"The train is about to leave, don't just stand there, go inside," Young Master Kong urged patiently, though his brow was furrowed with annoyance. He was beginning to regret bringing these two to Nanjing just to increase his chances of success.
"Sorry."
After saying that, Mu Wan shyly buried herself in Guan Jixing's embrace. The two of them shuffled inside in this posture. At least they were no longer blocking the way, so the others didn't say anything.
Unfortunately, they had barely sat down.
"Young Master Kong, why isn't this first class?" Guan Jixing frowned, looking around the environment with great dissatisfaction as he demanded,
"Don't you know that Wan'er's body is very weak? She forced herself to endure the discomfort and make this trip just to testify for you. What you've done is truly chilling!"
Beside him, Mu Wan weakly shook her head.
"Say no more, Jixing, I can actually hold on."
"But my heart will ache."
Guan Jixing thumped his own chest.
Then, the two locked eyes in a deep, affectionate gaze.
Young Master Kong almost choked on his own breath, his heart practically seizing up. What were they pretending for? Second class makes his heart ache? If they were so capable, they should pay for it themselves! The Guan family had disowned them, and he was even the one paying their hospital bills!
Beside them, Charles was watching with great relish.
He whispered,
"Kong, is this a unique way Chinese couples interact? It is very loving, very unique. When I return to America, I must tell my friends about this."
Young Master Kong: ...
That is completely unnecessary!
"It's not that I didn't want to buy first-class tickets, they were all sold out." Speaking of this, a hint of gloom appeared on his face. Although his status was awkward, he had also grown up pampered. How could he not want to sit in a more comfortable first-class carriage?
But all the tickets were bought out.
Did he want to throw his weight around?
Sorry, Peiping was not his territory, and he couldn't order anyone around at all. But fortunes rise and fall; Su Ning would only be arrogant for this little while.
Once they reached Nanjing, he would let Su Ning know the meaning of humility!
"You aren't lying to us, are you?"
Guan Jixing looked suspicious. "I've never heard of first-class tickets being sold out. Where would there be so many rich people, and all gathered on this train? If you don't want to spend that much money, you can just say so. I'm not doing this for my own enjoyment, it's just that my heart aches because Wan'er's body can't take it. How about this, you can just buy one first-class ticket for Wan'er, I don't need one!"
"No, if Jixing doesn't sit there, neither will I."
Mu Wan shook her head, tears in her eyes.
"Be good, Wan'er. I know you are very brave. Even without me accompanying you, you can stay there properly, right? I will frequently visit you in the first-class carriage."
"You won't lie to me?"
"I won't."
"Then let's pinky swear on it, you can't go back on your word."
They started to pinky swear.
Wait, who agreed to buy tickets for you?
Young Master Kong's head was buzzing. There were relatively more people in the second-class carriage, and some were already looking over. Although he wasn't the one acting crazy, for some reason, he felt like he had completely lost face too.
He wished he could dig a hole in the ground.
Crawl inside.
And bury himself.
He took a deep breath before his head, which felt like it was about to explode, cleared up. Not wanting to entangle with them any longer, he said with a cold face, "If you want to sit, then sit quietly. If you don't want to sit, then get the hell off the train!"
This outburst of temper finally intimidated Guan Jixing and Mu Wan.
They ceased their fussing.
Just then, someone in the adjacent seat suddenly turned their head and said with a cheeky smile to the indignant Guan Jixing, "He didn't lie to you. Someone really did buy up all the first-class tickets. Otherwise, even if he didn't buy them for you, he would have at least bought one for himself, right?"
These words hit the nail on the head, pointing out the crux of the matter.
At the very least, Guan Jixing was less angry after hearing this, only muttering disdainfully in his heart.
He should have just made it clear earlier.
What Young Master Kong, he couldn't even buy a single first-class ticket. He was nothing much after all. No wonder he beat around the bush instead of saying it straight, wasn't he just afraid of losing face?
Thinking of this.
He deliberately asked this kind-hearted person, "Who is so extravagant?"
Young Master Kong thought to himself, this is bad.
But it happened too fast for him to stop it. He heard the person laugh heartily and raise an eyebrow, "You know this person too, it's Miss Su. She bought the tickets for the entire first-class carriage."
"What, how could it be her?"
Guan Jixing cried out in shock.
After saying that, he subconsciously looked at Young Master Kong. Sure enough, his face had darkened like charcoal.
"What, you don't believe it? I can testify to it. The first-class carriage is indeed quite luxurious, but unfortunately, there are too few seats. I couldn't beat the other brothers to it, so I can only suffer a bit and sit in second class."
"I can also testify."
