"Alright, since you're back now, settle in properly. If you need anything, just tell Aunt Chen." The old master's attitude toward Sang Ning had softened considerably.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
Sang Ning had initially intended to curtsy, but recalling her earlier observations, she noticed they didn’t seem to observe such formalities, so she simply gave a slight nod instead.
Only then did the old master rise and leave. The crowd surrounding him cast glances at Sang Ning, each harboring their own thoughts, before dispersing.
Only Nan Zhenming’s family remained. Nan Zhenming looked at this unfamiliar daughter of his, his emotions a tangled mess. He felt a lingering guilt for having lost her all these years, but at the same time, the thought of her having spent two decades in the countryside, without even a university education, made him worry she’d be an embarrassment to him.
Who knew if his second brother would use this as leverage to smear his reputation?
While Nan Zhenming hesitated and brooded, Sang Ning quietly observed him in return.
Suddenly, Nan Zhenming lifted his head and met her clear, penetrating gaze—so sharp it almost felt like she could see right through him.
Impossible. Just a naive country girl who knew nothing.
Nan Zhenming took a deep breath before adopting the stern tone of a father. "You’ve just returned and need time to adjust. Rest first. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for a tutor to come. The Nan family isn’t as casual as the countryside—there are rules here, and you must learn them humbly."
Sang Ning nodded slightly. "Understood."
Her tone was respectful, yet distant.
Wen Meiling, her eyes reddened, stepped forward and took Sang Ning’s hand. "Ningning, from now on, we’re all family. I’m so happy you’re back."
Sang Ning glanced at Nan Siya, prompting Wen Meiling to take Nan Siya’s hand as well, placing it together with Sang Ning’s. "Siya will be your younger sister now. She’s timid, so you must take good care of her."
Wen Meiling then reached for Nan Muchen’s hand, but he jerked away, his impatience plain on his face. As a high schooler at an age where reputation mattered, the last thing he wanted was his classmates finding out he had a country bumpkin for a sister.
Nan Siya reluctantly placed her hand over Sang Ning’s, inwardly disgusted but feigning timidity as she looked at Wen Meiling. "Mom..."
Wen Meiling immediately embraced her reassuringly. "I’ve already said, we’re all family now. Don’t worry—you’ve been my daughter for twenty years. How could I not cherish you?"
Nan Siya felt a surge of smugness. So what if Xie Sang Ning had returned? Her parents still doted on her. After all, she was the daughter they had raised for two decades—how could some stray picked up from the countryside compare?
She stole a glance at Xie Sang Ning, who was witnessing this mother-daughter moment firsthand, and didn’t bother hiding her triumph. The best outcome would be if Sang Ning threw a tantrum right here—then their parents would surely grow to despise her completely.
But Sang Ning only smiled, her voice calm. "Don’t worry, Mom. From now on, Siya is my own sister. I’ll naturally take good care of her."
She had already tamed all those half-siblings back home—what were two more?
Nan Siya’s face twitched in shock. Who asked for her care?!
Wen Meiling also seemed taken aback, not expecting Sang Ning to be so mature.
"W-well, that’s good then."
Having nothing left to say, Wen Meiling turned to Aunt Chen. "Take the young lady to see her room."
"Yes." Aunt Chen replied, though she couldn’t help shooting a wary glance at Xie Sang Ning before leading the way.
Sang Ning followed Aunt Chen upstairs.
Wen Meiling watched Sang Ning’s composed retreating figure, her still-red eyes filled with confusion.
"This child… she’s far too calm. It’s like she has no emotions at all."
While maturity was a good thing, this level of detachment made her feel as though Sang Ning didn’t truly care about her own birth mother.
Nan Muchen scoffed. "What kind of feelings could there be at a first meeting?"
Nan Zhenming frowned as well, though not over matters of affection—rather, this girl carried an inexplicable air of authority that left him uneasy.
---
Sang Ning followed Aunt Chen upstairs, taking in the unfamiliar mansion along the way. The enormous crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the winding staircase—all were things she had never seen before. Yet the space felt hollow, its aesthetic chaotic and displeasing to her eye.
Aunt Chen discreetly observed the young girl looking around and inwardly sneered. Truly a country bumpkin—gawking at a house like it was some spectacle. Who knew how embarrassingly uncultured she’d act in public?
"Young Miss Xie, this is your room." Aunt Chen opened a door and gestured for Sang Ning to enter.
It was a frilly, pink princess-themed bedroom—cozy yet visually overwhelming.
Aunt Chen explained, "Madam specially prepared this room for you, identical to Young Miss Siya’s. Please rest for now. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you may ask me."
Sang Ning stepped inside, surveying the space. Just as Aunt Chen was about to leave, Sang Ning called out, "Wait."
Aunt Chen paused, irritated by the commanding tone but somehow compelled to obey without thinking.
Sang Ning turned to face her, her gaze deep and unreadable like an ancient well, her voice cool. "Change the room’s decor to celadon. Remove those oddly shaped dolls from the bed and clear the clutter from the desk."
Aunt Chen was stunned. How dare she have so many complaints about this room?!
Wasn’t it a thousand times better than some shabby country hut? Instead of being grateful, she had the nerve to nitpick?!
Aunt Chen opened her mouth, ready to lecture her. "This was all arranged by Madam herself. It’s her kind gesture—how could you, Young Miss Xie—"
Sang Ning cut her off, her voice icy. "Do as I say. If you can’t manage it, find someone who can."
Aunt Chen choked, her face flushing red with suppressed anger and panic.
"I—I only meant well for Young Miss Xie..."
"One more thing." Sang Ning’s cold eyes pinned her in place. "From now on, address me simply as ‘Miss.’ Grandfather has already accepted my tea in recognition of my return to the family. Your current disrespect makes me wonder if you no longer wish to work here."
A servant this ill-mannered would have long been dismissed in the Xie Family.
"That’s not—" Aunt Chen stammered, realizing this country girl wasn’t as easy to handle as she’d thought.
Aunt Chen valued her position—after all, high-society circles were interconnected. If she were fired from the Nan household, no other respectable family would hire her.
Forcing a smile, she said, "I’ll arrange the changes for Miss right away."
Sang Ning gave a slight nod before walking over to the swivel chair behind the desk and sitting down, waiting for Aunt Chen to begin.
The chair wobbled slightly, and she rocked it experimentally, intrigued.
She carefully analyzed the situation of the Nan family. The current head of the household was still the old patriarch, who had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Nan Zhenming, was her father. The other son and daughter had just been in the living room, and she could sense the tension between the brothers—subtle but unmistakable.
It wasn’t surprising. Sibling rivalry was common, especially when family assets were at stake. Everyone wanted a bigger piece of the pie. She had seen it all before. What’s more, she could tell that her father was all bark and no bite, a man who relied on bluster and cared deeply about appearances.
But even he paled in comparison to the old patriarch when it came to pride.
Her father had one son and one daughter—no, now it was one son and two daughters.
The Nan family’s dynamics were complicated, but compared to the sprawling, influential Xie Family, they were far simpler to handle.
More importantly, in this second chance at life, she was still the legitimate eldest daughter.
She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. This world was entirely unfamiliar, and she definitely needed to learn the ropes.
Her gaze drifted to the bookshelf, packed to the brim. She pulled out a random volume: Civil Code.
Then another: Computer Science Crash Course.
And another—The Founding History of the Nation.