Shen Mianmian woke up but did not contact He Nan. She had thought it over all night and felt it was best to bide her time for now. She believed that Fu Hua might want to talk to her but would not engage in any underhanded tactics behind her back.
At the same time, Cheng Xining also arrived at the Ruan Family’s home, crying and complaining to Ruan Lingyu.
"Aunt, you have no idea how cunning Shen Mianmian is. She asked me for a talk, and I went, thinking it was just between the two of us. For Nan’s sake, I pleaded with her, my voice low, saying that our family would sponsor her college education as long as she agreed not to associate with Nan in the future. But not only did she not agree, she also alerted Nan to come over in advance. Then she deliberately provoked me and spilled coffee on me, injuring my face. And to make things worse, He Nan still took her side." Cheng Xining felt thankful, though, for not bringing her mother, otherwise, this lie would be difficult to tell.
Ruan Yiqian happened to be at home too and frowned upon hearing this.
If what Xining said was true, then Shen Mianmian was indeed quite scheming.
Ruan Lingyu’s face turned cold as she listened, and she was also deeply distressed. After losing her own daughter, she regarded Cheng Xining as her own. Both the Cheng and Ruan families would hate to see Xining wronged, yet a girl from the countryside dared to bully her.
"Is the injury to your face serious? Will it leave a scar? Why did you go to meet her alone? You can’t go alone next time."
"Hmm." Cheng Xining nodded vigorously, then cried, "Aunt, I really like Nan. I’d take a beating from Shen Mianmian as long as she agreed to leave Nan alone. But she’s unwilling, and she flaunted her power in front of me. Aunt, can’t you help me?"
Although Ruan Lingyu felt sorry for Cheng Xining, she felt powerless, "Xining, I know you like Xiaonan, but there’s not much I can do about matters of the heart."
"There is a way," Cheng Xining said. "Aunt, as long as Shen Mianmian leaves here, she won’t have the chance to tempt Nan."
"That’s a bit difficult. She’s studying in Beijing and might work here in the future," Ruan Yiqian said.
Cheng Xining’s eyes turned fierce, "Then we should make it so she can’t study here anymore."
Ruan Lingyu and Ruan Yiqian’s faces changed simultaneously, "Xining."
"Great Aunt, she’s bullied me , don’t you feel sorry for me?" Cheng Xining pleaded again.
"Our two families, Ruan and He, have never used our status to do such things," Ruan Yiqian said sternly.
Ruan Lingyu also said, "If this gets out, it could affect our relationship with the He Family."
With the He Family patriarch getting on in years and He Nan’s father having passed away early, He Nan was effectively the head of the family. If they were to do this, it could strain their relationship with the He Family in the future.
Cheng Xining was persistent, "Just ask Aunt Fu to intervene, it wouldn’t come to He Nan getting angry with Aunt Fu."
"Dismiss such thoughts immediately," Ruan Yiqian said firmly. "There are plenty of men in the world. If Xiaonan doesn’t like you, move on and consider other men."
Cheng Xining began to cry again.
Ruan Yiqian was about to offer her a few words of wisdom when the phone in the living room suddenly rang. He picked up the call, and his expression changed abruptly, "Okay, thank you. I’ll be there as soon as I can."
After hanging up, he said to Ruan Lingyu, "Mom, I have to deal with something, I might need to travel far. Please comfort Xining and help her correct her thoughts."