When Ning Nan led Xu Su by the hand and suddenly appeared before everyone, the old man's expression shifted sharply. He shot to his feet and slammed the table in fury, scaring everyone into holding their breath as their gazes fixed squarely on Ning Nan and Xu Su.
"Outrageous!" the old man roared. He snatched his cane from the adjutant beside him, strode over to Ning Nan, and raised it high in full view of everyone, ready to strike. But Xu Su moved too fast, taking the blow squarely on himself.
"Xu Su." Ning Nan steadied him, seeing the cold sweat beading on his forehead, his face full of concern. Their hands remained clasped. Taking a deep breath, he straightened up and faced the old man. "Grandfather, I love him, and he loves me. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Outrageous! You're both men!"
"Who says there's no love between the same sex? Grandfather, this is my choice. I came back just to tell you. Whether you agree or not doesn't matter."
"You unfilial grandson! Are you trying to drive me to an early grave? You simply don't know what's good for you."
"Grandfather, I'll make it public tomorrow—"
"Slap..."
A crisp slap rang out abruptly. Ning Nan turned his head, his face instantly flushed red.
"Ning Nan! If you dare do that, you're no longer a descendant of the Ning family!"
"Grandfather, times have changed. Same-sex love is legal now."
"Don't talk to me about that! If you walk out that door today, don't ever come back! The Ning family has no place for a descendant like you!"
Ning Nan shot a deep look at the livid old man, then, holding Xu Su's hand, walked straight out of the Ning residence without looking back.
Seeing this, the old man couldn't catch his breath and fainted. Ning Dong was itching to drag Ning Nan back and give him a beating—did he have to use such harsh tactics against the old man?
The family doctor arrived quickly. After examining the old man, he let out a faint sigh. Ning Dong grabbed the doctor by the collar, nearly tossing him off the second floor.
"Big boss, big boss, the old man's fine—just a surge of anger overwhelming him..."
"Ning Dong, calm down. Put the doctor down first," Xu Xiao said, a bit exasperated.
Once safe, the doctor recovered from his fright and spoke. "The old man's condition is due to anger overwhelming his heart. Plenty of rest will do. Be sure to keep his emotions in check and maintain a positive mindset."
"Third brother, see the doctor out."
After the doctor was sent off, the old man needed a quiet environment to rest. Ning Dong gathered everyone in the living room. Xu Xiao handed the child to a servant, her face etched with worry.
"Little brother, no matter what, stop the second brother from making this public tomorrow."
"Got it. I'll notify them to prepare now."
Lu Zhengting frowned, glancing at the three brothers. "Don't worry, I'll make sure this gets suppressed too."
Xu Xiao rubbed her eyes. Her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID—it was from the Xu family's old residence. She froze for a moment, then answered to hear Old Master Xu's furious voice.
Ning Dong put an arm around Xu Xiao, took the phone from her hand, and walked out to the balcony. Seeing everyone's low spirits, Xia Yan slipped into the kitchen and brewed a pot of fruit tea.
"The second brother's knack for causing trouble hasn't changed a bit. Every time he stirs something up, he wipes his hands clean and vanishes, leaving us to clean up the mess," Ning Xi said gloomily.
"Third brother, are you still heading to Jiang City?" "Yeah, I made an appearance there last time anyway."
Lu Zhengting glanced at Ning Xi and asked flatly, "Decided?"
"Mm, decided."
Xia Yan noticed Xu Xiao's bad mood and walked over. "Sister Xiaoxiao."
"Yanyan, do you think there's any certainty in the second brother and Su Su's situation? The old residence just called—Old Master Xu is furious too. Those two boys' path to love is bound to be rocky."
"Love really is a strange thing," Xia Yan said softly, watching Lu Zhengting talk with Ning Xi. Just like her—she didn't know when she'd quietly placed this man in the emptiest corner of her heart.
Seeing this, Xu Xiao couldn't help but roll her eyes. Noticing Ning Dong's grim expression as he returned, she didn't bother talking to Xia Yan and went straight over.
"What's their stance?"
"Even more opposed than Grandfather."
******
Jiang City.
Lu Zhengting had left the company in such a hurry that, aside from handling company matters, he hadn't disclosed his whereabouts. Ke Yaru came to his office several times, only to be told by Secretary Zhou that he wasn't there.
After days without seeing Lu Zhengting at the company or even at the Lu residence, Ke Yaru found him nowhere—and Xia Yan was missing too. Just a few days earlier, Jiang Mingxiu had rushed off to the US with Xiaohan after a call, with no return date in sight.
She found a quiet bar, chose an inconspicuous corner, and drank alone in her misery. For a moment, everyone connected to Lu Zhengting seemed to have vanished, leaving her with no trace—while Xia Yan stayed by his side. That thought cut deeper than any knife.
