Chapter 7: Lacking Proper Upbringing, Devoid of Talent

“Aunt, all I did was ask the guard to escort her out, but she laid hands on my guest!”

Hearing Nangong Xin’s accusation, Xianyu Zhen did not try to argue. She simply sat quietly in her seat.

Lady Nangong glanced at her, then at Nangong Ao, her tone indifferent. “If the other party is hurt, let her go to Angel Hospital for treatment. The Nangong family will cover the medical expenses.”

This was a clear sign of favoritism. Jiang Xue understood now!

Xianyu Zhen spoke up, “Great-aunt, I can pay for the medical expenses myself.”

The Xianyu family might be humble, but they could afford a hospital bill, as long as the other party didn’t make a scene.

“Silly child, you are now part of the Nangong family. If anyone bullies you, the Nangongs will stand behind you; if you ever wrong someone, the Nangongs will also shield you. Have you remembered that?”

This was the first time Nangong Xin and Nangong Lü had ever seen their grandmother so gentle and kind. The siblings exchanged glances, each seeing a trace of envy in the other’s eyes.

Such treatment—aside from Nangong Ao in his childhood—no one else ever received!

However, Xianyu Zhen did not appear overwhelmed with gratitude. She simply nodded and thanked her, “I’ll remember, thank you, aunt.”

She had remembered, but that did not mean she took it to heart.

Ning Wenyan had always taught her that other people’s kindness should be accepted as courtesy, never taken for granted.

Thus, the “family council” came to an end.

Once everyone had left, and only Lady Nangong remained with her grandson, she fixed a bright gaze on him. He had been silent, leaning back in his chair, from the moment he entered.

“What do you think of Zhen?”

Nangong Ao sat up a bit straighter, his expression cold. “She lacks family discipline.”

This was not a malicious remark, merely a statement of fact.

What Xianyu Zhen lacked was the Nangong family’s discipline—the assertiveness and dominance expected of a Nangong! Had she grown up here, no one would dare trip her up. The price for such an offense wouldn’t simply be a stomped foot, but the offender’s entire family being driven out of the imperial city.

Lady Nangong sipped her tea gracefully before setting the cup down.

“Discipline can be taught. Don’t forget, she carries the Nangong bloodline.”

As she spoke of “bloodline,” she set her cup down with particular emphasis.

Nangong Ao’s brows furrowed deeply. “There are other ways…”

“How many more years do we have to wait?” Lady Nangong’s gaze turned stern. “Or are you still unable to let go?”

Nangong Ao fell silent, pondering.

Meanwhile, after getting into the car, Jiang Xue warned Nangong Lü, “Lü, you must keep a close eye on that girl!”

Nangong Lü was completely at a loss. “What’s wrong with that girl?”

Jiang Xue gave a little snort. “Didn’t you see how your grandmother doted on her? There’s definitely more to this than meets the eye!”

Nangong Lü had noticed his grandmother’s fondness for that “salted fish” girl, but he hadn’t sensed anything unusual.

He had inherited his mother’s eloquence, but his temperament and mind came from his father—fond of idle pleasures, not versed in scheming or depth. This had always been Jiang Xue’s worry.

“Anyway, just spend more time around her, see what makes her so precious to your grandmother,” Jiang Xue instructed.

Nangong Lü nodded in agreement. He thought that “salted fish” girl was rather interesting too!

——

After returning to her room, Xianyu Zhen received a voice message from Dou Dou.

“How did the battle go, Idle Fish?”

Xianyu Zhen slipped off her shoes, rubbed her sore toes, and replied, “Exhausted. I’ll report tomorrow.”

Carefully removing her dress, she hung it up and went to wash up.

That night, she dreamed again of the voices she always heard during her episodes.

There were fleeting images, too, but always just blurs of black and white, nothing discernible.

The voices were disjointed, male and female intermingled.

“They are my family…”

“This is too strange…”

“Just leave, there’s no need…”

“If only I could just…”

“You’re all I care about…”

…

Fragmented, illogical.

In the past, these episodes came with chills and confusion, and her memory of them was hazy.

Now, with regular doses of the Nangong family’s calming pills, the chills were gone, and the voices in her mind were growing clearer.

Still, she could not understand why these phrases haunted her. The doctors had once said they were her own imagination, a mental illness—her brother had denied that.

Now, Xianyu Zhen thought perhaps these voices were remnants of a lost memory, something from before she was six.

Maybe, when she finally recovered those memories, the voices would vanish.

Haunted by dreams all night, Xianyu Zhen woke the next day listless and drained.

Still, Lady Nangong’s lessons awaited her. Before the academy term began, she had to finish the basic etiquette courses.

——

Though Lady Nangong was gentle and kind in daily life, she was strict about her studies.

At first, Xianyu Zhen thought etiquette class would be all about learning the rules of the upper class. Only later did she realize it included ballroom dance, tea ceremony, and flower arranging.

Tea, she could manage. In the countryside, Old Gu loved his tea, and she’d picked up fine brewing skills by osmosis.

As for flower arranging, that she could muddle through.

But dancing—dancing was a whole other trial!

When Old Gu taught her martial arts, he’d always complained she moved like she was dancing. Now, the dance teacher said she moved like a martial artist!

After just two lessons, the dance teacher took a sick leave and never returned.

With no choice, after tea and flower arranging lessons, she had to practice dance by herself. Finished, she limped out of the fourth-floor studio.

Thankfully, the villa had elevators.

With a soft “ding,” the elevator reached the first floor. As the doors opened and she stepped out, she realized a dark figure was blocking her way.

Looking straight ahead, the first thing she saw was the badge pinned to a black security uniform. The photo was blurry, but the name “Jiang Mohe” stood out in bold letters.

He was so close, she had to crane her neck to meet his eyes.

She’d always made a habit of looking people in the eye; to understand someone, you had to start with their eyes.

It was exhausting to tilt her head back so far. She took a step back, forgetting her twisted ankle, and nearly fell.

Jiang Mohe, the security guard, was quick and agile—he always managed to catch her at just the right moment.

His gaze was as sharp as ever. “Did you twist your ankle?”

Xianyu Zhen blushed. “Just a little.”

When it came to dancing, she truly had no talent at all!

“I’ll take you back.”

She hesitated. “Sorry to trouble you, and thank you.”

She thanked him sincerely, not just for this, but also for his kindness at last night’s banquet.

He was a Nangong family guard; he could have followed Nangong Xin’s orders and thrown her out without mercy.

But he hadn’t done so—he’d shown her respect.

Even now, he merely extended his arm, letting her lean on him for support, elegant as a gentleman.