The man’s voice was low.
He draped a jacket over most of her.
It sounded simple, but her sense of grievance felt soothed.
Miss Xu Nanyin lunged forward, pressing against his shoulder, and tears fell in a rush.
She clung tightly to his neck and refused to let go, so he had to lift her with one arm and stand up.
The little girl was slim and light as a feather.
The crescent moon hung in the sky, tree shadows all around.
Her shadow was swallowed by his, leaving only her head resting on his shoulder.
Miss Xu Nanyin never knew a boy’s shoulders could be so broad, his chest so comfortable, his arms so strong.
Other than her parents and family, she’d never been so close to anyone else.
Maybe that’s why she always thought her craving for touch started then.
But at the time, all she did was sob, asking softly, “Big brother, do I look really ugly right now?”
“No.”
“I didn’t catch a butterfly. What should I do?”
“You’ll have one when you wake up.”
The comforting voice brushed her ear, low and pleasant, making Miss Xu Nanyin’s heart beat wildly.
Later, she rested on his shoulder, closed her eyes, listened to the sounds of the mountain, and gradually fell asleep.
Until more voices gathered, and in her daze, she heard someone say, “Young Master Tingchuan.”
Miss Xu Nanyin thought of what Mr. Song Huaixu had said on the phone tonight, “It was nothing.”
Maybe, for Song Tingchuan, that time was nothing as well.
***
The next day.
Miss Xu Nanyin went downstairs hugging a copy of Chinese Internal Medicine, and saw her parents sitting in the living room, both silent.
Xu Father had clearly had a rough night—he might’ve spent it kneeling on a washboard.
“So what’s daddy been busy with lately?”
Miss Xu Nanyin sat opposite them.
“You haven’t even come home.”
“He has no face to come home.”
Miss Xu Mother was fuming.
“He lost everything in Macau. How could he get involved in that?”
If not for Xi Jingsheng’s people in Macau inviting Xu Father to a special VIP Room and notifying her, she wouldn’t have known.
Miss Xu Nanyin frowned, “Did you lose the house in Ning City too?”
Miss Xu Mother’s heart ached.
“Zhuzhu, I only found out about the house yesterday in Macau. Have you been staying in a hotel in Ning City these past few days?”
Miss Xu Nanyin answered softly, “The hotel’s nice. It has everything I need.”
Xu Father, feeling guilty and ashamed, sighed beside her.
“Zhuzhu, daddy’s investment failed this time. I got scammed, never thought I’d lose so much. At first I thought I’d win it back…”
The Xu Family made their fortune in the Clock and Watch Business, but the industry wasn’t what it used to be.
So he tried to invest in something new and fell into someone else’s trap.
“Gamblers always say that.” Miss Xu Nanyin was speechless.
“So many people have lost everything—haven’t you seen enough?”
“He thought his luck wasn’t that bad.”
Miss Xu Mother shot him a glare.
“If we hadn’t found out in time, he’d probably be in Southeast Asia by now.”
Xu Father hurriedly said, “I never wanted to go there. It’s too far.”
He couldn’t bear to be that far from Zhuzhu and his wife.
Of course, he was scared the family would find out, and once he heard Mr. Song Huaixu was in Port City, he acted on impulse and contacted him.
Miss Xu Mother pinched him.
“Your daddy got rich too young, now everyone flatters him. He’s lost his head, can’t even tell when he’s being tricked. By the time you realize, the family’s bankrupt and even Zhuzhu will have to work!”
Xu Father looked sheepish and dared not say more.
Miss Xu Mother was decisive.
“Last night I discussed it with your daddy. All the family’s property will be under my name and yours. Your daddy’s allowance will be strictly controlled from now on.”
Miss Xu Nanyin thought this was only right and sighed.
Miss Xu Mother continued, “Luckily, those people only just started scamming him. He only sold the Old House in Ning City. Everyone in Port City thinks he was just having fun. If they knew, it’d be so embarrassing, the newspapers would have record sales.”
