Chapter 28

*The Moon Runs to Me*
What he said was mild on the surface, but the meaning ran deep. On one level he was obviously speaking up for her; on another, he’d casually mocked Wen Minzhu for being narrow and unable to tolerate others.
Qin Sang blinked, startled. She lifted her eyes and crashed straight into his clear gaze.
He was looking at her—speaking *for* her.
Realizing that, her heartbeat stuttered. She hurriedly looked away, lips pressing together, inexplicably nervous.
Old Master Xie suddenly chuckled, breaking the stiff air. “My wife and I are old. There’s a lot we can’t decide anymore. My grandson has his own mind. He knows perfectly well what is good and what isn’t—and he’ll judge that himself. As for other things…”
“At my age, I like quiet. I can’t stand noise. Our unfilial son’s made enough of a mess that my wife and I had no choice but to move to Ningjiang. From now on, we just want to enjoy retirement peacefully.”
If Xie Yuncheng’s words had still left some room, Old Master Xie’s made his stance crystal clear. He and his wife had come to Ningjiang for peace—not to host anyone and everyone. Not just any cat or dog could knock on their door with a calling card.
Wen Minzhu had tried to climb up and ended up being slapped down. The Xie family’s attitude couldn’t be more obvious—they weren’t interested in that “match.”
More intriguingly, once he’d made his line about “liking quiet,” Old Master Xie turned and spoke with great warmth to Wen Shuyu and Qin Sang, as though he valued them highly.
“Mrs. Qin,” he smiled, “I recently acquired a powder-blue Qianlong plum vase. Hengyu tells me you know your antiques. My wife and I are old; it’s wasted on us. Better to give flowers to someone who truly appreciates them. That way the effort doesn’t go to waste.”
Gasps sounded quietly.
“A Qianlong powder-blue plum vase—that has to be the one Christie’s Hong Kong just auctioned, right? The powder-blue sea-wave-and-dragon vase. I heard it’s one of the best-preserved monochrome pieces in circulation. Went for something like eighty million Hong Kong dollars.”
“And he just… gives it away? Old Master Xie must really fancy that girl from Wen’s family. Maybe he *does* want a marriage alliance.”
…
The gift was so extravagant that Wen Shuyu didn’t dare accept. “Mr. Xie, this is too precious. We really can’t.”
“Mrs. Qin, that’s not right,” he said. “A gift’s worth isn’t about price but about whether it’s given to the right person. I think you’re worth it, so you are. Besides, even the most expensive thing is worthless in the hands of someone who can’t appreciate it.”
He smiled kindly. “I like this child Sang-sang very much. My wife likes her acting too. If there’s time, I hope you and Sang-sang can visit us. It would make my wife very happy.”
A moment ago he’d claimed to want quiet and no uninvited guests. Now he was giving out an heirloom vase and personally inviting them over.
Even a fool could see what that meant.
He’d practically written it on his face—he favored Qin Sang.
Wen Hengyu was in his prime, career soaring in the foreign ministry. The Wens were on the rise. The Xies were an old, powerful family. A marriage between them would be a strong alliance either way.
Yet people were puzzled. The Wens had more than one niece. However ill-mannered Wen Minzhu might be, Penny really was outstanding. And if this was just about an alliance, wouldn’t marrying the Wens’ *direct* niece make more sense than an out-of-house girl?
But whatever the reason, everyone understood—Old Master Xie wanted Qin Sang in his family. Otherwise he wouldn’t have defended her again and again, treating her and Wen Shuyu as honored guests.
The uncles and aunts who’d come tonight scheming for their own daughters quieted down.
What was the point of fighting now? Even her own aunt had been politely rejected. The Xie family’s attitude couldn’t be clearer—they were here for Qin Sang. Everyone else was background.
Wen Shuyu still hesitated over the vase.
In the end, Wen Hengyu decided for her. “Take it. This is Sang-sang’s good fortune.”
Everyone ate that meal with their own thoughts. When it finally broke up, Wen Hengyu and Old Master Xie stayed behind to talk. The other elders went out together—and immediately clustered around Wen Shuyu and Qin Sang.
“Congratulations, congratulations. You’ve really suffered through the hard years, Shuyu. Sang-sang’s so capable and filial—now even the Xies favor her. Her future will be limitless. Don’t forget us uncles and aunties when you’re high up, Sang-sang.”
“Exactly. That child’s had it tough. When the college entrance exam was coming, Old Qin had that accident. Fate’s cruel. Luckily she was strong. Now she’s a household name. My granddaughter says half her class are her fans.”
“Who says it isn’t so? My boy, on the other hand, was ‘starting a business’—ran off to make trouble and crawled back for me to clean up. If he had even half of Sang-sang’s sense, I could die in peace.”
Too gentle to turn people away, Wen Shuyu let them praise her. They called her a good mother, said she’d endured the cold to finally smell plum blossoms. But whenever they mentioned Qin Dahai, her eyes dimmed; her smiles turned forced.
