Chapter 16: This Is Also Your Home

After finishing the video conference, Nangong Ao made a phone call to Bai Luomei before finally stepping out of his study, water cup in hand, intending to go downstairs for a drink.

As he descended the stairs, he spotted Xianyu Jing still sitting on the sofa.

He glanced at the clock—it was already past eleven. Aunt Rong had long since retired for the night.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

The sound of Nangong Ao’s voice roused Xianyu Jing from her drowsiness. She stood and said, “I want to visit the Xianyu family tomorrow.”

She used the word “visit,” and her expression was tinged with anticipation.

Nangong Ao looked at her, silent.

So many people schemed to forge ties with the Nangong family, yet she, with their blood in her veins, seemed to feel no lingering attachment to them.

Seeing Nangong Ao’s silence, Xianyu Jing added, “I’ll be back by tomorrow afternoon, so it won’t affect registration for the start of school.”

If Madame Nangong hadn’t told her she was now under the care of Young Master Ao, she wouldn’t have come to seek his opinion.

Yet Xianyu Jing’s tone of solicitude was unsettling, as though she saw herself only as a guest residing in the Nangong household, always asking the master’s permission for everything.

“This is your home too. You make your own decisions. Just let Assistant Cui or Aunt Rong know your plans,” Nangong Ao said, then went to the kitchen to fetch water and returned upstairs to his bedroom.

Xianyu Jing was still replaying his words, “This is your home too.” Hearing that from the infamous “dark-faced god” was utterly unexpected!

Nangong Xin’s hostility toward her was overt. Nangong Lü treated her as nothing more than an amusing curiosity. Yet Young Master Ao, though critical in many ways, had never shown any sign of disdain.

Perhaps he truly saw her as family? Xianyu Jing wondered.

Nangong Ao entered his bedroom, settled into a single armchair, and gazed through the floor-to-ceiling window at the pitch-black night sky outside.

Ever since he took over as the head of the Nangong family, he hadn’t slept before midnight; insomnia was a frequent companion.

But tonight, it wasn’t work that kept him awake—it was the presence of someone downstairs.

That person was his cousin, his sister by blood, yet lacking the characteristic features of the Nangong clan.

His grandmother said she was the only truly sane person in the Nangong family, and their only hope for change. That was why she had been so desperate to bring her back and keep her close.

But he had Yuner now!

Two years ago, his assistant had secretly switched his medication, leading to an episode in which he was attacked. It was Xiao Zhiyun who appeared, rescuing him from injury and unconsciousness, taking him to the hospital, and tending to him for days.

From then on, Xiao Zhiyun became the focus of his attention.

Madame Nangong hadn’t stood in the way of his relationship with Xiao Zhiyun, but neither would she ever allow him to bring her into the family home.

Outsiders speculated that Madame Nangong looked down on the Xiao family, or that Xiao Zhiyun’s frail health was the issue. Only Nangong Ao knew the real reason.

Yet Nangong Ao was never one to bow his head easily!

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The next morning, Xianyu Jing rose early—just as Nangong Ao had not yet left for work.

It was their second time sharing a meal; Xianyu Jing was less reserved, greeting him, “Good morning, big brother.”

Nangong Ao paused in his movements, giving a brief “Mm.”

Morning greetings were a basic courtesy, but it had been years since any family member had wished him “good morning.” Even when he returned to the Nangong estate, his schedule was so different that breakfast was always a solitary affair.

Suddenly, there was another person eating breakfast with him. The feeling was subtle.

After breakfast, Nangong Ao watched Xianyu Jing still wrestling psychologically with her salad and said, “I asked Aunt Rong to prepare some health supplements, as a gesture from the Nangong family.”

Xianyu Jing was surprised. “No, no need, my mother’s health is very good…”

Saying this, she felt refusing was too impolite, so she amended, “Thank you, big brother!”

Nangong Ao stood to leave for work and reminded her, “Don’t forget to have Su Cha accompany you.”

“Alright.”

Xianyu Jing nodded obediently.

If one hadn’t seen her show her claws, one would think she was just a naive, innocent girl.

After Aunt Rong prepared the gifts, Su Cha loaded them into the car. Today, she would be the driver.

The entire Imperial City was divided into five districts.

The city center was the administrative zone; the east was commercial; the west was the area for the wealthy; the north was a chaotic mix; the south was home to ordinary families.

After Xianyu Jing came to Imperial City for her studies, she lived with Ning Wenyuan in “Wenyi Community” in the south, near South Fifth High School. Mao Wanda and Lu Yansen also lived there—they were high school classmates.

Even after Xianyu Jing moved to the Nangong household, Ning Wenyuan remained in Imperial City, unable to rest easy about her daughter, always worried she had nowhere to vent her grievances.

But seeing Xianyu Jing dressed immaculately, bearing gifts and escorted home, Ning Wenyuan’s anxious heart finally relaxed.

She invited Su Cha to sit as well, even offering to make tea. Su Cha awkwardly replied, “I’m just a servant.”

Ning Wenyuan smiled, “In our home, there are only hosts and guests—no such thing as servants.”

Su Cha still couldn’t adapt; since childhood, she’d been a servant in the Nangong household, and the sense of hierarchy was etched into her bones.

In the end, she excused herself to report the itinerary to her employer, called Cui Hao, then waited in the car.

Ning Wenyuan began questioning Xianyu Jing about her recent life; Xianyu Jing only shared the good, never the bad.

By noon, Wanda and Lu Yansen had arrived.

It was rare to gather together again, so they chatted over lunch, free from the constraints of etiquette. Xianyu Jing ate with particular delight.

“Idle Fish, you really live with Young Master Ao now?” Lu Yansen blurted out, only to receive a smack on the head from Wanda. “Can’t you phrase things properly? Living together—he’s her brother! How can that be called cohabitation?”

After scolding Lu Yansen, Wanda turned and smiled apologetically at Ning Wenyuan.

Ning Wenyuan was used to their interactions and said nothing, heading to the kitchen to prepare fruit for them, leaving the space to the younger ones.

Once Ning Wenyuan left, Wanda leaned in close to Xianyu Jing and whispered, “Has Young Master Ao ever looked at you differently?”

Xianyu Jing was speechless. “We’re siblings.”

“Oh, please, your blood relation is distant! Not even close kin!” Wanda waved her hand dismissively.

Xianyu Jing: “…”

Even if they weren’t close relatives, could she ever aspire to Young Master Ao? Besides, he already had someone in his heart…

Wait, she hadn’t even thought about such things!

But Wanda’s imagination ran wild: “If you become the Nangong family’s young mistress one day, does that mean I can’t be godmother to your children?”

After all, the elite families are strict about social class, and Wanda thought that was a real possibility.

Upon hearing “children,” Lu Yansen suddenly exclaimed, “What, you and Young Master Ao already have kids?!”