PANT - Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Su Wanxing was shocked when she first heard what Su Tianxue said.
She couldn't help but repeat what her sister had just told her.
Su Wanxing: "Did I hear you right? Sister? You said you confessed to Shi Ning."
Su Tianxue nodded.
She had now calmed down from the whole "Shi Ning told her to see a doctor" incident.
-At least, that's how it seemed on the surface.
Su Wanxing confirmed once more that her hearing wasn't failing her. "You confessed, and then Shi Ning told you to see a doctor?"
Su Tianxue nodded again in response to her sister's question.
After reconfirming, Su Wanxing felt that a hundred question marks weren't enough to express the confusion in her mind.
What the hell was this situation?
In her view, the whole thing was rather strange.
Shi Ning's response sounded... very odd.
Su Wanxing thought that if she confessed to someone and they told her to see a doctor, it would sound like they were activating a taunt skill—like another way of rejecting her.
If anyone else had said it, Su Wanxing might not have been so shocked.
But this was Shi Ning!
Su Wanxing wasn't blind. She had seen with her own eyes how Shi Ning had been treating her sister these past few days.
When she thought about all of Shi Ning's actions recently, she couldn't help but feel there was something fishy going on.
Shi Ning dared to talk to her sister like that???
Going all out with the mockery???
Su Wanxing didn't believe it.
After hesitating for a long time, she couldn't help but observe her sister's expression.
Although Su Tianxue was forcibly suppressing her emotions and her face was unreadable, Su Wanxing, as the sister who had been by her side for over a decade, could still notice the slight furrow of her brow and the gentle purse of her lips. These were all signs of disappointment and unhappiness.
Su Wanxing asked Su Tianxue cautiously, "Sister, can you tell me how you confessed to Shi Ning?"
Su Tianxue didn't say a word. She stood up, walked to the dining table, picked up the coffee she had just made, and took a sip.
The coffee hadn't cooled down yet, but Su Tianxue seemed to have calmed down.
She carried the coffee into her room without a word.
Seeing her sister like this, Su Wanxing felt she looked a bit like a walking corpse.
She was extremely anxious but didn't know who to talk to about this.
It was her sister's private matter, and it didn't feel right to share it with others.
As Su Wanxing stood there in a state of extreme anxiety, racking her brain for a way to resolve this crisis... Su Tianxue had already walked out. The cup of coffee she had just taken in was already empty.
Su Wanxing had no doubt that her sister had probably gone into her room, raised the cup, and chugged the instant coffee in one go.
Su Tianxue held the empty coffee cup and turned to wash it in the kitchen.
Su Wanxing watched all of this, finding it both novel and rare, feeling anxious yet helpless.
All she could do was watch, staring blankly.
Su Wanxing waited with a pounding heart for the sound of running water from the kitchen to stop.
She stood against the wall, watching as Su Tianxue came out and expressionlessly shook the water from her hands.
Su Wanxing: She looks like she's about to go kill someone.
Su Wanxing forced a smile. "Sister, if you really got rejected, let's not worry. Don't take it to heart. There are plenty of fish in the sea, why get hung up on just one? Right?"
Su Tianxue said nothing, merely looking at Su Wanxing with her dark, pure eyes.
Su Wanxing: ...Did I say something wrong?
Su Tianxue picked up the phone she had left on the coffee table, opened the chat interface, and handed it to Su Wanxing.
Su Tianxue: "This is how I confessed."
Facing a situation like this with her sister for the first time, Su Wanxing felt even more nervous before reading the message than the person who sent it.
For Su Wanxing, she had never seen Su Tianxue troubled by matters of the heart in the past, let alone been in a position to be the one to help her sister solve her problems.
For a very long time, Su Tianxue had played the role of her guardian and guide.
Su Tianxue had almost never asked Su Wanxing for help, nor had she ever shown any sign of disappointment in front of her. Even when their grandmother was sick, Su Tianxue had gritted her teeth and borne it, never showing any weakness in front of Su Wanxing.
She was like the sky above Su Wanxing's head, a sky that would never collapse.
