Chapter 33 Part 2

  Far from just “not liking” her—it was more like disgust mixed with disdain, which was why she kept getting humiliated in all sorts of ways.

  She didn’t want to take care of Ming Siyu at all.

  Ming Siwei’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. “No way. If my sister doesn’t like you, why would she make you her secretary?”

  In her heart, Liu Ran replied: Because it’s convenient to keep me by her side to grope my wolf ears and tail anytime, anywhere.

  She couldn’t voice that explanation, so she rephrased it. “Being a secretary doesn’t necessarily mean it’s out of liking someone. It could also be as a form of punishment.”

  Ming Siwei sighed. “Alright then, I was being presumptuous. Don’t mind me, Aran. I’m just concerned about my sister. Because of some things that happened before, she might have some misunderstandings about me. I’ve always wanted to mend our relationship—concern breeds carelessness, after all. I’ll be heading back to G Country in a couple of days. Let’s exchange contact info. If you need any help, feel free to reach out. I may not be as capable as my sister, but I should still be able to lend a hand.”

  Looking at the QR code Ming Siwei held out, Liu Ran hesitated again.

  She still vividly remembered how Jian Huaici had tried to add her as a friend last time, only to be stopped by Ming Siyu. She was afraid Ming Siyu would be petty about it again.

  Ming Siyu, Ming Siyu, Ming Siyu! Enough already!

  Liu Ran felt utterly frustrated.

  Even talking to others required considering Ming Siyu. Adding someone on WeChat required considering Ming Siyu. Ming Siyu was like a permit hopping around everywhere, with an overwhelming presence that she couldn’t ignore even if she tried.

  In her hesitation, Ming Siwei had already guessed what was going on.

  ”What’s wrong? My sister wouldn’t hate me so much that she won’t even let you add my WeChat, would she? Did she specifically tell you not to add me? That means I’m pretty important in her heart if she’s going out of her way to warn you.”

  Liu Ran felt both annoyed and embarrassed. She kept her head down and said nothing, which confirmed Ming Siwei’s guess.

  ”It’s okay, Aran. We’ll have plenty of chances to meet in the future. Maybe one day my sister will forgive me and let us be friends. She’s restricting you from contacting me because she’s worried you’ll be influenced by the company you keep. Don’t blame her for it.”

  Ming Siwei blinked her round eyes, her words full of justifications for Ming Siyu’s behavior—as if everything Ming Siyu did made perfect sense, even if it meant belittling herself.

  Liu Ran suddenly understood a bit how Ming Siyu’s abrasive personality had been spoiled into existence. If the whole family treated Ming Siyu’s words like sacred decrees and no one dared to defy her, it was no wonder her temperament turned out this way.

  Ming Siwei chatted with Liu Ran about other things for a while longer. Soon, the birthday banquet began, and the guests started streaming into the banquet hall.

  The moment Liu Ran entered the banquet hall, she began scanning the room for Ming Siyu. It didn’t take long to spot her—Ming Siyu’s seat was too conspicuous, right next to Old Madam Ming on her right-hand side. Seated across from her was a middle-aged woman who was exceptionally well-preserved, exuding elegance in every gesture. She looked about eighty percent like Ming Siwei, dignified and poised, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. That had to be Ming Siyu’s aunt.

  Jian Huaici was seated a bit farther away. She happily waved at Liu Ran, her eyes curving into sweet crescent moons. Jian Huaijin, dressed in a matching sister outfit with her, gave Liu Ran a slight nod in greeting.

Liu Ran responded to each of them in turn, only to receive a glare from Ming Siyu.

  Just as Ming Siyu had said, Old Madam Ming enjoyed drinking, but she had to watch her health and couldn’t have too much. Since Ming Siyu was rarely present to show her support, whenever the old lady took a sip, Ming Siyu downed a full cup.

  Liu Ran helped block the toasts from the other guests.

