Thinking back to my past life, in photos and on television, Rong Zhaonan and Cha Meiling were a loving couple, growing old together...
A persistent, dull ache would rise in her heart.
Ning Yuan couldn't help but clench the jade chili pepper inside her clothes, which was now hanging on her heart again.
She looked at her pale reflection in the mirror; the peace and timidity that once filled her large, round eyes were gone.
Instead, it was full of something completely different from her delicate face—coldness and arrogance.
Ning Yuan suddenly gave a slight twitch at the corner of her lips.
I was inexplicably given a second chance at life, embarked on a different path, and now I've reached this point.
Her temperament had long been tempered, making her completely different from her previous life; she was born with the appearance of an old man.
In this life, I've taken college entrance exams, gone into business, gotten into fights, been kidnapped, been attacked, and even attacked others...
With blood on my hands, what's there to be afraid of?!
Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the sink, but the smile on her lips grew increasingly cold and arrogant.
Yesterday's events are like yesterday's death; how much of life is there left? We must look to today!
Unless God is annoyed that she, this anomaly, wasn't killed last time.
Make Rong Zhaonan fall in love with the eldest daughter of the Cha family again, so that even if she's not dead, her heart will be dead!
Otherwise, she would never give up the man who already belongs to her!
...
After composing herself, Ning Yuan returned to the private room with a calm expression.
The waiter finished serving the dishes and was leaving, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Just as she was about to push the door open, she heard Ning Bingyu inside asking her questions, as if they were casual conversation.
"Anan, when are you going back to Shanghai? If you're not in a hurry, would you be willing to come to Hong Kong for my engagement banquet with Meiling?"
Rong Zhaonan declined calmly: "No, it's almost Chinese New Year, and I have things to do in Shanghai. I'll be going back to Shanghai with Ning Yuan and Ou Minglang."
Ning Yuan felt a little better when she heard that he wanted to go back with her.
She pushed the door open and came in: "Young Master Ning and Miss Cha officially got engaged during the New Year, so when will they get married?"
Rong Zhaonan watched as she returned to sit down beside him.
Although her delicate face was still somewhat damp and pale, it had regained its original calm.
Ning Bingyu adjusted his glasses and smiled, "After getting engaged at the beginning of the year, my sixth sister will graduate with her doctorate this year, and the wedding date is expected to be around the end of this year."
Ning Yuan looked at Cha Meiling sincerely: "Congratulations, I hope to have the opportunity to drink your wedding wine someday."
In this respect, she offered her heartfelt blessing.
Ning Bingyu smiled slightly at her: "I think there is an opportunity. If Ning Yuan is willing, she can also meet my mother."
Ning Yuan looked at him, and the two exchanged a glance.
She said calmly, "I hope so."
As she spoke, under the watchful eyes of the others, Ning Yuan took out a jade chili pepper, still warm from her body, from her collar and placed it on the table.
Cha Meiling's hand, which was holding the teacup, suddenly tightened.
Ning Bingyu narrowed his eyes; this was the first time he had seen the third jade chili pepper that had disappeared for so many years.
But his good manners led him to politely ask Ning Yuan, "Would it be convenient for me to take a look?"
Ning Yuan nodded: "Of course."
It was brought here for them to see.
Ning Bingyu made a gesture, and Vivian immediately handed over a pair of black velvet gloves and a pair of goggles.
Ning Bingyu put on his gloves and magnifying eyepiece.
Pick up the jade chili pepper and examine it closely—it has the familiar icy jade quality, while the green parts of the chili pepper leaves are entirely of the quality of dragon stone.
There is a very exquisite micro-carving on the leaf – the seal script character “钟” (zhong), which is the original work of Master Zhong Ling!
Ning Bingyu sighed softly, took off his glasses, looked at Cha Meiling, and said calmly, "Since Sixth Sister is here too, why don't you also have a taste?"
Cha Meiling lowered her eyes, concealing the burning passion in them when she saw the third jade chili pepper.
She readily complied and took out a similar jade chili pepper from her collar.
Vivian immediately and cleverly offered the gloves.
Ning Yuan looked at the jade chili pepper lying in Cha Meiling's hand and raised an eyebrow slightly: "This is..."
“This is the second jade chili pepper, and the Ning family will pass it on to the eldest daughter-in-law,” Ning Bingyu said.
Cha Meiling examined them briefly, then placed the head of the jade chili pepper she had obtained and the tail of Ning Yuan's jade chili pepper on the table and slowly pieced them together.
Ning Yuan was surprised to find that the two carvings fit together perfectly, forming most of the bracelet.
Anyone who knows jade knows how exquisite and rare such carving is.
Cha Meiling looked at Ning Yuan's jade chili pepper and sighed as she looked at Ning Bingyu: "Congratulations, brother, your little sister has found it."
Although Ning Bingyu was mentally prepared, a complex light still flashed in his eyes.
He raised his eyes and looked at Ning Yuan, noticing the girl's features that resembled his own.
It would be hypocritical to talk about how deep the sibling relationship is if they've never lived together.
To be precise, she's not even three points better than Sixth Sister, her "adopted sister".
But in the end, she was still the little sister her mother often thought of, the one whose family would always set out empty bowls and chopsticks for her when she was a child, waiting for her to come home...
Ning Yuan looked at him as well, and knew that he felt much the same way she did.
Even the closest blood relatives can't compare to the enduring companionship of someone who grew up by your side.
How much loyalty and affection can one truly have?
"Little sister, welcome home." Ning Bingyu looked at Ning Yuan, extended his hand, and said in a voice that was filled with a complex yet genuine joy and emotion.
Ning Yuan reached out and shook his hand, saying very softly and slowly, "Big Brother."
Even the faintest affection is, in the end, the answer she sought in both her lives.
She has blood relatives.
"My godmother and godfather must be very happy." Cha Meiling looked at them with a smile, feeling very emotional.
But she glanced at the jade chili pepper and casually asked—
"Should we take this jade chili pepper back and show it to our godmother? She was the one who placed it on my little sister herself. Consider it a way of sharing good news with our godmother and the others."
As soon as Cha Meiling finished speaking, Ning Yuan suddenly stood up and reached out to grab her jade chili pepper: "There's no need."
Ning Yuan's hand was suddenly pressed down by Ning Bingyu, who frowned slightly.
“Little sister, this is a family heirloom. Since you have returned to the family with me, why don’t I take it back first and let the elders take a look at it?”
Ning Yuan narrowed her eyes and smiled innocently: "Have you been looking for people or this thing all these years?"
She is no longer the naive and useless Ning Yuan she once was.
The past two years have honed her keen intuition, like awakening the shrewd business acumen flowing in the Ning family's blood, allowing her to see the key at a glance.
Rong Zhaonan took a sip of his monk fruit and chrysanthemum tea, and spoke without batting an eye—
"What are you worried about? This is Guangzhou. Whether it's people or things, as long as I don't allow it, neither people nor things can leave this private room."
He put down his teacup and said coolly, "They can't even leave Guangzhou."
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