Chapter 15

Was there even going to be a “next time”?!

But she had clearly heard in the morning—one mark was fifty million.

Zhong Ning held her phone, her heart pounding like a drum.

She was doomed!

Struck down by the sheer power of wealth.

As a member of the Zhong family, her original self had some money too. There were a few million lying in her account, but now that seemed like spare change.

She was doomed. She had never seen so much money in her life.

When the car arrived at the Zhong family residence, Zhong Ning was still caught in a daze of disbelief, only snapping out of it from the sound of the opened car door.

The Zhong Family Manor—nominally her home, but to her, it felt utterly unfamiliar.

She had already sent a message before departure, saying she was on the way, and that she was coming with Xie Shiqing.

As she stepped out of the car, someone was already waiting at the entrance.

A graceful and beautiful woman stood there—this must be her mother. Next to her was a young woman in a long white dress, exuding a gentle aura like a blooming lotus—undoubtedly Zhong Zinuan, her elder sister.

The smiling woman who walked up to them carried the aura of someone in power, exuding the stern aura of the Zhong family head.

“Shiqing, did this brat do anything wrong? It’s my fault for not keeping a closer eye on her.”

The head of the Zhong family gave Zhong Ning a stern glare. “Still not apologizing to Shiqing?!”

“Mother, the sun’s too harsh outside. This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s head inside with Miss Xie,” Zhong Zinuan interjected gently with a soft smile. “Don’t be upset, little sister. Mother’s only worried about you. You didn’t come home last night—everyone was terribly worried.”

Zhong Ning, visibly moved, said, “Yesterday’s incident was my fault. I made everyone worry.”

The moment she finished speaking, everyone except Xie Shiqing froze in place.

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Zhong Ning: A dignified mother, a loving mom, a gentle sister—how wonderful. What a happy family I have!

Zhong family trio: What kind of nonsense is she up to now?

Xie Shiqing (trying not to laugh) (watching the drama)

Chapter 8

Zhong Ning had formed a preconception, thinking she was playing the role of a cannon fodder character—one of those absurdly rebellious and brainless types.

She assumed the derogatory nicknames in her phone like “Big Bitch” and “Little Bitch” were just products of her original self’s rebelliousness. After all, how could someone perfectly virtuous be a proper cannon fodder?

Judging by the tone in the chat records, the “Big Bitch” mom seemed caring, and the “Little Bitch” sister was the same. The family atmosphere appeared harmonious. She didn’t realize the underlying tensions brewing beneath the polite facade.

She thought they were her actual blood relatives. Zhong Ning knew she was different from the original, and she really couldn’t bring herself to fake it.

So why bother pretending? Making peace with her family—wasn’t that a good thing?

Zhong Ning said, “Next time, I’ll make sure to inform the family promptly.”

The head of the Zhong family gave her a strange look, as though there were a thousand words waiting to be said. In the end, she only replied in a slightly softened tone, “As long as you know you were wrong.”

“Come on in.”

The group walked toward the villa.

Zhong Ning tried to discreetly observe her surroundings, pretending to be familiar with everything.

The Zhong family’s manor villa looked just like the ones she had seen in TV dramas in her past life—an enormous garden, a fountain, neatly trimmed hedges—just without the exaggerated red carpet and maids bowing on either side of the road.

But the designer clearly had skill. The mix of shrubbery and flowers wasn’t chaotic; instead, it gave off a serene and elegant vibe.

Someone brushed against her arm.

Zhong Ning looked down.

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Cool pale fingertips slid down her wrist and slipped between her fingers, interlocking their hands.

The owner of the hand remained calm and composed, but Zhong Ning felt uneasy and instinctively spread her fingers apart. A second later, she realized how foolish that seemed and quickly pretended to be calm as she closed them again.

Her fingertips hovered lightly over the back of the other’s hand.

That small patch of skin was soft and tender—softer than tofu, as delicate as the finest velvet.

—Xie Shiqing’s skin indeed had an exceptionally delicate texture. It was also very thin and easily marked.

Zhong Ning averted her gaze. Recalling the way the other had described “apologizing” earlier, she could almost feel the lingering sensation in her mouth from playing with the cherry stem. She couldn’t help but bite her tongue tip.

And hit the wound directly.

The jolt of pain made her flinch, instantly dispelling any lingering romantic thoughts.

Zhong Zinuan walked a few steps behind them. When she saw the scene before her, her gaze turned cold. But the next moment, she smiled—as if she were just any other caring older sister. Her tone, affectionate yet slightly reproachful, said, “Where did you go last night? Even if you were upset and ran out, you shouldn’t have gone completely silent. At the very least, send a message home so we know you’re safe.”

When Zhong Ning saw her, she couldn’t help but think of her real sister. Their tone was incredibly similar. Sometimes when she binged on snacks and was too full to eat dinner, her sister would look at her with a mix of indulgence and disapproval—not stopping her outright, but clearly meaning, “Eat less next time, don’t spoil your appetite for the main meal.”

So in Zhong Ning’s ears, Zhong Zinuan’s words automatically translated to—”Not saying you can’t run away from home, but at least give us a heads-up, let us know where you are.”

This resemblance instantly warmed her to Zhong Zinuan, and she quickly imagined herself as the awkward little sister opposite a gentle older one.

“I stayed the night at Miss Xie’s place,” Zhong Ning admitted, a little embarrassed.

Though this wasn’t her real family, it still felt somewhat like bringing her girlfriend home to meet the parents—not to mention, they were about to discuss marriage soon.

Who would’ve thought that after being single for over twenty years in her past life, she’d transmigrate and immediately become someone already engaged?

Her skin wasn’t exactly thin, but she was serious when it came to relationships, which made her feel shy.

After all, barring any surprises, Xie Shiqing would be the person she spent the rest of her life with.

A breeze lifted Zhong Zinuan’s black hair. She raised a hand to tuck the long strands behind her ear, using the motion to discreetly hide the fleeting shadow in her eyes.

“I see,” she said, her white dress fluttering in the wind. “So you’ve decided to agree to the engagement?”

“Yes,” Zhong Ning replied.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep