Ning Yuan stared at the red dress for a while, then sighed softly, "Sister Hong, are you trying to dress me up like the final fireworks display? This is just a family dinner, not a red carpet event."
Chu Hongyu said, "Let's ask first!"
As she spoke, she dialed the number of the housekeeper, Lao Tian, and put it on speakerphone: "Uncle Tian, for the family dinner tonight, I would like to ask if Miss Seven needs to wear a formal dress?"
Old Tian's voice was as steady as ever: "Please tell Miss Seven that there is no need to be so formal. Just dress comfortably."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle Tian." Chu Hongyu hung up the phone.
After hearing this, Ning Yuan immediately changed into a light yellow silk shirt and paired it with a pair of off-white wide-leg pants.
She turned to the side in front of the mirror, examining her outfit: "If it were a formal banquet, it would be fine, but it's a family dinner, it's just family eating together, and suddenly an outsider appears... I think Ning Zhengkun is trying to curry favor with Chen Jingsong."
Chu Hongyu nodded and casually hung the red dress back on the hanger: "Since it was organized by the chairman himself, it must be for the Huangpu Garden project. It is said that the project has an investment of nearly HK$1.5 billion, and the Ning family and the Jia Ning Group are involved in a lot of financial issues. If the two sides do not cooperate with leverage, they will have to introduce British trading companies or banks."
Ning Yuan naturally understood that with limited working capital, it was impossible to invest it all in one project.
The Ning family has now chosen to cooperate with the mainland, and they don't want foreign capital to get involved in this big project.
Ning Yuan casually tied her hair up, her tone nonchalant: "It's strange, why would they call someone like me, who has no presence in the Ning family,?"
Chu Hongyu curved her fox-like eyes, her gaze captivating and alluring.
“Xiao Ning, don’t underestimate yourself. Although you don’t have shares in the Ning family, your business in the mainland is thriving, and your electronics factory in Hong Kong is also booming. Moreover, your ability to turn the tide at the previous auction is remarkable, so it’s not surprising that the chairman values you.”
Ning Yuan pouted at herself in the mirror and glanced at Chu Hongyu: "Don't flatter me. I bet he only invited me because Ning Bing'an was there, and he wants to set me up with him!"
Chu Hongyu chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes: "So, are you still going? Or are you just not going?"
“Go, why wouldn’t you go?” Ning Yuan brushed a stray hair behind her ear.
She said lazily, "It's a family dinner, can't I just play a small role like stir-fried pickled mustard greens and edamame? How can I enjoy the show if I don't go?"
At night, the Ning family mansion was brightly lit.
The second-floor restaurant was filled with delicacies from land and sea.
The servants came and went, busying themselves in an orderly manner.
When Ning Yuan came downstairs, Ning Bing'an had already arrived.
Today he was wearing a light gray button-down shirt, which made him look gentle and refined, with an elegant and otherworldly air.
When Ning Bing'an saw her, her cool features appeared even more gentle and picturesque under the lamplight: "Seventh Sister, you've come."
Ning Yuan responded calmly, "Brother Bing'an."
Ning Bing'an spoke softly to Ning Yuan about the electronics factory she had bought from Young Master Li: "I heard that Seventh Sister's electronics factory is doing very well recently and has secured a lot of orders from the United States?"
Ning Yuan casually took a cup of tea from the maid: "Brother Bing'an, please stop teasing me. My factory is still losing money to gain publicity, it's just a small operation."
Ning Bing'an shook his head slightly, his tone sincere: "Seventh Sister, there's no need to belittle yourself. No one starts a business without investing. Your electronics factory is already much better than my Regent Hotel. I didn't even build my hotel from scratch, which is quite embarrassing to admit."
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "With Brother Bing'an personally involved in developing new products, Regent is also thriving."
This brother is probably curious as to why she insists on spending money to invest in electronics factories with low profits and unable to compete with those in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
She just wouldn't tell him~
Ning Yuan chuckled and casually leaned against the railing of the second-floor restaurant.
