Ning Zhi ran into Lin Tiantian downstairs after she left the study.
She had on a bright yellow dress. Now that she has alabaster skin, she could totally pull off a color like that.
In her memory, Lin Tiantian had alabaster skin even before she had stolen Ning Zhi's halo. But it was the smooth, glowing, and flawless.
Halo was a great thing.
That was why Lin Tiantian didn't just want to steal the halo; she wanted to steal all of it.
"Xiao Zhi." Lin Tiantian looked at Ning Zhi's hands, saw her carrying a white ceramic plate and said, "I heard from the servants that you had made some food for Lu Jue?"
"And the problem of that being?" Ning Zhi looked up and down Lin Tiantian. She had just recollected 2% of her halo but Lin Tiantian didn't seem to notice at all.
"Is something going on with you the last couple of days? I feel that they way you treat Lu Jue had changed." As was the way that Ning Zhi was looking at her. She was not able to read the new Ning Zhi.
"You've changed too," said Ning Zhi with a smile as she got closer to Lin Tiantian. "I noticed that you looked a little darker today."
She had gotten a little bit of her halo back, meaning that Lin Tiantian had that much less. It was just that the changes were too minor for Lin Tiantian to tell so far.
The smile on Lin Tiantian lessened. "That's not funny, Xiao Zhi." She told Ning Zhi mildly, "A renowned skincare product company reached out to my agent yesterday asking for me to be their spoke person."
She was trying to faceslap Ning Zhi with her true ability.
Had Ning Zhi not been looking into the mirror lately? Had she not noticed the difference in appearances between the two of them?
Ning Zhi smiled.
Looking at Lin Tiantian's dubious look, Ning Zhi said to her, "I suddenly remember a joke. A thief went over the original owner and bragged about how pretty and useful the stolen item was and even laughed at the owner for being stupid not able to guard their own treasure.
Lin Tiantian, "Are you trying to be funny?"
"I wasn't joking," said Ning Zhi while giving Lin Tiantian a deep and meaningful look. "It's a true story."
Lin Tiantian felt that there was subtext in Ning Zhi's words.
Watching Ning Zhi left, she stroked the pendant that she wore around her neck and the warm feel calmed her worried heart.
***
Ning Zhi was a junior in university. Per the original owner's request, the Lu family did not announce the fact that Lu Jue and her had gotten married overseas six months ago. Nobody at school knew that she had married into the Lu family.
School load was light as a junior in college. Ning Zhi was only glad that original owner's major was the same as hers before she had transmigrated over. She found the curriculum quite cozy after an afternoon of classes.
The chauffeur from the Lu family was already waiting at the entrance of the university when it let out.
The black luxurious car attracted much attention even just parked there silently.
Ning Zhi got inside of the car and asked the chauffeur, "Uncle Chen, was everything alright with Lu Jue today?"
She knew full well that Mother Lu would have given her a call if something had happened to Lu Jue but she still decided to ask. After all, one needed to pay attention to details when making changes.
Uncle Chen was a little surprised at Ning Zhi asking about Second Young Sir. In addition, she seemed to be more outgoing than she was before. "Young Sir Lu Jue was doing well today."
When they drove past a dessert place, Ning Zhi had Uncle Chen pulled over.
When she returned to the car, she had two delicate boxes with her.
They had guest at the Lu's residence today. Mother Lu has a young sister and she was visiting with her youngest son.
Song Ruo, Mother Lu's sister, was a little surprised when Ning Zhi greeted them with poise. After Ning Zhi had gone upstairs, she asked Mother Lu with a smile, "Did you give her little daughter-in-law some training?"
Song Ya took a sip of tea. "Do I look like the kind who'd have rules for my daughter-in-law to follow?"
"I know you are not that kind of a person."
Song Ya and Song Ruo had always been closed. She wasn't worried about Song Ruo's thought on this. "You know the situation when Ning Zhi married into my family. I have an agreement with her elders. If Xiao Jue doesn't get better within two years and they don't have any children, Ning Zhi is welcome to leave."
Song Ruo disagreed. "Ning Zhi is lucky to be able to marry into the Lu family. How else would an orphan like her be able to marry into the Lu family? Not even the slightest chance."
"Her intention of marrying into the Lu family was never pure. Besides, Xiao Jue's autism is getting worse as time goes on. Her heart doesn't lie with us. What is the point of forcing her to stay?"
Mother Lu was well aware of her son's situation all along. Having Ning Zhi married her was her only hope. And it is her wild hope that Ning Zhi might have a child with her son.
It had already been six months and, not only did Lu Jue's autism not getting better, Ning Zhi also disliked her son. Never mind about having a child between them. The two of them didn't even share the same bed.
She had tried to pressure Ning Zhi some but that didn't work. It was, after all, matters between Ning Zhi and Lu Jue. They would not have children if one party was unwilling.
Song Ya signed. "If Xiao Jue's illness gets worse, we can't just have Ning Zhi wastes her entire life at the Lu family."