Ning Xuan's expression and demeanor remained unchanged as he looked at the girl in front of him. With cold and ruthless words, he dashed the girl's hopes.
"Sister, you actually know how I feel about you, don't you? But you chose to use me, didn't you? I'm willing to be used by you, to do everything for you," he paused, his thin lips tightly pressed. "But don't think you can get rid of me. We are bound together since birth, not by blood, but by retribution."
Retribution?
Ning An's delicate eyebrows furrowed, as if she couldn't understand the meaning of this sentence, but she knew that something, perhaps long ago, had planted a seed between them.
"What do you mean?" Ning An asked blankly.
Ning Xuan, however, evaded the question and picked up the bowl of soup again, offering it to her lips, softening his tone.
"Sister, have a sip."
Ning An's face showed a stubborn expression, as if she wouldn't take another sip unless Ning Xuan explained.
"If you want me to feed you with my mouth, just say it, Sister. I'm happy to do so."
With a sinister tone, Ning An knew this lunatic was capable of it. She reluctantly drank the sobering soup. The strange taste spread in her mouth. Ning An wrinkled her small face with disgust. She hadn't had time to savor it before she spat it out. Now that she finished the whole bowl, she felt an unusual bitterness.
What kind of sobering soup was this, so sour and bitter with such a strange taste?
Ning Xuan looked satisfied as Ning An finished, and his expression finally softened a bit.
"There are some dried tea leaves and other ingredients like hawthorn cooked in it. The taste may be strange, but it's not harmful to the body," Ning An nodded, "Can you tell me now? What did you mean by what you just said?"
Ning Xuan didn't expect her to still be on this topic and circled back to it.
"If it's not retribution, why would fate make me fall in love with you... only to be unrequited?"
Seemingly surprised by this answer, Ning An didn't know what to say. She felt like it might be true. If Ning Xuan didn't have this so-called love for her, then... none of this would have happened.
Is loving someone retribution?
She didn't know, but this love had indeed once destroyed her.
"Loving someone isn't wrong, but maybe the way you love is wrong. Ning Xuan, you don't understand what real love is. I know the Ning family owes you a lot, but if you expect love from me, then I'm sorry, I really can't respond to you." Hearing this, Ning Xuan seemed numb, as if he had heard these words countless times before, from her hysterical and hateful words in the past life to this calm response now.
This could be considered progress, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.
"Let's forget about it, Sister. There are many other things waiting for you ahead."
"Ning Nanfeng won't let go so easily, you should understand that,"
Perhaps acknowledging Ning Xuan's evasion of the topic, she didn't want to continue either, following his lead.
"Maybe I should take the initiative? But my father and grandfather..."
Ning Xuan's lips curled with a hint of malice as he watched the girl's hesitant demeanor. He hinted, "Sister, there's no need to be soft-hearted at this time. Seize the opportunity, that's the most important."
...The next day, Ning Zefeng took Ning An to the company.
"An'er, his name is Qin Li. He will be in charge of all your learning in the company."
After Ning Zefeng finished his instructions, he went to a meeting. Ning An looked at his hurried departure and felt a bit of coldness from her father these days. She didn't know when it started.
But she quickly assessed this Qin Li. He wore a well-fitted suit, his hair was neatly styled, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on his nose, partially concealing his sharp gaze.
He seemed like a very serious and difficult person to deal with.
She thought to herself that the people around her had already started moving their long legs, and their voices were like mechanical ones without any fluctuations.
"Miss Ning, please follow me."
Following behind Qin Li, listening to his introduction of the layout of the various departments of the Ning Group, all the employees tacitly understood Ning An's identity.
They stopped at the company cafeteria by noon.
"Miss Ning, please have your meal first. Rest for a while, and I'll take you to your office in the afternoon," he turned to look at the girl following him.
With a thoughtful expression, Ning An recalled her absence from the college entrance examination due to health reasons in her past life, but it was actually Ning Xuan who had kept her confined at home.
Turning back, she smiled at Qin Li,
"If I'm going to study business, then K University should be the best choice, right?"
Qin Li looked at the sudden smile on the girl's face, and for a moment, he felt flustered. He didn't know why he felt that smile seemed bitter.
He lowered his head and took a bite of rice, avoiding her gaze.
"K University is the best university in Huaijiang. With Miss Ning's abilities, you will definitely be able to get in." The faint blush on his cheeks couldn't be perfectly concealed, fortunately Ning An didn't notice.
She suddenly remembered something and felt embarrassed, "But I only have the meal card from the school. Should I swipe yours first?"
Qin Li's serious face showed a hint of a smile.
"Of course, you can, Miss Ning, please."
Ning An looked at the array of dishes, not sure what to eat. Watching Qin Li pick the dishes skillfully, she didn't want to linger here, and the people behind her were already showing signs of impatience.
She casually said, "The same as him."
Qin Li found a secluded and spacious location near the window, and the two sat down together.
Ning An tasted a bite of minced meat and steamed eggs, surprisingly finding it quite good.
"Seeing Miss Ning's young age, and being able to adapt to the company environment so quickly, no wonder Mr. Ning can be so assured," Qin Li said casually as he moved the dishes in the plate with his chopsticks.
"Take advantage of the summer vacation to learn more," Ning An replied absentmindedly.
"Ning Miss, which university are you planning to attend?"
Ning An looked out the window pensively, recalling that she missed the college entrance examination due to her health condition in her past life, but actually, Ning Xuan had kept her confined at home.
She turned back and smiled at Qin Li,
"If I'm going to study business, then K University should be the best choice, right?"
Qin Li looked at the sudden smile on the girl's face, and for a moment, he felt flustered. He didn't know why he felt that smile seemed bitter.
He lowered his head and took a bite
of rice, avoiding her gaze.
"K University is the best university in Huaijiang. With Miss Ning's abilities, you will definitely be able to get in." The faint blush on his cheeks couldn't be perfectly concealed, fortunately Ning An didn't notice.
She suddenly remembered something and felt embarrassed, "But I only have the meal card from the school. Should I swipe yours first?"
Qin Li's serious face showed a hint of a smile.
"Of course, you can, Miss Ning, please."
Ning An looked at the array of dishes, not sure what to eat. Watching Qin Li pick the dishes skillfully, she didn't want to linger here, and the people behind her were already showing signs of impatience.
She casually said, "The same as him."
Qin Li found a secluded and spacious location near the window, and the two sat down together.
Ning An tasted a bite of minced meat and steamed eggs, surprisingly finding it quite good.
"Seeing Miss Ning's young age, and being able to adapt to the company environment so quickly, no wonder Mr. Ning can be so assured," Qin Li said casually as he moved the dishes in the plate with his chopsticks.
"Take advantage of the summer vacation to learn more," Ning An replied absentmindedly.