Sometimes, Su Wanxing felt that having such a sister gave her a great sense of security, and she felt envious and full of admiration.
But at other times, Su Wanxing felt that she had been looking up at her sister for too long. When she occasionally saw others joking and playing around with her sister, when she saw how others interacted, she would also feel a pang of envy.
For Su Wanxing, it seemed she had never found a way to be of use to Su Tianxue.
What was her value as a younger sister?
To be protected forever?
But at this moment, Su Wanxing felt she might have found a way to help her sister.
-Oh, gods!
Jesus Christ, Kamisama, Tathagata Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Whoever you are, if you can hear my prayer, please help this little star illuminate the romantic sky of her sister, who, despite being a genius, can be an unexpected dork at times!!
After Su Wanxing clasped her hands, cracked her knuckles, and prayed to the heavens.
She took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she glanced tentatively at the conversation above.
A single glance was enough to take in the entire chat history on the phone.
And then, Su Wanxing was confused.
She turned to her sister, who was standing beside her, looking at her with a hint of expectation in her eyes, and asked, "Sister, where's the confession?"
Su Tianxue reached out, a gesture that seemed to take all her strength.
Her fingertip tapped firmly on the last sentence she had sent on the screen.
Looking at the text in the little green box, Su Wanxing fell silent.
Heart rate exceeds 120.
Catecholamine C8H11NO2.
Phenethylamine C8H11N.
Su Wanxing had to read it five times just to understand that jumble of English letters.
She wracked her brain for a long time, repeatedly confirming that there were no hidden Easter eggs like "520" or "LOVEYOU" among the numbers and letters.
...She was speechless.
What was this!!
A chemical formula party!!!
Su Wanxing carefully considered her tone and, with as much tact as possible, sought confirmation from her sister. "Sister, this is your confession?"
Su Tianxue nodded seriously.
The roasting spirit within Su Wanxing could no longer be suppressed.
Su Wanxing: "Anyone who didn't know better would think you were submitting some kind of medical report. What is this? Heart rates and chemical formulas."
Su Tianxue's brow furrowed deeply. "You mean you don't understand?"
I'd be a ghost if I did, Su Wanxing thought.
But she couldn't say that to her sister, so she told her calmly, "I'm an arts student."
Su Tianxue's tone was tinged with confusion as she asked, perplexed, "What's wrong with being an arts student? Haven't you ever taken a chemistry class?"
Faced with Su Tianxue's matter-of-fact tone, Su Wanxing once again felt the gap between a genius and an ordinary person.
She thought, if the person standing in front of her wasn't her own sister... if it were anyone else, she, Su Wanxing, would have already landed a Pegasus Meteor Fist on their face to let them feel the wrath of a slacker.
Su Wanxing said righteously, "This... this chemical formula of yours, is that something they teach in high school?"
Su Tianxue explained patiently, "This is dopamine. If I remember correctly, there should be related questions in high school chemistry. Also, the neurotransmitter mentioned in high school biology is also this. For humans, dopamine is mainly synthesized in neuron cells and adrenal medulla cells. It's related to the body's reward and motivation system, capable of stimulating and mobilizing a person's emotions. Illegal drugs like psychostimulants generally work by stimulating dopamine mediators to make people feel pleasure."
Su Wanxing felt like she had just been lectured.
She asked, feeling dizzy, "Sister, weren't we discussing your confession? Why have we started a chemistry and biology class?"
Su Tianxue pressed her lips together. "I was using this precise descriptive method to tell Shi Ning my subconscious physiological reaction when I'm with her. A person's words can lie, and emotions can be faked, but physical data doesn't lie."
"Also, phenethylamine C8H11N-"
Su Wanxing quickly stopped her sister from continuing her volunteer chemistry and biology tutoring.
If this went on, the high school trauma she had finally escaped would once again loom over her head.
A slacker never wanted to experience that feeling again—the teacher lecturing at the front, not understanding a single word, and not being allowed to sleep.
Interrupted mid-spell, Su Tianxue was like a wronged little robot. She blinked and fell silent.
