Gu Xingchen: ???
"Are you sure you're marrying Nan Sangning?"
Gu Xingchen could hardly believe it. Nan Sangning, someone so traditional and rule-abiding, had forced He Siyu into marriage.
"Obviously?" He Siyu's tone carried a faint edge.
Gu Xingchen smirked ambiguously. "That’s quite the surprise. Ji Yan told me Nan Sangning’s been buried in Nan Group’s affairs every day. Who knew she’d still find time to rush into marriage?"
He Siyu replied casually, "When a relationship drags on too long without marriage, it breeds insecurity. You wouldn’t understand."
Gu Xingchen had never been in love—his marriage was arranged, devoid of feelings.
Gu Xingchen: ???
Was he actually mocking him now?!
"I’ll let you know once the banquet’s rescheduled. That’s all."
He Siyu hung up and tossed his phone onto the table. Glancing down, he twisted the ring on his left ring finger, a slight curve lifting his lips.
---
Sangning woke up well past noon. Groggy, she dragged herself through a shower and only felt somewhat human after lunch.
Her phone lit up with an instant notification.
Strawberry Cake: [Awake yet? We’re having dinner at Grandma’s tonight.]
She frowned, recalling how he’d lost control the night before, and her chest tightened. Without hesitation, she exited his chat.
More messages flooded in.
Wen Meiling: [Are you and He Siyu getting married? Why didn’t you tell the family?]
Her gaze cooled. After a pause, she typed: [Yes.]
Wen Meiling called immediately.
"Sangning, is it true? You’re really marrying He Siyu?!" Wen Meiling’s voice trembled with excitement.
News had spread like wildfire that morning, bringing a stream of well-wishers to the Nan family’s doorstep. None could believe such fortune had actually landed on them.
Everyone had assumed He Siyu was just toying with her—marriage seemed impossible, given the vast gap in their statuses.
Sangning replied calmly, "Did you need something, Mom?"
Wen Meiling rushed on, "How could you keep this from us? At least bring He Siyu home so your grandfather and father can meet him!"
There was no skipping formalities.
"Tomorrow," Sangning said.
"Perfect! Sangning, listen—don’t be so stubborn. The He family values propriety and lineage. You’re still a Nan daughter. You’ll need the family’s backing."
A subtle threat laced those words.
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing! I’m just looking out for you. Don’t overthink it. Bring He Siyu tomorrow. Siya’s back too—we’ll have a proper reunion."
Sangning pressed her lips together, her eyes turning distant.
After hanging up, her phone buzzed relentlessly.
WeChat was flooded with congratulatory messages.
Her brow furrowed. How had so many people learned about her engagement to He Siyu in just one morning?
Ji Yan’s texts exploded like a barrage:
[You’re marrying He Siyu?!]
[I knew something was off when you bought that ring yesterday!]
[You said it was just a birthday gift!]
[And I believed you!]
[You liar!]
The rapid-fire messages overwhelmed her. She typed back: [Sorry. I wanted to finalize things before telling you.]
Otherwise, given Ji Yan’s big mouth, the news might’ve spread before she even got home last night. It’d have looked like a forced marriage—hardly dignified.
Ji Yan called instantly: "Come down. I’m outside your place!"
Sangning blinked. "How’d you know I was home?"
It was Monday—she should’ve been at the office.
Ji Yan scoffed. "You ignored my texts all morning. Didn’t take a genius to guess you were sleeping in."
Sangning: "..."
"Be right down."
She hung up, hurried to her vanity for light makeup, and dusted extra powder over her neck before rushing downstairs.
Outside Palm Bay, a flashy pink Maserati sat parked. Sangning slid into the passenger seat.
"Brought you cake," she said, lifting a small box.
Ji Yan huffed. "Don’t think this buys your way out! Spill everything!"
Sangning grinned. "Perfect timing—drop me at the office?"
"Sure—wait, no!" Ji Yan hit the gas, then glared. "Stop deflecting!"
Sangning rubbed her nose. "Not much to say. I put the ring on him when I got home."
"And?!"
"He said yes."
Ji Yan gasped. "Ningning, you’re ruthless!"
Sangning froze. "Huh?"
Ji Yan’s excitement eclipsed her anger. "No wonder you’ve got He Siyu wrapped around your finger. My bestie’s a legend!"
Sangning: "..."
Ji Yan’s logic often lost her.
But then Ji Yan frowned. "But you never seemed keen on marriage before?"
Perhaps scarred by her sister’s disastrous marriage, Sangning had always been indifferent to the idea. That’s why Ji Yan had believed the "birthday gift" cover story.
"True," Sangning murmured. "I wasn’t."
"So why now?" Ji Yan eyed her.
"We’ve been together long enough. And the timing’s right," Sangning said diplomatically.
Ji Yan squinted. "That’s it?"
Sangning lowered her lashes, gaze falling on the diamond ring adorning her finger.
The little blue velvet box had sat untouched in her drawer for years, surfacing in her thoughts countless times.
She brushed a thumb over the glittering stone.
"I wanted to give him closure," she said softly. Then, smiling: "And us a happier ending."
