Scumbag Forcing Me to Divorce? Watch Me Turn Around and Marry a Powerful Capital Tycoon! - Chapter 86

Seeing Shen Jingnian’s reply, Yun Haotian felt his world go dark.

He didn’t even want to comment on his uncle anymore.

[Dad is your lifesaver! Are you seriously not going to say anything for her birthday?]

This time, Shen Jingnian didn’t reply immediately.

Because…

He was already driving toward Dongge Garden.

It was 11:30 p.m.

Shen Jingnian’s car stopped at the foot of Building 5.

It was the first time he had ever given a gift to a girl.

Was he nervous? Absolutely.

Online guides suggested aiming for exactly midnight.

So… he wasn’t rushing.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, he waited patiently, checking his phone every two minutes.

Strangely… time, which usually flew by, now seemed to drag.

Shen Jingnian experienced for the first time the sensation of each second stretching endlessly.

Ding!

11:45 p.m.

Shen Jingnian pulled out his phone and sent Jiang Ning a WeChat message.

At this hour, she should be asleep.

He needed to give her time to change and wait for the elevator.

By the time she came downstairs, it would be nearly midnight.

On the other side, Jiang Ning had just finished her work and was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, admiring the night view. Suddenly, her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Shen Jingnian:

[Ningning, come downstairs.]

Downstairs?

Jiang Ning frowned. She replied: [Downstairs for what?]

[I’m downstairs at your place.]

What?

Jiang Ning glanced out the window. The street below was empty.

[Are you sure you’re downstairs?]

[Yes.] Shen Jingnian replied promptly.

Jiang Ning was puzzled, but then realization hit her. She quickly typed:
[Uh… I’ve moved. Now I live at Wan Cheng Villas, Building 8.]

Moved?!

Seeing this reply, Shen Jingnian froze.

All that waiting… wasted?

[Wait for me, I’ll be there soon.]

[Okay.]

Shen Jingnian set his phone down, restarted the engine, turned the car around, and drove straight toward Wan Cheng Villas.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with the area. He owned property there as well.

The distance between Wan Cheng Villas and Dongge Garden was over twenty kilometers. Even without traffic, he couldn’t make it there before midnight.

By the time Shen Jingnian arrived at Wan Cheng Villas, it was 12:08 a.m.

He looked at his watch, a hint of disappointment crossing his face.

After all that preparation, he had still missed the perfect midnight timing.

Still, he sent Jiang Ning another message:
[Ningning, I’m here. Come downstairs.]

Although Jiang Ning didn’t know why Shen Jingnian had come at this hour, she went downstairs.

Knowing his personality, if it weren’t important, he wouldn’t come at midnight.

Shen Jingnian’s car stopped outside the villa’s massive iron gate. He leaned slightly against the door, moonlight casting a cold glow on his face. He looked ethereal, like someone stepping out of a dream.

“Ningning.”

Jiang Ning pushed the door open and froze at the sight. No one can resist beauty, and she was no exception.

Her breath hitched slightly.

Hearing her voice, Shen Jingnian lifted his gaze.

The girl had already washed up, her hair down in a casual, slightly messy style instead of her usual bun, giving her an effortlessly lazy beauty. Her clear, captivating peach-blossom eyes shone even through a simple hoodie, radiating an unearthly charm.

Their eyes met. Shen Jingnian was momentarily taken aback.

After a few seconds, he spoke softly, “Ningning.”

Jiang Ning stepped forward.
“Did you come for something?”

“Turn around.” Shen Jingnian instructed, following an online guide he had read.

Turn around?

Though puzzled, Jiang Ning obeyed.

After about a minute, his voice came again:
“Ningning, you may turn back now.”

When she did, she saw him holding a bouquet of sunflowers.

“Ningning, happy birthday. Wishing you joy and peace. May you, like a sunflower, always face the sun and grow full of vitality.”

At that moment…

Jiang Ning couldn’t describe how she felt. In all her years, it was the first time anyone had celebrated her birthday, and perfectly timed at midnight.

She stepped forward and took the flowers.
“How did you know today is my birthday?”

In her previous life, her birthday fell on the 8th day of the 7th lunar month. Coincidentally—or fatefully—this lifetime, it was the same date.

“Haotian told me,” Shen Jingnian said, opening the passenger door. “And these are for you too.”

He cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Ningning, don’t misunderstand. You’re the only female friend I have. I… I really value our friendship.”

“Thank you, Shen Jingnian.” Jiang Ning stepped closer and hugged him.

She was twenty centimeters shorter.

A perfect height difference—if he tilted his head slightly, his chin would touch her hair.

Caught off guard, Shen Jingnian froze. His hands hovered midair, unsure whether to move. His heart raced, and his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.

Her familiar scent filled his senses—so comforting, yet stirring.

Before he could fully process it, Jiang Ning let go, smiling with two shallow dimples.
“Don’t misunderstand, it’s just a friendly hug.”

Friend… a friendly hug?

