Ning Yuan looked at Ye Yuan, wondering what he was saying to Rong Zhaonan.
Rong Zhaonan said something else, then waved his hand at him rudely, shoved the keys into Ye Yuan's hand, and then shoved him into the car.
Then, he turned and walked into the Chen family's courtyard.
Ye Yuan watched him enter the Chen family's courtyard without looking back, and could only start the car and leave.
Ning Yuan dried her hair and stared intently as Ye Yuan's car drove away. Rong Zhaonan did not go upstairs immediately, but stood in the courtyard and lit a cigarette.
She knew he only smoked when he was upset or thinking of "bad" ideas, and he had a habit of not smoking more than three puffs.
but……
This time, Rong Zhaonan leaned against the tree and smoked a whole cigarette before finally stubbing it out.
She sighed softly, but Rong Zhaonan instantly sensed something.
He suddenly looked up at Ning Yuan.
Ning Yuan looked down at him, their gazes meeting in mid-air.
A hint of surprise flashed in Rong Zhaonan's cold eyes, but Ning Yuan glanced at him indifferently, turned around, dried her hair, and went back to her room.
Rong Zhaonan straightened his tall and slender body, watching the petite figure disappear on the terrace.
He paused briefly, then patted himself to dispel the smell of smoke before going inside and upstairs.
"Xiao Nan," Aunt Qian's voice suddenly rang out.
Rong Zhaonan looked at Aunt Qian, who was wearing pajamas and holding an enamel mug, and nodded politely: "Auntie, you're still awake?"
"Why did you come back so late, leaving Xiaoning alone for so long?" Aunt Qian went upstairs and asked in a low voice.
Rong Zhaonan hesitated for a moment: "It took some time to get back from the suburbs. On the way, Ye Yuan said he was hungry, so we found a place for him to eat something."
Aunt Qian slapped his arm reproachfully: "What's wrong with you, child? You promised to have dinner with Xiao Ning. She's in an unfamiliar place. Luckily, Aheng is with her."
Rong Zhaonan was taken aback: "I didn't eat it, it was Ye Yuan who ate it..."
He hadn't eaten a single bite; he just wanted to come back and have a few bites with Ning Yuan, but Ye Yuan had delayed him a bit.
"Auntie has watched you grow up since you were thirteen. Don't blame me for scolding you, but who puts their brother before their wife? You're confused!"
Aunt Qian said bluntly.
Rong Zhaonan was taken aback, and wanted to explain something: "Ye Yuan and I haven't seen each other for a long time..."
"Alright, stop explaining to me. The person you need to explain to is upstairs. Husbands and wives should talk things out. Your wife has only been in Beijing with you for two days. How can you let the young girl suffer so much grievance!"
Aunt Qian patted him on the back, signaling him to hurry up, then turned around, poured water, and went back to her room.
Rong Zhaonan could only nod and follow him upstairs.
When he opened the door, he saw Ning Yuan sitting by the window, reading a book and drying her hair under the lamp.
Her long, curly hair cascaded down her back, making her small, delicate face appear even more fair and tender, and her eyes as large as a porcelain doll's.
The ceiling fan swayed and wobbled, and the dim air was filled with the floral scent of Hong Kong-style essential oil soap.
Warm and soft.
His heart softened, and he walked over apologetically, about to put his hand on her shoulder: "Ning Yuan, I'm sorry I'm late."
Ning Yuan stood up, deftly avoiding his hand, and shoved the enamel water cup into his hand: "Now that you're back, go take a shower first, you smell."
Rong Zhaonan paused for a moment, watched Ning Yuan walk to the window, and then nodded: "Okay."
He turned and went to the bathroom.
Listening to the sound of water in the bathroom, Ning Yuan was in a bad mood. She looked out the window and organized her thoughts.
For some reason, she even hoped he could take longer to shower so he wouldn't have to come out and face the potential argument.
But after only ten minutes, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.
She heard footsteps behind her, and then soon felt a broad, slightly cool embrace from behind.
"Wife, don't be angry." His cool, slightly husky voice rang in her soft ear.
Ning Yuan put down her cup, turned around, pressed her hand against his chest, and raised her bright, beautiful eyes: "What do you think I'm angry about?"
Rong Zhaonan paused for a moment: "Ye Dong is still young and doesn't understand things, Ye Yuan..."
"Is Ye Yuan also ignorant?" Ning Yuan chuckled lightly.
Rong Zhaonan raised his narrow eyes and looked at Ning Yuan. He didn't explain much, but simply said, "He's being a bit stubborn. He's gone too far. I'll try my best to keep him away from you."
Ning Yuan stared at him intently: "Is this the solution you came up with?"
Rong Zhaonan said with some helplessness, "Ning Yuan, he's my childhood friend..."
“I don’t intend for you to cut ties with your old friends just because you’re marrying me,” Ning Yuan interrupted him decisively.
She said casually, "You have a lot of childhood friends. Some of them are like Chen Chen, who are close to me, while others are like Ye Yuan, who treats you like a brother-in-law but doesn't like me."
Rong Zhaonan paused, then suddenly looked at Ning Yuan: "Who told you all this?"
Ning Yuan stared at him intently: "When I went home with you, you should have been prepared to let me get involved in your past life. Whether I want to or not, I will hear a lot about your past, not to mention what Ye Dong did today. What do you think?"
Rong Zhaonan frowned slightly: "Those things from the past have nothing to do with you. Don't worry about them. I'll handle it."
"Have you taken care of it? If you have, Ye Dong won't hug you in front of me, and you won't need to run out to find her late at night, leaving me here alone to prepare the meal and wait for you."
Ning Yuan felt a surge of anger as she listened to his words.
Rong Zhaonan looked at the girl in front of him, her big eyes filled with annoyance, and rubbed his temples—
“Ye Dong is just a child. Back then, I was in the countryside, being watched, and couldn't reply to her and Ye Yuan's letters. Today, she was just being emotional and willful, but…”
Ning Yuan picked up where he left off: "But she is Ye Qiu's sister, and Ye Qiu is someone you'll never forget in your heart. So, because you love her, you'll have to take care of her sister for her, and you also hope that I, as her sister-in-law, will take good care of her, right?"
Rong Zhaonan's handsome face darkened: "Ning Yuan, can you stop being so sarcastic and argue with a young girl like this?"
Ning Yuan stared at him with her large, cold eyes: "Am I not telling the truth? Don't tell me you didn't realize that your little girl was deliberately testing you today to see if you really care about me."
Every word he uttered was an attempt to avoid Ye Qiu.
Rong Zhaonan frowned, raised his hand and pulled her into his arms: "Yes, I saw it and I taught her a lesson, but can't you feel whether I care about you or not?"
He really didn't like his woman testing him like that!
...
Ning Yuan reached out and pushed him away, taking a light breath: "Rong Zhaonan, I only feel that you have become very strange since you returned to the capital. What I care about is that Ye Dong or Ye Yuan hate me. I have also said that as long as your past does not affect your present, I will not ask about it."
"But now you see, it's like this on the very first day, for no reason at all. Why should I have to endure this inexplicable hostility! Just because I look a bit like Ye Qiu in your heart, just because I'm with you?"
Ning Yuan, unable to contain herself any longer, finished speaking in one breath and withdrew her hand.
"It seems you never intend to tell me what happened in the past."
Rong Zhaonan grasped her wrist: "Ning Yuan!"
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