The sound of "Siyu Gege" (Big Brother Siyu) reached his ears, and He Siyu's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his heartbeat suddenly accelerating.
He kept a straight face. "Who told you to call me that?"
Sang Ning blinked. "I thought you wanted to hear it."
He scoffed. "I don’t care for it."
"Oh." She nodded.
When she didn’t continue, his fingers clenched the wheel again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her pick up her phone to text, as if she had already moved on.
Suddenly unable to hold back, he pulled the car over abruptly.
Sang Ning looked up. "Are we here?"
He unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over, and kissed her lips.
"Mmm—" Caught off guard, Sang Ning’s lips were sealed, her phone nearly slipping from her hand.
His kiss was fierce and urgent, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Sang Ning struggled to breathe, her cheeks flushing red as she pushed against him.
Only then did he pull back slightly, his dark eyes locked onto hers, voice low and rough. "Say it again."
---
By the time Sang Ning arrived at Taikoo Li, she was half an hour late.
Pushing open the door of the tea restaurant, she saw Ji Yan sitting in a booth, glaring at her.
"Sorry, something came up last minute," Sang Ning said hurriedly as she took her seat.
"What happened?" Ji Yan asked.
Sang Ning hesitated. "Traffic."
Ji Yan checked the time—it was one in the afternoon—and raised a skeptical brow. "Traffic at this hour?"
It wasn’t rush hour.
Sang Ning nodded seriously. "Yes, office workers get a two-hour lunch break. Many go home to eat, especially around Yichuan Road—there’s a mini rush hour."
Having never worked a day in her life, Ji Yan found this explanation oddly convincing and nodded. "Oh, I see."
Sang Ning picked up a cup of milk tea from the table and took a sip. Chocolate-flavored, not too sweet.
"So, where are we going later?"
"To celebrate your promotion, of course!" Ji Yan immediately perked up, clinking her cup against Sang Ning’s. "Congratulations, Manager Sang!"
Sang Ning grinned and returned the toast.
"The milk tea here is just okay, but their signature dim sum is pretty good. I ordered some—it’ll take a while since they make it fresh."
Once Ji Yan started talking, she couldn’t stop.
The two chatted about everything from afternoon tea to their plans to play video games later.
Just as they were getting lively, a familiar voice cut in.
"Now that you’ve graduated, are you staying in Jing City instead of going back to the UK?"
"I’m done with flying back and forth these past few years. Finally finished school, and my parents are already arranging a marriage for me."
Sang Ning and Ji Yan turned to see Zhan Yijun and Lin Shuyan walking in.
Zhan Yijun smiled with a hint of flattery. "Why bother with arrangements? Everyone knows you’re the He Family’s chosen granddaughter-in-law."
Lin Shuyan chuckled. "That’s the family’s plan, but a union between two families isn’t a small matter."
"In all of Jing City, who else is worthy of the He Family besides the Lin Family? Third Young Master He must be waiting for you to graduate so he can marry you," Zhan Yijun teased.
"With his temper, he wouldn’t care either way," Lin Shuyan said coyly.
As they walked in, their eyes suddenly met Sang Ning and Ji Yan’s.
Zhan Yijun’s expression darkened, and Lin Shuyan’s smile stiffened slightly.
Last time, at the wine-tasting event, Zhan Yijun had kicked over a champagne tower, nearly hitting Sang Ning. He Siyu had forced her to pick up the broken glass, and Old Madam He had even called her parents to reprimand them for raising such a disgrace. She’d been grounded for a month.
Now, seeing Sang Ning again, Zhan Yijun was torn between hatred and fear. She never expected this nobody to catch Old Madam He’s eye—otherwise, what did it matter if a nouveau riche’s granddaughter got hurt?
Lin Shuyan sneered. "Well, look who it is. Ji Yan, has your taste really sunk so low? Hanging around with the granddaughter of some upstart?"
Ji Yan’s face turned cold. "Lin Shuyan, show some respect to my friend!"
Lin Shuyan stared disdainfully at Sang Ning. "Did I say anything wrong? Aren’t you the granddaughter of a nouveau riche?"
Sang Ning nodded politely. "Miss Lin isn’t wrong."
Lin Shuyan had expected Sang Ning to lash out in humiliation, but instead, she acknowledged the label calmly, as if punching cotton—leaving Lin Shuyan with no outlet for her anger.
"You’re actually proud of it?" Lin Shuyan scoffed.
Sang Ning replied mildly, "Is money earned by a nouveau riche different from yours?"
Lin Shuyan choked on her words.
Zhan Yijun shot Sang Ning a venomous glare. The memory of her past humiliation still burned, but she didn’t dare provoke her again. Now that Lin Shuyan was here, she couldn’t resist stirring the pot.
"Shuyan, don’t waste your breath on her. She’s got tricks up her sleeve. Last time, when she ‘accidentally’ got hurt at my wine-tasting event, Third Young Master He even stood up for her and made me pay."
Of course, Zhan Yijun knew He Siyu had only intervened because of Old Madam He’s orders—after all, the old lady had called her parents that very night.
Her parents had berated her, calling her an idiot for provoking Sang Ning when she was Old Madam He’s guest.
Lin Shuyan’s expression darkened. She remembered how He Siyu had acted unusually attentive toward Sang Ning at the yacht auction two months ago. The thought made her chest tighten with resentment.
She glared at Sang Ning, her voice dripping with venom. "The granddaughter of a lowly shoe shiner, suddenly rich and acting all high and mighty. Do you really think you’re on the same level as us?"
Ji Yan slammed the table and stood. "Lin Shuyan, watch your mouth!"
Lin Shuyan wasn’t intimidated. She smirked. "What? If she dares to do it, why can’t I say it? Scheming to seduce Siyu without knowing her place. Do you even understand the He Family’s standing? What kind of background do you have?"
She stared Sang Ning down, her tone mocking. "You think your little tricks will get you into the He Family? There have been plenty of delusional women before you—where are they now? Take a good look in the mirror. You’re not even worthy!"
Zhan Yijun listened with vicious satisfaction. After holding in her resentment for a month, she finally had a chance to see Sang Ning humiliated—through Lin Shuyan’s words.
Ji Yan was livid. "Who even wants—"
But Sang Ning held her wrist, stopping her.
Ji Yan’s face was flushed with anger.
Sang Ning stood and faced Lin Shuyan, her voice calm. "Since the Lin Family and the He Family are old friends, you must know a lot about the He Family’s affairs?"
Lin Shuyan lifted her chin arrogantly. "Of course. Siyu and I grew up together. No one knows him better than I do."
"Then do you know I’m currently Old Madam He’s guest?"
Lin Shuyan laughed derisively. "Old Madam He is kind to all young people. Do you think you’re special just because you can pluck a few strings on a pipa? She watched me grow up—our bond is something you could never compare to!"
Sang Ning pulled out her phone, displaying the recording in progress, and smiled. "If Old Madam He hears what you’ve said today, Miss Lin, do you think you’ll still have a chance to enter the He Family’s doors?"
