The next morning, Sang Ning woke up at nine as usual to study with her tutor.
But she realized that this etiquette tutor had nothing new left to teach her. In truth, the current banquet etiquette wasn’t much different from that of the Zhou Dynasty. The only difference, perhaps, was that it wasn’t as rigidly formal.
Sang Ning didn’t want to waste any more time on these lessons—she wanted to learn something more useful.
At noon, after seeing off the tutor, Sang Ning went downstairs to find her grandfather.
Instead, she saw Nan Siya, Nan Muchen, and Wen Meiling in the living room.
“Sang Ning, how was your lesson today?” Wen Meiling asked.
The tutor replied politely, “The young lady learns very quickly. She grasps everything immediately and hardly needs repetition. Over these past few days, I’ve already taught her nearly everything I can.”
Wen Meiling was surprised. She hadn’t expected Sang Ning to learn so fast.
She had assumed that, coming from the countryside, Sang Ning would struggle with these entirely unfamiliar customs.
Nan Muchen scoffed. “Superficial manners—anyone can fake them if they try.”
Too bad, though. No matter how well she pretended on the surface, without substance, she was just an empty shell—nothing but a pretentious act.
“That’s all thanks to Teacher Lin’s excellent teaching,” Wen Meiling said with a smile.
“You flatter me, Madam.”
Wen Meiling quickly had a servant escort the tutor out.
Sang Ning glanced at Nan Siya and Nan Muchen, their faces still bruised, and decided not to linger. Who knew if her arrival had interrupted her dear siblings’ complaints about her?
“I’ll head upstairs first,” Sang Ning said, turning to leave.
“Wait,” Wen Meiling called out.
“Is there something else, Mom?”
Wen Meiling frowned slightly. Why did that sound so distant?
She pulled Sang Ning to sit down. “Since you’ve pretty much mastered banquet etiquette, there’s a charity gala tonight—mostly young people. You should come along and see.”
Sang Ning blinked. Why was her mother suddenly so concerned about her?
“Am I going alone?”
Wen Meiling smiled. “Don’t worry, Siya will accompany you.”
Sang Ning looked at Nan Siya. Her face had been iced, the swelling mostly gone, though faint traces of the bruising remained.
Noticing Sang Ning’s gaze, Nan Siya curved her lips into a smile. “Since you came back, Sister, you’ve always kept to yourself and haven’t made any friends. I thought I’d introduce you to our circle so you can meet some people. That way, you won’t feel so lonely in the future.”
Sang Ning raised a brow. Since when had Nan Siya become so considerate?
Had yesterday’s beating scrambled her brain?
Nan Siya seemed to sense the skepticism in Sang Ning’s eyes and lowered her head, her voice muffled. “After thinking about yesterday, I realized I was in the wrong. I shouldn’t have stopped you from disciplining A’Chen. After all, it was the He Family’s banquet. If you hadn’t stepped in, they might have taken it out on our entire family.”
She lifted her head again, her eyes red. “Even though you hit me, I feel even guiltier now. I hope you can forgive me too.”
Wen Meiling’s heart melted at Nan Siya’s display of maturity. She pulled her into an embrace. “You’ve always been too understanding, putting others before yourself.”
Sang Ning watched their mother-daughter affection coldly. Oh, so now she—the actual daughter—was the outsider.
Wen Meiling turned back to Sang Ning, her eyes tinged with reproach. “Siya has always been like this—kind-hearted, swallowing her own grievances. She’s willing to let bygones be bygones and take you to these events so you can make connections and broaden your horizons. Don’t dismiss her goodwill.”
Nan Siya also looked at her with teary eyes. “I feel like I owe you, Sister. I want to make it up to you. You’ll go, won’t you?”
Would she go?
Of course she would.
Nan Siya had deliberately invited Sang Ning in front of Wen Meiling to deny her any chance of refusal.
After yesterday’s incident, she was the one extending an olive branch, offering Sang Ning entry into her elite social circle. How could she possibly refuse?
But Nan Siya still felt uneasy. For some reason, she was losing confidence in dealing with Sang Ning—maybe because she had already lost to her twice. She was starting to suspect this woman wasn’t so easy to handle.
She worried Sang Ning might see through her scheme and find a way to decline.
After a brief silence, Nan Siya’s nerves tightened. Her mind raced, preparing counterarguments for every possible excuse Sang Ning might use to refuse.
Then, Sang Ning finally spoke. “Alright.”
Nan Siya stiffened slightly. She… agreed just like that?
She had expected resistance, at least some attempt to refuse.
But she accepted outright?
Noticing Nan Siya’s frozen expression, Sang Ning smiled. “What’s wrong, little sister? Not having second thoughts, are you?”
Nan Siya snapped back to attention. “Of course not! I just… didn’t expect you to agree so readily.”
Sang Ning’s smile remained gentle. “Since you invited me personally, how could I refuse? We’re sisters—we should get along.”
Wen Meiling watched their harmonious exchange with relief. She had always worried Sang Ning’s return would strain her relationship with Siya.
But thankfully, both girls were sensible and considerate.
Nan Siya sneered inwardly. Of course—in front of their mother, Sang Ning had to play the role of the loving sister. She was trapped now. Even if she sensed something was off, she had no choice but to go!
Not that it mattered why she agreed. Once they reached the charity gala—that was her territory. Sang Ning wouldn’t get off easy!
At seven that evening, Nan Siya and Sang Ning left together.
They sat side by side in the back of the car. Along the way, Nan Siya reassured her, “Don’t worry, Sister. Tonight’s gala is more casual—mostly young people, very relaxed. Most of them are my friends. I’ll introduce you.”
Sang Ning nodded lightly. “Alright.”
She turned to gaze out the window at the towering skyscrapers, the endless stream of cars, the neon lights glittering against the night. Jing City, bathed in extravagance—a world of indulgence.
In this unfamiliar era, there was so much to learn and adapt to.
But she found it thrilling.
The Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of the InterContinental Hotel.
A valet opened the door, and Sang Ning and Nan Siya stepped out.
“Let’s go in.”
Nan Siya led Sang Ning into the banquet hall on the first floor, where the gala was already in full swing.
True to her word, the event was more laid-back, filled with young men and women in cocktail dresses and suits—some even bolder and more casual than the night before.
“Brother Zheng!” Nan Siya spotted Chen Zheng the moment they entered and hurried over, looping her arm through his.
Chen Zheng, holding a wine glass, smiled. “Siya, you’re here. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would’ve waited outside for you.”
“I know my way around. Stop treating me like a child,” she pouted.
Chen Zheng stroked her hair, his eyes full of tenderness. “To me, you’ll always be that little girl.”
Sang Ning stared expressionlessly at the pair before her.
Is romance in this era always so nauseating?
