She released her grip on his forearm, and He Siyu's gaze flickered slightly as he turned to look at her.
With He Siyu's arrival, all eyes in the banquet hall fell upon them, many scrutinizing Nan Sangning.
"Siyu, who is this young lady...?"
Sangning forced a smile. "I'm Nan Sangning. Grandma He invited me."
Grandma He froze for a moment, glancing at He Siyu before quickly nodding in agreement. "Yes, I asked A-Yu to invite Sangning."
Sangning stepped forward toward Grandma He, greeting her softly. "Grandma He."
Grandma He took her hand and sat her down, introducing her warmly to the others. "This is Sangning. Don’t let her young age fool you—she’s poised and dignified, and she plays the pipa beautifully."
The guests finally relaxed, chiming in with polite smiles. "So you’re the guest Grandma He invited. No wonder she adores you—you’re so refined and well-mannered."
When they first saw He Siyu enter with this girl, they had nearly mistaken her for his girlfriend!
What a scare.
Lin Shuyan’s stiff expression eased slightly, her racing heart settling back into place.
"Anyone who catches Mom’s eye must be exceptional. Her standards have always been high."
The speaker was a middle-aged noblewoman, dressed elegantly in a long qipao, her hair neatly coiled—a picture of grace and sophistication.
This was Grandma He’s second daughter-in-law, Qin Baozhen.
Her words weren’t wrong. Grandma He was warm and kind, especially fond of the younger generation, but with so many vying for her favor, it was always clear whether her smiles were mere courtesy or genuine affection.
Grandma He spared no praise. "Of course. Among all the young ones, Sangning stands out the most."
Sangning smiled shyly.
Lin Shuyan’s expression darkened imperceptibly. Right in front of her, Grandma He was elevating Nan Sangning to the heavens?
She refused to be overshadowed by the granddaughter of some nouveau riche family.
Qin Baozhen quickly echoed the sentiment. "I agree. She carries herself like a true lady of noble upbringing—her family must have raised her impeccably."
Grandma He chuckled. "Talent like this comes from personal insight."
Their lighthearted banter dispelled the tension from the moment the doors had first opened.
Of course, no one would dare question why Grandma He had invited an outsider to a family banquet. As long as she was happy, she could invite whomever she pleased.
He Siyu remained standing where he was, watching Sangning converse softly with his grandmother, his gaze darkening.
Grandma He had initially misunderstood too—when He Siyu brought Sangning along, she’d thought the two had finally gotten together, only to be disappointed once again.
Still, she was delighted to see Sangning and eagerly pulled her into conversation.
Lin Shuyan, on the other hand, found herself unable to interject. Qin Baozhen tactfully steered her away.
"Auntie, why are you boosting Nan Sangning’s reputation? She’s from a nouveau riche family—what’s so praiseworthy about her?" Lin Shuyan fumed.
Qin Baozhen shot her a warning look. "Grandma He likes her. Just go along with it. Do you really want to show your displeasure in front of her?"
Lin Shuyan choked back a retort, unable to argue but still seething with resentment.
"How many times have I told you to keep your composure? Grandma He can’t stand impetuous people. I specifically arranged for you to attend this He family banquet so we could bring up your marriage to Siyu."
"Commander He even called to remind us to keep an eye on Siyu’s marriage prospects, worried he’s too reckless to settle down. At a time like this, you’d better act the part—even if you have to fake it."
Lin Shuyan swallowed her frustration. "Understood."
"Instead of wasting energy on that girl, why not use this chance to reconnect with Siyu? You grew up together—no one else shares that bond."
Lin Shuyan gave a reluctant nod. Qin Baozhen led her back to the banquet, heading straight for He Siyu.
He Siyu rarely made public appearances, and since his arrival, he’d been constantly surrounded by well-wishers.
Most were elders, so he couldn’t easily brush them off. His gaze drifted back to Nan Sangning, still chatting with Grandma He—she hadn’t spared him a single glance since entering.
Suppressing his irritation, he forced himself to engage in polite conversation.
"Siyu," Qin Baozhen greeted warmly.
He Siyu gave a slight nod. "Auntie."
"It’s been so long since we last saw you."
"I’ve been busy with work."
Qin Baozhen smiled. "I know you’re occupied. You’ve always had your own path, and with Huiyao growing stronger every day, your father may not say it, but he’s incredibly proud."
He Siyu replied flatly, "You flatter me."
Qin Baozhen shifted the topic. "Speaking of which, your father called recently. He asked us to help you consider marriage. Now that your company is stable, it’s time to think about settling down."
He Siyu’s eyes flicked back to Nan Sangning—still no reaction.
He refused to believe she hadn’t heard.
Even Grandma had glanced over.
Restraining his impatience, he answered coolly, "You’re right."
Qin Baozhen nudged Lin Shuyan forward. "Shuyan grew up with you. Out of all the youngsters, she was always the one trailing after you, like a little shadow."
Lin Shuyan feigned embarrassment. "I wasn’t that bad!"
He Siyu’s lips thinned. "Really? I don’t remember much from childhood."
"You’ve never been fond of girls, always complaining they were too fussy. You only ever played with Xingchen, Song Han, and the other boys—Shuyan was the only girl who could keep up."
Qin Baozhen laughed warmly. "Frankly, with your unruly temperament, no one but Shuyan could tolerate you. Finding a wife won’t be easy, but in my opinion, she’s the most suitable."
He Siyu’s gaze slid past Qin Baozhen, locking onto Nan Sangning, a storm brewing in his eyes.
Suddenly, Sangning said something to Grandma He, who nodded in approval. She stood, turning—only to meet his icy glare.
She paused. He took a step forward, but before he could reach her, she averted her eyes and walked away without a word.
He Siyu froze, his chest tightening as if gripped by an invisible hand.
Sangning moved swiftly, skirting the edges of the banquet hall before pushing open the doors and disappearing without a backward glance.
"Siyu?" Qin Baozhen called when he didn’t respond.
He Siyu tore his gaze away, his expression unreadable but his voice sharp with cold restraint. "You’re mistaken, Auntie. Lin Shuyan has never had it easy with me either."
Qin Baozhen stiffened. Lin Shuyan’s face paled.
He Siyu had no patience left. "I have urgent business at the company. Excuse me."
With that, he turned and strode out, leaving the entire banquet hall in stunned silence.
Grandma He sighed, shaking her head.
—
"Nan Sangning!"
He Siyu caught up to her outside the venue, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back.
Sangning stopped but didn’t resist, meeting his gaze calmly. "What is it?"
His grip tightened. "Why did you leave?"
"This isn’t where I belong."
"Why not?"
"I thought it was an auction."
"What if it's not an auction?"
She pressed her lips together and fell silent.
He fixed his gaze on her. "Didn't you hear? They're introducing me to potential marriage partners."
