Black Bellied President Dotes on Wife Chapter 4: Sold for One-Hundred Thousand Yuan

It was nearing eleven o’clock when she finally arrived home that night.

After taking a shower and drying her hair, Shangguan Ning settled into bed.

Moonlight streamed into the room through the pristine floor-to-ceiling windows, casting intricate tree shadows across the space. A profound quietude enveloped the apartment, mirroring the stillness within Shangguan Ning’s heart.

This apartment, a generous graduation gift from her uncle, spanned 100 square meters. Its prime location, coupled with luxurious finishes, had already propelled its market value to approximately six million yuan, with prospects for further appreciation. The apartment boasted a picturesque sea view to the front and the esteemed Mount Yulan as its backdrop.

Her aunt, her uncle’s wife, had frequently argued with him over this gift, her resentment palpable. Even her cousin exhibited little warmth toward Shangguan Ning.

Shangguan Ning’s mother had passed away when she was very young, leading her uncle to treat her as his own daughter. She received provisions equal to, and at times exceeding, what her cousin got, fostering considerable jealousy in the latter.

On one occasion, concerned her stepmother might mistreat her, her uncle brought her to live with his family. While her aunt outwardly welcomed her, she secretly harbored disdain, even referring to Shangguan Ning as “the Black Sheep of the Family.”

This led to a major dispute between her uncle and aunt, escalating to the brink of divorce.

Despite her youth, Shangguan Ning grasped the situation entirely. She professed an inability to adjust to a new environment, choosing instead to return to her own solitary, albeit cold, residence.

It was preferable to endure a lonely home than to shatter her uncle’s family.

She had no desire for the apartment, yet with no alternative upon her return to China, it served as a necessary temporary refuge.

As Shangguan Ning reminisced about the past, her phone suddenly vibrated with an incoming message.

“My beauty, don’t forget about the blind date with my brother tomorrow. Seven o’clock! Oh, I’m just too excited to fall asleep. What can I do?”

A faint smile touched Shangguan Ning’s lips. It was her date, but why was Zhao Anan experiencing such heightened excitement?

Her somber mood lightened considerably. Zhao Anan possessed a unique ability to inject unexpected joy into her life, a true star of happiness.

After a moment’s thought, she typed back, “I will certainly be there, but are you sure your brother will be there too?”

Shangguan Ning harbored a suspicion that Zhao Anan's brother might be the reason for Anan's current withdrawal.

“Don’t worry, I have my special trick to ensure he shows up at Victorian punctually tomorrow night!”

Shangguan Ning couldn’t help but shake her head, picturing Anan’s smug grin.

Shangguan Ning activated the remote control for the curtains. They slid shut, plunging the room into darkness. Closing her eyes, she surrendered to the need for complete rest.

Meanwhile, the exhilarated and sleepless Anan initiated another phone call, planning a playful prank on yet another individual.

“Hey, Brother. It’s Anan. I’m setting you up with a beauty tomorrow. I’ll text you the address later.”

“I am not available.”

“Sure. You don’t have to come. But the two old ladies at home aren’t as easy-going as I’m. They’ll catch you no matter where you try to hide yourself.”

A prolonged silence ensued on the other end of the line, suggesting a difficult deliberation.

Just as Anan’s impatience began to fray, a solitary word emerged from the other end – “Okay.”

Anan paid no mind to her brother’s aloof demeanor, nor the potential complications she had engineered for him. Upon ending the call, she immediately contacted her mother.

“Mom, I’ve arranged a date for my brother… don’t worry! She’s a teacher from our school, a top-tier student who recently returned from abroad. Absolutely stunning, with a wonderful personality and exceptional charm. My brother has already agreed to meet her… so… hmm… could I possibly get an additional 100,000 yuan in allowance this month?”

The following morning, Shangguan Ning donned her NIKE sportswear for her routine jog. Oblivious to the fact that her close friend had effectively “sold” her for 100,000 yuan the previous night.

Her residential compound, situated on the city’s western outskirts, was remarkably well-landscaped, ensuring the air remained refreshingly crisp for her morning run.

The instant she reached the ground floor, a sleek Aston Martin was parked directly in front of the building, accompanied by five trucks and two tow cranes. All the compound management staff were outside, heads bowed in focused activity.

A distinguished man, clad in a sharp black suit, was orchestrating the movement of various items. Shangguan Ning possessed limited knowledge of automobiles, yet the Aston Martin, a rare and luxurious sports car, was an exception. She knew of it solely because owning such a vehicle was Xie Zhuojun’s lifelong aspiration. However, with each Aston Martin costing tens of millions of yuan, Xie Zhuojun’s parents had disapproved of his desire to purchase one when he was merely a student prior to assuming control of the family business. By the time he inherited the business, he discovered his family’s financial standing was not as opulent as he had presumed, leaving the Aston Martin car as a mere fantasy. It appeared someone with considerable financial backing was relocating into the area. Yet, the sheer volume of belongings, enough to fill five trucks, seemed incongruous with the apartments available; the compound consisted of only two tall buildings, with the largest residence capping at 400 m2. Alternatively, perhaps the possessions belonged to multiple individuals? Shangguan Ning found herself perplexed but, being uninterested in gossip, decided that whoever was moving in was of no concern to her, especially as she planned to relocate soon herself. The man in the suit, seemingly sensing he was being observed, turned and caught sight of Shangguan Ning. He offered a slight nod and a smile in greeting. He appeared youthful, perhaps twenty-four or twenty-five, with tanned skin, strikingly white teeth, and a tall, robust physique. His neatly trimmed hair and seemingly amiable smile radiated a comforting aura. Perceiving his politeness, Shangguan Ning returned the smile and nod before exiting the compound to commence her seaside jog. Upon her return, the area was completely clear—an astonishing display of efficiency! Later that morning, Shangguan Ning drove to the supermarket, where she procured essential daily items and convenient semi-prepared foods like frozen dumplings. She was no cook and rarely ventured into the kitchen. In the afternoon, she devoted her time to preparing for her lessons at her desk. Evening descended with unexpected swiftness. After showering, she changed into a milky white dress, layering a dark cyan coat over it. Her lustrous, black hair cascaded casually over her shoulders. Shangguan Ning departed for her appointment half an hour earlier than scheduled, having learned her lesson from a previous date where tardiness had been an issue. The moment Shangguan Ning left her residence, Zhao Anan’s call came through. “My dear, are you ready yet?” “Yes, I’m already en route.” Zhao Anan emitted a distinct sound of relief over the phone. “Okay, that’s wonderful!” she exclaimed happily. Anan then lowered her voice, speaking in a hesitant tone, “Well, hmm, my brother is truly a remarkable man. Exceptionally rare, except that... hmm... he can appear a bit distant to those he doesn’t know. But fret not. Your warmth can surely melt his reserve!” Shangguan Ning mentally bypassed the initial and final remarks, focusing intently on the statement in between. It was the first time Anan had ever mentioned a flaw in her brother’s character, which did not come easily. This implied, therefore, that her brother must indeed be someone prone to being exceptionally, unusually cold towards others. It wasn't a significant issue; coldness was, in a way, advantageous, as it meant she wouldn't be indebted to Anan should neither she nor her brother develop mutual feelings. She valued Anan’s friendship immensely and hoped it would endure indefinitely. Shangguan Ning arrived at Victorian in good time. She immediately recognized the very same silver Aston Martin parked ominously at the restaurant’s entrance.