Strong liquor, intoxicating.
But Ke Yaru seemed oblivious to the drunkenness, downing glass after glass. As the alcohol hit, the world spun, her vision blurred. The bar was nearly empty, lending it a serene air. Soft music played, the singer's voice carrying a faint melancholy. Ke Yaru, with what little awareness she had left, looked up at her surroundings. The dim light seemed to shroud everyone in darkness...
"Burp..." Ke Yaru slumped over the table, suddenly thinking of Ke Qinglan, suddenly remembering the day she met Lu Zhengting five years ago. Memories flashed before her eyes. Smiling, she swirled the glass in her hand for a few seconds. Through the crimson liquid, she vaguely saw a man approaching her.
"Zhengting, is that you?"
Yang Jinkuan glanced at the man guarding Ke Yaru. "You go back first."
He looked at the drunken Ke Yaru, frowned, sighed, and sat down beside her, taking the glass from her hand.
"Ruru."
Ke Yaru felt someone trying to take her glass and got angry. She struggled to open her eyes, which were already fighting to close. A blurry figure appeared in her vision. She reached out and touched it, then snapped, "Who are you? Why are you here? You're not Zhengting."
Hearing Lu Zhengting's name, Yang Jinkuan's eyes narrowed instantly, a flame igniting in them. Seeing Ke Yaru in this state, he thought for a moment, then pulled her into his arms and left the bar.
The next day.
When Ke Yaru woke up, she looked around the unfamiliar room, threw off the covers, and sighed in relief only after confirming her clothes were intact. Opening the door, she stood on the landing and looked down into the living room, where she saw Yang Jinkuan in casual wear, reading a newspaper on the sofa.
How did she end up here?
The hangover made Ke Yaru irritable. She went downstairs, stopped in front of Yang Jinkuan, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. The man before her didn't match the one in her memory at all. Yang Jinkuan seemed to notice, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"Awake? Here's some hangover tea. Drink it."
"How did I get here?"
"Drink the tea first."
"Yang Jinkuan, I asked you how I got here."
"Ruru..."
"Don't call me that. It makes me sick." Ke Yaru stepped back, glaring coldly at Yang Jinkuan.
"You were drunk. I picked you up from the bar."
"Since when are you so kind? Did you have someone tailing me?" Ke Yaru snapped.
"Yaru, I just had them watch over you. You know I promised your sister I'd protect you. After your sister's accident, I've been looking for you. I never thought you'd end up by Lu Zhengting's side."
"How dare you mention my sister? If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have died. She could have had a happy family, but you destroyed it all."
"No, even without those events back then, Qinglan wouldn't have been happy. You know that! That family always thought too highly of themselves. Even someone as gentle as Qinglan couldn't win them over. It was them—the Lu family—who killed Qinglan."
"Excuses! All excuses! I'm leaving. I don't want to see you."
Yang Jinkuan watched the agitated Ke Yaru, thought of the departed Qinglan, and his face turned grim. Remembering the three of them together in the past, he felt the cruelty of time—how years could change everything.
"Yaru, I'll have someone drive you."
"No need. I don't want any connection to you, and I don't want anyone knowing I know you." Ke Yaru grabbed her bag, didn't spare Yang Jinkuan another glance, and strode toward the villa's front door.
Yang Jinkuan stared expressionlessly at her retreating figure, then suddenly spoke. "Lu Zhengting and Xia Yan went to North City."
Hearing this, Ke Yaru stopped in her tracks.
"Yaru, if you ever need help, come find me."
"That day will never come." With that, Ke Yaru pushed open the door and left. Outside, the sun blazed, but her heart felt cold. She never expected to eat her own words. The things she desperately wanted to forget kept surfacing in her mind, and Xia Yan's shadow seemed to follow her everywhere. She loathed Xia Yan, hated her for effortlessly obtaining what she wanted most.
Back home, Ke Yaru lay in bed, her headache making her even more restless. Scenes of Xia Yan and Lu Zhengting together flashed through her mind. The phone under her pillow suddenly buzzed. Annoyed, she grabbed it to turn it off, only to see a text from Ye Yunchen.
He wanted to meet that afternoon.
Ye Yunchen only had eyes for Xia Yan, so reaching out to her could only be about Xia Yan. And she, of course, wouldn't refuse. She thought back to how Xia Minghui had tried to set Ye Yunchen up with Xia Yan, only for it to be ruined—a story that had spread like wildfire in their circles. She knew Ye Yunchen wouldn't give up on Xia Yan.
Ye Yunchen received Ke Yaru's reply, pursed his lips, and sat in his office, staring intently at his desk, occasionally narrowing his eyes. Hearing the click of high heels and voices outside, he frowned. Lin Xujia pushed open the office door and walked cheerfully to his desk. "Yunchen, weren't you in a meeting?"