Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but laugh at Ning Shiyue's sneaky tone.
She deliberately feigned hesitation, dragging out her words: "Really? You promise... you won’t tell Xie Zhiyan?"
Ning Shiyue was momentarily confused.
At first, he’d assumed the guy was just another failed suitor who couldn’t take a hint, still shamelessly trying to chat her up.
He’d seen plenty of those types before—overconfident men who believed Ning Yuxuan’s rejections were merely coyness or temporary hesitation, convinced persistence would eventually win her over.
But in reality, no meant no. There was no second chance.
Yet, judging by Ning Yuxuan’s reaction...
Was this guy not just delusional after all?
Ning Shiyue’s eyes darted back and forth, his internal struggle plain on his face.
Finally, he clenched his fists, as if steeling himself, and declared, "I promise! I won’t say a word!"
Who could blame him? Ning Yuxuan was his sister!
Even if he saw her pushing a shopping cart with some random guy—or worse, hugging one—there had to be a perfectly good explanation. It could never be Ning Yuxuan’s fault!
After twenty-plus years of sibling loyalty, he wasn’t about to betray her now.
Ning Yuxuan blinked.
Then, after a beat, she burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Ning Shiyue, thank you. I’m touched."
Ning Shiyue realized he might’ve been played.
He glared at her. "Hey, are you gonna tell me who that guy was or not? If not, I’m leaving!"
Ning Yuxuan relented. "Fine, fine. His name is Liang Yihui. He’s Liang Jihuai’s son."
Ning Shiyue froze. "Liang... Professor Liang’s son?"
Ning Yuxuan nodded. "Yeah. He knows his dad and our mom are dating, so he just struck up a conversation with me."
Ning Shiyue pressed immediately, "What was there to talk about? What did he say to you?"
Ning Yuxuan raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t you say last time that you didn’t mind Mom dating?"
Ning Shiyue huffed. "I don’t oppose it, but I at least deserve to know whether my future... uh, stepbrother is decent or not, right?"
Ning Yuxuan snorted. "Wow, you’re already claiming relatives?"
Ning Shiyue ignored her jab. "Stop dodging. What did he say?"
Ning Yuxuan gave him a rough summary of Liang Yihui’s words.
After listening with a furrowed brow, Ning Shiyue delivered his verdict: "Not bad. This Liang guy sounds... somewhat normal."
Ning Yuxuan smirked. "Can I take that as your approval?"
Ning Shiyue shot back, "No. I just don’t object to his dad dating Mom, that’s all."
Ning Yuxuan knew that coming from him, this was high praise.
"Alright," she waved him off. "What about the stuff you were supposed to buy? Too busy stalking me?"
Ning Shiyue scowled. "I’ll go now! And I wasn’t stalking you—I was looking out for you! How was I supposed to know that guy wasn’t some creep?"
---
After finishing their shopping, the two grabbed a quick lunch at the mall.
Back home, they rested briefly before resuming packing in the afternoon.
The day before, Ning Fei had already organized most of the daily necessities and her own clothes.
Ning Yuxuan refused further help. "Mom, you’ve done enough yesterday. Leave the rest to me and Ning Shiyue."
Ning Shiyue chimed in, "We’ve got this. You should go upstairs and relax."
Ning Fei smiled warmly. "Alright, I’ll leave it to you two."
Her children had grown up—thoughtful enough to spare her the trouble.
Ning Yuxuan carried an armful of clothes and hats from her bedroom and closet, dumping them onto the sofa.
Ning Shiyue stared at the pile, baffled. "We’re only going for a few days. You’re not seriously taking all that, are you?"
Ning Yuxuan shot him a look. "No."
Ning Shiyue exhaled in relief. "Good. I thought my suitcase was about to be hijacked like my closet."
He traveled light—just a face wash for skincare, three T-shirts, three pairs of shorts, a set of pajamas, and some underwear and socks. His summer clothes were thin, so everything fit neatly into one suitcase with room to spare.
Noticing the extra space, Ning Yuxuan eyed his luggage thoughtfully.
Ning Shiyue instantly went on guard. "What are you plotting?"
