Shen Xizhou was completely stunned by Shi Ning’s scolding.
“Shi Ning…”
Shi Ning waved the document folder in her hand impatiently.
“Stop arguing. The transfer contract is right here. The conditions haven’t changed. If you accept them, we’ll hand over the contract once the auction is over.”
Shen Xizhou still refused to give up. He looked at Shi Ning with forced tenderness, his eyes filled with a pretended affection.
“You can try persuading Qin Heye again,” he said softly.
“Even a half-price transfer is fine—as long as he agrees. Spend more time with him. I won’t mind. I won’t complain…”
Slap!
Shi Ning slapped him hard across the face.
The sharp sound echoed at the entrance, instantly drawing the attention of people coming and going.
Several security guards rushed over, about to sternly warn Shi Ning not to cause trouble in the venue.
Shi Ning pointed at Shen Xizhou without hesitation.
“He’s harassing me here—that’s why I hit him. Keep an eye on this kind of person. Don’t let him stir up trouble.”
If it weren’t for the bullet screen comments saying that Plot No. 7 in the east of the city was a bargain plot specially set up for Shen Xizhou, and that only he could successfully bid for it—
Shi Ning wouldn’t have wanted to see him at all.
Over the past few days, the fact that Shi Ning was the officially acknowledged Young Madam of the Qin family had spread all over the internet.
The security guard immediately understood when he saw her.
“Don’t worry, Young Madam Qin. I’ll have someone watch this gentleman closely.”
As he spoke, he fixed Shen Xizhou with a sharp, unblinking stare.
Shen Xizhou opened his mouth, wanting to say something more to Shi Ning—
But the security guard’s gaze shut him up completely.
“Ah Ning.”
Hearing Qin Heye’s clear, gentle voice, Shi Ning looked up. The moment she saw him, her expression softened into a smile, and she ran toward him.
She slipped her arm through his.
“Honey~”
Qin Heye was holding a small cake which he handed it to her.
“It’s breakfast from the company. Strawberry cake—your favorite.”
“Honey brought me a strawberry cake,” Shi Ning said sweetly.
“Then I’ll give you a reward in return.”
She tiptoed and kissed Qin Heye’s cool cheek.
The corners of Qin Heye’s thin lips curved into a gentle smile—like winter snow melting, everything quietly blooming beneath it.
Then he led Shi Ning into the auction venue.
Many people couldn’t help but stare at Qin Heye’s stunningly handsome face.
So this cold, aloof man could look this devastatingly attractive when he smiled.
Shi Qingyin had just arrived when she saw this scene. Watching their retreating figures, she muttered under her breath,
“Shameless.”
Then she followed them inside.
Shi Ning and Qin Heye had just taken their seats. Shi Ning had opened her mini strawberry cake and taken a bite with her fork—
When Shi Qingyin walked over.
“Sister.”
Shi Ning swallowed before lifting her head.
“Call me cousin from now on. One word makes a big difference.”
But even insulted like this Shi Qingyin took shamelessness to a whole new level and sat down beside her.
With a faint smile, she reminded Shi Ning,
“You should pay more attention to your public image.”
Shi Ning looked her up and down.
“If you don’t have a mirror,” she said calmly,
“then find one somewhere else. You’re the one with no image here.”
Shi Qingyin was furious—but had no words to retort.
Shi Ning was stunningly beautiful, almost celestial. There was no comparison.
Suppressing her anger, Shi Qingyin said,
“What I mean is—if you’re going to be affectionate with Master Qin, you should consider the occasion and maintain proper decorum.”
“Otherwise, people might gossip about Master Qin. It would look undignified.”
“Oh.”
Shi Ning responded casually, scooping up another bite of strawberry cake and bringing it to Qin Heye’s lips.
Qin Heye didn’t like sweets.
But since Shi Ning was feeding him, he opened his mouth and took the bite.
Looking at her, his eyes softened with a smile.
“It’s delicious,” he said lightly. “I really like it.”
Then his voice cooled, clearly aimed at Shi Qingyin.
