Chapter 5: The Medical Expenses Will Be Paid to You

As soon as Nangong Xin called out “Security,” a familiar voice sounded from the doorway. “What’s going on here?”

Everyone’s gaze immediately shifted to the person standing at the door.

He wore a white suit that accentuated his lean, tall frame. His ash-blond hair fell to his shoulders and was tucked casually behind his ear, revealing a sapphire-blue earring. His delicate facial features carried a gentle air, and his phoenix-shaped eyes brimmed with charm, their irises tinged faintly with blue—a gaze that could easily bewitch.

Everyone recognized him: the second young master of the Nangong family—Nangong Lü.

He was notorious for drifting between luxury clubs and lavish parties, always accompanied by beautiful women. Today, though, he had appeared alone and, as usual, a little late.

Nangong Xin’s expression darkened the moment she saw him. Her second brother never missed a chance to contradict her.

And, sure enough, he started in at once.

“Little Xin, it’s only been a few days, and you’ve put on weight again. No wonder your voice just now was so thunderous when you yelled!”

His teasing only made Nangong Xin’s face cloud over further. “Second brother, didn’t you get yourself grounded by Auntie after provoking the wrong woman last time?”

Nangong Lü laughed dismissively. “Thanks to you, I’m allowed out again!”

Nangong Xin was left fuming.

After goading his sister, Nangong Lü turned his playful gaze on Xianyu Zhen, who stood quietly to the side. “Little Xin, were you bullying this sweet and innocent little darling just now?”

Xianyu Zhen’s features were delicately refined, uncannily reminiscent of her birth mother: neat brows, a pert nose, almond-shaped eyes clear as an autumn lake—pure and limpid, untouched by the world.

Her closest confidante, Doudou, often said that at first glance, she looked just like the ragdoll cat her cousin kept: gentle, adorable, and irresistibly easy to tease.

Especially now, dressed in a simple white round-collared dress and nude-colored flats, she seemed both obedient and pure. Standing among the elegantly dressed heiresses of wealthy families, she was a striking contrast.

Nangong Lü had seen all kinds of girls in upscale clubs, but encountering one like this in the Nangong family’s villa was a novelty.

Beneath Nangong Lü’s unabashed scrutiny, Xianyu Zhen felt increasingly uncomfortable. She raised her eyes and stared back at him.

His brows arched slightly in interest. Oh? Turns out this kitten has claws—how intriguing!

Watching their silent standoff, Nangong Xin couldn’t help but sneer, “Second brother, don’t tell me you brought this girl here? Since when did your taste sink so low?”

Nangong Lü shrugged. “Just trying something different for a change.”

He then walked toward Xianyu Zhen, his phoenix eyes curving with a hint of affection as he smiled down at her. “But you know, I only ever pick the beautiful and the cute.”

Xianyu Zhen instinctively took two steps back, putting distance between them, and replied with a blank expression, “We’re not acquainted.”

No, indeed—they weren’t.

He was the second young master of the Nangong family, and tonight, Madam Nangong would formally introduce them. But after that, she would still keep her distance.

Peacocks like him, who loved to flaunt themselves before the opposite sex, should always be kept outside the “safety zone” her brother had warned her about.

Nangong Lü paused, clearly surprised. It was the first time anyone had regarded him with such open rejection.

Had he failed to style his hair properly today? Or perhaps his cologne was off? He could not fathom any other reason for being met with such indifference. Normally, weren’t women eager to get closer to him?

His baffling confidence came not just from his looks, but also from the power of the Nangong name.

In all of Imperial City, aside from his eldest brother and the young master of the Zhai family, none could rival his charm. Unlike his brother, who labored tirelessly, Nangong Lü enjoyed life’s pleasures and still commanded nearly a third of the Nangong fortune. What woman wouldn’t be drawn to such a man?

Usually, Nangong Xin would be delighted to see her brother rebuffed, but the fact that it was done by a nobody—an upstart—left her especially irritated.

“You don’t even know my second brother? How did you get into the villa? Are the Nangong family’s security guards just for show?”

At these words, cold sweat broke out on the brow of the security captain in the surveillance room.

He hurriedly barked into the intercom, “Xiao Jiang, what are you waiting for? Can’t you see the third young lady is angry?”

No sooner had he spoken than a man in a black security uniform approached Xianyu Zhen, stepping between her and Nangong Lü. He spoke in a low voice, “Miss, please come with me.”

Xianyu Zhen stood her ground, waiting for Steward Xue to step in and diffuse the situation.

But Steward Xue seemed too busy to notice.

Nangong Xin, brows tightly knit, snapped at the guard, “What are you waiting for? Drag her out!”

The guard, tall and imposing, stood straight as a rod, but carried himself with unyielding politeness. “Please, miss, come with me.”

Xianyu Zhen looked up at him; she remembered this guard’s voice.

Earlier, when she had entered the ballroom with the servants, the heel of her shoe had caught on the red carpet and she had nearly fallen. He had reached out to steady her and quietly warned her to be careful.

He could vouch for her, yet Xianyu Zhen quietly followed him out.

They had barely gone a few steps when suddenly, the tip of a shoe appeared in her path. Caught off guard, she stumbled.

The guard in front was quick to react, catching her before she could fall flat, saving her from embarrassment—though she could not escape the scattered laughter that rippled around her.

Once steady, Xianyu Zhen drew a deep breath and thanked the guard.

Then, turning swiftly, she brought her foot down on the offending shoe—still extended on the floor.

It was a light step, but the instigator let out a series of pained cries, crouching and clutching her foot in agony.

It’s worth mentioning that Xianyu Zhen had learned a bit of self-defense from Old Gu in her village. Her teacher always said—you may not start fights, but you must never let yourself be bullied!

Her action left everyone present momentarily speechless.

Xianyu Zhen bent down and softly apologized to the culprit. “I’m sorry. If you need medical care, I’ll cover the cost.”

“You…” The woman wanted to curse her out, but swallowed the words.

At the staircase on the second floor, Nangong Ao and Xiao Zhiyun were descending.

The crowd began to whisper among themselves.

At twenty-six, the head of the Nangong family rarely appeared in public. Partly because of the demands of business, partly from his distaste for noisy gatherings.

Yet he remained a burning topic in elite circles—not just for his strikingly handsome features, but also for his commanding presence as master of the Nangong clan.

His legend still circulated among the wealthy: Three years ago, he had been kidnapped by the infamous Qisu Pavilion, an international criminal organization. Not only did he escape unharmed, he killed the leader of that organization in person.

Coincidentally, two other hostages taken with him were also figures of global importance—one a royal, one a titan of international business.

Afterward, the Nangong family’s commercial empire had expanded from the nation to the world.