Chapter 9 Caught Sneaking a Bite

Xianyu Zhen left the hospital and stopped by a nearby pharmacy to buy a few patches of medicated plasters.

Just as she was about to hail a taxi, a red Ferrari sports car pulled up in front of her.

Nangong Lu, with his dazzlingly handsome face, flashed an audacious smile. “Miss Sardine, your foot hasn’t healed yet—how are you running so fast?”

He patted the passenger seat invitingly. “Get in, I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No need,” Xianyu Zhen wanted nothing less than to get in the car.

“You’re not waiting for Big Brother, are you? He’s a busy man, already back at the office.”

“I’ll call a cab.”

“Taxis can’t get into the estate. Come on up!” Nangong Lu, no stranger to coaxing girls, usually found that adding a “darling” at the start did wonders. But this time his target was his own sister, and he felt a bit awkward.

When it came to Nangong Xin, he’d always been of the “torment whenever possible” philosophy.

Thinking of the nearly kilometer-long, tree-lined drive through the estate, Xianyu Zhen relented and got in the car.

She’d just pretend he was a taxi driver.

Nangong Lu indeed had the makings of a chauffeur. For over twenty minutes, he didn’t waste a single one, talking non-stop the whole way.

Xianyu Zhen rode in total silence. If only she could mute her ears as well!

The red Ferrari stopped in the rear courtyard of the estate.

Nangong Lu struck a flirtatious pose, making one last effort. “Little sister, there’s a party the night after tomorrow. Want to come and unwind?”

Xianyu Zhen shook her head. “I don’t like parties. But thank you for the ride.”

With that, she opened the door herself and got out.

Nangong Lu felt a bit bruised by this. His sardine sister was immune to his charms!

(Xianyu Zhen: I only like quiet, handsome men!)

Xianyu Zhen was just about to enter the building when she ran into Nangong Xin and Xiao Zhiying coming her way.

“You’re Xin Xin’s older sister?” Xiao Zhiying’s face was graced with a perfectly poised smile.

“Hello,” Xianyu Zhen replied with a polite smile of her own.

Nangong Xin gave a cold snort. “She’s a distant cousin!”

Xianyu Zhen didn’t mind and headed upstairs.

Behind her, Nangong Xin continued to complain to Xiao Zhiying. “Sister Zhiying, that wild girl has a wicked tongue! If you see her, just ignore her.”

Xiao Zhiying had never cared to associate with small fry like Xianyu Zhen, but when she heard that Young Master Ao himself had taken her to the hospital today, she had to take notice.

For someone who could make Young Master Ao lower himself to accompany her, she could hardly be a simple character!

Everyone knew, of course, that Young Master Ao favored her younger sister, Xiao Zhiyun, but the old saying held true—“proximity breeds intimacy.”

“So, is this distant cousin planning to stay permanently?”

Nangong Xin failed to catch the probing in Xiao Zhiying’s voice, too consumed by her own indignation. “Yes, my grandmother brought her back. Who would dare drive her out!”

A faint unease settled in Xiao Zhiying’s heart.

Brought back by Madam Nangong? That could spell even more trouble!

Outwardly unruffled, Xiao Zhiying offered gentle advice. “In that case, you should get along with her. After all, you’re bound to cross paths often…”

“Impossible!” Nangong Xin’s voice shot up. “I’ll never get along with her in this lifetime!”

She was just some wild country girl, yet the old lady protected her so fiercely—even her older brothers doted on her—how was she, the third young lady of the Nangong family, supposed to hold her head high?

The more Nangong Xin thought about it, the angrier she became. “No one else may dare drive her out, but she’d better not expect an easy life!”

Xiao Zhiying lowered her gaze. “Cinderellas like her, who suddenly step into the world of the wealthy, certainly don’t know the rules yet…”

No need to say more; a subtle hint was enough.

Nangong Xin immediately understood. “That’s right, I’ll give her a proper lesson in the Nangong family’s rules!”

——

Just as Nangong Ao had said, both the etiquette and dance teachers had been replaced.

The dance teacher, understanding her foot was still recovering, let her rest for a few days.

But the new etiquette teacher was exceedingly strict.

Any minor mistake meant punishment. Nothing too harsh—just balancing a book on her head and standing for half an hour.

But Xianyu Zhen’s sprained foot was far from healed. Even with the medicated plasters, half an hour’s standing left her sore and aching. And with frequent mistakes, the accumulated penalty time grew longer still.

On the first day, Xianyu Zhen was punished to stand for an hour.

The next day, she tried even harder in class, yet even more faults were found.

On the third day, the lesson was on standing posture. Her foot was already overworked, and naturally, she couldn’t escape punishment.

This time, she was made to stand for two and a half hours, missing dinner entirely.

The Nangong family placed great emphasis on healthy eating, forbidding leftovers—and, of course, there were no late-night snacks.

At midnight, Xianyu Zhen lay awake, too hungry to sleep, counting the stars from her balcony.

The more she counted, the hungrier she became. And her foot still ached…

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside the plane tree below.

The Nangong family’s estate was modeled after a European-style castle. The entire building in the back courtyard housed the living room, dining room, kitchen, and servant quarters on the first floor, with Madam Nangong and her tea parlor on the second.

The third floor had originally been Nangong Xin’s private domain, but a third of it was now given to Xianyu Zhen. Nangong Ao had the entire fourth floor to himself.

Xianyu Zhen’s room faced north, with her balcony overlooking the rear garden.

After seven in the evening, the gardeners and other staff had all gone off duty. At this hour, only the security guards roamed the grounds.

But the figure beneath the tree was tall, with a straight posture—he looked familiar.

When he stepped out of the shadows and glanced up at her balcony, Xianyu Zhen was even more certain.

She was still wondering why Jiang Mohe would appear below, when she saw him swinging a square box in his hand. Just then, a faint buzzing sound came from overhead.

A small drone descended from the sky, hovering directly above her. Dangling beneath it was a tiny mesh pouch containing a carton of milk and a sandwich.

Xianyu Zhen reached out and gently took the pouch. The drone immediately flew away.

When she looked down again, the figure had vanished.

Gazing at the milk and sandwich in her hands, Xianyu Zhen felt a warm glow spread through her heart. She tore open the sandwich wrapper and eagerly took a bite.

There was lettuce inside—usually she didn’t care for sandwiches with lettuce, but tonight it tasted especially delicious. Even the ordinarily bland fresh milk seemed perfect.

That belated dinner left her feeling satisfied and comforted.

“Where did you get that in your hand?”

A sudden, low voice nearly made Xianyu Zhen choke in surprise.

She hastily swallowed her mouthful of sandwich and looked up. On the balcony above and to the side, a dark figure stood. That room belonged to Nangong Ao’s study. It wasn’t hard to guess who the shadow was.

Xianyu Zhen hadn’t expected Nangong Ao to stay at the estate tonight, much less to catch her out in the middle of the night.

Though a floor apart and shrouded in darkness, she could still sense the stormy look on his face.

Naturally, Xianyu Zhen would never betray Jiang Mohe. “I took an extra serving this morning,” she replied.

Nangong Ao clearly didn’t believe her, but he didn’t press the issue. “Haven’t you learned the rules of the Nangong family yet?” he asked.

Xianyu Zhen, stung, retorted, “You hired the etiquette teacher. If you’re not satisfied, replace her again!”