Chapter 5: Lacking Virtue in the Five Elements, Destined for Misfortune

The next morning, Nan Xing woke naturally without an alarm. After a brief freshening up, she went downstairs for breakfast.

Nan Weiguo had already left for the company by then, leaving only Qin Peicen and Nan Zhen’er in the dining room, chatting and laughing together.

As Nan Xing entered, Nan Zhen’er shot her a disdainful glance and called out to the kitchen, “Aunt Zhang, is my breakfast ready? Please pack it in a thermal container for me—I’m heading to the hospital to see Brother Si Chen soon.”

“Aunty Zhen’er, it’s already packed…” Aunt Zhang, who took care of all their meals, stepped out from the kitchen. Seeing Nan Xing’s sullen expression, she grew anxious—she hadn’t prepared breakfast for Nan Xing.

“It was me who told her not to make you breakfast,” Nan Zhen’er said.

Aunt Zhang was at a loss for words when Qin Peicen calmly set down her coffee, took a tissue, wiped the corner of her mouth, and remarked, “Waking up this late, I thought you’d skip breakfast.”

Nan Xing’s face darkened with displeasure. Since she had started living on her own, she had set a strict rule: no matter how late, one must eat three meals a day. Now, someone had dared to break her rule.

Tsk.

Life was full of joys and sorrows, with fools scattered about to add color.

She leisurely walked to the fridge, took out a carton of milk, closed the door, and leaned against it with one foot resting lightly on the ground. “Do you think you have the right to decide whether I eat breakfast? Or are you Jemima Aristotle, sister of Aristotle himself?”

Qin Peicen belatedly realized what had been said and angrily pounded the table. “Your father wasn’t wrong—living in the countryside for so long, you’ve got no manners!”

“If some people don’t even have the decency to show face, why should I hold back my tongue?” Nan Xing replied, straightening her back and leaving the dining room without a backward glance.

In the Nan family parking lot, the driver was washing the car.

Nan Xing approached, but before she could speak, someone slammed into her shoulder.

“Get lost, bumpkin!” Nan Zhen’er, carrying her thermal container, came over and handed it to the driver. “Uncle Wang, you’re driving me to the hospital today.”

Nan Xing looked back to see Nan Zhen’er getting into a Porsche, lowering the window with a look of contempt.

Nan Xing had no mood to argue. She glanced down at her flattened stomach and decided to stop by Scholar’s Congee for breakfast first.

***

Scholar’s Congee, the most famous breakfast spot in Beixin City, was always packed and required reservations. Nan Xing feared she’d find no seat if she delayed.

She walked toward another nanny car.

“Uncle Zhao, didn’t Mom say she was going to the beauty salon for maintenance today? Don’t forget.”

“Ah?” Old Zhao, the nanny car driver, was stunned. “The lady never told me…”

“How could she not? You must be mistaken,” Nan Zhen’er said firmly.

Old Zhao was speechless.

“Looks like no one’s driving you today, so you’ll have to make do with riding a bike and get some exercise,” Nan Zhen’er said smugly, then urged, “Uncle Wang, hurry up. I have to go to the mall to buy something for Brother Si Chen. If we’re late, it’ll be too late.”

Nan Xing stood still until the car disappeared from view, the chill in her eyes slowly fading.

Some people were simply born lacking virtue, destined for misery.

If that was the case, she wouldn’t hold back from acting out...

Taking a taxi to Scholar’s Congee, Nan Xing arrived at 8:50 a.m., luckily securing a window seat on the second floor.

While waiting for her meal, her phone buzzed with a message.

From Jueban Yangyang: “Baby, I’m sorry I stood you up last night. It wasn’t intentional. Blame those damn paparazzi—I hadn’t even arrived at Meise when I realized I was being followed. My agent was worried about trouble and confiscated my phone overnight. As soon as I got it back, I contacted you. Was everything okay without me?”

Nan Xing rested her cheek on her hand, blushing slightly as she recalled the tender moments from last night: “All good.”

Jueban Yangyang replied: “Glad to hear it. To make it up to you, I prepared a gift. Remember to sign for it later~”

Nan Xing’s lips curved in a smile. Just as she was about to reply with an emoji, an elderly woman suddenly collapsed in the street below.

Without hesitation, Nan Xing dashed downstairs.

The street was bustling, and by the time she reached the woman, a crowd had gathered, but no one dared to step forward.

“Do you think she might be faking it? I heard an old lady fainted around here last month, and kind strangers helped her to the hospital. Now the two families are still embroiled in lawsuits,” someone murmured.

“Really? That’s just terrible luck.”

“Yeah, you can’t be too trusting these days. Some people would do anything for money—heartless and shameless.”

“Best to mind your own business to avoid trouble.”

Voices overlapped, with some onlookers hesitating to help, instead preferring to record video as evidence in case goodwill backfired.

“Please, make way!” Nan Xing called out, pushing through the crowd.

She knelt on one knee, gently helped the woman sit up, keeping her upper body bent forward. From the woman’s small purse, she retrieved a small spray bottle.

Adjusting the woman’s posture, Nan Xing carefully supported her neck to tilt her head back, then shook the spray and guided the woman to inhale slowly.

After about two minutes, the woman’s breathing eased, and she gradually opened her eyes.

Though Nan Xing’s makeup was striking, it could not conceal the clear, bright light in her eyes.

The wailing siren of an ambulance approached. While Nan Xing tended to the woman, a kind bystander had already called emergency services. Paramedics hurriedly lifted the elderly lady onto the ambulance.

The crowd dispersed, the ambulance slipped smoothly into traffic, and Nan Xing finally exhaled in relief.

Remembering she hadn’t eaten the famous breakfast, she rubbed her hands and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

A handsome young man, out of breath, caught up and stopped her.

“You’re the girl who helped the elderly woman just now?”

Nan Xing didn’t deny it, maintaining her usual aloof demeanor. “Yes. What of it?”

The man smiled brightly, gripping her hand excitedly. “Thank you so much. You stepped up at a critical moment and saved my grandmother. I’d just called her when she disappeared. Without you, it would have been disastrous…”

“Fourth Master, isn’t that Miss Nan Xing?”

On the road, a black Maybach waited at a red light. Qi Zheng, in the driver’s seat, glanced out the window and recognized Nan Xing at the entrance to Scholar’s Congee.

Beside him was a strikingly handsome young man.

Upon hearing this, Li Beitian closed his briefcase. Seeing the man and woman tugging at each other outside, his expression darkened. His deep, stormy eyes brewed a tempest that could break loose at any moment.