He Siyu spoke lazily, "Nothing much. I’ve always enjoyed helping others."
Gu Xingchen, who was following behind, twitched his lips at these words and shot He Siyu a complicated look.
Sang Ning raised an eyebrow slightly. Had she not already heard of the notorious reputation of the third young master of the He Family as a troublemaker, she might have actually believed this nonsense.
But Sang Ning had never been one to dwell on meaningless matters.
She smiled. "I can see that Mr. He has a kind heart."
He Siyu tilted his head slightly. He had heard plenty of flattery before—both genuine and fake—enough to make his ears numb. But this was the first time someone had called him... kind-hearted?
Coming from her, it sounded oddly off.
Was he being brushed off?
Sang Ning noticed the Nan family members emerging from the banquet hall and took the opportunity to bid farewell. "Take care, Mr. He."
Old Madam He’s car had already driven off, and now a sleek black Cayenne pulled up to the entrance. The valet stood by the door, and upon hearing Sang Ning’s words, promptly opened it.
He Siyu gave her a cool glance.
Sang Ning thought he had something else to say,
but he simply turned on his heel and stepped into the car. The valet closed the door, and the glossy black vehicle soon disappeared into the night, its contours shimmering under the streetlights.
Sang Ning frowned slightly, unsure what that last look from He Siyu had meant.
But there was no point dwelling on it. Their paths were unlikely to cross again—they simply weren’t the same kind of people.
She hurried over to the Nan family.
"Did you see Old Madam He off?" Grandpa asked. "Did she say anything?"
What worried him most was whether the He Family would hold a grudge after the Nan family’s scene today. Offending the He Family in Jing City would leave the Nans with little room to stand.
"No, Old Madam He was very gracious. She didn’t blame us for anything."
Only then did Grandpa nod in slight relief.
"Sang Ning," Wen Meiling and Nan Zhenming approached, their expressions complicated. "Let’s go home first."
Sang Ning nodded. "Alright."
By the time they returned to the Nan residence, it was almost ten.
Grandpa strode in with a dark expression, silent. Nan Zhenming and Wen Meiling followed closely, while Sang Ning trailed behind.
Nan Siya and Nan Muchen had already returned.
Grandpa took a seat in the living room, and Nan Muchen immediately clutched his face, complaining, "Grandpa, Xie Sangning hit me so hard! The doctor said my face will take at least a week to heal. How am I supposed to show myself in public like this?"
Nan Siya covered her face as well, tears streaming down in pitiful silence.
Grandpa glared at them coldly. "Do you want me to add another slap?"
The two of them paled instantly. "Grandpa..."
"Do you think I don’t know about the stupid things you two pulled?"
Truthfully, Grandpa hadn’t known—but since Old Madam He herself had spoken up, and the He Family had clearly sided with Sang Ning, he couldn’t very well blame her now.
Nan Siya trembled, her tears falling even harder.
Wen Meiling quickly embraced her, pleading, "Dad, Siya didn’t cause any trouble! She didn’t know anything—she was just trying to break up the fight and ended up getting slapped for no reason!"
Nan Siya sobbed miserably. "Mom, I’ve lost all face. I can’t go out like this."
Sang Ning’s voice remained calm. "At the time, A’Chen was throwing a drunken fit. I disciplined him to settle him down, but Siya rushed in to interfere. That would’ve only encouraged him to act worse. I was protecting the family’s dignity."
The words "family dignity" struck a chord with Grandpa, who nodded repeatedly.
"Sang Ning did nothing wrong. A’Chen acted out, and Siya shielded him—that would’ve shamed the Nan name even more!"
Nan Siya’s face turned ashen. So now she was the villain?
Grandpa’s tone turned authoritative. "Sang Ning is the eldest. It’s her place to discipline her younger siblings. She may have hit you two, but she upheld the family’s honor."
More importantly, she had caught Old Madam He’s attention. Given the Nan family’s standing, they shouldn’t even have had the chance to approach the He matriarch at her birthday celebration.
