The main building was a five-story villa, yet only a handful of people lived there.
The old madam occupied the second floor, Ning Xiruo lived on the third, and two maids stayed on the first.
Next to it stood three smaller villas, each belonging to one of the old madam's three sons.
Regardless of how many people lived there, every house was restricted to three floors—no additional structures allowed.
The patriarch of the Ning family had passed away early, leaving the old madam to raise her four sons through years of hardship and toil.
Now, at the venerable age of eighty, she spent her days tending to birds and flowers, taking no part in family affairs—yet her authority within the Ning family remained unmatched.
She had five grandsons and three granddaughters, but the one she doted on most was Ning Xiruo.
A red Lexus rolled into the courtyard. Ning Xiruo stepped out from the back seat, her face twisted in disbelief as if she had just seen a ghost.
Chen Xin'an got out from the driver's side, wearing an expression of pure smugness.
"Well? Still think we tricked you? Told you I can drive—and steady too!"
On the way back, Ning Xiruo had finally caved under Chen Xin'an's relentless pestering and let him take the wheel.
She'd been ready to laugh at him the moment he stalled or panicked, but to her astonishment, he had driven all the way back without a single mishap.
He wasn't exactly skilled, but even in tight situations, his reflexes had impressed her.
This guy… it was like he was born to drive. First time touching a car, and he handled it that smoothly!
"Xiruo!" someone called from the main building's entrance.
"Grandma!" Ning Xiruo turned and ran toward the voice with a bright smile.
Only then did Chen Xin'an see a genuine smile on her face—a smile that belonged to a girl her age.
He was about to follow when someone nearby called out,
"Hey, buddy! You new here? Come give me a hand!"
Under the large tree in the yard stood a ladder.
A man in overalls was perched on it, hanging colorful lights along the branches.
When he spotted Chen Xin'an standing by the car, he waved him over.
Chen Xin'an walked closer, and the man pointed at a toolbox on the ground.
"Pass me the hammer!"
Chen Xin'an bent down, picked up a hammer, and held it up to him.
The man didn't take it. Instead, he barked,
"Not that one! The red-handled one! How can you be this clueless?
Yeah, that one—hand it over!"
This guy really doesn't treat me like a guest, huh?
Chen Xin'an sighed and did as he was told. It wasn't a big deal—just lending a hand.
"You must be the Fifth Miss's new driver, right?" the man asked while working.
Chen Xin'an shook his head. The man, not seeing it from above, assumed he agreed and chuckled.
"Lucky guy! Driving for the Fifth Miss isn't a bad gig.
As long as you've got your wits about you, tips won't be a problem!
It's an easy job too. She's not difficult to serve—just goes between home and the company, nowhere else."
"If it's that good, why don't you do it?" Chen Xin'an asked curiously.
The man snorted. "I'm an electrician for the property. Can't drive worth a damn!
You think anyone can just be the Fifth Miss's driver?
In the past year alone, I've seen her go through four of them!"
Chen Xin'an sneered. "Is Ning Xiruo really that hard to deal with?"
"Hey! Watch your mouth!" the electrician snapped.
"You think that's her fault? It's those drivers who didn't know their place—every one of them up to no good!
Do you know what the most important rule is for being her driver?
You never, ever get any funny ideas about the Fifth Miss!"
He jabbed a finger at Chen Xin'an, face full of righteous indignation.
"A driver should act like a driver. Know your role.
Don't go playing the toad dreaming of swan meat just because you're sitting close to her every day!
That kind of flattery—she hates it the most.
Those scumbags had bad intentions from the start.
Tell me—are you the same? Got some dirty thoughts about the Fifth Miss?"
Chen Xin'an scratched his nose lazily. "I've got no designs on her. She's the one who's got designs on me. You believe that?"
"Hold this for me," the electrician said, thrusting his tools into Chen Xin'an's hands.
Chen Xin'an blinked. "What are you doing?"
The man snapped, "Gonna take a piss so you can look at yourself in the reflection!
You think wearing some cheap suit makes you look respectable?
Let me tell you—any of the last drivers she fired could outshine you by ten streets!
Even my nagging wife wouldn't bother talking to someone like you.
And you say she has designs on you? You must still be dreaming!"
"Come on, spill it—what are you really here for? You don't look like a driver to me."
Chen Xin'an rubbed his nose again, half amused.
"Alright, fine. You're right—I'm not her driver.
She doesn't have designs on me, and I sure as hell don't have designs on her.
I'm just here to marry her."
"Hey, why're you swinging that hammer? Seriously? You trying to kill me?!"
The man's face turned blue with rage as he pointed the hammer at him.
"You slick little punk! Spouting nonsense like that—who do you think you are?
The Fifth Miss is kind to us in property management—way kinder than the rest of the Nings.
I won't let you insult her like this!"
He waved the hammer threateningly.
"Say another word and I'll bash you out of here myself!
Look at you—your luck's bad enough without me saying it.
You think you could ever marry someone like the Fifth Miss? Keep dreaming!
Mark my words, you'll be fired within three days!"
Just then, a woman in her forties hurried over.
"Young Master," she said to Chen Xin'an, "the Old Madam and the Fifth Miss are waiting for you in the study upstairs. Please, follow me."
Chen Xin'an nodded, but before he could move, a shadow suddenly fell from above.
He reacted instantly, catching the electrician mid-fall.
"Careful there, big bro," Chen Xin'an said with a grin. "Watch your step."
The electrician stared at him, eyes wide with horror. "Wh-what did she just call you?"
The woman frowned. "Old Liu, this is the Ning family's son-in-law.
Why are you chatting away here instead of finishing the lights?"
Cold sweat dripped down the electrician's forehead. "R-right! Almost done—just one more spot left!"
Chen Xin'an couldn't help laughing. He patted the man's shoulder.
"See? I wasn't lying. I really am here to marry the Fifth Miss.
Anyway, get back to work—I'll bring you wedding candies tomorrow."
...
On the second floor, in the study of the main villa,
the Old Madam sat in a pearwood chair before a portrait, smiling kindly at Chen Xin'an.
She nodded approvingly. "Yes… you do look alike. Very much alike."
Chen Xin'an's heart skipped a beat. His expression turned serious.
"Old Madam, you knew my parents?"
She shook her head. "No. I mean—you look just like your master."
Oh, come on!
You think I look like some eighty-year-old man? Where, exactly?
The Old Madam chuckled. "See that defiant look? That's exactly it!
When your master was young, he acted the same—quiet on the surface, but full of mischief inside.
Never bowed to anyone. And if someone provoked him, they always regretted it."
Was that a compliment or an insult?
Chen Xin'an sighed. "So you were close with my master?"
"I was his childhood sweetheart," she said with a nostalgic smile. "What do you think?"
Grandma, seriously? Saying that in front of your granddaughter—is that appropriate?
Chen Xin'an glanced at Ning Xiruo, who was staring wide-eyed in shock. Clearly, this was news to her too.
The Old Madam waved her hand with a sigh. "Ah, that's all ancient history now. No need to dwell on it.
Your master was a coward—didn't dare marry me back then.
But I won't repeat his mistake.
That's why I summoned you here from Qingniu Mountain—on this very day, the eighth of August, the Day of Yin and Yang—
to marry you and Xiruo."