The two of them were suddenly not in the mood to continue playing around. At this moment, Ning'an's phone vibrated.
She answered the call, and upon seeing the caller ID, a surprised smile spread across her face.
"Hello, Dad!"
A voice of a middle-aged man came through the receiver, carrying a loving smile.
"An'er, I heard you went out to play with Ning Xuan. Where are you now?"
"We're at the amusement park, we'll be back soon!"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the young man, but before she could speak, the young man smiled knowingly.
"Mm."
Seeing the girl's bright and joyful expression, he suddenly felt that bringing the old man back was not a wrong decision after all.
When Ning'an and Ning Xuan arrived at the doorstep, they noticed another car parked there. They exchanged glances... It seemed that more than just Dad had arrived.
They walked side by side through the gate, and the cheerful atmosphere in the living room suddenly fell silent.
Sitting in the middle of the sofa, Ning Zefeng watched the two standing together, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. It seemed that these two children could finally get along well.
When Ning Xuan first arrived, he wouldn't speak to anyone, carrying a hardened demeanor. Anyone who approached him would either be coldly avoided or stung by his sharp words. Only in front of Ning'an would he show a more youthful side. But Ning'an always seemed to ignore Ning Xuan, which made him somewhat troubled.
Ning'an looked at Ning Zefeng's tired face as he had just returned.
A sour feeling welled up in her heart, and she ran towards Ning Zefeng, embracing the man who had sheltered her for half her life. Her words unconsciously carried a hint of sobbing.
"Dad, I miss you so much!"
Ning Zefeng seemed a bit surprised. He lovingly stroked Ning'an's head.
"Alright, alright. Dad's back, why are you still so clingy? Aren't you afraid of others laughing at you?"
He let go of Ning'an, looking at her red eyes, and chuckled as he pinched her cheek. "You've turned into a little rabbit!"
Suddenly, he felt a chill and looked in the direction of the gaze, only to see Ning Xuan's dark eyes staring at him, gripping Ning'an's cheek.
The cool gaze showed no emotion, but it didn't look away either. He was suddenly startled and instinctively let go of her hand.
Ning Xuan then met his gaze and nodded slightly.
The contrast between Ning'an's closeness and Ning Xuan's indifference was stark.
Ning Zefeng sighed inwardly, not blaming the boy for not being close to him.
He hadn't fulfilled his duty as a father, leaving the boy wandering outside for so many years, resulting in Ning Xuan's character.
He still remembered the scene when he first saw Ning Xuan, his black eyes numb and silent, squatting by the roadside, silently watching him.
He felt sorry for Ning Xuan's mother, and for him.
At this moment, the man who had been ignored for a long time spoke up.
"Big brother, I envy you. A harmonious family with both sons and daughters. The scene of happiness makes me speechless, afraid of disturbing you."
Ning'an's gaze turned cold. She had forgotten that her uncle was sitting there. Perhaps he rushed over as soon as he heard the news of Dad's return.
He hadn't seized the opportunity to eliminate her and Ning Xuan when Ning Zefeng went abroad, so the next step would be her retaliation.
She felt a bit embarrassed as she spoke up.
"Ah, seeing Dad got me too excited, I forgot Uncle was here too. No wonder Uncle envies it. If Aunt were still here, Uncle would be able to experience this feeling too."
As soon as she finished speaking, she visibly saw the fake smile on the man's face freeze, and anger flared up in his eyes, but he restrained himself from erupting, mindful of Ning Zefeng's presence, and his face turned red with anger.
Ning'an smirked inwardly, hitting him where it hurt.
This was a secret that the Ning family didn't openly discuss, a secret that Ning Xuan had told her in her past life.
In fact, the original heir chosen by Grandpa was Ning Nanfeng, and even arranged a marriage for him.
Unfortunately, Ning Nanfeng had a beloved woman, who was said to have saved his life in the past, but had also left him with a chronic illness.
Their identities were disparate, and their love was naturally not looked upon favorably. In the end, Ning Nanfeng ignored Grandpa's orders and married her.
Because of this incident, he was no longer valued by the family, which allowed Ning Zefeng to take advantage of it.
The woman later became pregnant, but due to her previous poor health, the child did not survive, leading to two deaths. Ning Nanfeng also changed, becoming irritable and moody, unable to stand scenes of warmth and joy.
So later on, no one mentioned this matter anymore, avoiding him, fearing to touch Ning Xuan's sore spot.
When she heard Ning Xuan telling her this story, she couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
She was somewhat impressed that her second uncle could give up the vast family business for his beloved woman, making him a real man.
Ning Zefeng saw the unpleasant expression on his brother's face and frowned, scolding:
"What nonsense! Is this the way to talk to your uncle? Apologize to your uncle!"
Ning'an lowered her head, hiding the faint chill in her eyes, feeling a bit aggrieved.
"Uncle, I'm sorry."
From Ning Xuan's perspective, he could just see the curve of Ning'an's mouth, and he squinted his eyes, his gaze carrying a hint of playfulness...
Then he spoke up, "Dad, if there's nothing else, I and sister will go up first."
Ning'an glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. She hadn't had enough fun yet.
"Ah... An'er, you and Ning Xuan go up first. Your uncle and I have something to discuss. Go back to your room and reflect on your actions."
Ning Zefeng laughed, knowing his brother well. If he really went crazy, it wouldn't be easy to deal with. It was better to let Ning'an go upstairs first.
Hearing Dad say this, Ning'an didn't want to stay any longer. But thinking about annoying Ning Nanfeng wasn't a bad idea...
Who told him to send people to deal with her and Ning Xuan repeatedly? If she and Ning Xuan hadn't been lucky, they would have died long ago.
She obediently went upstairs but saw Ning Xuan at the corner, lazily leaning against the railing behind him, as if he deliberately waited here for her.
She was tired from a day of activities and was about to bypass Ning Xuan when he grabbed her wrist. His palm was dry and warm, and when it touched her slightly cold skin, he gently rubbed it.
"Sister, it's not a good idea to vent your anger in the heat of the moment. You never know what a crazed beast might do without absolute strength."
Those deep eyes shimmered with a faint light, even deeper than usual.
Ning'an freed herself from his grip and chuckled lightly.
"I don't need you to teach me what to do. Besides, aren't you my opponent too?"
Ning Xuan straightened his body, his gaze intense.
"I won't stand against my sister. If you're willing, I could even become your most useful ally..."
His voice became low and hoarse, somewhat enticing.
Ning'an's serene eyes flickered, her heart trembling slightly... After a moment, she leaned in closer.
"What if I want the inheritance rights of the Ning family?"
"Sister wants it, I'll give it to you."
Her heart seemed to skip a beat, then quickened...
Though she knew Ning Xuan would likely respond this way, hearing his unwavering answer made her blood boil.