He Siyu was wearing a light gray tie today, not the kind of black prop tie male idols use for performances on stage. His was more formal, and more subdued. Yet for some reason, when he casually tugged at it, Sang Ning found it far more captivating than any of those male idols. Maybe it was because his hands were exceptionally attractive, or perhaps it was his colder, more aristocratic demeanor.
Sang Ning was a beat slow to tear her gaze away from his slightly loosened tie. She lifted her eyes to meet his. "What did you just say?" she asked.
He Siyu’s throat moved slightly. Even though they were outdoors, the air suddenly felt thinner, an intangible haze of ambiguity enveloping them. So much so that he forgot to be annoyed at her for ignoring what he’d said earlier.
"What were you looking at?" he asked.
Sang Ning curved her lips. Whether it was the two cocktails she’d had or not, her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, and her usually calm, glass-like eyes now shimmered with a hint of intoxication.
"Your tie looks nice."
He Siyu’s gaze froze for a moment, his heartbeat gradually speeding up. Her sudden, unexpected compliment caught him off guard, his throat tightening as he struggled to find a response.
"Sang Ning!"
Ji Yan suddenly slid open the glass door to the balcony, poking her head out. "Where’d you run off to? I’ve been looking for you forever."
Sang Ning pulled away and stepped inside. "It was too stuffy in there. I came out for some air."
Ji Yan shot a wary glance at He Siyu, who remained standing outside in the shadows, his expression unreadable.
Once Sang Ning was inside, Ji Yan shut the balcony door and immediately dragged her aside, her voice tense.
"Did He Siyu give you any trouble?"
Sang Ning blinked. "Not that I noticed. What’s up with him?"
"He was in a bad mood when he got here. I thought he was going to crash the party. You should stay away from him today—don’t get caught in the crossfire."
Sang Ning nodded seriously. "Got it."
"Come on, let’s go play pool!" Ji Yan said with a grin.
Meanwhile, out on the balcony.
He Siyu still stood in place, his thoughts slow to return.
She’d just said his tie looked nice?
He glanced down at it—just an ordinary style, something he’d grabbed randomly this morning. So why had she said that?
Did she… like him?
His heartbeat surged again, pounding loudly in the quiet of the night.
The balcony door slid open once more, letting in a wave of noise.
"Siyu, what are you doing out here? Come have a drink!" Gu Xingchen called.
He Siyu snapped out of his daze and stepped inside.
Gu Xingchen gave him a puzzled look. "Why’s your face red? Had too much to drink?"
He’d only had one whiskey. His tolerance wasn’t that bad.
He Siyu’s brow twitched, and he shot him a cold glare. "None of your business."
Gu Xingchen froze. Huh? It wasn’t red anymore.
By ten o’clock, Sang Ning was ready to head home.
"I have class early tomorrow. Next time, okay?"
Ji Yan was already tipsy. "Yeah, yeah, you and your studious ways. Next time, then!"
Sang Ning patted her head, grabbed her bag, and left.
She slipped quietly along the edges of the outer hall, pushed open the door, and walked out.
She’d texted Uncle Zhang earlier, and he was already waiting outside with the car. She got in and left.
At the bar, He Siyu had been discussing business with Pei Songhan. When he looked up again, he just caught sight of Sang Ning stepping out the door.
His brow furrowed. She was just leaving like that? Without even saying goodbye?
"Siyu, what are you looking at?" Pei Songhan asked.
He Siyu coolly averted his gaze. "Nothing."
He stood. "It’s getting late. I’m heading out."
He couldn’t take the noise anymore.
Pei Songhan nodded. "Alright, take care."
He Siyu grabbed his jacket and left.
Pei Songhan checked the time—it was late for him too—so he decided to call it a night as well. Gu Xingchen left with him.
Once outside, the clamor of the party faded into the quiet night.
Gu Xingchen suddenly asked, "Hey, have you been in touch with Zhu Jiani since you got back?"
Pei Songhan draped his jacket over his arm and shook his head. "No. We haven’t spoken in a long time."
"You two are about to get married, and you don’t even talk?"
"It’s just a family-arranged marriage. We both know the deal. Nothing more to say."
Gu Xingchen couldn’t help but argue, "Then what’s the point? Honestly, you might as well call it off. It’s so pointless. If you make a fuss, maybe you can still back out."
Pei Songhan smiled faintly. "People like us—who doesn’t end up in a marriage like this?"
Gu Xingchen choked, as if something had lodged in his throat.
"I don’t care. It’s bound to happen sooner or later. No point fighting it."
Pei Songhan’s tone was indifferent, neither happy nor resistant.
"What about Zhu Jiani?" Gu Xingchen pressed.
"I don’t know."
And he didn’t care.
That was her business.
Everyone said Pei Songhan had the best temper, but he knew better—he was cold at heart.
His parents had lived like strangers their whole lives, and he didn’t see anything wrong with that.
A marriage between wealthy families was just an exchange of interests. There was no emotional value in it.
—
Sang Ning got home by ten-thirty and went straight to bed after washing up.
Her body clock was rigidly disciplined—she had to be asleep by eleven and up by seven, without exception.
Meanwhile, at Wenxi Villa.
He Siyu sat on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, unlocking his phone again. Still no new messages in the chat.
His brow furrowed as he turned the screen off.
Not only had she left without a word, but she hadn’t even bothered to text him?!
Three minutes later, he unlocked it again, fingers hovering over the keyboard—but after typing just one character, he impatiently shut it off.
What was he supposed to say to her?
It was ridiculous.
She’d been the one to suddenly compliment him out of nowhere, and now she was just going to leave him hanging?
He Siyu’s expression darkened with irritation.
Then, a voice piped up from behind him: "Uncle, are you in love?"
He Siyu’s brow jumped. He whipped around to find a young face staring at him unblinkingly.
His grip on the phone tightened. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"You’ve unlocked your phone twenty-eight times just now," He Yun'an said matter-of-factly. "You’re going to break it."
"..."
His temple throbbed, teeth grinding slightly. "He Yun'an, go to bed. Now."
He Yun'an shrank back, but curiosity overpowered self-preservation. Bravely, he pressed on: "Or is it that she hasn’t agreed yet? There’s actually someone who doesn’t like you back? Do I know her?"
