Shi Ning couldn’t figure it out, so she asked Qin Heye directly,
“Are you angry?”
Qin Heye instinctively wanted to deny it—but Shi Ning had once taught him not to hide his true emotions.
So, with suppressed irritation laced in his voice, he answered honestly,
“Yes.”
“Stop the car,” Shi Ning ordered, her voice suddenly deep and firm.
Qin Heye frowned, but still pulled over.
“Ah Ning…” he began.
Before he could say anything else, Shi Ning had already opened the car door and stepped out, walking away without looking back.
Qin Heye froze.
Then panic surged through him.
He immediately turned off the engine, unfastened his seatbelt, and hurried out of the car.
“Don’t leave when you’re angry. It’s hard to get a taxi here. You can drive—I’ll get out—”
He had barely stepped halfway out—
When Shi Ning suddenly appeared right in front of him.
She lifted both hands, cupped his face, lowered her head, and kissed him hard on the lips.
Qin Heye’s pupils dilated instantly.
“Shi Ning—”
Muah ,Muah.
Shi Ning held his face and kissed him again and again, without restraint.
The icy mask on Qin Heye’s face melted bit by bit, turning utterly soft.
The cold, deep gaze in his eyes ignited with sparks. His steady breathing was disrupted, becoming rapid and heavy.
The fire inside him had been stirred.
Qin Heye finally grasped her wrist and pulled her hand away from his face.
“Don’t kiss me,” he warned hoarsely, “unless you don’t want to be able to hold chopsticks tomorrow.”
Shi Ning looked down at him calmly.
“Are you still angry?”
Qin Heye was momentarily stunned.
“…Are you coaxing me?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Shi Ning replied seriously.
“Should I coax you more… thoroughly?”
Qin Heye stared at her slightly reddened lips. In the end, he restrained himself—at least for now.
His tone turned stern.
“When you dragged Mu Tiantian away in the underground parking garage, it was too dangerous.”
That—
That was what had truly angered him.
He looked up at Shi Ning, his gaze deep and heavy, and said in a commanding tone,
“No matter what happens, your safety comes first.”
In emergencies, Shi Ning always acted on instinct—she didn’t have time to think.
Just like how Qin Heye had pulled her into his arms without hesitation.
She couldn’t change that about herself.
But that didn’t stop her from coaxing him.
“I know,” Shi Ning said softly.
Qin Heye continued sternly,
“And don’t get out of the car in the middle of the street.”
“Okay, okay,” Shi Ning agreed readily.
From her expression, Qin Heye could tell she was just responding perfunctorily, trying to placate him.
But he felt helpless.
He couldn’t demand too much.
Before his wife wouldn’t even bother to give him a perfunctory response.
Now—not only was Shi Ning willing to appease him, she was even coaxing him.
That was already enough.
“Get in the car,” Qin Heye said, instantly lifting his mood.
Shi Ning obediently returned to the passenger seat, even letting Qin Heye fasten her seatbelt for her—and then stealing a quick kiss from him.
Qin Heye completely lost his anger.
He started the car, drove toward the villa, and said coolly,
“He Zelin is the young master of the He family—one of Hong Kong’s four major families. He’s twenty this year and was probably sent here by his uncle to study.”
Although they weren’t from the same social circle and had no business dealings, they still knew of each other through upper-class social interactions.
That was why Qin Heye recognized He Zelin immediately.
Shi Ning exclaimed in surprise,
“A young master from Hong Kong?!”
That made sense.
The female lead’s devoted second male lead was bound to have an extraordinary background.
She asked,
“What kind of person is He Zelin?”
Qin Heye replied,
“On the surface, he seems fine. Even though he’s only twenty, he studied abroad, earned multiple certificates, and doesn’t indulge in drinking, gambling, or prostitution. He’s considered a high-quality ‘rich second generation’.”
He turned his head—and seeing Shi Ning fall silent, his heart skipped a beat.
“But those things can all be packaged and marketed. You can’t judge a book by its cover. People like that can still be bad.”
Shi Ning still couldn’t understand.
“Why would the young master of the He family want to get close to Tian Tian?”
They stopped at a red light.
Qin Heye turned his head and looked at her with a deeply aggrieved expression.
“Wife, you’ve been talking about He Zelin the whole way.”
His voice lowered.
“Your husband is jealous.”
Before the light turned green, Shi Ning leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“I won’t mention him anymore. Just keep a close eye on him for me. I’m afraid Tian Tian will be deceived.”
This matter was too complicated for a brainless villainous female supporting character like her to understand.
She would leave it to Qin Heye.
Or—
She could simply wait for the next spoiler to appear in the comments.
Take care of your hair, and think less.
(A popular Chinese internet saying meaning: don’t overthink, protect your mental health.)
Qin Heye was coaxed once again.
“Okay. I’ll arrange for someone to keep an eye on him. I won’t let your friend be deceived.”
“Who?” Shi Ning asked.
“He Zelin’s uncle.”
Shi Ning had no objections and felt reassured.
After all, elders disciplining juniors was only natural—and effective.
…
After Shi Ning and Qin Heye officially announced their relationship, the internet buzzed for days—reposts, blessings, and digital red envelopes flooded in.
(Red envelopes: 红包, monetary gifts traditionally given during celebrations, now often sent digitally.)
Shen Xizhou and Shi Qingyin also quieted down.
Finally, the day arrived for the auction of Plot 7 in the eastern district.
Qin Heye had to go to the company early, so Shi Ning went to the Xingrui Building alone.
The moment she arrived at the entrance of the auction venue, Shen Xizhou—who had been waiting—immediately walked up to her.
“Ningning, why can’t I enter Xingyuan?”
Xingyuan was the name of the villa compound where Shi Ning and Qin Heye lived.
Shen Xizhou had wanted to find Shi Ning to ask about persuading Qin Heye to transfer the land free of charge.
But Shi Ning hadn’t answered his calls or replied to his messages.
When he went to Xingyuan, the facial recognition and license plate recognition systems didn’t recognize him.
He couldn’t even reach the villa entrance.
He was stopped right at the private area checkpoint—several kilometers away—where Qin Heye had once made the security guards read out that humiliating notice.
He could have asked the guards to open the gate—or at least notify Shi Ning.
Instead—
The guards released a pack of dogs that chased him for twenty kilometers, nearly scaring him to death.
Yet before, he used to enter Xingyuan freely.
Shi Ning glanced at him indifferently.
“Isn’t it normal that you—an outsider—can’t enter my home with Qin Heye?”
Thinking back, it was absurd.
She had once allowed Shen Xizhou and Shi Qingyin to come and go freely, even giving them separate rooms.
Shen Xizhou frowned in dissatisfaction.
“Next time I go back, have them re-register my license plate, clean my room thoroughly, and prepare daily necessities and clothes—”
Shi Ning looked at him as if she were looking at an idiot.
“Are you here today to bid for shamelessness?”
Shen Xizhou didn’t argue with her and asked impatiently,
“Let’s talk about that later. How did your discussion with Master Qin go? Can the land be transferred for free?”
That was the real point.
Shi Ning replied coldly,
“No.”
She had only been baiting him—stirring conflict between him and Shi Qingyin.
How could it possibly succeed?
Shen Xizhou looked at her with displeasure.
“It’s been days and you still haven’t settled it. How did you become so useless?”
You’re asking someone for a favor—and still acting so arrogant?
Shi Ning: ???
Shi Ning laughed in disbelief.
“Are you actually this stupid,” she said, voice sharp,
“or do you just turn brainless whenever it’s convenient?”