In an instant, Ning Yuxuan felt her heart rate spike to 110.
At first, she thought she was just casually chatting with Xie Zhiyan, so she hadn’t considered things like soundproofing—she hadn’t even closed the door properly, leaving it slightly ajar.
Then, somehow, the conversation had veered into discussing a contractual marriage.
Ning Yuxuan quickly replayed their earlier exchange in her mind.
Fortunately, their final discussion had revolved around buying a house, and they hadn’t revisited the contractual arrangement.
Plus, judging by Ning Fei’s expression, it didn’t seem like she had overheard that part.
Ning Yuxuan hesitated before speaking to her mother, “Mom, Xie Zhiyan and I were just talking casually…”
Ning Fei noticed her daughter’s hesitation and offered a reassuring smile. “Alright, let’s go downstairs for dinner first. You can tell me the details when you have time.”
Despite the shock still lingering in her heart, Ning Fei prioritized her daughter’s comfort.
She had only pulled her aside earlier because she couldn’t help herself in the moment, but now that she’d calmed down a little, she realized she shouldn’t press her daughter for answers.
Ning Yuxuan murmured, “…Okay.”
When they reached the dining room, the housekeeper had already prepared several home-cooked dishes, all of Ning Yuxuan’s favorites.
Ning Fei seemed distracted.
Her mind kept replaying the conversation she had overheard between her daughter and her boyfriend.
From what she could gather, Xie Zhiyan seemed more inclined to buy a house sooner, while her daughter hadn’t objected—though she wasn’t as enthusiastic as he was.
Ning Fei remembered that her daughter had only confessed to dating Xie Zhiyan a week ago. Even if she counted the time they’d spent together, it couldn’t have been more than a month.
A month ago, her daughter had still been with that ex-boyfriend.
Ning Yuxuan wasn’t the type to two-time, and Ning Fei knew better than anyone how deeply her daughter had once loved that boy from the Gu family.
So how had she moved on so quickly—to the point of considering marriage with Xie Zhiyan?
Or were they just planning to buy a house and live together first?
Ning Fei was finding it harder and harder to understand her daughter’s thoughts.
Lost in her musings, her movements slowed.
She picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks but left it untouched in her bowl.
Seeing her mother like this, Ning Yuxuan glanced up and locked eyes with Xie Zhiyan.
She couldn’t help but shoot him a glare: This is all your fault. You had to bring up buying a house—now Mom definitely overheard.
A moment later, Xie Zhiyan cleared his throat lightly.
Ning Fei snapped out of her daze and smiled apologetically at her daughter’s boyfriend. “I’m sorry, Zhiyan. I must be a little tired from filming the show—I zoned out for a bit. Please, you and Yuxuan eat up. Don’t let me distract you.”
Xie Zhiyan nodded with a polite smile.
“Aunt Ning,” he then said.
Ning Fei blinked. “Hmm? What is it?”
Xie Zhiyan set down his chopsticks and spoke earnestly. “I apologize, Auntie. The matter about buying a house was something I brought up unilaterally with Yuxuan. I might have been a little too hasty.”
Ning Fei was taken aback—she hadn’t expected him to address it right at the dinner table.
Ning Yuxuan was equally surprised, silently watching him.
Xie Zhiyan continued calmly, “Auntie, I don’t know if Yuxuan has mentioned this to you, but when we got together, I was the one who pursued her.”
Ning Fei wasn’t sure where he was going with this but answered honestly, “…Yes, Yuxuan told me.”
Xie Zhiyan’s voice softened. “Between the two of us, I’m the more proactive one. I also like her a little more, so sometimes I might get carried away. If there’s anything inappropriate, please don’t hesitate to point it out to me. I’ll take note.”
Ning Fei was silent for a couple of seconds.
Since he had put it so plainly, she decided to be straightforward as well.
“Zhiyan,” she began, “when it comes to your relationship with Yuxuan, I fully support you both. A couple of days ago, I also spoke with Xinmei—we’re both very happy that you two are together. As for when to take the next step, that’s entirely up to you. I respect my daughter’s decisions. As long as she agrees, I won’t object.”
Her stance was clear: if Ning Yuxuan consented, she would support them.
