A single stone stirs up a thousand ripples.
Yue Bian
The final livestream ended amidst the audience's reluctance and their astonishment at the diamond ring on Ning Yuxuan's finger.
However, the end of the livestream did not mean the end of the discussion.
Soon, the clip of Ning Yuxuan revealing her ring was screenshotted and became a trending topic on major social media platforms.
[Is this... an engagement? A successful proposal? Or are they already married?]
[Probably not married yet. Given the Xie family's wealth, if they were to marry, the wedding would absolutely be on a grand, century-level scale.]
[Whichever it is, this is absolute personal confirmation, meaning good news is imminent for the two of them!]
[Not to be that person, but is no one going to talk about this ring? It's so beautiful, a huge sparkling diamond, no wonder everyone spotted it immediately!]
The CP fans had already gone wild.
[Who understands! Just became a fan of this CP, they announced they were together a few days ago, and now they're announcing an engagement. Will we get to see wedding photos in a few more days?]
[Ahhhh, I'm dying from the sweetness! The look and expression on Xuanxuan's face was like a declaration of love across the distance, telling President Xie: Honey, I've told everyone about us!]
[So when can the two of them appear together again? I want to see it!]
[President Xie only appeared for half a day on the show, and there were already countless sweet moments. I can't even imagine how sweet they'll be now that they're public and appear together again!]
[@All major variety show production teams, my sister is calling you out! Get them on a show together again!]
...
Xie Zhiyan returned to Beicheng earlier than Ning Yuxuan.
He flew back to Beicheng on a private jet early Monday morning. By the time Xie Zhiyan started his meetings at the Hengjiang headquarters building, Ning Yuxuan had just woken up.
The ring was trending when Xie Zhiyan had just finished his second meeting of the day.
As the meeting concluded and everyone was leaving, Assistant Liu approached Xie Zhiyan and spoke softly.
"President Xie, regarding this trending topic, do we need to handle it?"
As one of the employees closest to Xie Zhiyan, Liu Cheng understood the relationship between the President and Miss Ning better than most.
After all, even the high-end apartment President Xie recently purchased was handled personally by Liu Cheng.
Liu Cheng understood perfectly well the special treatment and importance Xie Zhiyan placed on Ning Yuxuan.
But even so, Liu Cheng didn't dare assume Xie Zhiyan's attitude towards letting his private relationship become public discourse, hence he came specifically for instructions.
Xie Zhiyan's gaze lingered on the trending content for a moment.
As a personal assistant, Liu Cheng was always attentive to the President's expression, and then he saw, with some surprise—
The corner of Xie Zhiyan's mouth seemed to lift slightly, almost imperceptibly, in a pleased manner.
"No need to take it down," Xie Zhiyan said calmly. "Just have someone monitor it closely."
Suppressing his inner astonishment, Liu Cheng nodded. "Understood, no problem, President Xie."
...
The trending notification popped up on her phone just as Mrs. Wu was enjoying afternoon tea and desserts with several of her "sisters."
As the most well-informed member of their social circle, Mrs. Wu was not only thoroughly versed in the gossip and rumors of the wealthy elite, but also kept a sharp eye on various entertainment trends.
Mrs. Wu quickly scanned the trending content, then cleared her throat and announced solemnly to the other ladies, "Sisters, I estimate our Beicheng's President Xie will be having a grand wedding soon."
Mrs. He was eating a crème brûlée, her movements elegant, having only finished half of the small dessert in ten minutes.
Hearing this, Mrs. He was so startled she forgot to retract her small spoon, leaving it suspended in mid-air. "Is it... President Xie from Hengjiang?"
Mrs. Wu nodded.
Mrs. Li chimed in from the other side, "With whom? Still that Miss Ning?"
Mrs. Wu: "Yes, who else could it be?"
The two ladies were equally astonished.
Mrs. Li: "Is this news reliable? I heard similar rumors a few days ago, but later someone told me it was just speculation and shouldn't be taken seriously."
Mrs. Wu shook her head with a mysterious expression. "No, I suspect this time it's real."
As she spoke, she pushed the picture of the diamond ring in front of the other two ladies.
The two ladies leaned in for a closer look. Mrs. He voiced her doubt, "This... the ring does look quite valuable, but could it be that the Ning girl is just wishfully thinking?"
