Having suffered considerable losses at his hands in her previous life, and considering he was her own brother, Ning Yunhuan remained completely unmoved by Ning Yuncheng’s appearance. Seeing him leaning casually against the car door, sipping water, she managed a calm reply: “Shopping.”

“I’ll drive you.” Hearing Ning Yunhuan’s response, Ning Yuncheng didn't press further. He merely walked around the car, opened the passenger door, and nodded toward her, “Get in.”

“I can go out on my own.” Ning Yunhuan made no move to enter the car, instead taking two steps back. Her relationship with Ning Yuncheng wasn't the model of sibling affection, and she certainly wasn't interested in playing the part of a devoted sister. Any excess warmth between them had long been thoroughly depleted in her past life.

In her former life, Ning Yunhuan had been solely focused on pleasing her elder brother due to the novel’s predetermined ending, only for Ning Yuncheng to deliver a slap to her face in return. Recalling this, Ning Yunhuan’s eyelids lowered, concealing the chill in her eyes.

Ning Yuncheng frowned. He never understood this somewhat quiet sister of his. The Ning family members were all good-looking; this sister was attractive, even by the standards of minor company celebrities—long legs, a slender waist, and a fine figure—but her personality was one he deeply disliked. Being perpetually serious was one thing, but she was also incredibly proud, stern, and averse to joking, much like their father. She was the absolute antithesis of the lively female companions he usually kept, so much so that none of his closest friends even knew he had a sister.

“There are hardly any cars around here. Mom and Dad took the house car. Are you really going to walk out in this heat with those skinny little legs of yours?” Ning Yuncheng was growing impatient now. He tapped the car door twice, gesturing for Ning Yunhuan to approach.

She conceded the point in her mind. Disliking Ning Yuncheng didn't mean she had to make things difficult for herself. Ning Yunhuan tilted her head, thought for a moment, then folded her umbrella and walked toward him. “Then I’ll trouble you.”

He had fully expected Ning Yunhuan, given her usual temperament, to become angry at his suggestion and perhaps even call their father to complain. To his surprise, she actually agreed. Ning Yuncheng pulled at the corner of his mouth, thinking the word freak flashed through his mind. After ensuring she was seated, he closed the door for her and then slid into the driver's seat himself.

Neither sibling spoke. Ning Yunhuan was so coolly detached she might as well not have existed. Ning Yuncheng found it strange that she didn't ask him why he had returned. While the former Ning Yunhuan was quiet, this level of silence, bordering on non-existence, was new. He glanced at her a couple of times while thinking this over. Seeing her gaze lowered, her beautiful profile striking enough to surpass many of the artists on his company’s roster, yet remaining utterly silent, Ning Yuncheng found it tiresome. He focused back on driving.

At the main entrance of the Kyoto Mall, Fu Yuan was already waiting. As they neared the drop-off point, Ning Yunhuan finally spoke, asking Ning Yuncheng to let her out there. Ning Yuncheng’s expression darkened, and he drove silently to the designated spot. Just as Ning Yunhuan opened the door, Ning Yuncheng turned to her with a smile, “Shopping? Got enough money?” As he spoke, he pulled his wallet from the bag hanging behind his seat and tossed it toward Ning Yunhuan.

This action was a significant surprise to Ning Yunhuan. After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head and murmured softly, “I don’t really need to buy anything.” As she finished speaking, she stepped out of the car. This was the first time Ning Yuncheng had an offer of money refused, especially by his own sister. His face immediately soured. He let out a cold snort and sped away, tires squealing.

Ning Yunhuan stood by the roadside, head bowed, her lips twitching slightly before she turned toward the mall entrance. Fu Yuan, who had been waiting nearby, hurried over, sounding curious, “Huanhuan, was that your older brother just now?”

As a close friend of several years, Fu Yuan knew her friend’s relationship with her older brother wasn't intimate. She was surprised that Ning Yuncheng had driven her over. “I didn't realize your brother cared about you that much, sending you over. When I said I wanted to come out, my own brother only cared about playing games.” Fu Yuan was the eldest daughter in her family, and the Fu family was quite wealthy, but any heir apparent would naturally be the Fu family’s young master.

The Fu family valued sons over daughters, placing Fu Yuan in an awkward position. She was only three months older than Ning Yunhuan and just turned eighteen, yet Mrs. Fu was already actively searching for suitable marriage prospects, hoping to leverage Fu Yuan to elevate the Fu family further. Consequently, Fu Yuan had been under immense pressure lately. She was naturally reserved and disliked frivolous shopping, but due to her family’s search for a match, she felt compelled to drag Ning Yunhuan out for distraction.

Hearing Fu Yuan’s words, Ning Yunhuan wasn't sure how to respond, so she just smiled and remained silent. The Ning Yunhuan of the novel had been spoiled and willful, but since this Ning Yunhuan had transmigrated, she had been determined to change her fate. While her status as an interloper gave her a certain reserve, she wasn't as capricious as the original owner; at times, she was even exceedingly quiet. Fu Yuan was aware of this change in demeanor, so when Ning Yunhuan said nothing, she just smiled and stayed quiet as well.

Despite being friends for years, the two shared few superfluous words. As the day was hot, they wandered through the mall for a few laps. Ning Yunhuan recalled that Mrs. Ning's birthday was in a few days, and she intended to select a piece of jewelry for her as a gift. While the Ning family wasn't exceptionally rich, Father Ning was quite indulgent with his only daughter, granting her a considerable monthly allowance. In her past life, to win favor with everyone, the former Ning Yunhuan saved every penny to sponsor over a dozen impoverished children. However, this charity ultimately failed to earn her a good reputation; instead, as those children grew older, their demands increased, leading to friction and accusations that she was seeking fame through empty gestures, eventually ruining their relationship.

Recalling those ungrateful children from her previous life, this Ning Yunhuan certainly wouldn't repeat such a foolish act. In the months since her rebirth, she hadn't donated her allowance; instead, she had saved it. By now, the accumulated sum was over fifty thousand. This amount wasn't enough for luxury goods, but it was certainly sufficient for selecting a decent piece of jewelry for Mrs. Ning.

Whether in the past or the present, Mrs. Ning had always been fond of Ning Yunhuan. As the only daughter, given the Ning family's standing, it was certain that Ning Yunhuan would eventually marry into a family that benefited the Nings, one of equivalent social standing. The mother-daughter relationship had always been strong, which was why Ning Yunhuan was taking Mrs. Ning’s birthday seriously.