Conversely, if her daughter wasn’t ready, she would stand firmly by her side.
Xie Zhiyan nodded. “Auntie, I understand. Yuxuan and I will discuss everything properly. I would never force her into anything.”
Ning Fei smiled faintly. “Good.”
Ning Yuxuan felt her nose sting slightly. “Mom…”
Ning Fei patted her daughter’s hand reassuringly. “Yuxuan, as long as it’s a choice you’ve thought through carefully, I’ll support you wholeheartedly.”
Ning Yuxuan pressed her lips together. “I know, Mom.”
Ning Fei’s smile warmed. “Alright, let’s eat now, hm?”
Ning Yuxuan nodded.
After airing things out, Ning Fei felt much clearer.
In the past, if her daughter had mentioned wanting to get married, Ning Fei would have objected without hesitation.
Part of it was because that boy from the Gu family had been unreliable, but more than that, she had worried her daughter was still too naive—that she might make an impulsive decision she’d later regret.
But ever since her breakup and taking on responsibilities at the hotel, Ning Fei had noticed a change in her daughter.
Ning Yuxuan had matured a lot. She wasn’t the same impulsive girl anymore—she had her own thoughts and opinions now.
Besides, while she and Xie Zhiyan hadn’t been together for long, they had known each other for years. And from what Ning Fei could see, Xie Zhiyan was completely devoted to her. There was nothing wrong with settling down sooner.
Of course, it also helped that the Xie and Ning families were so close. Ning Fei and Zheng Xinmei had been friends for decades—she had practically watched Xie Zhiyan grow up.
If it had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have been so at ease.
The atmosphere at the table had grown a little heavy, so Ning Fei lightened the mood with a smile. “Shiyue just texted me—he’ll be wrapping up soon and will call home later.”
Ning Yuxuan remembered. “Oh right, didn’t he say his crew is moving to another city next week? He invited us to visit the set.”
Ning Fei nodded. “Yes, but with the travel time, we’d be gone for at least three days. If we stay longer, it’ll be nearly a week. Do you want to go? If you’d rather not make the trip, I can visit Shiyue alone.”
In the past, when Ning Shiyue filmed out of town, Ning Fei would occasionally drop by.
But Ning Yuxuan had never been interested, complaining that watching her brother act on set was boring.
Ning Yuxuan said firmly, “I’ll go. Why wouldn’t I?”
Ning Fei teased, “Zhiyan will be in Beicheng this whole time, right? If you come with me, you’ll be away for at least three days—maybe even a week if we stay longer.”
Ning Yuxuan caught her mother’s implication and shot Xie Zhiyan a look. “He’ll be fine on his own. He doesn’t need me around.”
Xie Zhiyan chuckled lightly. “When are you leaving? I can drive you to the airport.”
Ning Fei quickly declined politely, "No need, no need. Don't trouble yourself."
...
After dinner, Ning Shiyue happened to call.
Ning Fei chatted with Ning Shiyue for a while before handing the phone to her daughter.
As soon as Ning Yuxuan took the call, Ning Shiyue's raised voice came through the speaker.
"You went behind my back and brought your boyfriend home for dinner again!"
Ning Yuxuan laughed. "What do you mean, 'behind your back'? If we're being technical, this is Mom's house, not yours. As long as Mom agrees, who I bring home for dinner is none of your business."
Ning Shiyue was furious. "Ning Yuxuan!"
Ning Yuxuan teased, "How about this—next time Xie Zhiyan comes over for dinner, I’ll send you a heads-up text. Sound good?"
Ning Shiyue: "That’s more like it—"
Ning Yuxuan: "But just so you know, whether you agree or not won’t change the outcome."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Ning Yuxuan suppressed a laugh. "Alright, did you call just to scold me? Anything else you wanna say?"
There was a brief silence on the line.
Ning Shiyue: "...Last night, why did you suddenly decide to log into the game?"
Ning Yuxuan found this amusing. "You’re still hung up on that? It was just a couple of rounds. Was it really worth stewing over until now and bringing it up on the phone?"
Ning Shiyue argued defensively, "Back when you saw me gaming at home, you never once asked to join me! But the moment someone invites you, you immediately dust off your months-old account. How am I not supposed to be hung up on it?"
