Upon hearing this, Ning Yuan raised her eyebrows: "I knew that Brother Fenchang would take advantage of the situation to get funds from Uncle, but the reason for using private investment instead of the group's money is because Sister Man'an disagreed."
Eighty percent of the money was held by the eldest sister.
The war between Brother Pink Sausage and the eldest sister is far from over. She just hopes that nothing serious will happen that will involve the second wife's family and cause her mother any worry.
Peishan thought for a moment and said, "Seventh Miss, the chairman still has a betrothal gift for you, worth at least several million."
Ning Yuan's eyes immediately lit up: "Hmm? US dollars or Hong Kong dollars?"
Pei-Shan was both amused and exasperated by her money-grubbing boss: "I'm not entirely sure about that either, but judging from the chairman's words, there's definitely going to be a big bonus."
Ning Yuan stood up and paced back and forth in the office, deep in thought.
Since deciding to become a wafer foundry, money has been flowing out like water. Every time I look at the accounts, my head is spinning. Maintaining staff and equipment are all huge investments.
Although my wallet is still quite full, who would complain about having too much money?
Ning Yuan's eyes darted around slightly, and she nodded decisively: "I'll take the wedding photos! Last time, each of us had a $500,000 allowance for clothing from our wedding fund, so the dowry definitely can't be small. Why not take it? Who would turn down money!"
She walked back to the table and patted the blueprints: "Tell the chairman that I'll be going back tomorrow. But I need to finish these things today first."
Peishan smiled and nodded: "I'll go return the call now."
...
The next day, Ning Yuan, who had been working overtime until midnight, groggily got up from the makeshift bed she had set up in the Hong Kong government factory office, and was then dragged by Pei Shan to wash up.
While urging her on, Pei-shan handed Ning-yuan the prepared breakfast: "You'd better hurry up, the photographer team from Repulse Bay has arrived! You still need to get your hair and makeup done!"
The first round of photoshoots took place at the old house, featuring traditional styles such as dragon and phoenix gowns and cheongsams.
Ning Yuan refused to go back and waste time trying on clothes, so the Second Madam had to have several sets custom-made according to her measurements.
After a hurried breakfast, Ning Yuan was shoved into the car by Pei Shan, and they sped back to the Ning family's old house in Repulse Bay.
Upon entering, Ning Yuan was stunned by the sight before her.
Professional photographers, lighting technicians, makeup artists... a group of people were busy in the villa; if you didn't know better, you'd think they were filming a movie.
To her surprise, almost everyone from each branch of the Ning family was present, just like during the Lunar New Year.
The old man, who was usually rarely seen, also appeared, squinting in the sun with an indifferent expression, as if he didn't care about the noise around him at all.
Apart from Ning Bingfeng, the fifth brother who was on tour abroad, and Ning Bingbang, the fourth brother who was studying for his doctorate in the United States, everyone else was actually there.
Even Ning Binglun, the second son who had just become an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong and whose presence was practically nonexistent, returned.
When Ning Binglun saw Ning Yuan, he simply nodded slightly before retreating back into the corner to continue reading his academic journal.
Ning Yuan didn't pay much attention. Her family ties were already shallow, and even with Brother Fenchang, it was a game of mutual sabotage and "concern." Not to mention the other brothers.
When Madam Ning saw Ning Yuan, she took her hand and said with concern, "Why have you lost so much weight? You don't take good care of yourself while you're out here."
Ning Yuan felt a warmth in her heart and hugged her mother affectionately, saying, "Mom, I've just been busy. I'll make it up to you properly once I'm done with this."
Ning Zhengkun was the most radiant of them all, and in a great mood, he asked the housekeeper to have everyone change into old-fashioned cheongsams and mandarin jackets in preparation for taking a traditional family photo.
Ning Yuan was inwardly cursing: This old man, is he trying to make a promotional video for the "Ning Dynasty"?
But she still obediently went to get ready.
...
Ning Man'an stood by the window upstairs, her electric silk cheongsam clinging to her well-maintained figure, outlining her elegant and graceful curves.
She looked down at the bustling scene below. The sunlight outside the window was perfect, but it couldn't penetrate the coldness and weariness in her eyes.
She took a slender cigarette from the elegant cigarette case, lit it with a "click," and asked, "Second Miss, have you calmed down yet?"
Her secretary, A Xiang, standing behind her, bowed slightly, his voice respectful.
"Miss, when Miss Manfei learned that Seventh Miss and Young Master An's wedding photos and family portrait were to be taken today, she caused a huge uproar in Macau and smashed a lot of things."
Ning Man'an flicked the ash from her cigarette, her voice as cold as ice: "Tsk, so it was the right thing to not let her come. She's gone crazy for Ning Bing'an, doesn't she feel ashamed? If she continues to act so nonsensically, we'll send her to a mental health center for a while when we get back."
She paused, her smile tinged with a strange sadness and irony: "Anyway, Mommy ended up in a mental hospital because of her divorce. Since Second Sister likes that woman's son so much, why don't you go to the mental hospital to keep Mommy company?"
Ah Xiang was silent for a moment, looking at the harmonious scene downstairs: "The chairman really dotes on Young Master An!"
Ning Man'an sneered, turned around, and leaned against the windowsill: "His so-called affection for Ning Bing'an is nothing more than reminiscing and missing that first love. It's a kind of transference, transferring his guilt and longing for that woman onto the son she left behind."
Ning Man'an closed her eyes and said lazily and listlessly, "But look at the arrangements he made—he only gave Ning Bing'an that small share of the Ning family after he made Ning Bing'an marry a daughter with pure Ning family blood. And even then, he wouldn't give him all of it; the rest would only be given to him after Ning Bing'an and Ning Yuan had a child... Why is that?"
Ah Xiang lowered his head, not daring to reply.
Ning Man'an didn't intend to let him respond; she simply exhaled a string of smoke, making her elegant face appear exceptionally hazy.
"Because Ning Bing'an is an adopted son who is not legitimate, an outsider, he can only stand firm by clinging to his father's leg. Therefore, he must marry the daughter of the second wife according to his father's wishes, so that he can control the second wife. Ning Bing'an is such a good tool. Do you still think your father loves him?"
Daddy's first priority is his family, then himself, and lastly everyone else.
Ah Xiang didn't speak; he remained silent.
Ning Man'an got up from the sofa, walked up to A Xiang, and used her long fingers to lift his chin, forcing him to look up.
Their eyes met, but Ning Man'an's gaze seemed to be looking through him at someone else.
Her eyes were gentle as she murmured:
"I sacrificed you to get to where I am today, and I don't regret it. But what is rightfully mine, I will not let anyone take away. I am no less than A-Yu."
A Xiang remained silent, and as always, he reached out and embraced Ning Man'an.
He always knew that the young lady was never saying these words to him, but to someone who had the same face as him but was no longer alive.
At such times, he became a shadow, a substitute, a vessel for the young lady to place her longing.
But this was a burden he willingly accepted.
The powerful and resourceful young lady, dazzling like a star, is his master.
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