“I understand that my uncle and elder brother are busy with their own affairs. Everything they do is for the Ning family. It is my duty to wait a few days.”
Ning Yuan smiled slightly, her tone humble and obedient, as if she were truly a kind and understanding girl.
Hearing "for the Ning family," Ning Zhengkun's tone softened a bit: "It's good that you think that way. After all, you are a child of our Ning family."
This girl is young, but she is very sensible and knows to prioritize the interests of the family.
He smiled slightly: "Are you ready for next week's Christmas auction and dinner?"
"Uncle, I have done my best to prepare. However, I have only been in Hong Kong for a short time and am not yet familiar with many things. There are bound to be shortcomings. I will definitely study hard and not bring shame to the Ning family."
Ning Yuan appeared to be a well-behaved and sensible girl.
Ning Zhengkun nodded in satisfaction. Although this girl had not received a good upbringing, she was clever and quick-witted and knew her place. With a little guidance, she might be of great use in the future.
He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then spoke slowly and deliberately—
"According to the rules of European social balls, every adult daughter in the family will have a dance partner to accompany her while she dances. You should have heard this from your mother, right?"
Ning Yuan was puzzled. How could a big shot like Ning Zhengkun, who was so busy with important matters every day, care about such a trivial thing as whether her insignificant niece had a dance partner?
"Yes, Uncle, I heard about it," Ning Yuan replied obediently, but secretly became more vigilant.
She observed Ning Zhengkun's reaction discreetly: "It's just that my ballroom dancing is very mediocre. I'm not coordinated. After a week, I can only dance a simple waltz."
Upon hearing Ning Yuan say that her dancing skills were mediocre, Ning Zhengkun said in an unquestionable tone, "It's alright, I've already made arrangements. Bing'an will be your dance partner and will take you to the event."
He acted as if he were simply announcing something perfectly ordinary.
Ning Yuan was stunned. What? Ning Bing'an was going to be her dance partner?
She originally thought that her dance partner would be either Ning Bingchao, her unreliable third brother, or Ning Bingyu, the CEO of the Ning family.
After all, both of these people are more suitable than Ning Bing'an, his adopted son who is not related to him by blood.
Why did Ning Zhengkun arrange for Ning Bing'an to be his dance partner?
Ning Yuan glanced at Ning Bing'an sitting to the side without making a sound, but saw that he was still looking down, engrossed in reading, as if he didn't care about anything.
His profile looked exceptionally handsome under the light, and his long eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyelids, obscuring the emotions in his eyes.
Ning Yuan's doubts deepened, and she was about to look at Ning Bingyu when Ning Zhengkun spoke again.
"It's settled then, Bing'an. These next few days, you'll teach Xiaoyuan to dance more. She just got back and doesn't know many of the rules yet, so you'll have to be more understanding."
Ning Zhengkun's tone was firm, giving Ning Yuan no chance to refuse. Then he turned to Ning Bing'an, his tone softening considerably, as if he were explaining something important.
Ning Bing'an finally looked up from his book, his deep, cool phoenix eyes calm. He nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, Daddy, I will."
"Um..." Ning Yuan wanted to say something, but Ning Bingyu stopped her with a look.
"Since your uncle has already made the arrangements, you can rest assured and prepare." Ning Bingyu said in a calm tone.
Ning Yuan suppressed her doubts and gave a perfectly timed smile: "Okay, Uncle, I will learn from Brother Bing'an."
Ning Zhengkun nodded in satisfaction, gave a few more instructions, and then told Ning Yuan to go back first.
"What exactly is going on here?" Ning Yuan walked out of the study and rubbed her temples.
As she pondered Ning Zhengkun's intentions, she unknowingly walked into the garden.
In early winter, the air in Hong Kong is still not cold, and the gardens are lush with greenery and blooming flowers.
Ning Yuan called out to a passing maid, "Where is the Second Madam?"
"Reporting to Seventh Miss, Second Madam has gone out to attend a banquet," the servant said politely.
Ever since the news spread that the Seventh Miss, whom they had found in the mainland, had warned Angela, coupled with the Second Madam's reprimand, things have been going on.
Even though everyone looked down on the Seventh Miss from the mainland, they didn't dare to be disrespectful on their faces.
"What about the Third Young Master?" Ning Yuan asked again, intending to ask this adopted brother first to see if he knew anything inside.
"Young Master San went out with his friends and said he won't be back tonight," the maid said, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
“This guy…” Ning Yuan was speechless. Needless to say, her cheap third brother was definitely out chasing girls again. The week-long ban was over, and Chao Ge immediately went out to have fun.
He had the energy to sleep with girls after shopping all day; he really has incredible energy.
“But the second master is in his study,” the servant added.
Each of the key figures in the Ning family has their own private study.
Ning Yuan thought about it. She realized that she and her adoptive father had only met once in a week, and had only bumped into each other twice at the dinner table, without having much to say to each other.
There's no need to look for him!
Thinking of this, Ning Yuan simply sat down on the sofa in the lobby on the first floor, intending to wait for Ning Bingyu to come out and ask about the situation.
About an hour later, the study door finally opened, and Ning Bingyu indeed came out alone, looking somewhat tired.
Upon seeing this, Ning Yuan immediately went to greet him: "Young Master Ning!"
"Call me Big Brother." Ning Bingyu glanced at her and responded indifferently, seemingly unsurprised that she would be waiting for him here.
"Big brother, did Uncle call me today just to arrange a dance partner for me?" Ning Yuan asked bluntly.
Ning Bingyu paused, turned to look at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable: "What, you don't like Bing'an as your dance partner?"
Ning Yuan tugged at the corner of her lips and waved her hand: "I don't know him, so I can't say whether I like him or not..."
She narrowed her eyes: "I'm just curious, did my uncle meet me today just to arrange for him to be my dance partner? Is there some other reason behind it?"
Ning Bingyu looked at Ning Yuan and smiled: "What? You think things aren't that simple? Maybe he's just concerned about his niece whom he's never met?"
Ning Yuan's bright eyes flashed with a mocking smile: "He's just like you, busy with countless affairs every day. How could he possibly have time to care about such trivial matters as mine? You call me 'Big Brother,' so why don't you tell your little sister the truth?!"
Ning Bingyu gave Ning Yuan a meaningful look, then turned and walked toward his study: "Come on, little sister, I'll treat you to tea. We just have a batch of really high-quality Darjeeling tea that's coming over."
Ning Yuan looked at his tall, straight back, raised an eyebrow, and followed him.
Upon entering Ning Bingyu's study, she watched as he instructed a servant to brew tea, and then casually poured a cup of fragrant black tea and placed it in front of her.
Ning Bingyu said calmly, "You should have noticed that your uncle values Ning Bing'an very much."
"Yes, I noticed that too, but what does that have to do with my dance partner?" Ning Yuan took a sip of her tea, even more puzzled.
Ning Bingyu walked to the sofa and sat down, gesturing for Ning Yuan to sit down as well, before slowly saying, "The reason your uncle arranged things this way is to bring you and Ning Bing'an together."
"Pfft—What?!" Ning Yuan spat out a mouthful of tea.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
