At around seven in the morning, the soft glow of dawn filtered faintly through the sheer curtains of Su Ning's guest room, casting pale ribbons of light across the polished wooden floor and the neatly arranged furniture.
The room was quiet, tranquil, almost suspended in time, yet within that stillness, Su Ning sat upright on the edge of the bed with her tablet resting lightly in her hands, her posture relaxed but alert, her eyes moving steadily across lines of foreign text.
Her lips moved softly as she read aloud in Russian, her pronunciation fluid, precise, and naturally accented, so smooth and confident that anyone listening in would have assumed she had grown up speaking the language.
There was no hesitation in her tone, no awkward pauses, no signs of mental translation; the words flowed from her mouth as effortlessly as her native tongue, carrying subtle inflections and emotional nuance that only a fluent speaker could manage.
"…и потому, что человек сам выбирает свою судьбу, он не может обвинять никого другого за последствия…" she read calmly, her voice low and melodic, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she absorbed the meaning.
Just as she was about to continue to the next paragraph, her expression shifted subtly, her gaze lifting from the screen even before any sound reached ordinary human ears.
Her heightened perception caught the soft rhythm of footsteps approaching from downstairs, the sound distinct and unmistakable against the otherwise quiet house.
Her pupils darkened slightly as her vision pierced effortlessly through the solid wall in front of her, the world beyond it unfolding before her eyes as though the barrier did not exist at all.
She first saw Chen Anya, already dressed in her crisp school uniform, her hair neatly tied back, her backpack slung over one shoulder as she emerged from the kitchen downstairs with a piece of toast still in her hand.
Anya's movements were quick but light, her steps bounding up the staircase with youthful energy, her mouth still chewing as she climbed, clearly in a hurry but in high spirits.
Su Ning's gaze shifted slightly to the right, her awareness sliding across the dining area, where Liu Ting was already fully dressed in a sharp black lady's suit paired with tailored pants and sleek heels that clicked softly against the floor as she moved.
Her hair was styled immaculately, her posture straight and elegant as she arranged several steaming dishes onto the long dining table with practiced efficiency.
Chen Wei stood nearby, already in a classic, well-fitted tailored suit, his tie slightly loose as he hurriedly drained the last few sips from a cup of coffee.
His movements were brisk and purposeful, clearly pressed for time, yet there was a softness in his eyes as he leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Liu Ting's cheek.
"Drive safely," Liu Ting reminded him gently, her voice warm but firm as she adjusted his tie with one last affectionate tug.
"I will," Chen Wei replied with a brief smile, already grabbing his briefcase. "I'll try to be back early tonight."
Su Ning watched the scene with a faint, almost tender smile curving her lips, a quiet warmth blooming in her chest at the sight of the family's everyday intimacy, a normalcy she herself had rarely experienced.
She withdrew her gaze from the scene beyond the wall, the world snapping back into the confines of her room, and casually dropped the tablet into her personal space with a flick of her wrist, just as a soft knock sounded against her door.
"Ningning," Chen Anya's cheerful voice rang out from the other side, bright and energetic as ever. "Are you awake yet?"
Su Ning chuckled under her breath, already rising from the bed as she walked toward the door. "You don't even give people time to answer anymore," she called back lightly as she reached for the handle.
The moment she opened the door, Chen Anya practically bounced forward and wrapped her arms around her in a spontaneous hug, her cheek pressing warmly against Su Ning's shoulder.
"Good morning, Ningning," Anya said playfully, her voice brimming with affection and concern all at once. "Did you sleep well?"
Su Ning laughed softly, lifting a hand to pat Anya's head in an indulgent gesture. "I slept just fine," she replied with a relaxed smile. "Better than expected, actually."
Anya's lips pursed slightly, her brows knitting together in concern. "Mom made breakfast already," she said, shifting topics but still eyeing Su Ning closely. "Come down before it goes cold."
"I'll be right there," Su Ning promised, her voice warm. "Go ahead and start without me."
Anya nodded reluctantly, giving her one last lingering look before turning and heading back down the stairs.
Su Ning closed the door softly behind her and headed into the bathroom, where she took a quick but refreshing shower. The warm water cascaded over her shoulders, washing away the faint remnants of cultivation fatigue and grounding her fully back into her physical body.
When she emerged, she moved opened her closet, she chose a white woolen beige cardigan that draped softly over her shoulders, pairing it with a fitted black short skirt that stopped mid thigh, accentuating her long legs.
