Chapter 2: Pay Back the Money, Hurry Up
Outside the door, Ning Xiaoxiao kept blaming herself while Zhang Yuan continued to comfort her. The two were deeply immersed in their emotional performance when Ning Xiyue suddenly swung the door open. Her eyes, cold and shadowy, fixed on them.
The perfectly staged scene at the doorway was instantly shattered. Both of them were startled by the sight of Ning Xiyue — pale-faced, disheveled, looking like a ghost. Zhang Yuan, who had been about to confess his “true feelings,” choked on his words, stepped back a few paces, and shielded Ning Xiaoxiao behind him.
Seeing the girl he liked go pale with fear, Zhang Yuan roared angrily at the figure before him:
“Ning Xiyue, are you crazy? You didn’t open the door when we came to check on you, and now you’re trying to scare us?”
“Brother Zhang Yuan, Yueyue didn’t mean it. Maybe she just didn’t hear us. Don’t yell at her,” Ning Xiaoxiao said softly, tugging at Zhang Yuan’s sleeve. When he gazed tenderly back at her, a flicker of pride flashed in her eyes.
Then she stepped forward, her eyes red-rimmed, and grabbed Ning Xiyue’s arm, shaking it slightly.
“Yueyue, you’re awake. Are you feeling any better? I’ve been so worried these past few days. It’s all my fault for not taking good care of you.”
Hearing that load of nonsense, Ning Xiyue almost laughed. Worried? More like worried she hadn’t died yet. And could she not squeeze her arm so hard? It actually hurt. But Ning Xiyue didn’t pull her arm back — instead, she decided to play along.
People living on the same floor poked their heads out from their doors, watching curiously. A few who loved drama even came out openly to watch.
Alright then, Ning Xiyue thought. A free live performance for the neighbors — let’s give them a good show.
Who doesn’t know how to act like a weak little white lotus? Ning Xiyue forced out two tiny tears, looking pitiful and fragile. In a trembling voice, she said:
“Sister, I don’t blame you for tripping me with your foot. I know it wasn’t intentional. But could you please let go of my arm and stop shaking me? You’re hurting me… and my head feels so dizzy.”
As she spoke, she covered her head with her free hand, looking as if she might faint at any moment — a sight that would make anyone’s heart ache.
A young wife who had never liked Ning Xiaoxiao raised her voice:
“I knew something was off! The Ning family’s girl has always been so well-behaved — how could she end up fighting and cracking her head open? Turns out someone pushed her! Yueyue’s too naive for her own good. I’ve said it before — that cousin of hers is no good, only you men think otherwise.”
The woman then shot a fierce glare at the men whose eyes had drifted to Ning Xiaoxiao.
The hallway filled with murmurs.
“Exactly! They know the poor girl hit her head, and she’s still shaking her. What kind of heart does she have? Pah!”
“I-I didn’t! You’re misunderstanding…” Ning Xiaoxiao stammered, quickly letting go of Ning Xiyue and taking a few steps back in a show of “innocence.” She hadn’t expected her “sweet little cousin” to have grown so cunning, and for a moment, she panicked.
But she quickly calmed down. After all, only the three of them had been there when it happened. She had done it so discreetly that even Zhang Yuan hadn’t noticed. There was no proof it had been her. And even if Ning Xiyue suspected, it was useless — she could just claim Yueyue tripped on her own. What did it have to do with her?
Besides, she had already gotten what she wanted and was about to be sent down to the countryside. She wouldn’t have to fake kindness toward this “dead girl” anymore.
Still, she couldn’t afford to ruin her reputation.
“Yueyue, I know you’re upset that I didn’t protect you, but you can’t accuse me like this. I… you…”
Zhang Yuan’s heart ached seeing his beloved cry. He couldn’t stand anyone slandering his “goddess.” He turned on Ning Xiyue furiously:
“Ning Xiyue, what nonsense are you spouting? I think you really did damage your brain. You tripped and fell all by yourself — don’t go blaming Xiaoxiao for everything! She’s been so guilty these past few days she hasn’t even been able to sleep!”