Wen Minzhu was the most sour of all. By the time they left the private room, her anger was ready to spill.
Back then, others had only ever fawned over *her* and Penny. Those mother and daughter hadn’t even been fit to bring her shoes. Now they were stepping on top of her?
She burned.
As soon as she saw the little knot of people surrounding Wen Shuyu and Qin Sang, she snapped, “Sister, you certainly know how to play your hand. So you’d already made contact with the Xies long ago. Why bother asking big brother to get me to ‘help?’”
“Made me run around like a fool while you hid in the dark, laughing at me. You must be pleased with yourself.”
“Minzhu, I really didn’t know…” Wen Shuyu started. She truly hadn’t expected any of this.
Minzhu yanked her hand back, eyes sharp as knives. “Drop the act. You and your daughter have good minds for calculation—stepping on me and Penny to climb higher. You even used my girl as your stepping stone. You’re a fine ‘sister’.”
“Enough.”
Qin Sang’s patience finally snapped. “Aunt Minzhu, you know perfectly well who’s cruel here. You’ve always looked down on us and treated my parents with nothing but contempt. When has my mother ever argued with you? Even when my father died, you wouldn’t stop. What did you say then, in front of outsiders?”
“You called him doomed. Said he’d been useless in life and unlucky in death.”
She’d heard every word back then. She’d seen the scorn on Minzhu’s face. She’d once told herself her aunt was only spoiled by their grandparents—that her temper could be forgiven.
But this wasn’t being “spoiled.” This was malice.
Qin drew a shaking breath, forcing her voice steady. The words had been buried in her for too long; once they broke free, her whole body trembled.
“I kept quiet for Penny’s sake,” she said hoarsely. “To save you some face. Don’t mistake our kindness for weakness. Don’t climb up to our heads and stomp. If you push too far, I’m not afraid to tear this mask off.”
Minzhu sneered. “What, did I say something untrue? Qin Dahai *was* useless. He came back to Wens’ every New Year without even a proper gift. Weren’t you ashamed to keep showing your faces here?”
“He was a loser. You’re one too. You couldn’t even pass the college entrance exam. What gives you the right to compare yourself to Penny? In what way are you worthy?”
“What’s this noise?”
Hearing the commotion, Wen Hengyu stepped out just in time to catch his sister’s last sentence. His face went cold. “Wen Minzhu, is this how an aunt behaves? Get out.”
Minzhu feared only him. She shrank, but her mouth still wouldn’t stop. “I only spoke the truth, big brother. Even you’re going to shield them? Qin Dahai was pathetic alive and deserved it dead. Qin Sang couldn’t even sit the exam. Why bend rules for her alone? Isn’t Penny *also* your niece?”
She lifted her chin, refusing to admit fault. “Qin—”
The slap cracked loud in the corridor.
Hand to her cheek, she stared in disbelief. The normally gentle Wen Shuyu glared at her through reddened eyes.
“Shut up,” she hissed. “You are not worthy to speak of my daughter.”
The scene was more dramatic than a TV drama. No one even dared breathe.
Except Qin Sang. She stood there in a daze, eyes fixed on the figure behind Wen Hengyu.
He stood straight and still, features cool and sharp, carrying a quiet nobility even in silence.
At seventeen, she’d stood in the homeroom office, head down over her failed test. He’d been just a step away and yet as unreachable as if across a chasm.
The papers on the desk had burned her eyes with shame. Back then, she’d only wanted to run.
Now, in front of this crowd, Wen Minzhu had ripped away the last shred of her cover.
She wanted to run again—but her legs might as well have been rooted to the floor.
She felt every sideways glance, every veiled sneer. She felt naked, stripped bare and shoved onto a street for all to see.
The little bit of dignity she’d tried so hard to protect was being peeled away layer by layer, exposed and dissected.
It was peak dinner hour. The restaurant was full. Minzhu’s voice wasn’t quiet. Her barbs and ridicule spread quickly, drawing more and more attention.
“Is that Qin Sang?”
“Looks like her. Must be.”
The whispers swelled.
Qin only stood there, expression blank, as if her senses had shut down. A dull roar filled her ears. The world narrowed until all that was left was a single lean figure.
Suddenly, that figure stepped closer—closer, until he seemed within arm’s reach.
A shadow fell over her. Mint brushed her nose, cool and familiar. She looked up, stunned.
His eyes were clear and calm, taking in her pale face and trembling hands. Warm fingers wrapped around her icy ones, driving back some of the chill.
She was lost—like someone wandering in a foggy forest, walking and walking without finding a way out.
He was like dawn to someone on the edge of death—gently covering her tattered self, hiding her away from prying eyes.
He took her hand and drew her behind him, blocking the stares, the malice, the curiosity.
His voice was steady and low, as if soothing a breaking heart.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Come with me.”