Sang Ning called Uncle Zhang, who immediately drove the car out from the garage to pick her up.
Uncle Zhang was a bit surprised. "Miss, why are you back so soon?"
She had only been inside for half an hour—even a meal would take longer than that.
Sang Ning leaned against the backseat, tilting her head to gaze out the window, her expression unreadable. "Mm."
Seeing her low spirits, Uncle Zhang had a sinking feeling. This isn’t good. Did things go wrong again today?
If that were the case, the old master, the master, and the madam would surely not let Sang Ning off the hook when she returned!
Uncle Zhang didn’t dare ask further and simply drove her back to the Nan residence.
The Nan family villa was brightly lit.
As the car stopped at the entrance, Aunt Chen hurried out to open the door. Sang Ning walked into the living room and saw the entire Nan family already seated, waiting.
But unlike the tense atmosphere last time, this time, the mood was strangely complicated.
"Sang Ning, you're back!" Wen Meiling was the first to stand up, asking urgently, "What happened with Du Yao?"
Clearly, they had already seen the rumors about Chen Zhihan and Du Yao.
Sang Ning lowered her eyes, unable to hide the gloom on her face. "It’s my fault."
"What?"
"I couldn’t compare to Chen Zhihan. I went to the Intercontinental Hotel with the utmost sincerity, even prepared a cake and flowers to apologize to Du Yao, but... but I didn’t expect he was already with Chen Zhihan..."
A deathly silence fell over the Nan family.
So, the rumors were true.
Chen Zhihan really had gotten involved with Du Yao!
Chen Zhihan actually dared to compete with Nan Sang Ning for Du Yao?!
Had she lost her mind?
"Th-this must be a misunderstanding, right?"
Sang Ning shook her head blankly. "But when I entered the room with the hotel staff, I saw them... undressed together. The staff even recorded it with my camera. Do you want to see, Mom and Dad?"
Of course, she had brought the camera back with her.
"No need!" the Nan family chorused in unison.
Sang Ning looked remorseful. "It’s my fault. I couldn’t measure up to Chen Zhihan."
Wen Meiling consoled her. "How is this your fault? The Chen family is the one without shame."
She knew better than anyone how much Sang Ning had invested in this date—Sang Ning had spent two hours just getting ready!
The old master slammed the table in anger. "Utterly shameless! What kind of daughter has the Chen family raised? How dare she do something so disgraceful!"
Nan Siya hurriedly defended her. "It must be a misunderstanding! Sister Zhihan would never do something like this!"
Chen Zhihan would never stoop so low as to want someone like Du Yao!
"At this point, what else could it be but the truth?" the old master scoffed. "I think the Chen family just can’t bear to let go of the Du family’s project and wants to monopolize it."
If the Chen and Du families were to marry, the project would naturally exclude the Nans entirely.
Nan Siya tensed. "No, Brother Zheng has always wanted to cooperate with our family! He wouldn’t do that!"
"What do you know?!" the old master snapped.
Nan Siya froze, not daring to say another word.
"Dad, calm down. Siya didn’t mean anything by it," Wen Meiling quickly mediated.
The old master waved a hand. "Forget it. It’s not our Nan family that’s been humiliated. If the Chen family wants to snatch him away, let them. Using such underhanded methods—if they’re not ashamed, I am!"
He let out a disdainful snort.
Nan Siya’s face paled with anxiety. She was worried this would affect the collaboration between the two families—and worse, her own engagement!
Nan Zhenming and Wen Meiling were furious too, but there was no one to vent their anger on.
Sang Ning simply stood there, quiet and composed, yet the greatest victim of the day.
"You must be tired. Go rest in your room for now."
Sang Ning nodded obediently. "Alright."
Nan Siya glared at Sang Ning’s retreating figure. Today should have been the day Sang Ning was tied irrevocably to Du Yao—yet instead, she had effortlessly escaped the marriage arrangement and even emerged as the innocent victim?
Just then, Aunt Chen rushed in again, flustered. "Miss Chen is here, outside, demanding to see our young miss."
She hesitated before adding, "She looks... furious."
Furious was an understatement—she looked ready to kill.
Sang Ning paused mid-step and turned toward the entrance, her eyes filled with concern.
Nan Zhenming frowned. "She dares to show her face after this?"
After such a scandal, she should be hiding at home for at least three months—yet here she was, making a scene?
"Young Master Chen is with her," Aunt Chen added.
"Brother Zheng is here? Let them in!" Nan Siya said eagerly.
Nan Zhenming shot her a look but still said sternly, "Let them in."
"Understood."
Aunt Chen went to fetch them, but the moment the door opened, Chen Zhihan charged in like a madwoman.
"Sang Ning! You scheming bitch, how dare you trick me!"
Sang Ning shrank back fearfully. "I didn’t spread the news today. I came straight home from the hotel and only found out about the rumors after I got back. I didn’t say anything—there were too many people there. Someone must have taken photos secretly."
Even Wen Meiling, rarely protective, spoke up. "Zhihan, Sang Ning came directly home from the hotel and hasn’t even had a sip of water. She didn’t gossip about you."
Given Chen Zhihan’s frenzied outburst, the Nans naturally assumed she was lashing out because her compromising photos with Du Yao had been leaked.
But Chen Zhihan pointed at Sang Ning’s nose and screamed, "Stop pretending! If it weren’t for you, how could I have ended up in Du Yao’s room?!"
Sang Ning looked stunned. "Why you ended up in Du Yao’s room is something you’re asking me?"
The Nan family stared at Chen Zhihan in disbelief. How could anyone be so shameless?!
"You deliberately misled me—"
Sang Ning’s expression turned cold. "Since you insist on pushing this, I won’t cover for you anymore. I’ve already checked the Intercontinental Hotel’s surveillance footage."
She raised her phone, playing the video of Chen Zhihan bribing a staff member for a room key.
In the footage:
"Two million. I want that key."
The staff handed it over, and Chen Zhihan turned to take the elevator upstairs.
After watching the clip, the Nans’ gazes turned even more scornful. She had actually spent two million to buy a room key? She really was desperate!
Chen Zhihan was nearly hysterical with rage. The thought of wasting two million on Du Yao’s room key made her want to commit murder.
Chen Zheng was equally furious, jabbing a finger at Sang Ning. "Zhihan would never go after Du Yao! This was all your scheme!"
Chen Zhihan gnashed her teeth. "You tricked me into thinking—thinking—"
In her fury, she nearly blurted out He Siyu’s name, but at the last second, her lips trembled, and she swallowed the words.
She didn’t dare provoke He Siyu.
Everyone in Jing City knew his reputation. If he found out she had schemed to buy his room key, he would destroy her.
Sang Ning blinked innocently. "Thinking what?"
Her expression was guileless, but Chen Zhihan saw the unmistakable taunt in her eyes.
