Nangong Clan

“Xingzi, do you think our young miss likes girls?” a maid holding a large broom asked.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Miss only dresses as a boy to conceal her identity at Yingshengya Academy. Who told you she likes girls?”

“I just feel like Miss and Mu Yao are a little too close…”

“Shh—the young miss’s car is here. Don’t let her hear you.”

Xingzi didn’t think there was anything strange between them. Nangong Ruihui was always kind to the servants at home. Being a little closer to Mu Yao was no big deal.

“Ruihui, your house feels so huge, even though I’ve been here once before.” Mu Yao gazed around enviously.

The most unique feature of the Nangong Clan’s villa was its enormous indoor garden. Mu Yao had been stunned by its beauty the last time she saw it.

The completely natural garden was filled with the fresh air of dawn. It was one of a kind—there was nowhere else like it in Jinglan City.

“Oh? Don’t worry about the details. We’re just an ordinary family.” Nangong Ruihui smiled. “If you like it, hurry up and marry into the family. It’ll all be yours someday. Though my bed really is huge.”

“…Who cares how big your bed is?!”

Thinking Nangong Ruihui was teasing her, Mu Yao grabbed her little braid and refused to let go. Ruihui begged for mercy again and again before Mu Yao finally released her.

Nangong Ruihui was about to introduce Mu Yao to her father and two older sisters. Unexpectedly, she felt nervous.

She was afraid Nangong Yao would notice something.

After all, it had only been a month. Her relationship with Mu Yao had warmed up far too quickly. It was almost as if that marriage contract had truly bound them into becoming best friends.

So Ruihui decided to do the opposite of what suspicion would dictate.

She would deliberately act extremely close to Mu Yao in front of everyone. That way, people would be less likely to suspect anything.

Besides, she had no romantic feelings for Mu Yao in the first place. She had simply never been this familiar with another girl before.

It was only natural that people would find it suspicious.

The two of them got out of the car. The driver took it to the garage while Nangong Ruihui led Mu Yao toward the living room.

“Ruihui, I have a feeling your sisters might rush out and steal you away from me.” Mu Yao still vividly remembered the time Ruihui’s two sisters had come looking for her at the academy.

“No way. With you as our guest, I don’t think they would…”

“Rui~hui—!”

Before Nangong Ruihui could finish, Nangong Jing charged out of the first-floor living room with her arms spread wide.

Her target was obvious. Her eyes were fixed solely on Ruihui.

Nangong Ling, the eldest daughter of the Nangong Clan, came with her.

The two girls were surrounded and ushered into the living room, where they met Nangong Yao. His temples had already turned white, but he still looked full of energy.

“What are you doing?”

Nangong Yao stared at Mu Yao and Nangong Ruihui, who were sandwiched tightly between his two daughters on the sofa.

He was completely baffled.

“Heehee~”

“Hehe~”

Nangong Ling and Nangong Jing wore identical smiles.

Nangong Yao stopped bothering with them. It wasn’t as if a new son-in-law had arrived. Was there really any need to be this enthusiastic?

They were acting as if Nangong Ruihui would never be able to marry.

He looked Mu Yao up and down. Her head was slightly lowered, and her expression was shy.

Nangong Yao nodded in satisfaction.

As expected, only a child of the Mu family could possess such an aura. Her features were truly lovely.

What a pity his family had no son. Otherwise, he would have been more than happy to take her as his daughter-in-law.

“Hello, Uncle Nangong.” Mu Yao deliberately raised her voice.

Even if she was shy around strangers, she couldn’t be too timid here.

“Hm. You’re Mu Yao, right?”

Nangong Yao glanced at Nangong Ruihui before saying, “Ruihui, get up and pour her some tea. Don’t neglect our guest.”

“Okay, Dad.”

Nangong Ruihui finally found an excuse to escape.

“Mu Yao, Uncle Nangong is a straightforward man. You don’t need to be nervous.” Nangong Yao smiled. “Your father and I have been family friends for years. I’ll take good care of you.”

“Thank you, Uncle Nangong~”

Even after Nangong Yao told her not to be nervous, Mu Yao still couldn’t relax.

This was the Nangong Clan, after all.

With Nangong Ruihui beside her, she could at least feel a little at ease. Now, she was so nervous that she didn’t even know where to put her hands.

Just as Mu Yao was thinking that, Nangong Ruihui returned to her seat and handed her a cup of tea brewed from the finest leaves.

Ruihui…

Mu Yao’s heart warmed.

She didn’t know whether Nangong Ruihui had noticed her unease.

“You old fossil, watch yourself!” Nangong Jing patted Mu Yao on the shoulder. “If you scare my little brother’s fiancée, can you afford to compensate her?”

“Little Jing, can’t you show your father some respect when we have guests?”

Nangong Yao spoke helplessly.

Ever since she was little, Nangong Jing had called him “old fossil” more often than she had called him “Dad.”

He had never even offended her. Yet somehow, this impossible little menace had become his daughter.

And what did she mean by “my little brother’s fiancée”?

Reading too many brother-complex manga really wasn’t good for her.

But he couldn’t confiscate the precious manga she treated as her life. Doing that would only make their father-daughter relationship even worse.

“Please. I’ve already made my position clear.” Nangong Jing turned her head away with a disdainful snort. “Mu Yao is one of us now. Ask her fewer questions.”

She didn’t even want to look at Nangong Yao.

There was also more than a little resentment behind her words. After all, he still hadn’t arranged a fiancé for her.

Those words immediately brought Mu Yao closer to Nangong Jing.

Everyone in the Nangong Clan seemed so kind.

“Ahem. Mu Yao, I already heard about your midterm results.” Nangong Yao smiled warmly. “You did very well. You almost surpassed Ruihui.”

“Not at all~ I only managed to get the same score as Ruihui because I worked really hard this time.” Mu Yao spoke modestly. “I might not be able to beat her next time.”

“Don’t say that. Ruihui praised you highly over the phone.” Nangong Yao smiled. “The two of you should help each other and strive for even better grades.”

“If you need anything in daily life, just ask your uncle. I guarantee I’ll cover all your expenses at the academy for the next three years.”

“Uncle Nangong, I truly appreciate your kindness. But I have a part-time job outside class, so I can support myself.”

Without considering whether Nangong Yao was merely being polite, Mu Yao knew the future profits from the Idol Reboot Project might surpass Long Xueer’s peak from three years ago.

She had no need to rely on Nangong Yao’s support.

No one would respect someone who only knew how to hold out a hand for money.

“Hahaha, that’s good. Very good.” Nangong Yao nodded. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies.”

Night soon fell.

At the invitation of the entire Nangong family, Mu Yao decided to stay the night. She would also be living here for the next two days.

That was all perfectly normal.

The only problem was that, after Nangong Jing and Nangong Ling egged everyone on, Mu Yao somehow ended up sleeping in Nangong Ruihui’s room.

Nangong Yao had even agreed to it!

In Ruihui’s family’s eyes, Mu Yao was supposed to be a girl.

Even if she and Nangong Ruihui were engaged and therefore had every right to stay at the Nangong Clan, this still seemed inappropriate…

“Ruihui, you have to be gentle with her tonight, okay~?”

Nangong Jing frantically winked at her, raising her eyebrows high.

“Sis Jing, I’m not even a guy. What are you thinking…?”

Nangong Ruihui was utterly speechless.

Clearly, everyone thought Mu Yao already knew her true gender.