Today, the driver was using the same Rolls-Royce that had picked up Ning Yuxuan and Tao You from the mall before, the one that had left Shen Chipeng and the others utterly humiliated.
When Xie Zhiyan bought this car, he probably never imagined it would lead to such a situation. He hadn’t opted for the partition.
Without the center console separating the back seats, Ning Yuxuan’s hand was now trapped in Xie Zhiyan’s grip, forcing her to meet his gaze at close range.
Her heart pounded like a drum, her breath uneven.
Ning Yuxuan held his stare for barely a second before looking away.
Xie Zhiyan had initially only been holding two of her fingers, but now his long fingers slowly curled around her entire hand, enveloping it completely.
Then, with a slight tug, he pulled her toward him, and Ning Yuxuan tumbled into his arms.
In an instant, she was surrounded by his scent—cold, distinctive, and laced with the faint aroma of alcohol.
Ning Yuxuan felt as though she were drunk.
Was it from the alcohol on him, or the two glasses of red wine she’d had at the banquet?
She couldn’t tell. All she knew was that her body felt weak, and the urge to resist had all but faded.
Would it really be so bad to just lean against him like this?
Her weight sank fully into him, her face buried just below his shoulder.
Her voice came out muffled. "Why won’t you let go of my hand?"
Xie Zhiyan didn’t answer.
His hand was much larger than hers.
Ning Yuxuan noticed that his palm felt unusually warm—warmer than usual. Maybe it was the alcohol.
His scorching skin enveloped hers, his fingers tracing slow, deliberate circles over the back of her hand.
It was as if he wanted to do something more but was holding back, channeling all that restraint into the tight grip he had on her.
The pressure made her wince.
She buried her face deeper into his chest and whispered, "It hurts."
Xie Zhiyan loosened his hold slightly, his voice rough as he uttered a single word.
"Sorry."
The huskiness in his tone startled her.
She stayed silent, feeling his touch shift from forceful to gentle, his fingers now caressing rather than gripping.
A thought flickered through her mind—
Why was he only touching her hand?
She was right here, in his arms. He could touch her anywhere he wanted with ease.
The realization shocked her.
What was she secretly hoping for?
Ning Yuxuan tried to steady her breathing, afraid to speak.
If she said anything, she feared Xie Zhiyan might actually act on the thoughts she’d just had.
Neither of them moved or spoke, and the car fell into silence.
The only sound in Ning Yuxuan’s ears was Xie Zhiyan’s breathing—deep, heavy, uneven.
Leaning against him wasn’t particularly comfortable.
His shoulders were hard, his chest unyielding, and as for the rest of him…
She didn’t dare explore further.
Her position was awkward too, one hand still in his grasp, her body twisted slightly.
Normally, when she wanted to rest in the backseat, she’d curl up in Ning Fei’s arms or lay her head on her mother’s lap.
But she couldn’t do that now. Every adjustment had to be cautious, deliberate.
One wrong move, and she might trigger something in him.
Yet if she stayed like this, she’d be sore all over by the time they got home.
And tomorrow, she had a long flight to Jiangcheng. She couldn’t afford to be stiff and achy.
Gathering her courage, she called his name softly. "Xie Zhiyan?"
His voice was low, slightly rough. "Hmm?"
"Can you let me go now?"
Silence.
It felt like an eternity before Xie Zhiyan finally released her hand.
Ning Yuxuan exhaled quietly, carefully extricating herself from his hold.
As she pulled away, she avoided putting any weight on him, bracing herself against the seat instead.
Her movements were so slow and cautious, it was almost comical.
Xie Zhiyan seemed to find it amusing—his chest rumbled with a quiet laugh.
In the dim light, Ning Yuxuan shot him a weak glare, unsure if he even saw it.
Once she was sure he wasn’t going to pull her back, she relaxed slightly.
"Xie Zhiyan…" she began, her tone a mix of curiosity and complaint, "how much did you drink tonight?"
He wasn’t acting like himself.
