36: Chapter 36 Jiang Ning = Little Money-Grubber

"Don't use bad language," Jiang Ning chided softly.

"That wasn't bad language, it was just an interjection." After saying this, Jiang Che looked at the girl's skin, which was blindingly white, and after hesitating for two seconds, said, "Well… let me help you with it."

Jiang Ning gave an almost imperceptible 'Mn,' and then didn't move at all.

Jiang Che raised his hand and carefully pinched the small zipper, giving it a gentle tug. Sure enough, it wouldn't budge.

A closer look revealed that the girl had been too forceful, causing a layer of fabric to get caught inside.

In this case, he would have to use a bit of force to pull the zipper back a little.

The next second, Jiang Che rested his left hand gently on Jiang Ning's shoulder, then, finding the right angle, applied force downward again and again.

Jiang Ning's head was spinning. The fitting room was very small, and it was indeed a bit hot, but she couldn't care about that right now. Her mind was completely filled with the warmth… no, to be precise, the slightly scorching touch of his palm on her shoulder.

It scorched the girl's face bright red, and her breathing changed slightly.

Fortunately, after a few tries, he finally managed to unstick the zipper.

"It's done," Jiang Che said while releasing his sister's shoulder. His fingertips brushed against her skin unintentionally, and the silk-like, soft, and smooth sensation made his heart flutter uncontrollably.

"Mn." Jiang Ning was both embarrassed and nervous, and only let out a soft sound.

Jiang Che left the fitting room first, and two minutes later, Jiang Ning followed.

The saleswoman was still waiting at the entrance. After Jiang Ning came out, she stepped forward to check the zipper issue.

But… weren't this man and woman supposed to be siblings? Why did the guy who came out first look so awkward, and the girl who came out later have a face as red as an apple?

Could these two have been… doing something strange inside just now?

Although she had some suspicions, the saleswoman maintained a professional expression, apologizing to Jiang Ning while carefully explaining the precautions for this type of zipper.

Soon, Jiang Ning looked up at Jiang Che, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Do you like it?" Jiang Che asked.

Jiang Ning hesitated for two seconds before nodding.

"Then we'll wrap this one up too."

"Handsome, how about I go get a new one? I'm afraid the zipper on this one might get stuck again next time you wear it."

Just as Jiang Che was about to nod, he saw the Stinky Girl speak up first: "Just this one!"

Seeing them both looking at her, Jiang Ning's earlobes turned slightly red as she muttered, "I'll just be more careful when I wear it next time."

In the end, they took both outfits according to the girl's wishes.

Watching Jiang Che scan the code to pay at checkout, Jiang Ning's expression showed a trace of heartache.

"Reluctant to spend the money?" Jiang Che asked with a smile after they left the store.

"Not at all," Jiang Ning said, still being insincere.

Jiang Che smiled, then looked at the digital mall downstairs. "Shall I buy you a laptop?"

"I don't write a diary," Jiang Ning said casually, hugging the two shopping bags and looking at the clothes inside.

"I meant a laptop computer."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning looked at him with slight surprise. "A computer?"

"You're in college now, won't you need one in the dormitory?"

Jiang Ning's expression was hesitant; she was clearly tempted, but after two seconds, she still shook her head.

"You don't want one?"

"It's too expensive." Jiang Ning told the truth. The two outfits had already cost over a thousand, and buying a laptop would cost at least a few thousand more.

"Mom and Dad were telling me last night to take good care of you. They were afraid you wouldn't have nice clothes or things to use, and that you'd be tricked by some punk with bleached hair who just buys you a bouquet of flowers."

Jiang Ning stared blankly at Jiang Che, then muttered softly, "Wouldn't it be fine if you just kept a close watch on me…"

"Hm?" Jiang Che didn't hear clearly and turned to look at her.

"I was saying… did Mom and Dad transfer money to you?"

"They did, but I didn't take it. And Mom said they transferred it to you first so you could buy things yourself, but you didn't take it either?"

Jiang Ning's face flushed slightly, and she raised her chin. "Hmph, I'm an adult now. If I want to buy something, I'll find a way to earn the money myself."

Hearing this, Jiang Che felt touched and a little amused.

"Is that so? If you're an adult, does that mean I don't need to give you pocket money anymore?"

"That won't do!" The Stinky Girl, who had just insisted she was an adult, spoke up immediately.

Seeing Jiang Che looking at her with a playful expression, the girl's face turned slightly red as she muttered, "What you give me… that's different."

"Different?" Jiang Che was amused. "So, you don't feel bad about scamming your brother's money, is that it?"

Jiang Ning looked at him, then her gaze flickered away. "It's just different."

Jiang Che raised his hand and tapped the Stinky Girl on the head lightly. "Let's go. I'll let you scam me this once. I'll buy you the computer. If your conscience bothers you, you can pay me back when you start earning money."

Jiang Che took Jiang Ning into the digital mall. They visited several shops and finally carefully selected a pink branded laptop. It was thin, light, and had decent performance.

The Stinky Girl, who had just said she didn't feel bad about scamming her brother's money, immediately hesitated when she saw Jiang Che decided to get this one.

"Are we really buying it?"

"Don't you need a computer for college?"

This one sentence silenced Jiang Ning. Afterward, Jiang Che had the shop owner pack up the computer and scanned the code to pay.

Over four thousand—it wasn't expensive, but it wasn't cheap either.

After the two walked out of the mall, Jiang Ning looked at the clothes in her hands, then at the computer in her brother's hands. After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally spoke up:

"I actually… have some secret savings of my own."

Jiang Che smiled. "You mean that doll where you've been hiding your red envelope money since you were little?"

Jiang Ning was stunned, her face full of disbelief. "How did you know?!"

"Not only do I know, but Mom and Dad know too. You girl, who did you learn this from? Since you were little, you'd stuff ten or five-yuan bills into a piggy bank, put one or two hundred-yuan bills in there, and hide it in the wardrobe like it was a treasure, making us think all your money was in there. In reality, the bulk of it was all hidden in that doll of yours, and you even kept the doll on the living room cabinet."

"You, did you peek at my savings?"

"No interest. And… haven't you noticed? The money inside actually increased. Do you know why?"

Jiang Ning shook her head.

"Because after finding out, Mom and Dad would often add a little more to it. The whole family knew; you were the only one still secretly feeling smug about it."

Jiang Ning's face turned beet red. She pouted, and after two seconds, whispered, "No wonder I counted it several times before and found more money…"

Hearing this, Jiang Che suddenly burst into laughter.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No, I'm laughing because you hid your money and spent every day on pins and needles, having to take the doll back to your room to count it every few days."

Being teased like this by Jiang Che, Jiang Ning instantly turned bright red.

"Hate you, Stinky Jiang Che, you must have told Mom and Dad!"

"I'm not that bored. But now you know why I used to call you a Little Money-Grubber?"

"Hmph! Next time I go home, I'll take the doll back to my room and hide it!"