At 5:00 AM, Ning Che woke up abruptly.
The sky wasn’t bright yet. She touched her forehead and found a thin layer of sweat.
It was a bit strange. It was May 9th, and while the weather was indeed getting hotter, the central air conditioning in the apartment was kept at a constant 18°C all year round. It shouldn’t feel hot at all.
She sat up dazed, her expression blank.
She’d had a nightmare.
In the dream, she felt incredibly heartbroken, and even now that she was awake, a lingering fear gripped her chest.
Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall the specific details of the dream. She only vaguely remembered that it involved Xie Yuqi.
So it was just a dream.
She pressed a hand against her heart. She had heard that dreams are always the opposite of reality; thankfully, it was just a dream.
Her hand brushed against an object, the photo frame.
She picked it up, held it in her hands to look at it, and slowly lay back down.
At 6:30 AM, Ning Che got out of bed.
The first thing she did was send a message to Xie Yuqi.
“Baby, morning, I’m awake. Did you sleep well?”
An entire day and night had passed without a single reply from Xie Yuqi. It had never been this long before.
Aunt Wang wasn’t around, but the other nannies had already prepared breakfast.
Ning Che sat in the small dining area next to the balcony, eating slowly.
After finishing her meal, she walked out onto the balcony.
The weather today was lovely, the sun was bright, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the chirping of birds. Her mood lifted along with it.
She planned to visit the university this morning to meet with her counselor, Dai Teng.
A month ago, Dai Teng had hinted to her that he had already recommended her to the department for a guaranteed admission to the university’s graduate program, telling her she just needed to wait for the official notice.
The competition for guaranteed postgraduate slots was fierce, so Ning Che hadn’t breathed a word about it to anyone. Today, she was going to confirm it.
By 10:00 AM, Ning Che walked out of the counselor’s office with a look of joy on her face. She had received a definitive, positive answer.
Since it was still early, she met up with another friend, Shu Xinyi, and headed to the library.
Shu Xinyi had also tested into the university from Zhongzhou, having ranked second in the state that year.
The two of them were from different districts and belonged to different colleges within the university. However, after meeting at the Tongzhou Association mixer, they realized they got along exceptionally well and became fast friends.
Shu Xinyi started chatting with Ning Che about future plans, and Ning Che mentioned her intention to continue her studies in graduate school.
Shu Xinyi said, “I heard you’ve been working as a substitute teacher at Mingde and that you’re a gold-medal lecturer there. Any interest in starting a business with me?”
Only then did Ning Che learn that Shu Xinyi had started her own business during her sophomore year. Though the scale was modest, simply organizing fellow students from Zhongzhou to tutor high school seniors, with Xinyi finding the clients and taking a commission, she was now planning to expand the operation.
Shu Xinyi added, “I trust your character. If you join, I’ll give you original shares.”
“Plus, entrepreneurship won’t interfere with your graduate studies. It’ll give you an extra source of income.”
Ning Che replied that she would give it serious consideration.
In truth, she hadn’t fully mapped out her future path yet. Going to graduate school was the general direction, but what about after graduation? She would still need a job.
After parting ways with Shu Xinyi, Ning Che couldn’t help but recall a past conversation she’d had with Xie Yuqi.
“Ning Che, how about coming to work for my family’s enterprise after graduation?”
The atmosphere back then had been lighthearted. They were wrapped in each other’s arms, and Ning Che, catching the playful tone in her voice, had teased back in kind.
“I’m a top student who wins scholarships every year at Federal University. What kind of perks do I get for working under the Eldest Miss Xie?”
Xie Yuqi had looped one arm around her neck, her other hand gently caressing Ning Che’s face. The gaze she directed at her was exceptionally sultry and moving.
“As long as you are obedient and well-behaved, I guarantee you a brilliant future.”
At the time, Ning Che thought she was just joking and hadn’t taken it to heart. Looking back now, the memory felt slightly different.
She suddenly felt as though she and Xie Yuqi were still standing in the exact same spot as they were during that conversation. Despite four years having passed, they hadn’t progressed into a real, stable, and deeply bound relationship.
When she went to the cafeteria for lunch, she checked her phone again. Still, there was no reply.
This was longer than any delay before.
Unable to hold back any longer, she dialed the number.
Nobody answered.
After the ringtone echoed for about seven or eight seconds, Ning Che took the initiative to hang up.
“Baby, it’s nothing important, I just missed you. I’m having lunch in the cafeteria right now. How are things at home?”
After sending the message, Ning Che couldn’t resist scrolling through all the texts she had sent Xie Yuqi since yesterday.
Did I send too many? She must be really busy at home, right? Or did something happen to ruin her mood, making her not want to look at her phone?
