Around nine in the morning, Song Ziyan woke up, though she still seemed a bit dazed.
She rubbed her temples, and fragments from the previous day flooded her mind. Those fragments were so bizarre that for a moment, she couldn’t tell whether they were real or just a dream.
She sat bolt upright, staring at Xie Ning. “Ningning, I had a dream. I dreamed you married Lu Tingyan, and then he humiliated you at the wedding by bringing in a fake groom…”
Xie Ning looked at her calmly. “That wasn’t a dream.”
Not a dream. Damn, not a dream.
Song Ziyan let out a shriek. “What kind of scumbag is Lu Tingyan, anyway?”
As Xie Ning’s best friend, she knew exactly how much Xie Ning liked Lu Tingyan.
She and Xie Ning were university classmates, one year below Lu Tingyan. Whatever classes Lu Tingyan took, Xie Ning signed up for. Whatever department Lu Tingyan joined, Xie Ning joined. Whatever activities Lu Tingyan participated in, Xie Ning participated in.
Even when it came to studying abroad, Xie Ning chose the same university as Lu Tingyan. But Lu Tingyan only studied there for a year before returning to China.
Who would go to such lengths unless they were head over heels in love?
What’s more, Xie Ning later told her that she had actually liked Lu Tingyan since high school. She had chosen that university just to follow in his footsteps.
Song Ziyan had asked Xie Ning more than once why she didn’t confess her feelings. Xie Ning said Lu Tingyan was too good for her, and she wasn’t worthy yet. She would confess once she became good enough herself.
With academic success and a stable career, Xie Ning had finally made her way to Lu Tingyan’s side. Before Song Ziyan could even marvel at how determination leads to success, this whole mess happened at the wedding.
What the hell did that bastard mean by all this?
Utterly bewildered, Song Ziyan asked Xie Ning, who didn’t hide anything and told her about Lu Sibo.
Song Ziyan listened, stunned.
She had known since university that Xie Ning was acquainted with a philanthropist, but she never imagined that philanthropist was actually Lu Tingyan’s older brother.
“You might not believe it,” Xie Ning said, “but I only found out yesterday that Lu Sibo is Lu Tingyan’s older brother.”
In the past, she had also looked up Lu Sibo online. His connections were completely blank, with only a brief introduction stating he was the founder of a small company—one that had no relation whatsoever to the Lushi Group.
Song Ziyan pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment before asking, “Ningning, is it still possible for you to get a divorce now?”
“It’s too late. Divorce requires both parties to go to the civil affairs bureau.”
“Damn, so Lu Tingyan actually said marrying you was to torment you later? And he wants you to move in with him? That’s not a good sign!” Song Ziyan’s mind began to conjure up all the melodramatic novels she had read. “What if he imprisons you, locks you up in a mansion, maybe even chains you up, beats you during the day, and at night… uh… tortures you physically and mentally, making your life a living hell?”
Xie Ning twitched her lips. “He’s probably not that twisted.”
“How can you be so calm?” Song Ziyan felt like she was the one who had jumped into the fire pit.
“What’s done is done. What’s the point of panicking?” Xie Ning replied. “We’ll just deal with things as they come.”
Song Ziyan gave her a thumbs-up. “Ning-Emperor, you never disappoint.”
"Ning-Emperor" was a nickname a group of friends jokingly gave Xie Ning during university. Because Xie Ning always maintained an unflappable composure no matter the situation. Coupled with her outstanding appearance and academic achievements that left others in the dust, it was impossible not to admire her.
"By the way, there's something else I should tell you," Xie Ning said. "The one who brought you to the hospital yesterday was Lu Tingyan's friend, Li Xinglang. You met him during a university social event."
"Oh." Song Ziyan nodded. "I think I remember him—a really handsome guy!"
"Mhm, you kissed him yesterday."
A brief silence fell over the hospital room.
Song Ziyan's brain short-circuited. Lu Tingyan's friends were all top-tier young masters at the peak of the social hierarchy—how could she have dared?!
A few seconds later, she collapsed onto the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling and muttering, "Alright, Ningning, when we get to the underworld, let's still be good sisters."
After leaving the hospital with Song Ziyan, Xie Ning went back to pack her things.
