“Annie, in the end, it’s because your older brother wasn’t lucky enough to have this. Don’t be too sad. You’re still young, and you have a long road ahead of you.”
Madam Ning patted Cha Meiling's hand and gently comforted her.
This is a girl she has watched grow up since she was a child. She is highly educated, well-mannered, and poised. Her manners and ways of handling things are also cultivated according to the standards of a high-ranking matriarch.
She has always been a perfect match for her shrewd, even ruthless, son.
It's a pity that fate played a cruel trick on them, and the engagement fell through.
When Cha Meiling heard that her godmother hadn't said a word to persuade Ning Bingyu to turn back, her heart still felt like it was being pricked by needles, a bitter and unbearable ache.
She lowered her eyes, concealing the loneliness and resentment in them.
She knew in her heart that although Madam Ning loved her dearly, she, as her mother, couldn't say much about Ning Bingyu's affairs.
She had tried to win him back, but Ning Bingyu's attitude was resolute, like a block of ice that could not be melted. Although she was mentally prepared, and even if it weren't for her godmother keeping her in check, he might have dealt with her as well.
It truly chilled her heart; this was the man she had been with since her teenage years and had once deeply loved.
He was cold-hearted and never truly cared about her.
Cha Meiling's eyes reddened, and she choked out, "Godmother..."
"Alright, stop crying, you won't look pretty if you keep crying." Madam Ning gently wiped away her tears.
“You grew up by my side since you were little, I won’t abandon you.” Madam Ning saw the sadness in her expression and sighed inwardly.
As the saying goes, "You know your own son best." Ning Bingyu has been a deep and thoughtful man since childhood, rarely showing his emotions. Once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it.
As a mother, she could only turn a blind eye most of the time.
“If it weren’t for the shares left by my mother-in-law that I still hold, which give me an edge over A-Yu, he wouldn’t have really acknowledged Ning Yuan back then.” Madam Ning shook her head.
Ning Yuan...
Upon hearing the name "Ning Yuan," Cha Meiling's heart skipped a beat. Her already pale face became even more gloomy, and her fingers tightened slightly as she held the teacup.
From the moment Ning Yuan was discovered to be the true daughter of the Ning family, it seemed as if all her luck had been transferred to her.
Even the eldest brother is slowly changing his attitude towards Ning Yuan.
Although she knew that such thoughts were foolish and superstitious, she couldn't help but envy and be jealous of Ning Yuan.
And she was so lucky that the men she married in the countryside were all so outstanding.
When she thought of Rong Zhaonan's face, she recalled him appearing in international waters as Ning Bingyu's mercenary. Even with his face covered, she could recognize his cold, sharp eyes that seemed to see right through people.
That strange feeling of being both unfamiliar and familiar.
Cha Meiling lowered her eyes, concealing the loneliness and bitterness in them, and gently shook her head. "Godmother, it's all in the past. Now I just want to live for myself."
Madam Ning patted her hand with satisfaction, "It's good that you think this way! Annie, tell your godmother what your plans are for the future?"
Cha Meiling's eyes flickered, and after a moment of silence, she looked up at Madam Ning and said, "Godmother, could you come back to Hong Kong with me? I want to... I want to accompany you to the Morning Light Christmas Auction."
Madam Ning was very clever, and she immediately understood the unspoken meaning in Cha Meiling's words.
With the news of the annulment of the engagement and the downfall of the Cha family, the snobbish people in Hong Kong's high society circles must have been gossiping behind the scenes.
Those people will use Anne as gossip fodder, and even kick her when she's down.
If I can accompany her to the event, it will be equivalent to publicly stating that even if she is no longer the Ning family's prospective daughter-in-law, she is still the Ning family's recognized "adopted daughter," and those people will not dare to act recklessly.
Madam Ning sighed inwardly. This was why Annie had risked coming north to find her!
but……
The Morning Light Christmas Auction is the highlight of her event this year. More importantly, she plans to take this opportunity to formally hold a family reunion ball for Ning Yuan and introduce her daughter to the entire Hong Kong social circle.
Ning Yuan's entry and exit procedures have already been expedited by someone.
However… seeing Cha Meiling trying to be strong by straightening her back, yet unable to hide her disheveled and beautiful face, Madam Ning's heart softened.
The goddaughter she had known since childhood, the little girl who would reach out to wipe away her tears whenever she missed her daughter, the proud and beautiful flower of the port city, had fallen to such a state.
Ultimately, I couldn't bear it...
"Alright, your godmother will go with you." Madam Ning Er held Cha Meiling's hand and said gently, "Don't worry, you will always be my daughter, and no one can deny that!"
Cha Meiling was taken aback; she hadn't expected Madam Ning to agree so readily.
Her nose stung, she lowered her eyes, and suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile: "Godmother, don't rush to agree to me, because I'm a greedy person."
She looked up at Madam Ning and said, "If I said that I still want to preserve my last bit of pride, protect my mother for the rest of her life, and safeguard the Cha family that belongs only to my mother and me, so I hope to become the vice president of the Morning Light Socialite Club, would you agree?"
A look of surprise flashed across Madam Ning's elegant face, then her brows furrowed slightly: "Annie, do you know what you're saying?"
"Chenguang" is no ordinary charity organization. It was founded by top socialites in the port city and aims to unite the power of women in high society to contribute to charitable causes.
To put it bluntly, it's a top-tier arena of fame and fortune built entirely on money.
Every woman who can enter Chenguang is either from a wealthy family or a powerful figure in Hong Kong.
Madam Ning rubbed her temples, feeling a sudden headache.
Cha Meiling is a good girl in every way, but she is too preoccupied with her own thoughts and too obsessed with her status as the heir of the Cha family. In this respect, she is just like A Yu. I wonder if she was influenced by A Yu.
Madam Ning took a sip of tea without changing her expression, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable firmness—
“Annie, you also grew up in Hong Kong. It’s not that your godmother is unwilling to help you, but you should know the rules of Morning Light. The president, secretary-general, and treasurer all need to be elected by members through a vote. Your qualifications... are probably not enough.”
"Back then, the Ning family was able to establish itself in Hong Kong thanks to the help of the Cha family. Has the Second Madam forgotten the kindness that the Cha family patriarch showed to the Ning family just because he passed away early?" A deep voice suddenly came from behind the two of them.
Madam Ning and Cha Meiling both turned around in surprise, only to see a young man in a black suit, with a handsome mixed-race face but slightly pale, sitting in a wheelchair and being slowly pushed forward.
"Anderson? Why are you out here?" Cha Meiling frowned slightly and looked at the nanny behind him.
The nanny, who was hired from the mainland, whispered, "Comrade Cha, Comrade An volunteered to be pushed out."
When Cha Meiling heard "Comrade Cha" and "Comrade An," she couldn't help but frown. These uncultured people from the mainland always liked to misuse titles.
What kind of comrades are she and them?
She didn't bother to correct him anymore, and just looked at Anderson: "You shouldn't have come out. Your injuries are only just starting to heal. You should be resting in bed."
The medical conditions in mainland China are too poor, so she still wants to return to Hong Kong with Anderson as soon as possible.
Madam Ning looked at Anderson and said calmly, "Since you're sick, just stay in bed. It's not something a special assistant should do to interfere in the affairs of the main family, Anderson."
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