There had been cases like this before.
Last year, a certain A-list actress was spotted wearing a ring at a public event.
Netizens buzzed with discussion, and the media immediately reported that the actress was about to tie the knot with her wealthy boyfriend of three years and officially become a member of high society.
The very next day, they were proven wrong. The man's father publicly denied his son's relationship with the actress, stating his son would never marry her.
Mrs. He echoed, "Yes, and Ning Yuxuan's family background... after all, there's still quite a gap compared to the Xie family. Dating is one thing, but marriage... that might be a bit difficult, no?"
Mrs. Wu clicked her tongue twice. "Mrs. He, speaking of family background... haven't you heard that rumor?"
Before Mrs. He could reply, Mrs. Li on the other side was already excited. "Mrs. Wu! Are you saying... that rumor is also true?"
Mrs. Wu unhurriedly took a sip of her floral tea before speaking under the two women's expectant gazes. "As far as I know, it is true."
For all these past years, the relationship between Ning Yuxuan and Lin Yuanfeng had been known to very few in Beicheng.
On one hand, when Ning Fei and Lin Yuanfeng married, it was a secret marriage. The Lin family had always looked down on Ning Fei as a daughter-in-law and never publicly acknowledged her status.
On the other hand, after the divorce, Ning Fei didn't want her children to be associated with the Lin family anymore and had warned Lin Yuanfeng not to publicize it.
In Beicheng's wealthy circles, almost only Old Master Gu knew that Ning Yuxuan was Lin Yuanfeng's daughter.
Lin Yuanfeng had done a favor for the Gu family, so Old Master Gu was willing to look after Ning Yuxuan while strictly keeping the secret.
However, after Lin Yuanfeng personally acknowledged his relationship with Ning Yuxuan, although Gu Yunhao, deeply affected, hadn't spoken of it to outsiders, walls have ears.
In recent days, the news that Ning Yuxuan was actually the daughter of Jincheng's richest man, Lin Yuanfeng, had reached quite a few ears.
Mrs. Wu's information was always the most accurate in their circle.
With Mrs. Wu's confirmation, Mrs. He suddenly understood. "No wonder, that makes sense now. The Lin family and the Xie family... then Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan could be considered well-matched in terms of social status."
Mrs. Li was still somewhat confused.
After listening to Mrs. He's explanation, Mrs. Li asked doubtfully, "Then why hasn't Chairman Lin publicly acknowledged his relationship with Ning Yuxuan? And I heard Chairman Lin remarried several years ago. Could it be that he long ago... didn't want to acknowledge this daughter from his ex-wife?"
Mrs. Li's confusion was also shared by most people in Beicheng's wealthy circles.
Blood ties are undoubtedly important, but as the saying goes, where the money is, the love is.
This holds true for ordinary families, and even more so for wealthy ones.
If Ning Yuxuan really was Lin Yuanfeng's biological daughter, then why, for so many years, did Lin Yuanfeng seem to have never provided any financial support to the Ning family?
The list of major shareholders of Lin's Electronics Group also showed no trace of anyone from the Ning family.
This inevitably casts doubt on the authenticity of Ning Yuxuan and Lin Yuanfeng's relationship. Alternatively, they might indeed be father and daughter, but Lin Yuanfeng had long since lost any affection for the two children from his ex-wife.
In this circle where interests reign supreme, such heartlessness is not uncommon.
Mrs. Wu shook her head: "That, I'm not clear about. But in my opinion, President Xie and the Ning family girl's marriage is likely a done deal."
Mrs. He: "What makes you say that?"
Mrs. Wu narrowed her eyes: "A hunch."
...
After returning to Beicheng, Ning Yuxuan informed Lin Yuanfeng that she had already obtained her marriage certificate.
The bond between father and daughter was not deep, but there was no deep-seated hatred either.
This was also Ning Fei's suggestion.
Upon learning her daughter had received a proposal, Ning Fei's first reaction was joy for her.
Later, after seeing the trending topic, Ning Fei reminded her daughter: "Xuanxuan, you should also let your father know about the marriage."
No matter what, Lin Yuanfeng was the father of both Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue.
What existed between her and Lin Yuanfeng was long gone, but blood is thicker than water. For a major life event like her daughter's, he should be informed.
So, upon arriving home, Ning Yuxuan took a photo of her marriage certificate and sent it to Lin Yuanfeng.
