Chapter 5: The Ning Family – Mom Promises to Find You Someone Better

He entered with a lunch box from Yipinzhai, smiling as he said, "Miss Ning, Sir asked me to prepare breakfast for you. I hope it suits your taste."

He placed the box on the table.

"… Thank you."

She opened the box and began to eat. When she noticed Yuan Qing still staring at her, she paused. "You… aren't leaving?"

"Miss Ning, our sir instructed that I must stay and watch until you finish eating. If you're not feeling well, I'll quickly arrange other meals until your appetite returns."

Ning Heng lightly pursed her lips but didn't say anything. She began eating.

Halfway through, she glanced at Yuan Qing. "You can go. I'm not used to being watched like this."

After a moment of thought, Yuan Qing nodded and left.

At noon, he returned.

Again, he waited until she had eaten half before leaving.

At 6:30 PM, Su Yan visited, bringing her dinner. She arrived just as Yuan Qing was leaving, and the two talked for a while.

For the next few days, Yuan Qing and Su Yan came every day.

Three days later, morning.

The Ning Family.

Ning Xuan was brought back from the Mu City hospital by Ning Yuan Guo and his wife.

After returning home, everyone's exhaustion was evident.

Ning Xuan lay on the bed, tightly gripping Shen Mu Bai's hand, her cheek resting on his arm. Despite her pale face, her lips couldn't hide the sweetness.

Who is Shen Mu Bai?

The most eligible bachelor in the capital.

Though the Shen family had fallen into decline a few years ago, under Shen Mu Bai's leadership, the family had risen to prominence, replacing the Lin family and becoming one of the four great families alongside the Ning, Lu, and Si families.

He was a rising star in the capital and a business genius rarely seen in a century.

What made him even more admirable was that such a man maintained a pure character and had no women around him.

Lu Yu Chuan and Si Yi Han were surrounded by women, but not him.

So, he was the most sought-after bachelor in the capital.

Such an excellent man.

She always thought he would be hers.

No.

In reality, she was his.

The moment he chose to publicly abandon Ning Heng at their wedding, she knew he loved her too.

She had won the bet.

In front of her, stood a beautiful woman.

It was Ning's mother, Xue Zhi Tang.

Xue Zhi Tang's eyelids were bruised, looking as if she hadn't slept properly for days.

Ning Yuan Guo gently said, "You should go rest in your room."

"No need," Xue Zhi Tang rubbed her temples. "It's getting late. Let's go check on Ah Heng."

"This can wait. Rest first."

Ning Chen coldly sneered, "Xuan Xuan gets hospitalized, and immediately after, she gets injured too. This is probably just a self-inflicted act! Country girls are so scheming, they can't stand being on the sidelines! Don't let her fool you."

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

Ning Xuan smiled inwardly but comforted him, "Xiao Chen, don't say that. She's still your sister."

Ning Chen scoffed. "Not anymore."

Country bumpkin! She's unworthy!

Ning Chen didn't like this sudden appearance of a sister.

When she first arrived at the Ning family, she was dressed in shabby clothes, smelling of poverty, and caused a lot of awkwardness at the dinner table by confusing mouthwash for tea.

She even stole Ning Xuan's clothes, touched her piano, wore fake jewelry to a party, and even stole Ning Xuan's design drafts to enter a competition.

Her devious behavior had caused countless scandals in the Ning family.

To him, she was just a lowly person.

And she was a scheming woman who wanted everything Ning Xuan had.

He grew up alongside Ning Xuan and Mu Bai, and they shared a real bond.

Mu Bai and Ning Xuan were such a good couple.

But she had to steal him.

Even though Ning Xuan liked Mu Bai, she was still trying to win him over.

Not only that.

She also had to compete for her parents' love, for the Ning family's affection.

Every time he saw the rare moments of sadness on Ning Xuan's face, he felt his heart ache.

Why should she be given priority just because she came back?

Hmph, didn't she want to compete with Ning Xuan?

At the wedding, the groom ran off, and with neither parent around, she bore the brunt of the humiliation and ridicule.

What a disgrace, what a thrill!

Shen Mu Bai pushed Ning Xuan aside and stood up. "Uncle, Aunt, I'll go. You should rest."

Ning Yuan Guo and his wife were about to nod when Ning Chen immediately said, "Mu Bai, Xuan Xuan needs you right now. Stay here and take good care of her. As for the rest, Mom and Dad can handle it."

Shen Mu Bai hesitated. "But…"

Ning Chen interrupted him. "It's settled. The three of us will go. That's enough to show respect, right?"

He patted Shen Mu Bai's shoulder. "Don't worry."

At the hospital.

After Yuan Qing finished delivering breakfast and left, an unexpected visitor arrived.

Xue Zhi Tang entered, and upon seeing her, spoke with concern, "Ah Heng, how are you? Is there anything uncomfortable?"

Ning Heng lifted her eyelids. "I'm fine."

Her words were cold and distant, pushing them away.

Xue Zhi Tang froze.

Ning Yuan Guo furrowed his brows. "Your mother has been worried about you. As soon as Xuan Xuan was discharged, she rushed here to see you. What is this attitude?"

Ning Heng's eyelids lowered.

"Is that so?" If she had been killed, would they still wait for Ning Xuan to come out of the hospital to collect her body?

"Thank you for your concern, but I need to rest. Please leave."

"You!" Ning Yuan Guo was speechless.

Behind him, Ning Chen mocked her, "So you want to act pitiful and beg for sympathy, huh?"

Xue Zhi Tang harshly interrupted him. "Xiao Chen!"

Ning Chen fell silent.

Xue Zhi Tang paused, then looked at Ning Heng. "Ah Heng, I came here to tell you that Mu Bai chose Xuan Xuan, and Xuan Xuan also likes Mu Bai. Please step aside."

Ning Heng remained silent.

Xue Zhi Tang continued, "Mom promises to find you someone better. What do you think?"

Ning Chen scoffed, "Who could be better than Mu Bai?"

Xue Zhi Tang shot him a glare.

At this moment, Ning Yuan Guo also spoke up, "A forced marriage never tastes sweet, Ah Heng. They love each other. It's better to give up voluntarily and maintain some dignity."

Ning Heng sneered.

"Did Shen Mu Bai send you here to say this?"

"What's the difference?" Ning Chen retorted, "Mu Bai's heart isn't with you. Do you know why he's not here? He's with Xuan Xuan, and he doesn't have time for you!"

He went on, "I see you're pretending to be sick, faking sympathy! You're so disgusting!"

"Ning Chen!" Xue Zhi Tang's voice was already filled with anger.

"I'm not wrong." Ning Chen looked at Xue Zhi Tang. "Don't believe me? I'll prove it to you!"

With that, he stepped forward and tried to pull off the bandage on Ning Heng's leg—

A loud 'rip'!

The wound, which had just started to scab, was torn open along with the bandage.

Blood began to pour out!

Ning Heng clenched her fingers, trembling in pain.

The whole thing happened too suddenly!

Ning Chen stood frozen as he saw the wound.

Xue Zhi Tang shouted angrily, "Ning Chen!"

Ning Heng grabbed the thermos from the bedside table and hurled it at Ning Chen's face.

"Get out! Get out!"