Xie Zhiyan chuckled again, his eyes half-lidded as he answered, "Not much."
"Not much is how much? Two glasses? Three?"
"Something like that."
Business dinners always involved drinking, and he was no exception.
He hadn’t drunk enough to reach his limit—not enough to get drunk.
If he had been drunk, he wouldn’t have been able to hold back earlier.
The moment her soft, fragrant body had pressed against him, it had taken every ounce of his self-control not to pull her close and kiss her.
Ning Yuxuan studied him, sensing that his rationality was gradually returning.
At the very least, he wasn’t touching her anymore.
Whether to ease the tension or just to pass the time, she found herself talking more than usual.
"So how many drinks does it usually take for you to get drunk?"
Xie Zhiyan tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "What, trying to get me drunk? You’re welcome to try and find out."
Ning Yuxuan: "…"
She was certain now—he wasn’t drunk, but he definitely wasn’t sober either.
The Xie Zhiyan she knew didn’t smile like that, didn’t answer like that.
A wild thought crossed her mind—this might be the perfect time to pry some answers out of him.
But the driver was still there.
Still, the opportunity was too good to waste.
After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke again. "Xie Zhiyan."
She’d been saying his name a lot tonight.
And each time, he responded patiently. "Hmm?"
"If I fly to Jiangcheng tomorrow, we won’t see each other for at least five or six days. And if either of us has other commitments after the show wraps up, it could be even longer."
Xie Zhiyan listened silently.
Ning Yuxuan bit her lip, shifting slightly closer to his ear.
"Will you miss me?"
His dark eyes locked onto hers.
She held her breath, suddenly regretting the question.
But she didn’t look away.
Xie Zhiyan’s answer was simple.
"Yes."
Just one word, yet it carried both resignation and tenderness.
She’d expected him to say more, but he’d cut straight to the point.
Ning Yuxuan feigned indifference with a quiet "Oh," then turned to look out the window.
Her heartbeat was already racing uncontrollably.
All the other questions she had prepared flew right out of her mind.
Suddenly, Xie Zhiyan took hold of her left hand.
Ning Yuxuan’s fingers trembled slightly.
This time, his grip was much gentler than before—devoid of any tension, more like how they used to hold hands when walking side by side.
She didn’t pull away, letting him keep her hand in his, though her gaze remained fixed outside the window.
The scenery outside was growing increasingly familiar.
They were almost home.
...
The car entered the villa district and parked near their residence.
When Ning Yuxuan stepped out, she glanced at the time—10:03 p.m.
Xie Zhiyan walked her to the door.
Just last night, they had bid each other goodbye here, and she had thought it would be a week before they saw each other again.
Yet here they were, replaying the same scene so soon.
“I’ll head in now. Goodnight,” Ning Yuxuan said.
Xie Zhiyan gave a quiet “Mhm” in response. “Goodnight.”
Neither of them moved.
Outwardly, Ning Yuxuan maintained a calm expression as she met his gaze, but her mind was swirling with thoughts—
Would he kiss her forehead again?
If he tried to kiss her somewhere else, should she refuse?
Just yesterday, she had insisted on a proper confession before allowing anything more intimate.
But now… she realized she wasn’t as opposed to the idea as she’d thought.
Just like earlier in the car…
Lost in her musings, she watched as Xie Zhiyan took a step closer.
Instinctively, her breathing slowed.
Then—a soft click sounded behind her.
The villa door swung open, and Ning Fei’s voice called out, “Yuxuan? Is that you?”
Ning Yuxuan: “...”
At the sight of her daughter’s back, Ning Fei finally relaxed.
But then she noticed Xie Zhiyan standing in front of her, and her movements stilled.
She should have guessed—if her daughter was returning this late, Xie Zhiyan was likely the one who had picked her up.
But with her mind preoccupied by worry over how the evening had gone, and the late hour, she hadn’t given it much thought.
The moment she heard what sounded like her daughter’s voice at the door, she had rushed to open it.