Staring at the final message, she couldn’t help but wonder if she shouldn’t have called just now. She was eating, which meant Yuqi was likely dining with her family too. Would her phone call have disrupted them?
In the afternoon, she went over to the Xiang residence to tutor Xiang Chen.
Xiang Wan didn’t show her face, remaining in her room the entire time.
Ning Che knew she was probably polishing diamonds inside, so she didn’t disturb her.
Around 5:30 PM, Xiang Wan suddenly emerged and called Ning Che over to the living room to talk.
“Are you going out to have fun tonight?”
Ning Che gave her a surprised look. “No. I’m going to the library to study.”
Xiang Wan seemed a bit surprised as well. “So you have free time tonight?”
Ning Che replied, “Yeah, why?”
A strange look flashed across the depths of Xiang Wan’s eyes. She remarked casually, “There’s a gathering tonight. I have an extra spot on my invitation, so I can bring you along.”
Ning Che grew a bit curious. “What kind of gathering?”
Xiang Wan said, “A gathering for the elite wealthy circles. Want to go?”
Without a hint of hesitation, Ning Che shook her head. “No, I’m not interested.”
Xiang Wan’s deep gaze flickered slightly. “Isn’t your girlfriend also from a wealthy family? Don’t you want to see what her social circle looks like?”
A look of hesitation washed over Ning Che’s face. Yet, after thinking it over for a few seconds, she still declined decisively. “I don’t belong to that wealthy circle. I won’t go.”
Deep down, Xiang Wan felt a silent pang of regret.
She had been plotting her comeback, and recently, she had finally caught the eye of a government official’s child. This secured her an entry ticket to an elite high-society gathering, which came with two slots.
She had learned from that official’s child that the gathering was actually arranged by the Ye family to propel their daughter into the spotlight. The true focus of the night was the Eldest Miss of the Ye family, who had just returned from studying abroad, along with the Eldest Miss of the Xie family, Xie Yuqi, who was reportedly getting engaged to her.
As for everyone else, they were mere backdrops.
Xiang Wan had immediately thought of Ning Che. This top student from a small town was probably still being kept completely in the dark.
Sure enough, judging from her casual inquiry just now, Ning Che had no idea her girlfriend was going to meet her fiancée tonight.
She had intended to bring Ning Che along to witness it with her own eyes, but she hadn’t expected the girl to be entirely uninterested.
Xiang Wan promptly held her tongue.
This was the absolute most she could do. Intervening any further would cross the line into meddling in others’ business.
As Ning Che was about to leave, hesitation lingered on her face, looking as though she wanted to say something but was holding back.
Xiang Wan noted, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Only then did Ning Che say embarrassedly, “Um, Sister Wan, the diamond ring will be finished on time, right?”
Xiang Wan’s face darkened. “Safe travels. I won’t see you out.”
Ning Che could only leave sheepishly.
At 8:00 PM, Ning Che went to the library.
At the exact same time, the Ye family estate in the capital was a scene of magnificent splendor. Prestigious guests gathered, and wine glasses clinked in celebration.
This grand banquet had stirred the entire wealthy elite circle of Yanjing. Anyone with a significant title or name had arrived, including no shortage of high-ranking officials from the military and political sectors.
When the members of the Xie family made their appearance, everyone turned their heads to watch.
Xie Xuan walked in the center wearing a tailcoat, his right arm supporting his wife, Lu Ruixuan, and his left arm supporting his daughter, Xie Yuqi.
Both mother and daughter were Omega beauties who had long been famous throughout Yanjing. Appearing together, they instantly became the focal point of the entire venue.
The head of the Ye family, Ye Lin, led his wife, Wang Siheng, and his daughter, Ye Lingyi, to greet them.
While the two sides exchanged pleasantries, the surrounding guests gathered around them as well.
With practiced ease, Xie Yuqi exchanged pleasantries and greeted everyone, politely and meticulously maintaining the Xie family’s network of connections.
From beginning to end, she didn’t spare Ye Lingyi a single glance until Ye Lingyi took the initiative to extend her hand.
“Yuqi hasn’t forgotten me, have you?”
The Alpha before her was dressed in a custom white formal suit, noble, elegant, and projecting the overpowering aura unique to an S-class Alpha. Xie Yuqi felt the pheromones inside her body begin to stir, a faint sensation of losing control looming at the edges.
This piece of trash is as arrogant as ever, actually daring to release her pressure on me in front of everyone!
Xie Yuqi’s heart turned icy. A perfectly measured, detached smile graced her face as she extended her slender fingers, pulling back after the briefest touch.
“How could I? Miss Ye certainly left a deep impression on everyone back then.”
Curving her lips, Ye Lingyi savored the phrase “deep impression.” A trademark smirk appeared on her face as her gaze swept over Xie Yuqi with blatant, discourteous scrutiny.