Sang Ning took a deep breath and finally spoke calmly, "No, I wasn’t home today. Yesterday, Grandpa asked me to go back to the Nan residence. There was some trouble at the company, and by the time I finished, it was already late, so I stayed there."
When Sang Ning lied, her tone was always eerily composed.
Ji Yan naturally believed her. "Alright then. Are you free for lunch? Let’s meet and discuss this Zhan Yijun situation."
Sang Ning thought for a moment before agreeing. "Sure, let’s meet at twelve."
Hanging up the phone, Sang Ning finally exhaled in relief.
He Siyu’s arm around her waist tightened slightly, pulling her closer as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.
Sang Ning pressed a hand against his chest. "I need to get up."
"Mhm." He kissed her lips instead, her resisting hand soft against his chest.
She turned her face away. "I really have to go! Otherwise, I’ll be late."
As she dodged, his kiss trailed from the corner of her lips to her cheek. Undeterred, he continued pressing kisses there. "Just a little longer."
Sang Ning: "..."
She couldn’t take it anymore. "He Siyu, were you born in the Year of the Dog?"
He paused, opening his unusually clear eyes to look at her. "Why do you ask?"
She studied him seriously. "You’re clingier than a dog."
"..."
He stiffened before scowling. "You’re comparing me to a dog?!"
She still had to go out and didn’t want to argue. Knowing how petty he could be, she placated him half-heartedly. "No, I’m not."
He narrowed his eyes. "You’re just saying that."
She widened her eyes. "When did I? Besides, dogs are adorable."
Adorable?
The word echoed in his ears as if he’d misheard. In his twenty-eight years of life, no one had ever described him with such a term.
His gaze momentarily blanked before meeting her clear eyes. A flicker of something secretively pleased flashed in his expression before he stiffly raised his voice. "I’m nothing like that!"
She nodded. "Yeah, you’re not."
Seeing the blatant dismissal in her eyes, his chest tightened uncomfortably.
She pushed him away. "I’m getting up."
But his arm around her waist pulled her back again, his shameless lips finding hers once more. "Just one more kiss."
Sang Ning: "..."
Even a dog wouldn’t be this clingy.
Half an hour later, Sang Ning finally got out of bed. She freshened up quickly, applying light makeup—mostly to cover the love bites on her neck.
An hour later, she was ready to leave.
He Siyu walked in with a glass of milk, setting it beside her. "Drink some to settle your stomach."
Sang Ning rarely had an appetite right after waking up. If time was tight, she usually skipped breakfast, especially since she’d be having lunch soon anyway.
But He Siyu had already warmed the milk for her, so she took a couple of sips. "I’m heading out. When are you leaving?"
"Soon."
Sang Ning checked the time—11:30 a.m. Perfect for meeting Ji Yan.
Setting the glass down, she grabbed her purse. "I’ll go first. Remember to lock up and open the windows for ventilation when you leave."
He Siyu leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, his tone casual. "Mhm."
"Bye then!"
Sang Ning slipped on her shoes, pulled open the door, and slammed it shut behind her with a loud "bang."
He Siyu sauntered into the living room and sat on the couch, picking up the half-finished glass of milk she’d left behind. Taking a sip, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Young Master," the butler’s voice came through.
"Pack my things and have them sent to Palm Bay."
"Ah? Understood."
---
Ji Yan had chosen a Thai restaurant in the International Trade Center. Luckily, Sang Ning’s new place was nearby—just a ten-minute drive.
Sang Ning arrived ten minutes early, just as Ji Yan did.
"So, what exactly happened yesterday?" Sang Ning asked as soon as she sat down.
Ji Yan excitedly plopped onto the sofa chair beside her. "Last night, Zhan Yijun was out drinking with friends at a bar—Chen Zheng was there too. When everyone else left, the two of them started getting handsy and ended up kissing! Here, I’ll show you the video!"
The private investigator Ji Yan hired was thorough, providing both photos and footage.
Ji Yan tapped her phone screen, playing the video for Sang Ning.
In the clip, the gathering was winding down, with people leaving one after another.
Chen Zheng went to help Zhan Yijun up. "Stop drinking. I’ll take you home."
Zhan Yijun slapped his hand away irritably. "Mind your own business!"
