Chapter 57: Go After Your Own Happiness

“Big brother, what should I do?” Nangong Xin asked.

All her life, she had only ever liked Brother Junle. Among all the sons of noble families in the imperial city, not a single one had caught her eye. From the moment she first set foot in the Xi household, when she saw that gentle and refined young man seated under the dazzling lights, his slender fingers dancing across the black and white keys of the piano, his figure had been carved indelibly into her heart.

Xi Junle was the “white moonlight” in her mind.

She couldn’t begin to imagine the day when someone else, not her, would stand by the side of her “white moonlight.”

Nangong Ao gazed at the earnest longing in his sister’s eyes and sighed inwardly: He shouldn’t have let her meet Xi Junle in the first place!

Having known Xi Junle for many years, he understood the young man’s temperament well. If he truly liked Nangong Xin, he would never have remained silent for so long. One only had to observe how he treated Xianyu Zhen to know—Xi Junle was neither cold-hearted nor passive. When a man truly loves someone, he will pursue her without hesitation.

But Xianyu Zhen was not someone he should be involved with.

Yet, was he not also giving his own sister false hope?

Nangong Ao gathered his thoughts and said to Nangong Xin, “The Xi family is a family of scholars. Their standard for choosing the wife of their heir has always been kindness and a gentle disposition. You should already know what you ought to do.”

Nangong Xin blinked, listening attentively to her brother’s advice.

“Whether or not you are one day welcomed into the Xi family, as long as you strive for it with all your heart, you will not have wasted your sincerity.”

This was both Nangong Ao’s advice and his heartfelt wish.

Still, Nangong Xin was troubled. “But Xianyu Zhen is always clinging to Brother Junle…”

“They won’t end up together,” Nangong Ao said bluntly. “Grandmother and Lady Xi will never allow it, and Zhenzhen knows this in her heart.”

Nangong Xin was unconvinced, muttering, “If she knows, then she should keep her distance from Brother Junle.”

Nangong Ao tapped his fingers lightly on the table, deep in thought. He could only caution Xianyu Zhen, not restrict her completely. Moreover, if it was Xi Junle who was intentionally drawing near to her, it wouldn’t be easy for Zhenzhen to push him away outright.

“I’ll remind Zhenzhen again. You only need to focus on your own path.”

With these words from her brother, Nangong Xin finally felt reassured. “Alright, I’ll remember.”

After speaking with Nangong Xin, Nangong Ao pondered for a long while before knocking on the door of the next room.

Xianyu Zhen was on a video call with Mao Wandou. Assuming it was Aunt Rong bringing her milk, she opened the door without hesitation. The moment she saw Nangong Ao, she slammed it shut in a panic.

Nangong Ao froze for a moment.

“Ah, Xianyu, was that your brother just now?” Mao Wandou was halfway through her question when Xianyu Zhen ended the call.

She quickly pulled a thin coat from the wardrobe, tied her hair in a loose ponytail, and checked in the mirror to make sure her pink cartoon pig pajamas were hidden by the coat before opening the door again.

Fortunately, Young Master Ao was not wearing a dark expression.

Feeling awkward, Xianyu Zhen forced a smile and asked, “Big brother, is there something you need?”

Nangong Ao deliberately averted his gaze from her, looking to the side, but caught sight of a gift box on her vanity.

“Earlier, why did Xi Junle come to see you?”

“He asked me to deliver a gift to a sick little fan of his tomorrow,” Xianyu Zhen explained, then hesitated. “Was I wrong to agree?”

Nangong Ao looked at her conflicted expression and, though he’d intended to nod, instead said, “Next time, it’s better to refuse him.”

So, it was fine this time?

Relieved, Xianyu Zhen’s anxious face relaxed. “Alright, I won’t agree next time.”

She had only softened because of the sick little fan—it really had nothing to do with Young Master Xi.

Nangong Ao’s brow furrowed suddenly.

This girl seemed to trust him completely, unaware that his actions were not entirely for her sake, but had his own motives as well.

Had she never doubted him?

“It’s late. Get some rest,” Nangong Ao said, turning to leave for his own room.

After closing the door, Xianyu Zhen found her phone flooded with messages—all from Mao Wandou prying for gossip.

[Xianyu, why did Young Master Ao knock on your door in the middle of the night? Confess now!]

[Have you two gotten closer recently?]

[Why aren’t you replying? What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re betraying me!]

[Xianyu, I’m warning you, don’t forget your brother’s parting words!]

[Xianyu, forget what I just said. Go after your happiness! If you make a mistake, I’ll apologize to your brother for you!]

[Typing…]

Xianyu Zhen was exasperated and replied: [Stop guessing. Go to sleep!]

——

Nangong Ao finished reviewing the last document and glanced at the time—it was already two in the morning.

The delivery time and method for the Xi family’s gown had been finalized with Pross. Once the deal was done, the Xi family’s crisis would be over.

On the Zhengxuan side, Bai Luomei had wrapped things up. The only matter left was finding a heart donor for Xiao Zhiyun.

He had contacted Xiao Zhiyun’s father recently, assuring him that he would find a donor soon and hoping to dissuade him from sending Zhiyun to Country A.

Seeing Nangong Ao so devoted to his daughter, Zhiyun’s father had been overjoyed to agree.

Indeed, Dean Qiao of the Angel Hospital had said there was already some progress. All that remained was to wait for the right opportunity.

Once Zhiyun’s heart surgery was completed, he and Xianyu Zhen would no longer be on the defensive. Then, he would have to sit down with his grandmother to discuss the new plan…

Clang!

Suddenly, a noise came from the next room.

Nangong Ao paused for a couple of seconds before remembering there was someone staying in the adjacent guest room.

He hurried to Xianyu Zhen’s door, knocking several times with no response.

He returned to his study, looked out at the guest room balcony, and saw Xianyu Zhen kneeling by the floor-to-ceiling window—one hand clutching the curtain, the other pressed to her head, her face contorted with pain as she groaned.

Without hesitation, Nangong Ao leapt from his study balcony across to hers, yanked open the door with force, and rushed in.

“Zhenzhen!”

He knelt down, gently touching her, about to ask what was wrong.

Xianyu Zhen suddenly grabbed his arm, her eyes unfocused and helpless, muttering strange words.

Nangong Ao’s expression changed dramatically.

Perhaps others wouldn’t understand what she was saying, but he knew very well—it was the language of the Nangong family, more precisely, the ancient dialect from their ancestral homeland.

In today’s world, aside from Lady Nangong and himself, only a handful could understand this language.

How could Xianyu Zhen possibly know this ancient tongue? Could it be, as Grandmother had speculated, that her uniqueness was more than just a rare genetic trait?

Nangong Ao’s thoughts were in turmoil, until Xianyu Zhen buried her head in his chest and began to sob in pain—only then did he snap back to his senses.