Yet Sang Ning had been the one Old Madam He spoke with at length.
To Grandpa, that was a point of pride.
"Grandpa!" Nan Muchen protested.
Grandpa shot him a glare. "From now on, remember this—Sang Ning is a Nan! If I hear anyone call her Xie Sangning again, or try to push her out of this family, you’ll regret it!"
The room fell dead silent.
Nan Siya seethed with resentment, while Nan Muchen didn’t dare breathe too loudly.
After tonight’s debacle, Sang Ning’s position in the Nan household was secured.
"Enough. All this commotion has given me a headache." Grandpa waved them off and headed upstairs.
Sang Ning said gently, "I’ll retire for the night as well," before turning to leave.
Nan Zhenming pointed angrily at his two misbehaving children and stormed off as well.
Wen Meiling hugged Nan Siya and Nan Muchen, her heart aching. "Does it still hurt?"
Nan Muchen shoved her away. "Why ask now? When I said it hurt earlier, you didn’t say a word to defend me!"
He stomped upstairs in a huff.
Wen Meiling’s heart twisted as she held Nan Siya. "Your grandfather was furious—I couldn’t speak up. Seeing you and A’Chen hurt pains me more than anyone."
Nan Siya burned with hatred. She and Nan Sangning shared the same birthday, yet Wen Meiling had insisted on making Sang Ning the elder sister.
Now, Sang Ning could spout nonsense about "eldest sister like a mother" and slap her with impunity!
But unlike Nan Muchen, Nan Siya didn’t dare lash out. Choking back her rage, she buried her face in Wen Meiling’s shoulder and whimpered, "Mom, it really hurts."
"Don’t cry, Siya. I’ll get you the best doctor," Wen Meiling soothed, her heart breaking.
Sang Ning reached the second floor and glanced back, catching Nan Siya’s venomous glare as she clung pitifully to Wen Meiling.
A faint, mocking smile touched her lips.
Nan Siya saw Wen Meiling as her lifeline—probably because she knew Wen Meiling was the only one in this family who cared about "family bonds."
But could that lifeline truly save her?
Sang Ning turned away and headed to her room.
Aunt Chen had just finished tidying up. When she saw Sang Ning return, she put on an ingratiating smile. "Welcome back, Eldest Miss."
Sang Ning arched a brow. So she finally understood who held real authority here.
"I’ve drawn your bath. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you."
Sang Ning stepped inside, kicked off her low heels, and walked barefoot across the plush carpet into the bathroom. Shedding her dress, she sank into the bathtub.
At first, she hadn’t known how to use these things—always relying on others to fill the tub for her. Only recently had she discovered she could adjust the water temperature herself.
Leaning back, she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth.
So comfortable.
So perfect.
—
"Brother Zheng, I don’t even know what I did wrong! She slapped me in front of everyone—how can I face anyone now?" Nan Siya wept, her tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain.
Chen Zheng cupped Nan Siya’s swollen cheek, his eyes burning with fury. "That Sang Ning has gone too far! First, she bullied you behind your back, and now she dares to slap you in public!"
His voice then softened with guilt. "It’s all my fault. If only I’d been there—I would never have let her treat you like this."
Nan Siya buried her face in his chest, sobbing. "Ever since my sister came back, Mom and Dad have stopped caring about me. They think they owe her, so they let her do whatever she wants. Zheng-ge, you’re all I have now."
Her words ignited a surge of protectiveness in Chen Zheng. Here was his delicate, helpless fiancée, clinging to him as if he were her only salvation.
He held her tighter, his jaw clenched. "Don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, even if the entire Nan family turns against you, I’ll stand by your side!"
Nan Siya lifted her tear-filled eyes to his. "Really?"
Gently wiping her tears away, he spoke with unwavering resolve. "Of course. You’re my fiancée, Nan Siya. Humiliating you is the same as humiliating me. I won’t let her get away with this—that country girl has no idea who she’s dealing with!"
