It wasn’t only that Shiyao refused to go back to living without money — she also wanted, eventually, to marry Xuan Xixi.

That way, she would never have to return to the life she had left behind.

Seen in that light, Shiyao didn’t love Qi Qingchen at all.

Or perhaps — from the moment Qi Qingchen broke up with Shiyao back in university, she had already stopped loving him.

Getting back together with Qi Qingchen had simply been because, at the time, Qi Qingchen was the president of the Qi Corporation.

Now that Qi Qingchen was no longer any of that, of course Shiyao would end things with him — only the timing wasn’t right yet.

If Qi Qingchen were left with nothing, and Xuan Xixi could no longer look after Shiyao out of regard for him, would Shiyao even want to keep the child she was carrying?

Lost in thought, Yan Yunning and Xuan Zhaowen had drifted, without noticing, all the way to the main hall. Wen Shuyun, seated on the sofa, looked up and smiled warmly when she saw the two of them coming downstairs, turning to instruct Nanny Feng to go let the kitchen know lunch could begin.

“Auntie, are you still feeling dizzy?” The moment Yan Yunning sat down, she turned to Wen Shuyun with concern.

“I’m fine now. And it’s all because of that wretched boy — I watched the security footage replay. If he hadn’t grabbed you like that out of nowhere, you wouldn’t have fallen.”

The memory alone sent Wen Shuyun’s blood pressure climbing again. “At least he had the sense to cushion your fall with himself.”

Yan Yunning smiled sweetly and spoke up in Xuan Yanyu’s defense. “Auntie, it wasn’t intentional. He saw me about to fall and ran over to catch me — it was his own foot that slipped, that’s what caused it.”

Wen Shuyun held Yan Yunning’s hand in hers and gave it a pat, still shaken. “Ningning, you don’t have to defend him. Honestly, he’s more dangerous than Shiyao.”

Shiyao’s grab hadn’t managed to bring Ningning down. His yank, on the other hand — Wen Shuyun’s blood boiled every time she thought about it.

“Mom, that’s not quite right — Shiyao is far more dangerous than Xuan Xixi. She’s far more underhanded.” Xuan Zhaowen, who had been holding a fruit plate and watching a variety show, glanced over at the fuming Wen Shuyun during a commercial break.

Wen Shuyun: “…”

Yan Yunning: “…”

“Aside from being a bit stingy and a bit oblivious, Xuan Xixi is otherwise passable.” Xuan Zhaowen had not forgotten that Xuan Yanyu had transferred her two hundred yuan.

“Oh, stop it. Yanyu explained that — you were the one who went and hit him for no reason, and you managed to knock one of your manicure pearls off yourself. You wanted him to reimburse you for a fresh set of nails? Two hundred yuan was generous. If it were me, I wouldn’t have transferred you a single coin.”

Xuan Zhaowen bit into a strawberry. “Mom, it wasn’t for no reason — I definitely had a reason for hitting him.”

“And what reason was that?”

Xuan Zhaowen blinked. “Do I need a reason to hit him?”

Their father had given the green light — that meant she could hit him whenever she pleased.

“…” Wen Shuyun speared a slice of kiwi with a fruit pick from Xuan Zhaowen’s plate and held it out to Yan Yunning. “Ningning, you must be hungry — have something to nibble on while you wait. Lunch will be ready soon.”

Yan Yunning smiled and accepted it. “Thank you, Auntie.”

“We’re family — no need to be so formal.” Wen Shuyun watched Yan Yunning finish it, then skewered a strawberry and pressed that into her hand too.

“Mom! I haven’t eaten either!” Xuan Zhaowen protested.

Wen Shuyun simply took the fruit plate out of Xuan Zhaowen’s hands entirely, passing pieces to Yan Yunning first, then attending to Xuan Zhaowen.

“Hey!” Xuan Zhaowen sighed dramatically.

Their mother — a woman of distinguished refinement — busier than any of the household staff.

“You’re not being left out.” Wen Shuyun handed Xuan Zhaowen a wedge of sliced orange.

“Thank you, Mom, for still remembering me.” Xuan Zhaowen performed exaggerated gratitude.

Wen Shuyun shook her head helplessly.

——

After breakfast, Yan Yunning received a message from Xuan Yanyu saying that Ye Jian would come by to bring her to the office, and that they could leave together for dinner after he finished work.

