Volume One, Chapter 14: I Will Never Spend a Penny from Home Again

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Lu Ning instantly became interested after hearing this.
They hid right behind, watching Sixth Brother lead the team to hunt monsters.
After all, the big boss was tough to defeat and required team coordination; near the end, the boss’s health was almost depleted.
Generally, no one dared to snatch the boss from a renowned team like this.
But exceptions existed.
Lu Ning had previously studied the boss’s strategy and knew the perfect moment to strike.
She and Ji ChiQian worked seamlessly together, delivering the final blow at the boss’s last moment.
They successfully snatched the boss kill from the others.
The world channel broadcasted: [Congratulations to the team “Heartbroken Instant Noodles” for defeating the Peach Blossom Spring Boss.]
Lu Liu saw the result and furiously cursed into his headset: “What are you all doing? How could you let someone steal our boss kill?”
Qin Xiang embellished the situation: “Those two look like new accounts. Don’t they know who we are? How dare they steal our boss?”
Lu Liu raged, “Kill them for me!”
But soon, Lu Liu’s game screen turned black and white, and all the other teammates collapsed, motionless.
Looking at the player “Heartbroken Instant Noodles,” Lu Liu felt the playstyle seemed oddly familiar.
It resembled Lu Ning!
Could it be that she deliberately created a new account to steal his boss kill?
No, Lu Ning shouldn’t be that strong yet.
Meanwhile, Lu Ning and Ji ChiQian claimed the boss and obtained the dropped treasures.
But it wasn’t as satisfying as the earlier triumph of overwhelming Sixth Brother and Qin Xiang.
After playing for a while, the food delivery arrived.
Ji ChiQian paused. “Let’s eat first.”
Lu Ning noticed there was even a small cake, the same brand as the one Qin Xiang had received earlier that day.
She glanced at him. “Why buy a cake?”
“Don’t girls generally like these? Consider it a reward for your achievement—you didn’t embarrass me!”
Lu Ning felt unexpectedly touched.
Ji ChiQian’s expression turned slightly awkward; he added coldly, “Anyway, it was just a freebie with the delivery.”
Lu Ning took the small cake—her own exclusive cake.
She lowered her head and took a bite, her eyes falling as her mood refused to calm.
Ji ChiQian watched her silently for a long moment.
He cleared his throat. “Is the cake not good?”
It shouldn’t be—it was supposed to be the most popular flavor.
Lu Ning nodded. “It’s delicious. It’s been a long time since anyone bought me a cake.”
Since her parents died, she hadn’t celebrated a birthday.

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Her brothers never remembered that she liked this kind of cake, so she never got any.
Ji ChiQian’s gaze settled on her. “Don’t you eat cake on your birthday?”
Lu Ning was silent for a moment. “My parents died in a car accident on my birthday, so I stopped celebrating it from that day on.”
Because that day was her parents’ death anniversary.
Every year on that day, the atmosphere at home was heavy.
She didn’t have the right to celebrate her birthday.
Ji ChiQian’s heart seemed stung sharply, making it hard to breathe.
He involuntarily turned his head away, lips pressed coldly, his expression stern, filled with anger and guilt.
His hand clenched reflexively, veins bulging.
Lu Ning sensed the tension and looked up, feigning indifference. “Actually, I don’t care about celebrating birthdays—I just don’t have the mood.”
After all, that day was the anniversary of her parents’ passing.
How could she have the right to celebrate?
Ji ChiQian suppressed the emotions inside him. Seeing her pale, quiet face, so obedient like a small animal, he remained silently where he was, barely noticeable.
Her mature demeanor made him feel both anger and helplessness.
He cleared his throat, voice hoarse: “It’s late, you should head home soon. Kids shouldn’t linger outside.”
“I understand. Can I come here to find you again?”
Lu Ning looked at him, uncertainty in her eyes.
Ji ChiQian’s gaze was dark as ink. “You trust me so much, aren’t you afraid I’ll deceive you?”
“Because I have nothing worth deceiving,” Lu Ning answered calmly. “Master, you’re the only friend I have right now.”
Ji ChiQian paused for a moment: A friend?
He curled his thin lips and then, feigning seriousness, said, “Don’t trust others easily, especially men.”
“Got it. I’m leaving now.”
Lu Ning waved goodbye, shouldering her backpack as she left the infirmary.
Ji ChiQian stayed seated after she left. Seeing the cake on the table, he recalled the car accident scene—the shattered big cake.
His head began aching faintly and uncontrollably.
He hadn’t eaten cake since that accident.
After a long moment, he received a call: “Young master, Miss Lu has safely arrived home.”
Only then did Ji ChiQian end the call, his shadow stretching long in the sunset.
—
After returning to the Lu family, Lu Ning saw Second Brother sitting on the sofa, obviously waiting for her.
She expressionlessly greeted, “Second Brother.”

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Lu NanFeng looked up at his distant, stubborn sister, unsure what to do.
When Lu Ning’s grades improved dramatically, he had doubted she might be cheating.
But it turned out her results were genuine.
Yet Lu Ning’s grades had been average for years—how had she suddenly improved so much?
Lu NanFeng felt she had truly changed, not out of spite but a real transformation.
He felt both happy and lost.
The sister who used to revolve around him seemed gone!
Her good grades clearly reflected her efforts, not rebellion.
Lu NanFeng began to reflect on his own prejudices about Lu Ning, especially considering what Sixth Brother had done at school. He felt he had overlooked her feelings too much.
Was that why she changed so much?
Lu NanFeng’s tone was complicated: “Coming home so late, were you at the study room outside again?”
“Yes.”
Lu NanFeng sighed lightly. “Isn’t the home environment better than the outside study room? The outside is complicated, full of all sorts of people. Don’t do homework there anymore—it’s not safe.”
Lu Ning pressed her lips. Once again, he made decisions for her.
Lu NanFeng continued, “Because Qin Xiang’s grades have dropped badly this time, I hired a tutor to help her, and you’ll join too. If Qin Xiang doesn’t understand something, you can help her, since you’re classmates. When she’s absent, help take key notes for her.”
Lu Ning’s eyes were full of sarcasm.
So it was all for Qin Xiang—that’s why they wanted her home to study.
Lu Ning straightened her back. “I refuse.”
“Ning Ning, I know your Sixth Brother messed up at school today, and you’ve proven your strength. But we are family after all. Qin Xiang’s grades dropped because she was preparing for the team competition. Since you’re not participating in the competition, you should at least help Qin Xiang improve. You have the experience.”
Lu Ning found it laughable. “I refuse!”
Just those three words—she didn’t even want to waste her breath explaining.
Lu Liu stormed out, pointing at her nose and yelling, “Lu Ning, do you even have a conscience? You’ve lived off the Lu family all these years, eating and drinking, without contributing anything. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Lu Ning felt the irony.
In her past life, she had worked hard for the Lu family, training her gaming skills relentlessly to win championships for the team.
But in the end?
Qin Xiang cried a few times and easily replaced her, stealing the champion spot.
In this life, she refused to make the same foolish mistakes.
She calmly replied, “Fine. Starting today, I will move out of the Lu family and won’t spend a single cent from them.”
The break began now.