Ning Bing'an spoke calmly, as if discussing the weather: "Third Brother knows better than I do that pursuing someone requires sincerity. Who knows when Little Sister might agree?"
Ning Bingchao chuckled, swirling the dark red liquid in his glass, his gaze lingering on Ning Bing'an with amusement.
"Tsk tsk, you don't seem like a romantic at all. Men of the Ning family have heartless blood flowing in their veins. Although you are not a biological son of the Ning family, after being exposed to this for so many years, you don't seem like the kind of person who would be troubled by love."
Ning Bing'an looked at Ning Bingchao, his eyes calm and composed: "Third Brother is joking."
He ignored Ning Bingchao's teasing and turned to walk into the villa: "It's time for dinner, let's go upstairs and eat."
Ning Bingchao watched his departing figure, snorted softly, and tilted his head back to drink the remaining red wine in his glass in one gulp.
The car drove smoothly on the highway, the neon lights outside the window flashing and reflecting on Ning Yuan's face, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
As Ah Heng drove, he kept glancing at Ning Yuan's expression beside him: "Hey Ningning, what's up with Ning Bing'an? He says he likes you and wants to pursue you, but I haven't seen him do anything about it... It feels..."
She clicked her tongue and pursed her lips: "Quite polite, actually."
Ning Yuan glanced at her: "Isn't it better not to pester her?"
Aheng choked, then subconsciously retorted, "But if you like someone, shouldn't you relentlessly pursue them?"
She thought of her captain brother, who had only won Xiao Ningning's heart by relentlessly pursuing her.
They have a child, but he's disappeared. It's been almost two years. It's like dried seaweed has been soaking in the sea and has all shrunk and knotted up.
But apart from the life jackets, they found nothing else in the sea...
Alas, like Ning Yuan, she stubbornly refused to accept the fact that Rong Zhaonan had sacrificed himself.
Ning Yuan said casually, "What Ning Bing'an likes is the power and shares he can get through me. I'm not some lowly person who would be so idle as to be someone else's stepping stone."
Her thoughts drifted back to a year ago, when she had just found out about "Ghost Fourth" and was having a long talk with Madam Ning in the mansion in Repulse Bay.
"Mom, I've found out about Ghost Fourth." Ning Yuan got straight to the point, handing over a document.
Madam Ning took the documents, put on her reading glasses, and carefully examined them, her brows gradually furrowing.
Ghost Lao Si, this name is a well-known old broker in Hong Kong's underworld.
He is ruthless yet keeps a low profile, and few people know his true identity and background.
"He actually has connections with Ning Bing'an?" Madam Ning's tone was tinged with surprise and doubt.
Madam Ning put down the documents, rubbed her temples, and sighed, "This child is becoming more and more unpredictable."
Ning Yuan nodded: "Yes, and the relationship is quite close. I suspect that Ning Bing'an's approach to me may be related to Gui Lao Si."
Judging from the information revealed by Uncle Fang and Uncle Jiu, who would have thought that when Gui Lao Si was involved in the Green Gang in Shanghai, he would actually know the illegitimate daughter of the Sheng family—his own grandmother, Sheng Huaiyu.
Back then, Gui Laosi wasn't called Gui Laosi; he was called Rong Yu, a rather novel-like name. It's said that his ancestors were from the Plain Yellow Banner, which is why he was surnamed Rong.
His family fell into decline during the late Qing Dynasty. He was taken to Guangzhou by a distant relative shortly after birth. At the age of thirteen, he went to Shanghai to sell newspapers at the docks and became the king of the dock children at a young age.
Later, he accidentally joined the Green Gang and started working for Du Yuesheng at the age of sixteen.
He was the top henchman, or even an assassin, which is why he was promoted to the head of the Green Gang at a young age.
It was around that time that she met her grandmother. The plot was very much like a novel from the Republican era—Ghost Lao Si was injured on a mission, hid in the female student's car, took her hostage, and forced her to drive him to the hospital.
This female student is her grandmother.
Nobody knows what happened in between, but back then, although her grandmother was an illegitimate child, she was very favored and it was impossible for her to have any relationship with a hoodlum.
Of course, it's also possible that her grandmother was already engaged to her grandfather at that time, and she had long harbored feelings for him. The two had made a vow of eternal love, so naturally she wouldn't be interested in anyone else.
But Uncle Nine said that Ghost Fourth never married and had someone in his heart.
Madam Ning frowned slightly, suddenly recalling an incident from many years ago: "When your grandmother was seriously ill, a middle-aged man came to our door and got into a fight with your grandfather."
"Although the old man knew some self-defense skills back then, he was no match for the other side's trained fighters."
“Even with the help of servants, that man almost beat the old man to death, and it was your grandmother, despite her illness, who came out to persuade him to leave.”
"Could it be..." Madam Ning muttered to herself, her gaze falling on the documents Ning Yuan handed over, her expression complicated.
Ning Yuan frowned: "Could it be that the skilled middle-aged martial artist is Gui Lao Si?"
Madam Ning sighed, took off her reading glasses, and rubbed her temples. "If that's the case, then this matter is even more complicated. Gui Lao Si's intentions towards our Ning family are probably..."
“They’re quite hostile,” Ning Yuan said for her, her tone icy.
"Don't tell anyone else about this yet," Madam Ning instructed. "We need more evidence to determine Gui Laosi's true identity and purpose."
...
Ning Yuan looked out the window, recalling her mother's instructions, and felt a mix of emotions.
This is why she has always been wary of Gui Laosi and Ning Bing'an.
“When our people arrive, we’ll be just as cautious as we were the last two times we received goods,” Ning Yuan suddenly said.
Ah Heng nodded: "Don't worry, Xiao Ning!"
……………………
On the dock, the night was deep, the sea breeze was howling, and the air was filled with the smell of fish and the salty, damp smell of the sea.
A cargo ship was quietly docked at the shore, and several men in black were vigilantly surveying the surroundings.
A black Mercedes-Benz slowly drove in and stopped beside a cargo ship. Ning Yuan, dressed in a black suit and high heels, stepped out of the car. Aheng followed closely behind, dressed in a sharp black outfit, looking like a handsome young man.
Qin Changsheng had been waiting for a long time. He leaned against a truck, a cigarette between his fingers, the crimson flame flickering in the night.
Upon seeing Ning Yuan and her group arrive, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
But it was only for a moment. He lowered his eyes, casually stubbed out his cigarette, and came forward: "Mr. Ning, it's been a long time."
The man wore a formulaic smile, but his tone carried a hint of aloofness.
Ning Yuan nodded slightly, her gaze lingering for a moment on the hideous scar on his face before subtly looking away: "Have the goods arrived?"
"They're all in the warehouse, Mr. Ning, please follow me." Qin Changsheng gestured for him to enter and then turned to lead the way.
Aheng, who was behind Ning Yuan, stepped forward and stood in front of Ning Yuan, staring at Qin Changsheng warily.
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