Shen Jingnian felt a hollow ache in his chest, an unfamiliar loneliness, like the stock market crashing overnight.

“I’ll help you move the gifts to the yard,” he said, pushing down the discomfort.

He had packed ten bags and the full-color lipstick set into a large box.

“Thank you.” Jiang Ning smiled.

“No problem.” Shen Jingnian carried the box into the yard, casually asking,
“When did you move here?”

“Just a couple of days ago.”

What?! Two days already?!

He nodded slightly, expression unreadable.

Jiang Ning gestured toward the house.
“Shen Jingnian, come in and have some tea.”

“It’s late. I should go. I’ll visit Jiang Grandpa another day.”

Jiang Ning thought for a moment.
“Then dinner tomorrow night?”

“Sure.”

She escorted him to the car.
“We’ll contact each other on WeChat tomorrow. Drive safely at night.”

“I will.”

Back home, Shen Jingnian received a call from Yun Haotian.

“Hello?”

His voice remained cool and detached.

Yun Haotian’s curious voice came through.
“Uncle, where did you go just now? I sent so many messages and you didn’t reply.”

“Nowhere. Busy with work,” Shen Jingnian replied calmly, casually, as if it were true.

Yun Haotian didn’t doubt him. Besides being stingy, Shen Jingnian was a workaholic.

“Uncle, you must be done now, right? I know a street stall that’s amazing—let’s go eat there!”

In summer, eating barbecue and drinking beer at a street stall sounded heavenly. Yun Haotian loved enjoying life.

“I never eat that kind of junk food,” Shen Jingnian said bluntly.

“But the street barbecue is delicious! Uncle, just try it once! Life is too short to live so strictly!”

“Stop wasting your breath. Do I look like someone who compromises principles so easily?” he countered.

Only those with weak self-control bend for others. Shen Jingnian never had.

From childhood, he’d never eaten street food.

Yun Haotian: “…”

Apparently, he really wouldn’t.

Morning, 8 a.m.

He Suosuo followed Lin Wanyi to visit the Lin family.

Learning that Lin Wanyi lived in Wan Cheng Villas, she was shocked.
“Wanyi, you’re so low-key! I’ve known you for so long, and I never knew you lived in Wan Cheng Villas!”

She had assumed the Lin family lived in a luxury apartment like hers. But they actually lived in a villa district.

He Suosuo never imagined she might one day enter Wan Cheng Villas.

The community was strictly guarded; delivery men and outsiders couldn’t enter freely.

Lin Wanyi smirked with pride.
“It’s nothing. Wan Cheng Villas has high-end and ordinary zones. My family lives in the ordinary zone. A villa costs about twenty million. The truly expensive ones—Buildings 8, 9, 10—average fifty million each.”

He Suosuo was shocked—first time learning villas had tiers.

“So anyone in Building 8 must be rich or extremely wealthy?”

“Yes,” Lin Wanyi nodded.

He Suosuo linked arms with Lin Wanyi, eyes full of envy.
“Wanyi, you’re so lucky! Born rich, living in such an amazing environment every day.”

Lin Wanyi mingled with the elite daily. Though the He family had improved their lifestyle, she craved the upper echelon. She’d visit more often, hoping to meet the wealthy there.

He Suosuo narrowed her eyes.

If Jiang Ning could marry into a wealthy family, so could she!

Other than looks, what did she lack compared to Jiang Ning?

She would surpass that village girl, marry into wealth, and change her class!

Walking, they soon reached the villa’s gate.

Someone was at the entrance, apparently without a key card, rummaging in her bag.

Wearing a baseball cap, only her pale side profile was visible.

Even from the side, He Suosuo recognized her immediately.

Jiang Ning?

What was she doing here?

Hitting on rich men?

Tsk tsk tsk. That village girl had no shame.

A divorced “second-hand” woman, dreaming of marrying into a rich family? Foolish.

He Suosuo raised her voice, trying to embarrass Jiang Ning.
“Wanyi, look at that shameless poor girl! No key card, yet she tries to sneak in to hit on rich men!”

Lin Wanyi snorted, unimpressed, producing her key card.
“I’ve seen people like this before.”

Seeing this, He Suosuo felt triumphant. She had a friend in Wan Cheng Villas. Jiang Ning? She would be blocked at the gate. That’s the difference between people.

Lin Wanyi handed the key card to the guard, head held high.
“Xiao Zhang, don’t waste words. Just turn her away. You really think she forgot her card?”

The guard looked uneasy.
“Miss Lin, you are the owner. This lady might also be an owner—just temporarily without her card. I can’t remove her without permission.”

Jiang Ning… an owner here?

Preposterous.

He Suosuo laughed scornfully.
“Her life’s peak is being a security guard! Look at her shabby appearance. Could she afford a villa? People like her deserve only low-income housing! If I were her, I’d just jump in the river to save face!”

“Found it.”

At that moment…

Jiang Ning produced a black card from her bag, holding it delicately between her pale fingers, and handed it to the guard.