Chapter 129: Maintenance

A perfectly cut pink diamond shimmered brilliantly under the lights.

The young boy pressed the diamond into Nan Zhi’s hand, then turned and ran off before she could say a word.

Noticing what appeared to be an engraving on the inner band of the ring, Nan Zhi picked it up to inspect it.

"zy."

Nan Zhi knew that "z" stood for the "Zhi" in her name, and the heart shape symbolized love, but the "y" remained a mystery. Ever since she had moved abroad, she had received a secret gift every year on her birthday, always marked with these same three characters.

Nan Zhi bit her lip, unable to fathom who would send her gifts for so many years—and such incredibly expensive ones at that. She had kept all the jewelry from previous years carefully stored away, never once wearing them. She had always intended to return them to the mysterious donor the day they finally met.

"Wow, beautiful Zhi, what wild man gave you that ring?" Xiao Kai asked, his voice filled with jealousy.

Nan Zhi shook her head. "Mommy doesn't know either." She looked around, but there was no one suspicious at the restaurant entrance, only a line of luxury sedans. Suddenly, she felt a gaze she could not ignore fixed upon her from one of the cars. She took a few steps forward, intending to investigate, when a stern, displeased voice rang out.

"Nan Zhi?"

Nan Zhi turned to see Nan Weiye walking toward her with a gaze as sharp as a knife, his arm linked with Ding Shuman’s. Her pupils contracted slightly. She had been back in the country for some time, but she had never expected her first encounter with her father to be in a place like this. It was clear that Nan Weiye did not want to see her; it was as if her presence here was a grave transgression.

Nan Zhi gripped the pink diamond in her hand, but before she could speak, Nan Weiye said testily, "Did you know I was here celebrating your aunt’s birthday and come here on purpose?"

Nan Zhi gave a cold laugh. "You’re overthinking it."

"Then how else would someone of your status end up here? Let me tell you, Nan Zhi, you did shameful things four years ago. Now that you’re back, you’d best behave yourself. You are not to bully Yao Yao at the television station again, or don't blame me as a father for disregarding our blood ties!"

*Blood ties?* He had long since abandoned any fatherly affection for her! Hadn't the events of four years ago been orchestrated by his own hand?

"Hey, where did you old man come from? Is my beautiful Zhi someone you can lecture?"

Nan Weiye looked down at Xiao Kai, who stood before Nan Zhi. The boy wore a baseball cap pulled low, so Nan Weiye could only see a pair of soft, pink lips and a delicate chin. Though he couldn't see the full face, he could tell it was a beautiful child. But no matter how pretty, a child with no manners was unlikable. Nan Weiye stiffened his face and scolded, "Nan Zhi, who is he?"

"He is my son," Nan Zhi replied coldly.

Ding Shuman interjected, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt. "Husband, Zhi is becoming more and more outrageous. How could she have a child out of wedlock—a little bastard? If this gets out, where will your reputation be?"

Nan Zhi’s expression shifted instantly. She stepped forward and slapped Ding Shuman across the face. She didn't care if Ding Shuman was an elder; ever since she married into the Nan family, Nan Zhi had endured her slanders and slurs, but she would not allow her to call her son a bastard.

The blow was so swift that Ding Shuman had never expected Nan Zhi to hit her. When the pain registered, she wore a look of sheer disbelief. "Husband, she—she actually hit me—" It was her birthday, and she had already been fuming after being slighted by the guests in private room No. 1; to be slapped by Nan Zhi on her way out was the last straw.

Tears streaming down her face, Ding Shuman shook Nan Weiye’s arm. "Husband, I don't want to live anymore."

Nan Weiye looked at Nan Zhi, thinking of her lineage and her mother’s betrayal all those years ago. Gritting his teeth in hatred, he raised his hand to discipline his unfilial daughter. But before his hand could descend, it was seized by a powerful grip.

Nan Weiye tried to pull his hand away, but the other man’s strength was overwhelming. With a forceful shove, he sent Nan Weiye stumbling back a few steps. He nearly fell, only saved by Ding Shuman’s quick reaction.

As Nan Weiye steadied himself and looked up, he met a pair of black eyes burning with cold, predatory malice. Having spent years in the business world, Nan Weiye had never encountered a man with such an overbearing, oppressive aura—especially one so young.

Nan Zhi and Xiao Kai stood shielded behind the man, who stood like an unassailable mountain, cold and formidable.

Mu Sihan glared at Nan Weiye and Ding Shuman with sharp, icy eyes. "I don't care who you are, but the woman and child I protect are not to be bullied by anyone but me!"

Nan Weiye started to retort, but a sudden commotion erupted. "Make way! Move aside!"

Nan Weiye and Ding Shuman were stunned to see Nan Yao emerging alongside the medical staff.

"Yao Yao, what happened?" Ding Shuman asked.

"Shao Xiu, he..."

Ding Shuman caught sight of Fu Shaoxiu, bruised and battered on the stretcher, and gasped in shock. "He... that’s Shao Xiu?" How could he have been reduced to such a miserable state in just a few moments? Nan Weiye was equally astonished. In a high-end restaurant like the Huang Ting, who would dare to assault Shao Xiu?

...

The driver pulled the car to the entrance. Mu Sihan took Xiao Kai from Nan Zhi’s arms, then naturally took her hand with his other, leading the mother and son toward the vehicle.

Ye Qianqian chased after Mu Sihan, running to the entrance, but upon seeing him holding a child and holding a woman’s hand, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment. She pulled out her phone and made a call.