Ning An locked herself in her room, deep in thought. She had a plan forming in her mind.
There was no doubt about Ning Xuan's love for her. Why not use that love to her advantage? As long as she could secure control of the Ning family in her hands, she wouldn't need to concern herself with Ning Xuan anymore. After using him to her advantage, she could discard him without hesitation. The thought of it brought her a sense of satisfaction.
However, she needed to know the extent of Ning Xuan's willingness to support her and the situation behind the scenes. In her previous life, she had been too sheltered, never involved in the family's power struggles. She had always lived as the pampered young lady until her father's sudden death threw the Ning family into chaos.
Ning An glanced outside at the darkening sky. It was already late, and she realized she was feeling hungry.
She descended the stairs, noticing that the kitchen lights were still on. She wondered if it was Aunt Sun who hadn't gone to bed yet. However, as she approached, she was surprised to find Ning Xuan inside.
Ning Xuan seemed to hear her footsteps and turned, meeting Ning An's surprised gaze. His dark eyes locked onto hers, as if he hadn't expected her to come down at this hour.
"What are you doing?" Ning An asked casually, and Ning Xuan lowered his head slightly, saying, "I noticed that sister hasn't eaten anything, so I thought I'd make some porridge..."
Ning An raised an eyebrow, catching a whiff of the tantalizing aroma of food in the air. Suddenly, her hunger intensified.
Although Ning Xuan was detestable, there was no need to have a feud over food.
She coughed lightly. "Serve me a bowl. I'll taste it."
At her words, Ning Xuan looked up, seeming somewhat incredulous. He had originally intended to have Aunt Sun bring the porridge up after he made it. He didn't expect Ning An to know it was him who made it and still be willing to eat it.
His eyes shimmered with joy as he turned to serve Ning An a bowl.
Ning An looked at his suddenly happy expression, internally sneering...
Ning An took the bowl, tasting the porridge. It was perfectly cooked, melting in her mouth with just the right flavor. She had never known Ning Xuan's cooking skills were this good.
"Sister, is it good?" Ning Xuan's voice held a hint of anticipation.
Ning An looked into his dark, shining eyes, feeling slightly awkward. She averted her gaze unnaturally. "It's average."
At her words, Ning Xuan fell silent.
Ning An couldn't decipher what he was thinking as she looked at the somewhat despondent young man. She realized that if she wanted to use him effectively, she needed to change her attitude towards him, but not too obviously. Starting with her daily behavior would be a good beginning.
"In a few days, it will be the graduation ceremony. Will you accompany me to pick out a dress tomorrow?" Ning An said nonchalantly.
Ning Xuan was taken aback, seemingly surprised that the words came from her mouth. In the past, Ning An had never paid him any attention, let alone gone out with him. She hardly even spoke to him.
Ning An frowned. "What? Don't want to?"
"No! Sister, I'm just a bit surprised."
"Just consider it a repayment for the porridge," Ning An said, looking at him. "Remember to wake me up tomorrow morning."
Ning An finished her porridge, not wanting to face the person in front of her. She turned and went back to her room after taking a bath, lying down on the bed. She replayed the events of the day in her mind.
This Ning Xuan was truly inscrutable. She needed to find an opportunity to test him.
Unconsciously, drowsiness overwhelmed her. At the last moment, her thoughts drifted to the surprisingly delicious taste of the porridge Ning Xuan had made.
The person on the bed fell into a deep sleep.
In the darkness, the door was quietly pushed open. Even though the intruder knew the person on the bed wouldn't wake, they closed the door cautiously. Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a dim light on the intruder's features. Despite the dimness, the boy's face still captivated, like a demon from the night.
He gently climbed onto the bed, cradling the curled-up Ning An in his arms as if she were a precious treasure retrieved. He tenderly kissed her hair, forehead, and nose, treating her as delicately as one would a priceless gem, careful not to disturb her slumber. His warm breath brushed against her neck, restrained and cautious, as if afraid to disrupt her dreams. Finally, after planting a kiss on her lips, he contentedly lay beside her, watching Ning An's innocent sleeping face. His lips moved slightly, silently calling out, "Ning An... Sister... You're finally back by my side."
...
"Knock... knock..."
In her dreams, Ning An felt someone persistently knocking on the door outside, maintaining a rhythmic tempo. It was as if they would continue knocking until she got up to answer.
Ning An threw off her covers, her hair disheveled, her cheeks bearing the imprint of her sleeping position. Despite her disheveled appearance, her stunning face remained, exuding a sense of charm and innocence.
She rose with impatience, opening the door to find Ning Xuan, already dressed. His gaze involuntarily deepened as he took in the sight of the girl before him. She wore a white, low-cut nightgown that had slipped down during her sleep, revealing a vast expanse of snowy skin, with hints of graceful curves and valleys.
Ning Xuan's eyes couldn't help but darken, his throat rolling.
"Sister, it's time for breakfast. We have to go out soon," he said.
Ning An hastily covered her neckline, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment and annoyance. "I know. You go down first! I'll be down after I tidy up!"
With a resounding click, she shut the door. Ning Xuan, left outside, smirked slightly. His black eyes sparkled with light.
It seemed waking up early wasn't in vain... Seeing his sister's childish expression upon waking up was particularly tempting. Thinking of the breathtaking view he had witnessed, his eyes couldn't help but warm up, and his blood surged with excitement... He lowered his head, feeling a bit helpless...
When Ning An came down after getting ready, she saw Ning Xuan still having breakfast. His demeanor was elegant and composed, every movement graceful and refined. She had always thought Ning Xuan's demeanor was special. His appearance had a touch of the demonic, especially those peach blossom eyes that made even a piece of bread seem passionate. Yet, his deep black eyes were as calm as still water, revealing nothing.
Indeed, his appearance had a certain allure, even causing Ning An to admire... He had the charm to make countless girls jealous and even drive the previous life's Ouyang Manny crazy.
Ning An's gaze was too focused, and the seated person seemed to sense something, suddenly raising their head. Their eyes met in mid-air, creating an indescribable atmosphere. Ning An's feelings toward Ning Xuan were extremely complex... Yet, she noticed that his pitch-black eyes softened the moment they met hers, with a hint of a smile.
"Sister, please come down," Ning Xuan said.
Ning An sat down, watching Aunt Sun pour milk for her. She frowned as she looked at the empty seat.
"Father still hasn't returned?" Ning Xuan paused for a moment, his hand holding the milk cup, his eyes flashing with a hint of light.
"Father said there are some difficulties with a project's progress, so he'll need to stay abroad for a while longer," Ning An nodded knowingly, but deep down, she didn't believe it...
She remembered that in her previous life, at this time, Ning Zefeng had been busy with what he called "projects"... But in the end, he died suddenly overseas. The news of his death came too abruptly; she didn't have time to prepare. After her father's death, the Ning family descended into chaos.
Then, in the struggle for succession, Ning Nanfeng also lost to Ning Xuan...
Ning Xuan ultimately gained control of the Ning family, and her nightmare began.
Ning An knew that with Ning Xuan's current capabilities, he couldn't possibly compete with Ning Nanfeng... Her father's sudden death also raised many suspicions...
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