First, he had quietly encouraged her mother to befriend Ningning’s mother early on, and hadn’t been stingy with all manner of gifts sent her mother’s way.

He said that even if Ningning didn’t want to marry her brother, he’d adopt Ningning as a goddaughter and send her off in marriage with full splendor.

What he hadn’t expected was that her mother and Ningning’s mother would take to each other like long-lost kindred spirits, with no end of things to talk about. The next step was using a business deal to get acquainted with Ningning’s father, then arranging a dinner party where the four of them “happened” to run into each other.

Ningning’s mother had even marveled at what a remarkable coincidence it was.

And then, he had sent Ningning’s parents tickets and arranged for them to travel abroad.

After that, he had quietly slipped a business deal to Brother Jinzhi to send him out of town on a business trip. And that very day — her own “low blood sugar” fainting spell, which had conveniently brought Ningning back to their home.

All for the sake of finding her brother a wife — her father had truly worn himself out scheming.

“I’d better call Xiao Yun right away — Ningning saving Ranran is something I simply must tell Xiao Yun about properly.” Receiving the glance Xuan Shi’an sent her way, Wen Shuyun took out her phone and dialed a video call to Yan Yunning’s mother.

The call connected quickly. On the other end of the screen, Ningning’s mother had just arrived at the seaside — the sound of waves could even be heard through the receiver.

“Shuyun, come and join us — it’s not like you have anything to do at home.” Before Wen Shuyun could even say a word, Ningning’s mother had already started extending an invitation.

Xuan Zhaoran shook her head. Go on then, go and play — her daughter was already as good as theirs.

Wen Shuyun beamed, unable to stop smiling. “Oh, our Old Xuan doesn’t have the time — if I went by myself, wouldn’t I be intruding on the two of you?”

She didn’t have the time at all — she was busy helping her son chase after his future wife.

“Hasn’t Xiao Yu been awake for half a month now? Hand the company over to him and come out for a bit yourselves.” Ningning’s father leaned into the phone screen as well.

“Dad, Mom — you went on a trip without telling me?” Yan Yunning directed a long, pointed look at the phone screen.

The moment the words fell, she watched as her father quietly withdrew the arm he had draped over her mother’s shoulder and edged sideways until he was out of frame.

Yan Yunning: “……?”

Her mother coughed twice, shifting the subject smoothly. “Little Ningning, how did you end up at your Auntie Xuan’s house?”

Wen Shuyun quickly jumped in. “Xiao Yun, you have no idea — Ningning is truly a lucky star for our family. Ranran had a low blood sugar episode today and fainted, and by some wonderful fortune she ran into Ningning. It was Ningning who got Ranran to the hospital. If not for that… goodness, it would have been such a terrible mess.”

“The child is alright now?”

“She’s perfectly fine — don’t worry. With a lucky star like Ningning around, how could anything go wrong?”

The delight on Ningning’s mother’s face was deep and sincere. Of course any mother would be overjoyed when her daughter was cherished like this.

Wen Shuyun pressed the opportunity gently. “I really do adore Ningning so — and since you’re both away traveling, why not let Ningning stay here and keep me company for a few days? I’ll have her go home once you’re back. It’ll be perfect — little Ranran is home too, and having two children by my side is everything I could wish for.”

Xuan Zhaoran tipped her head back and gazed up at the opulent ceiling. Going abroad — the trip would be at least a month there and back, possibly two months or more. Her father’s calculations were truly something else.

No wonder he had built their family’s company into what it was.

“Of course that’s perfectly fine — though our little Ningning loves to sleep in, so I’m afraid she might cause you some trouble.”

“What trouble is that? Ranran doesn’t get out of bed before noon. And before Yangyang was married, she was exactly the same — and even after marrying into her husband’s family, she’s still exactly the same.”

Yan Yunning, Xuan Zhaoran, and Xuan Zhaoyang exchanged a glance and all lowered their heads in collective embarrassment.

After a while longer, Wen Shuyun and Ningning’s mother ended the video call.

“Ningning, let Auntie go have a room prepared for you.” Wen Shuyun took Yan Yunning’s hand, smiling all the way to the corners of her eyes.

“Auntie, there’s no need — I——”

Xuan Shi’an spoke up warmly. “Ningning, when you’re at Uncle’s house, treat it like your own home. Don’t stand on ceremony with Uncle and Auntie.”

“That’s right, Ningning — Auntie will be heartbroken if you don’t stay.” Wen Shuyun pressed a hand to her chest in exaggerated sorrow.

With things said as they were, Yan Yunning couldn’t very well refuse any further. She gave a small nod.

A smile settled on Wen Shuyun’s lips. She took a gift box from the servant’s hands, opened it, and drew out an imperial green jadeite bracelet of pure, rich color and flawlessly smooth texture. “Ningning, this bracelet — take it with you.”