Ning Yuxuan blinked. "Someone? Who?"
Ning Shiyue: "Who else? That... what’s-his-name... Duan something."
Ning Yuxuan finally understood his train of thought. "You think I logged in because Duan Ziyao invited me to play?"
Ning Shiyue: "Wasn’t it?"
Ning Yuxuan, unusually patient, explained, "No. Jiang Ning'an asked me to join first, and I agreed. Then she mentioned inviting Duan Ziyao along."
Ning Shiyue: "...Really?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Why would I lie? Besides, you saw Jiang Ning'an’s account—she plays that game all the time and has a high rank."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
After a few seconds, he reluctantly conceded, "Fine, I’ll take your word for it... for now."
Ning Yuxuan smirked. "Ning Shiyue, don’t tell me you got jealous because I played with someone else and didn’t invite you first?"
Ning Shiyue’s voice rose again. "Jealous? Over some scrawny kid who hasn’t even grown all his hair yet? Just because he played a couple rounds with you? Please."
Ning Yuxuan raised an eyebrow. "How do you know he’s 'scrawny'? Weren’t you busy filming all day? Did you somehow find time to watch the show?"
Ning Shiyue: "...I heard it from someone, okay? And isn’t he some 'prodigy gamer' or whatever? A quick search pulls up his profile in under two minutes."
Ning Yuxuan chuckled, deciding not to press further. "Sure, whatever you say."
Ning Shiyue could tell she didn’t believe him. "Besides, even if there was jealousy involved, it wouldn’t be mine!"
Something about his tone struck Ning Yuxuan as odd.
She suddenly asked, "Ning Shiyue, did you say something to Xie Zhiyan?"
It occurred to her that her earlier suspicion about Xie Zhiyan showing up at the filming site for a reason hadn’t been addressed—their conversation had veered into house-hunting and never circled back.
Now, with Ning Shiyue’s remark, the question resurfaced.
The line went quiet for two seconds.
Ning Shiyue: "...No?"
Ning Yuxuan heard the hesitation in his voice.
If it were truly nothing, he would’ve denied it outright.
She glanced back at the living room.
The TV was on, with Xie Zhiyan and Ning Fei sitting on opposite ends of the sofa, seemingly engrossed in either the show or another topic.
Ning Yuxuan stepped further aside. "Be honest. Did you send Xie Zhiyan some kind of message?"
Ning Shiyue knew he couldn’t fool her.
He cleared his throat theatrically. "Well... I might have mentioned that you, me, and that gamer kid played together."
Ning Yuxuan: "And?"
His voice dropped. "And... I might have also brought up how some fans online were shipping you two."
Ning Yuxuan’s eyebrows shot up. "Shipping us? I didn’t even know about that. How are you more plugged into this than I am?"
"I stumbled across it on Weibo..." Ning Shiyue sounded guilty. "If you’re mad, I’ll apologize."
She wasn’t angry—just amused.
Since when had Ning Shiyue and Xie Zhiyan formed an alliance? And since when did Xie Zhiyan, of all people, get swayed by Ning Shiyue’s gossip?
Yet, judging by Xie Zhiyan’s unexpected appearance at the filming site, it seemed Ning Shiyue’s meddling had actually worked.
Ning Yuxuan stayed silent, letting him sweat.
Ning Shiyue grew nervous. "You... are mad, aren’t you?"
She’d only been thinking, but now she decided to play along.
Ning Shiyue took the bait, clearing his throat again. "Look, I didn’t mean any harm—I just wanted to give Zhiyan a little nudge. And I know he’s smart enough not to actually doubt you, so that’s why I did it!"
Still, she said nothing.
Ning Shiyue panicked. "I swear, I won’t send him anything like that again! Cross my heart!"
Ning Yuxuan: "That’s it?"
Ning Shiyue: "...You and Mom are visiting the set next week, right? The crew has a day off—I’ll take you to this famous restaurant here. Super spicy, loaded with chili. Right up your alley!"
Ning Yuxuan: "Just me? Or are you eating too?"
