Sang Ning wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned down to press her lips against his.
His entire body seemed to ignite, unable to hold back any longer, he kissed her fiercely, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
His lips trailed down in a series of lingering kisses, his large hand slipping beneath her skirt.
She trembled slightly, her fingers tightening abruptly. He kissed her earlobe, his deep voice murmuring like a whisper, "Yangyang, I missed you so much."
—
The next morning, at eleven o'clock.
A phone ringtone jolted Sang Ning awake. She struggled to open her eyes, trying to reach for her phone but finding herself too weak to move.
Suddenly, an icy phone was pressed against her ear—already answered.
"Sang Ning, why aren't you here yet?"
Wen Meiling's voice came through the receiver, and Sang Ning's eyes snapped open.
Her tone was calm. "Mom, I was too busy with work yesterday and ended up staying at the company."
"Today is Siya's wedding, have you forgotten? The ceremony is about to start."
Without missing a beat, she replied, "I was exhausted and forgot to set an alarm. My apologies, I'll be there soon."
"Hurry up then! The ceremony is already underway!"
The call ended, and Sang Ning let out a slow breath.
When she looked up, she met a pair of dark, unreadable eyes.
"You’ve got quite the talent for lying on the spot. Quick reflexes."
Sang Ning blinked. "Oh, thank you for the praise, President He."
His arm around her waist tightened, pulling her closer. "What did you just call me?"
Feeling the heat of his body, her pulse quickened, and she immediately pushed against him. "I'm going to be late!"
His grip didn’t loosen in the slightest as he kissed her cheek. "Call me Siyu-gege."
"..."
—
An hour later, He Siyu dropped Sang Ning off at Boyuan Hotel.
The union between the Chen and Nan families was naturally grand, booking out the entire hotel for the occasion.
Sang Ning checked her reflection in a compact mirror, ensuring the love marks on her neck were well concealed before snapping it shut and opening the car door.
"I'll head in now."
He Siyu caught her hand. "Will you come back tonight?"
She shook her head. "Not today."
His lips pressed into a straight line. "Hm."
After a pause, she added, "Tomorrow, maybe."
Suppressing the slight curve of his lips, he replied flatly, "Oh."
"I really have to go now." Sang Ning glanced at the time and quickly stepped out of the car, hurrying toward the hotel entrance.
He watched her retreating figure, the corner of his mouth lifting.
The wedding venue was already bustling, the guests long since arrived.
Sang Ning was the only one running late. As she rushed down the empty hallway toward the banquet hall doors, she suddenly heard a familiar voice from around the corner.
"Yijun, how can I not worry about you like this?"
Her hand froze on the door handle. She turned to look.
Around the corner, half of a figure in a black suit was visible.
"None of your business," Zhan Yijun snapped impatiently.
"Your family forced this engagement on you without considering your feelings. I know you're unhappy," Chen Zheng said, his voice laced with concern.
"Does it matter if I'm happy or not? My father only cares about their gold mines."
"Yijun, I don’t want to hear you talk like this. Do you know how much it hurts me?" Chen Zheng sounded desperate.
Sang Ning tilted her head slightly. Chen Zheng’s heart seemed to bruise easily.
This wasn’t unexpected. The moment she learned about Zhan Yijun’s engagement to that grotesquely unattractive older man, she had guessed how things would unfold.
Her lips curled coldly. Not wanting to dirty her ears any further, she pushed open the banquet hall doors and strode inside.
"Sang Ning, what’s the matter with you? You’re so late—the ceremony is already over!" Wen Meiling scolded. "Today is Siya’s wedding!"
Nan Zhenming also reprimanded her, "Do you even care about your sister’s wedding?"
Sang Ning replied evenly, "The loophole from the company’s dual contracts is too severe. Every day we delay, Nan Group loses millions. I couldn’t afford to waste time."
Nan Zhenming’s expression stiffened.
The family patriarch immediately interjected, "Quibbling over trivial matters! Sang Ning handles important affairs. A wedding is just a wedding—why make such a fuss?"
Nan Wenyue chimed in sympathetically, "Yes, Sang Ning works so hard at the company. It pains me to see it."
The patriarch glared at Nan Zhenming. "Your wife has never stepped foot in the company and has no perspective—fine. But you don’t know what’s important either?"
Nan Zhenming and Wen Meiling both flushed, their faces alternating between green and white in humiliation.
The matter was dropped, and Sang Ning finally took her seat, her legs already sore.
Nan Siya emerged in her reception dress—a red qipao embroidered with gold patterns. As the bride, she was the undeniable center of attention, basking in her moment.
When she spotted Sang Ning, she lifted her chin proudly and scoffed. Now that she was the young madam of the Chen family, she was on a whole different level!
Sang Ning remained indifferent, sipping from a glass of warm milk.
He Siyu had slipped it into her bag that morning. Who would’ve thought the young master would personally heat milk for her?
Not that she expected much else from him.
Seeing Sang Ning’s lack of reaction, Nan Siya assumed she was intimidated by the Chen family’s status, finally feeling a sense of triumph.
Nan Siya glanced around and suddenly asked, "Where’s Zheng-gege?"
