CHAPTER 131: 124: MISUNDERSTANDING 1 (2ND UPDATE)

Ning Guiwan returned to her room and threw herself onto the large bed.

She didn’t turn on the light, just stared at the ceiling where the faint outline of the chandelier was visible.

She thought about what Quan Xiangru had said.

She hadn’t expected such rumors to be circulating outside... about her and Quan Yu...

Then she remembered the night Lai Yang and Ning Qinghan got into a fight and ended up at the police station. Because of the unexpected incident, she hadn’t managed to buy a gift for Quan Yu and even forgot about the reward she had promised him.

"Didn’t you say there was a reward? Where is it?"

The man had asked this question right by her ear, and her mind had gone completely blank.

She didn’t know if it was because his lips had touched her ear as he spoke, or because she had forgotten about such an "important matter."

"It seems you weren’t prepared," Quan Yu saw right through her.

Ning Guiwan wanted to say, I’ll give it to you tomorrow.

But Quan Yu directly offered an alternative, "That’s fine, I wasn’t really expecting any surprises. I drank too much at noon and my head still hurts. How about you give me a massage as a reward?"

"I don’t know how," Ning Guiwan had no idea how to do that.

"No matter, I’ll teach you." Quan Yu’s eyes at that moment resembled those of a wicked uncle determined by hook or by crook to lead astray an innocent young girl.

Ning Guiwan was coaxed into doing it, massaging his temples in the car for over an hour... for the first half-hour she was genuinely massaging, but for the latter half, she was held in his arms, the man’s breathing unsteady and his body burning hot, scaring her so much she didn’t dare to move.

By the time she finally got free, her clothes were soaked through.

Ning Guiwan closed her eyes. She knew all too well what she wanted and didn’t want. As for romance between men and women, she probably didn’t want to touch it for the rest of her life, let alone with that man, who was the son of Grandma Quan.

During the New Year period, many people visited the Quan Family, and whenever a young, promising, and unmarried man appeared, Old Madam Quan would ask Ning Guiwan to take the guest to the back garden to sit, under the pretense of appreciating the scenery.

That afternoon, the Chi Jinrong family came to visit.

Chi Jinrong was Chi Tingshuang’s third uncle, hence Ning Guiwan’s maternal great-uncle. Chi Jinrong had two sons and a daughter: the eldest was Chi Jiaming, the second Chi Xiangyu. The whole family was in politics, except for the third child, Chi Zhengjun, who was in business.

"Great-Uncle, Great-Aunt, Uncle, Aunt, Aunt, Uncle, Third Uncle..."

Ning Guiwan greeted each one in turn.

Zhang Rou, wearing her reading glasses, looked at her and laughed, "Xiaowan has grown so much. I almost didn’t recognize you."

When Chi Zhengjun, who was playing chess with Quan Yu, heard his mother say this, he looked at Quan Yu with a smile. "Our family’s old man has been talking about Second Uncle these past few days, probably feeling his age. But you should be careful. If you want your relationship with my grandniece to come to fruition, you now have another hurdle in my family’s old man. He’s always telling me that you’re calculating and not to be too close to you."

"Tsk tsk, the path of love is difficult..." Chi Zhengjun’s expression was clearly one of someone enjoying the drama.

Quan Yu, his slender fingertips holding a black chess piece, looked serene with a slight smile playing on his lips. "You’re quite at ease. Aren’t you afraid I’ll hold a grudge against your family’s old man?"

Chi Zhengjun laughed carelessly, "That’s because my old man doesn’t understand you. Calculating, that’s for outsiders, but I’m one of your own..."

...Something didn’t seem right.

Quan Yu lifted his gaze and gave him a cold look. "I can’t afford that."

Realizing his misstep, Chi Zhengjun rolled his eyes.

"Xiaowan, Qiaoqiao is getting engaged on Lantern Festival. You should come over," Chi Xiangyu said, extending an olive branch.

