Given Tang Ning's current fame and status, when attending a charity ball, she should at least avoid wearing outdated styles of clothing and jewelry.
She had bought the new clothes with Xu Sinian not long ago; they were mostly brand new, and she hadn't worn them out yet. The only problem was that the jewelry in her jewelry box didn't quite match the new clothes. Luckily, there were still a few days until the charity ball, so Tang Ning found some free time and simply took a car out to choose some herself.
Xu Sinian had been quite busy lately and hadn't had time to spend with her, so Tang Ning didn't pay much attention. She sat alone in the jewelry store, drinking coffee and eating pastries. She didn't even have to move around; the attentive shop assistants brought out trays of various jewelry items for her to choose from.
At roughly the same time, at the gate of Haicheng University, Tang Yin, carrying her handbag, boarded the tram. She saw several classmates sitting together, including Zeng Kang, who had been quite attentive to her before. She bit her lip awkwardly, walked over, and just as she mustered up the courage to greet them, the classmates who had previously been on very good terms with her suddenly became louder, completely drowning out her greeting.
This left Tang Yin standing there awkwardly. In the end, since no one paid any attention to her, she could only sit down at the front of the tram. The journey, which lasted several tens of minutes, felt like several tens of days of torment to her.
When the students started getting off the tram one by one, their attitude became excessive, especially towards Zeng Kang. She only called his name once, and he was so frightened that he rushed off the tram without looking back, as if some monster was chasing him.
Tang Yin, who had never been treated like this before, watched Zeng Kang and the others walk away, clutched her handbag tightly, and her eyes instantly turned red.
In the past few days, ever since her mother visited the school, the students have either avoided her like the plague or gossiped about her behind her back.
She doesn't understand what she did wrong.
It was all a misunderstanding, so why...?
As the tram was about to reach Fengxiang Street, Tang Yin, feeling distressed and not wanting to go home, got off the tram halfway and wandered aimlessly through the streets like a lost soul.
Just then, as she turned her head, Tang Yin saw Tang Ning sitting by the window of a jewelry store along the street.
Upon seeing her, Tang Yin felt as if all the grievances, embarrassment, loneliness, and other negative emotions she had been carrying for the past few days had suddenly found an outlet. Without hesitation, she headed straight for the jewelry store, forcefully pushed open the store door, and amidst the shop assistants' attempts to stop her, called out in a hoarse voice, "Big Sister!"
Tang Ning, who was putting a bright green jade bracelet on her fair wrist, heard this voice and before she could even raise her head, Tang Yin's questioning voice rang out.
"Big sister, are you... trying to drive me to my death to be happy? What relationship? It never happened from beginning to end. Why did you have to tell Mom? She went to the school and made a scene! Now my classmates are ostracizing me. These past few days, they avoid me like the plague. My friends are leaving me one by one. Are you happy now?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning gently put down the jade bracelet in her hand, then looked up with surprise, "Yinyin, do you know what you're saying?"
"How...how could you say that to me? Everyone knows what kind of person I am, don't you? I've only ever wanted what's best for you, when have I ever thought about what's bad for you?"
"Think about it yourself. Before, when everything was fine, Mom suddenly called me home, and you were sitting there with red eyes. Mom was so angry. What else could have made her so angry except that she found out about your relationship?"
Tang Ning looked completely innocent and helpless.
"I told you I'm not dating! No, no, no! Mom's so angry because..."
Tang Yin shouted.
Tang Ning interrupted her, "Alright, what are you hiding from your older sister? Not dating? If you're not dating, why would a perfectly normal girl like you go to a place like a movie theater with a male classmate?"
"That was..."
"Um?"
Tang Yin was speechless for a moment, while Tang Ning immediately adopted a posture of listening attentively.
Looking at Tang Ning like this, the girl suddenly felt a surge of resentment. She clenched her fists and looked at Tang Ning reproachfully.
"Sister, do you... do you have to use such despicable thoughts to speculate about me?"
Hearing Tang Yin's words, Tang Ning chuckled, her brows furrowing tightly. "What did I do now? Second sister, you... I really think you've changed. You're not the same as before. You never used to speak to your eldest sister so loudly!"
As she said this, Tang Ning's eyes reddened with sadness.
"I just realized you've changed, big sister..."
Tang Yin didn't think she had said anything wrong at all, and continued to argue, "You used to be so understanding. Like yesterday when Mom dragged me to university, you clearly saw that I didn't want to go. In the past, you would have tried everything to stop Mom. But yesterday you just watched Mom drag me away, which made me lose face so badly. You even let Brother Xu say those things to humiliate me before..."
"If you clearly don't want to, why don't you just tell Mom? You know perfectly well that Mom has always liked you the most, and my relationship with her has never been good. If I speak up, I'll only get a scolding and it won't have any effect at all. You're different. If you beg her properly, she'll definitely change her mind easily. Why do you still expect me to stop her?"
Tang Ning looked puzzled when she asked the question.
"I……"
Tang Yin had absolutely no idea how to answer Tang Ning's question.
In her mind, her eldest sister had always done things this way. She was used to having her eldest sister take the lead in everything, and when Tang Ning took the lead, she always managed to achieve her goals. If her mother was still angry, she would go and coax her, so the whole family would be happy.
However, she was happy, while Tang Ning, who had worked the hardest all along, didn't get any credit for all her efforts.
The two sisters had already said all that, and Tang Ning thought that Tang Yin would finally give up.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, several tears suddenly fell from Tang Yin's eyes. She raised her sleeve and wiped the tears from her face fiercely, so hard that even her fair and delicate face, which she had nurtured for so many years, was rubbed red.
“I know… all these years, I’ve taken so much of your money and made you unhappy. And the family has always relied on you alone to support them, so you’ve been resentful for a long time. Like Brother Xu said, you may owe Mom and Dad, but you’ve never owed us three siblings anything! Don’t worry, I’m graduating soon, and from today onwards, I will absolutely never take another penny from you. I will find a job, support myself, and support Mom, Xiaojun, and Ruoruo! I wonder if you’re satisfied now?”
After crying and shouting those words, Tang Yin suddenly pushed open the door of the jewelry store on one side and ran out.
Tang Ning stood there stunned for a long time before she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The laughter was full of sarcasm and mockery.
It can only be said that the original owner really spoiled this second sister, spoiling her to the point that she only knows how to take and forgets that she also has to give.
Did she think that by going out to find a job and earning money, she could wipe away all the money and effort the original owner had spent on her?
Now it seems that she probably really does think that way, and might even feel wronged herself.
She didn't understand why she had wasted so much time talking to this kind of person!
Tang Ning wiped away a tear that had seeped from her eye and sat back down in her original spot.
Meanwhile, Tang Yin ran through several streets in tears, her tears falling like beads from a broken string, all the while vowing in her heart that she would make something of herself in the future.
Even though her mother's words to her to come home early before she left home that morning still echoed in her ears.
But once her stubborn streak kicked in, Tang Yin didn't want to go home at all. She decided that she would start looking for a job from today onwards.
Thinking this, Tang Yin stopped in front of a small building called the New Moon Newspaper Office.
But she was a college student who hadn't even graduated yet, and she was so young that her answers to the questions were incoherent. When the interviewer's tone was slightly stern, tears welled up in her eyes. Which newspaper would want to hire such a big shot? So they politely rejected her outright.
Tang Yin, who failed in her first attempt, felt as if her self-esteem had been trampled on again and again during the interview.
How could she be so useless!
Because she was so distraught, the girl wasn't paying attention and almost got hit by a car that came out of the alley. It wasn't until the people in the car saw her sitting on the ground without moving for a long time that they finally got out of the car to check on her.
"Miss, are you alright?"
Just as someone reached out to help Tang Yin up, they told her to immediately move aside, then hurriedly stood up, saying, "It's okay, I'm not..."
Before Tang Yin could finish speaking, her gaze met that of a pair of indifferent eyes revealed from the back seat of the car, through the lowered window.
With just one glance, Tang Yin froze on the spot.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Chen frowned and glanced at his subordinate who had run to the car.
"The car accidentally bumped into a lady. I wonder if she was hurt anywhere?"
The subordinate answered respectfully.
"Hurry up and get it done, don't waste time."
"yes."
As soon as their conversation ended, Lu Chen rolled up the car window.
As soon as Lu Chen's face, which seemed so familiar to her, disappeared behind the car window, a hint of disappointment flashed in Tang Yin's eyes. However, when faced with the question from the man in the black suit and black hat, the girl still answered politely.
"...Alright, miss, would it be convenient for you to leave your name and address? Although you're fine now, we're just worried about what might happen in the future. We're not heartless people; if something does happen, we'll still provide compensation!"
"Tang Yin, my name is Tang Yin, and my home is on Fengxiang Street. You can find the family with the surname Tang. Oh, by the way, my older sister is Tang Ning. If you've been to Lidu, you might know her?"
Upon hearing Tang Yin's words, Lu Chen clenched his fists almost instantly, but he still managed to suppress the urge to roll down the car window again.
Tangyin...
He silently repeated those two words to himself, and a blurry image of the little girl who had given him travel expenses five years ago flashed through his mind.
Five years have passed, and apart from Tang Ning, he can no longer remember what the other members of the Tang family look like.
It was only when Tang Yin unexpectedly appeared today that he remembered the little bit of warmth he had received five years ago.
However, that little bit of warmth was insignificant compared to the chill of the heavy snow five years ago.
After the questioning ended, Lu Chen's car had already driven away, but Tang Yin's eyes still unconsciously fell on the departing car. She felt as if she had seen that person somewhere before, but where?
Tang Yin couldn't remember for a moment.
At night, Lu Chen kept flipping through the information about Tang Yin that his people had investigated. He heard that she had already gone to university, Haicheng University. Recently, something interesting had happened to her: she was dating a boy at the university, which actually caused Tang's mother to go to the school and make a huge fuss.
After reading about this, Lu Chen simply scoffed softly.
"The Tang family... ha."
"Do you know what she was doing when we first encountered her?"
Lu Shen asked again.
"I've inquired, and I heard that Miss Tang is looking for a job..."
"Looking for a job? Has Tang Ning become so stingy that she can't even support her younger sister? Or has Xu Sinian become this petty?"
Lu Chen's mockery deepened. "If possible, find someone to help her secure a job at the New Moon Newspaper!"
"……yes!"
The subordinate hesitated for a moment, but then nodded in agreement.
Consider it repayment for the travel expenses she gave me back then... But at such a young age, she can cause such a fuss with Tang's mother over dating. This younger sister must be just as troublesome as Tang Ning.
After helping this time, the two of them probably won't have any contact anymore.
With that in mind, Lu Chen immediately covered up the investigation materials about Tang Yin.
At this moment, Tang Ning was unaware that she had unintentionally stirred up Lu Chen's feelings for Tang Yin. After all, in the story, he had first witnessed Tang Yin's excellent, reserved, obedient, and sensible side, and with the warmth from five years ago, plus the contrast of the original owner's promiscuous and easygoing nature, who was easily seduced by him, he gradually fell in love with her.
Nowadays, it really didn't even sprout a single bud before it was gone, just like that.
However, given the magnetic attraction between the male and female leads, who knows what will happen in the future?
A few days later, the charity ball that Xu Sinian had mentioned was finally held in a lively manner at the Lu Mansion.
These wealthy people in Haicheng also came up with a novel idea: to hold a masquerade ball, which, as the name suggests, requires everyone to wear a mask to attend.
While others can at least conceal their identities, a big shot like Xu Sinian, who needs a wheelchair to get around, is someone whose identity is obvious to most people. Even Tang Ning, who is walking next to him, looks like she isn't wearing a mask at all.
Therefore, most men wouldn't be so tactless as to invite Tang Ning to dance. Even if she were to dance tonight, she would probably only dance a couple of times with the top few big shots, out of politeness and with Xu Sinian's permission. It's an unspoken understanding among everyone.
Tang Ning had only been at the ball for a short time when a clueless young man jumped out, bowed to her, and extended his hand in an invitation.
Tang Ning looked stunned for a moment, but inwardly she raised an eyebrow.
Even with a mask on, the large characters above Lu Chen's head were still so bright and eye-catching, to her.
Seeing that the other person was still bowing, Tang Ning smiled awkwardly and waved her hand. But even though she had already refused so much, the person in front of her did not intend to get up and continued to invite her relentlessly.
Seeing this, Tang Ning cast a pleading look at Xu Sinian beside her, and subtly tugged at Xu Sinian's clothes. The man in the wheelchair stared at the person in front of them for a long time before smiling and saying, "It's okay, you can go."