Lin Yuanfeng called immediately.
Over the phone, the man's voice, already tinged with the wear of years, could not conceal his excitement.
"Xuanxuan, I've thought it over," Lin Yuanfeng said. "I'll come to Beicheng tomorrow. I want to hand your wedding gift to you personally."
...
A few days later, another piece of news exploded like a thunderclap, shaking the entire high-society circle.
Lin Yuanfeng transferred 30% of Lin's Electronics shares to Ning Yuxuan.
Before, even after the public announcement of the resort project, the total assets under Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan's names had only just allowed the Ning family to step over the threshold into Beicheng's elite circle.
But now it was different.
Given the scale of Lin's conglomerate, this transfer of 30% shares was enough to propel Ning Yuxuan into the ranks of the wealthiest young women in the circle.
This change in shareholding not only proved the relationship between Lin Yuanfeng and Ning Yuxuan but also demonstrated that Lin Yuanfeng was anything but stingy towards his ex-wife's children.
And the timing of it all gave people much to ponder.
This time, most people in high society finally believed that the marriage between Xie Zhiyan and Ning Yuxuan was probably inevitable.
.
Tao You's engagement ceremony was set for late July, and Ning Yuxuan personally witnessed her best friend's happy moment.
The wedding was scheduled for a few months later. Tao You and Ning Yuxuan agreed that even though Ning Yuxuan was already married, she still hoped Ning Yuxuan would be her bridesmaid.
In early August, the four new Huayuan boutiques were finally set to open as planned.
On the opening day of the first new store, Ning Yuxuan received countless flower baskets and many bouquets.
The congratulatory messages on her phone were too numerous to count; she didn't even have time to reply to them all.
There was no helping it; there were just too many things to worry about for the new store opening. Ning Yuxuan and the entire management team were running around in circles.
On the evening of the first new store's opening, Ning Yuxuan attended a "celebration dinner."
The real celebration banquet was scheduled for the following week when the busywork had settled down, and all of Huayuan's management and key staff would attend.
This small "celebration dinner," however, was held at home, with only four participants: Ning Fei, Ning Shiyue, Xie Zhiyan, and herself.
Ning Shiyue's drama had finally wrapped up filming two days prior, coinciding perfectly with Huayuan's store opening.
At the dinner table, Ning Shiyue poured himself several glasses of wine.
"Ning Shiyue," Ning Yuxuan said, looking at him with amusement. "Why do I get the feeling you're even more excited about the new store opening than I am, the one who's been involved from start to finish?"
Ning Shiyue was already quite drunk.
Hearing this, he slowly lifted his head and looked at Ning Yuxuan with a light scoff. "What's wrong with me being excited? You've become a wealthy lady now, and I finally don't have to worry about working to support you in the future. Can't I be happy about that?"
Ning Yuxuan exchanged a glance with Ning Fei.
This was the first time she had heard such words from Ning Shiyue.
Was this truth-telling under the influence?
Ning Shiyue had never drunk at home before; who knew his alcohol tolerance was this poor.
Ning Yuxuan stared at her brother across the table. "You... thought about making money to support me before?"
Ning Shiyue snorted. "Of course. You weren't working before, just staying home all day. We couldn't let Mom support you forever, could we? Mom's at that age, and I'm younger than you, in good health. At the very least, I could support you until you become an old lady, maybe even see you off at the end."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
Goodness, cursing both her and their mother in one sentence.
Though it sounded a bit harsh, it was somewhat true; no one lives forever.
Ning Fei smiled helplessly, soothing her daughter. "Xiaoyue is probably drunk. Don't take it to heart."
Ning Yuxuan blinked. "I'm not taking it to heart, but..."
She took out her phone and opened the camera app. "I need to record what he's saying, so he can't take it back when he's sober."
A hand reached over. Xie Zhiyan, sitting beside her, said calmly, "I'll help you."
Ning Yuxuan gave the man an appreciative look and handed him the phone.
Then she turned back to Ning Shiyue, whose eyes were now glazed over. "So you were saying, you planned to support me for a lifetime?"
Ning Shiyue looked back at her, silent for a long moment.
Just as Ning Yuxuan thought he was going to backpedal, he spoke again: "Yeah! So what? Don't you believe me?"
