The little girl looked obedient and soft at first glance, the kind who seemed easy to control. Yet she had completely refused to give him face and even asked him to apologize to He Siyu. It was truly laughable.
Old Master He and the old madam liked Ni Yang even more now. Neither servile nor overbearing, she had firmly spoken back and resolutely defended Siyu.
Siyu had truly found himself a good wife. At their age, the two elders could finally feel at ease.
“Chuanhan, apologize. Are those words something a father should say? Did your upbringing get fed to the dogs?”
The old master slammed his cane heavily against the floor, his stern rebuke carrying the overwhelming pressure that only age and authority could cultivate.
He Chuanhan’s face shifted between green and purple.
There was no one in the entire He Family who was not afraid of the old master. Wen Shuhua sat beside him, not daring to say a single word.
“Siyu, I’m sorry. Father shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I apologize.”
Forced by the situation, He Chuanhan had no choice but to apologize to He Siyu.
Yet He Siyu’s gaze remained fixed on Ni Yang the entire time. Dark, twisted desire surged restlessly in his eyes.
He liked her so much.
So much.
Like a little fox with puffed-up fur, fiercely protecting him without hesitation.
What should he do? He was already regretting not taking action the moment he met her half a year ago and simply stealing her away for himself.
As for He Chuanhan’s apology, he could not care less. It was obviously insincere.
He responded with a casual hum and left it at that.
Right now, his eyes could only see Ni Yang.
A clear and youthful voice suddenly broke the strange atmosphere.
“Sister-in-law, truly heroic. Since this is our first meeting, I didn’t know what you’d like. I heard Sister-in-law does online sleep-aid content, so I bought you the best dummy-head microphone in the country. I hope you like it.”
A beautifully packaged box was placed onto the coffee table.
He Huaichi had just entered university. The rebellious and carefree aura unique to his age was exactly the kind girls found most attractive.
His appearance was not as stunning as He Siyu’s, but it was still pleasant to look at.
Since he spoke politely and kindly, Ni Yang naturally responded with courtesy as well.
“Thank you. I really like it.”
She already owned most of the best recording microphones on the market, but since someone had thoughtfully prepared a gift for her, she would naturally treat it sincerely.
There was still some time before dinner, so He Siyu brought Ni Yang around the old residence for a walk.
Passing through an open-air stone corridor and a rounded stone archway, they arrived at an octagonal pavilion beside a stream.
He Siyu’s gaze followed every place Ni Yang looked at as he asked in a low voice, “Do you like this kind of house?”
Ni Yang clasped her hands behind her back. The prayer beads on her wrist hung loosely against her skin. Leisurely, she stepped up two stone steps and stood beside the pavilion railing before turning around toward He Siyu with dimples blooming on her cheeks.
“It’s alright. I prefer vintage French-style interiors more.”
The setting sun in the west cast orange-gold tones across the sky. Warm light reflected upon Ni Yang’s porcelain-white face, her faint dimples dyed with the drunken colors of sunset.
Her tea-colored eyes reflected his figure.
The corners of her pink lips curved upward.
Her dark hair had been carefully pinned atop her head, and her delicate earlobes wore pink diamond earrings.
A Ni Yang like this should belong to him.
Only he could place her at the very top of Capital City.
“You defended me like that. Aren’t you afraid He Chuanhan will blame you?”
He Siyu’s deep, magnetic voice drifted into Ni Yang’s ears with the evening breeze.
Standing two short steps above him in her seven-centimeter heels, Ni Yang was just barely at eye level with him.
Backlit by the sunset, the man’s silhouette blurred into the glowing dusk. Yet she could clearly see the deep darkness in his eyes.
His thin lips were pressed together, brows slightly lowered as he stared at her intensely.
Ni Yang’s heart trembled briefly. She lowered her eyes and turned to sit by the edge of the pavilion overlooking the stream before speaking casually.
“I’m not afraid. Grandfather and Grandmother obviously favor you. Besides, you promised my uncle and aunt that you wouldn’t let me suffer any grievances.”
“Mr. He Siyu, did you forget what you said? We’re husband and wife. If I don’t defend you, am I supposed to help your terrible father instead?”
“A married couple shares honor and disgrace together. Once we get our marriage certificate, you’ll be my person. I’m very protective of my own people. I can’t stand seeing anyone under my care suffer.”
“My family has always been harmonious. I don’t know how bad the atmosphere in your family really is, but since we’re going to build a family together, I hope the kind of favoritism and love I have received will also belong to my husband.”
“Whether we have feelings for each other or not, inside the home we’ll treat each other respectfully, and outside, as long as you’re in the right, I’ll definitely stand on your side. Protecting you means protecting our little family.”
He Siyu never once looked away from her.
Following her movements, he stood beside her and silently immersed himself in everything she had just said.
He had always been a cold person. The only people close to him were his grandparents and one brother whose courage exceeded his own common sense. As for his half-brother, the boy practically worshipped him blindly.
Never in his life had anyone said that he was theirs.
That she could not bear to see her person suffer.
He liked that feeling very much.
The feeling of being protected made even the roots of his hair tingle with pleasure.
Slowly, he sat beside Ni Yang. His brown eyes reflected her profile.
She really smelled wonderful.
Not like some perfume bought on the market, but a natural sweetness radiating from within her body.
After a long silence from him, Ni Yang turned her head only to crash directly into the deep darkness of his gaze.
“…”
Why did she suddenly feel like, in He Siyu’s eyes, she was standing there without clothes on?
Did she say something wrong just now? She had spoken so sincerely. Men were really hard to understand.
“Wh… what’s wrong?”
“Ni Yang, do you still have feelings for Qi Huaiyu?”
