“Ahem.”
Shi Ning choked on her milk tea at Mu Tiantian’s shocking words and almost sprayed it all over her face. Thankfully, Mu Tiantian had booked out the entire coffee shop, or else she would have died of embarrassment.
Mu Tiantian hurriedly handed her a tissue. “Is it really that bad?”
“It’s fine. If it doesn’t work out, I know a great doctor who can get you medicine. Don’t worry, I’ll never let my good sister end up a widow.”
Shi Ning exhaled heavily and gave Mu Tiantian a speechless look. “Aren’t you afraid of the Mu family going bankrupt if you say things like that?”
If Qin Heye heard her reckless words, the Mu family really would be in danger.
Mu Tiantian pressed her lips together. “Anyway, the Mu family’s fortune isn’t coming to me. So what if they go bankrupt? Honestly, I wish it would happen tomorrow.”
She was the eldest daughter of the Mu family, but because she had a stepmother and a stepsister, only Grandma Mu truly loved her and acknowledged her position. If not for Grandma Mu’s support, Mu Tiantian would probably have been cast away and raised in the remote mountains of Shibawan.
“I was asking—”
But before Shi Ning could finish, Mu Tiantian interrupted, her face full of gossip. “What’s going on with Shen Xizhou and Shi Qingyin?”
“They suddenly got exposed online—one cheating, the other being the mistress—and they immediately shot up to the trending searches.”
Until now, the two of them had carefully built up their online image: as the third young master of the Shen family and the second young miss of the Shi family, a so-called golden couple. With so many fans, their influence was huge, and now that the truth was out, the backlash was equally massive.
“They’re being scolded to death,” Shi Ning said calmly.
Mu Tiantian smirked mischievously. “I even bought them a global promotion, just to make sure they’re famous overseas too.”
“To take advantage of them while they’re down… and still willing to pay for it.”
Shi Ning then told her about Shen Xizhou’s shady dealings with Plot 15 in West City.
Mu Tiantian was stunned, her face like she’d been struck by lightning. “Wait—does the Great Demon King Qin actually allow you to do this?”
Shi Ning nodded. “Yes.”
Mu Tiantian gave her a big thumbs-up. “Amazing, my darling. For you, even the Great Demon King Qin is willing to turn into a tyrant.”
In business, Qin Heye was known for never conceding a single cent if the price wasn’t right. And yet, he was willing to give up Plot 15 in West City… all for Shi Ning.
Mu Tiantian looked at her with mock resentment. “Don’t let that cheating bastard Shen Xizhou get away with it. Give the land to me instead. We should keep the fortune in the family.”
Shi Ning shook her head with a soft laugh. “When I get rich, I’ll take you and all the money to travel around the world. But that piece of land is cursed—don’t touch it.”
Mu Tiantian teased, “Oh? Since when did my naive Ningning become a feng shui master? Have you turned into a metaphysics expert now?”
She even stretched her hand out to Shi Ning. “Great Master of Metaphysics, read my fortune. Am I fated to find love?”
Shi Ning actually didn’t know how to read palms, but thanks to [the barrage] (comments scrolling across the screen in live-stream style, often from omniscient readers in transmigration/rebirth novels), she had spoilers she could use to bluff her way through.
“Your marriage line looks rough. Have you been going on blind dates lately?”
Mu Tiantian gasped, her eyes lighting up. “I never told you! How did you know? Was it that devil Qin who leaked the news to you, or are you really good at fortune-telling?”
Shi Ning said seriously, “Anyway, you’ll meet a scumbag who could cost you your life. He hasn’t appeared yet, but I can’t see him clearly. You must be on guard. If there’s ever a man you like, you must tell me first. Only when I agree can you fall in love.”
Mu Tiantian pulled her hand back and snorted. “You little charlatan.”
But Shi Ning remained firm. “I mean it. You must listen to me. Only with my approval can you fall in love!”
“Got it, my housekeeper.” Mu Tiantian grinned, pulling out her phone. “Now let’s keep eating melons (Chinese slang: to spectate drama). Shen Xizhou and Shi Qingyin just had a huge fight.”
A passerby had secretly filmed them screaming and cursing at each other in a hospital ward, and the video was now blowing up online.
[#Cheating Brother and Little Sister#]
[#Young Master Shen and Second Miss Shi Quarrel#]
Their comments sections were also overflowing with insults, with countless netizens declaring they’d never believe in love again.
Shi Ning was riveted by the spectacle. “If only I had brought a bouquet of knife flowers (metaphor: sharp, cutting words or gestures like knives). That way, when Shi Qingyin threw them, they would’ve cut Shen Xizhou into ribbons.”
Mu Tiantian stared, then burst out laughing and gave her a thumbs-up. “Awesome, my girl. Next time, we’ll join the fight ourselves.”
After the video, Shi Ning opened the stock market updates.
The Shen Group’s stock was plunging fast.
The Shi Group’s stock had dipped slightly at first but quickly rebounded.
That was because both the Shi Group’s official account and Shi Guoqiang himself had issued statements.
Shi Guoqiang V: I hereby declare that I only have one daughter. The Shi family has only one daughter. Shi Qingyin is merely my niece, not the second young miss of the Shi family.
Shi Guoqiang V: As an elder, I will never shield anyone who betrays my daughter. From now on, you’re on your own.
For years, Shi Qingyin had been parading as the Shi family’s daughter in high society. Everyone knew her name, while far fewer people even knew Shi Ning. Now, with Shi Guoqiang’s public clarification, it was obvious he had cut ties with Shi Qingyin.
Shi Ning gave his post a like.
Just as she finished, her phone rang. It was Shi Guoqiang. “Dear daughter, did you see my Weibo post?” (Weibo – Chinese social media platform, similar to Twitter/X)
Shi Ning chuckled. “Yes, I saw it—and not just that, I even liked it.”
“Then why don’t you follow Daddy?” Shi Guoqiang sounded pitiful.
Shi Ning: …
Oh. That’s right. She had blacklisted her own father on that platform three years ago.
Mortified, she quickly removed him from her blacklist, followed his account, and sent him a greeting.
On the other end, Shi Guoqiang was ecstatic, boasting to Butler Zhao, “Ningning finally removed me from her blacklist! I don’t have to use a side account to stalk her anymore!”
Butler Zhao said mildly, “It was my suggestion, sir. I told you to clarify things online—otherwise the eldest miss would continue to dislike you.”
“Shut up! I don’t need you teaching me how to be a father.” Shi Guoqiang puffed himself up and said to Shi Ning, “Don’t listen to Butler Zhao. I knew exactly what I was doing.”
Shi Ning teased, “Oh, Dad, you’ve gotten so smart now?”
Shi Guoqiang quickly followed up, “Yes, and I’m the smartest. Am I also the best dad?”
Shi Ning hummed. “Not yet. Dad Qin is still number one.” (referring to her father-in-law, Qin Heye’s father)
“Ahhh!” Shi Guoqiang let out a wail of despair, then immediately rallied. “Fine! I’ll just have to work harder until I surpass your father-in-law. I’ll be Ningning’s best dad!”
Shi Ning added with a sly smile, “Don’t forget to give Butler Zhao a raise. He’s made a huge contribution to your journey of becoming a good father.”
Butler Zhao nodded. “Of course. I’ll help the eldest miss and teach Mr. Shi how to be a proper father.”
Shi Guoqiang roared in outrage. “Old Zhao! I’m the one paying your salary!!! Whose side are you even on? Remember, in this family, I’m the king!”