An Ning tilted her head.

"That’s not necessary."

"Don’t be shy, I’m strong!"

The woman acted as if she hadn’t heard An Ning’s refusal, reaching for the luggage on her back with an insistent enthusiasm.

Most people would have probably just given in after some token resistance. But this was An Ning.

An Ning sidestepped and took a step back, leaving the woman’s hand to grab at empty air.

"I said I don’t need it. That means I don’t need it. Your strength has nothing to do with me."

An Ning put her luggage on the ground, turned the key, and pushed the door open to go inside.

"Young people are so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little help? I live here, too."

Rejected again, the woman showed no sign of embarrassment. She even started to follow An Ning inside.

An Ning frowned. Holding her luggage in one hand, she blocked the doorway and stared at the woman.

"I didn’t invite you in. To enter uninvited is to be a thief."

"You’re a funny one. Alright, alright, I won’t come in."

The woman remained at the door, continuously craning her neck to peer inside.

"Wow, your room is nice! It’s so big. Are you living here all by yourself?"

"Hey, I saw someone bring you up. That was Director Jin from the factory, wasn’t it?"

"Let me tell you—"

BANG!

An Ning slammed the door shut.

She disliked people prying into her private life, especially with such tactlessness.

The woman at the door’s expression finally shifted. With a telling look on her face, she sauntered off.

Inside the room, An Ning began to unpack.

The room wasn’t particularly large. Opposite the door was a window.

It was originally an eight-person dorm room with four bunk beds, but now only one bunk bed remained.

The bunk bed was placed against the wall. Opposite it were a desk and two chairs. On the desk were a new tea mug, washbasin, meal box, thermos, and other such items.

Next to the desk, there was also a cabinet.

An Ning laid out her bedding, put a few changes of clothes in the cabinet, and took out her own washbasin, tea mug, and toothpaste, placing them on the desk.

An Ning looked around. Seeing nothing else to put away, she grabbed her keys and left.

Just as she opened the door, that woman appeared again.

"Going out, little sister? My name is Wu Meie, but you can just call me Sister E. What’s your name?"

An Ning locked the door, didn’t answer Wu Meie’s question, and went downstairs without saying a word.

Upstairs, Wu Meie returned to her own dorm room and looked out the window, a determined glint in her eye.

She had originally lived in the dorm room An Ning was now in but had been moved out to make space for her.

Wu Meie was full of petty schemes. She believed An Ning must be someone with strong connections. As long as she could get on her good side, sooner or later she’d be able to gain some benefits.

’Looks like I’ll have to make a real investment.’

Wu Meie saw An Ning as just a young girl. She figured she’d be easy to fool and could be won over with a few sweet words.

But she never expected that for someone so young, the girl had quite a temper.

Downstairs, An Ning sensed someone watching her. She whipped her head around and pinpointed Wu Meie’s location.

The piercing gaze from her clear eyes made Wu Meie jump.

An Ning looked away and headed for Director Jin’s office.

Director Jin was waiting for An Ning. With him was the elderly Zhang Qihua.

「Inside the office.」 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"An Ning, these are the meal tickets. Keep them safe. For everything else, just follow Master Zhang’s instructions."

"Thank you."

An Ning casually slipped the meal tickets into her pocket and began her new life at the machinery factory, following Elder Zhang Qihua.

She spent the entire afternoon in the workshop, helping improve part designs and adjust the machines.

At first, many people didn’t understand why a young girl was qualified to work alongside Master Zhang.

After observing An Ning up close that afternoon, they realized that Master Zhang was actually the one doing the learning.

When the bell signaling the end of the workday rang, workers began to file out of the workshop. Most left the factory to head home.

The rest went to the cafeteria to buy dinner before returning to their dorms.

An Ning was among them.

However, she first returned to her dorm to grab the meal box that Director Jin had prepared for her.

When An Ning got to the cafeteria, she got a portion of yellow croaker, some tofu, and some bok choy.

When she went to get her rice, it was white rice—something the An family had, until now, never eaten.

An Ning returned to her dorm with her meal. Just as she reached the third floor, she heard an overly familiar voice.

"There you are! I bought you a canned good. Something extra for your dinner."

Wu Meie deliberately raised her voice so that everyone living on the third floor could hear.

Holding a can of luncheon meat, she brandished it as she approached An Ning.

"How was your day? Are you tired?"

Wu Meie prattled on, acting as if the two of them were the best of friends, which made An Ning stop in her tracks.

"Excuse me, Miss. I do not know you, nor do I wish to. Please refrain from using a tone that invites misunderstanding."

"I have no interest whatsoever in that can you’re holding. Please stop pretending we’re familiar with each other."

"Remember this: do not bother me again."

With that said, An Ning completely ignored the curious stares of the onlookers.

She was only here at the machinery factory to help. She knew little about the ways of the world, but she was learning every day.

But some things, she understood perfectly.

Director Jin needed her. Her knowledge far surpassed the current development of Ancient Earth. This was the ultimate source of her confidence. She didn’t need to put on an act for anyone, much less compromise her own comfort for the sake of so-called "face."

Holding her meal box, An Ning left Wu Meie standing there with a finally-cracked expression, opened her door, and went inside.

Wu Meie, left standing in the hallway, gave an awkward laugh and casually wiped the corner of her eye.

"I guess I overreached. I really thought we were friends."

"Wu Meie, what is my name? How old am I? Where do I live? Do you know?"

Holding a washbasin, An Ning stood opposite Wu Meie, her expression extremely serious.

An Ning’s questions stopped Wu Meie’s pitiful act cold. She didn’t know.

"You don’t know."

An Ning took a step forward. Wu Meie was so frightened she took a step back. ’How can a young girl look so terrifying?’

"We met for the very first time at noon today. We have never been friends."

"Stop using such vague words to invent a relationship between us. I don’t like it."

"Got it?"

An Ning took another step forward, making Wu Meie nod repeatedly. Forcing a smile, she said, "I get it, I get it."

An Ning stared at Wu Meie for a few more seconds before taking her basin to the water room to fetch water and wash her face.

With her back to An Ning, Wu Meie felt the contemptuous gazes of the people nearby. She snorted coldly, puffed out her chest, and walked away with her head held high.

’She hadn’t done anything wrong, in her opinion. She was just trying to live a better life, that’s all.’

’Since it didn’t work out, so be it.’

After washing up, An Ning fetched some more water and returned to her dorm. She closed the door tightly and finally took her first bite of her meal.

’White rice... it’s delicious.’

The last time she came to the machinery factory, she had eaten steamed buns.

’I’ll have to buy some to take home when I leave.’