Ning Yuxuan: "...I'm a little skeptical."
Ning Shiyue glared at her. "Don't be! I'm a popular star now, very famous! I don't spend money recklessly. What I earn would definitely be enough to support you!"
Ning Yuxuan almost laughed out loud.
Who would have thought that Ning Shiyue, who usually just gave a slight smirk and said "it's alright" when hearing acquaintances and relatives praise his success, would, when drunk, thump his chest and declare himself "very famous"?
Ning Yuxuan glanced at her husband beside her, cleared her throat, and posed another question to the intoxicated young man. "What if I got married and had a husband? Would you still support me then?"
Ning Shiyue blinked slowly. After a few seconds, he stated matter-of-factly, "Are you stupid? What's a husband compared to a reliable brother?"
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
It seemed the drunk Ning Shiyue had forgotten she was already married, even deleting Xie Zhiyan, his brother-in-law, from his memory entirely.
Ning Yuxuan suppressed a laugh and looked at the man beside her, who was holding her phone to record.
Xie Zhiyan's brow was slightly furrowed, and the corner of his mouth seemed to... twitch.
Ning Fei watched this scene with resignation. "Zhiyan, I'm sorry, please don't mind him. This child, Xiaoyue, really..."
Ning Yuxuan stopped her mother. "Mom, please don't apologize on Ning Shiyue's behalf. Adults are responsible for their own words. Besides, he's this drunk; Xie Zhiyan won't hold it against him, right?"
As she said this, Ning Yuxuan blinked at Xie Zhiyan.
Xie Zhiyan: "..."
"Of course not," the man replied, his expression seemingly unruffled.
However, Ning Yuxuan couldn't be sure if it was just her imagination, but she sensed a hint of gritted teeth in those two words.
Ning Yuxuan struggled hard to hold back her laughter.
Xie Zhiyan had to swallow this bitter pill in silence; after all, he couldn't very well argue with his drunken brother-in-law.
Ning Shiyue remained completely oblivious to all of this.
"Listen to me, Ning Yuxuan," Ning Shiyue spoke again, his tone grave. "A lot of men are unreliable. Even if you get married, you could still get divorced. But I will always be your brother! Even if someday your husband doesn't want you anymore, I will never, ever disown you as my sister!"
Ning Yuxuan was now laughing uncontrollably, doubled over.
Meanwhile, the man beside her, his face suddenly darkened.
After the celebration party ended, Ning Yuxuan gave Xie Zhiyan a hand, helping him carry Ning Shiyue back to his bedroom to rest.
If she had known Ning Shiyue's behavior after drinking was this bad, Ning Yuxuan would have definitely stopped him from consuming any alcohol stronger than beer.
But at least it was an unexpected chance to hear his true feelings.
Ning Yuxuan felt quite touched, even though a certain someone's expression had turned rather sour after hearing it.
After settling Ning Shiyue, the two of them left the room.
"Thanks for helping me record the video," Ning Yuxuan patted Xie Zhiyan's shoulder. "If we ever really get divorced someday, I'll use this as evidence to make that guy Ning Shiyue support me."
Xie Zhiyan: "..."
The man remained silent, reaching back to close the door behind him.
Then, amidst the woman's animated expression, he fiercely kissed her, sealing her lips.
Caught off guard by the kiss, Ning Yuxuan instinctively pushed against him.
A fragmented sentence escaped between their lips: "Ning... Ning Shiyue is still... still inside..."
Lying on the bed just a wall away, who just seconds ago was spouting nonsense like "Ning Yuxuan, you have to believe me."
Xie Zhiyan grasped Ning Yuxuan's hands as she struggled haphazardly. "He's drunk. He won't be getting up anytime soon."
Pinned against the wall by the man's tall frame with nowhere to retreat, Ning Yuxuan protested, "But it's so close, he might hear... and my mom is also still..."
The rest of her words were swallowed once more.
...
A few minutes later, the location shifted from outside Ning Shiyue's bedroom door to Ning Yuxuan's own room.
From the very start, Ning Yuxuan had been kissed on edge, terrified that Ning Shiyue might suddenly have a "lucid moment" and push the door open, or that her mother might come looking for them.
When the man suddenly picked her up, this sense of panic, akin to "having a secret affair," peaked.
Ning Shiyue's bedroom was on the first floor, while Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei's rooms were both on the second.
