When Ning Yuan returned to the villa in Repulse Bay, the city lights were already on.
Not long after she entered the room, she saw a man—Ning Zhengrong.
Madam Ning greeted Ning Yuan with a smile: "Yuanyuan, come and meet your father."
Ning Zhengrong sat on a leather sofa, wearing a dark gray cashmere sweater. Behind his black-rimmed glasses, his eyes revealed a scholarly rigor, and he held an English newspaper in his hand.
He was just as gentle and refined as his second brother, Ning Binglun, and his features were also the distinctive superior features of the Ning family men—sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes.
If there is any difference, it is that Ning Zhengrong has a more authoritative air about him.
Ning Yuan showed no signs of the awkwardness or unease one might expect when first meeting her biological father. She smiled slightly and called out, "Dad."
Ning Zhengrong put down the newspaper, looked at his composed daughter, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
"Hmm." He responded lightly, pushed up his glasses, and subtly sized up Ning Yuan.
His youngest daughter had been lost in mainland China for many years, and this was the first time he had seen her.
To say there was any deep affection involved would be inaccurate.
Ning Yuan allowed him to look her over with grace and poise. Her beautiful features carried a touch of heroism, showing no trace of timidity or ingratiation.
Ning Zhengrong looked at it with mixed feelings.
The young girl in front of me was poised and confident, showing none of the pettiness often associated with those who grew up in poverty, and moreover...
The contours of her round face were strikingly similar to those of her mother, Madam Sheng, when she was young.
Moreover, although his eyes and eyebrows are curved and he looks kind and approachable, there is also a kind of fearless spirit between his brows.
Ning Zhengrong nodded inwardly. He was indeed composed, unlike the restless or timid person he had imagined when faced with wealth and unfamiliar relatives.
"I heard you're studying at a university in mainland China?" he asked casually, putting down his teacup.
“Yes, Dad, I’m a sophomore this year,” Ning Yuan answered obediently.
What did you study? Can you speak English?
"Economics major, only knows a little English, can communicate in daily life, but not very fluently."
Ning Zhengrong asked her a few more questions in English, which Ning Yuan answered fluently.
Although it wasn't exactly authentic, the pronunciation was standard, and the fact that we could communicate, regardless of grammar, exceeded his expectations.
"Who taught you English?" Ning Zhengrong was somewhat surprised. Given the scarcity of educational resources in mainland China, it was truly remarkable that this child could speak English to this level.
Ning Yuan's performance has exceeded his expectations.
“I learned it from my adoptive grandfather,” Ning Yuan explained. “During my freshman year of college, my adoptive grandfather and grandmother opened a coffee shop together. They would often meet foreign students and teachers and would occasionally practice their spoken English with them.”
A hint of admiration flashed in Ning Zhengrong's eyes: "What do your godfather and grandmother do?"
My father said this little girl has a bit of the Ning family's spirit, and that's about it.
“My godfather was a retired professor of economics at Fudan University. My grandmother also studied in England when she was young. They returned to China after the war broke out.”
Ning Yuan explained calmly, her clear almond-shaped eyes remaining undisturbed.
Ning Zhengrong nodded calmly, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment behind his glasses: "Your godfather and grandmother really put in a lot of effort; you should thank them."
In just a few words, Ning Yuan sensed a subtle meaning.
Ning Bingyu did not tell his father about all of her situation in mainland China.
Or rather, Ning Zhengrong, as her father, simply didn't care about these things; he understood her even less than her third brother, Ning Bingchao.
Ning Yuan lowered her long eyelashes, her face expressionless, her feelings indescribable.
Madam Ning noticed that her daughter was in a bad mood and smiled as she tried to smooth things over: "Alright, let's eat first. We can talk about it after we finish eating."
As she spoke, she turned to the housekeeper and instructed, "Old Tian, go and see if dinner is ready. We can eat now."
"Understood, Madam," Old Tian replied and withdrew.
Ning Bingchao grinned and asked Madam Ning for credit: "Mommy, I put all the clothes I bought for my little sister in her room today. Praise me for doing a great job!"
Madam Ning sighed and poked his forehead: "Alright, alright, have some soup later to nourish yourself, you're feeling weak all day."
Ning Bingchao raised an eyebrow: "Mommy, how can you curse your own son like that!"
“I have five sons, and apart from your second brother who has twins, how old are you all now, and you don’t even have a child? What else can you call this but being lazy? Your eldest brother doesn’t even have a wife!”
Madam Ning snorted rudely and continued poking the third son's head.
Ning Bingchao quickly covered his forehead and begged for mercy: "Mommy, let's eat, let's eat!"
Ning Yuan found this scene somewhat amusing; it turns out that even wealthy young men are relentlessly pressured by their parents to get married!
Madam Ning breathed a slight sigh of relief when she saw a smile appear on her youngest daughter's face.
At this moment, the second brother, Ning Binglun, also returned. Today, he was wearing a gray suit, and he looked gentle and refined, yet he also exuded a sense of aloofness that kept people at a distance.
"Dad, Mom, Third Brother, Little Sister," Ning Binglun greeted them one by one, then sat down next to Ning Yuan.
"Second Brother," Ning Yuan greeted politely.
Ning Yuan sat down next to Madam Ning and looked around, but did not see Ning Bingyu.
"Where's my older brother?" she asked casually.
Ning Binglun pushed up his glasses and said in a calm tone, "My elder brother and uncle went to the Governor's banquet. I heard that many political figures and celebrities will be attending tonight."
Madam Ning explained with a smile, "Your grandfather and uncle are both Justices of the Peace, so they naturally have to attend these occasions. Your grandfather is in poor health and rarely participates in such events anymore, so your elder brother and uncle have an even greater responsibility to take on this responsibility."
Ning Yuan smiled and nodded, indicating her understanding: "I know, my older brother and uncle are busy with work."
Mr. Ning and Mr. Ning Zhengkun were two generations of Justices of the Peace, enjoying extremely high prestige in Hong Kong society.
As the future successor of the Ning family, Ning Bingyu naturally had to attend such occasions to build connections and gain experience.
Seeing that Ning Yuan's expression was normal, Madam Ning breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn't want her youngest daughter to feel that the family didn't value her.
Although it was a painful fact that she couldn't change...
Her gaze swept over Ning Manfei's empty seat.
However, at least on the main wife's side, she had already asked Man'an to warn Manfei not to go too far, to appear less often during this period, and to speak less when she did appear.
...
A brightly lit villa on Robinson Road, facing Victoria Harbour.
Unlike the old Ning family mansion's rustic elegance, this villa has a more modern and minimalist style, with the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour in the distance outside the window.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the living room on the second floor was not as pleasant as the scenery.
Ning Manfei sat on the leather sofa, her shrill voice filled with undisguised dissatisfaction—
"Big sister, what do you mean? Why won't you let me stay at the old house? Why do you insist on arranging for me to stay here with you?"
Ning Man'an gracefully flipped through the documents in her hands, saying calmly without looking up—
"What, are you feeling uncomfortable staying here? I remember you used to love the pool here the most, saying it had a good view, was quiet enough, and you could even see the stars."
Today she wore a simple Prada suit, and her neat short hair accentuated her capable temperament, which contrasted sharply with Ning Manfei's glamorous appearance.
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