“Yes, yes, my head’s damaged, you’re right. But since your heads aren’t damaged, how about you both repay all the money and ration tickets you’ve borrowed from me these past two years? My parents spent everything we had on my medical bills, so I’m counting on you two to return what you owe.”
Leaning weakly against the doorframe, Ning Xiyue deliberately let the neighbors see the bandages and purple medicine on her head. Her voice was soft and delicate:
“Especially those little leather shoes you’re wearing, Sister. I bought them. When I hit my head, I clearly saw them appear under my feet — made me think you tripped me. How unlucky! When I get them back, I’ll have to burn them clean with fire.”
Ning Xiaoxiao instinctively stepped back behind Zhang Yuan and shuffled her feet to hide the shoes.
The onlookers were now even more convinced that Ning Xiyue was telling the truth.
One “Auntie Sherlock” deduced aloud:
“It’s obvious those two are in cahoots. I bet they pushed the poor girl and made her hit her head. That child is so pitiful.”
This was exactly the reaction Ning Xiyue wanted. Seeing the pair’s faces turning green, she quickly continued before they could speak. Supporting herself against the door, she reached for a notebook on the shoe cabinet and said:
“Oh, and I know you might not remember everything. But don’t worry — I’m such a thoughtful little sister, I wrote it all down. This way, you won’t forget a single thing and won’t have to feel guilty about not helping me.”
She then theatrically clutched her head:
“Ah, oh no, I feel dizzy again. But in order to help Sister sleep well and to stop Zhang Yuan from worrying about her, let’s start with Zhang Yuan and settle this quickly…”
Of course, there was no actual ledger — but Ning Xiyue had perfectly absorbed the original owner’s memories, which replayed like a movie in her mind. Her memory was excellent; she could recall everything with crystal clarity, even better than if it had happened yesterday.
Consulting the “ledger,” she spoke solemnly:
“Let’s see… from January 21, 1975 until now, Zhang Yuan has borrowed a total of 255 times. Some were money, some were goods, some were ration tickets. Converted into money, that’s 599.9 yuan. I’ll round it down for you — just 500 yuan. Pay up.”
Zhang Yuan roared, “Ning Xiyue, what are you talking about?! I never borrowed anything from you. You’re obsessed with money and trying to extort me!”
Ning Xiyue calmly flipped to the first page.
“First item — January 21, 1975. You borrowed 5 yuan and a half-jin meat ticket, saying your mother was sick and needed nutrition. You promised to repay it the next month when your family got meat tickets. A year later, I still haven’t received anything. But kindhearted me won’t charge much interest — just pay 8 yuan. Not too much, right?”
“Second item — February 10, 1975. You borrowed 1 jin of rice, saying your family had no rice for New Year’s cooking. I figured even pigs deserve a full meal before the holiday, so as your classmate, I lent it to you. Sigh, I’m just too kind. I’ve yet to see a single grain returned. Since you probably can’t buy any, just pay 3 yuan. Third item…”
The crowd gasped as she went through each item one by one.
Ning Xiaoxiao’s eyes burned red with jealousy. Zhang Yuan had swindled so much out of her cousin! That spoiled fool — how she wished she’d been born into Auntie’s family instead.
Some idle men even stroked their chins thoughtfully, wondering if they could mooch off her too.
Of course, along with envy came judgmental murmurs.
“I never expected such a well-dressed young man to be someone who doesn’t repay debts. Gotta keep my eyes open when marrying off my daughter.”
“Pah! Pretty boy freeloader.”
The chorus of voices made Zhang Yuan’s face burn with humiliation. Furious and embarrassed, he cut Ning Xiyue off mid-sentence:
“Enough, Ning Xiyue! I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person — money’s all you think about! I was wrong about you.”
Ning Xiyue rolled her eyes.
“Damn right. Money makes the world go round — of course it’s all I think about. And if you didn’t care about money, why did you borrow it from me? Stop acting all noble. Pay it back. Now.”
