Yesterday, Chen Zhihan had made a scene at the Nan Family's territory, blatantly trampling their reputation underfoot. Yet Nan Siya still defended Chen Zhihan at every turn—wasn’t that outright betrayal?
Even Nan Zhenming felt somewhat displeased, let alone the family patriarch.
Nan Siya had already spent the entire night crying in distress, her eyes still swollen and red. Now, being scolded by her grandfather again, her eyes welled up instantly.
It was Wen Meiling who stepped in to mediate: "Siya doesn’t understand these things. She only wants the two families to remain on good terms."
The old patriarch snorted coldly but said nothing more, rising from the table and leaving.
Sang Ning finished a bowl of wontons and half a cup of soy milk before also getting up to leave.
Uncle Zhang had already pulled the car up to the entrance. As Sang Ning stepped out and reached for the door, she suddenly heard someone call from behind: "Nan Sangning."
Turning, she saw Nan Siya standing at the doorway, her swollen eyes glaring at her.
Sang Ning faced her. "Something wrong?"
Nan Siya stepped closer, her red-rimmed eyes burning with accusation. "You framed Zhihan sister, didn’t you?"
Sang Ning smiled faintly. "What are you talking about?"
"Don’t play dumb! You might fool Mom, Dad, and Grandpa, but not me! I know exactly what tricks you’re capable of!"
Sang Ning arched a brow. "So?"
The retort left Nan Siya momentarily speechless. The fury that had surged up for confrontation suddenly had nowhere to go.
So what? Even if she knew, what could she do? Expose Nan Sangning’s true nature?
Right now, she could barely protect herself.
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going." Sang Ning had no patience for idle talk.
But Nan Siya gritted her teeth and demanded, "Why did you agree to Grandpa’s request to clarify things and help mend the relationship between the Chen and Nan Families? Don’t you want my engagement called off? Don’t you want Chen Zheng to abandon me?!"
Nan Siya had cried all night—not just because of Chen Zheng’s coldness, but because she feared the sudden rift between the families would lead to her engagement being dissolved.
Losing this engagement would strip her of any remaining superiority in front of Nan Sangning.
She had expected Sang Ning to gloat, even seize the chance to kick her while she was down, fanning the flames to ensure the Nan and Chen Families broke ties completely—just to ruin her engagement and take revenge.
Yet, to her shock, Nan Sangning had volunteered to "clarify" yesterday’s incident and preserve the families’ relationship.
Nan Siya couldn’t make sense of it. She refused to believe Sang Ning had her best interests at heart. There had to be another scheme at play!
Sang Ning studied Nan Siya’s eyes, noting the unease and wariness hidden beneath the anger.
With a faint smirk, she asked, "Are you scared?"
Nan Siya’s pupils contracted sharply, as if struck by the truth. Her voice rose defensively. "Scared of what?!"
Of course, she was scared—of the unpredictable future, the unknown consequences, of not knowing where Sang Ning’s next move would land.
Sang Ning didn’t spell it out. Instead, she softened her voice, lips curving slightly. "I’m doing this for you, my dear sister."
Nan Siya stiffened, a chill creeping down her spine.
Sang Ning’s eyes held a smile, but it was devoid of warmth—only icy detachment.
What good would it do her if the Nan Family offended the Chen and Du Families? If the Nan Family collapsed, what would happen to her inheritance?
Leaving some room for reconciliation, offering the Chen and Du Families a small favor to maintain surface-level civility—this was about safeguarding the Nan Family’s future, and her own.
As for Nan Siya’s engagement?
Oh, she would ensure her sister married into the Chen Family in grand style, wedded to her beloved Chen Zheng. The cracks were already there—how long could their fake affection last?
A lifetime of mutual torment would be the perfect punishment.
Sang Ning leaned in slightly, whispering by Nan Siya’s ear, "Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get exactly what you wish for."
Nan Siya’s face paled, her pupils trembling.
Sang Ning stepped back, turned, and opened the car door, sliding inside.
"Uncle Zhang, let’s go."
