Chapter 56: Do You Not Want to Work Anymore?

When Xianyu Zhen arrived at the villa carrying a gift box, Nangong Xin was already waiting for her.

“I was wondering when the servants of the Nangong family became so ill-mannered. Turns out, they've been corrupted by someone who doesn't know any manners herself,” Nangong Xin said, her face twisted in mockery.

Xianyu Zhen knew Nangong Xin was deliberately looking for trouble and didn’t want to argue, so she walked into the living room alone.

But Nangong Xin felt even more aggrieved seeing Xianyu Zhen ignore her. She hurried after her, grabbed her arm to stop her, and demanded, “What tricks have you played on Aunt Xi and Brother Junle?”

Earlier that day, Xiao Zhiying had confided in Nangong Xin, saying that Madam Xi seemed to have taken a fancy to Xianyu Zhen and wanted to matchmake her with Xi Junle.

That alone was enough to make her furious. Now, seeing the gift box in Xianyu Zhen’s hands, she found it even more intolerable!

Xianyu Zhen found her words baffling. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t understand?” Nangong Xin’s voice rose sharply. “You’ve tried to seduce Brother Junle once, twice, and you still claim you know nothing!”

Xianyu Zhen was speechless. When had she ever tried to seduce the young master of the Xi family?

Catching Nangong Xin’s gaze fixed on the gift box, Xianyu Zhen realized she had misunderstood something and tried to explain, “This is something Young Master Xi asked me to—”

Before she could finish, Nangong Xin’s hand shot up, ready to slap her. But midway, someone intercepted the blow.

Nangong Xin turned her head and saw Jiang Mohe, his expression icy, his large hand gripping her wrist so tightly she couldn’t pull free.

“Who are you?” Nangong Xin exclaimed, both angry and alarmed. “Let go of me!”

Jiang Mohe released her hand indifferently and, at the same time, pulled Xianyu Zhen behind him protectively.

Nangong Xin clutched her aching wrist, shouting in exasperation, “Guards! Where are the guards?”

Hearing her cries, Xiao Zhang from the security room hurried over. Upon recognizing Jiang Mohe, he hesitated at the threshold.

“What are you standing there for?” Nangong Xin scolded furiously. “Hurry and seize him!”

“Um…” Xiao Zhang was at a loss. “This is Captain Jiang…”

“What?!” Nangong Xin jabbed a finger at Jiang Mohe. “You’re just a security captain, yet you dare treat me so disrespectfully? Are you tired of your job?”

“My duty is to ensure the safety of Miss Biao,” Jiang Mohe replied expressionlessly.

Nangong Xin was so angry that her hand trembled. “I am the true young lady of the Nangong family! Yet you, a security captain, protect this wild girl instead of me—”

“Xinxin!” A stern rebuke interrupted Nangong Xin.

“B-brother?!” Nangong Xin turned and was startled to see Nangong Ao. When had he returned?

Nangong Ao stood, brow furrowed, fixing her with a cold stare. “What kind of scene are you causing here? Hurry inside!”

“Brother, this person was disrespectful to me!” Nangong Xin complained tearfully.

“What did you do just now?” Nangong Ao’s gaze grew even colder. “Have you forgotten Grandmother’s instructions?”

Nangong Xin pouted, her voice defiant. “Brother, why does everyone protect this wild girl? I’m your own sister! She’s just some distant country relative—why should she be allowed into Liyang Academy, to live at the Nangong Residence, or visit the Xi family?

Does she have such clever tricks that she’s bewitched you and Brother Junle?”

“Enough!”

At his words, Nangong Ao’s tone turned to ice. “You’re becoming more and more outrageous!”

“Brother…”

“Go inside!”

His final command was so stern that Nangong Xin felt the chill emanate from her brother, making her shudder.

Ever since their parents died young, Nangong Ao had treated Nangong Xin like his own sister. Though he was aware of her willful ways, he rarely lost his temper with her.

This was the first time he’d spoken to her with such severity.

Half aggrieved, half startled, Nangong Xin’s eyes reddened as she looked at her brother, no longer daring to argue.

Aunt Rong, who had been standing quietly to the side, seized the chance to step in, “Miss Third, you must be tired after a long day of classes. Why don’t you go upstairs and rest? We’ll call you down for dinner later.”

Though unwilling, Nangong Xin could only obey, cowed by Nangong Ao’s expression, and went up the stairs.

Aunt Rong turned to Jiang Mohe and whispered, “Xiao Jiang, I’ve made a big pot of soup in the kitchen. Could you help me carry it?”

Jiang Mohe nodded and followed her to the kitchen.

Now only Xianyu Zhen and Nangong Ao remained in the living room, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

Nangong Ao’s sternness faded, and he sighed softly. “Don’t take Xinxin’s words to heart.”

Xianyu Zhen lowered her eyes to the gift box in her hands and said nothing.

She wasn’t a narrow-minded person, but sometimes, even the strongest cannot help but be wounded by hurtful words.

If it were people like Lu Hankai or Luo Liya, she could fight back if bullied. But Nangong Xin was a member of the Nangong family—no matter how excessive her words or actions, what could Xianyu Zhen do but endure?

Nangong Ao knew it was unfair to Xianyu Zhen. But the world is like this: to gain something, one must give up something else.

Fortunately, Xianyu Zhen understood propriety and the bigger picture better than Nangong Xin. That, perhaps, was one of the reasons Madam Nangong valued her.

---------

At dinner, Nangong Xin, whether from wounded pride or fear of further scolding, did not come downstairs to eat.

Nangong Ao did not force her, simply instructing Su Cha to bring her meal upstairs.

After dinner, he called Nangong Xin to his study for a discussion.

“Since you wish to move into the residence, I will allow you to stay for half a month. During this time, you must abide by the house rules, follow Aunt Rong’s arrangements in daily life, and you’re not to use your status as Miss Third to pressure her.

Furthermore, no matter how you feel, you must treat Zhen Zhen amicably. If you can’t manage that, you should move back as soon as possible! I don’t want to hear or see you giving her any more trouble in the future!”

Nangong Xin listened to her brother’s admonitions, her lips pursed in a pout; it was clear she still harbored resentment.

Nangong Ao knew her temperament well—she was stubborn as a mule, even if she ran into a wall. Simply laying out the rules might not be enough, so he spoke to her more earnestly.

“You like the young master of the Xi family; Grandmother knows this, but she’s never mentioned it to the Xi family. Do you know why?”

Sure enough, Nangong Xin immediately asked, “Why?”

“Because, with your current impulsive disposition, you’d never be allowed through the Xi family’s doors!”

Nangong Xin was momentarily at a loss for words.

Her mother had told her the same thing before, but she’d never taken it seriously.

When she was little, Brother Junle had liked her very much. Only after he went abroad for those years had they grown distant.

She’d always believed that, as the third young miss of the Nangong family, no one could be more suited to be the Xi family’s young mistress.

But as Xi Junle grew older, the Xi family showed no sign of wishing to unite with the Nangong family, and even her grandmother remained silent on the matter.

She kept telling herself it was because she was still young, but deep down, she worried that Brother Junle might not wait for her to grow up.

She never expected her brother to say such things to her!

Was it truly her own fault that Brother Junle no longer liked her?

“Brother, what should I do?” Nangong Xin asked.