Chapter 75

During the meal, Sheng Changyu sat at the head of the table, Meng Xinliang sat next to him, and Ning Zhen sat to Sheng Changyu’s left. 

The atmosphere wasn’t particularly harmonious, but it was bearable. 

Whenever tensions began to rise, someone would immediately step in to smooth things over. 

That “someone” was Ning Zhen and Cheng Baisheng. 

They were both exhausted. 

Ning Zhen could tell that Meng Xinliang didn’t want to stir up trouble. Unlike the previous time at the trading company, he didn’t have someone point a gun over Sheng Changyu’s head. 

Meng Xinliang was making a sincere effort to keep things calm during the meal. 

The one confronting Sheng Changyu head-on was Prince Wen Weinian. 

“…You and Zhen’er were classmates?”  

The person who asked this was Ning Zhen’s second brother, Ning Yishen. 

Ning Zhen never would have expected that after all her and Cheng Baisheng’s efforts to prevent conflict, her own family would start a fire. 

For a moment, she thought, “Fine, whoever wants to die can go ahead and die.” 

“Yes,” Wen Weinian replied. 

Her second brother was about to continue, but her eldest brother stepped on his foot under the table. 

While he may not have understood facial expressions or subtle hints, he certainly understood pain. 

So her second brother dropped the topic. 

At that moment, Sheng Changyu spoke up, “Who had better grades when you were in school?” 

Ning Zhen answered, “I did.” 

She had always ranked first in every subject. 

Except for the semester when Wen Liangyu passed away. During that time, she missed all her classes and exams, lost in a haze. 

Afterward, she threw herself into her studies, trying desperately to forget him and earn her diploma. 

“The professors were biased in your favor,” Wen Weinian remarked. 

Sheng Changyu scoffed, “Making excuses after losing. How pathetic.” 

Wen Weinian retorted, “People of integrity never lose.” 

Ning Zhen: speechless 

Sheng Changyu didn’t respond to Wen Weinian’s comment. Instead, he turned to Ning Zhen and said, “You’re so good at your studies. Don’t let that go to waste. Weren’t you going to help me plan the inner courtyard of the Governor’s Mansion?” 

Cheng Baisheng:  

You weren’t on board when she first brought it up, and now, after a full circle, you’re agreeing? 

What’s going on? 

“Can Zhen’er really take on such a big task?” Ning Zhen’s sister-in-law asked with a smile. 

Sheng Changyu replied, “It’s just a small courtyard renovation at home, not a major project. As long as she’s happy living there, that’s all that matters.” 

Everyone:  

Ning Zhen was grateful Sheng Changyu didn’t press the issue further and even supported her. 

She immediately said, “I’ll do my best.” 

She was eager to take on the responsibility. 

Helping her superior and gaining his favor would secure her a place in his circle. 

There were no more arguments after that. 

The meal ended peacefully, though no one seemed fully satisfied. 

After dinner, her second brother took Jin Nuan out for a late-night snack since their stomachs were still half-empty; her eldest brother accompanied his wife home and also gave Chu Jingyue a ride. 

After dropping Chu Jingyue off, her eldest brother said to his wife, “Your cousin is sure to be a hit with Grandmother. She’s very smart. You really know how to pick people.” 

Her sister-in-law replied, “I only introduced her because I thought she was a good match.” 

“Both the Governor and Meng Xinliang were present, and she didn’t say a single unnecessary word. If she were a more frivolous young woman, she would’ve tried to show off in some way. Your eye is sharp,” her brother said. 

Her sister-in-law smiled. 

“Let’s ask the third brother later to see if he’s interested,” she said. 

Her brother replied, “He disappeared during dinner. Who knows where he went.” 

“I’ll ask Zhen’er. He rode in her car, so he must have told her,” her sister-in-law said. 

The couple both seemed to approve of the match between the young people. 

Ning Zhen didn’t leave with her brother and sister-in-law. Instead, she stayed behind in the private dining room of the restaurant with Sheng Changyu and Cheng Baisheng for a moment longer. 

Everyone else had left, and Meng Xinliang had also taken Wen Weinian with him. 

With no one else around, Cheng Baisheng dropped his formal demeanor, sat on the sofa next to Sheng Changyu, and lit a cigarette. 