Su Wanxing pinched the philtrum below her nose hard. After taking a sharp breath, she said, "Sister, I finally understand why Shi Ning told you to see a doctor. I don't think she was wrong to say that at all."
Su Tianxue: "So you're saying she didn't understand what I was saying either."
Su Wanxing: "Is this something an ordinary person can understand? I bet you can't find a single person in the whole world who would get it!"
Su Tianxue: "Wait."
In front of Su Wanxing, she turned and shared the message with her junior from graduate school.
The junior replied instantly: "Senior, do you have a crush on someone? Why is your heart beating so fast? And why is your body's substance secretion so strong?"
Seeing this message, Su Tianxue's lips curled up slightly. She held the phone out to Su Wanxing, as if to emphasize: What you just said was wrong. There are people in this world who can understand this confession.
Su Wanxing: "...Isn't that your colleague from the research institute?"
Su Tianxue nodded.
Su Wanxing: Isn't that another monster-level person??
Su Wanxing sighed. "Sister, how about this? I think Shi Ning really didn't understand this confession, so let's not be discouraged. As your younger sister, I'll start making some plans for you, okay? If we can't make it clear with words, we'll use actions to prove your feelings for her. How about that?"
Su Tianxue hesitated. "So, you're saying my confession failed."
...
Looking at her sister's eyes, Su Wanxing felt she couldn't just say yes directly.
It was obvious Su Tianxue still wanted to try and salvage it.
Su Tianxue: "But Shi Ning is different from you."
Su Wanxing: "How is she different?"
Su Tianxue: "She's lived a few more years than you."
Su Wanxing patted Su Tianxue's shoulder, speaking to her for the first time in such a meaningful and world-weary tone. She said, "Sister, trust me, I don't think Shi Ning understood."
All of Shi Ning's brainpower is focused on how to flirt and how to be a menace. How could she possibly understand this??
Just as they were talking, a new message popped up on Su Tianxue's phone. The sender was Shi Ning.
Seeing it, Su Tianxue's lips curved up slightly. "See?"
Su Wanxing: "See what?"
Su Tianxue analyzed rationally, "Shi Ning's reply just now was probably because waking up suddenly led to insufficient oxygen supply to her brain, making it difficult to accurately understand and analyze some non-daily language."
Su Wanxing: "...So?"
Su Tianxue: "So she might have understood it now."
Su Wanxing made a "go ahead" gesture, indicating for Su Tianxue to open and check the message Shi Ning had sent.
Then she watched as the expectant light in her sister's eyes dimmed in an instant, and her entire face froze over.
Su Wanxing asked curiously, "What did she say?"
Su Tianxue didn't speak, so Su Wanxing leaned over to look herself.
Shi Ning: Wife, are you okay? Why haven't you replied? How are you feeling now? Should I just have a doctor come over?
Su Wanxing: Pfft-
She comforted Su Tianxue, "Sister, at least she's really concerned about your health."
Su Tianxue: ...
She didn't want to look at her phone again and turned the screen off.
Shi Ning's reply was no less than another vicious stab to Su Tianxue's heart. Su Wanxing no longer felt like gloating. She sighed lightly and said to her sister, "Sister, we have to be good at accepting failure, don't we?"
Su Tianxue had always been someone who was good at accepting failure.
For someone like her, if she couldn't recognize that failure was one of the most common things in life, she might lose her curiosity and confidence in the questions she wanted to explore after numerous research failures, and also lose that earnestness in pursuing the truth. But now... this was the first time Su Tianxue had experienced failure in a romantic confession.
This feeling of a heavy weight in her heart left her feeling a bit lost.
Su Wanxing sensitively detected her sister's mood and comforted her, "Sister, you still have me. Don't worry, leave this to me. Maybe we're just not suited for the verbal expression route, you know? This kind of confession, with all the glib talk and flowery language, it might not be for us! We'll go the action route!! Give me some time! Sister! I promise I'll come up with a love manual for you that will take you from a romance novice to a love guru. You'll be able to charm anyone, from ninety-nine-year-olds to toddlers who've just learned to walk, and win them all over!"
