Ning Honghua put on the air of the family patriarch, and Ning Qinghan dared not speak further but still couldn't help glaring fiercely at Ning Guiwan. Ning Rongyue walked over and tugged at Yun Shu. "Mom, let's eat first."
Yun Shu looked at Ning Guiwan, hesitated, and then held back.
Ning Guiwan didn't look at her again, walked down the stairs, and headed straight for the entrance hall.
"Xiaowan, aren't you going to eat?" Ning Rongyue asked.
At that moment, Ning Guiwan's face broke into a smile again. Her wavy long hair was tied into a ponytail, not diminishing her flirtatious allure—a stark contrast to her earlier cold demeanor.
"I have a team meeting this morning to discuss the project, and I'm running late. You guys go ahead and eat."
Following a loud BANG as the door slammed shut, Ning Rongyue looked worriedly at Ning Honghua. "Is Xiaowan angry?"
Ning Honghua's face remained somber, and he didn't speak.
The smile in Ning Rongyue's eyes deepened. "Maybe I should go to the office later and bring her something to eat."
Ning Honghua spoke coldly, "Don't bother with her. If she doesn't eat, let her go hungry!"
The smile in Ning Rongyue's eyes widened further, and she ate an extra strip of bacon for breakfast.
「 」
The office building of Tianchi Group stretched twenty stories high, towering over the expensive financial district. Ning Rongyue and Ning Qinghan worked in the finance department, while Ning Guiwan was in the project department. Separated by several floors, they rarely crossed paths.
Yet that noon, in an expected yet unexpected turn of events, she ran into the two sisters in the employee cafeteria.
The incident from years ago had caused such a stir that many company employees knew of the cruel things Ning Guiwan had done to the two sisters. Even those who didn't know became aware after reading yesterday's newspaper.
Now, with the three of them in the same frame, even though they were more than a dozen tables apart, many eyes were still watching the drama unfold.
"I really can't believe she could do such vicious things; she looks like such a peaceful, otherworldly beauty."
"Are you blind? How is she otherworldly? More like a seductress. I heard this project she landed wasn't obtained through clean means either..."
"Who knows how many men she's slept with? A rich second-generation like her, with money and looks, bold and unrestrained—she's probably slept with more handsome guys than all the salt you've eaten in your life."
"That can't be true. She doesn't seem like that kind of person..."
"How is it not possible? Haven't you heard? The reason she caused the death of the second young miss's child back then was because she had her eyes on the second young miss's fiancé!"
"Wow! For real? The grudges within wealthy families are truly spectacular!"
Ning Guiwan kept her head down, eating her meal, turning a deaf ear to it all.
However, her assistant Ren Xiaofei could no longer bear to listen. She picked up her tray and slammed it down on the table with a CLANG. "Even food can't shut your mouths! And you all claim to be highly educated graduates? I see little difference between you and the gossiping old women at the market!"
Ren Xiaofei was tall, slightly overweight, and possessed a resonant voice. Known in the company for being tough, she reportedly had connections. Originally the special assistant to the project department head, she had, for some perplexing reason, requested to assist Ning Guiwan, who had just joined the company and already had a poor reputation.
Her words instantly quieted the cafeteria. Some people might have scorned her inwardly, but no one wanted to confront her publicly and invite trouble.
Ren Xiaofei snorted coldly and sat down. "A bunch of bandwagon followers!"
Before her words had fully faded, a piece of pork rib appeared on her plate.
Following Ning Guiwan's withdrawing chopsticks, Ren Xiaofei met a pair of dazzling, beautiful eyes.
"Your reward," Ning Guiwan smiled.
Ren Xiaofei's cheeks blushed crimson, and she actually felt a bit shy.
This woman is simply an enchantress, bewitching enough to make even another woman like me feel dizzy and disoriented.
"I... I just can't stand them talking nonsense without knowing anything! I... I believe in you. You're so dedicated to your work; you're definitely not like what they say!"
Ning Guiwan chuckled softly.
Does being dedicated to work make one a good person?
In the midst of their conversation, Ning Rongyue walked over, her demeanor composed and kind. "Xiaowan, Xiangru returned from his business trip today. He's been away for several months, and Qinghan and I plan to invite some friends to welcome him back. We'll meet at Baiyu Palace at seven o'clock tonight. You should come too."
As if afraid Ning Guiwan might refuse, she quickly added, "They're all friends you know. We haven't seen each other for years, and everyone misses you a lot."
Ning Guiwan noticed Ning Qinghan watching her warily. She paused, then her red lips curled into a charming smile. "Sure, but I might be a little late. I have a lot of things to deal with."
Ning Rongyue was delighted. "Then it's settled. We'll wait for you."
Ning Guiwan smiled.
Near the end of the workday, Ning Guiwan received a call from Lady Quan, the matriarch of the Quan Family. Lady Quan said she hadn't seen her for a few days, missed her, and invited her over for dinner.
Without a second thought, Ning Guiwan agreed.
After work, she drove straight to the Quan Family's mansion.
The late Patriarch Quan had two sons. The elder son, Quan Heng, was born to his deceased first wife. The younger son, Quan Yu, was born to his second wife, the current Lady Quan.
When Lady Quan married Patriarch Quan, Quan Heng was already a teenager. They were never close and didn't live in the main family residence. Quan Yu was often preoccupied with social engagements, leaving Lady Quan alone most of the time.
"Are you busy? My calling you over like this, am I interrupting anything important?" Lady Quan asked, though the joy in her eyes as she looked at Ning Guiwan was undeniable.
Ning Guiwan resembled her maternal grandmother more than her own mother, and to Lady Quan, seeing her was like seeing an old friend.
"Everything's taken care of; it's no interruption," Ning Guiwan replied.
As she spoke, her phone, lying on the table, rang. Her gaze drifted to it; it was a call from Ning Rongyue.
She didn't answer.
Lady Quan saw Ning Rongyue's name on the screen and, thinking of Ning Guiwan's current situation, asked, "How is your father treating you?"
Ning Guiwan just smiled. "Quite well."
Lady Quan observed her quiet and reserved demeanor, feeling that the girl had changed a lot; she was nowhere near as cheerful and vivacious as she once was.
When Ning Guiwan experienced her misfortune, Patriarch Quan had been gravely ill. Lady Quan, deeply devoted to her husband, had focused all her attention on him. After Patriarch Quan passed away, Lady Quan was so heartbroken she barely managed to cope, leaving her with no energy to care for Ning Guiwan.
Back then, if I had asserted myself more, at the very least, I wouldn't have let this girl be forced to leave her home and live elsewhere for so many years.
"Xiaowan, you're twenty-two this year, aren't you?" Affection filled Lady Quan's eyes. "It's time to find someone and settle down."
Ruiyin Group had recently launched a project and was hosting several heads of related departments at Baiyu Palace that evening. Midway through the event, Quan Yu received a call from a servant at the family mansion and had his deputy manage the socializing, returning home early himself.
As he approached the dining room door, he overheard his elderly mother discussing finding a match for Ning Guiwan, and his thick, sword-like brows knitted tightly together.