  She wasn’t very skilled at first, but after blocking a few, she gradually got the hang of it. By the end, Liu Ran had lost track of how many cups she’d drunk. She still felt pretty sober, though everything she saw lagged a bit like a bad internet connection—otherwise, she was fine.

  As she drank, she thought to herself that she was doing an excellent job as a secretary. Strictly professional, not influenced at all by her personal grievances with Ming Siyu.

  After it ended, the guests began leaving one by one, but Old Madam Ming kept the Jian sisters behind separately.

  It turned out that Jian Huaijin’s grandmother and Old Madam Ming had been particularly close, with deep business ties between their families. By the generation of Ming Siyu’s aunt, the interactions had lessened, though they still exchanged visits during holidays. By the next generation, with Ming Siyu and Jian Huaijin taking the reins, both of them weren’t very social—Ming Siyu looked down on everyone, while Jian Huaijin had grown into a polite but reserved gourd. Their relationship had naturally faded.

  Old Madam Ming held Jian Huaijin’s hand in one of hers and Ming Siyu’s in the other, smiling warmly. They were the same age and had even been classmates, so there was already a foundation of familiarity. Now that both were past twenty-seven and single—one an Alpha, the other an Omega—why not pair them up?

  She’d said that Ming Siyu had differentiated early, and when she became an Omega, Old Madam Ming had mentioned to Jian Huaijin’s grandmother that if Jian Huaijin turned out to be an Alpha, they’d arrange a betrothal for the two.

  But before Jian Huaijin differentiated, her grandmother had passed away in an accident, and the betrothal fell through.

  ”It’s perfect now. On this auspicious day, let’s settle the betrothal we talked about,” Old Madam Ming said cheerfully.

  Hearing about the betrothal sobered Liu Ran up halfway.

  She looked at Jian Huaijin, who showed no surprise at all—instead, she had the air of someone who had known all along. Ming Siyu, meanwhile, slightly furrowed one brow, an expression Liu Ran was very familiar with. Ming Siyu was clearly displeased with the proposal but held back out of respect for the old lady.

  Sure enough, Old Madam Ming patted the back of Ming Siyu’s hand and said earnestly, “Xiaoyu, to be honest, Grandma mentioned it to Huaijin ahead of time, and she agreed. Now it all depends on you—”

  ”Sister, you agreed?!” Unexpectedly, before Ming Siyu could speak, it was Jian Huaici who cried out in shock.

  Everyone turned to look at Jian Huaici.

  Realizing her slip, Jian Huaici twisted her fingers in her clothes, forcing a smile. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. My sister didn’t tell me beforehand, so I was just surprised…”

  Old Madam Ming kindly said it was fine.

  Jian Huaijin said methodically, “My mother hoped I would find a suitable partner and marry soon before she passed. I think Siyu is very suitable. That’s why I agreed.”

  Ming Siyu’s aunt chimed in from the side. “Exactly. Look at you two—one an S-Level Omega, the other an S-Level Alpha. From age and looks to family background, one with strong opinions and the other so tolerant. It couldn’t be more perfect. I heard you’ve even been collaborating recently—that’s fate.”

  Liu Ran stared blankly, her gaze shifting between Ming Siyu and Jian Huaijin.

  They really did make a good match.

  Liu Ran couldn’t help recalling the first time she’d seen them together, hiding in the corridor of Huai Ci Sanatorium. Back then, she’d thought their auras complemented each other perfectly—Ming Siyu sharp and thorny like a rose, Jian Huaijin steady and reassuring, able to cover for her no matter what trouble she caused.

  But would Ming Siyu agree? If they really got together, would she be discarded?

  Ming Siyu had said Jian Huaijin was traditional and boring, with no bad habits—she absolutely wouldn’t allow hybrids like Mao Rongrong in the house.

  She would probably be tossed aside.

  Ming Siyu finally spoke. “Grandma, I have no plans to marry for the time being. And you know my personality—I never care about whether it’s suitable. I only go by whether I like it or not.”