Su Wanxing's speech was passionate and rousing, but Su Tianxue calmly grasped the main point. "You'll teach me? So, you've been in many relationships behind my back?"
Su Wanxing nearly lost her footing and quickly shook her head to explain. "I-I gained experience from watching other people's relationships! All these years, I've read countless web novels, watched all kinds of idol dramas, and shipped all sorts of CPs, both domestic and international. The number of romantic tricks I've learned is at least eighty, if not a hundred!"
Seeing Su Tianxue's suspicious gaze, Su Wanxing's heart broke. "Sister, you don't believe me?"
Su Tianxue reached out and patted Su Wanxing's head.
Everything was said without words.
Su Wanxing said anxiously, "So, Sister, are you not going to confess again?"
Su Tianxue didn't answer, but her silence was probably the best answer.
Su Wanxing worried that a beautiful relationship would be nipped in the bud because of the barrier between the arts and sciences.
She was anxious, she was worried, she didn't know what to do.
In her panic, the photos from the production team were sent to her phone.
Su Wanxing opened them for a look.
At first glance, she thought they were well-shot; everyone looked very happy.
On second glance, she realized something subtle.
In all the photos, whenever Su Tianxue was present, Shi Ning's gaze was always on Su Tianxue.
Just as the production team also released this set of photos on the show's official Weibo account, a new trending topic was pushed up by the CP fans.
#WithYouHere,TheyOnlySeeMyProfile#
@WangYueThisIsIllegal: I'm about to die from swooning over the way Shi Ning looks at Sister Su. Help me. This is what you call blatant favoritism.
@JiangYeKnowsNoSorrow: Who would've thought? Shi Ning was in six photos, and the only one where she's facing the camera and smiling is the one without Su Tianxue. What's up with that? Do we, the audience, not deserve your smile?? /pointing
@ThePastCantBeChased: As someone who's heartbroken, this trending topic made my tears stream down. There was a time when I always looked at my girlfriend in group photos, too. But later, she ended up with someone else.
It was unclear whether Su Tianxue saw these photos or the trending topic.
In any case, she walked up to Su Wanxing again, tilted her head, and coughed lightly. "Wanxing, that manual you mentioned just now, is the offer still valid?"
Su Wanxing beamed. "It is!! It is!!! Sister, just you wait!!! I'll go research it for you right now!!!"
Su Wanxing rushed into her room, ready to show off her skills.
Meanwhile, Su Tianxue's phone received another message from Shi Ning.
Shi Ning: Sorry, Wife. I'm at a social engagement right now and can't leave, so I can't come see you right away. If you need anything, you must tell me. You can also call this number, 133xxxx8932. It's my family's private doctor.
Shi Ning: By the way, W has been arrested by the police.
In fact, this had happened yesterday.
The moment Shi Ning got off the plane yesterday, she was snatched up by Ye Wanlan and whisked away, precisely to deal with the matter of W.
After leaving the island, Mo Lingyuan had arranged a meeting time with W.
Coincidentally, the time was set for the day Shi Ning and the others finished recording the show.
Ye Wanlan thought it would be good for Shi Ning to follow the progress of the matter as well.
After all, she could be considered one of the victims.
The meeting place was chosen by Mo Lingyuan.
The location was decided after consulting with the police. It was a place where they wouldn't easily alert the target, yet could be properly monitored. Most importantly, the background of the place was crystal clear; it wasn't one of W's properties.
The meeting place was a bar.
It was a noisy club, with many people partying inside. It was especially loud at this hour, and the dance floor was packed with dancing AAs, OOs, and Os.
Inside the bar, Shi Ning and Ye Wanlan were in a secluded booth on the second floor.
Downstairs at the bar was where Mo Lingyuan and W were to meet.
There were less than ten minutes until their meeting.
Mo Lingyuan sat alone at the bar.
She wore a leopard-print slip dress. Her voluminous, curly black hair, combined with heavy makeup and scarlet lips, made her look like a fiery rose about to bloom.
Many passersby showed interest in her. Seeing her there alone, they would try to invite her to dance or have a drink, but Mo Lingyuan politely refused them all.