Yan Yunning started to wave it away, drawing her hand back as well. But Wen Shuyun, without a moment’s hesitation, clasped her wrist and slipped the bracelet onto her arm.

“Auntie, even Uncle said to treat this place as my own home — don’t treat me as an outsider either. Saving Ranran today was nothing at all, and you can’t go giving me such a precious bracelet over something like that.”

Yan Yunning tried to remove the jade bracelet, but Wen Shuyun kept a firm hold of her wrist, giving her no way to do so.

Wen Shuyun sighed fondly and tapped her on the nose. “Isn’t it only natural for an elder to give you something? And besides, didn’t you bring gifts for Auntie too?”

“Auntie, it was Ranran who paid for those gifts.”

Xuan Zhaoran spoke up promptly. “Mom, I paid before Ningning could notice. She’s my lifesaver — I’m bringing her home for dinner, how could I let her spend money?”

“Well done.” Xuan Shi’an looked toward Xuan Zhaoran with an approving smile. “Go see Old Feng — ask for whatever you’d like.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Xuan Zhaoran gave a bright, playful wink.

Xuan Shi’an shook his head with fond exasperation, then swept a glance across the servants. “Go prepare a room for Ningning.”

“Uncle, I know Ningning — there’s no need to prepare a room. She can share mine.” Shiyao stepped forward.

Xuan Shi’an’s cold, measured gaze settled on Shiyao. “You live in the servants’ quarters. How could Ningning possibly stay in the servants’ quarters?”

A redness crept to Shiyao’s eyes. She could stay there — why couldn’t Yan Yunning?

The servants’ quarters were nicer than the bedroom she grew up with at home. How could it be unsuitable?

Wen Shuyun watched Shiyao, who looked on the verge of collapse, eyes glistening with unshed tears. The sight brought flooding back the days she had spent being deceived, and she was so furious she wanted to kick Xuan Yanyu several times.

Out of sight, out of mind. She pulled Yan Yunning along and left the main hall.

“Sir, which room should we prepare for Miss Yan? The second-floor guest room?” Nanny Feng asked.

“Is Ningning a guest?” Xuan Shi’an’s tone was displeased.

Nanny Feng immediately shook her head. “Sir, I misspoke — please don’t be angry. Could you tell me which room you’d like us to arrange for Miss Yan?”

Sir had said it himself: if Miss Yan had no interest in their Young Master, he would adopt her as a goddaughter and send her off in marriage in grand fashion. Either way, she was hardly a guest.

Xuan Shi’an thought for a moment. “The main bedroom on the third floor — go clear it out for Ningning. That room gets the best sunlight. Have Ningning move in there.”

Nanny Feng opened her mouth, then hesitated.

“Dad, steady on — that room belongs to Xuan Xixi. Be careful, when Xuan Xixi comes back and picks a fight with you, it scares away your daughter-in-law.” Xuan Zhaoyang offered a well-meaning reminder.

With so many empty rooms to choose from, he just had to pick the one he shouldn’t.

“He has something on tonight and won’t be back. Tomorrow I’ll find something for him to do — send him off to a branch company.” Xuan Shi’an was unbothered.

He was worried that the boy’s cold face might frighten Ningning off again. He would have to find a way to help him recover his memories.

Let him come back home once his memories were restored.

“Sir, as the First Young Miss said, Young Master absolutely hates anyone touching his things. How could we dare go into his room?” Nanny Feng said, trembling inwardly.

None of them wanted to lose this very well-paying job.

Xuan Shi’an pressed his fingers to his brow. “Then the room directly across from his — go and clear that one out.”

“Yes, right away.” Nanny Feng breathed a quiet sigh of relief and led the servants upstairs.

Xuan Shi’an cast a sidelong glance at the crestfallen Shiyao, his tone cool. “Aren’t you going to serve the food? What are you standing around here for? Do you not want your wages anymore?”

“Yes.” Shiyao’s voice carried a faint tremor.

Since the day of the gathering, Xuan Yanyu had recalled Ye Jian. And Shiyao, frightened for the child she carried, hadn’t dared to so much as step outside the Xuan Residence.

She had once been able to throw her weight around a little by using the pregnancy as leverage — but who could have known that Xuan Yanyu had such little patience; the moment he said he wouldn’t deal with her, he truly stopped dealing with her.

She wasn’t foolish either. All she could do was stay at the Xuan Residence quietly for now.

“Young Master.”

“Young Master.”

The servants greeted Xuan Yanyu respectfully as he came in.

“Well now, you’re back.” Xuan Zhaoyang raised an eyebrow.

Xuan Shi’an pressed a hand to his chest in quiet relief. He was glad he hadn’t sent the servants in to touch his room just now — because when that insufferable boy came home and picked a fight with him, he genuinely had no way to handle him.