Ning Yuxuan grinned. "You just gave me an idea."
Ning Shiyue: "…?"
He threw his arms over his open suitcase. "Absolutely not!"
Ning Yuxuan feigned innocence. "What’s 'not'?"
Ning Shiyue pointed accusingly. "Your dresses are NOT going in my suitcase!"
He tolerated her hijacking his closet at home, even if it meant his clothes reeked of her perfume—he could always wash them before wearing. But this was for a TV shoot! If he showed up smelling like women’s fragrance from head to toe, how would he face anyone?
He doubled down. "No way. I refuse!"
Ning Yuxuan scoffed. "Who said anything about dresses? Even if you begged, I wouldn’t let my clothes touch your ugly rags."
Ning Shiyue bristled. "Whose clothes are ugly?! Those aren’t company outfits—I bought them myself!"
Ning Yuxuan deadpanned, "Exactly. That’s why they’re ugly."
Ning Shiyue: "…"
"Enough," he grumbled. "If you’re not stuffing your dresses in here, what do you want?"
Ning Yuxuan pointed at a stack of newly purchased sunscreen. "These go in your bag."
With strong UV rays at the beach and long outdoor filming hours, she’d bought multiple bottles of sunscreen, spray-on SPF for touch-ups, and a giant tub of aloe vera gel—just in case. It was all bulky.
Ning Shiyue groaned. "I don’t even use that spray stuff. Why does it have to go in mine?"
Still, relieved she wasn’t commandeering his suitcase for her wardrobe, he relented and let her dump the sunscreen haul inside.
After neatly arranging the bottles, Ning Yuxuan spotted a small gap at the side.
"Is this everything you’re bringing?" she asked.
Ning Shiyue eyed her warily. "Yeah. Why?"
"No reason." With that, she shoved two new pairs of flip-flops into the remaining space.
Ning Shiyue: "…"
"If I'm not mistaken," Ning Shiyue pointed out, "those pink flip-flops are yours, right? Why are they in my luggage?"
Ning Yuxuan didn’t even look up as she replied, "Just helping you make the most of the space. No need to thank me."
...
Soon, Ning Shiyue’s originally empty suitcase was packed to the brim.
Zipping it up, he tried lifting it with one hand and nearly failed.
It wasn’t that the suitcase was unbearably heavy—just far beyond his expectations.
Whenever he traveled alone before, his luggage had always been light enough to lift effortlessly with one hand, even allowing for a little spin or jump.
Now, stuffed with sunscreen and the random items Ning Yuxuan had shoved inside, it weighed at least twice as much.
Meanwhile, Ning Yuxuan had finally picked out her outfits for the next few days from the pile of clothes on the couch, along with the bunny pajamas Jiang Ning'an had gifted her and two of her own nightgowns.
Ning Shiyue found it baffling. "I can sort of understand bringing extra dresses or even multiple hats, but why do you need so many sleepwear options?"
Ning Yuxuan defended herself, "What if something gets dirty? Besides, nightgowns are thin—they barely take up any space."
Ning Shiyue paused for two seconds before delivering a deadpan retort: "Sure, they don’t take up space—because all the bulky stuff is in my suitcase."
He glanced at her side of the room. Her suitcase was nearly packed, but a few miscellaneous items still sat on the coffee table: ID, sunglasses, earphones, power bank, and...
Pointing at a dull gray object, he asked, "What’s that ugly thing?"
Ning Yuxuan burst out laughing. "I’m telling Xie Zhiyan you called his gift an ‘ugly thing.’"
After she’d turned down Xie Zhiyan’s offer to help her pack the night before, he’d apparently spent the whole day at work. But around noon, his assistant had dropped off this little item.
At first, Ning Yuxuan had shared Ning Shiyue’s disdain for its appearance. But after trying it out, she was surprised by how comfortable it was—far better than the colorful, oddly shaped neck pillows she owned.
So she decided to overlook its looks and bring it along.
Hearing it was from Xie Zhiyan, Ning Shiyue scoffed. "You always criticize my taste, saying my clothes are ugly. How is this any better? Clearly, you’re prioritizing romance over... over me."