Ning Shiyue gritted his teeth. "...If it’ll make you forgive me, I’ll suffer through the spice with you!"
Ning Yuxuan burst out laughing. "Deal. And I’m recording this! If you back out, I’ll loop the audio next to your ear on repeat!"
Ning Shiyue caught on. "Wait... you weren’t actually mad?"
If she’d been genuinely upset, she wouldn’t have bounced back so quickly—let alone joked about it.
Ning Yuxuan feigned innocence. "Who said I was mad?"
Ning Shiyue: "..."
She continued sternly, "But mad or not, a promise is a promise. Start practicing your spice tolerance—you’re eating hot pot with me when I visit."
Ning Shiyue sighed. "...Fine. A deal’s a deal."
After chatting idly with Ning Shiyue for a while longer, Ning Yuxuan hung up the phone.
She walked into the living room to find Ning Fei and Xie Zhiyan deep in conversation.
"I still think a large flat would be better," Ning Fei was saying. "The view is excellent, and since it's just you and Yuxuan, privacy isn't an issue. A flat would be more convenient. If you two have children later, you can always switch to a villa when they're older."
"I completely agree with you, Auntie," Xie Zhiyan replied with a smile. "I'll discuss it further with Yuxuan later and see what she thinks."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
What was going on?
She had only been on the phone with Ning Shiyue for about ten minutes—how had Ning Fei and Xie Zhiyan already started discussing buying property?
And children? Who said anything about her and Xie Zhiyan having kids?
Noticing Ning Yuxuan's arrival, Ning Fei stood up. "Finished your call with Shiyue? Perfect timing—Qin Man just texted me. I’ll go upstairs to call her back. You two chat."
Lately, Ning Fei and Qin Man had been in frequent contact, mainly discussing an upcoming film project.
With that, Ning Fei headed upstairs, leaving the living room to her daughter.
Ning Yuxuan watched her mother disappear upstairs before turning her gaze to Xie Zhiyan, silent.
Xie Zhiyan raised an amused brow. "What's wrong?"
Ning Yuxuan glared at him. "What kind of spell did you cast on my mom? How did you two end up discussing what kind of house to buy?"
Just earlier, her mother had seemed more shocked than pleased—how had her attitude shifted so quickly?
Xie Zhiyan plucked a grape and held it to Ning Yuxuan’s lips as he answered, "We were just chatting casually, and the topic happened to come up."
Out of reflex, Ning Yuxuan parted her lips and accepted the grape.
She bit into it, the sweet juice flooding her mouth.
"This grape…" she mused. "Is it the same kind we had at your place before?"
Xie Zhiyan nodded. "I brought some from home. You didn’t get enough last time, did you?"
"No wonder it tastes familiar." Ning Yuxuan popped another into her mouth. "It’s rare to find seedless grapes this big and sweet."
After eating two more, she finally circled back to their earlier conversation. "So it was really just casual talk? You’re not trying to win my mom over first so she can persuade me, are you?"
Xie Zhiyan chuckled lightly. "Auntie already said she respects your opinions fully. I wouldn’t dare try to sway her."
Ning Yuxuan tossed another grape into her mouth. "Who knows if you really wouldn’t dare?"
Xie Zhiyan remained unflustered. "Don’t just focus on the grapes. The other fruits are delicious too—try some."
Ning Yuxuan shot him a sidelong glance.
Somehow, she got the feeling this man was using fruit to keep her from asking more questions.
Still, the fruit was delicious. She helped herself to some diced apples and peaches.
The peaches were so ripe that juice dripped onto her fingers.
Xie Zhiyan handed her a couple of tissues.
She took them, wiping her lips and fingers before asking, "Besides buying a house, what else did you ‘casually’ discuss with my mom?"
Xie Zhiyan’s gaze flickered over her hands. "Not much else. Auntie mentioned the film she’s preparing—they’ve finalized a few lead actors, but due to the subject matter, investors haven’t been confirmed yet."
Ning Yuxuan blinked in surprise. "She told you that?"
Clearly, Ning Fei already saw Xie Zhiyan as family.
Ning Yuxuan knew her mother well—she rarely discussed work with outsiders, let alone a project still in early stages.
