If he truly cared for her, he wouldn’t have let his son publicly humiliate her.
While allowing his son to play the villain, watching her get isolated and ostracized, he now steps forward pretending to be the good guy. Sang Ning had seen such tricks far too many times.
"Of course!"
Nan Wenyue took her hand. "Your parents are fools, neglecting their own flesh and blood for some fake daughter. Even I can’t stand it. Don’t worry, from now on, your auntie will protect you."
Sang Ning blinked, forcing a smile. "Thank you, Auntie."
Nan Wenyue’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. This girl was still easy to manipulate. With the entire Nan Family turning against her, a few sweet words were enough to make her grateful.
"Oh, child, why thank me? Your auntie just feels for you."
Nan Wenyue studied Sang Ning again, noting the trust in her eyes before cautiously continuing.
"I heard you visited the He Family?"
Sang Ning’s brow lifted slightly. So this was the real purpose.
"Yes," she nodded. "I happen to play the pipa, so Old Madam He invited me over."
"My, you’re truly remarkable, skilled in such an art!" Nan Wenyue’s eyes brightened, greed barely concealed. "Did Old Madam He say anything else? Did you meet anyone else there?"
The He Family stood at the pinnacle of Jing City’s elite, and their ancestral residence rarely entertained outsiders. Ordinary people couldn’t even set foot in Ziteng Lane.
But precisely because of the He Family’s prominence, even the slightest scrap of information about them could translate into immense benefits.
The Nan Family couldn’t even brush shoulders with the He Family, let alone Nan Wenyue. Married off young to a husband whose family was inferior to the Nans, she had no chance of climbing that ladder.
At least the Nans had attended Old Madam He’s birthday banquet at Haiyan Heqing. Nan Wenyue’s family hadn’t even made it past the banquet hall doors.
Still, who wouldn’t seize any opportunity to extract even a morsel of information about the He Family?
Sang Ning answered obediently, "Old Madam He praised my pipa playing and asked how I learned."
Nan Wenyue pressed further, "Did you see anyone else?"
Sang Ning hesitated. "Anyone else…?"
She shook her head. "No, I didn’t."
Nan Wenyue’s sharp eyes caught the hesitation. Clearly, she was hiding something.
She wasn’t trusted enough yet.
Nan Wenyue plastered on another smile. "Well, it seems Old Madam He took a liking to you. How impressive that you play the pipa! You must perform for me sometime."
Sang Ning smiled faintly. "Maybe next time."
Trying to fish for information? She’d need to show real sincerity. Did she think a few sweet words could buy boundless benefits? Nothing came that easy.
Just then, Nan Siya slid open the glass door and stepped out. "Auntie? Sister, what are you two doing?"
Nan Wenyue chuckled. "Nothing much. I was just asking Sang Ning if she’s settling in well."
She then adopted a lecturing tone. "Siya, you must get along with your sister. You’re family now—no need to let petty quarrels ruin your bond."
Nan Siya looked baffled. "What are you talking about, Auntie? I’ve never fought with her."
"Of course, of course. I know you’re the most sensible one."
Nan Wenyue had no intention of getting involved, only playing mediator.
Nan Siya glared venomously at Sang Ning. "Don’t think your pitiful act will win you sympathy! Mom and Dad despise you. Even if Auntie pities you, she’s not someone who’d side with you blindly!"
Sang Ning regarded her coolly. "Are you really that afraid?"
Nan Siya’s eyes widened. "What did you say?"
"You’ve already won the ‘love’ of everyone in the Nan Family. Shouldn’t you be brimming with confidence? Why are you so insecure?"
Sang Ning’s tone was casual, yet every word struck Nan Siya like a dagger.
Nan Siya’s voice rose sharply. "Who’s insecure?! Nan Sang Ning, don’t think your silver tongue can outmatch me! Take a good look at yourself—you’re nothing but a drowned rat!"
Nan Wenyue watched the argument escalate and hurriedly interjected, "Oh dear, you’re sisters! What’s all this fighting? If your mother hears, she’ll be heartbroken."
Sang Ning suddenly smirked. "Oh?"
Nan Siya froze. That smile sent chills down her spine.
Her face stiffened, but she forced herself to sneer. "Who do you think you are? A country bumpkin who crawled out of the mud! Mom and Dad are already sick of you—they wish you’d never even come back—AH!"
Sang Ning kicked her squarely.
With a loud splash, Nan Siya tumbled into the garden pond.
Nan Wenyue stood frozen in shock, staring at Sang Ning in disbelief. She’d actually dared to kick Nan Siya into the pond—without a shred of fear!
The ornamental pond, only waist-deep and home to a few koi fish, left Nan Siya floundering before she scrambled to her feet, shrieking like a madwoman.
"Nan Sang Ning! Have you lost your mind?! How dare you kick me?!"
Drenched from head to toe, her hair plastered to her face like a ghost’s, Nan Siya didn’t even bother fixing her appearance—her pride was the last thing on her mind. She was seething, her chest heaving with rage.
Sang Ning tilted her head, looking down at her from the bank, her lips curling. "Didn’t you claim yesterday that I wanted you dead? Doesn’t this align perfectly with your expectations?"
Nan Siya’s face twisted.
Yesterday, she’d gambled everything, framing Sang Ning for pushing her down the stairs. She’d assumed Sang Ning would cower in fear, living like a wretched mouse under their parents’ disdain, forever in her shadow.
But she never imagined Sang Ning would actually kick her into a pond!
Nan Siya trembled with fury. "You—just wait! I’ll tell Mom and Dad! They’ll see your true colors—"
Before she could finish, the glass door swung open again. Wen Meiling rushed out, drawn by the commotion.
"What’s going on?!"
Her face paled at the sight of Nan Siya—soaked, disheveled, the bandage on her forehead drenched and stained with blood.
"Siya! Siya, what happened?!"
Nan Siya burst into hysterical sobs. "Mom! Nan Sang Ning—she kicked me in! She really wants me dead…"
Wen Meiling whirled around, stunned that Sang Ning would dare strike again so brazenly.
But when she turned, she met only innocent eyes.
"I didn’t. Siya, didn’t you trip and fall in by accident?"
Nan Siya’s pupils shrank in shock. How could she still lie so shamelessly?!
"You liar!" she screeched. "You kicked me! You’re insane—you want me dead!"
Wen Meiling's gaze at Sang Ning was filled with doubt and disappointment—how could her own daughter be so vicious!
Sang Ning turned to Nan Wenyue and said, "Aunt, you were there and saw everything. You’ve always been fair—you’ll testify for me, won’t you?"