  Those words were actually quite disrespectful to Jian Huaijin, but Jian Huaijin remained impassive, showing no displeasure.

  Instead, it was Ming Siwei who spoke up. “Grandma, I think my sister has a point. Marriage is such a big deal—how can we just decide it on the spot? Your sudden suggestion scared not just her, but me too.”

  Ming Siyu gave a cold laugh. “Ming Siwei, is this any of your business?”

  Ming Siwei: “Ayu-jiejie, I—”

  Ming Siyu’s aunt stood up for her daughter. “Xiaoyu, Siwei was just speaking up for you. No need to hold such a grudge against her. You’re sisters, after all.”

  Even in front of the Jian sisters, Ming Siyu didn’t hold back. She said icily, “Auntie, today is Grandma’s seventieth birthday. I don’t want to say anything too harsh. Who I have issues with is my business. It’s not up to you to interfere.”

  As the atmosphere grew tense, Old Madam Ming smoothed things over. “Hey, that’s between the sisters. Let the younger generation handle it themselves. What are you, a senior, stirring up trouble for?”

  She turned to persuade Ming Siyu. “Xiaoyu, Grandma is getting old. You’re the granddaughter I dote on most. I just want you to find someone from a matching family to marry, so you’ll have support later. Here’s the thing—I’m not saying you have to decide today. Why don’t you spend some time getting to know Huaijin first? If it doesn’t work out, we can talk then.”

  She apologized to Jian Huaijin. “Sorry you sisters had to see that. Xiaoyu’s always been straightforward like this. It’s not aimed at you—it’s because I sprang it on her without warning. Don’t take it to heart.”

  Jian Huaijin nodded. “Grandma, I understand.”

  Jian Huaici tugged at Jian Huaijin’s clothes, her little face pale. She whispered, “Sister, my head feels dizzy…”

  Panic flashed in Jian Huaijin’s eyes. She stood and said to Old Madam Ming, “Xiaoci isn’t feeling well. It’s getting late, and we’ve covered what needed saying. Grandma, I’ll take Xiaoci back first and visit you another day.”

  Old Madam Ming nodded repeatedly, her gaze sweeping over everyone before suddenly pointing at the dazed Liu Ran. “You, the new secretary of Xiaoyu—go see Huaijin and Huaici off.”

  Caught off guard, Liu Ran pointed at herself, her head spinning. “Me?”

  ”Yes, you. Go on, quick.”

  Liu Ran stumbled out with the Jian sisters in a daze. At first, Jian Huaijin had her arm around Jian Huaici’s shoulders, but after descending one flight of stairs, she hoisted her sister onto her back.

  Watching their backs, Liu Ran thought hazily that their bond was truly strong—complete opposites compared to Ming Siyu and Ming Siwei.

  After seeing the Jian sisters off in the parking lot, Liu Ran thought that having such a big house wasn’t all good—you still had a long walk back. The alcohol was hitting her now, her stomach churning with nausea. She spotted Ming Siyu’s car among those left in the lot, walked over, and squatted down beside it.

  Ming Siyu had said that if she couldn’t hold out, she could leave first.

  The driver asked if she wanted some water or to rest in the car. Afraid she’d vomit inside, Liu Ran shook her head and refused.

  Liu Ran plucked a small flower and started pulling off its petals one by one. “Together; not together; together; not together…”

  When she finished, it landed on the infuriating “not together.”

  Nooo, Ming Siyu has to get together with Jian Huaijin! Liu Ran wailed inwardly. Refusing to accept it, she picked another flower and tried again—only to get “not together” once more.

  The alcohol’s aftereffects were strong. She’d felt nothing while drinking, but now her vision was doubling. She stubbornly kept her eyes open, desperately searching for a flower that would give her “together.”

  She failed.

  Until someone lightly nudged her butt with the tip of a shoe.

  ”Get up. Time to go home.”

  Liu Ran twisted her head and saw three Ming Siyus standing in front of her.