Ye Wanlan remarked, "Lingyuan is really popular."
Shi Ning didn't say anything.
Ye Wanlan said softly to Shi Ning, "After this is over today, we still have to have a meal with the Mo family tomorrow. After all, you didn't attend Mo Qi's wedding. Her mother specially arranged a small private banquet for you."
Shi Ning: "Don't they have anything better to do?"
Ye Wanlan: "The Mo family controls many maritime shipping routes, and we have a partnership. I've already agreed."
Shi Ning understood and grunted in acknowledgment.
Ye Wanlan: "Are you bringing Su Tianxue tomorrow? If so, let me know so I can inform them in advance to arrange seating."
Shi Ning shook her head without hesitation.
A meal with the Mo family, my ass. Right now, she couldn't even remember what the Mo family members, aside from Mo Lingyuan, looked or acted like. Going alone was already nerve-wracking enough. If she brought Su Tianxue along... it would just be a whole self-inflicted, difficulty-upgraded ordeal.
Hadn't she suffered enough from these dramatic confrontations?
Ye Wanlan chuckled lightly. "Alright, I understand. But she'll probably have to meet them eventually. And, as your wife, there will be times when she needs to socialize."
Shi Ning: "Don't I still have you?"
Ye Wanlan: "Ning, the Shi Group is yours."
Shi Ning pressed her lips together. Just as she was about to say something, her peripheral vision caught sight of a woman in all black swaying as she walked in.
The woman's gaze was fixed on Mo Lingyuan, as if she were searching for and assessing something.
Soon, the woman approached, sat down, and extended a hand to shake Mo Lingyuan's.
There was a small tattoo on the webbing of her hand.
Mo Lingyuan was closest to her and saw the tattoo at a glance. It was the letter W.
Mo Lingyuan immediately confirmed that this was the person she was looking for.
She continued chatting with W, then turned to the bartender and said, "A Kiss of the Gods, please."
This drink was the pre-arranged signal.
The police didn't seem to want to make an arrest amidst the chaos, so they patiently waited for this W to finish her discussion with Mo Lingyuan and leave before apprehending her right outside the establishment.
When they received the news, Shi Ning and Ye Wanlan both got up and rushed out.
As she was leaving the bar, Shi Ning felt someone bump her shoulder. She glanced back. The person who bumped her had purple hair. The lighting was dim, and she couldn't see their face clearly.
When the person lowered their head and apologized in a hushed voice, Shi Ning caught a faint scent of orchid from them.
Thanks to her height advantage, Shi Ning also saw what looked like a tattoo on the woman's neck.
When she tried to get a clearer look, the woman had already disappeared into the crowd.
Seeing her dazed look, Ye Wanlan asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Shi Ning shook her head.
For some reason, the scent she had just smelled bothered her, but the top priority now was to see W.
W, held in the police car, looked very calm. Upon seeing Shi Ning, a pure hatred showed in her eyes.
After getting permission, Shi Ning went forward to speak with her. The moment the other party spoke, Shi Ning felt a sense of unease, though she didn't know where it came from.
She repeatedly confirmed a few things with W, and everything matched up.
Most importantly, based on the evidence the police had gathered so far, the person before them was W.
The owner of the Maoyue Club.
According to her, she worked for a triad member.
She also had information on many corrupt officials. W unhesitatingly offered to tell the police everything in exchange for a chance at a suspended sentence and protection in prison.
With her capture, even the long-standing transnational fraud case had a breakthrough.
The evidence was clear, and all clues pointed to this person.
W also gave up her biggest accomplice, a stuttering enforcer-a man codenamed Teng She.
Teng She was found limping nearby and was easily arrested.
His appearance further corroborated W's identity. Everything seemed seamless, as if it were time to close the net, but Shi Ning unexpectedly felt that something was wrong.
She saw no fear or respect in Teng She's eyes when he looked at this woman.
Instead, it was the look in Teng She's eyes as he glanced back before getting into the police car-the fear and terror in that look felt more real to Shi Ning.
She followed the man's gaze and looked back, but saw nothing.
