Sheng Old Master spoke up, “Alright, let's not bring up the past anymore.”
Others didn't know the whole story, but he knew it clear as day. He remembered on the day of the blind date, Huo Lao had called to apologize that Huo Yukun was held up by work and couldn't make it on time.
If it wasn't for that apologetic phone call, perhaps he would have been kept in the dark. Back then, he didn't expose it out of consideration for Sheng Wei's face.
This granddaughter of his was becoming more and more unpresentable.
He continued scolding, "Don't idle around all day. You'll be graduating soon too. Although you're a girl, you still need to plan for your future."
Sheng Wei was scolded in front of everyone by Sheng Old Master, and was losing face. Her complexion kept flushing red and pale white. She hated Su Ningxi to death, this was all started by her.
The old master then pointed his criticism towards Sheng Zhehan and Huang Zhen, “And you two, don't just focus on work all day. Take some time to pay more attention to the children, see what they've become, without an ounce of the Sheng family demeanor, just idling around leisurely all day, eating, drinking and merrymaking.”
“Dad, don't get angry. I’ll be sure to talk to them afterwards.” Sheng Zhehan responded.
Sheng Mu retorted indignantly, “Grandpa, I'm not idling around. I'm in school, I’m very busy every day.”
Sheng Old Master scoffed coldly, “If you were really busy with your studies every day, you wouldn't be ranking at the bottom of your class every exam.”
Sheng Mu didn't dare refute anymore, abashed. It was true he didn't pay much attention to studying. It wasn't that he didn't want to study hard, he just couldn't muster any interest in it.
After dinner, Sheng Old Master called Su Ningxi to the study.
Su Ningxi steeled herself and stood there stiffly like a misbehaving student, completely lacking her previous liveliness and swagger. She knew her grandpa was going to rein her in.
“I already know about you running away from your wedding.” Sheng Old Master opened bluntly.
So what?
Was he going to make her go back to Haicheng and get re-engaged?
Su Ningxi didn't speak, waiting for Sheng Old Master to continue.
But Sheng Old Master's next words exceeded her expectations.
"Girls will have to get married when they grow up eventually. I've thought it over. Since you don't like the match your family found, I'll find you one here in the capital city. With me here, you won't be bullied after marrying in."
"No need, no need. I'm still young, no rush to marry." Su Ningxi hurriedly declined with a wave of her hand. As if she was unbetrotable, why the urgency to marry her off.
Wasn't this jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
"I'm not asking you to get married immediately, just finding one for you to date for now, cultivate your relationship for two years first. There aren't many good men in this world now. By the time you want to marry, the good ones will have been snatched up already. What would be left for you?"
Su Ningxi curled her lips. What kind of twisted logic was this?
Su Ningxi feigned indifference. "I don't really care, but I don't know if my parents would agree to me dating a guy here in the capital, since I'm their only daughter after all."
The old master stated matter-of-factly, "They don't even know where you are, how would they know you're dating here?"
Su Ningxi brightened. "You mean they still don't know I've come to the capital?"
The old master said, "You think so? If they knew, would you still be standing here? You'd have been brought back long ago."
"Someday they'll find out."
"Then we'll talk when they do."
Su Ningxi silently sympathized with her parents. Their daughter was about to be seduced away, and they probably had no clue. And the person doing it was their own relative too! Aiya!
She actually understood Sheng Old Master's real intentions. He wanted to keep her in the capital to accompany him.
Back then, when his only daughter, Su Ningxi's mother Sheng Yunhui, married far away to Haicheng, he didn't agree, feeling it was too far. But Sheng Yunhui was adamant on marrying Su Hongde, which broke his heart. Over the years, he had rarely contacted her out of resentment.
Her grandpa was now channeling his love for his daughter onto her, his granddaughter.
Su Ningxi nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to grandpa."
He did say to just find one to date for now, not rushing into marriage immediately. As long as he was happy, she was willing to compromise. Worst case she could just run away again, she had experience after all.
Sheng Old Master was visibly elated hearing Su Ningxi agree.
"It worries me for a girl to live outside. From now on, you'll live here, in your former room."
Upon hearing this, every cell in Su Ningxi's body revolted. "I have a place to stay outside, living together with friends."
No way was she living here, arguing with Sheng Wei everyday, plus the curfew, she'd have no freedom at all.
Sheng Old Master didn't insist when he heard she was living with friends, only saying, "Up to you, call me if anything comes up."
"Alright, then grandpa I'll head back first."
"Go on, go on, have Li arrange a car to take you back." Sheng Old Master waved her off.
The next day, Su Ningxi busied herself with finding work, because currently she had no source of income. The card she had before couldn't be used anymore, and the one her brother gave her was lost, so she had to be self-reliant.
Over the next few days, the resumes she sent out sank without a trace, with not a single response.
There were plenty of not so great jobs available, but after deliberating back and forth, she chose a cocktail server position at Meilan.
When she shared this news with everyone in the group chat, it blew up.
"What? You're going to work as a cocktail server at Meilan?" They simply couldn't believe their eyes. She was a precious daughter of a wealthy family who shouldn't be sullying her hands!
"Yeah, my first shift is tonight." Meilan servers worked in two shifts, 5pm to midnight, and midnight to 9am.
Feng Xiaoxiao said, "I thought you wanted to be an actress, why did you take a server job?"
"My current identity isn't suitable for that kind of high profile work. Plus my new identity's education is only middle school graduation. I don't even have a chance at interviews with big companies."
Feng Xiaoxiao...
"When your brother was falsifying your identity back then, he couldn't have made your education level a little higher?"
Su Ningxi sent a spoonful of cake into her mouth before picking up her phone to reply, "I asked him about it. He said this was more lowkey."
Lan Ling said, "It'd be such a waste of your talent to work as a server. Why not come work at my family's company, I can get you in through the backdoor."
Feng Xiaoxiao said, "Come to my family's company! I'll tell my dad and get you set up directly as a supervisor or something."
Su Ningxi declined them one by one, "No need, I still want to experience what it's like working as a server."
Shen Zhilan disdainfully said, "What's good about being a server, just serving people tea and drinks, waiting on them."
Su Ningxi shot her a huge eyeroll, "There is no distinction between noble and humble occupations. Don't look down on the work of servers."
"With so many industries to choose from, you just had to pick working at a bar! I see you just want to drink and ogle hunks at the bar every day!"
Su Ningxi replied, "How's that possible? Am I that kind of person?"
She had just heard the pay was quite good if you did well, with tip shares and consumption commissions. With some luck, daily income could surpass 10k. Making a living shouldn't be an issue.