"Yijun, how can I not worry about you?" Chen Zheng sounded anxious.
Zhan Yijun scoffed. "Shouldn’t you be worrying about your precious little wife instead?"
"Why bring her into this? Siya might be spoiled, but I’d never abandon you!" Chen Zheng declared firmly.
Zhan Yijun’s eyes flashed with annoyance—but more than that, resentment.
Chen Zheng reached for her again. "Yijun, let me take you home."
She shoved him off, but after a few more tugs, they both stumbled back onto the booth’s couch, falling into each other’s arms. Whether it was the dim bar lighting, the alcohol, or the charged atmosphere, their faces suddenly drew close—and they kissed.
Sang Ning frowned and looked away. Disgusting.
Ji Yan turned off her phone, grinning. "Should we just leak the photos and video? I’ve had enough of Zhan Yijun’s antics! This way, neither of them gets off easy!"
Sang Ning shook her head. "No rush."
Ji Yan furrowed her brows. "Why not? Don’t tell me you’re feeling soft-hearted for these two cheaters?!"
Sang Ning smiled faintly. "Slow and steady. A dull blade cuts deeper."
Ji Yan’s eyes lit up. "That’s my girl! Only you’d think like this!"
"Besides, if we expose them outright, Zhan Yijun will definitely get dumped by the Qi Family. Chen Zheng might even divorce Nan Siya, and who knows—maybe he’d end up with Zhan Yijun after all," Sang Ning said coolly.
"Ah! You’re right! But honestly, Zhan Yijun would never stoop to Chen Zheng’s level," Ji Yan mused, rubbing her chin.
They all moved in the same circles, so Ji Yan knew Zhan Yijun well—they’d been rivals since childhood.
Zhan Yijun cared too much about status. The Chen Family’s standing was beneath her; otherwise, why would Chen Zheng have remained just a friend all these years?
Even if Zhan Yijun wasn’t thrilled with her current fiancé, Mr. Qi, she’d still choose him over Chen Zheng in a heartbeat.
Sang Ning’s eyes glinted with mockery. "Right now, she’d never consider him. But if this scandal blows up and the Qi Family calls off the engagement, she’ll have no choice but to settle for Chen Zheng."
"True enough!" Ji Yan grimaced. "I still don’t get why she’s messing around with Chen Zheng in the first place."
"It’s just spite," Sang Ning said icily.
"The Chen Family isn’t prominent, but Chen Zheng isn’t bad-looking—young, decent enough. Nan Siya ‘married up’ by landing him. Even if Zhan Yijun doesn’t want him, she can’t stand the idea of someone else taking what she sees as hers."
If Mr. Qi had been a young and handsome man, Zhan Yijun wouldn’t have spared Chen Zheng so much as a glance.
Originally, Zhan Yijun hadn’t even considered Chen Zheng worth her attention—otherwise, how could he have ended up marrying Nan Siya?
But as fate would have it, Mr. Qi was old, unattractive, and divorced, which left Zhan Yijun with a lingering sense of resentment.
From the moment Sang Ning learned about Zhan Yijun’s engagement, she had anticipated this outcome. None of this came as a surprise to her.
Ji Yan couldn’t help rolling her eyes. "Ugh, I can’t stand those two. So, what’s your plan?"
Sang Ning arched a brow, her clear, glass-like eyes glinting with an unusual intensity. "Every setback is an opportunity in disguise. Such a glaring weakness—how could I not make the most of it?"
Ji Yan’s eyes instantly lit up. "What do you want?"
With a faint smile, Sang Ning replied, "I want to devour the Chen Family."
—
After having dinner with Ji Yan that evening, Sang Ning finally headed home.
Ji Yan had wanted to drag her out for karaoke, but Sang Ning had work early the next morning, so they agreed to go another time. Besides, she was exhausted—she hadn’t slept well the night before.
Standing in the elevator, she rubbed her sore legs.
With a soft "ding," the doors slid open, and she stepped out, pushing open her front door.
The apartment was brightly lit, the spacious living room now cluttered with several large boxes, making her wonder for a moment if she’d walked into the wrong place.
Seated casually on the sofa, flipping through a magazine, was a man still dressed in loungewear. He glanced up at the sound of her arrival and said casually, "You’re back?"