After a few more complaints, she got to the point. “After your exams, we’ll go to Ning City and formally end the engagement.”
At this, Xu Father grew animated.
“I told you, there’s no one good in the Song Family now! Song Tingchuan has no taste! Last time I asked Song Sir for help, he ignored me. I even said he could have anything he wanted!”
Miss Xu Mother slapped him.
“Huai Xu just helped you, don’t be ungrateful by badmouthing Song Tingchuan.”
Miss Xu Nanyin thought, like father like daughter—they both liked to use the phrase “anything you want,” and even the people they asked for help were both surnamed Song.
She asked about those who set Xu Father up.
Both parents said they’d already reported it to the police and would investigate themselves.
Although they didn’t know who it was, since the family was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief.
In the afternoon, after lunch, Miss Xu Nanyin went to the family Watch Store.
When the Store Manager heard the eldest young lady was here, he personally welcomed her into the VIP Room.
Learning she wanted to order a Custom Watch, he asked for all the details.
The media had been reporting on the Xu Family breaking off the engagement these days.
Suddenly ordering a men’s watch—could she be seeing someone new?
Which young master could it be?
Of course, he only thought this to himself.
Miss Xu Nanyin emphasized, “I need it in four or five days.”
Others would have to wait in line, but not her.
Besides, she wasn’t asking for complicated engraving or micro-painting.
With his assurance, Miss Xu Nanyin focused on preparing for her Chinese Medicine oral exam.
The exam wasn’t difficult for her, but the media wouldn’t let go of any opportunity to report, even waiting outside the exam hall.
Luckily, Miss Xu Mother had anticipated this and arranged for a car to take her there and back.
Miss Xu Mother said, “When your results come out, we’ll put your beautiful photo on all the big screens in Port City.”
“….”
Miss Xu Nanyin imagined the scene.
“Isn’t that a bit too much?”
“How is that too much?”
Miss Xu Mother smiled.
“I used to be a celebrity and always wanted my ads everywhere. Now I can make it happen for my daughter. If you hadn’t been so focused on studying, our brand would have used you as the face long ago. Even when reporters snapped your photos, I’d remind them to take them down.”
Miss Xu Mother said, “I’ve already told the Song Family we’ll meet tomorrow to dissolve the engagement. Let’s hope nothing goes wrong.”
***
At the Old House in Ning City, only the clinking of dishes could be heard at the dinner table.
Mrs. Song looked at her cold and indifferent eldest son across the table, thinking her younger son was still the better one—so considerate and caring.
Though it was her own words and actions that were wrong back then, he still held it against her.
No wonder people said he was cold-hearted.
She was upset.
“The Xu Family isn’t coming until tomorrow, but they already announced the engagement was over in Port City days ago—no consideration for our face at all.”
Mr. Song Huaixu didn’t even look up.
“They didn’t say who it was.”
Mrs. Song was momentarily speechless.
That was true, but their own family knew, and it didn’t feel good.
She was always satisfied with Tingchuan.
Most importantly, she’d investigated Miss Xu Nanyin over the past two days and didn’t actually want to call off this forgotten engagement.
Compared to the scheming Yue Yajun, Miss Xu Nanyin had a good family background and an obedient personality—a girl who was easy to manage.
She didn’t want a daughter-in-law who’d make trouble for her.
“Tingchuan too—went out drinking again today. I’ll have to teach him a lesson later. He’d better behave himself tomorrow.”
Mrs. Song complained.
In the end, whether the engagement was broken or not could be changed with just a few words.
If this eldest son was around, the outcome would be different, but she wasn’t sure—she and her eldest had been estranged for too long.
Tonight, since he was home for once, she’d try to get him to stay for tomorrow. If he was there, things would be easier.
Hearing his mother talk about his younger brother from beginning to end, Mr. Song Huaixu was used to it, showing no emotion, his tone calm.
“Whether he’s there or not, the result will be the same.”
It would save her from getting upset, anyway.