There was only the dim, malfunctioning light at the bar's entrance flickering slightly. People who had drunk too much were squatting on the street, vomiting. Heartbroken souls were pounding on the ceramic tiles of the flowerbeds, sobbing. People who had hit it off in the bar were wrapped around each other, taking a detour.
To them, the sudden appearance of a police car was the most common sight on this bar street.
There were always one or two cases of harassment, theft, or brawls here.
The only thing that could shock them out of their drunken stupor and make them run out to spectate would probably be a sensational murder case.
So, on the day W was arrested, the bar street seemed calm and uneventful. All the revelers didn't even know that a dark hand that once held a tight grip on this industry had been severed, its blood spreading outwards, staining all the powerful figures associated with it.
This blood was like a virus that would eventually corrode them and drag them all down to hell.
Shi Ning and Ye Wanlan also followed the police to assist with the investigation.
It didn't end until very late in the morning.
Afterward, Ye Wanlan looked at Shi Ning's still solemn expression and asked, "Ning, what's wrong? I thought you'd be a little happier now that W has been caught."
Shi Ning: "Is it possible that the person we've caught is just W's body double?"
She had just said the same thing to the police, but the answer she received was negative.
The chain of evidence was complete, with no missing links.
This woman with the 'W' tattoo on her hand was the person they were looking for.
Ye Wanlan analyzed rationally, "It's not impossible, but... Ning, let me put it to you from another angle. Right now, based on the intelligence W has provided, her actions are tantamount to cutting off her own limbs to survive. She has even destroyed the business and network she built over many years. I don't believe she's bold enough to still be alive in this world after backstabbing all those formidable people, unless there are two of her. And Ning, a person can't have two faces."
"With W leaking so much information to the police now, once the police start investigating, everyone will know it was her doing. When they come after her, it will be a bloody and turbulent affair. No matter how capable she is, it would be very difficult to escape. Perhaps going to prison is actually the safest place for her, and the most advantageous choice."
Shi Ning knew Ye Wanlan's words were not without reason.
However, a string in her mind was pulled taut, telling her that perhaps this matter wasn't over yet.
The pair of eyes that spied on her and Su Tianxue in the dark were still watching, like a dark cloud hanging over the sea, difficult to disperse.
Shi Ning lowered her eyes. "A person can't have two faces, but what if she has been living with someone else's face all along?"
Ye Wanlan: "Ning?"
Shi Ning pressed her lips together. "It's nothing. Pretend I didn't say anything."
Shi Ning felt that she might have to find some time to meet this arrested W again.
From a rational perspective, there was a ninety-nine percent chance that the person just arrested was W, as all the evidence and clues pointed to her.
But that remaining one percent...
Shi Ning looked up at the night sky.
The night was gloomy, looking as if it was about to rain.
The next day, Shi Ning woke up early to have a meal with the Mo family.
When she woke up, she saw Su Tianxue's message. She read it groggily and guessed that Su Tianxue had probably just returned from afar and was feeling unwell after the flight, which was why she suggested she see a doctor.
She hadn't expected to get no reply.
Shi Ning couldn't rest easy, so she sent a message to Su Wanxing, taking an indirect approach.
Shi Ning: Su Wanxing, is your sister feeling okay?
Su Wanxing, who was in the middle of formulating a plan, felt somewhat speechless at this question. These two were usually so smart, but when faced with this situation, they didn't seem much smarter than her.
But she didn't blame Shi Ning.
After all, Shi Ning's IQ was on the same level as hers.
It wasn't that Su Wanxing hadn't thought about telling Shi Ning what her sister meant, but on second thought, the confession was something her sister should do herself. It should be an experience between her and Shi Ning. What was she doing, sticking her nose in and explaining for someone else?
So she suppressed the urge to explain her sister's actions to Shi Ning and simply told her she was fine.
After receiving the message, Shi Ning's worried heart was put at ease, and she went to the banquet with a clear mind.
Just as Shi Ning's family arrived at the door of the private room, they heard the sound of arguing from inside.
The first voice was that of an older woman, one Shi Ning had never heard before and didn't recognize.
