Sang Ning placed the spray back into her small bag.
He Siyu glanced at Du Yao, who was still curled up on the sofa howling in pain, then indifferently averted his gaze.
Manager Zheng stepped forward and asked quietly, "President He, what should we do with... this person?"
"The café is too noisy."
Manager Zheng immediately understood. "Right, this café has always prided itself on being high-end and private. Too much noise would ruin its reputation."
He turned to the café manager. "Quickly get a couple of people to carry him out. Causing a scene like this to grab attention is just bad for business."
"Got it."
Several male staff members hurried over and forcibly dragged out Du Yao, who was still screaming and struggling.
The café soon returned to its serene atmosphere.
Manager Zheng and the others exchanged glances before tactfully dispersing, quietly exiting to avoid being in the way.
Sang Ning thought for a moment, then sincerely thanked him. "Thank you for your help, President He."
Though she had been prepared.
He Siyu lowered his gaze, taking in her appearance—dressed like a delicate gift, her cheeks adorned with a soft peach-blossom makeup, lips glistening, and wide, fluttering eyes fixed unwaveringly on him.
His expression faltered slightly before he looked away, avoiding her gaze.
"An arranged match set up by your family?"
Sang Ning nodded, her tone obedient. "It’s my parents' wish, after all. I couldn’t refuse."
He Siyu gave her a sidelong glance. She was surprisingly composed.
In their circles, selling off daughters wasn’t uncommon. He didn’t need to ask to understand the situation.
The Nan Family truly had no shame.
"Have you thought about how you’ll handle things when you go back?"
"More or less."
"Hmm?"
A hint of coldness flickered beneath Sang Ning’s docile expression. "It’ll have to be dealt with, one way or another."
Not wanting to linger, she said directly, "I’ll take my leave now."
"Wait."
She paused and turned back to look at him.
His tone was casual. "If you beg me, I might take pity and help you out."
Her brow arched slightly. "Thank you for your kindness, President He, but I don’t need it for now."
He Siyu stared at her, his gaze deepening. "Fine."
Sang Ning smiled. "I’ll handle my own affairs. You should focus on your own matters."
With that, she turned and hurried away.
He Siyu tilted his head slightly. His matters?
What matters?
Sang Ning left the café and hailed a cab.
She unlocked her phone to find dozens of messages from Ji Yan.
[I found out! That Du Yao is absolute trash—stay away from him!]
[He’s a regular at all kinds of shady entertainment spots, into everything, and has a particular taste for underage girls. His family had to pay a fortune to cover up his latest scandal.]
[Now the Du Family is desperate to marry him off—partly to clean up his mess, partly to salvage his reputation, and partly in hopes that marriage will 'reform' him.]
[His reputation in our circles is ruined. No respectable family would willingly marry their daughter to him—it’s practically throwing her into a pit of fire!]
[The Chen Family pushing this match is rotten to the core! They’re eyeing the benefits from the Du Family’s project and coaxed your parents into selling you off!]
Sang Ning’s eyes grew colder as she read the flood of messages.
She had asked Ji Yan to investigate Du Yao the day before. Initially, Ji Yan only knew he was a playboy who cycled through girlfriends, but digging deeper revealed the ugly truth.
Sang Ning smirked. Nan Siya, you’ve outdone yourself—going out of your way to set me up with a man like this, just to make sure I suffer.
When Sang Ning returned to the Nan Family home, she found them waiting for her.
"You finally show up! What did you do to Du Yao?!" Nan Zhenming was the first to demand an answer.
Du Yao, humiliated and sprayed with pepper spray, hadn’t let it slide. He’d immediately called the Nan Family to complain.
Nan Siya looked equally shocked. "Do you even realize Du Yao is the Du Family’s most favored youngest son? You’ve made enemies of them—how are we supposed to face them now?"
"Sang Ning, how could you be so irresponsible?!" Wen Meiling scolded.
"Do Mom and Dad know what kind of person Du Yao really is?" Sang Ning asked.
Nan Zhenming hesitated before retorting sternly, "A family like the Du Family is already out of your league! What right do you have to be picky? Look at yourself—what are you even worth?"
Wen Meiling chimed in, "Yes, Du Yao might be a bit wild in his youth, but what man isn’t? Once he’s married, he’ll settle down. You should be grateful—with your background, landing the Du Family is a miracle!"
Sang Ning swept a cold glance over them, her lips curling into a mocking smile. Instead of arguing, she softened her tone.
"I acted impulsively today, and I regret it. Why not give me another chance? Let me meet Du Yao again—I’ll apologize properly."
Wen Meiling and Nan Zhenming were taken aback, their accusatory words stuck in their throats.
Nan Siya’s eyes widened in disbelief. What was wrong with Sang Ning?
Shouldn’t she have come back raging, fighting with the family, and then being forced into the marriage by their furious parents?
Yet here she was, asking for another chance?!
Sang Ning continued earnestly, "I grew up in the mountains and rarely interacted with strangers, especially men. I was nervous today. Please give me another opportunity—for the sake of the Nan Family’s future, I’ll behave."
Faced with such sincerity, what could Nan Zhenming and Wen Meiling say?
After all, wasn’t Sang Ning’s sheltered upbringing their own doing?
Wen Meiling’s voice gentled. "Fine, I’ll try to smooth things over. You’ll meet him again, but Sang Ning—you must be sensible. A match like this doesn’t come easily."
"Don’t mess it up next time!" Nan Zhenming snapped.
Sang Ning nodded obediently.
"I’ll go upstairs now."
"Go ahead."
Upstairs, the tension that had been building in the Nan Family dissolved into eerie harmony.
An hour later, a knock sounded at Sang Ning’s door.
She opened it to find Nan Muchen standing outside.
"Mom and Dad talked to Du Yao. He’s willing to give you another chance. Here’s the address."
Sang Ning took the note from him—it was a hotel address.
"Don’t cause any more trouble for the family! If you ruin this and offend the Du Family, who knows what’ll happen to us!" Nan Muchen warned harshly.
Sang Ning tucked the note into her palm and met his gaze. "Oh, it’s worse than that. If this marriage falls through, we won’t just anger the Du Family—we’ll also cross the Chen Family."
After all, the Chen Family had their own stake in this deal.
"You’d better remember that!"
Sang Ning curved her lips into a smile. "Of course I know. I also know that the success of the last collaboration with the Chen Family was funded by the Nan Family, facilitated by the Chen Family, and the profits were split seventy-thirty between the two. This time, to secure the Du Family's project, the Nan Family is offering a daughter and money, while the Chen Family gives nothing and walks away with a major deal."
Nan Muchen frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
"Today, the Nan Family is helping the Chen Family secure this project, which will finally allow them to recover. Siya is lucky—next year, she’ll marry into the Chen Family and live a life of luxury as the esteemed Mrs. Chen. But by then, the Nan Family will have been drained dry by the Chens. By the time the family falls into your hands, you’ll barely be clinging on as a puppet."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"You must be aware too—Siya loves Chen Zheng. Even before marriage, she’s eagerly paving the way for the Chen Family. Once they’re married..."
Sang Ning sighed, her tone earnest. "I’m not like Siya, A’Chen. You know your sister is a traditional woman. You’re the only son in our family, my sole reliance. I understand my duty—to dedicate myself to the Nan Family and support you, our future heir. Anything that benefits the Nan Family and you, your sister is willing to do."
Nan Muchen stiffened. He might not believe everything else, but no one in the Nan Family was more traditional than Sang Ning. She even kept the virtues of feminine propriety and discipline close to heart!