Now that the moment was here, Ning Fei cleared her throat. “Zhiyan, thank you for bringing Yuxuan home.”
Xie Zhiyan replied politely, “It was no trouble at all, Aunt Ning.”
After a pause, he added, “It’s late, so I won’t stay.”
Ning Fei smiled warmly. “You’ve gone out of your way so late at night—we really appreciate it. Take care on your way back.”
Xie Zhiyan nodded. “No need to see me out, Auntie.”
Before leaving, he glanced at Ning Yuxuan.
Their eyes met for a brief moment before he turned and walked away.
Ning Yuxuan was still processing everything.
She didn’t blame her mother for interrupting, but a faint sense of disappointment lingered—
He had just… left.
Ning Fei ushered her daughter inside.
Noticing the sleeveless evening gown Ning Yuxuan wore, she reached out to touch her bare arms. “Yuxuan, weren’t you cold dressed like this the whole way back?”
Ning Yuxuan chuckled and shook her head. “It’s summer, Mom. How could I possibly be cold?”
Ning Fei pressed further, “Everything went smoothly? No one gave you a hard time?”
Ning Yuxuan laughed. “Mom, it was just a banquet. You make it sound like I walked into a den of wolves.”
Seeing her daughter’s relaxed demeanor and playful tone, Ning Fei finally eased. “I was just worried. Are you hungry? I can make you some noodles if you’d like.”
Ning Yuxuan looped an arm around her mother’s. “I’m stuffed—I ate plenty before coming back.”
Once inside, Ning Fei had asked about everything except the one thing that mattered most.
Ning Yuxuan had a good idea why.
Suppressing a smile, she adopted a serious expression.
“Mom,” she began, “why haven’t you asked me how things went with the supplier?”
Ning Fei hesitated.
She studied her daughter’s face carefully.
Ning Yuxuan’s expression was neutral, but her tone carried a hint of heaviness—nothing like the excitement of success.
Softening her voice, Ning Fei said, “Yuxuan, this was your first time attending a banquet alone to negotiate with someone you’d never met before, and it was all so sudden…”
Even if it didn’t work out, there was no need to feel discouraged.
That was what she had intended to say.
Ever since finalizing plans for the new store, Ning Fei had shown nothing but unwavering confidence in her daughter’s abilities.
But deep down, she had still been anxious.
After hearing Zhou Lin’s account of what had happened and learning that her daughter had gone alone to confront Wu Shangdong at the banquet, Ning Fei’s worry had only grown.
This was the first major crisis Ning Yuxuan had faced since taking over Huayuan.
Fresh out of college, her work experience had been limited to a few short-term jobs—she had never encountered real setbacks in the professional world.
Moreover, though Ning Fei had never met Wu Shangdong personally, she had heard enough rumors during her time at the company to know he wasn’t an easy man to deal with.
So before her daughter returned, Ning Fei had braced herself for disappointment.
She offered a gentle smile, ready to console her.
Then—Ning Yuxuan’s expression shifted instantly. Her eyes curved into crescents as she patted Ning Fei’s shoulder. “Mom, I was just teasing you! Everything’s settled—the Wu family agreed to supply us, and at a lower price than before!”
Ning Fei froze.
Grinning, Ning Yuxuan continued, “And Xie Zhiyan only showed up after the deal was done, so I basically handled it all on my own! Admit it, Mom—your daughter’s amazing, isn’t she?”
The sudden shift left Ning Fei momentarily speechless.
Then, joy broke across her face. “Really?”
“Of course!” Ning Yuxuan beamed. “Why would I lie about something like this? So? Don’t I deserve some serious praise?”
All of Ning Fei’s worries melted away.
“Yes,” she said, unable to suppress her smile. “My daughter is the best.”
More than the success itself, it was her daughter’s radiant happiness that filled Ning Fei with warmth.
With a chuckle, she opened her arms. “How about a hug?”
Ning Yuxuan blinked in surprise—her mother rarely initiated embraces.