"I……"
Tang Ning was somewhat surprised, but before she could finish speaking, the person who had made the invitation reached out and took her hand, leading her into the dance floor. Xu Sinian, who was left standing there, narrowed his eyes and kept rubbing his fingers on the handle of his wheelchair.
As the music started, Tang Ning looked directly at Xu Sinian on the outside through the broad shoulders of the man in front of her. The corners of her mouth had just turned up when, unexpectedly, the man in front of her pulled her into his arms with a forceful pull. The man's palms were burning hot, and Tang Ning could feel it clearly even through the fabric.
Their bodies, which were initially some distance apart, were now pressed tightly together.
This dangerous intimacy startled Tang Ning, who turned her gaze to the person in front of her. The moment her eyes met his, she, who had been about to reprimand him, suddenly became stunned.
"Have I... seen you somewhere before?"
She couldn't help but ask that question.
But the man only smiled coldly and led her in the dance, without offering any reply.
Tang Ning frowned slightly after waiting for a long time without receiving an answer. She didn't want to fawn over him and silently continued dancing with him.
However, during the dance, Tang Ning felt a desire to distance herself from the man, but he immediately pulled her into his arms without hesitation. Later, the two were so close that Tang Ning could even feel his hot breath on her ear.
With her brows furrowed and feeling extremely uncomfortable, Tang Ning finished dancing a song with the other person. When the music finally stopped, Tang Ning subconsciously let out a deep breath. Just as she was about to pull her hand away from the man's, the man, who had been silent for the entire song, finally spoke with a low laugh in Tang Ning's ear, "The star performer of Lidu, Miss Tang Ning, is this how you flirt with men?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the man let go of her hand. As the lights dimmed, he smiled and disappeared into the crowd. But his voice, which was all too familiar to Tang Ning, made her freeze for a moment. When she looked up again, she saw the man's back as he walked out of the Lu Mansion.
Seeing this, Tang Ning completely disregarded the people blocking her way and chased after them frantically.
Unfortunately, when she chased after them, there wasn't a soul in sight outside the cold and empty Lu mansion.
Tang Ning looked around with a distressed expression.
But there wasn't any, not anywhere!
The person she had just met seemed to be something she had only dreamt about during the day; once she woke up, he was nowhere to be found.
"What's wrong?"
Just then, Xu Sinian's voice rang out from behind Tang Ning.
Upon hearing his voice, Tang Ning, dressed in a thin dress, turned around abruptly and blurted out, "I saw..."
"What did you see?"
Xu Sinian then asked.
Seeing the questioning look on Xu Sinian's face, Tang Ning took two quick breaths, wisps of white steam rising in front of her. She seemed to awaken from a dream, lowering her eyes slightly and smiling faintly. "It's nothing, I must have seen wrong. It's cold outside, let's go inside..."
After listening to Tang Ning's words, Xu Sinian looked into her eyes for a long time before smiling and saying, "Okay."
So Tang Ning hurriedly stepped forward and pushed Xu Sinian's wheelchair into the Lu Mansion. Just as she stepped through the gate, she subconsciously looked back.
Xu Sinian, noticing her action, also lowered his eyes, and the curve of his lips slightly twitched.
Almost simultaneously, at a corner not far away, Lu Chen watched Tang Ning's retreating figure, slowly raised his hand to remove the mask from his face, a flash of dark light passing through his eyes.
Tang Ning, it's been a long time.
The afternoon after the charity ball, in the Xu family study.
Xu Sinian had already figured out who the man was that danced with Tang Ning that night, making her absent-minded all night.
The land sank.
Oh.
He even investigated his current identity. It was unbelievable that the rickshaw puller who looked like a piece of mud back then was actually the only son of Marshal Lu of Fengcheng in Dong Province who had been lost. Naturally, he became the young marshal of Fengcheng.
"Should we inform Miss Tang?"
Just then, one of Xu Sinian's men suddenly asked this question.
Upon hearing this, Xu Sinian, whose hand was covering Lu Chen's file, remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking, "...No need."
Yo-jok.
In another room, Tang Ning, who learned about Xu Sinian's decision through the broadcast on 54088, almost whistled out loud.
Okay, let's all get started!
whee.
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