God knows if the commotion Xie Zhiyan made carrying her from the first to the second floor in this princess-carry pose would draw her mother's attention, or worse, they might run directly into her.
With this worry, Ning Yuxuan didn't dare struggle anymore. She clung tightly to the man's neck, not making a sound.
Noticing the woman in his arms had suddenly gone still, Xie Zhiyan looked down at her and chuckled softly. "Why so obedient all of a sudden?"
Ning Yuxuan glared fiercely at the man: Obviously! Don't you know why?
Fortunately, the things she feared didn't happen.
Xie Zhiyan carried her upstairs unimpeded and placed her on the soft bed in her bedroom.
Ning Yuxuan knew she couldn't stop what was unfolding.
Who would have thought the man's reaction would be so intense just because she casually mentioned "divorce"?
The moment her body touched the bed, Ning Yuxuan immediately directed Xie Zhiyan: "Close the door, no, lock it!"
Only after watching Xie Zhiyan lock the door did Ning Yuxuan feel slightly at ease.
But this relief didn't last long. Soon, the man leaned down and pressed against her again.
The belt of Ning Yuxuan's dress had been untied at some unknown moment and discarded to the side.
Quickly, Xie Zhiyan's shirt was no longer neat either, becoming crumpled in her hands.
When the metal clasp of her bra was deftly undone by the man, Ning Yuxuan finally managed a half-moment of clarity.
"No..." she pushed against him, "we don't have any... here..."
They were already legally married, but Ning Yuxuan wasn't ready to get pregnant so quickly.
Her new shop had just opened, and she had many things she wanted to do.
Hearing this, Xie Zhiyan temporarily released his hold on her.
However, when Ning Yuxuan saw the man skillfully retrieve a small square box from the bedside table drawer, she was stunned.
"When did you buy these? And you put them in my room? How did I not know!"
The darkness in Xie Zhiyan's eyes deepened, his voice unbearably hoarse. "The day after we were forced to stop here last time, I went out and bought them."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
This was Xie Zhiyan's second time staying overnight at her home. As for what happened the first time...
Ning Yuxuan unconsciously clenched her fingertips, feeling her fingers and palms begin to burn faintly.
It had been a while since their first time.
But this was the first time doing this in her own bedroom. Ning Yuxuan felt as if she had returned to their very first night together, the nervousness perhaps even greater.
Every time she accidentally made a sound, she would panic and hold her breath, only to quickly lose control again due to the intense movements.
Over and over.
...
Ning Yuxuan felt that Xie Zhiyan was absolutely tormenting her on purpose.
He knew perfectly well she was worried about being heard, yet showed no restraint at all.
The restraint in sound transformed into release through action.
Ning Yuxuan clung tightly to Xie Zhiyan's body, holding and scratching him without mercy.
At the peak of pleasure, her nails dug fiercely into the muscles of his back, followed by a muffled groan from the man.
.
After it was all over, carried out of the bathroom by the man, Ning Yuxuan fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next morning, her phone exploded with notifications again.
The messages congratulating her on the new shop's opening had mostly died down by last night.
Puzzled, Ning Yuxuan scrolled through her chat list and finally found the answer on her social media feed.
Xie Zhiyan had posted an update. The attached photo was from the opening scene of Huayuan's new shop.
The caption read: Congratulations to my wife on the new shop opening.
Ning Yuxuan clicked into Xie Zhiyan's profile and discovered this was his first and only post.
Against a blank background, the flower baskets in the photo and the word "wife" in the caption were particularly conspicuous.
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
The bedroom door was pushed open as Xie Zhiyan entered carrying breakfast.
Ning Yuxuan pointed at her phone. "What's this about?"
Their relationship was no secret in their circle, but the wedding hadn't taken place yet, and the fact they had already registered their marriage hadn't been formally announced.
Xie Zhiyan placed the breakfast on the table, his tone calm yet carrying a faint hint of amusement. "Hmm? What's what about?"
Knowing full well the man was playing dumb, Ning Yuxuan still raised her phone screen to show him.
Only then did Xie Zhiyan seem to have a sudden realization, nodding lightly and responding with perfect composure, "Well, your new shop opened. I posted a congratulations."
A feather-light kiss landed on Ning Yuxuan's lips.
"Is that not allowed, wife?"