But she didn’t hesitate, throwing herself into Ning Fei’s arms. “Yes!”
...
After the celebration, Ning Fei mentioned her upcoming trip.
“I didn’t tell you earlier because I heard you were at the banquet,” she explained. “But I’ve booked a flight for tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. I’ll land in Jiangcheng by 12:30 p.m.”
"However..." Ning Fei looked at her daughter and said, "If you don’t want to go, or if you’d rather go later, we can reschedule or refund the tickets."
Ning Yuxuan had already taken off her evening gown and changed into a comfortable nightdress, pouring herself a glass of milk.
"I’ll go," Ning Yuxuan replied. "The timing is perfect—tomorrow at ten."
The issue with the hotel supplier had been resolved, and the remaining tasks could be left to Zhou Lin and Chen Jun to handle.
Since she had known earlier this week that she might be visiting the set, Ning Yuxuan had already arranged her work accordingly.
She took a sip of milk. "What time are we leaving tomorrow? Oh, right, I haven’t packed yet..."
Ning Fei smiled. "I’ve already packed most of the luggage, including yours. You just need to check if there are any clothes you’d like to swap out."
Ning Yuxuan’s eyes widened. "You packed everything already? Mom, you’re amazing! No need to change anything—I’m sure I’ll love whatever you picked for me."
She wasn’t just saying that. Her mother had always understood her taste.
Besides, she was only going to visit the set, so comfortable everyday clothes would suffice—no need to overthink her outfits.
Ning Fei nodded with a smile. "Alright, then we’ll leave at eight tomorrow morning."
The villa wasn’t too far from the airport, and with the direct highway, the drive wouldn’t take long.
Ning Yuxuan hummed in agreement. "Mm. Mom, did you remember to tell Uncle Li? Don’t forget."
Ning Fei’s gaze flickered slightly. "Actually, Liang Jihuai has some business nearby tomorrow and offered to drive us to the airport... But if you’re uncomfortable with that, I can tell him not to come and just have Uncle Li take us instead."
Ning Yuxuan paused mid-sip.
If she remembered correctly, Liang Jihuai had also been the one to drive her mother to meet the screenwriter earlier today—using the same excuse: business nearby, just a quick detour.
She blinked at Ning Fei. "Mom, I don’t think Teacher Liang has business in this area. I think there’s just someone here he wants to see."
Liang Jihuai was, in fact, pursuing Ning Fei.
At first, Ning Fei hadn’t noticed. When she ran into him at the director’s place—an old colleague she’d worked with before—she had only felt nostalgia and sentimentality, nothing more.
Later, when Liang Jihuai mentioned wanting to play a minor, somewhat unlikable role in the film, Ning Fei assumed he was doing it as a favor to Qin Man, the producer, or the director, given their past connections.
But then he started inviting her out repeatedly—though usually with Qin Man or the producer present—and Ning Fei began to sense something more.
After her divorce, Ning Fei had only dated one man, but she’d had no shortage of suitors over the years. She was familiar with the signs.
When she mentioned in a group chat that she was meeting the screenwriter again, Liang Jihuai privately messaged her, offering to drive her.
After some thought, Ning Fei accepted.
That afternoon, she had an open conversation with him.
She wasn’t opposed to his pursuit—but only if her children accepted him.
Another condition: she had no plans to remarry.
At this point in her life, she didn’t need marriage for financial security, and the complications of tying the knot again weren’t worth it.
In truth, Ning Fei had said all this hoping it might discourage him.
To her surprise, Liang Jihuai immediately agreed and even suggested driving her and Ning Yuxuan to the airport the next day—giving him a chance to meet her daughter and get to know her.
After much hesitation, Ning Fei agreed.
This was the first time she’d ever broached such a topic with Ning Yuxuan.
Even though she’d mentally prepared herself, she still felt a little awkward.
"Yuxuan," Ning Fei began carefully, "what if—"
Ning Yuxuan downed the last of her milk, set the glass on the table, and raised both hands. "I support it! As long as you’re happy, Mom, I’m all for it!"