Ning Yuxuan suppressed a laugh. "I’ll admit it’s not pretty, but it’s practical. Want to try it?"
"It’s just a neck pillow. How good can it be?" he muttered, but still reached for it and slipped it around his neck.
After adjusting it and moving his head side to side, he fell silent.
Ning Yuxuan grinned. "Well? Not bad, right?"
Ning Shiyue shot her a look. "Doesn’t matter. Xie Zhiyan only gave you one. I don’t get to use it anyway."
Ning Yuxuan replied casually, "Actually, there were two. I gave the other one to Mom."
Ning Shiyue’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait—so where’s mine?"
With a smirk, she said, "Maybe because you came back last-minute, Xie Zhiyan didn’t know to prepare one for you."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
He and Xie Zhiyan had been close as kids, and he’d even helped brainstorm ideas when Xie Zhiyan confessed to Ning Yuxuan.
And now? This couple—one prioritizing romance over her brother, the other over his friend!
...
After packing, Ning Yuxuan spent a little time wrapping up work.
She and her mother would be away from Beicheng for several days. Though the show wouldn’t confiscate their phones entirely, live broadcasts made it harder to stay in touch.
So she double-checked everything related to Huayuan to ensure nothing would go wrong in their absence.
Before bed, Ning Yuxuan called Xie Zhiyan—just audio, no video.
It was her decision not to see him. They’d be back by Monday, and they’d gone longer without meeting before.
But since their first time together, she’d noticed how much more intense and unrestrained Xie Zhiyan’s desire for her had become. Even the simplest touch seemed to ignite his hunger.
It was as if he’d truly learned the meaning of "once bitten, twice shy."
Worse, she realized the attraction was mutual. She wasn’t sure she could resist him if they met in person.
After finally recovering from the soreness yesterday, she wasn’t about to let temptation ruin her relaxing beach trip.
After exchanging goodnights, she drifted off to sleep.
The Next Day
By 7 a.m., Ning Yuxuan was yawning as she dragged herself out of bed.
Their flight wasn’t until 12:30 p.m., but with the live broadcast, they needed extra time compared to a normal trip.
At 8 a.m., the livestream began.
[Ugh, this is the last episode! I’m gonna miss this show so much!]
[I was planning to sleep in during summer break, but I set an alarm just for Mom’s finale!]
[I heard Ning Shiyue’s joining today! Haven’t seen him in ages—can’t wait!]
[The sibling banter is back! My favorite part!]
As the director’s voice-over ended, the camera panned to the Ning family.
Ning Fei stood in the center, elegant in a white maxi dress and light gray trench coat. Beside her, Ning Yuxuan wore a ginger-yellow dress with a cropped cardigan, while Ning Shiyue sported a beige striped T-shirt.
The sight instantly dazzled the audience.
[OMG, Mom, sis, and bro are finally reunited! This family is pure perfection together!]
[This is visual heaven. Talk about flawless genetics!]
[Their outfits even coordinate! Sis and bro are both in yellow tones, and Ning Fei’s in neutrals.]
[Where can I get Ning Yuxuan’s dress and Ning Shiyue’s tee? I want matching couple outfits with my boyfriend!]
A crew member outlined the day’s schedule: they’d head from home to the airport to meet the other guests.
After passing through security, the guests would gather in the VIP lounge for a brief segment.
Then came a four-hour flight, during which the live stream would be temporarily suspended.
The broadcast would only resume once the plane landed and the guests arrived at their destination after leaving the airport.
After the explanation, everyone prepared to set off.
There were three suitcases on the floor—one for each of them—and a backpack on the sofa.
Though the trip would span four days including travel time, they would only spend the full weekend, two days, in Lucheng.
Ning Yuxuan had initially thought her single suitcase might not be enough, but after stuffing everything she could into Ning Shiyue’s luggage, hers ended up perfectly filled.
Small essentials like a portable fan, power bank, and umbrella were tossed into the backpack.
As for who would carry the backpack—well, that went without saying.
Hearing it was time to leave, Ning Shiyue silently picked up the black backpack from the sofa and slung it over his shoulders.
Then, gripping the handles of two suitcases, he asked the staff, "The car’s parked by the roadside outside, right?"