The light in Ni Yang’s beautiful eyes dimmed instantly. Instead of answering directly, she asked him in return, “Do you mind very much? I just broke up, so I need some time to process it. It won’t take too long.”
“Alright. I understand.”
“Mm.” 【?ヘ??】
So he did mind after all.
She would try her best to forget that relationship.
Putting herself in his shoes, no one would like their partner still harboring feelings for someone else. If their positions were reversed, she definitely would not be able to accept it either.
/
After dinner at the He Family residence, He Siyu drove Ni Yang home.
On the way, he received a WeChat message from his assistant.
[President He, Qi Corporation has evaded taxes totaling two billion yuan. Their charity organization is also suspected of fraud and money laundering. The evidence has already been submitted to the police.]
[The jewelry matching the dress and shoes has already been delivered to Yinshuang Manor.]
“Ni Yang, go home and try on the dress. After you choose one, send me a picture so I can match my outfit for tomorrow.”
He Siyu locked his phone screen. The way he looked at Ni Yang had softened significantly. It was no longer the cold, businesslike attitude he had when they first met yesterday.
“Alright. After the engagement banquet tomorrow, are we going to get our marriage certificate?”
Ni Yang had already received a message from Madam Ling saying that He Siyu had sent over more than ten custom-made gowns for her.
“If there’s enough time, then tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
The headlights of the black Cullinan swept across a dark and disheveled figure.
Ni Yang lowered her head, looking at the partial photos of the future marital home that He Siyu had instructed his assistant to take earlier that evening.
The car turned past Qi Huaiyu and entered the manor gates.
He Siyu gazed through the window at the former fiancé standing outside in messy clothes with unshaven stubble.
Beside him came Ni Yang’s voice.
“He Siyu, this house is so beautiful. I really like the design too. Where exactly is it?”
Her lively, cunning eyes sparkled brightly as she looked at him.
Turning his head toward her with a smile, he replied, “Number 520 Chunchao Road, in the city center. After tomorrow’s engagement banquet, I’ll take you there.”
“Okay, okay!”
After watching Ni Yang enter the villa, the car slowly drove back out through the manor gates before stopping in front of Qi Huaiyu.
He Siyu opened the car door.
Black leather shoes with red soles stepped onto the ground as the door shut with a heavy bang. One hand casually tucked into his pocket, he stood there indifferently.
Qi Huaiyu lifted his worn-down and shattered face, staring blankly at the tall figure before him — the infamous President He, whom all of Capital City feared.
The man’s features were hidden within the dim, cold night light. Slightly raising his chin, he looked down upon the defeated Qi Huaiyu with icy ridicule.
The two men differed in height by roughly five centimeters.
Whether in physique, presence, appearance, or status, Qi Huaiyu lost completely.
His dry lips parted as he spoke hoarsely. “Why is President He here?”
He Siyu narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze cold and oppressive. His magnetic voice answered with overwhelming dominance.
“I’m sending my fiancée home.”
Yinshuang Manor.
The Ni Family only had one daughter — Ni Yang.
No one needed a brain to figure out who the fiancée He Siyu spoke of was.
Qi Huaiyu’s dull and lifeless eyes widened violently. Suddenly, he rushed forward and grabbed He Siyu by the collar of his suit.
Bloodshot eyes glared at He Siyu viciously.
“He Siyu, you took advantage of the situation! Yangyang can only belong to me! Stay away from her!”
A mocking laugh escaped the man’s lips.
Thinking of how Ni Yang had cried because of this person, murderous irritation surged through He Siyu. He wanted to erase this man from the world entirely.
Grabbing Qi Huaiyu’s wrist, he twisted it forcefully. At the same time, his other fist smashed directly into the distorted face before him.
Qi Huaiyu staggered backward several steps.
Before he could regain his footing, the tall black figure strode toward him again.
In an instant, the red sole of a shoe flashed through the darkness.
He Siyu kicked him hard to the ground. The muffled sound of pain disappeared into the night.
Standing high above him, He Siyu stepped onto the hand that had grabbed his collar moments ago and slowly twisted his foot against it.
“Welcome to attend Yangyang and my engagement banquet tomorrow, Mr. Qi.”
After a brief pause, he added:
“Oh, right. I also prepared a special gift for Mr. Qi. Don’t forget to accept it tomorrow.”
The Cullinan sped away.
Qi Huaiyu remained curled on the ground, his body trembling. His low sobs gradually turned into loud cries as he repeatedly muttered Ni Yang’s name.
He had only said the wrong thing.
He had only failed to defend her in front of outsiders.
How could she abandon him so heartlessly?
And now she was even getting engaged to He Siyu.
They had dated for two years, yet she never even let him kiss her. Now she was going to marry a complete stranger.
Then what was he?
Qi Huaiyu refused to accept it.
He would attend tomorrow’s engagement banquet.
He would make Ni Yang understand that he truly loved her.
/
More than ten dresses filled Ni Yang’s room. She was dazzled by the choices. Every single one looked beautiful.
Her indecisiveness flared up again.
Why couldn’t she wear all the pretty dresses at once?
She called Ling Xi into the bedroom to help her choose.
Little Ye happily trotted in behind Ling Xi to watch Older Sister try on clothes.
Every single time, Little Ye reacted the same way — his eyes lit up, he clapped enthusiastically, and shouted that she looked beautiful.
In the end, Ni Yang chose a white off-shoulder vintage lace gown. Handmade peony flowers decorated both the chest and the skirt.
Standing before the mirror, she took a photo and sent it to He Siyu.
[Photo]
[Did you get home yet?]
[I’ve chosen the dress. What about the remaining gowns? Should I send them back to you?]
[Do you think this one looks good?]