Ning Yuan looked at her adoptive father.
He wore a pair of old rubber boots and gray summer work clothes; his deeply lined face bore the marks of fatigue and life.
He looked no different from any other middle-aged worker of this era, staring longingly at himself.
Just like her memories from her past and present lives, he was an honest but awkward father.
She never doubted him.
Ning Yuan lowered her eyes, concealing the complex emotions within them, and her voice seemed to soften as well.
"I'm sorry, Dad... I know you took me in and raised me, and I should be filial to you. Please don't sell me. I'll give you all the money I earn after I start working."
No matter what, she wouldn't allow herself to be labeled as a vicious adopted daughter who pretended to be an orphan and disowned her parents.
I absolutely cannot allow Old Tang and Grandma Xia to be implicated by me!
The people around them grew increasingly dissatisfied and condemnatory of Ning Zhuliu and his wife. Ning Jinyun covered her face, trembling with anger and resentment, but dared not say anything.
Ning Zhuliu's face darkened for a moment, and he said sadly, "Little sister, it's all a misunderstanding. Dad just wanted to come and see you... I didn't want to add to your burden."
Ning Yuan looked at their large bags and said calmly, "Dad, Mom, you don't have a place to stay yet, do you? I'll take you to the school's guesthouse and buy you some food."
With that, she turned and walked out of the dormitory.
Ning Zhuliu nodded hurriedly and pulled Ning Jinyun beside him hard: "Aren't you leaving yet!"
Ning Jinyun didn't say anything; she's never been one to keep her composure.
But this time, she followed Ning Zhuliu without expression.
Those around couldn't help but whisper, "Sure enough, if he's not their biological child, he's not their biological child..."
Ning Zhuliu and Ning Jinyun both looked unpleasant. There are some things they can do themselves, but it's unpleasant for others to say them.
...
Yan Yangyang watched Ning Yuan leave, then turned around and hurriedly walked towards the instructors' dormitory!
"Where are you going?" Jin Bianjiang grabbed her arm.
Yan Yangyang frowned, her beautiful brows furrowed: "I have to go find Ning Yuan's cousin. I'm worried about Ning Ning going with them alone. What if they kidnap her and sell her?"
She may be thick-skinned and have a short temper, but that doesn't mean she's brainless. She knows this is a family matter and outsiders shouldn't interfere.
Jin Bianjiang: "..."
He sighed, displaying the meticulousness of a future lawyer: "First of all, the university's guesthouse isn't far away, and it's unlikely that a couple from out of town would kidnap a grown man in broad daylight at Fudan University. Secondly..."
Jin Bianjiang paused for a moment: "Ning Yuan's parents are not her biological parents, so where did this cousin, Chief Instructor Rong, come from? Is it appropriate for you to go and find him so rashly?"
Yan Yangyang was taken aback and scratched his head: "This...maybe Ning Yuan's biological parents died early and the child was given to adoptive parents, but the adoptive parents turned out to be awful."
She became more and more certain as she spoke: "But Ning Yuan's cousin is still a scoundrel. He retired and came back to find Ning Ning?"
Jin Bianjiang: "..."
Sister, you've automatically filled in all the gaps in the story, what can I say?
"Alright, I'll go with my junior sister." Jin Bianjiang pushed up his glasses.
Ning Yuan, this junior sister, seems to have many secrets, but that girl is honest and never hides her wealth, so she doesn't seem like a dishonest person.
Ning Yuan accompanied Ning Zhuliu and Ning Jinyun to the school's guesthouse.
With the letter of introduction for visiting relatives, the room was booked quickly.
While Ning Yuan went to get the thermos for them, Ning Zhuliu gave Ning Jinyun a warning look—
"You'd better not spout any more nonsense in front of my little sister. If you can't speak properly, then just keep quiet and shut up!"
He didn't stop Ning Jinyun from acting out the scene of being an abandoned adoptive mother because he didn't know how much affection his younger sister still had for him and for this family.
If the younger sister becomes too independent, then there needs to be something to control her. Reputation is certainly very important to college students.
But Ning Jinyun, that idiot, is clearly stubborn and not very bright.
Now everyone knows that my younger sister came to Shanghai because she was forced to by her unscrupulous adoptive mother!
"I understand!" Ning Jinyun lowered her eyes, her gaze filled with icy hatred, which she didn't let Ning Zhuliu see.
She didn't follow the original plan, telling Ning Yuan's classmates that Ning Yuan cut in line, slept with men, had affairs, or stole jade peppers.
Isn't it enough to tolerate the bastard child he had with his older sister?
Ning Zhuliu continued, frowning, "Also, since my younger sister hasn't told anyone about her previous marriage, you're not allowed to mention it either. I'll find out what's going on first!"
Ning Jinyun seemed to have been subdued by his words, and said expressionlessly, "Okay."
As soon as the two finished speaking, Ning Yuan brought out a kettle: "The room is on the second floor, let's go up."