After receiving confirmation, he was ready to go.
Ning Fei hesitated, wanting to tell her son he didn’t have to haul so much at once—they could split the load.
But Ning Yuxuan beat her to it, remarking airily, "Not bad, Ning Shiyue. You’ve got some strength. Good job."
Ning Shiyue shot her a glare over his shoulder. "Cut the sarcasm!"
With most of their essentials in the backpack, Ning Yuxuan carried only a small tote, while Ning Fei had a chain-strap purse.
Compared to Ning Shiyue—burdened with the backpack and two suitcases—the two women looked effortlessly elegant and carefree.
Though, unlike Ning Yuxuan’s relaxed expression, Ning Fei wore a hint of concern.
Noticing this, Ning Yuxuan reassured her, "Mom, don’t worry. This guy’s over six feet tall. If a backpack and two suitcases are enough to crush him, all that food he eats is going to waste. Besides, it’s just to the car—not the whole trip."
Ning Fei hesitated for a second before relenting. "...Alright."
Ning Yuxuan then added fuel to the fire, calling out to Ning Shiyue, who was nearly at the door, "Hey, Ning Shiyue, after you handle those two, come back for the third one!"
Ning Shiyue’s back stiffened.
"Ning Yuxuan, don’t push it!"
While Ning Shiyue suffered, the live chat erupted in laughter.
[HAHAHA I’m dying! After not seeing him for a few episodes, Ning Shiyue’s back to his usual role—same old, same old.]
[As long as Mom and big sis are around, Ning Shiyue’s destined to be the pack mule.]
[The funniest part is Ning Fei getting convinced too—she didn’t even step in to help with a suitcase!]
[The family hierarchy is clear: Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan are here to vacation. Ning Shiyue’s here to work.]
Even Ning Shiyue’s fans were amused, knowing this brief labor wouldn’t hurt him and even served as proof of his dedication to his family.
[Our Ning Shiyue’s tough! A couple suitcases are nothing!]
[Exactly! He’s not like those weaklings who can’t even lift an 80-pound actress for a princess carry!]
Though Ning Shiyue had refused verbally, after loading the first two suitcases into the car, he obediently returned for the third.
Once all the luggage was packed, the three boarded the car headed for the airport.
Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei sat together, while Ning Shiyue took the row behind them.
But he wasn’t lonely for long.
As soon as they got in, Ning Yuxuan turned to assign him another task. "At the airport, you’re still in charge of those two suitcases, okay?"
Ning Shiyue rolled his eyes. "Obviously. Did you see me struggle just now?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Yeah, yeah, you’re amazing. So… how about the third one too?"
Ning Shiyue: "...What, you want me to carry it with my teeth?"
Another wave of [HAHAHA] flooded the chat.
In the end, after getting out of the car, Ning Shiyue did end up pushing two suitcases.
Ning Yuxuan handled the third.
Ning Fei offered to take one, but both siblings refused simultaneously.
Once they found a luggage cart at the airport, all three suitcases were loaded onto it—and of course, Ning Shiyue was the one pushing.
The scene repeated: Ning Shiyue at the front, maneuvering the cart, while Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei strolled leisurely behind him in their dresses.
After check-in, they reached the VIP lounge.
Qin Man and Jiang Ning'an were already waiting inside.
Ning Fei and Qin Man had grown closer and quickly struck up a conversation.
Meanwhile, Ning Yuxuan chatted with Jiang Ning'an. "Ning'an, I brought the bunny pajamas you gave me!"
Jiang Ning'an’s eyes lit up. "Really? I packed the matching set!"
Ning Yuxuan smiled. "Then we’ll wear them together and take a photo."
They exchanged stories about their trips to the airport until Ning Yuxuan glanced back at Ning Shiyue.
While everyone else was talking, he’d been left idle.
Catching her look, he trudged over—though his tone was less than thrilled. "What now?"
[HAHAHA Ning Shiyue’s hilarious—summoned with a single glance, pretending he’s annoyed.]
[I dub him: Short on words, tall on action.]
Ning Yuxuan: "Ning'an and the others have carry-ons. Remember to help them with those when we board and deplane."