Yan Yunning didn’t reply. Truthfully, she’d never liked visiting her father’s office as a child — or her first uncle’s, or her second uncle’s.

For no particular reason, except that every time she went, everyone would swarm over and fuss over her, or hold her and promise to buy her snacks, and so on.

Now that she was grown, going to the office just meant an endless stream of people telling her she was lovely and poised, and she had every compliment memorized.

Ye Jian arrived quickly — barely half an hour after Xuan Yanyu had sent the message, Ye Jian appeared in the main hall.

“Miss Yan, Young Master Xuan has asked me to bring you to the office.” Ye Jian’s manner was respectful.

That morning, Young Master Xuan had spent a good while searching for his phone without success and had come downstairs using a backup device, asking him to go prepare a new handset.

He’d thought of the call from that morning and assumed Miss Yan had slipped away with it. The words had barely left his mouth when Young Master Xuan’s stare had nearly frozen him solid.

That was when he’d understood — the phone had been given to Miss Yan by Young Master Xuan himself. Young Master Xuan simply hadn’t known where Miss Yan had left it. As soon as he said as much, Young Master Xuan had gone back upstairs.

He’d come back downstairs with the phone in hand. If his guess was right, Miss Yan would be their lady of the house from here on out.

The master of the house was already showing no restraint whatsoever in front of Miss Yan. If Miss Yan didn’t end up as their lady, then Ye Chen could do a handstand and drink cola!

Ye’an too, while he was at it!

From now on, Miss Yan must be treated with the utmost respect.

Since Ye Jian had already come all this way, Yan Yunning didn’t feel she could refuse. She went to her room to grab her bag, let Wen Shuyun know she was heading out, and followed Ye Jian to the office.

——

Standing before the skyscraper, Yan Yunning couldn’t help tilting her head back. The surrounding buildings seemed to bow toward each other — all except the Xuan Corporation tower, which stood apart like a crane among chickens, soaring in solitary grandeur.

Along the side of the building, a massive electronic display screen scrolled through content — not product advertisements, not brand ambassadors, but the official clarification statement that the Xuan Corporation’s public account had released.

Assuming Yan Yunning was interested in the screen itself, Ye Jian smiled. “Miss Yan, the company’s landscape display is synchronized with the LED screens in the city center. Since it’s been arranged on an exclusive-usage basis, the Xuan Corporation has secured the sole rights to the screen.”

Yan Yunning opened her mouth slightly. Didn’t a screen like that charge by the second?

They had… bought the whole thing?

Just for one announcement?

So that people who weren’t online could still see it?

“Miss Yan, please.” Ye Jian gestured with one arm — after you.

Yan Yunning nodded and stepped inside.

“Special Assistant Ye.”

“Special Assistant Ye.”

The moment Ye Jian entered, the two receptionists at the front desk greeted him with bright smiles, their spines noticeably straighter.

Ye Jian acknowledged them with a nod and guided Yan Yunning to the private elevator reserved for the president’s office.

He entered the access code, and the two of them stepped inside.

Eighteenth floor.

Stepping out of the elevator, Ye Jian gave Yan Yunning a brief orientation. “Miss Yan, the office on the right belongs to the elder Mr. Xuan, and the one on the left is Young Master Xuan’s. Young Master Xuan rarely visits the headquarters in person.”

“The elder Mr. Xuan usually sends him to oversee the various branch companies. This time, because Young Master Xuan only woke up not long ago, the elder Mr. Xuan has had him stay at headquarters for now.”

Ye Jian continued, “Young Master Xuan has no female secretary. Typically it’s just myself, Ye’an, and Ye Chen by his side. Here at headquarters there is also one additional person in Young Master Xuan’s office — someone who handles photocopying, serves tea and coffee to clients in the meeting room, and tidies the office. Her name is Ling Mianmian. She was placed here by the elder Madam Xuan at the elder Mr. Xuan’s arrangement. She doesn’t know much, but she’s familiar with the office routines and perfectly capable of serving tea. You’re welcome to ask her directly if you need anything.”

At the mention of the name Ling Mianmian — and the fact that she had been arranged by the elder Madam Xuan — Yan Yunning’s eyelid gave the faintest of flickers.