He was left speechless, his expression freezing for a moment.
She pulled open the car door and stepped out without another word.
The door slammed shut with a loud "bang," snapping him out of his daze.
Stiffly, he stared at her retreating figure. She was really something else!
Sang Ning entered the company and glanced at her phone, noticing that Ji Yan had replied to her message.
["I'm feeling much better now."]
She frowned in confusion. The tone was so different that she wondered if someone else had sent it.
Without hesitation, she dialed Ji Yan’s number.
Ji Yan answered, "Hello?"
Sang Ning asked, "Are you okay, Xiao Yan?"
"I’m fine," Ji Yan replied breezily. "I drank too much last night and just slept it off."
Relieved, Sang Ning said, "I was worried you might be feeling sick. Make sure you rest well."
"Got it."
"Are you coming down with a cold? Your voice sounds a little hoarse."
There was a three-second pause before Ji Yan responded, "Oh, really?"
Sang Ning reminded her, "Don’t forget to take some medicine."
"Got it."
Just then, Xu Yan knocked on the door with a file in hand. "Young Master Nan."
Sang Ning nodded and said into the phone, "I have to go now. Talk later."
"Sure, let’s meet up this weekend."
"Okay, bye."
After hanging up, Sang Ning took the folder from Xu Yan. "This is the detailed data from the tech department on the last batch of components, along with the budget report I compiled."
She flipped through the pages but suddenly paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind.
Why did Ji Yan seem… off?
---
The next morning, Sang Ning and He Siyu headed to Yinghang School together.
The institution housed elementary, middle, and high school divisions—it was also He Siyu’s alma mater.
The Maybach came to a stop at the school gates. He Siyu stepped out first, then took Sang Ning’s hand as they walked in.
Sang Ning looked around curiously. "So this is where you studied?"
"Mm."
Just then, the bell for break time rang, and the entire building erupted with the cheerful shouts of children pouring out of classrooms, backpacks bouncing.
Sang Ning’s eyes sparkled. "It’s so lively here!"
He Siyu swept a disinterested glance over the noisy, energetic crowd of elementary students and frowned.
What was so fascinating about this?
But just as he was about to say so, a thought struck him.
The corner of his lips curved, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "If you like it so much, we can have one of our own."
Sang Ning froze, meeting his suddenly bright gaze.
It suddenly occurred to her—he hadn’t used protection the last couple of times.
Their child.
The idea blossomed in her mind, stirring a strange yet exhilarating feeling.
She couldn’t quite picture He Siyu as a father.
"Uncle!" He Yun'an’s voice rang out from above.
He Siyu looked up to see the boy waving at them from the third floor.
Taking Sang Ning’s hand, he said, "Let’s go."
As they ascended the stairs, He Yun'an rushed down to greet them, his bright smile tinged with a hint of flattery. "Uncle, Auntie, you’re here!"
Sang Ning blinked. This little rascal knew how to play his cards right.
She’d assumed he was always this bold.
Meanwhile, the man beside her—who was usually the bold one—fixed He Yun'an with a cold stare. "What trouble did you stir up this time?"
He Yun'an mumbled, "Just a little argument with a classmate. And he already forgave me."
He Siyu arched a brow. "He forgave you? Then why did the teacher call us in?"
Wide-eyed and innocent, He Yun'an shrugged. "No idea."
He Siyu’s lips thinned. "You’d better not know. Otherwise, you’ll regret it."
The boy paled, shrinking back slightly.
Sang Ning cut in. "Where’s the teacher?"
"In the office." He Yun'an quickly led the way.
The door to the teacher’s office was wide open. Inside, aside from He Yun'an’s homeroom teacher, Teacher Li, were the other party involved—the classmate He Yun'an had fought with and his parents.
The moment He Siyu and Sang Ning entered, the lively chatter in the room died instantly.
He Siyu wore a black suit, his tie loosened and the top buttons of his shirt undone. His sharp, cold demeanor was unmistakable.
Sang Ning, in contrast, wore a soft lilac blouse and a white knee-length skirt, her wavy hair cascading down her back. Her gentle elegance stood in stark yet harmonious contrast to He Siyu’s intensity.
Teacher Li, after a moment of stunned silence, turned to the more approachable Sang Ning.
"You’re He Yun'an’s…?"
Sang Ning smiled politely. "We’re his uncle and aunt. His parents aren’t in the city, so they entrusted him to us."
He Yun'an’s eyes flickered as he glanced at Sang Ning before lowering his head.
Teacher Li nodded. "I see."
He Siyu cut straight to the point. "What did he do?"
Teacher Li’s expression turned stern. "He Yun'an has been bullying his classmates. His temper is too volatile, and his parents need to address it. Look at what he’s done to these boys."
He Siyu and Sang Ning turned to see two bruised and battered students standing quietly.
He Siyu’s gaze snapped back to He Yun'an. "This is what you called a ‘little argument’?"
He Yun'an jutted his chin out defiantly. "We fought! They just lost."
He Siyu’s brow twitched. Facing Teacher Li, he said with rare reasonableness, "If it was a fight, then it was a fair match. Two against one and they still lost—hardly bullying."
Sang Ning’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The office fell into stunned silence. Even Teacher Li was at a loss for words—she’d never encountered a parent who encouraged such behavior.
The other parent finally exploded. "How is this not bullying when my child is injured like this? You’re going too far!"
Sang Ning quickly mediated. "What he means is that He Yun'an didn’t act out of malice. It was just a childish scuffle that got out of hand."
Teacher Li finally managed, "Children will have conflicts, but fighting is never the solution. Parents should guide them properly."
He Siyu fixed He Yun'an with a piercing look. "What was the fight about?"
The boy kept his head down, picking at his fingers. "Nothing."
Teacher Li sighed. "He’s been stubborn about it. Won’t say a word, just insists it was a disagreement."
He Siyu’s voice dropped dangerously. "He Yun'an, if you don’t speak now, don’t expect me to listen later."
The boy’s face drained of color, but he remained silent.
The atmosphere grew suffocating—even the other parents held their breaths.
Sang Ning rested a hand on He Yun'an’s shoulder and whispered, "If you don’t explain, the blame falls entirely on you. Your uncle always stands up for his own. If you’re in the right, he’ll defend you."
He Yun'an bit his lip, eyes reddening.
"If you take the fall now, you’ll keep doing it forever," Sang Ning pressed.
Finally, the boy muttered, voice thick, "They said I was born but not raised by a mother."
Dead silence.
He Siyu’s gaze sharpened as it landed on the two bruised boys. His voice was icy.
"Then they deserved it."
