Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  The moment she opened her mouth, Qiao Zijin had not only asked for one of Qiao Nan’s exclusive villas or a single unit with a yard. She had even asked for a living allowance of four or five thousand yuan a month!

  Hahaha.

  Other than laughing, Qiao Nan did not know how else to respond.

  “What do you mean?” Qiao Zijin stopped Qiao Nan in time. “You haven’t brought me to see the houses and I haven’t picked one yet. Where are you going? Don’t think that four or five thousand yuan is a lot of money. In the capital, four of five thousand yuan isn’t even enough for me to spend. You know well how I spent while I was in Ping Cheng. But I thought it through and I gave in a lot. Don’t be unkind. Besides, if you recommend me a comfortable job that pays around ten thousand yuan, I’ll go to work and you won’t even need to give me money.”

  “No.”

  “No? What no? No job? Then, just give me four or five thousand yuan a month. Best if it’s five thousand. I’ll accept it too.” Even if the job was easy, it was still a job. Would working for someone be more comfortable than staying at home every day?

  \r \r \r

  Wait, she seemed to have missed out on something. Whether she arranged for a villa or a single unit with a yard, someone had to clean such a big house. She had always hated doing household chores. If she were to live in a villa, she would not be able to clean her own room, let alone the whole villa.

  That would not do. She would have to mention it to Qiao Nan and find a nanny for herself. Of course, Qiao Nan would have to pay for the nanny’s salary. If she were to pay for it herself, how would she and Ying Ying survive on that mere five thousand yuan?

  “Not only do I not have a job for you, but neither do I have a house. I have none of all those requests that you have. I’m not going to agree to a single one.” Qiao Nan did not deny that she did indeed own properties in the capital. “Chen Jun treats you pretty well. After he destroyed his marriage and caused you to get divorced from Zhou Zheng, he even did such a huge favor for you. Why don’t you seize the opportunity and marry a guy who can support you well? Why didn’t such a good person like Chen Jun get a divorce for you and get remarried to you and support you himself?”

  Chen Jun’s and Qiao Zijin’s fates of bad luck were really intertwined in both lifetimes.

  But she was the most pitiful. She had already done her best to hide from these two scums, but even after a few years, Chen Jun could still remember who she was and put up a fight against her by sending this unlucky charm, Qiao Zijin, over to her.

  Unfortunately, these two people really did not understand her. How could they have such ridiculous thoughts? “Qiao Zijin, who do you think you are to demand these things from me? What makes you think that I have to agree to all these unreasonable demands that you make?”

  She was not even Qiao Zijin’s mother. Besides, Ding Jiayi herself would not even be able to agree to these demands.

  Ding Jiayi could not, and Qiao Nan would not. But in the end, they would still arrive at the same result.

  “Based on what? Based on me being your elder sister, and you being my younger sister. Based on the fact that you are the Minister of Foreign Affairs now. Based on you being a national cadre! Do you wish for the whole of China to know that you’re abandoning your relatives now that you’re doing well yourself? That you are living the high life, but letting your family live in poverty? Do you still want to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs?”

  Qiao Zijin gritted her teeth, but very soon, she suppressed her anger. “Qiao Nan, we’re both clear that you’re perfectly capable of agreeing to those demands given your current circumstances. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable. It will mean nothing at all to you to fulfill my requests. But to me and Ying Ying, it’s important for our survival.”

  To Qiao Nan, it was harmless. It would not even move Qiao Nan’s foundation a single bit. But to the mother and daughter, their lives depended on this.

  She had already put aside her dignity and asked Qiao Nan for a living space. She had not asked to live in luxury like Qiao Nan. Qiao Nan had better be understanding and not force her into dire straits. If she was really forced, nothing was out of bounds for her.

  She promised herself that she would see to it that her threats would become reality.

  “What you mean is that if I can’t provide you with that luxurious life you’re asking for, you’ll drag me down with you and make my life difficult? Are you going to ruin whatever I’ve worked hard for?” Yes, she had made herself quite clear, and Qiao Nan had understood it well.

  That’s right. This was Qiao Zijin’s style. Typical Qiao Zijin indeed.

  “You’re correct.” Qiao Zijin had not intended to say it so harshly, but that was indeed what she meant. But Qiao Nan herself did not think it was harsh and wanted to make it clear, so Qiao Zijin could not care less to rebuke her. It was better they made it clear, in case they got into an argument about it in the future.

  “That is exactly what I meant. Qiao Nan, you can’t be so selfish. Since I treat you well, you should treat me well too. You’re a national cadre and a leader. I’m just an ordinary citizen. My idea is very simple. I just want to lead my life. If my life is good, yours will be too. At least, any problems in your life won’t be because of me.”

  Qiao Zijin gulped down a glass of iced water and lowered her pride again. “Qiao Nan, we’re biological sisters after all. Let bygones be bygones. Let’s not think about it or argue over it. I made mistakes, but so did you. Let’s just call it a truce. We still have decades of our lives ahead of us. What’s wrong with living it happily as relatives?”

  Once Qiao Nan agreed to it, she and Ying Ying would have to rely on Qiao Nan to survive. It would not be beneficial to her to cut off her cash flow. In that case, she could only bow down to Qiao Nan.

  “Hahaha!” Qiao Nan once again laughed at Qiao Zijin. “I’m not at all surprised that you said that. You’re clearly trying to get something out of me, but you talk about being benevolent and a win-win situation. Qiao Zijin, I don’t care what you’re planning, but I’m telling you clearly today. It’s impossible. I’m not going to agree to whatever requests you have. As for what you do, I don’t care. That’s your own business.”

  “Do you think I’ll let you threaten me and be at your mercy now that I’ve become the Minister of Foreign Affairs? You can try it. We’ll see if I’m truly afraid of what you’ll do.”