Ning Zhuliu nodded, and Ning Jinyun habitually tried to stuff her own bundle into Ning Yuan's hands so that she could take it.
Ning Zhuliu glared at her, and Ning Jinyun stiffly put away her bundle and carried it herself.
"Let's go, little sister." Ning Zhuliu turned to look at Ning Yuan gently.
Ning Yuan had seen their little actions just now, and her eyes flickered.
It seems that her adoptive father wasn't always the way she remembered him, constantly being bullied by Ning Jinyun.
She didn't say anything, but led them upstairs to their room and put their things inside: "You can stay here for now, I'll bring you food."
After putting down her things, Ning Zhuliu shook her head and forcefully stuffed the bag of money that Ning Jinyun had just given her into her hand—
“Little sister, Dad knows that your mother has always been unreliable. She is so biased that there is no way to complain. You have been wronged. Dad will not indulge your mother’s bad habits anymore.”
Ning Jinyun stared at the money, her face growing increasingly grim.
Ning Yuan didn't show any emotion as before; she simply placed the money on the table and said softly—
“Dad, I’ve always known you’ve had a tough time. I’ve been working part-time these past few days, so I’ll pay for your stay at the guesthouse.”
Ning Zhu listened to this and realized that she was only disheartened by Ning Jinyun, but still trusted and relied on her as always.
He said gently, "Don't worry about the guesthouse and our meals. I have friends here, and the bills will be in his name."
Ning Yuan was taken aback: "Friends?"
How could Ning Zhuliu have friends in Shanghai and still have Fudan University Guesthouse on his bill?
She had never heard of it in either of her lives.
Just then, a steady and tall figure walked in carrying large and small bags.
"Master Ning, I've been looking for your room for ages!"
Ning Yuan looked towards the doorway, where a handsome, refined man in his thirties with large eyes and a high nose stood.
He carried a nylon bag in his left hand and a net bag of fruit and biscuits in his right.
When the other person saw her, he was taken aback for a moment, then realized what she meant and smiled: "This must be Master Ning's daughter who studies at Fudan University, right?"
Ning Zhuliu awkwardly went up to greet her: "Yes, this is my youngest daughter, Ning Yuan. Xiao Tang, why are you here at this hour? Haven't you eaten yet?"
After saying that, he hesitated for a moment and said to Ning Yuan, "Um... little sister, quickly call someone."
Ning Yuan calmly sized up the refined and handsome man in front of her: "Tang..."
Tang Jun waved his hand, interrupting with a hint of helplessness: "Don't call me Uncle Tang, I'm not married. Just call me Brother Tang."
Ning Yuan didn't say anything, but simply said, "Brother Tang."
Tang Jun smiled, just as most adults have little interest in talking to a young girl who's reading. He looked directly at Ning Zhuliu—
“Master Ning, when my father was still alive, he said that since Master Ning rarely comes to Shanghai, we must treat you as a benefactor.”
As he spoke, Tang Jun shook the bag in his hand: "This is the perfect time to eat hairy crabs. I brought some to ask the guesthouse kitchen to cook them, and I also brought Shaoxing rice wine."
Ning Yuan could tell from their posture that they were going to treat the whole family to dinner at the Fudan University Guesthouse.
Tang Jun looked at Ning Yuan and asked politely, "Xiao Ning, do you have evening self-study tonight? Would you like to eat before going to evening self-study, or do you want to get busy now?"
Ning Yuan glanced at Ning Jinyun out of the corner of her eye.
She sat there, not looking at herself at all, but the feeling of self-hatred grew stronger.
Ning Yuan had always known that Ning Jinyun hadn't liked her much since childhood, but now Ning Jinyun hated her so much yet suppressed it, why?
Just because you got into a good university?
“Okay.” Ning Yuan’s big eyes blinked, and she nodded.
The dining facilities at Fudan University's guesthouse are much better than those in small county towns, as it frequently hosts visiting scholars and guests from home and abroad.
Tang Jun chose a private room for chatting and eating.
Before eating, Ning Yuan said she had a stomachache and went to the bathroom.
When we returned, several dishes had already been served. The main dish was the hairy crabs that Tang Jun had brought, each one looking large and full of roe.
During the meal, Tang Jun and Ning Zhu stayed to talk, or rather, Tang Jun was mainly keeping the conversation from getting awkward.
Ning Zhuliu was an honest and simple factory worker with little experience, and he listened attentively to everything.
Tang Jun is the kind of person who makes people feel comfortable and at ease. He speaks with tact and his erudition is evident.
He showed no disdain for Ning Zhuliu's family, who came from a small town, and politely extended hospitality.
After Ning Yuan finished eating, she said she was leaving first, and he nodded politely.
Ning Zhu saw her out, looking at Ning Yuan as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Ning Yuan looked at him, her bright eyes flashing slightly: "Dad, if there's something you need to ask, just ask."
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