Yan Jingzhou's lips were warm, as if they had broken through all the wind, frost, rain and snow to reach her heart in time.
Gong Ning's eyelids trembled slightly, and her icy little hands suddenly wrapped around the man's neck, burying her small head in his chest without saying a word.
The willful girl disregarded everything at that moment, ignoring the surprised and scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, and the intense shyness welling up inside her.
All she wanted was to stay in a man's arms, in his safe and warm embrace, where her weary heart, worn out from years of wandering, could find rest.
He always understood her so well, and he would always use the most reassuring way to help her ease her unbearable emotions, which felt like a curse or nightmare...
Yan Jingzhou's hot fingertips caressed the girl's slightly reddened earlobe, and he whispered, "Don't be afraid, you can do whatever you want. I'm behind you. If... you don't want to do anything, I'll help you?"
"Why?" a muffled voice came from her arms. "Why do you have to help me when I don't want to do anything?"
The man chuckled softly, "My Jiaojiao has finally been brave for me once. Even if you only took one brave step, it's enough. I can't bear to lose someone as brave as you!"
Gong Xiangru is the person Gong Ning least wants to see in this world...
But for the first time ever, she summoned Gong Xiangru and even wanted to confront him...
Ultimately, it was because the car accident orchestrated by Gong Xiangru that night almost injured Yan Jingzhou...
In Gong Ning's life, now through three lifetimes.
Nothing is more important than Yan Jingzhou.
Ah Zhou... was Gong Ning's bottom line...
It was precisely because Yan Jingzhou understood all of this that he felt both joy and heartache.
I feel sorry for this little girl who can't even protect herself.
The man spoke softly, in a voice only they could hear, "So, don't be afraid of her. She can no longer hurt you. I will protect you!"
“I’m not afraid of her,” Gong Ning trembled slightly, instinctively retorting, “I just… I just…”
The girl never revealed why...
Because she couldn't deny that Gong Xiangru's existence had once been a nightmare that kept her awake at night.
Are you scared?
Wouldn't someone who left her with psychological trauma in her childhood be afraid?
How could anyone not be afraid of being kicked down from such a terrifying height?
Gong Ning's small, icy hands trembled as she gripped Yan Jingzhou's shirt. "I don't know, maybe... I'm just scared..."
"So, you're very brave," the man said gently, stroking her soft hair. "Given Gong Xiangru's intelligence, she couldn't possibly not know why the Yan family would send her an invitation out of the blue. She must have connected it to you. Yet she still came. What does that mean? It means she never took you seriously from the beginning. If you had shown even the slightest fear of her, Gong Xiangru would have achieved her purpose in coming today. If you were to lose to her carefully laid psychological warfare, in the future... even in your dreams, you would be her defeated opponent!"
Yan Jingzhou's tone was gentle, yet it carried a strong sense of encouragement and stimulation.
Gu Ci had told him more than once that Gong Ning couldn't keep running away from her past.
Those past experiences are like fish bones stuck in your throat; you can't just drink some vinegar and they'll disappear.
If this continues, the psychological pressure and avoidance will cause her to... break down...
Gong Ning suddenly raised her head, her big, wet eyes looking at Yan Jingzhou, "Really?"
The man looked intently into her bright eyes. "Let's play a game. Don't worry about anything else, just face her head and try it. Then pay attention to her expression, especially her eyes. You'll discover a different kind of surprise. As long as you do that, you'll win this silent psychological battle!"
You will win!
A confident and solemn tone: You will win!
Suddenly, Gong Ning sat up straight in the man's arms with a burst of excitement, as if she had been injected with adrenaline.
Yan Jingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly and told her with a smiling look, "Keep it up."
Seeing this, Feng Qing's eyes darted around, and she deliberately raised her voice, "Sister Xiangru, today is Uncle Yan's sixtieth birthday. It's not easy for you to come all this way. We rarely have the chance to see you, so may we take this opportunity to hear you play the piano?"
Gong Xiangru swirled the red wine in her glass. The deep red liquid rippled gently through the crystal-clear glass, creating beautiful and enchanting waves.
Hearing this, he chuckled softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice, "You silly girl..."
She put down her wine glass, stood up, and smiled slightly at Old Master Yan, who was not far away. "Uncle Yan, today is your sixtieth birthday. Besides carefully selecting a gift for you, I don't have much else to offer. I'm only moderately good at the piano, so please just listen casually. I wish you good health in the future!"
These humble words caused a slight stir in the room, with everyone's eyes filled with barely suppressed anticipation and excitement.
Miss Xiangru plays the piano quite well?
Are you kidding? The champion who won the gold medal in the international piano competition back then was only a passable pianist.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Yan chuckled and tapped his cane on the floor with amusement. "Good, you've got a kind heart!"
Although the old man said this, he was full of doubts in his heart because he couldn't understand why so many people said that he personally ordered an invitation to be sent to Gong Xiangru.
Her gaze shifted slightly, glancing at her son who was looking tenderly at Ning Yatou, her eyes slightly bewildered.
Her own son treats Ning Yatou like a precious jewel, so he probably wouldn't like Gong Xiangru, right?
Gong Xiangru smiled gently, walked to the piano beside her, skillfully tested the keys with her fingers, then exhaled slightly, ready to begin.
The scene gradually fell silent...
"Wait a minute!" Just then, a clear and loud voice broke the silence.
Everyone frowned slightly, looked in the direction of the sound, and found that it was Gong Ning.
Feng Qing scoffed, "What, Gong Ning, are you scared? Afraid that Miss Xiangru will become dazzling because of her piano playing, and then make you pale in comparison?"
Gong Ning glanced over lightly, "What... haven't you had enough red wine yet?"
"You..." Feng Qing paused, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his face. "What are you being so arrogant about? Don't think I..." am really afraid of you...
Before she could finish speaking, Gong Ning's crisp voice rang out, carrying a certain unstoppable certainty: "Miss Gong, it's been a long time?"
Upon hearing this, not only did Gong Xiangru's hand, which was resting on the piano keys, freeze, but even the crowd who were preparing to watch the show were shocked.
Do Gong Ning and Gong Xiangru know each other?
The banquet hall was eerily quiet.
Gong Xiangru was stunned for only a moment before looking up at Gong Ning with a smile, "Miss, do we know each other?"
Just as Old Master Gong and his entourage entered the banquet hall, they overheard these words...
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