Jiang Ning'an, unfamiliar with Ning Shiyue, flushed. "Yuxuan, it’s fine—"
Before she could finish, Ning Shiyue cut in with another eye-roll at Ning Yuxuan. "You called me over just to say that? I didn’t need you to tell me."
Jiang Ning'an: "..."
Ning Yuxuan waved him off dismissively. "Good. Now scram."
...
To account for delays, the crew had allotted plenty of time at the airport.
After greetings, there were still nearly two hours until boarding.
The staff announced a free period before the next segment, scheduled an hour before departure.
Ning Yuxuan got up too early today and almost fell asleep on the way to the airport just now.
She promptly called Ning Shiyue over, rummaged through his backpack, found a U-shaped pillow, put it around her neck, and took a little nap on the chair in the VIP lounge.
Ning Yuxuan was wearing a ginger - yellow long dress and a pair of large hoop earrings today. She was all in a bright and eye - catching casual vacation style.
The plain gray U - shaped pillow without any decoration looked a bit out of place on her.
[Strange. With Ning Yuxuan's outfit, why didn't she pick a more colorful pillow?]
[Yeah, but it looks quite comfortable. I wonder which brand it is.]
The CP fans emerged again.
[Since this U - shaped pillow doesn't match Ning Yuxuan's style at all, there's only one possibility: it belongs to our President Xie!]
[Definitely! President Xie felt sorry for his girlfriend, so he specially brought this for her.]
[What girlfriend? She's his fiancée! The ring has been photographed. They must be engaged!]
Originally, the CP fans were a bit disappointed to hear that Xie Zhiyan wouldn't be participating in the recording of the last episode of the program.
But soon they figured it out. Since the two are a real couple, even if they don't travel together this time, can there be any shortage of sweet moments?
Sure enough, they found one so quickly.
Other viewers in the live - stream just smiled it off, simply admiring the CP fans' imagination. They could even get a "ship" out of an ugly U - shaped pillow.
An hour before take - off, the program crew gathered the five guests together.
"This is the recording of our last episode of the program, and it's also everyone's first joint trip. I believe everyone is very looking forward to this journey, so we've also brought blessings from your friends."
After the staff member finished speaking, a short video was played simultaneously at the scene and in the live - stream.
It was a blessing video, with all the guests' friends sending their best wishes for this journey.
First, there were some old friends of Qin Man, and several actors who were on good terms with Jiang Ning'an, including Pan Wenyan who had been on the program before.
Then, Duan Ziyao from the fourth episode and his mother, Su Yun, also appeared.
Duan Ziyao was as shy as ever, and Su Yun was as talkative as before.
When Duan Ziyao sent his wishes, the director deliberately gave Ning Shiyue a close - up.
Ning Shiyue folded his arms and curled his lips.
[Hahaha, it's a pity these two didn't appear on the program at the same time. Otherwise, I seriously doubt they'd get into a fight.]
[No no no. I think with the sister - brother blood - related suppression Ning Yuxuan has over Ning Shiyue, Ning Shiyue might only dare to give Duan Ziyao a silent dirty look.]
Later, there were several actors from the crew of "Tide Order".
Ning Shiyue had a promotional task this time. The actors in the crew briefly introduced the drama they were filming in the short video and said that they had a great cooperation with Ning Shiyue.
At the end of the short video, a familiar figure appeared.
The CP fans in the live - stream went crazy immediately.
[Ah ah ah ah, I knew it! President Xie would definitely appear to send blessings to our Xuanxuan!]
[Is this going to be another public display of their relationship after the Weibo official announcement?]
[Finally! I knew my CP wouldn't let me down!]
The director, being very perceptive, switched the camera to a close - up of Ning Yuxuan.
Ning Yuxuan's eyebrows twitched slightly.
When did this man record this?
In the picture, Xie Zhiyan had a faint smile on his lips.
It seemed that only when facing Ning Yuxuan did the man's sharp eyebrows and eyes look much softer than usual.
"Have fun." Xie Zhiyan's blessing was concise. "But also remember to know your limits and don't exhaust yourself. See you in two days."
