Golden rays seeped through the gold curtains of the Chen family villa, filtering into the spacious kitchen where the soft clatter of utensils blended with the faint melody from the TV. The aroma of simmering chicken soup filled the air—rich, savory, and comforting, like the essence of home itself.
Chen Anya's mother, Liu Ting, hummed under her breath as she stirred the soup. Her long hair was tied neatly behind her head, and her apron bore the faint stains of seasoning and care. She smiled when she heard the faint sound of footsteps upstairs—it was the gentle rhythm of a house that finally felt alive again.
Upstairs, the morning light danced lazily through Chen Anya's pink-draped room. A soft breeze fluttered through the half-open window, stirring the papers spread across her mahogany study table.
The rhythmic tapping of her keyboard filled the silence; Chen Anya sat cross-legged on her swivel chair, her brows furrowed slightly as she focused on the last paragraph of her assignment. Her eyes glimmered with determination, though a small, satisfied smile crept onto her face as she hit the final period.
"Done!" she whispered with a stretch, her voice half triumphant, half relieved. She shut her laptop and flopped backward onto her plush bed, letting the momentum send her bouncing slightly. She grabbed a bag of chips from her nightstand, tore it open with a playful grin, and reached for her phone.
As she scrolled through Stargram, her notifications bar exploded with heart emojis, reposts, and tags. She went straight to Su Ning's page.
The moment Chen Anya tapped into it, her screen lit up with Su Ning's image—serene, composed, a faint smile curving her lips, the sunlight outlining her figure like a golden halo.
"She's so pretty…" Chen Anya whispered with a dreamy sigh, nibbling on her chip. "No wonder everyone online's obsessed with her."
The comment section was a battlefield, as usual. Thousands of users had already swarmed the post, flooding it with hearts and adoration. But as always, a few negative comments tried to worm their way in.
Her protective instincts flared immediately.
"Oh, so you dare call her fake?" she muttered, tapping away furiously. Her fingers flew across the screen as she replied to a hater's comment.
@AnyaNing💋: "Fake? That's because you could never even imagine looking this elegant. Try some decency next time before talking trash. 😘✨"
Satisfied, she refreshed the feed and grinned. "Let's see you reply to that."
Her expression softened again when she saw the total number of followers Su Ning had, 200,000 and counting. She squealed, bouncing on the bed.
"Two hundred thousand! Waaaaah!" she gasped, eyes wide. "My Ningning is going global!"
Scrolling further, she noticed something new—the official Su Ning Fanclub. It had just opened a day ago. Without hesitation, Chen Anya clicked Join. Her screen lit up with welcome emojis and glittering messages:
🌸 Welcome, New Member! 🌸
🖤 Ning's Wings are proud to have you!
"Oh my God, this is so cool!" she said aloud, hugging her pillow as she read through the group chat messages.
@NingLight✨: "Did you see her new post? Queen Energy 🖤🔥"
@FanOfElegance: "200K already??? that's crazy!"
@SoftieBear: "When's her next appearance? I'm dying to see her in person 😭"
Chen Anya typed quickly:
@AnyaNing💋: "Our queen is unstoppable 😍✨ She's an inspiration!"
After sending it, she stared at Su Ning's smiling face on the screen again. A pang of warmth and pride filled her chest. "I should've taken a whole lots of pictures with her," she murmured. "Next time, I'll take hundreds!"
She called Su Ning who answered immediately, voice bubbling with excitement.
"Ningning! Have you arrived already?"
On the other end, Su Ning's calm, silken tone responded. "Almost, I'm about to land. You sound excited."
"I am excited!" Chen Anya said, jumping up from the bed. "I can't wait to see you! Give me ten minutes, I'm changing right now and heading straight to the airport!"
Su Ning chuckled softly. "Alright, I'll wait for you there."
"Don't move! I'll be fast!" Chen Anya exclaimed and hung up before Su Ning could respond.
Her room instantly turned into a flurry of motion. In her walk-in closet, clothes lined, and accessories shimmered under the soft light. Chen Anya stood, hands on her hips as she assessed the options like a general preparing for battle.
"What should I wear? Everything is just so pretty..." she muttered, eyes darting across rows of neatly hung designer dresses.
Finally, she found the perfect one—a short, sleeveless dress of soft white satin, overlaid with tiny crimson blossoms embroidered delicately along the hem. The dress hugged her waist, flared just enough to give her movement, and caught the light like a whisper of wealth. She paired it with ruby earrings shaped like teardrops and a matching bracelet that glittered with subtle luxury.
She slipped on red stilettos that clicked confidently against the floor. Then she tied her dark hair into a sleek ponytail, letting two wisps of hair frame her glowing face. A touch of light gloss and shimmer on her eyelids completed the look.
"Perfect," she whispered at her reflection, giving herself a wink. She looked radiant, youthful, and expensive in the best way.
Grabbing a small, pearl-white designer bag, she dashed out of the room, nearly skipping down the stairs.
"Mom! I'm heading out!" she called from the hallway, her voice lilting with excitement.
From the kitchen, Liu Ting turned, wiping her hands on her apron. "Where to, sweetheart?"