Ning Guiwan’s maternal grandfather was second in the family hierarchy. His elder brother died young, leaving only Chi Jinrong as a sibling. However, for reasons unknown, they became incredibly estranged, almost to the point of ceasing all contact until death.

Her grandfather had passed away many years ago, and it seemed that the grudges had slowly dissipated over time.

Ning Guiwan smiled, her demeanor elegant and composed. "Okay."

On the eve of the Lantern Festival, Lai Yang’s parents flew to Shencheng from Singapore. Treating it as if facing a great enemy, Lai Yang hastily packed a few clothes, drove off, and didn’t even tell Ning Guiwan where he had gone.

Early on the day of the Lantern Festival, Quan Yu left the house. Old Madam Quan was not in good health and rarely went out, so Ning Guiwan drove alone to the engagement party at Chi Xiangyu’s daughter’s estate.

In the villa’s grand hall, a large screen displayed sweet photos of the engaged couple. Ning Guiwan wore a champagne-colored cocktail dress, her hair casually tied into a ponytail, and her makeup light, with no lipstick applied.

It was a very understated and unobtrusive look.

The guests at the scene were distinguished figures from various sectors. Some Ning Guiwan recognized, and others she did not.

Seeing Li Annan, Ning Guiwan was not surprised.

Seeing the woman and the fair-looking boy standing beside him, she was also not surprised.

There had been rumors that Li Annan suddenly had a six-year-old son and was getting married. Naturally, the fiancée was the boy’s mother.

The woman beside Li Annan was the very one who had appeared with the boy in the underground parking lot that day.

The woman had dressed carefully, but the signs of time on her face were evident. No matter how thick the makeup, when she smiled, all her efforts were undone.

Facing Ning Guiwan, Li Annan didn’t know what to say.

After a handshake, all he could muster was, "It’s been a long time."

That day, after Li Annan took his boy to the hospital and looked back for Ning Guiwan, it seemed like fate that the two had never encountered each other at any event since.

Indeed, it had been a long time.

Ning Guiwan smiled faintly. "Congratulations to you."

Li Annan glanced at his well-behaved son standing beside him, affection genuine in his eyes. "Thank you, and I hope you find a good home soon."

In his tone, there was a hint of regret. Back then, his affection for Ning Guiwan had also been real. Now, for the sake of responsibility, to make amends, and to provide his son with a complete family, he had to let go of that past affection.

Ning Guiwan smiled. The engagement ceremony was quite innovative, but the general steps remained the same, and after it concluded, the feasting and toasting began in earnest.

Ning Guiwan chatted with the people around her. Absentmindedly lifting her eyes, she found herself locked in Quan Yu’s profound and cool gaze from across several tables.

The man was tilting his head, listening to Chi Zhengjun speak. Upon meeting her gaze, he smiled slightly, his handsome eyes enchanting.

The hand Ning Guiwan was using to hold her chopsticks tensed slightly. The aftereffects of the few sips of alcohol she had earlier seemed to surge to her head at that moment, leaving her feeling groggy.

Putting down her chopsticks, she felt she should go out for some fresh air.

Pushing open a window in the corridor, the cold breeze rushed in, immediately dissipating the warmth on her face.

Several children burst from the hall and raced down the corridor, laughing and chasing one another. Ning Guiwan stood for a while, feeling the chill, then closed the window, intending to go back. However, as she turned, a shadow collided with her.

Ning Guiwan was knocked back a step, while the person who had collided with her was sent sprawling to the ground by the force of the rebound.

Upon closer inspection, she was startled to see Li Annan’s son curled up on the floor, clutching his chest, gasping for air rapidly and with difficulty, making a sound like air being sucked through broken bellows. His little face turned bright red.

The child has asthma!

The boys he had been playing with scattered in fright upon seeing this. Ning Guiwan calmly picked up the child and returned to the hall. Such illnesses could indeed flare up suddenly, and his parents would definitely have medication on hand.