He was exhausted. 

“Prince Wen was much more restrained tonight,” Cheng Baisheng said. “Meng Xinliang has quite the influence, even managing to keep Prince Wen in check.” 

Ning Zhen agreed, “Mr. Meng has some real skill. I also thought Wen Weinian’s temper was better tonight. He’s usually arrogant and condescending, looking down on everyone.” 

Cheng Baisheng laughed, “Was he like that when you were in school?” 

“Yes. He’s always had a strange personality—no one ever knows what he’s thinking, and he loves to put on airs.” 

“You didn’t get along with him?” 

“We barely spoke a few words,” Ning Zhen replied. 

Cheng Baisheng seemed even more interested. “How did you end up having a falling out?” 

As he asked, he glanced at Sheng Changyu out of the corner of his eye, worried that Sheng might interrupt and not let Ning Zhen talk. 

Luckily, Sheng Changyu was smoking, lighting his cigarette quietly. Amid the smoke, his gaze was distant and calm, not paying any attention to their conversation. 

It seemed like he didn’t care. 

“…I had good grades,” Ning Zhen kept her reply short, not wanting to delve into the subject. 

Cheng Baisheng chuckled, “He was jealous of you?” 

“High achievements naturally provoke envy,” Ning Zhen said. 

“Ning Zhen, let me be honest with you, don’t take it the wrong way,” Cheng Baisheng suddenly said. 

Ning Zhen guessed what he wanted to say. Since Sheng Changyu was still sitting there, she laughed and replied, “If I’d mind, you better keep it to yourself.” 

“I can’t. It’ll eat me alive if I don’t get it out. I just wanted to ask, who was that girl in the purple dress today?” Cheng Baisheng quickly switched topics. 

Smart people interact easily. 

Cheng Baisheng had no ill will toward Ning Zhen, and when he sensed her resistance, he immediately gave up on what he’d originally wanted to say. 

“Her name is Chu Jingyue,” Ning Zhen said. 

Thinking of her troublesome third brother, who didn’t appreciate his luck, Ning Zhen turned the question back to Cheng Baisheng. “What did you think of her?” 

“Quiet and gentle, not bad. Is she a relative of yours? Your third brother’s girlfriend?” Cheng Baisheng asked. 

“She’s my sister-in-law’s cousin. They were supposed to meet tonight, but my third brother ran off,” Ning Zhen explained. 

Then, she asked, “Are you interested in getting to know her?” 

Cheng Baisheng:  

At this moment, Sheng Changyu spoke up, “If you like her, you could get married after the New Year.” 

Cheng Baisheng was shocked. “That’s not what I meant. And who just suddenly gets married like that?” 

“I did,” Sheng Changyu said. “If I could do it, why can’t you?” 

Cheng Baisheng:  

A failed example right in front of me, and you want me to follow your lead? Do we need to suffer together? 

We were doing fine, why bring up the girl in the purple dress? 

Feeling like he’d shot himself in the foot, Cheng Baisheng protested, “Don’t be ridiculous. What are we treating the girl as?” 

At that, Ning Zhen spoke up, “True. Arranged marriages aren’t in vogue anymore.” 

“Exactly. You two followed the old ways, but I want to do things the modern way,” Cheng Baisheng said, shifting the subject. “Let’s drop this. Ning Zhen, when do you have time tomorrow to go check out the Governor’s mansion? I’ll send a driver to pick you up.” 

Ning Zhen glanced at Sheng Changyu. 

She couldn’t understand why he’d changed his mind. 

He clearly hadn’t been keen on the idea before. 

Was it just to spite Wen Weinian and something he said offhandedly? 

“Governor, wouldn’t it be better to start construction in the fall next year? What do you think?” Ning Zhen tentatively asked. 

Sheng Changyu responded, “If you don’t have confidence in your abilities, just tell me. I can get someone else. I have plenty of people to choose from.” 

Ning Zhen quickly replied, “I can do it!” 

“Go check out the mansion tomorrow and give me the plans as soon as possible,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen felt a surge of joy and couldn’t help but smile. 

She didn’t fear hard work or Sheng Changyu’s scrutiny. She just wanted an opportunity to prove herself. 

She wanted to succeed and become a worthy Governor’s wife.