"To pick Ningning at the airport!" Chen Anya said quickly, grabbing her phone.
At the mention of that name, Liu Ting's face instantly brightened. "Oh! Ning's coming back today?"
"Yes! She just called me!"
Liu Ting's eyes softened with warmth and admiration. "Then don't keep her waiting, dear," she said, smiling brightly. "Give her my regards—and tell her I'm making that soup she liked!"
"I will!" Chen Anya replied, already halfway out the door.
Outside, the early afternoon gleamed against the polished surface of a sleek black BMW. Standing by the passenger side was a man in a neat gray suit—the new family's driver, Mr. Wan. His posture was impeccable, and a faint, polite smile formed as soon as he spotted Chen Anya rushing out.
"Good afternoon, Miss Anya," he greeted, stepping forward to open the car door.
"Good afternoon, Uncle Wan!" she beamed, sliding into the back seat with practiced elegance. "Airport, please. Let's hurry, Ningning's plane is landing!"
"As you wish," Mr. Wan said, closing the door gently and moving to the driver's seat. The car hummed to life, and they glided smoothly out of the gated villa.
As the city passed in a blur outside the tinted windows, Chen Anya scrolled through Stargram again, keeping Su Ning's profile open. She kept refreshing it, waiting for the next update. The likes kept climbing, the fanclub growing with every second. She couldn't stop smiling.
Meanwhile, up above in the sky, Su Ning stirred from her nap as her phone buzzed softly. She smiled faintly when she saw Anya's name on the screen, her heart warmed at the girl's enthusiasm. She answered calmly, voice soft and composed even after the long flight.
After the call ended, she leaned back against the plush leather seat, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Its good that she has changed," she murmured. "Now as lively as ever."
For a brief moment, she thought about everything that had happened in the past few days—the confrontation, the danger, Qi Xiyue's intervention, the new empire she was building across continents. Yet here, with the simple thought of meeting Chen Anya again, the hardened composure melted away, replaced by something almost… tender.
She smiled quietly and, on a sudden whim, reached for her phone again. The camera reflected her graceful features, the faint exhaustion softened by her natural glow. She angled slightly, capturing the quiet luxury of the private jet cabin behind her, and took a selfie.
The photo was effortlessly stunning. She posted it with a short caption:
"Heading home ✈️✨"
Within seconds, notifications exploded.
@NingLight✨: "O.M.G, is that a private jet?? 😭💗". @FanOfElegance: "Where are you going? I'll come with you❣️🥰"
@Su'slittledoll💋: "Noooooo, goddess Su, don't leave me 😭❤️"
Su Ning's eyes lingered briefly on the last comment, the corner of her lips curving upward in a knowing smile.
The jet landed smoothly at a private terminal reserved for VIP travelers. When the cabin door opened, the first breath of city air greeted Su Ning—a crisp blend of jet fuel, spring wind, and distant chatter.
Two of Qi Xiyue's subordinates stood beside the exit, heads slightly bowed. She turned to them with her usual calm poise, her voice soft yet authoritative.
"Thank you for your escort," she said. "Please tell your Young Master that I appreciate his kindness."
The men straightened, nodding deeply. "Yes, Miss Su."
They reboarded the jet, after making sure she left safely.
Inside the terminal, Su Ning moved with quiet grace. She entered the embassy area, where a female attendant greeted her with a polite smile. Su Ning excused herself briefly to the restroom, she locked the door and retrieved two beautifully wrapped boxes from her space, the jewelry sets she had chosen for Liu Ting and Chen Anya.
Outside, Chen Anya had just stepped out of the BMW, waving excitedly. "Ningning!!"
Su Ning's lips curved in a soft, genuine smile as she walked toward her. The young girl's joy was infectious; her ponytail swayed with every bounce, her dress glimmering under the sunlight like a lively petal in bloom.
When they met halfway, Chen Anya threw her arms around Su Ning with the unrestrained energy of youth. "You're finally here!" she squealed. "I missed you so much!"
Su Ning laughed softly, patting her back. "I missed you too, Anya."
Mr. Wan approached politely, giving a respectful bow. "Welcome back, Miss Su."
Su Ning inclined her head in acknowledgment, smiling warmly. "Thank you."
He opened the door for them, and both ladies stepped in gracefully.
As the car began to move, Chen Anya turned to Su Ning, her eyes sparkling. "You brought gifts, didn't you? What's in those bags?"
Su Ning smiled teasingly. "You'll see when we get home. Don't be impatient."
Chen Anya pouted dramatically. "You're so mean, Ningning!"
Su Ning chuckled softly, resting her chin on her palm. "Patience is a virtue, you curious cat."
"Hmmph," Chen Anya huffed, though her grin never faded. She immediately switched topics, animatedly talking about their new villa, cars and her parent's excitement.
Su Ning listened quietly, occasionally smiling at the girl's boundless enthusiasm. The warmth of companionship filled the car, wrapping around them like sunlight through glass—gentle, pure, and steady.
For a brief moment, Su Ning allowed herself to relax completely. Outside the window, the city gleamed with life; inside, laughter and warmth echoed softly.