Xie Zhiyan nodded. "So I’m considering investing in it."
Ning Yuxuan had been about to take another bite of peach but froze mid-motion.
She slowly lifted her eyes to him. "As far as I know, Hengjiang hasn’t invested in films in years, has it?"
Xie Zhiyan’s expression didn’t waver. "No, but I’ve always wanted to. This seems like a good place to start."
Ning Yuxuan narrowed her eyes. "Not just to win my mom over and get her on your side?"
Xie Zhiyan countered smoothly, "Why not assume it’s to win you over?"
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
The peach slice, left too long on her fork, finally gave in to gravity and plopped onto the floor.
Juice clung to her fingers.
She reached for another tissue, but Xie Zhiyan was faster.
He took a fresh napkin and gently wiped the sticky juice from her skin.
The warmth of his fingers seeped through the paper, brushing against her sensitive fingertips.
Ning Yuxuan’s breath hitched for a second.
Xie Zhiyan withdrew, then leaned down to pick up the fallen peach and toss it into the trash.
Her pulse fluttered as she watched him.
When he straightened and met her gaze again, the words tumbled out before she could stop them:
"So… are you investing because of me?"
Xie Zhiyan’s brow lifted slightly.
"That’s a small part of it," he admitted, voice steady. "But mainly, I believe in the production team behind this film."
Ning Yuxuan: "...Oh."
She wasn’t sure how to feel—partly relieved, yet faintly disappointed.
Relieved because his investment wasn’t entirely for her sake, meaning she wouldn’t owe him an impossible debt.
But the disappointment…
The moment she recognized that emotion, unease prickled through her.
Because she realized she’d begun expecting things from Xie Zhiyan—things she never would have before.
Like hoping he’d spend millions on a film just to make her happy.
What did that say about her?
She didn’t have time to dwell on it. All she knew was one universal truth: the higher the expectations, the harder the fall.
In the silence, Xie Zhiyan suddenly asked, "Want some ice cream?"
Ning Yuxuan blinked. "Huh?"
Xie Zhiyan: "Auntie checked earlier—there’s one last mung bean popsicle left in the freezer."
Ning Yuxuan: "...Yes!"
Maybe some things were better left unanalyzed. Emotions didn’t always obey logic anyway.
Xie Zhiyan stood and fetched the treat for her.
She unwrapped it and took a bite.
He checked his watch. "The supermarket should still be open. Want to go buy more?"
Ning Yuxuan considered it. "Sure. Let me tell Mom we’re heading out."
Ning Fei had just finished her call with Qin Man.
When Ning Yuxuan mentioned the supermarket trip and asked if she needed anything, Ning Fei thought for a moment.
"We’re low on juice. Pick up whatever you like."
Ning Yuxuan agreed.
After changing into a dress, she bounded downstairs and waved at Xie Zhiyan.
"Let’s go."
It was impossible to count how many times the two of them had walked this path together at night.
Ning Yuxuan glanced up at the faintly visible moon and realized she had grown accustomed to walking side by side with Xie Zhiyan like this.
"Yuxuan." The man's voice, deep and gentle, broke the silence.
She turned to look at him.
Xie Zhiyan continued, "Earlier, you asked if I invested in that movie because of you."
Ning Yuxuan blinked. "What about it? Are you regretting not saying it was to win me over, so I’d owe you a favor?"
"No." His tone was calm. "I just remembered that a month ago, you called and asked if I’d be willing to fund your hotel."
Her footsteps faltered slightly.
It was that phone call that had entangled their lives, leading them to walk together like this now.
But why was Xie Zhiyan bringing this up?
Ning Yuxuan studied him, teasing lightly, "Yes, and then you took advantage of the situation by proposing marriage."
Xie Zhiyan chuckled. "I did take advantage, didn’t I?"
Perhaps "seizing the opportunity" was a better way to put it.
No one knew that the moment Ning Yuxuan mentioned she had broken up with Gu Yunhao, he had already prepared himself to "strike while the iron was hot."
Ning Yuxuan eyed him curiously. "So? Why bring this up now?"
Xie Zhiyan replied with effortless ease, "Because it was you who called. That’s why I took advantage. You’re the only exception."