"Yes."
As the car drove off, the rearview mirror reflected Nan Siya still frozen in place, her reddened eyes glaring fiercely at the departing vehicle.
Sang Ning pulled out her phone, opened Weibo, and posted her first tweet:
"Regarding the false rumors circulating online yesterday, as one of the parties involved, I’d like to clarify: Chen Zhihan and I are good friends. We happened to run into each other at the Intercontinental Hotel, and I accidentally took her room key by mistake.
I was originally at the hotel celebrating another friend’s birthday and had prepared a surprise. I never expected to enter the wrong room, let alone for malicious individuals to circulate inappropriate photos, damaging Chen Zhihan and Du Yao’s reputations.
There is no relationship between Du Yao and me, nor was there ever any discussion of marriage. Therefore, the claim that Chen Zhihan ‘interfered’ is baseless. Chen Zhihan and Du Yao are in a consensual romantic relationship, and I sincerely wish them happiness."
The post quickly trended.
The scandalous footage of Chen Zhihan and Du Yao’s ‘affair’ had already gone viral outside their circles, sparking heated discussions all day.
The moment the tweet went live, the comments exploded:
[Seriously? The guy in the footage looked guilty as hell—not like someone in a normal relationship.]
[Mistakenly took the wrong key and entered the wrong room? That’s one hell of a coincidence.]
[But if it’s true, no way the actual girlfriend would defend them like this unless she’s a saint.]
The Chen and Du Families had spent the night trying—and failing—to suppress the scandal, keeping a close eye on public opinion.
When they saw Nan Sangning’s unexpected post, they were stunned.
Chen Zhihan screamed in rage, "That bitch is up to no good! She set me up, and now she dares to post this?!"
She grabbed her phone, ready to retaliate: "I’ll tear her apart online!"
Chen Anguo slapped her hard across the face. "Idiot! Engaging with her now would only confirm you and Du Yao were caught cheating!"
Chen Zhihan reeled from the blow.
"Go reply to her post! Act friendly—make it clear you two are close and that yesterday was just a misunderstanding. You and Du Yao must be seen as a legitimate couple!"
Otherwise, the Chen Family’s reputation would be ruined for generations.
Clenching her teeth, tears brimming in her eyes, Chen Zhihan opened Nan Sangning’s post and commented:
"Thank you, dear, for clarifying. Let’s grab a meal soon!"
Sang Ning replied: "No need to thank me. It’s only right."
Soon, Du Yao also scrambled to comment: "Appreciate it—just a big misunderstanding."
Sang Ning responded: "Of course."
The Chen Family immediately hired PR teams to steer the narrative, pushing the idea that this was a normal relationship while scrubbing all intimate photos of Chen Zhihan and Du Yao.
With Sangning’s help, controlling the backlash became much easier.
After all, no one would believe someone who’d been wronged could be this forgiving.
More importantly, netizens dug up something else from Sangning’s Weibo:
[Holy shit, this heiress follows Shi Mu’s fan page? And she’s a hardcore fan!]
[A fellow fan! The lady has taste!]
[No woman who likes Shi Mu would ever settle for that short, ugly guy. Even the pixelation couldn’t hide his face.]
【This time I really believe it. With the young lady's capabilities, she could totally afford to keep Shi Mu.】
Sang Ning had just finished her classes for the day and was packing up to go home when she glanced at her phone. Messages from Ji Yan were flooding in.
【Help, I’m dying of laughter! What’s going on with you? Your whole background’s been exposed!】
Sang Ning tapped the link Ji Yan sent and frowned. She had no idea Weibo could dig up stuff like this.
But, whatever.
Ji Yan’s messages kept coming: 【Netizens are saying you should just keep Shi Mu already. Why not consider it? You like him anyway.】
Keep him?
The term felt unfamiliar to her. She asked seriously: 【What does “keep him” mean?】
【It means spending money to support him, duh. eye roll】
Sang Ning narrowed her eyes. She’d have to spend money too?
In her dreams.