On her feet, she slipped into white ankle boots with sleek lines and subtle gold detailing, gold chains draped around it, giving her overall look an effortless elegance that was classy, refined and youthful.
She reached for a black mini designer bag with a structured silhouette and understated gold accents, its surface gleaming faintly under the room's lighting, then gathered her glossy hair into a high ponytail, letting a few soft strands frame her face naturally.
She studied her reflection for a moment, her lips curving into a satisfied nod. "Not bad," she murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with quiet confidence.
With her phone in hand, she headed downstairs.
The scent of freshly prepared food filled the air the moment she entered the dining room, and Liu Ting looked up immediately, her face lighting up with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Ning," Liu Ting greeted, her tone gentle but bright. "You look wonderful today. That cardigan really suits you."
"Good morning, Auntie," Su Ning replied politely, her smile sincere. "You look amazing too. Are you heading to an important meeting today?"
Liu Ting chuckled lightly. "As always," she replied, gesturing toward the table. "Come, sit. You need to eat properly before the day starts."
"Where's Uncle Chen?" Su Ning asked casually as she took her seat.
"He just left," Liu Ting replied with a soft sigh. "Running late again. He barely had time to finish his coffee."
Su Ning smiled knowingly. "That sounds like him."
They settled at the table, and as they began eating, Liu Ting kept placing food into Su Ning's bowl with affectionate insistence.
"Eat more of this," she urged, sliding a piece of steamed fish onto her plate. "You've been under too much stress. You need strength."
"Thank you Auntie." she replied.
Soon, Liu Ting left, leaving only Su Ning and Chen Anya.
Across the table, Chen Anya was scrolling furiously on her phone, her fingers flying across the screen.
"These people are insane," she muttered under her breath, then suddenly spoke louder, "How can they just make things up like this? Do they think their keyboards make them judges or something?"
Su Ning glanced at her with amusement. "Anya stop reading those things or you would grow white hair overnight."
Anya looked up at her, genuinely baffled. "How are you still laughing?"
Su Ning leaned back slightly in her chair, her gaze calm and steady. "Because people who bark the loudest usually can't do anything but keep barking," she said lightly. "Don't worry, I'll handle it soon. So eat, you are running late."
Anya stared at her, torn between admiration and frustration. "You're unreal," she muttered, then shoved her phone aside reluctantly. "Fine. I'll eat. But I'm still mad on your behalf."
They had just finished eating when Su Ning's phone vibrated on the table.
Her eyes flicked to the screen, it was the principal. Se knew whatever made the principal call her so early was probably serious.
Su Ning picked up the call, her expression composed as she answered. "Principal Di."
The principal's respectful voice came through the speaker almost instantly. "Good morning, Miss Su. I apologize for disturbing you so early."
"It's fine," Su Ning replied smoothly. "What's the matter?"
There was a brief pause before he continued carefully, "Gu Hongmin, the Gu family patriarch, has formally requested that both you and Chen Anya be expelled from school."
Su Ning smirked coldly at how the Gu family kept pushing their luck despite having their days numbered. Since they were eager to die, then she wouldn't be cautious.
The principal hesitated. "...Should I reveal your identity as the owner of Fuyuan immediately, Miss Su?"
Su Ning's lips curved into a sharp, elegant smile. "No. Not yet. Play along with him. Tell him you'll organize a press conference to announce my expulsion as a lesson. And add that the owner of Fuyuan will be showing up."
The principal inhaled sharply on the other end. "Understood. Anything else Miss Su?"
"Yes," Su Ning replied evenly. "Call a meeting with the board, I'll be there soon."
"Very well, Miss Su," the principal said respectfully. "I will make the arrangements immediately."
When the call ended, Chen Anya stared at her, confusion written all over her face.
"Ningning, w—why does the principal call you frequently, only few people get to speak with him so casually." Anya blurted out.
"And you were giving the principal instructions, what's going on?" She asked in concern.
Su Ning smiled lightly, reaching out to flick Anya's forehead. "You'll understand soon. Stop worrying your pretty head."
Anya groaned. "You're doing that mysterious thing again."
Su Ning stood up, grabbing her bag. "Come on. I'll drop you off at school."
Anya's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Yes!"
They headed outside together, and Su Ning started the car smoothly, speeding off as Chen Anya leaned over to snap a quick selfie, grinning brightly.
"I'm keeping this for perfect timing," Anya declared proudly.
Su Ning laughed as she increased the speed, the engine roaring off into the distance.