On the way back to Ning Guiwan's place, Quan Yu sat in the car with his eyes closed, resting on the backrest, exuding a low pressure that made the driver's face tense up.
When they arrived at the Ning Family's doorstep, Ning Guiwan bade him farewell. He responded with an indifferent "Hmm," without even lifting his eyelids.
Ning Guiwan watched the car leave, then stood in the moist post-rain air for a while before turning to enter the gate.
As she was changing her shoes in the foyer, she overheard Ning Rongyue's voice from the living room, "Alright, stop crying. Xiangru has explained it was just a misunderstanding..."
"But they were hugging each other, and they hit me..." Ning Qinghan cried and shrieked. "I knew it, nothing good ever happens when Ning Guiwan comes back. She did it on purpose; she definitely did it on purpose. She just doesn't want me to be happy!"
"Qinghan, stop talking!" Ning Rongyue seemed wary of something, her voice pressingly urgent.
After Ning Guiwan finished putting on her indoor slippers and entered the living room, she realized Ning Honghua was also there.
At that moment, he sat on the sofa with a stern face, his jaw tensed, obviously very angry.
Upon seeing Ning Guiwan, the anger on his face intensified.
Ning Qinghan glared at her viciously. If Ning Honghua hadn't been there, Ning Qinghan would have pounced on her and torn up her face, to see how she would seduce men then!
"Xiaowan, you're back." Ning Rongyue stood up, as if afraid that Ning Guiwan would be angered by Ning Qinghan's earlier words. With a forced smile and the pose of a good sister, she gently said, "Tired, aren't you? I had Auntie prepare your bath just now. It should be ready, so go take a soak in the tub and rest early."
"Sis, what's the use of being nice to her? She won't appreciate it!"
Ning Qinghan's face bore the obvious imprint of a slap. Her makeup was completely ruined, and tears made her look quite pitiable.
"Qinghan, say less." Ning Rongyue pulled at Ning Qinghan's arm and added, "Mrs. Quan mentioned sitting down together in a few days to discuss your wedding with Xiangru. You should be a bit happier."
At the mention of discussing the wedding, Ning Qinghan felt slightly proud, but she still said bitterly, "I'm just afraid some people will make trouble and be disgusting!"
"That won't happen." Ning Rongyue looked at Ning Guiwan. "I believe everything tonight was a misunderstanding. Although Xiaowan sometimes acts impulsively, she's not a shameless person. I trust her to understand her position and that of her brother-in-law, right, Xiaowan?"
After hearing this, Ning Guiwan laughed. "Brother-in-law? I remember my mom only gave birth to me. I don't even have a sister, so where would a brother-in-law come from?"
Ning Rongyue was momentarily stunned, looking hurt. She glanced at Ning Honghua, who was sitting aside drinking tea, opened her mouth to retort, but ultimately said nothing.
Ning Honghua still wore a grave expression. He set down his teacup and spoke coldly, "If there's nothing else, everyone should return to their rooms to rest."
"Dad..." Ning Qinghan was not satisfied.
Ning Honghua glanced at her. "If you feel aggrieved, you don't have to go through with the wedding. There are plenty of good young men in Shencheng; no need to cry over a fickle man."
"..." Ning Qinghan looked astonished. "Dad? How can you say that? Clearly it was..."
"Enough, Qinghan. Dad is tired too. Let's go back to our rooms; I'll take you." Ning Rongyue acted considerate and understanding, pulling the reluctant Ning Qinghan towards the stairs.
Ning Guiwan wanted to go upstairs as well.
"You, come with me to the study," Ning Honghua called out to her.
Ning Rongyue, walking in front, stopped in her tracks. She turned around and watched Ning Guiwan follow Ning Honghua toward the study on the first floor.
Ning Qinghan stopped with her. Once the study door closed, she said indignantly, "Sis, what does Dad mean by that?"
A dark glint flashed in Ning Rongyue's eyes, but she quickly concealed it. Grasping her sister's hand, she comforted her, "Dad is also doing this for your own good, telling you not to always be cross with Xiaowan. Think more about ways to please Xiangru. Only when Xiangru's heart is with you can you both be truly happy."
"But..." Ning Qinghan hesitated, biting her lip, a vexed expression on her face. She said softly, "Sis, you know, Brother Xiangru and I... initially, we..."
Ning Qinghan found it difficult to articulate. She had become Quan Xiangru's fiancée through means that weren't exactly honorable. Though she was loath to admit it, it was an undeniable fact.
"No matter what happened in the past," Ning Rongyue said, "remember, you are his fiancée now. Mrs. Quan has always thought highly of you and has even taken the initiative to set a date for your wedding with Xiangru. You need to hold onto this happiness tightly."
After some thought, Ning Qinghan nodded firmly. "I understand, Sis. I won't let anyone ruin the relationship between Brother Xiangru and me."
Ning Rongyue's lips curved into a meaningful smile.
「In the study.」
Ning Honghua walked behind his desk and sat down, while Ning Guiwan stood in front of it. The thick, solid wood desk stood between father and daughter like an insurmountable wall.
Ning Guiwan watched her father's indifferent face in silence, her heart filled with an indescribable mix of feelings.
The man who had once doted on her, holding her in the palm of his hand, had completely changed ever since the identities of those two sisters were exposed.
Ning Guiwan even wondered if his past kindness towards her had all been an act.
"There's a problem with a project in the north. Manager Xiao was originally supposed to handle it. However, he called me recently; something came up at home, so he can't make it. You'll go on his behalf."
Ning Guiwan felt like laughing. Her father was really going to great lengths for Ning Qinghan. Was he that afraid she would ruin Ning Qinghan's marriage?
"I've just joined the company recently and don't know much about the project in the north. You should send someone who has worked on the project to deal with it."
Ning Honghua looked at her and said in an unyielding tone, "You'll coordinate the handover with Manager Xiao tomorrow morning, then go there in the afternoon."
Ning Guiwan finally couldn't help but laugh, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Dad, you really are a wonderful father."
Ning Honghua's face immediately turned sour.
"Is there anything else? If not, I'll return to my room," Ning Guiwan said and, without further delay, turned and left.
"I don't care what kind of entanglement you had with Quan Xiangru in the past," Ning Honghua's voice came from behind, almost biting. "From now on, stay away from him."
Every word felt like a needle piercing Ning Guiwan's heart.
She struggled to keep the tears at bay, tilting her chin up slightly and forcing them back. Without looking back, she said in the calmest and most relaxed voice, "Dad, if Mom knew in the hereafter, she would certainly rest uneasy."
THUD.
The heavy sound of the door closing boomed like thunder against Ning Honghua's chest.
Ning Honghua stared at the tightly shut dark red door, unable to dispel the image of his daughter's distressed and stubborn departure.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes tightly. The coldness in his brow faded, replaced by pain and regret. In the end, however, all these emotions transformed into endless resentment.