At that glance, he noticed that his rarely seen adoptive father, Ning Zhengrong, had also come.
He sat upright next to the main seat, holding a teacup in his hand, looking as if it were none of his business.
Throughout his life, Ning Zhengrong felt little affection for his daughter who had been living away from home, except for feeling some guilt and asking others to give her more pocket money.
His mother, Madam Ning, and he treated each other with polite formality, more like business partners than husband and wife.
Chen Jingsong appeared with his foreign wife, Brienne, and his wife, Cha Meiling.
Chen Jingsong was dressed in a black suit, with his hair slicked back and no tie. The cigar in his hand was filled with smoke, making him look relaxed, casual, and spirited.
Mrs. Brienne, dressed in a custom-made suit, with blonde hair and blue eyes, surveyed her surroundings haughtily, her gaze scrutinizing everything.
Following behind them, Cha Meiling wore a white lace dress today, her long hair cascading down in alluring waves, still elegant, beautiful, and dazzling.
The others in the mansion nodded and greeted Chen Jingsong. After all, Chen Jingsong was now a figure in the Hong Kong government, and they had to give him face.
Ning Yuan's mother, Madam Ning the Second, was instructing the housekeeper, Lao Tian, when she saw Cha Meiling. She paused for a moment, then greeted her with a normal expression.
As expected of the matriarch of the Ning family, she still possesses this much composure.
Cha Meiling stepped forward gracefully, affectionately took Madam Ning's arm, and gently called out, "Godmother."
Madam Ning withdrew her hand without showing any emotion and nodded slightly: "Annie is here."
She paused, then added, "Annie, don't call me godmother anymore. Since you've recognized Mr. Chen as your godfather, Mrs. Brienne is naturally your godmother. It's inappropriate for you to call me godmother anymore."
Chen Jingsong laughed heartily and said nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter, it's a good thing that more people care about Annie!" As he spoke, he gestured for Cha Meiling to give the gifts she brought to Madam Ning and Ning Zhengrong.
Cha Mei-ling immediately and gracefully gestured to her secretary to bring up the gift.
The first item was an exquisite red velvet box.
When opened, a magnificent necklace of large carat Burmese rubies gleamed under the light.
She held the box in both hands and handed it to Madam Ning: "Godmother, it's been a long time since we last met. This is specially made for you. I hope you like it."
Then, she gestured to her secretary to open another box, inside which was a beautiful antique blue and white porcelain vase.
She handed it to Ning Zhengrong: "Godfather, this is for you, a small gift, nothing more."
Neither Madam Ning nor Ning Zhengrong accepted it immediately.
Ning Zhengrong politely declined, saying, "This is too valuable, I can't accept it, Annie."
To be honest, everyone in the house felt awkward when Anne, their goddaughter, reappeared.
He also didn't like such an tactless junior.
Chen Jingsong smiled and said, "President Ning, please accept it. This blue and white porcelain can be displayed in the HKU library. I was just planning to donate a library to HKU."
Ning Zhengkun, who was standing to the side, also spoke up: "Second brother, accept it."
Ning Zhengrong nodded and gestured for the people around him to accept the gifts.
Ning Yuan, now an expert, glanced at it from afar and chuckled, "Ming Dynasty official kiln blue and white porcelain, a rare variety indeed. Cha Meiling has put in a lot of effort."
She actually managed to hook up with a rich guy out of nowhere; she must be a "lucky one" from a past life.
Ning Bing'an asked her, "Seventh Sister doesn't like Annie?"
Ning Yuan replied coolly, "Hmm, I don't like it."
Ning Bing'an was taken aback; her frankness left him at a loss for words.
Downstairs, Madam Ning took the box, glanced at it briefly, and then closed the lid, saying in a nonchalant tone, "Annie, you've gone to great lengths."
She turned to Lao Tian and instructed, "Put it away."
It was as if Cha Meiling had given her not a priceless ruby necklace, but a bundle of worthless cabbage.
Cha Meiling's smile froze.
Chen Jingsong waved his hand and said magnanimously, "It's nothing, nothing! As long as you like it!"
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