The voice was sharp and piercing, with an obvious touch of harshness.
"Mo Lingyuan! I don't care if you're happy or not, but when the Shi family arrives for dinner in a bit, you'd better put a smile on your face! What's with that expression? Who owes you anything?"
Mo Lingyuan's reply was just as blunt. She sneered, "Who do you think you are? You think just because my dad is dead, you're my real mom? Do I need you to manage me?"
Then, a rather gentle and somewhat helpless, flustered female voice spoke up. "Alright, Lingyuan, Mom, can you two not argue the moment you see each other?"
"Shut up!"
The two women said simultaneously.
Shi Ning clicked her tongue. She hadn't expected to see a good show just by coming for a meal.
Although the server leading them was embarrassed, they maintained their composure and knocked politely on the door.
After the knock, the arguing stopped.
Mo Lingyuan's mocking laughter was particularly clear.
The door opened, and Shi Ning glanced at the situation inside the room.
A woman about her mother's age sat in the host's seat, exquisitely dressed and well-maintained. She'd had a lot of work done, and now when she smiled, her facial muscles were a bit stiff. Compared to her sharp, harsh voice from just now, her appearance was much more polite.
Mo Lingyuan sat to her left, her face cold.
Shi Ning had never seen Mo Lingyuan like this.
On the other side sat a woman as gentle as water, who looked like an Alpha. Beside her was a well-behaved young lady who seemed well-read and reasonable, a very likable younger sister type.
This pair must be the newlyweds of the Mo family.
After some pleasantries, everyone prepared to take their seats.
Mo's mother greeted them, "Ning, it's been a long time. Look, our Lingyuan is back in the country too. I heard she met you on that show of yours? Why don't you two sisters sit together today and get reacquainted? After all, you have so many years of history."
Shi Ning hadn't really cared where she sat; in her eyes, Mo Lingyuan was now someone trying to steal her wife.
But hearing Mo's mother's words, she felt a little displeased. Shi Ning glanced at her own mother's and Ye Wanlan's expressions, understood the situation, and said with a smile, "Auntie, I know where to sit."
She pulled out the chair opposite Mo's mother and sat down steadily, a playful smile on her face. "This seat is perfect. I can look directly at you when you speak and see your expression clearly."
Mo's mother hadn't expected this girl Shi Ning to be so annoying after so many years.
Ever since Mo Lingyuan went abroad, the relationship between the Mo and Shi families had cooled.
The Shi family was an old, established powerhouse, and under Ye Wanlan's leadership, it was thriving, having already secured the position of the wealthiest family.
The Mo family, however, remained lukewarm...
They hadn't found an opportunity to reconnect with the Shi family until now, using Mo Qi's wedding as a chance to finally collaborate again.
Mo's mother thought it would be best to marry Mo Lingyuan to Shi Ning, which would be a good way to squeeze out the last bit of value from that bitch.
So what if Shi Ning was married?
She had gotten to where she was today, sitting securely in her position in the Mo family, with her daughter even becoming the head of the family, all because she never took marriage seriously.
Marriage was nothing more than a stepping stone under her feet.
With this thought, the smile on Mo's mother's face became much gentler. Her previously harsh voice now became soft, which sounded strange to Shi Ning.
Mo's mother: "Quick, sit, sit. Anywhere is fine. The most important thing is to have a good meal, isn't it?"
Mo's mother: "Ning, you didn't even come to your Qi Jiejie's wedding. You'll have to drink a penalty cup for that."
Shi Ning: "Oh, I don't drink."
Mo's mother: "..."
Mo Qi quickly tried to smooth things over. "Mom, stop fussing. By the way, Ning, this is the wedding candy from me and Ruoruo. For you."
Zhou Ruoruo blushed slightly and gave Mo Qi a sweet look, her eyes full of adoration.
But Shi Ning happened to notice that across from Mo Qi, another person quietly lowered her eyes and downed a whole glass of wine.
...
Mo Lingyuan.
Interesting.
Shi Ning thought that today's Hongmen Banquet might not have been for nothing after all.
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