“No one will dare gossip.”
Shi Qingyin was completely ignored—forced to endure this public display of affection.
“Sister—”
Shi Ning turned to her.
“This isn’t your seat.”
The seating had been arranged in advance.
Given Qin Heye’s status, he naturally sat in the front row.
Shi Qingyin, however, was seated far behind.
She had deliberately come over, hoping no one would dare drive her away out of respect for Qin Heye.
But since Shi Ning clearly had no intention of helping her, Shi Qingyin could only retreat resentfully.
She searched for a long time before finally finding her seat—right at the very back, tucked into a corner.
Fuming, Shi Qingyin sent Shi Ning a message:
【Did you arrange this seat on purpose?】
【Shi Ning: Do I need to arrange something like this deliberately?】
Shi Ning and Qin Heye had already publicly announced their relationship.
Those who previously wanted to curry favor with Qin Heye but couldn’t find an opening now flocked to her instead.
Without her saying a word, they could tell she and Shi Qingyin were on bad terms—and some deliberately made things difficult for Shi Qingyin.
Shi Qingyin was furious all over again.
Then she saw something that made her blood boil even more.
As celebrities and influential figures entered the venue, they all smiled and greeted Shi Ning and Qin Heye.
Even from afar, the shape of their lips was unmistakable—
“Young Madam Qin.”
Shi Qingyin: !!!
Envy.
Jealousy.
Resentment.
All tangled together in her .
They had been secretly married for three years—and suddenly, they announced it to the world!
But it didn’t matter.
As long as Shen Xizhou secured Plot No. 15 in the west of the city, she and Shen Xizhou would marry—and she would become Third Young Madam Shen.
Her status wouldn’t be any lower than Shi Ning’s.
This time, Qin Heye wasn’t participating in the auction on behalf of the company.
He attended as a VIP, purely to show respect for the Qin Group.
Soon—
The auction officially began.
Bored, Shi Ning started reading the bullet screen comments.
[The villainous female supporting character also participated in the auction. Luckily, she flattered the main antagonist—otherwise the male lead wouldn’t have won the bid.]
[The main antagonist, as a VIP, had inside information. The villainous female supporting character found out and leaked it to the male lead.]
[Later, when Shi Ning was locked in the attic, Qin Heye threatened her with Plot No. 7, forcing her to attend as Qin’s young mistress and personally hand the most cost-effective, high-potential plot to Shen Xizhou.]
[In the end, the villain regretted it deeply—having personally nurtured his own rival. Just thinking about it makes me feel so satisfied for the male and female leads.]
This was the original plot.
Now that Shi Ning had seen the comments, some parts of the story had already changed—but the core details were still unfolding the same way.
Shi Ning still attended as Qin’s young mistress.
And Shen Xizhou—unsurprisingly—won the bid for Plot No. 7 in the east of the city for over one billion.
The auction concluded.
Shi Ning and Qin Heye didn’t approach Shen Xizhou afterward. Instead, they chatted casually with others.
It was obvious—they didn’t think much of the so-called Plot No. 7.
To them, it was nothing but a piece of trash.
Shen Xizhou waited anxiously, hoping they would come over to negotiate—hoping for a chance to lower the price.
But they didn’t even spare him a glance.
Finally, Shen Xizhou couldn’t hold back any longer.
He walked over, teeth clenched, and said,
“I agree to your conditions. Let’s find a place and sign the contract.”
He couldn’t afford to miss the chance to stand on equal footing with Qin Heye as soon as possible.
Plot No. 15 in the west of the city was his best opportunity.
Eleven billion was a bargain for him.
The only one who would lose—
Was Qin Heye.
Shi Ning saw the burning ambition and determination in Shen Xizhou’s eyes.
She tilted her head slightly, smiled, and said to Qin Heye,
“Mr. Shen is very sincere. Let’s sign the contract and exchange the land.”
This time—
She already had the spoiler.
Shen Xizhou would be the one regretting it so deeply that he’d want to tear his guts out.