Sang Ning paused for three seconds, pursed her lips slightly, closed the ring box, and then stored it along with the other long boxes in the walk-in closet.
She had cleared out an entire section of the wardrobe for He Siyu, and now she placed these items into a large drawer beside it.
Half an hour later, He Siyu emerged from his study after finishing a meeting. Sang Ning was curled up on the sofa watching TV, still holding the plate of strawberry cake in her hands.
He sat down beside her, but she didn’t react, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the screen. The cake in her hand was only half-eaten, the fork motionless.
"What are you watching?" He followed her gaze to the television, where a drama was playing.
"Dream Lover, my family has already arranged a marriage for me. Everyone wants to tear us apart, but I love only you! Even if the whole world opposes us, I still want to be with you!"
The woman wept pitifully.
The man gripped her hand tightly, heartbroken. "I curse my own helplessness—no matter how hard I try, I cannot marry you. Yingying, we’ll meet again in the next life! Let me go first!"
As he spoke, he raised a sword to his throat, ready to end his life.
The woman immediately grabbed his hand, shaking her head through tears. "No! If you die, I won’t live either! Dream Lover, take me away with you! I’m willing to elope! Even without status, even if the whole world turns against us, I just want to stay by your side forever!"
"Really?!"
"Let heaven and earth bear witness—from this moment on, I, Xue Yingying, am your wife!"
The two embraced tightly.
He Siyu frowned. What nonsense was this?
Sang Ning blinked. Why did this scene feel so familiar?
"You like watching this?" He Siyu asked.
Sang Ning snapped out of her thoughts. "No, I just find it... refreshing."
This melodramatic mess was refreshing?
What wouldn’t she find refreshing?
"Didn’t you watch TV in the mountains?"
Sang Ning shook her head. "No."
"..."
Watching the screen, Sang Ning mused, "You shouldn’t watch too much of this kind of TV."
"Why?"
She answered seriously, "It rots your brain."
In ancient times, what decent girl would pledge herself to some rogue man? She had barely even spoken to men outside her family.
A proper marriage required matchmakers and betrothal gifts—who in their right mind would abandon a fiancé chosen by their family to elope with a stranger? That was pure madness.
Nan Siya probably ruined her brain watching shows like this.
He Siyu: "..."
His arm lazily wrapped around her waist. "You seemed pretty engrossed to me."
Sang Ning froze.
The plot might be brainless, but... it was oddly addictive.
She turned to him and replied earnestly, "I was watching it critically."
He leaned in to kiss her. "Mm. Then watch more."
Sang Ning quickly raised a hand to stop him, tilting her head away. "It’s almost dinnertime!"
There were still people in the house, and she wasn’t comfortable being affectionate in front of others.
Nanny Zhang chose that moment to step out. "Sir, Miss, dinner is ready. I’ll take my leave now. I’ll come back every morning at ten."
He Siyu glanced over. "Fine."
Nanny Zhang immediately untied her apron and left.
He Siyu pressed a kiss to Sang Ning’s lips. "Let’s eat."
Sang Ning nodded. "Mm."
He Siyu scanned the empty living room and suddenly asked, "Did you put all my things away?"
Sang Ning’s eyes flickered. "Mm. Nanny Zhang helped."
He Siyu’s lips thinned slightly. "I see."
He took her hand. "Let’s go eat."
Sang Ning lowered her gaze, watching his large hand envelop hers, gripping tightly.
An inexplicable ache bloomed in her chest.
She flexed her fingers. Thinking she was trying to pull away, he instinctively tightened his hold, clasping her even firmer.
Her fingers curled into his palm, then slid between his. He stiffened slightly, turning to look at her as her small hand interlaced with his, their fingers entwining.
Mimicking his usual gesture, she brushed her thumb lightly over the back of his hand—clumsy but deliberate, like a silent promise.
His movements stilled. The touch was feather-light, yet it sent a ripple through him, his eyes briefly dazed.
His throat moved, his gaze darkening. "Are you not hungry yet?"
She blinked, suddenly meeting the smoldering intensity in his eyes. Her fingertips trembled faintly. "I am hungry."
He pushed her back into the sofa, his dark eyes pinning her. "Seems like you’re not. You’ve still got energy to tease me."
Sang Ning: "?"
"How am I teasing you?!"
"Mm. You’re not." His tone was dismissive as he sealed her lips with his own.
Sang Ning sank into the soft cushions beneath him, turning her face away. "We haven’t eaten dinner yet!"
His kisses trailed from her cheek to her neck, his voice a murmur. "You had strawberry cake."
"I only ate half!"
He lifted his head slightly, his darkened eyes brimming with desire. "Then keep eating."
His lips captured hers again, his low voice a velvet caress. "I’ll let you taste me instead."
Sang Ning’s mind blanked for a second before her ears burned crimson, her breath hitching. "He Siyu, have you no shame?!"
His large hand pressed against her waist, his ragged breath scorching against her skin.
"Yanyan, I’m sweeter than cake."