<h4>Chapter 239: Chapter 239: Illusory Bubbles</h4><h4></h4>


    Young Master Yang Kaitai didn’t mind Xia Ning’s attitude at all. After today, they would be two people bound by an engagement, and Xia Ning would truly belong to him. Why bother about her current attitude?


    He arrogantly stroked Xia Ning’s face and, before retracting his hand, didn’t forget to sneak a touch on her chest.


    Several makeup artists and the like were still in the room. Everyone despised his unabashed behavior, but ultimately, no one said a word and just silently diverted their gaze.


    "Take your paws off." Xia Ning felt extremely embarrassed and pped Yang Kaitai’s hand away.


    She pped with hatred, the sound was loud, and Yang Kaitai’s hand turned red.


    A flicker of anger crossed his heart, but as soon as he saw Xia Ning’s stunningly beautiful face, all his rage dissipated.


    "Alright, alright, I’ll go out and entertain the guests now. You rest a bit longer, you’re going to be on stage soon."


    After he left, Xia Ning closed the game interface and opened Whatsapp to send out a message: "Is everything taken care of?"


    "Taken care of!" came the immediate reply.


    Xia Ning’s lips curled into a cruel smile, and, as if thinking of something, she beckoned a makeup artist: "Go and see if He Xing and Fu Han have arrived?"


    Soon the artist reported back: "Lady Xia Ning, Lady Fu Han hasn’te, but Mr. He Xing should be arriving shortly; the young masters anddies of Huangpu Family, the Li Family, and the Nangong Family are all here."


    "Su Cheng, Nan Qing, and Luo Qinghe?" Xia Ning silently repeated in her heart, but her face remainedposed. Everything was arranged; all that was left was to raise the curtainter. She was not afraid!


    ...


    The engagement venue for Xia Ning and Yang Kaitai was outdoors, with the Yang Family booking thergest and most scenic church in A City. Outside the church, the spaciouswn was decorated for the engagement ceremony.


    The scenery was indeed beautiful in this century-old church; the lushwn wasfortable to walk on with high heels and even more pleasant barefoot with its cool, grassy touch.


    Around the church was a circle of willow trees, with branches hanging like fringes that seemed to dance in the breeze; at the center of the vastwn stood arge tree sufficient for six people to encircle, with lush branches and dense leaves creating a natural shade canopied area with seats, drinks, and desserts underneath.


    Nan Qing sat in a secluded corner under the tree, and Su Cheng came over with two sses of wine. He handed one to Nan Qing, a bitter smile on his face: "I never thought we’d one day attend Yang Kaitai and Xia Ning’s engagement party."


    "What can we do?" Nan Qing sighed helplessly, "Being born into such families means we can’t control our own fate. Even if I don’t like her, I can’t be willful."


    Su Cheng couldn’t agree more; he raised his ss and took a big sip: "You’re right. The two of them being together could be considered well-matched. It really proves that saying, ’birds of a feather flock together.’"


    Nan Qing nodded and her gaze shifted into the distance. The scent of Gardenia wafted in the wind, but she couldn’t see where the flowers were.


    Having downed a ss of red wine, Su Cheng gathered courage from the alcohol and stuttered: "Um, Nan Qing, I got drunk at your ce the other day. Sorry for causing trouble."


    "It’s okay." Nan Qing’s cute, round face wore a sly smile: "But when Fu Han came back and saw youpletely drunk, she was really scared. It’s hard to believe you do that sort of thing."


    "I..." Su Cheng flushed crimson with urgency, trying to exin, but his clumsy tongue and muddled mind left him speechless.


    "So..." Nan Qing’s smile deepened, she patted Su Cheng’s shoulder with a hint of schadenfreude: "You’d better find a chance to exin to Fu Han. She seems to have always disliked people getting drunk easily."


    "I..." Su Cheng’s eyes turned red, and he seemed on the verge of tears, he stammered frantically: "Then... then I’ll never drink again."


    His response made Nan Qing feel guilty, sheughed and patted his shoulder: "Alright, it’s not that serious. I’ll exin to her that it’s rare for you to drink and you’re not good with alcohol... The bride ising out, let’s go have a look."


    Before she could finish speaking, Nan Qing was already lifting her dress and running toward the stage.


    When Su Cheng looked back, he indeed saw that Xia Ning had, at some point, already stood on the stage.


    The guests gathered towards the stage in pairs and clusters. The Huangpu and Nangong couples were nearby, waving at Su Cheng and Nan Qing to hurry over.


    The two exchanged nces, seeing helplessness in each other’s faces. They inevitably had to attend such gatherings, but they didn’t want to push their way to the front and take the spotlight, especially since Xia Ning, to show off her engagement ceremony, had even started a live broadcast, visible to anyone who wished to watch.


    Meanwhile, the emcee had already taken the stage, a professional invited by Yang Kaitai from the TV station, who quickly stirred up the atmosphere.


    After some ice-breaking games, the emcee walked onto the stage with a microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, as everyone knows, when Young Master Yang Kaitai firstid eyes on Lady Xia Ning at a banquet years ago, he was smitten. It’s been nearly ten years since then; time has not diminished their feelings but deepened their affection. Today is their engagement day, and here I represent Mr. Yang Kaitai and Lady Xia Ning in warmly weing all distinguished guests."


    Thunderous apuse rang out, and Nan Qing saw Yang Kaitai’s eyes turn red, but Xia Ning was like a wooden statue, without any reaction, as if what the emcee spoke of didn’t concern her.


    Nan Qing nudged Su Cheng’s elbow, to which he reflexively lowered his head to look at her.


    She whispered into Su Cheng’s ear: "Don’t you think the idea of their engagement is absurd?"


    As she spoke, her breath on Su Cheng’s ear and neck created a sweet fragrance that lingered in the sun, so warm that it made one want to draw closer.


    "Hey, are you even listening to me?" Nan Qing’s voice rose slightly, her dissatisfaction palpable as she pped him.


    He was startled and quickly stopped his inappropriate daydreaming: "Yes, yes, I think so too, the news was really sudden."


    "Exactly!" Nan Qing’sment was affirmed, her smile deepened as she watched the stage and continued: "Who doesn’t know Xia Ning is into He Xing? She’s always been determined to have him. Something’s fishy about this sudden engagement."