That night, at the Sheng family residence.
Su Ningxi got out of the car and looked at the antique mansion in front of her. She felt a little nervous since she didn't know why her grandfather had asked her to come over today. She hesitated at the door for a long time before finally summoning up the courage to walk in.
Inside, a man in his forties and fifties was sweeping up fallen leaves.
Su Ningxi tiptoed over and gently patted him on the shoulder, playfully saying, "Good evening, Uncle Li!"
The man turned around. Seeing Su Ningxi, his face immediately showed a loving smile. He was the Sheng family's butler and had lived in the Sheng residence for decades. He was also very familiar with Su Ningxi.
"Miss Ningxi, you're here! Long time no see, you're prettier than ever."
Faced with Uncle Li's compliment, Su Ningxi accepted it unabashedly, responding confidently yet politely, "Uncle Li, you're getting younger too."
"Always so sweet-tongued. Go on in, the old master knew you were coming and specifically told us to prepare many of your favorite dishes. He's been pacing back and forth looking out for you several times already."
"Old Li, mind your own business when I tell you to."
At this moment, a sonorous voice rang out in the yard. It was Su Ningxi's grandfather, Sheng Aotian.
Although already over seventy, he looked hale and hearty. Even his hair was neatly combed, exuding an aura of sternness. He gave off an invisible oppressive aura, just like her grandfather. His serious look could be frightening.
"Grandpa, don't scold Uncle Li. Even if he didn't say anything, I'd know you missed me a lot." Su Ningxi ran over and grabbed Sheng Aotian's arm, narcissistically saying in a slightly coy tone.
Sheng Aotian humphed, "Hmph, not seeing you for a year, your skin has gotten thicker."
Su Ningxi touched her own face, "It hasn't gotten thicker, it's gotten prettier."
Sheng old master...
Still not thick skin? Who self-compliments like that?
"Let's go in grandpa, I'm starving."
"If you were hungry, why didn't you come earlier?" Although Sheng old master said this, he had already started walking inside.
Su Ningxi laughed and closely followed.
At the dinner table sat Sheng Zhehan, Sheng Mu, and Sheng Wei. Sheng Zhehan was Sheng old master's son and Su Ningxi's uncle. Sheng Mu and Sheng Wei were Sheng Zhehan and Huang Zhen's children. Sitting opposite them was the middle-aged woman Huang Zhen, Sheng Zhehan's wife. She was a smooth operator, speaking and acting with composure, hard to find fault with.
Sheng Mu was a simple child without much cunning. He got along well with Su Ningxi.
Seeing Su Ningxi come in, he happily called out, "Sis Ningxi, you're here!"
Su Ningxi smiled at him in response.
"How long do you plan on staying in the capital this time? Or you could just not go back!"
Su Ningxi ruffled his hair, "What's this, miss me that much?"
Sheng Mu nodded, indicating he really did.
Seeing her own brother being closer to Su Ningxi than his own sister, Sheng Wei felt unhappy. Her dislike of Su Ningxi grew, looking at her with hostility.
Every time Su Ningxi came to visit, people would compare the two. Whether looks or academics, Sheng Wei always fell short of her. So Sheng Wei had always seen Su Ningxi as a rival.
Su Ningxi noticed Sheng Wei's unfriendly gaze but instinctively chose to ignore her. She politely greeted Sheng Zhehan and Huang Zhen, "Uncle, Auntie."
Sheng Zhehan gave an "mm".
Huang Zhen enthusiastically pulled Su Ningxi to the dinner table, "Ningxi, Auntie knew you were coming and specifically prepared many dishes you like. Try them and see if they suit your taste."
"Ningxi, have a taste of this shrimp, it was your favorite before. I don't trust the kitchen staff with it so I personally cooked it myself. See if it still tastes the same as before."
Huang Zhen put a shrimp on Su Ningxi's plate.
"Thank you Auntie." Su Ningxi politely accepted it.
"Not like she doesn't have hands," Sheng Wei muttered under her breath. Although it was very soft, everyone at the table heard it.
Sheng old master's expression darkened.
Huang Zhen shot her a warning look.
Sheng Wei resentfully stabbed at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks.
Su Ningxi looked at Sheng Wei curiously, smiling, "Sheng Wei, I heard you have a boyfriend. Who is it?"
As soon as Su Ningxi finished speaking, everyone at the table looked towards Sheng Wei. Clearly none of them knew she had a boyfriend.
"Weiwei, you really have a boyfriend?"
The most shocked was Huang Zhen. Her daughter had a boyfriend and she, as the mother, didn't even know!
Sheng Mu also had a gossipy look, "Sis, when did you get a boyfriend? Why don't I know about this? Who is it? Do I know him?"
Sheng old master and Sheng Zhehan also looked at her, wanting to know the answer.
"I don't have one, don't listen to Su Ningxi's nonsense." Sheng Wei hurriedly explained.
"Don't be shy! You're an adult now, having a boyfriend is very normal! Why hide it?" Su Ningxi blinked her innocent eyes at Sheng Wei, speaking earnestly, not looking malicious at all.
"Right, sis, bring him home sometime for us to meet and help you evaluate." Sheng Mu chimed in.
"Oh right, I remember now, I heard his surname is Huo, what was his given name again?"
"Could it be Huo Yuchen?" Sheng Mu picked up.
Su Ningxi clapped her hands, "Yes, that's the name! So you knew about it already?"
"I guessed. My sister was matched with him before."
"Matched?" Su Ningxi was very surprised. She didn't know Sheng Wei and Huo Yuchen had been matched before.
"Yes! Though my sister said she didn't approve of the other party."
"She didn't approve of Huo Yuchen?" Su Ningxi was even more shocked. With Sheng Wei's vain personality, how could she give up such a good match? Also, didn't she just boast about being Huo Yuchen's girlfriend this morning? So the only possibility was that Sheng Wei had lied.
Su Ningxi looked at Sheng Wei doubtfully.
As expected, Sheng Wei looked guilty with shifty eyes, ashamed.
"Weiwei, are you really dating Young Master Huo?" Huang Zhen was extremely excited hearing their conversation. Her daughter had gone on that matchmaking session and came back saying she didn't approve of the other party, which nearly angered her to death.
This was the Huo family! Ranked number one of the four most prominent families in the capital! If her daughter really married into the Huo family, not only would the Sheng family's status rise in the capital, she herself would surely be envied by everyone in the wives' circle.
"No, we aren't dating at all. Su Ningxi is making things up."
Sheng Wei glared fiercely at Su Ningxi. "Don't speak randomly without knowing the facts. It can easily lead to misunderstandings."
Huang Zhen looked disappointed. "I don't know why you didn't approve of him back then. The Huo family is rich and powerful. Looking at the entire capital, which second family could compare? I heard the man wasn't bad either, not just good looking but outstanding abilities too."
Sheng Wei felt extremely frustrated. She wanted it too, dreamed of marrying into the Huo family. When she found out her matchmaking partner was Huo Yuchen, she was so excited she didn't sleep the whole night. The next day she got up early to dress up and went to the agreed restaurant, but the other party simply hadn't shown up.
To save face she'd lied that she didn't approve of him.
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