My Sucker of a Second Brother

[My sucker of a second brother must be blind, mistaking Bai Xinrou for a treasure. She looks gentle and innocent, but she's actually a scheming woman with a heart as black as ink.]

[Bai Xinrou doesn't genuinely like this sucker of a second brother, either. Her ambitions are enormous. She's only with him now for his money and status, using him as a stepping stone into the circles of the rich and powerful.]

[Second Brother thinks he's found true love, completely unaware that she sees him as a sucker and a walking ATM.]

Ning Chengxiao's face filled with disbelief as he listened. What had he just heard? His beloved Rou'er didn't love him, and was only with him for his money and status?

No, that was impossible. Rou'er wasn't that kind of person. The moment that thought arose, Ning Sang-sang's inner commentary rang out again:

[My sucker of a second brother is hopelessly in love with Bai Xinrou. He refuses to believe a single bad word anyone says about her, telling himself, "No, Rou'er isn't that kind of person. No, someone as innocent and kind as Rou'er could never be like that." He's so stupid, it's like someone's put a hex on him.]

Ning Chengxiao: ???

Ning Chengxiao was so furious his lungs nearly burst. He took a deep breath and looked at Ning Sang-sang, whose face was all innocence while she kept chattering away inside her head. He opened his mouth to say something, only for his father to shoot him an icy glare, warning him with his eyes that if he dared blurt anything out in front of Ning Sang-sang, he would break his legs.

Ning Chengxiao chose to keep his mouth shut. Taking Bai Xinrou's hand, he said, "Father, whatever you say, Rou'er is already carrying my child. I'm going to marry her."

Ning Xiaotian was just about to call him a disgrace when he heard his daughter's inner commentary again:

[Here it comes. My second brother is about to become a prize sucker.]

Hearing this, Ning Xiaotian edged closer to Ning Sang-sang.

Ning Chengxiao: ???

Father, I never would have guessed that someone as serious and proper as you would love listening to gossip.

[Second Brother still doesn't know, does he? His own...]

Halfway through Ning Sang-sang's thought, her stomach growled, and she stopped.

Ning Chengxiao: ???

My own what? Tell me! How am I supposed to live if you leave things hanging halfway through?

"Sang-sang, you must be hungry. Come inside. I'll have the kitchen make you something delicious." Ning Xiaotian looked at Ning Sang-sang with fatherly affection, unable to hide the joy in his eyes. His precious daughter, whom he had yearned for all this time, had finally been found. Although he desperately wanted to hear the gossip about his second son, that could wait until his darling daughter had eaten her fill.

Ning Sang-sang promptly nodded happily and followed Ning Xiaotian into the Duke of Ning's Residence.

Looking distracted, Ning Chengxiao followed the two of them inside, completely forgetting Bai Xinrou beside him.

"Chengxiao..."

Her aggrieved voice brought Ning Chengxiao back to his senses. He stopped and turned, only to see Bai Xinrou staring at him with reddened eyes, looking pitiful and wronged, on the verge of tears.

For some reason, a flicker of irritation suddenly rose in his heart. He forced down his discomfort, telling himself that Rou'er was a kind, innocent woman, certainly not some wicked schemer.

After talking himself around, Ning Chengxiao once again wore the same sweet expression he always had when looking at her. He walked over, took her hand, and said softly, "Rou'er, come on. Let's go inside. I'm going to make it clear to my family that I intend to marry you."

Only then did Bai Xinrou feel a little better. As long as she married Ning Chengxiao, she could live a life of wealth and splendor, clothed in silk and dining on delicacies. But that Ning Sang-sang, who had popped up out of nowhere, was such an eyesore.

Meanwhile, as soon as Ning Xiaotian led Ning Sang-sang into the Duke of Ning's Residence, he hurriedly ordered a servant to have the kitchen prepare a tableful of delicious food, then sent another servant to notify his wife, Madam Jiang.

"Sang-sang, you've suffered all these years. It's all my fault. I failed to protect you back then, and that left you..." Ning Xiaotian could not go on, his eyes reddening. They said men did not shed tears lightly, but whenever he thought of his own daughter spending thirteen years lost out in the world, enduring who knew how much hardship, anguish welled up uncontrollably in his heart. He wished he could slice the person who had stolen his daughter into a thousand pieces.

Ever since his daughter had been stolen, his eldest son, whom he had entrusted with watching over her that day, had been consumed by guilt, and his wife had sunk into misery. Their family had lived beneath a dark cloud day after day.

Later, his wife became obsessed with fortune-telling. A fortune-teller said that if they wanted to find their daughter, they should have another child. So they had their fourth child, naming him Ning Hui in the hope that their daughter would return.

Although their daughter had not returned after Ning Hui was born, he had at least become his wife's emotional anchor, helping her hold on through all these years.

Hearing this, Ning Sang-sang comforted him. "Father, you don't need to be sad. I've lived very well all these years. I haven't suffered at all."

She had been everyone's darling in Ten Thousand Flowers Valley since childhood. Everyone there granted her every request. Her life had been absolutely wonderful.

Ning Xiaotian wiped away his tears and said, "Sang-sang, don't worry. I won't let you suffer the slightest hardship from now on."

He had missed thirteen years of his daughter's life. Now that she was back, he would make sure to make up for everything he owed her.

Watching Ning Huai dote on Ning Sang-sang so much, Bai Xinrou thought of how her own father treated her. Suddenly, resentment stirred in her heart, and she cast a jealous look at Ning Sang-sang.

Noticing Bai Xinrou's gaze, Ning Sang-sang turned her eyes toward her. Seeing the jealousy in her eyes, she raised an eyebrow.

The instant their eyes met, Bai Xinrou concealed her jealousy and gave Ning Sang-sang a friendly smile. Ning Sang-sang pursed her lips, looking thoroughly disgusted with her.

That gesture made the smile freeze on Bai Xinrou's face. Beneath her sleeves, her hands clenched into fists. This girl would certainly be no easy one to deal with.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and a beautiful woman wearing a pale jade-colored, chest-high ruqun embroidered with orchids rushed inside.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed from walking so fast. The moment Madam Jiang entered the hall, her gaze settled squarely on Ning Sang-sang, who was leisurely eating pastries. A powerful sense of kinship spread through her. With just one look, she knew this was her daughter.