Seeing that the old man was angry, Ning Manfei was indignant but dared not say anything more. She could only lower her head sheepishly and say, "Grandpa, I was wrong. I shouldn't have said that to my little sister."
She turned to look at Ning Yuan, forcing a smile: "Little sister, don't mind me, I'm just a straightforward person, I don't mean any harm."
Ning Yuan knew that Ning Manfei's apology was not sincere, but she didn't want to have a conflict with Ning Manfei at this time, so she smiled faintly and said, "It's okay, I understand."
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit stiff, Madam Ning quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Alright, we're all family, let's not talk about this anymore."
She turned to Ning Yuan and said gently, "Yuan Yuan, come here and greet them."
Ning Yuan looked at Grandpa Ning, smiled slightly, and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "Grandpa."
Grandpa Ning gave her a deep look and simply nodded slightly.
The simple response only made Ning Yuan more certain of her situation.
Because this "Grandpa" didn't bring the loving gazes of Grandpa Tang and Grandma Xia, nor the joy of a long-awaited reunion.
Just like before, there was a lot of calm scrutiny, an assessment, evaluating her value to the family.
It seems that her words to Ning Manfei just now satisfied the old man.
Or perhaps... Ning Bingyu told the old man about her role in the mainland?
Ning Bingyu suddenly pressed his frameless glasses on the bridge of his nose: "Grandpa, I brought back some information about the company's new projects. I was thinking of taking you for a walk in the garden while you're still energetic, and I'll give you a brief report as we go."
Grandpa Ning had always doted on his most outstanding eldest grandson, and his originally sharp features softened somewhat. He nodded gently, "Let's go to the garden."
Watching them leave, a sinister glint flashed in Ning Manfei's eyes. Her gaze returned to Ning Yuan, and a cold, enigmatic smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Little sister, you're really lucky. You've already won Grandpa's favor as soon as you come back."
Ning Yuan didn't take Ning Manfei's sarcastic remarks to heart, and just smiled coolly: "Sister Manfei is joking. Grandpa has always doted on you the most. I'm new here, how dare I compare to my second sister?"
Ning Manfei said with a forced smile, "Little sister, don't blame your second sister for speaking harshly. Our Ning family has the most rules. You've just come back and don't understand many things. If you don't understand anything in the future, just ask me. I will definitely not let you lose face for the Ning family and your second aunt."
Madam Ning frowned slightly, looking displeased and about to speak, but Ning Manfei had already trotted upstairs with her entourage in her high heels.
Clearly, he didn't want to have a direct conflict with her, the matriarch of the household.
Ning Bingchao watched Ning Manfei's departing figure and said with a smile, "Seventh Sister, don't mind her. That's just how she is. She's petty and always trying to pick a fight with people."
Ning Yuan smiled slightly and remained silent.
Ning Bingchao then said with a smile, "Seventh Sister, you don't look like a mainland girl at all. Except for speaking Cantonese without a Hong Kong accent, you are just like us. Mommy has prepared a lot of beautiful clothes and jewelry for you. Once you put them on, no one will be able to tell that you are from the mainland."
Ning Yuan wasn't too happy to hear this, and said calmly, "I'm from the mainland, there's no need to pretend I'm not, and I don't think there's anything wrong with being from the mainland."
This third brother seemed enthusiastic, but deep down he still discriminated against people from the mainland, constantly referring to them as "Northern girls," whether intentionally or unintentionally testing her limits.
Ning Bingchao's eyes darted around slightly, and he smiled as he spread his hands to look at Ning Binglun, who had been sitting silently to the side: "Little sister, please forgive me, that's not what I meant, right, second brother? I'm just being straightforward!"
Ning Binglun put down his teacup and gave him a cold look: "You should tone it down."
Just then, the phone near the dining table rang. The maid answered it and came over to ask Ning Binglun to take the call.
Ning Binglun frowned slightly, answered the phone, and sounded somewhat impatient, as if he had been arguing with the person on the other end.
He said a few words impatiently, then hung up the phone and said to Madam Ning, "Mommy, I have class at school tomorrow morning, so I'll go back first."
Ning Yuan then realized that her second brother did not live in the villa in Repulse Bay; he had come over today for a meal.
Madam Ning frowned, and said with some helplessness, "Binglun, you too, you're married now, how come you still argue with your wife every other day? The child is only two years old, you need to set a good example..."
Ning Binglun nodded lightly: "I understand, Mommy."
After saying that, he left without looking back.
Madam Ning sighed helplessly as she watched his retreating figure.
Ning Yuan seemed to be deep in thought; the marital situation of this generation in the Ning family was rather average.
At this moment, Angela walked over, holding a stack of documents, and said to Madam Ning, "Madam, there are some documents and account books that need your review and signature."
Madam Ning nodded, looked at Ning Yuan, and said gently, "By the way, Xiao Ning, this is the head maid Angela. Her superior is the head steward, Lao Tian. If there's anything you need, just tell them to do it."
Ning Yuan's expression softened considerably, and she nodded, "I understand, Mom."
Madam Ning then instructed Ning Bingchao: "You stay with your younger sister. If she has any questions for you, just answer them. I'm going upstairs to take care of some things."
Ning Bingchao readily agreed.
After Madam Ning and Angela had gone far away, the small dining room was empty.
He then moved closer to Ning Yuan, smiling broadly, and said, "Seventh Sister, I heard you're studying and doing business on the mainland at the same time? You're quite the character!"
Ning Yuan gave him a half-smile: "Third Brother, are you praising me or insulting me? It's just a small business to make a living."
"After all, I'm not as well-off as you guys, I don't have a high level of education, and I don't know the rules. If I do something wrong and make people feel bad, I believe everyone can be forgiving, right?"
The Ning family is a family of scholars. They have been sending their children abroad to study since the late Qing Dynasty. The old man himself has three degrees.
The younger generation is now mostly students from prestigious foreign universities, with some even pursuing doctorates... Whether they actually earned their degrees or through donations, their academic qualifications are certainly high enough.
Hearing Ning Yuan's words, Ning Bingchao felt as if she were giving him a warning—
"Don't mess with me. After all, I'm just a girl from the mainland who doesn't know the rules. If I do something wrong, like making some people uncomfortable, that's only natural!"
He narrowed his eyes, poured her tea, and said with a smile, "Tsk tsk, elder brother praised little sister for resembling the Ning family, being meticulous and vengeful. Now it seems she really is like our Ning family."
As they were talking, a servant suddenly came over and respectfully said to Ning Yuan, "Seventh Miss, the old master wants you to go to his study."
Ning Yuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Didn't the old man just go for a stroll in the garden with his older brother? Why did he suddenly think of her?
Ning Bingchao said with a smile, "Seventh Sister, Grandpa has something to say to you. I won't disturb you any longer. I'll wait for you on the second floor and treat you to a late-night snack later."
Ning Yuan glanced at him. This third brother was quite attentive, but she wondered what he was up to. She hoped he was just being overly enthusiastic.
She nodded to Ning Bingchao and followed the maid upstairs.
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