, "Qianqian, you’re a young lady from a prestigious family. How could we let you take on Si Nian’s job? It’s beneath you."
Fu Qianqian hated this kind of attitude. No matter how hard she worked, people always dismissed her efforts with that condescending tone—as if opportunities were handed to her just because of her status.
Hearing this, she immediately retorted, "Uncle Si, don’t underestimate me. If Si Nian can do it, so can I. There’s nothing ‘beneath’ me about it."
Si's Father was left speechless.
Here he was, an elder being lectured by a younger girl, yet he could only force a smile and say, "Haha, you’re right, you’re right."
"Then hurry up, Uncle Si. I took time off work for this and need to get back soon," Fu Qianqian pressed.
With no choice and not daring to offend her, Si's Father gritted his teeth and nodded. "Fine, I’ll get it for you now."
Once they had the household register, Si Nian and Fu Qianqian quickly left.
The Si Family could only watch helplessly, their expressions sour.
Lin Sisi was so furious her face turned green.
Fu Qianqian rushed home to fetch her own household register and then knocked on her older brother’s study door to borrow money.
"Brother, lend me a thousand yuan. I’ll pay you back when I get my salary," she said excitedly.
Fu Yang frowned. "What do you need so much money for?"
"To buy a job! You didn’t know? Si Nian quit her job and is selling it to me. She’s waiting downstairs right now. Hurry up and give me the money!"
"She left before—why is she back now?" At the mention of Si Nian’s name, Fu Yang’s handsome face darkened with displeasure.
When he’d heard she’d left, he found it hard to believe.
A month ago, she’d learned she wasn’t the Si Family’s biological daughter, yet she’d feigned illness and caused scenes just to stay.
She’d practically become infamous in their social circle.
Fu Yang had never liked Si Nian. Sure, she was beautiful, but there were plenty of beautiful people in the world. A woman with looks but no substance was nothing more than a vase in his eyes.
And he was sick of her clinging to him.
She acted like she wanted everyone to know they were engaged, making him feel suffocated.
Thankfully, since she wasn’t the Si Family’s real daughter, he wouldn’t have to marry her. That alone was a relief.
Yet here she was, back after only a few days—and now using such a flimsy excuse to approach him.
Did she think giving her job to his sister would make him respect her more?
How childish.
No matter what she did, he would never marry her. She might as well give up.
Even Lin Sisi was better than her.
With that thought, he handed over the money and dismissed her. "Hurry up and send her away. I don’t want her lingering around our house and making a spectacle."
Fu Qianqian blinked in confusion. "Brother, what are you talking about? Who’s lingering?"
"Who else? She suddenly offers you her job—isn’t it obvious? She wants our family to owe her a favor so she can keep coming back. I’ve seen this trick before. Tell her to stop bothering me, or I won’t be so polite next time."
Fu Qianqian was so repulsed by her brother’s arrogance that she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? She never came here for you! Si Nian was just retrieving her household register. I dragged her here because I was afraid she’d run off. No wonder she refused to come inside—she said she didn’t want you getting the wrong idea. And look at you, proving her right!"
Her expression was downright pained.
Fu Yang’s face darkened. "What did you say?"
"I said she wasn’t here to see you! I forced her to come, and she still wouldn’t step inside. If she really wanted to meet you, wouldn’t she have come upstairs with me?"
Truthfully, Fu Qianqian had been hoping Si Nian still had feelings for her brother. She’d dragged her over, thinking maybe seeing him would rekindle something.
Instead, Si Nian had refused outright, saying she was devoted to her new husband and didn’t want to meet other men to avoid misunderstandings.
It had left Fu Qianqian stunned.
With that, she snatched the money and ran back downstairs.
Fu Yang was left irritated and skeptical.
Impossible. Si Nian had followed him around since childhood. She’d refused to leave the Si Family just to marry him. How could she have no ulterior motive?
That kind of lie might fool his naive sister, but he wasn’t buying it.
Still, he stood up and walked to the window, pulling back the curtain to look down.
He wanted to see for himself whether Si Nian was as innocent as his sister claimed.
But the moment he saw her, his frown deepened.
Under the bright sunlight, the young woman stood gracefully in the garden. The roses bloomed vibrantly around her, yet they paled in comparison to her radiance.
In this era, people dressed well and took pride in their appearance.
He’d met many beautiful, stylish women.
But none were as striking as her. She stood there like a masterpiece from a Renaissance painting, her skin glowing under the sunlight.
Even the roses seemed like mere background props, overshadowed by her presence.
Her expression was gentle and relaxed—nothing like the shy, affected demeanor she used to put on around him.
Si Nian had never liked children before, always keeping her distance, finding them noisy.
Yet at this moment, she was gently cradling a child in her arms, her face adorned with a smile more radiant than blooming flowers.
Fu Yang found himself momentarily spellbound. But the next second, as if sensing his gaze, Si Nian suddenly looked up and met his eyes.
Fu Yang froze, instinctively averting his gaze, afraid she might misinterpret his attention or even latch onto him.
Just as he was about to draw the curtains, however, he noticed Si Nian had already withdrawn her gaze indifferently, her expression as calm as ever, utterly unperturbed—as if he were... nothing more than an insignificant passerby.
Fu Yang paused, disbelief flickering in his eyes as he stared back at her.
