Gu Ruochu read the line of poetry engraved on the bracelet, and her heart was moved.
"I've thought about it, and I'm willing to meet Ning Tang."
Despite the many grudges Gu Ruochu had with the Ning family, she had nothing to lose by meeting with them.
"All right. I'll make the arrangements."
Huo Nanchen lifted the blanket and helped her get out of the bed. He then tidied up and watched as she sat by the bedside. His heart was full of tenderness.
At that moment, Huo Nanchen's phone rang. He walked out of the bedroom to receive the call.
"How is it? Is Ruochu willing to meet us?" Ning Tang asked in a worried tone. Zhang Yuan stood beside him with an anxious look on her face.
"Yes," Huo Nanchen replied. "Let's meet at the Huo family's residence tonight. She's in a good mood."
Huo Nanchen set the meeting at their home because he wanted Gu Ruochu to be comfortable. He was afraid that if the meeting was held at the Ning residence, Gu Ruochu would panic.
"Okay. I'll tell Zhang Yuan."
Ning Tang hung up the phone with a relieved look on his face. When Zhang Yuan heard the news, a beaming smile formed on her face.
After hanging up the phone, Huo Nanchen turned around and saw Gu Ruochu standing behind him with a frown.
He walked over and pulled her into his arms. "Did you hear everything I said?"
Gu Ruochu grunted and tugged at his shirt. "Will they be here tonight?"
"Yes. Don't be afraid. I will be by your side throughout the meeting."
Gu Ruochu's brows gradually relaxed, and she felt at ease.
"..."
At five o'clock in the evening, members of the Ning family began arriving at the Huo residence.
Huo Zhenggang and Mrs. Huo had found out about Gu Ruochu's past, and Huo Zhenggang was truly shocked. He never expected his daughter-in-law to have such a prestigious background. She was actually the daughter of a big shot in the fashion industry, and her mother had been the most beautiful woman in the capital in her youth.
The meeting was important for both the Huo and Ning families.
Zhang Yuan was nervous. As soon as she arrived at the Huo family's villa, she began looking around for her daughter. Her eyes were already wet.
"In-laws." Huo Zhenggang approached Ning Tang and Zhang Yuan with a conventional smile on his face. "I did not expect that things would be so coincidental. Is Ruochu your daughter?"
"I also did not expect it." Ning Tang answered in an emotional tone. He then asked tactfully, "In-law, why is Ruochu not here?"
Zhang Yuan looked at Mrs. Huo and Huo Zhenggang eagerly. She was dying to see her daughter.
Mrs. Huo knew everything about Zhang Yuan's past, and she had a sympathetic look on her face.
"Aunt Yuan, go and find the Young Madam."
"Yes, Madam."
Aunt Yuan went upstairs to see if Gu Ruochu was in her bedroom.
Gu Ruochu and Huo Nanchen had locked themselves in the bedroom. When she heard Aunt Yuan knock on the door, Gu Ruochu summoned the courage to leave the room. She slowly followed Huo Nanchen downstairs. She couldn't delay the meeting anymore. Eventually, she would have to face her parents.
When Gu Ruochu entered the living room, everyone's eyes instantly turned towards her. Fortunately, Huo Nanchen was walking confidently by her side.
Ning Tangxi was wearing a skirt underneath her white fur coat. A small part of her fair legs was exposed, making her appear straight and slender.
Ning Zongxuan had an ugly expression on his face.
Originally, Ning Zongxuan and Ning Tangxi had not planned on attending the meeting at the Huo residence. However, when they heard that many of the Ning family's relatives, as well as the board of directors, would be attending, they had no choice but to attend the meeting.
Zhang Yuan knew that her daughter was embarrassed, so she did not want to pressure her. She just wiped the tears that had welled up in her eyes and introduced the person next to her.
"Ruochu, you're here. Let me introduce you. This is your elder brother, Gu Zexi."
Gu Zexi was dressed in a dark suit. He glanced at her and said coldly, "I think we've met before."