Beg Me to Remarry
Chapter 498: Last Night’s Memories

Chapter 498: Chapter 498: Last Night’s Memories

This moment seemed to stretch infinitely, each second lingering like a year.

Finally, He Xing’s nose brushed against Xia Ning’s, and she didn’t need to imagine any further. Next, she was sure to kiss He Xing, just as she’d dreamed countless times before.

A blush spread across Xia Ning’s cheeks, her breathing becoming more rapid, heavy and coarse, though it was unclear whether the sounds came from her or He Xing.

One of He Xing’s hands moved from Xia Ning’s waist to the nape of her neck, his long fingers clear and distinct in their joints, slender yet strong.

Complying, Xia Ning slightly arched back, pressing closer into the palm of He Xing’s hand; at such a moment, she found herself comparing He Xing’s palm to Yang Kaitai’s—they were nothing alike.

Yang Kaitai’s palm was broad and tough, perhaps from his time spent in prison; his calloused hands felt like sandpaper against her skin, which was comforting. Yet, the only downside was Yang Kaitai’s palms tended to sweat easily, always damp and uncomfortable to the touch.

He Xing, however, was different. His palm was warm and dry, soft to the touch, even smoother than the hands of many girls, clearly those of someone who had never engaged in heavy labor.

While her mind wandered and she anticipated eagerly, several seconds passed before Xia Ning realized something was amiss; He Xing hadn’t kissed her yet—why not?

With that thought, she opened her eyes to look at He Xing, only to see his eyes, cold as frost, swirling with unfathomable darkness and struggle.

"Why is there a struggle?" That was the last doubt Xia Ning had before losing consciousness.

Because the moment He Xing realized she had opened her eyes, he raised his hand high and brought it down hard on the back of Xia Ning’s neck.

Xia Ning did not feel the pain before she fainted; she stared at He Xing in disbelief, as if she couldn’t fathom what had just happened, her body uncontrollably falling backward.

The memory ended abruptly there, and Xia Ning rubbed her neck, finally understanding the source of the pain.

With wide eyes, she looked at her father and brothers, her voice full of grievance, "I don’t know what happened. He Xing brother seemed to be unable to resist anymore, but then he suddenly knocked me out with a palm. I don’t know what happened after that."

"Then let me tell you," a man’s voice came from the direction of the door, echoing distantly through the study room like thunder.

All three members of the Xia Family turned simultaneously towards the door, their complexions changing in unison to a purplish-red, as if they had seen something horrifying.

Indeed, the one who broke the silence was one of the owners of the house, He Xing, Xia Ning’s target from the previous night. Nobody knew when he had arrived or how much of the Xia Family’s conversation he had overheard.

He Xing, dressed casually, leaned against the doorframe with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, looking at Xia Guoxiong, "Uncle Xia, may I know the purpose of your visit? Are you here to take Xia Ning back? You can rest assured to take her back. I promise you, she will be returned as good as new."

The phrase "as good as new" should have been positive, but to the Xia Family, it felt like a mocking slap, resounding loudly against their faces.

"Ha ha... I see, I see," Xia Guoxiong forced a laugh, the old fox at a loss for words. His gaze swept over Xia Ning, her clothes slightly wrinkled but intact and clearly not tampered with.

The facts laid before them: there was no wrongdoing between He Xing and Xia Ning. Despite spending a significant sum and much effort, they still failed to deliver Xia Ning into He Xing’s bed.

He Xing nodded, satisfied, and started to smile, "Well, it’s still early, and I need to get some more sleep, so I won’t see you out."

While He Xing’s words of sending them off were polite, the mockery on his indifferent face was all too evident, almost as if it were a thorn piercing into the heart of the Xia Family members.

It was still Xia Guoxiong who spoke, "Yes, yes... it is getting late. We... we won’t disturb you any further and will take our leave now."

He Xing stepped aside, gesturing for them to leave. Hanging their heads, one after another, the members of the Xia Family walked out, the awkwardness of the scene indescribable.

It wasn’t until they had left the He Family’s villa that Xia Cheng finally mustered the courage to speak, "Dad, are we just going to leave it at that? Xia Ning did spend last night at the He Family home."

Xia Guoxiong’s expression was uglier than the stones in an outhouse, and he glared fiercely at Xia Cheng, "Aren’t you ashamed enough? He Xing’s demeanor shows he knows everything; he might have been waiting on purpose somewhere, just to watch us make fools of ourselves in his study room."

The three of them walked through the He Family’s garden with dejected faces, and it wasn’t until they passed through the garden’s gate that they completely left the He Family villa.

The closer they got to the outer gate, the more unwilling Xia Ning’s heart grew. She turned back to take a deep look at the He Family villa, replaying in her mind, for the umpteenth time, the scene where He Xing had embraced her. She still couldn’t believe her plan had failed.

Suddenly, a commotion reached her ears, as if someone was trying to enter but was being stopped, and an argument ensued.

Xia Guoxiong looked back at his children, a glint of cunning in his sullen eyes, and took the lead, "Let’s go and see."

As they suspected, there was indeed an altercation outside. A journalist carrying a camera was filming the He Family villa, while He Family servants were attempting to stop him, repeatedly warning they would call the police if he didn’t leave.

Xia Ning hadn’t expected journalists to appear here. Observing the mud on their shoes and the down coat torn in several places from branches, she surmised this was yet another reporter who had climbed hills and scaled walls just to get a shot of the He Family home.

The journalist, seeing the Xia Family, called out to them as if seeing a lifesaver, "Lady Xia Ning, I have a few questions I’d like to interview you about. Would you be willing to accept an interview?"

Being a young girl of tender feelings, Xia Ning’s face instantly flushed red, and she instinctively hid behind Xia Guoxiong, her refusal to be interviewed clear without a word.

However, Xia Guoxiong’s expression was utterly unlike hers; he whispered something to Xia Ning, "Remember, our luck has turned. If you want to marry He Xing, just do as I say."

Xia Ning looked at her father in confusion but, after hearing what he said, her eyes, previously dim, brightened. Her slightly swollen face from just waking up was now full of smiles.

She gave the journalist what she believed to be her most beautiful smile, "What questions do you have? I will try my best to answer them."