Sang Ning was stunned, utterly baffled by Nan Siya's latest antics.
She had never been able to comprehend Nan Siya's thought process.
She rolled down the car window and watched as Nan Siya sprinted through the rain, dashing toward the artificial lake in the garden of Junyue Hotel.
To her disbelief, Nan Siya kicked off her high heels in the rain and stepped into the lake.
Sang Ning: ???
Sang Ning picked up the phone Nan Siya had left in the car and saw the screen open to a chat with Chen Zheng.
The last message read: "If fate decrees I can never love you, then I must die on the day you loved me most."
Nan Siya was going to kill herself?!
Over a man?!
This was beyond ridiculous.
Uncle Zhang was horrified and quickly asked Sang Ning, "Miss, should I go pull Second Miss back? We can't just watch her throw her life away!"
Sang Ning nodded. "Go get her. Otherwise, Junyue Hotel might come after us for damages."
Uncle Zhang hurriedly opened the car door, but before he could step out, the screech of tires pierced the air.
A Ferrari slammed to a stop in front of them, and Chen Zheng bolted out into the rain.
Sang Ning: ?
"Siya! What are you doing?! Get out of there!" Chen Zheng shouted desperately as he ran toward the lake.
Nan Siya stood in the water, tears mingling with raindrops as they streamed down her face. "Since you refuse to believe me no matter what, I might as well die!"
"Siya, don’t do anything reckless!"
Nan Siya shook her head. "No! You don’t trust me. Our love died the moment you doubted me, so I’ll die with it tonight in this rain!"
Sang Ning: …
Uncle Zhang: …
Moved, Chen Zheng stepped into the lake and reached out to her. "Siya, I do believe you! I was just overwhelmed. The Chen Family was framed, and it’s been eating at me!"
Nan Siya sobbed. "It was Sang Ning’s scheme! The Nan Family had nothing to do with it, and neither did I! Zheng-ge, you know I love you. I would never hurt you or your family. If you don’t believe me, I’d rather die!"
"I know, I know! It was all that scheming Sang Ning’s doing! You’re innocent. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have doubted you or taken my anger out on you!"
Chen Zheng was filled with remorse. "You’re so pure, so kind—how could I ever doubt you?"
Sang Ning’s expression remained blank.
Not only were they putting on this melodrama in front of her, but they had to insult her while doing it?
Did they need her as a prop to make their love story work?
Nan Siya’s voice trembled. "Really? You believe me now?"
"I do, I swear! Siya, give me your hand!"
Chen Zheng reached out, his eyes desperate.
Nan Siya finally extended her hand, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Siya!"
"Zheng-ge!"
They clung to each other in the rain, weeping in the knee-deep artificial lake.
Two words echoed in Sang Ning’s buzzing mind: a match made in heaven.
Uncle Zhang turned to her, deadpan. "Miss, should we still wait for Second Miss?"
Sang Ning replied flatly, "Let’s go. The security guards will be here soon."
Uncle Zhang hit the gas, speeding away.
Sang Ning returned to the Nan residence.
"Where’s Siya? Didn’t she come back with you?" Wen Meiling fretted.
"She said she had something to do."
Sang Ning headed straight upstairs, unwilling to relive the cringe-worthy scene.
Wen Meiling frowned. "What could she possibly be up to?"
The next morning, Sang Ning got up at eight as usual for breakfast before class.
When she entered the dining room, Nan Siya was already there.
Gone was the gloom from the past few days—Nan Siya was practically glowing, like a disgraced concubine suddenly restored to favor.
"Zheng-ge said he’ll come next week to discuss our wedding and set a date," Nan Siya announced coyly.
Even Grandpa was surprised. He had assumed the Chen Family might call off the engagement after the recent conflict.
He had already weighed the options—losing the Chen Family’s alliance wouldn’t be so bad if they secured the Du Family’s project.
But if the marriage could proceed, that would be ideal. After all, the Nan Family was the one marrying up.
Once they were officially tied, better opportunities would follow.
Wen Meiling gasped in delight. "Really? You and Chen Zheng made up?"
Nan Siya smiled sweetly. "Zheng-ge said he never blamed me. He was just upset in the moment."
Then she glanced at Sang Ning, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Zheng-ge loves me. He wouldn’t let anyone come between us."
Sang Ning suddenly lost her appetite.
The memory of yesterday’s spectacle made her nauseous.
Grandpa nodded. "Good. You’ve been together for two years—it’s time to set a date."
Nan Siya blushed and nodded shyly.
"Grandpa, I’m running late. I’ll head to school now."
Sang Ning grabbed a pack of bread.
"Go ahead."
As she walked out, Uncle Zhang was already waiting with the car.
Just as she was about to get in, Nan Siya called out, "Sang Ning."
She turned, frowning.
Nan Siya strode over, chin high. "Zheng-ge and I are getting married soon. He said he’ll marry no one but me."
"And?"
"You thought you could drive us apart, make Zheng-ge despise me, steal him away, steal my place in the Nan Family?" Nan Siya sneered. "Dream on!"
Sang Ning’s voice was icy. "So your grand strategy was throwing a suicidal tantrum to prove your loyalty and devotion?"
"What do you know?! Zheng-ge couldn’t bear to lose me! He still loves me!"
"Then congratulations. I could never debase myself, groveling and threatening suicide just to keep a man."
Sang Ning smirked, though it carried a hint of mockery. "You’ve finally beaten me at something."
She turned and got into the car.
Nan Siya stood frozen, her face darkening.
"Sang Ning, you’re just jealous! A vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve love. Zheng-ge wouldn’t spare you a glance—he loathes you!"
She gritted her teeth. "In fact, he’ll never let you off the hook!"
The Mercedes roared away.
Sang Ning remained indifferent to Nan Siya’s curses.
So love meant sacrificing all dignity and resorting to life-or-death theatrics?
How terrifying. Good thing she wanted no part of it.
After a full day of classes, Sang Ning met Uncle Zhang at the school gate at five.
She got into the car, where the uneaten bread from the morning still sat.
Munching on a slice, she checked her phone and saw a message from Ji Yan:
"Come straight to Xishan Peninsula after class—my birthday party!"
Sang Ning blinked, bread still in her mouth. A party?
Another message followed, as if anticipating her confusion: "It’s just a gathering with friends!"
Ah. She sometimes invited close friends over for birthdays too.
Then another text: "Got a surprise for you~"
Sang Ning was about to reply when—
"Don’t ask what it is—you’ll see when you get here!"
Ji Yan was becoming more and more attentive these days, not even giving her a chance to type a response.
["Hurry up, waiting for you!"]
Ji Yan even sent a photo—a casual snapshot of the scene.
There were about a dozen or so people there, all young men and women. Some were singing on the couch, others playing cards, and in the corner stood a pool table.
Sang Ning glanced at it absently, but her gaze paused when it landed on a vaguely familiar figure.
She blinked and zoomed in on the photo.
The person was leaning against the pool table, half-obscured by others, wearing a white shirt. His features were refined, his expression gentle, and he was smiling as he spoke to someone across the table.
Sang Ning’s eyes froze. The bread slice she had been nibbling on slipped from her lips and landed on her lap with a soft plop.
