"Big Sis, so this is where you were! I've been looking everywhere for you." Seventh Prince Chu Aotian looked toward the voice and saw Ning Hui walking over, accompanied by Chen Zihao, the third son of Duke Chen's household.
"Hui, what did you need me for?" Hearing his voice, Ning Sang-sang turned around and smiled at Ning Hui as he approached.
Ning Hui answered with a smile, "Big Sis, I was worried someone might bully you. I couldn't rest easy leaving you alone, so I wanted to stick by your side without taking a single step away."
Ning Sang-sang blinked.
Little bro, you're underestimating your big sister! I'm always the one bullying other people. Who could possibly bully me? Still, little bro, it's very sweet of you to care. You deserve some praise.
"Hui, you really are such a good little brother." Ning Sang-sang smiled and gently patted his shoulder before turning her gaze toward Chen Zihao, who stood behind him.
Chen Zihao looked like a rooster that had lost a fight, with none of the swagger he had displayed that day. Her little brother had already told her that the news of his father keeping a mistress outside the household had spread through the Capital, stirring up a storm of gossip. Seeing his dejected expression, she knew he was upset about his father's mistress, and she said inwardly:
Number Three, don't be sad.
Hearing Ning Sang-sang comfort him in her thoughts, Chen Zihao suddenly felt that Ning Hui's sister was rather nice. But in the very next second, he heard her say:
What does this little bit of sadness amount to? You'll have plenty more to be sad about later.
Chen Zihao: "??"
Chen Zihao couldn't help frowning, his head full of question marks. He would have plenty more to be sad about later? What did that mean? But Ning Sang-sang had stopped muttering inwardly.
Filled with confusion, Chen Zihao desperately wanted to understand what she had meant. He stared at Ning Sang-sang with his brows tightly knitted.
"I..." He opened his mouth, wanting to press her for an answer, but that mysterious power bound him tightly like an invisible rope. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't voice the question he wanted to ask.
Ning Sang-sang looked at him blankly, completely baffled by his hesitation. She asked, "You what?"
Chen Zihao burned with anxiety, silently shouting in his mind, I'll have plenty more to be sad about later... What on earth does that mean? Why can't I say it? Yet despite his inward roars, he still couldn't break free of that strange power's restraints.
Seeing Chen Zihao remain silent, Ning Sang-sang couldn't help frowning and muttering inwardly:
Why is everyone I've met at today's Flower-Viewing Banquet so strange? They only say half of what they mean. It really leaves me scratching my head.
"Auntie, take me for a look around." A childish voice rang out.
Hearing it, Ning Sang-sang instinctively looked toward the voice, her gaze settling on the little boy who had remained quietly beside Hua Liuli all this time. He looked about six or seven, with features as delicate as carved jade, rosy lips, and pearly white teeth. He was utterly adorable.
Hua Liuli's little nephew looks so sweet, but he's far too mischievous. That's also why, at his grandmother's sixtieth birthday celebration later on, he'll sneak off to play by the pond when no one's watching him, accidentally fall into the water, and lose his life at such a young age.
Hearing Ning Sang-sang's words, Hua Liuli's expression changed drastically, and her grip on Hua Yun's little hand involuntarily tightened.
"Auntie, what's wrong?" The perceptive Hua Yun quickly noticed something unusual about Hua Liuli and hurriedly asked with concern.
Hua Liuli took a deep breath, trying to calm the waves churning inside her. Then she turned to meet Ning Sang-sang's gaze and quickly shifted her attention to her. Unwilling to let Ning Sang-sang discover that she could hear her thoughts, she feigned composure and answered softly, "Yun, I'm fine."
"Then take me somewhere else for a look around, Auntie." Hua Yun gazed at her expectantly with his big, dewy eyes.
Hua Liuli didn't want to wander anywhere else. Right now, she only wanted to stay with Ning Sang-sang and listen to her thoughts, so she told Hua Yun softly, "Yun, I made a new friend today, and I want to stay with her."
Hearing this, Hua Yun immediately blinked his big eyes and answered with a grin, "Your new friend is my friend too, Auntie. I want to stay with her as well."
"Such a good boy." Hua Liuli affectionately stroked his little head in approval.
Ning Sang-sang said, "...Miss Hua, you don't have to go out of your way to keep me company. Why don't you take your little nephew somewhere else for a look around?"
Hua Liuli's being so enthusiastic toward me that it's making me a little nervous. After all, if the plot were following its normal course, she should be showering Seventh Prince Chu Aotian with attention instead. Why aren't there any sparks for him today? Could Hua Liuli have been reborn, realized that being his lapdog would end badly, and come to her senses? But that still doesn't explain why she's so enthusiastic toward me. After all, my role is a minor piece of cannon fodder who died at birth.
As her thoughts ran wild, Hua Liuli's voice rang out. "Miss Ning, I mean you no harm. I want to be friends with you simply because I find you interesting."
Ning Sang-sang: "..."
My irrepressible goofball nature really has nowhere to hide! I haven't even done anything, yet Hua Liuli has already noticed that I'm a complete goofball. Sigh, come to think of it, why is that old rascal Seventh Prince Chu Aotian standing here like an idiot without moving? Isn't he going to look for the beauty he's been longing for?
Seventh Prince Chu Aotian: "..."
That old rascal Seventh Prince Chu Aotian? he grumbled inwardly. That wretched girl actually dared to call him that! If he hadn't wanted to listen to her thoughts, he would have really liked to...
"Big Sis, come on! Let's find Second Brother." Seeing Seventh Prince Chu Aotian's face darken, Ning Hui feared he might hurt his sister, so he hurriedly grabbed Ning Sang-sang and ran.
Ning Sang-sang had already planned to go elsewhere to watch the excitement, so she let her younger brother drag her away.
Intent on hearing Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, Hua Liuli brought Hua Yun along and followed them.
Chen Zihao was desperate to know what Ning Sang-sang had meant by saying he would have plenty more to be sad about later, so he followed them as well.
"Come on, Proud One. Let's follow them too." Gu Yunshen likewise couldn't contain his curiosity about Ning Sang-sang's thoughts and wanted to join the fun, so he casually called out to Seventh Prince Chu Aotian. The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his slip and hurriedly looked at him. Sure enough, Seventh Prince Chu Aotian's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Gu Yunshen gave an awkward smile and changed the subject. "Aotian, the weather's lovely today."
"Purple-skinned scallion." Seventh Prince Chu Aotian coldly tossed out those words and strode away.
Gu Yunshen: "..."
Before you continue