Chapter 25 Part 1

Xu Dan and the others continued the topic of “formal dresses” in the group chat. Chi Nuan responded sporadically, while Gu Ningzi had already started playing games.

The car left Yuncheng from the west and got onto the highway. At the toll station, they encountered a police checkpoint for a random inspection. Secretary Su handed the driver’s license out the window.

Seeing this, Chi Nuan secretly felt relieved that Gu Ningzi wasn’t the one driving today, or it would have been trouble.

After passing the inspection, Secretary Su put away the license and gave Gu Ningzi a half-smiling glance.

The journey was quite long. After picking up Xu Dan and the others, the group chat went quiet. Chi Nuan put away her mobile phone and scooted over to watch Gu Ningzi play her game. She didn’t usually play these things and couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so she ended up yawning nonstop. Gu Ningzi asked her, “Want to sleep for a bit?”

Chi Nuan nodded.

Gu Ningzi shook out a thin blanket, and Chi Nuan draped it over herself as she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.

Halfway through the trip, Secretary Su glanced up at the rearview mirror. The sunshades on the back seat were all pulled down. Chi Nuan had at some point pillowed her head on Gu Ningzi’s shoulder, her chest rising and falling evenly in sleep—her sleeping posture was very well-behaved.

“A-Ning.” Secretary Su started to say something, but Gu Ningzi shook her head, signaling her not to make a sound.

…

Chi Nuan was jolted awake by Xu Dan’s call. Xu Dan asked where they were now.

Chi Nuan rubbed her eyes and looked around. The car had already exited the highway and entered downtown L City. The streets before her were completely unfamiliar, leaving her dazed. She asked Gu Ningzi, “Where are we?”

Secretary Su chimed in, “Almost there. If there’s no traffic, about ten minutes.”

Chi Nuan relayed this to Xu Dan, who said, “Alright then, we’ll talk when you arrive—we’re almost here too. Just drive straight into the underground garage.”

Xu Dan’s tone sounded a bit off. Chi Nuan told Gu Ningzi, “Something seems to have happened. Xu Dan said to talk when we get there and to drive straight into the garage.”

The car entered the underground garage. As they passed the elevator, Chi Nuan spotted Xu Dan at a glance. She was indeed dressed very formally, standing out brightly in the crowd.

Chi Nuan pressed against the car window and said, “There they are! Right there!”

Hearing this, Secretary Su found a nearby spot and parked.

The three of them got out one after another. Xue Wen noticed Chi Nuan, her gaze lingering on her for several seconds before shifting to Gu Ningzi beside her, then quickly moving away.

Xu Dan joined Chi Nuan and got straight to the point. “There was a problem with the room Xue Wen booked. We were almost here when the hotel manager contacted her, saying the presidential suite she’d reserved ahead of time had been taken by her stepmom… Damn, why didn’t I think to wear a cheongsam? You look so good!”

“…” Chi Nuan ignored the last part and mouthed silently, “Stepmom?”

Xu Dan lowered her voice cooperatively. “That’s our guess. From the tone when Xue Wen took the call, there’s no way her relationship with her own daughter could be that bad!”

“…” Your guess is way too bold.

Chi Nuan looked toward Xue Wen, who was talking to a middle-aged man in a suit.

“…Eldest Miss, I’m truly sorry. I’ve tried to arrange other rooms for you. They’re not as good as the presidential suite, but the views are excellent. Could you please…”

Xue Wen replied, “If there were empty rooms, why did you let her take mine?”

“The gentleman made the request. I mentioned you, Eldest Miss, but he…”

“What did my dad say?”

“The gentleman said Madam needed to host important guests…” The man didn’t dare meet Xue Wen’s eyes. She knew full well that people like him always said half and left half unsaid—probably omitting some ugly words afterward.

Her expression tightened. After a moment, she sneered coldly, “Fine, let her have it. It’s not like we have to stay here.”

“Eldest Miss, Seizing the Dragon is holding its premiere here. All the hotels big and small around are fully booked these two days with fans chasing stars…”

He meant it as a kind reminder, but Xue Wen snapped at him coldly, “Shut up!”

Xu Dan and the others were used to seeing the gentle, soft-spoken Xue Wen. They’d almost forgotten she was called No. 1 Middle School Big Sis Head by their classmates in private. This was the first time they’d seen her lose her temper, and they exchanged stunned glances.

Du Min said, “Xue Wen must be really pissed.”

Xu Dan said indignantly, “I think her stepmom did it on purpose to put her in her place. A-Wen is tough—we can’t hold her back. If we don’t stay, we don’t stay. Worst case, we head back to Yuncheng overnight!”

Everyone nodded, reaching a consensus without surprise.

Gu Ningzi turned back. Secretary Su met her gaze, understood, and walked back to the car. She pulled out a tablet, leaned against the car, and browsed.

The man, even after being scolded, kept bowing and scraping. He said to Xue Wen, “Eldest Miss, it’s dinnertime now. We’ve prepared the meal you ordered, with the freshest ingredients. Leaving that aside, would you and your friends like to go up and grab a bite first?”

Xue Wen frowned impatiently but didn’t refuse. She knew everyone was hungry, and turning it down now meant no better place to eat.

Reading the room, the man immediately pressed the up elevator button.

As the elevator descended slowly, Secretary Su handed the tablet to Gu Ningzi. Gu Ningzi glanced at it and nodded. Secretary Su put the tablet away, took out her mobile phone, and stepped aside to make a call.

The elevator arrived, and everyone filed in. Chi Nuan saw Secretary Su wasn’t coming back and asked Gu Ningzi what was up. Gu Ningzi said, “Don’t worry about her. She’ll handle herself.”

They reached the floor and entered the reserved private dining room. One entire wall was a transparent floor-to-ceiling window with a broad view—standing at the edge, they could almost overlook half of L City.

The horizon was dyed red by the sunset, and the lights hadn’t come on yet. The atmosphere had been rather heavy before, but Xu Dan couldn’t help squealing “wow” as she plastered herself to the window, snapping a barrage of selfies before dragging everyone else in for group photos.