Car lights suddenly flashed outside the window, and Zhou Yuan quickly turned off the ultraviolet lamp.
She crawled into bed with the book in her arms, and heard her mother's suppressed crying and the sound of her brother smashing a wine bottle downstairs.
The teddy bear doll lay quietly beside the pillow, its glass eyes reflecting the moonlight, as if crying silently.
——————(time dividing line)
On a weekend morning, Ning Xiwan stood downstairs of the dormitory building, watching the low-key and luxurious black Maybach slowly stop in front of her.
The window rolled down and the driver nodded respectfully at her: "Miss, please get in the car."
"......" Ning Xiwan's mouth twitched, and she tightened her grip on the backpack.
The scene was so reminiscent of the "domineering CEO comes to pick up Cinderella" scene in idol dramas that she subconsciously looked around, fearing that a passing classmate would take a picture and post it on the campus forum. She even had the title ready: "Shocking! Ning Xiwan, a top student in the Finance Department, is suspected of being kept by someone."
"Um..." she began hesitantly, "Can you please stop calling me Miss? It sounds awkward."
The driver looked embarrassed: "But the master ordered..."
"Just call me Xiwan." She opened the car door and got in. The touch of the leather seat made her touch it twice more. "Wow, this chair is more comfortable than my dorm mattress."
driver:"......"
As the car drove away from the campus, Ning Xiwan sent a message to Duan Shuce: [I'm leaving. I feel like I'm going to act in a TV series.]
Duan Shuce replied immediately: [A drama about a wealthy family recognizing their relatives? Remember to check if there are any hidden cameras in your room.]
Ning Xiwan chuckled, her nervousness dissipating considerably. But when she saw the navigation display "15 kilometers to Ning's Manor," her fingers unconsciously curled up.
"Um...Ning family, is it very big?" she asked tentatively.
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his tone filled with unconcealed pride: "Miss, the Ning family estate covers an area of 200 acres. The main house was designed by an Italian designer, and there are three gardens alone..."
Ning Xiwan was stunned. It wasn't until the car drove into the manor gate that she truly understood what the driver said.
The geometrically patterned shrubs, the bronze sculpture in the center of the fountain, the glass greenhouse looming in the distance, and the endless tree-lined avenue... How could this be a home? It's clearly a 5A-level scenic spot!
"Did I really live here... when I was a kid?" she muttered to herself, suddenly realizing how valuable her lost memories were.
When the car stopped in front of the main house, Ning Xiwan found that several people were already standing at the door.
Ning Yuanshan was wearing a casual suit and Ji Qinglan was wearing a lavender cheongsam. Their eyes lit up when they saw her get out of the car.
"Xi Wan!" Ji Qinglan stepped forward quickly, but stopped just before touching her, his fingers trembling slightly. "Did everything go smoothly on the way?"
Ning Xiwan noticed her red eyes, and something in her heart suddenly softened: "Yeah, it's good."
Ning Yuanshan walked over, gently put his arm around his wife's shoulders, and said to Ning Xiwan with a warm smile, "Welcome home."
Ning Xiwan's nose sore at this. She opened her mouth, and the word "Mom and Dad" rolled around on her tongue several times before finally turning into a soft, "Thank you..."
At this moment, the main door of the house was pushed open, and a girl in a Chanel suit ran out skipping and jumping: "Mom and Dad, is my sister here?"
Ning Xiwan turned her head and met the girl's gaze - a sweet and well-behaved smile, carefully styled curly hair, and a pair of eyes that... turned cold in an instant.
"This is Mengmeng," Shen Qinglan introduced with a smile, "your sister."
Ning Yunmeng affectionately took Ning Xiwan's arm and said, "Sister is finally back! Can I help you with your bag?"
Ning Xiwan keenly felt the other person's nails pinching the soft flesh on the inside of her arm. She pulled her hand away without changing her expression and patted Ning Yunmeng's shoulder: "No need, I can do it myself."
Ning Yunmeng used 70% of her strength in this slap, and she almost stumbled.
"Oh, sorry," Ning Xiwan said with an apologetic smile, "I was a little too strong."
Ji Qinglan didn't notice the undercurrent between the two of them, and gently urged: "Come in quickly, Xiuyuan and Xiuheng are waiting in the living room."
Ning Xiwan took a deep breath and walked towards the carved door.
The moment she crossed the threshold, she vaguely heard Ye Qingliu's calm voice echoing in her mind: "Sister Wan, remember you are going to recognize your relatives, not to fight."
She raised the corners of her mouth silently - that depends on whether someone takes action first.
Ning Xiwan followed her parents into the living room of the Ning family villa. The light from the crystal chandelier softly sprinkled on the dark solid wood floor, and a faint sandalwood scent floated in the air.
The living room was spacious enough to fit her entire university dormitory. The sofa was made of real leather, and on the coffee table was a set of exquisite tea sets that looked very valuable.
Before she could sigh, her eyes were drawn to the two men on the sofa.
Ning Xiuyuan, the eldest son of the Ning family, was wearing a dark gray casual suit and gold-rimmed glasses on his high nose bridge. His slender fingers were flipping through a document, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was reviewing some important contract.
He exudes a cool, elitist air, even his sitting posture is meticulous, as if he's ready to attend a board meeting at any time.
Ning Xiuheng, the second son of the Ning family, wore a black shirt that made his skin look cold and pale. Between his bony fingers, he was playing with a silver lighter, which made a crisp metallic sound when he opened and closed it.
He leaned lazily on the sofa, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed, his gaze filled with scrutiny and amusement, as if he was looking at something interesting.
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