Gong Ning's eyes grew even quieter.
Her quiet and silent demeanor was interpreted by everyone as the little girl feeling distressed and guilty because her older sister had been punished too severely.
Grandpa Gong's expression softened slightly, and he patted the sofa beside him. "Come, A-Yun, come sit here!"
Gong Ning obediently sat down next to him, snuggling affectionately, "Grandpa!"
“Ah Yun, it was your sister who made a mistake. You don’t need to feel guilty. She has to take responsibility for the mistake she made!”
Gong Ning: "???"
When did she start feeling sorry for Gong Xiangru?
Was her gaze towards Gong Xiangru too kind? Or too gentle? That it gave the old man such a misconception?
Gong Ning smiled awkwardly but didn't say anything.
She secretly thought to herself, "She's not a saint; she wouldn't feel sorry for Gong Xiangru..."
The old man's wise gaze swept across her face. The little girl's face showed a forced smile, as if she was still unhappy.
After frowning and thinking carefully for a while, he asked, "Ah Yun, are you still thinking about that boy from the Yan family?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present instantly became more alert, their eyes fixed intently on Gong Ning.
Gong Ning was stunned: "...Huh?"
This slow reaction was interpreted in another way by the onlookers.
Gong Xiaojing coughed lightly, subtly trying to persuade Gong Ning, "Ah Yun, your grandfather just wanted to test that Yan family boy by bringing you home, to see if he was sincere towards you, but he..." He gave in so easily, we didn't expect that!
Lu Weixi slapped Gong Xiaojing's arm, signaling him to stop talking.
She turned to look at Gong Ning with tenderness, her eyes filled with expectation and hope, "Ayun, it's getting late... Mom will take you to rest, okay? Nothing is more important than a good night's sleep. Maybe there will be a surprise when you wake up?"
The so-called surprise was just something Ms. Lu said casually, but she never expected that her words would become a self-fulfilling prophecy...
Before Gong Ning could even react, Gong Xiangyi and her siblings were stunned, staring blankly at Lu Weixi for a long time, unable to come to their senses.
So fantastical...
My aunt spoke so gently, and her expression was so tender.
“…Okay,” Gong Ning looked down at her toes, stood up, and said, “Let’s go, I’m really a little tired!”
Hidden in Gong Ning's tone when answering Lu Weixi was a sense of unfamiliarity and distance that even she herself hadn't noticed. This unfamiliar tone seemed to have invisibly created a huge chasm between the warmth between mother and daughter.
Lu Weixi's fingertips trembled slightly, but her face showed no unusual expression as she gently led her up to the third floor.
Pushing open the bedroom door near the east side, the room was decorated in a princess style full of girlish charm. The moderately sized bedroom was divided into north and south sections by a sliding door that served as a wall in the middle, which was now pushed against both sides.
The deep darkness outside the window gradually seeped through the window frame into the view. Next to the window was a very cozy study, and outside the study was a balcony.
The books on the bookshelf were books she had once read.
“These books were all brought back by your father from his home in America,” Lu Weixi said softly as she walked beside Gong Ning, who was looking at the books on the bookshelf with a slight daze. “We won’t force you. If you don’t want to go back to America, you don’t have to. This is your home too. If you don’t like the style of this room, you can tell me or tell your aunt to change it…”
“I…” Gong Ning hesitated for a few moments, a struggle flashing in her eyes.
"Don't rush, let me finish," Lu Weixi smiled slightly and gently interrupted her, "Just like your other older brothers and sisters, you also have a detached villa behind the garden. If you don't want to live here, you can move there."
The words that Gong Ning was about to say were suddenly swallowed back down her throat, and a wave of bitterness welled up in her heart.
She didn't know... how to say no.
Or rather, she simply didn't know what reason or excuse to use to shirk this heartwarming care and love.
Seeing that Gong Ning's tense expression had eased and a hint of excitement flashed in her eyes, Lu Weixi spoke with exceptional understanding, "Don't feel pressured. Doing this doesn't mean you're confined to the house and deprived of your freedom. You can go wherever you want. Your parents, grandpa, and your siblings just want you to know that you have a home. If you're tired from playing outside or working, you can come back. You have a home to protect you and give you warmth. Isn't that good?"
Gong Ning suddenly lowered her eyes, her lips moved slightly, she put the book back on the bookshelf, and gave a soft "hmm".
She then headed towards the washroom, saying, "I'd like to wash up and rest now. You should rest early too!"
“Okay,” Lu Weixi’s eyes were bright, and her gaze towards Gong Ning’s back was warm and gentle. “Then, I’ll go back now and get some rest!”
"Um!"
After leaving Gong Ning's bedroom, Lu Weixi leaned against the wall and fell into a brief silence, looking down at her hands quietly. A Yun had just touched her hand when she turned around.
The soft, warm touch... seems to still linger there.
The next moment, Lu Weixi happily skipped back to the bedroom like a child. Gong Xiaojing had already washed up and was sitting on the edge of the bed reading a book. Seeing her lively appearance, he was slightly surprised. "What's wrong? Why are you so happy? Is it A-Yun?"
Lu Weixi, abandoning her composed and assertive demeanor in front of others and the gentle and demure manner she displayed in front of Gong Ning, climbed onto the bed like a child, excitedly grabbing Gong Xiaojing's hand and pouting, "Honey~ do you know? A-Yun's tone was so gentle when she spoke to me just now. She even agreed to stay at home, and her attitude wasn't as cold as before. I... I really..."
As she spoke, Ms. Lu herself began wiping away tears, saying, "I'm really happy!"
Upon seeing her tears, Gong Xiaojing immediately panicked, quickly sat up, and pulled the tearful woman into his arms, gently coaxing her, "You're so happy, why are you crying first?"
"Can't I cry tears of joy? What's wrong with me crying a little? Don't you love me anymore?"
Gong Xiaojing: "..."
If there's someone who loves and cherishes you always by your side, you'll eventually realize it.
She had unknowingly become a little princess, retaining many pure and precious qualities.
Lu Weixi herself may not have realized that there are many precious things in her heart that have not been erased.
So much so that she could be so content and so willful in her affections towards her husband.
Regardless of age...
If... without that great upheaval thirteen years ago, she might not even have had the interest to concern herself with worldly affairs.
But a mother's love makes her strong...
...
On the other side, Gong Ning came out of the washroom.
She almost screamed as soon as she climbed into bed, but someone quickly covered her mouth.
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