"And me."
"Me too."
"..."
From their front, back, left, and right, countless voices suddenly popped up. Everyone had a smile on their face as they turned around, their eyes either teasing and mocking, or harboring ill intentions.
In short, it made one's scalp tingle just looking at them.
"Do you believe it now?"
The subordinate of Su Ning who had spoken first leaned over, getting right in Guan Jixing's face as he asked. Guan Jixing nodded stiffly, and the next second, he was slapped fiercely across the face.
The slap knocked him straight from his seat onto the floor. With old wounds unhealed and new ones added, it was strangely an improvement to his looks, though unfortunately, he couldn't appreciate the favor.
He was left dazed by the sudden slap.
"Ah, Jixing!"
Mu Wan's piercing scream rang through the air.
"Just waking you up."
The man shook his hand. "Next time I hear you running your dirty mouth and talking bad about Miss Su, it won't be just a slap, understand?"
Guan Jixing really wanted to explode and lose his temper, but under the watchful eyes of the glaring men around him... he swallowed his anger back down. He figured it was fine if he got beaten up.
But what if Wan'er got caught in the crossfire?
Even so, he couldn't help but look at Young Master Kong, only to be disappointed to find that although his expression was terrible, he didn't say a word about the situation.
What could Young Master Kong say?
He coldly glanced at Su Ning's subordinates around him, sneering in his heart. Like master, like servant; Su Ning's subordinates were just as arrogant and domineering as she was, refusing to shed a tear until they saw the coffin.
A lack of patience in small matters would ruin great plans.
Once we reach Nanjing... I will return all these humiliations!
Beside him, Charles silently pulled down his hat and shrank his body, trying his best not to be noticed. If that slap had landed on his face, he would definitely cry from the pain.
At the same time, he silently prayed in his heart.
Hoping for God's blessing.
Boo hoo, he was still so scared... He suddenly felt that Young Master Kong was no match for that Miss Su, what should he do?
Be brave, Charles, be a fearless true gentleman like your father-in-law!
............
"Ding, detected that the host is rich and unkind. First-tier plot characters Guan Jixing and Mu Wan have suffered physical and mental trauma. Rewarding..."
Su Ning wasn't surprised by this.
She could easily guess that they had been caught talking bad about her and were taught a lesson by her subordinates. However, the amount was a bit too large, and surprisingly, the reward squeezed out of Mu Wan was more than Guan Jixing's?
That shouldn't be the case.
This female lead took the route of a fragile white lily, crying before even speaking. Even if she spoke ill of her, it couldn't have been that severe, definitely not comparable to Guan Jixing.
As she thought about it, a flash of inspiration hit her.
—Love!
The first-class carriage was indeed quite comfortable. Su Ning hardly felt the fatigue of travel, and the two days passed by with ease as the train soon arrived in Nanjing.
Logically speaking, there should have been someone to pick her up.
On Su Ning's end, the passengers in the other carriages had completely emptied out, yet she still could not find her ride. She had no choice but to step off the train first, only to happen upon Young Master Kong and his entourage.
They had finally arrived in Nanjing.
His confidence had swelled, especially upon seeing that his father's trusted aide was actually among those sent to receive him! Overjoyed, he lost all interest in mocking Su Ning over this. As he walked past her, he merely let out a cold snort from his nose.
He then led his people away with an arrogant swagger.
Before Su Ning could even react, Half-Immortal Su beside her was fuming with rage. He was muttering under his breath, though it was unclear what he was grumbling about.
Is the car ready?
Half-Immortal Su was completely baffled. Car? What car?
Yes, Miss, they have already been unloaded. Lin Sen nodded with a smile, leading them around the corner. Parked not too far away were those all-too-familiar vehicles.
Stepping out of her comfort zone into the unfamiliar city of Nanjing.
And having to offend people on top of it.
How could she possibly feel at ease leaving her own little life in the hands of others?
Bringing so many subordinates along was precisely for this reason. Shipping over vehicles with their security features maxed out was for the same purpose. At worst, it just cost a bit more money, and it killed two birds with one stone!
Let us go, get in.
The pitch-black motorcade sped past, kicking up a cloud of flying dust. Curious civilians began to chatter among themselves, wondering which powerful family was traveling this time, as they had never seen such cars before.
............
Su Ning rested her chin in her hand, gazing out the window.
The scenery and the people, so different from those in Beiping, brought a slight smile to her lips. The blood in her veins seemed to boil, a mixture of excitement and fear, as the two emotions recklessly pulled at her.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from outside.
Bang.
Did someone's tire just blow out?
Whatever.
It was none of her business anyway.
