After Shen Qinglan left, Ning Xiwan changed into a more modest outfit—a simple white shirt and black trousers. She fixed her hair in the mirror, making sure she looked impeccable.
Ten minutes later, she stood in front of Ning Yuanshan's study. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Ning Yuanshan's low voice came from inside.
In the study, Ning Yuanshan sat behind a large solid wood desk, his face serious. Ji Qinglan sat on the sofa beside him, looking worried. Ning Xiuheng, already dressed in dry clothes, his hair still wet, stood by the window, his expression gloomy.
To Ning Xiwan's surprise, Ning Xiuyuan, who was usually not at home, was there too. He was wearing a neat suit, standing next to the bookcase, with an expressionless face.
"Sit down." Ning Yuanshan pointed to a chair in front of the desk.
Ning Xiwan sat down calmly, her back straight, and looked at her father calmly.
"Tell me, what's going on?" Ning Yuanshan's voice was intimidating without being angry.
Ning Xiuheng spoke first: "She kicked me into the swimming pool for no reason!"
Ning Xiwan sneered: "For no reason?"
"Xi Wan," Ning Yuanshan looked at her, "you say."
Ning Xiwan said calmly, "My second brother openly insulted me by the swimming pool, implying that my academic achievements were obtained through improper means."
"I didn't!" Ning Xiuheng retorted, "I just asked her how she got the gold medal!"
"The original words were, 'With your unconventional ways, you can actually win a gold medal?'" Ning Xiwan repeated it word for word, "Then she leaned over to my ear and asked if I had seduced the judges."
The study was completely silent. Ning Yuanshan's expression turned extremely grim. Ji Qinglan gasped, and even Ning Xiuyuan, who had been silent the entire time, frowned.
"Xiu Heng!" Ning Yuanshan slammed the table and stood up, "Is this what you should say to your sister?"
Ning Xiuheng's face turned pale: "She's talking nonsense! I never said such a thing!"
Ning Xiwan sneered, pulled her phone from her pocket, and opened a recording. Ning Xiuheng's voice came out clearly: "...For example, seducing the judges?"
Ning Xiuheng's face turned pale in an instant.
"I'm used to recording everything at all times," Ning Xiwan said calmly, "to prevent anyone from misinterpreting what happened."
Ning Yuanshan glared at his second son: "What else do you have to say?"
Ning Xiuheng opened his mouth, but in the end, nothing came out. He just glared at Ning Xiwan fiercely.
"Apologize to Xiwan." Ning Yuanshan ordered.
Ning Xiuheng stiffened his neck and said, "Impossible!"
"Xiu Heng!" Ji Qinglan also stood up, "How could you treat your sister like this?"
"What kind of sister is she?" Ning Xiuheng suddenly exploded. "She's been missing for over a decade and suddenly shows up. Who knows if she's..."
"Enough!" Ning Yuanshan roared, interrupting Ning Xiuheng. "Go back to your room and reflect on your actions! You are not allowed to come out without my permission!"
Ning Xiuheng turned around angrily, slammed the door and left.
An awkward silence fell in the study. Ning Xiwan noticed that Ning Xiuyuan's eyes remained on her, scrutinizing and pondering.
"Xi Wan," Ning Yuanshan rubbed his temples tiredly, "Xiu Heng... has always been a bit rebellious. Don't take it to heart."
Ning Xiwan nodded: "As long as he doesn't bother me, I won't mind."
"I will discipline him." Ning Yuanshan promised.
Ning Xiwan stood up and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back to my room."
"Wait." Ning Xiuyuan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. "Your fighting skills are very professional. Where did you learn them?"
Ning Xiwan turned around and looked at her eldest brother: "It's not very safe around here. I have to learn some self-defense skills."
Ning Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes: "Ordinary self-defense techniques can't achieve such a clean and neat shoulder throw."
"Then I might be gifted." Ning Xiwan smiled, "Just like mathematics."
Ning Xiuyuan stopped talking, but the suspicion in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
After Ning Xiwan left the study, she did not go back to her room directly, but went to the garden of the villa. She needed fresh air to clear her mind.
Just as I sat down on the bench, my phone vibrated again. It was a message from Ye Qingliu:
[I found something interesting. Ning Xiuyuan has been investigating your background recently, using three private detective agencies.]
Ning Xiwan raised an eyebrow and replied: [Keep staring at him. Also, check Ning Xiuheng's capital flows over the past six months.]
[Already checking. Also, Ning Yunmeng was eavesdropping on your phone call just now.]
Ning Xiwan's eyes turned cold: [Be more specific.]
[She used a bug, and it's in the socket in your room. Do you want me to get rid of it?]
Ning Xiwan sneered: [No, it's useful to keep it.]
She put down her phone and looked toward the window of Ning Yunmeng's room on the second floor of the villa. The curtains swayed slightly, as if someone had just left the window.
"The game has just begun, sister."
Ning Xiwan whispered to herself, a sharp light flashing in her eyes.
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