She didn't have much, so she finished packing in just one afternoon. In the evening, she called a taxi and asked the driver to help her load the boxes into the car.
The neighborhood she currently lived in was located in the old city district—an aging residential area.
When the driver heard she was moving to Shengshi Jindu, the best residential complex in Huacheng, his gaze toward her took on a somewhat meaningful look.
Xie Ning could read the word "fallen" in his eyes.
After all, in many people's eyes, wealthy people living in luxurious mansions and young, beautiful women always seemed to have some improper relationship.
Xie Ning didn't plan to explain herself to a stranger.
After the car stopped at the entrance of the complex, a security guard came out and asked, "Are you Ms. Xie Ning?"
Xie Ning nodded, and the guard said, "Mr. Lu has already informed us. I'll take you inside, and someone will bring your things over shortly."
"Thank you."
Shengshi Jindu was a villa district, covering an extremely large area with excellent greenery.
Entering from the main gate was a sycamore-lined avenue, where tall, lush sycamore trees formed a barrier that effectively concealed the interior of the complex.
Inside were independent houses, spaced reasonably apart, each with its own yard, offering excellent privacy.
Arriving in front of a white Western-style building, the security guard entered a code, and the courtyard gate opened. He then said to Xie Ning, "We've already registered your identity information. The system will automatically recognize you once you enter."
After Xie Ning climbed the steps, a screen by the entrance lit up, beeped a few times automatically, and the villa door slowly opened.
Xie Ning stepped into the room, glanced around the interior—simple yet elegant, far from dull or monotonous—and couldn't help but once again admire Lu Tingyan's taste and aesthetic sense.
On the retractable coffee table in front of the sofa lay a folder and an Aurora fountain pen. After a moment's thought, Xie Ning took out her phone, snapped a photo of the room, positioning the folder and pen in the lower left corner of the frame as if they had been captured unintentionally.
She then posted it on her social media feed with the caption—New Home.
The visibility settings were the same as for yesterday's photo of Lu Tingyan's back.
That photo of his back hadn't received a like from her stepsister Bai Ying, but Xie Ning knew Bai Ying must have seen it.
After all, Bai Ying loved keeping tabs on her activities so much that she felt uneasy if she didn't check Xie Ning's social media several times a day.
Indeed, just a few minutes after Xie Ning posted her update, Bai Ying, who was resting at her studio, saw it.
Especially when she saw Lu Tingyan's pen in the photo, Bai Ying almost crushed her phone.
That was Lu Tingyan's home. Xie Ning could actually stay at Lu Tingyan's home.
Bai Ying had never believed that Lu Tingyan and Xie Ning were together because of genuine feelings.
She was convinced that Xie Ning must have used some underhanded method to make Lu Tingyan marry her. When the unexpected incident occurred at yesterday's wedding, Bai Ying was overjoyed, believing her suspicions were correct.
However, not long after, she saw a suggestive photo on Xie Ning's social media feed.
Bai Ying didn't want to think about the story behind that photo, but she couldn't control herself. The thought of Lu Tingyan possibly being intimate with Xie Ning drove her mad with jealousy.
She had fallen for Lu Tingyan during her youth, yet in the end, he married her cheap sister.
Since childhood, she had believed that Xie Ning wasn't even worthy of tying her shoelaces, yet Xie Ning could marry the man she loved most. How could she swallow this anger?
Jealousy and bitterness spread uncontrollably, almost drowning her.
Without looking back, she left the studio and headed straight for the Lushi Group building.
Not being an internal employee and without an appointment, she couldn't enter the building, so she waited in the parking lot.
A little after six, she saw Lu Tingyan emerge from the building.
Dressed in a sharp suit, his posture upright, his face still so handsome it made her heart race.
She immediately stepped forward, blocking Lu Tingyan's path. Biting her lip, she looked at him, tears streaming down her face, and called out pitifully, "Third Brother."
Lu Tingyan glanced at her, his tone indifferent. "What is it?"
"Look at this!" Bai Ying showed Lu Tingyan Xie Ning's social media post. "She's so vain! After going to your home, she still has to flaunt it on social media and even takes photos of you. Isn't it obvious she has ulterior motives? Third Brother, you need to see clearly—she didn't marry you because she likes you. She's only after your wealth and status! You mustn't let her play with your feelings!"