Ning Fei, who had been slightly embarrassed, couldn’t help but laugh. "I haven’t even said anything yet. What are you supporting?"
Ning Yuxuan blinked innocently. "Hmm... true. Then, Mom, care to elaborate?"
Ning Fei had imagined many reactions, but never this.
Her tension eased, and she gave her daughter a mock-stern look. "There’s not much to elaborate on. It’s pretty much what you’re thinking."
Her daughter was old enough to understand, and her earlier reaction made it clear she’d already guessed. No need to spell it out.
Ning Yuxuan fluttered her lashes, curiosity sparkling. "What am I thinking? So Teacher Liang has been chasing you all this time? Since when? Wait—"
She made a playful face. "Does that mean all those times you said you were meeting Teacher Qin or the screenwriter, you were actually on dates?"
Ning Fei was both amused and exasperated. She lightly flicked her daughter’s forehead. "What nonsense! I’ve never lied to you. If I said I was meeting someone, that’s exactly what I did."
Ning Yuxuan stuck out her tongue. "My bad. I was being cynical."
Ning Fei shook her head with a sigh.
After a few more lighthearted exchanges, she couldn’t help but ask seriously, "Yuxuan, you truly don’t have any objections?"
Hearing this, Ning Yuxuan also grew earnest. "I really don’t. Mom, I trust your judgment and experience. You don’t need me to vet anyone for you. As long as you’re happy, I won’t stand in the way."
Ning Fei smiled faintly. "It’s not about happiness yet. We’re still getting to know each other."
Ning Yuxuan nodded. "Then take your time evaluating him! Oh, but I just thought of something..."
Ning Fei tilted her head. "What is it?"
Ning Yuxuan hesitated. "I wonder what Ning Shiyue thinks about this. Mom, have you decided how to tell him?"
Ning Fei fell silent.
She hadn’t planned for her children to meet Liang Jihuai so soon, but he had insisted on getting to know her daughter first—hence the airport ride tomorrow. Twenty minutes in the car wasn’t too formal, just a casual introduction.
But her son... she hadn’t quite figured that part out yet.
Seeing her mother’s hesitation, Ning Yuxuan spoke up. "Mom, why don’t you leave that to me?"
Ning Fei was taken aback. "To you?"
Ning Yuxuan nodded. "Mm. I’ll talk to Ning Shiyue about it."
Ning Fei was surprised at first, but after a moment’s thought, she agreed. "...Alright."
She had noticed how much closer her daughter and son had grown recently.
Some things were better said between siblings.
By the time they finished talking, the clock was nearing half past ten.
Given Ning Fei’s usual routine, it was time for her to rest.
Ning Yuxuan bid her mother goodnight and returned to her bedroom.
Glancing at her phone, she saw a message from Ning Shiyue.
At this hour, she assumed it was about their upcoming visit to the set.
In the end, Ning Shiyue shared a social media video with her.
Ning Yuxuan clicked on it—it was a marriage proposal video.
The setting was a shopping mall, where countless pink balloons descended from above, engulfing the crowd. The woman, holding a bouquet of flowers, tearfully embraced the man amid the onlookers.
Ning Yuxuan frowned slightly.
Regardless of how she felt about the video itself, why had Ning Shiyue suddenly sent this to her?
Ning Yuxuan: [Did you send this to the wrong person?]
Ning Yuxuan: [Meant to send it to your girlfriend but accidentally sent it to me?]
Ning Shiyue: […………]
Ning Shiyue: [I don’t have a girlfriend, you know that!!]
Ning Yuxuan: [Then why send this to me? Want me to plan a birthday surprise like this for you? The balloons could work, but fair warning—I can’t afford that many.]
Ning Shiyue replied with six periods.
Ning Shiyue: [No… I just wanted to ask, what do you think of this video? Romantic or not?]
Ning Yuxuan’s brows furrowed even tighter.
What on earth had gotten into Ning Shiyue?