Wen Meiling also looked around anxiously. "He was just here. Did he go to the restroom?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Chen Zheng walked in—with Zhan Yijun by his side.
Nan Siya’s face instantly darkened.
"What is she doing here?!"
Chen Zheng frowned. "Siya, Yijun is my friend. Of course she’d come to our wedding."
"But she—"
Zhan Yijun sneered. "The only reason I’m here is for A-Zheng’s sake. Did you really think you could invite me?"
Nan Siya’s face flushed crimson. "I’m the young madam of the Chen family! I never invited you!"
Sang Ning arched a brow. Nan Siya had grown bold—daring to assert her status as the rightful wife against Zhan Yijun.
Zhan Yijun’s eyes brimmed with disdain. "A-Zheng, what kind of wife did you marry? Such petty behavior."
"Who are you calling petty?!"
Nan Siya was livid, turning teary-eyed toward Chen Zheng. "Zheng-gege, say something!"
Chen Zheng’s brows knitted tighter. "Siya, today is our wedding. Must you make a scene? You can throw tantrums in private, but must you embarrass both families in public?"
"How am I making a scene…?"
Wen Meiling stood and pulled her aside. "Siya, you’re married now. You need to be understanding and considerate toward Chen Zheng. Don’t be childish."
Even Nan Zhenming scolded lightly, "No manners. For Young Lady Zhan to attend your wedding is an honor. As the hostess, how can you act this way?"
Given the Zhan family’s status, Zhan Yijun’s presence was already a significant gesture.
Nan Siya’s hands trembled with rage, on the verge of tears.
Sang Ning glanced at her. Couldn’t handle it now?
There was plenty more suffering to come.
She lifted her gaze slightly—just in time to meet Zhan Yijun’s eyes.
Sang Ning raised a brow.
Zhan Yijun’s expression darkened slightly as she recalled the lesson the He family had taught her last time for Nan Sang Ning’s sake. A trace of fear crept into her heart.
"Alright, alright, today is your big day. Let’s not spoil the mood," Wen Meiling mediated, pulling Nan Siya away to the dressing room for touch-ups.
Zhan Yijun sat down with a cold face, with Chen Zheng personally keeping her company.
The commotion finally settled.
Old Master Nan shook his head with a grim expression. "Siya is still too incompetent. After marrying into the Chen family, I wonder if she’ll be any help to the Nans."
So useless—even the Chens might not value her much.
Sang Ning curved her lips. "Don’t worry, Grandpa. Siya was raised by the Nan family, after all. She’ll know how to repay the kindness."
Old Master Nan looked at Sang Ning and nodded in relief. After all, Sang Ning was his own granddaughter, inheriting his intelligence and wit, putting his mind at ease.
By nine in the evening, the wedding banquet concluded.
It was already ten by the time Sang Ning got home. She soaked in the bath and collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted.
Her phone buzzed a few times. She rolled over, fished it out, and glanced at the screen.
Ji Yan had sent over a dozen messages.
[Your sister’s finally married off. Must be much quieter at home now, huh?]
[When are you marrying off your brother too?]
[I saw Zhan Yijun’s post on social media—she only posted a photo with Chen Zheng! Your sister’s gonna lose it with her pettiness!]
[OMG, did I miss some juicy drama?!]
Sang Ning grinned, rolling onto her side, when another chat window popped up with a new message.
He Siyu: [Done for the day?]
Sang Ning frowned.
She tapped back to Ji Yan’s chat.
[Major drama. I’ll tell you all about it next time we meet.]
The reply came instantly: [I can’t wait!!]
Sang Ning: [Happy dog.jpg]
She switched back to He Siyu’s chat.
[Just finished.]
He Siyu: [Oh. Remember to come to Huiyao tomorrow for the equity structure discussion.]
Sang Ning: [I’ll come in the afternoon.]
[I’ll pick you up.]
[I can get there myself.]
No further reply came.
She tossed her phone aside, curling into the blankets drowsily.
The next second, her phone rang.
She fumbled for it half-asleep, glanced at the caller ID, and paused.
She answered, "What’s up?"
He Siyu’s deep voice came through: "You sure you don’t want me to pick you up?"
She furrowed her brows. "I’ll just have the driver take me. It’s not a big deal."
"Oh. Fine, then."
She asked, puzzled, "Anything else?"
For him to call over something so trivial—she’d thought it was urgent.
"No."
"..."
Was this really worth a call?
"Tired?" he asked.
Her voice was heavy with sleep, eyelids barely lifting. "Yeah. The wedding had so many guests—had to greet everyone. And we finalized a new deal with the Chens. Just got back now."
She hadn’t slept well yesterday either.
"Then get some rest," he said after a pause, his tone slightly stiff. "Goodnight."
Sang Ning’s eyes flew open. She checked her phone, wondering if she’d misheard.
A smile tugged at her lips. "Goodnight."
She hung up and burrowed back under the covers.
Three minutes later, she suddenly remembered something and dug out her phone again.
She tapped open his WeChat profile, clicked "Edit Alias," and slowly deleted the words "He Siyu."
After a minute of deliberation, she carefully typed out a new name: [Half-Sweet Cake]
