Mrs. Ning, who had been watching Ning Gui with a mix of helplessness and amusement, now showed a hint of concern.
Gu Yang, close to Ning Gui, could sense her unease. Ning Gui seemed visibly intimidated by the newcomer.
The man chuckled and addressed Ning Gui, "Gui, it's been so long since we last met. Why don't you call me 'brother' anymore?"
Ning Gui's gaze met his, and she instinctively shrank further into her scarf. "Brother."
Gu Yang quickly realized the identity of the newcomer—he was Ning Shen, the heir of one of the four aristocratic families.
Ning Shen was the son of the Ning family's first wife, while Mrs. Ning was his father's second wife. Although Ning Gui was a daughter of the Ning family, she had been brought into Mrs. Ning's family after her mother's remarriage, making her Ning Shen's stepsister.
