Ning Xi hadn't finished speaking.
Her mouth was covered by her maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother's hands.
"Jiaojiao, you should rest early. Ning Xi just got back, I'll help her pack her luggage first."
Then, Ning Xi was pulled out of the room by the two elders.
Once outside, her maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.
Her maternal grandmother patted Shen Ning Xi, "Little girl, you can't say your father is still alive anymore. Your mother has been looking for him for ten years and is going crazy! It's good that he's dead; it will end her longing..."
It turned out that the Shen family had encountered a shipwreck during an outing years ago.
Shen Jiao had a premature birth on the cruise ship, and her husband went missing. Looking back, their daughter was also swapped at that time.
For many years, Shen Jiao had been searching for her.
But her search yielded no results.
Her eyes were ruined from crying herself to sleep every night.
After hearing her maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother's story, Ning Xi's expression turned solemn.
She was certain her father was alive.
But her current body couldn't perform divination, so she couldn't calculate where her father was...
Ning Xi let out a long sigh.
Was it easy for their family...
Unlucky mother and son, a missing father, deceived elders, and herself who was a huge burden...
Ning Xi touched the little rabbit on her neck, her fingertips radiating warmth.
She looked at her maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother, who were worried sick about the children in the family, her eyes curving into crescent moons, "Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother, from today onwards, can I be called Shen Ning Xi?"
Silence filled the living room for three seconds.
Then, Ning Xi saw her maternal grandmother turn her face away, secretly wiping away tears.
Her maternal grandfather nodded vigorously while sobbing, "Good! Good! Shen Ning Xi, calm your heart and find peace in this life!"
"My Xiao Ning Xi is back!"
...
The Shen family was filled with warmth.
Meanwhile, at the Lu family's residence, a grand event was unfolding.
The excitement Ning Xi didn't get to see.
The guests got to witness it.
A swarm of reporters rushed into the Lu family's main hall.
Holding microphones high, they excitedly conducted interviews.
"May I ask which one is Miss Lu? We heard you've anonymously donated 380 million to Jing University over the years. What was your original intention, and do you have a special connection with Jing University?"
This question.
Instantly ignited the entire banquet hall.
"How much! 380 million! If I could earn 380 million, my dad would have to call me 'Daddy'!"
"As expected of Miss Lu, capable of studying and earning money. The Lu family has struck it rich this time!"
"I beg God to grant me such a daughter too. I'm willing to marry a handsome and rich man just to give birth to her!"
Exclamations of amazement erupted.
Lu Xinyue was a bit bewildered. Where would she get so much money to donate? If she had that much money, she'd buy jewelry for herself.
Perhaps her Shen family brothers donated in her name. They were truly foolish, actually using money for charity, what idiots.
As Lu Xinyue was stunned, Lin Wanhui excitedly grabbed her hand.
"Xinyue, you are truly my good daughter! You've donated 380 million in one go. This spirit, this financial strength, you're truly the God of Wealth descended to earth and reincarnated into our family!"
Lu Ang, who had just changed his clothes, instantly regained his composure. "My sister has great vision, contributing to the school and paving the way for future generations. Her merits are immeasurable!"
The faces of the Lu family members were creased with smiles.
Praise and admiring glances surrounded them.
Lu Xinyue felt a little lightheaded.
Her heart was secretly chuckling.
She suppressed the smile at the corner of her lips, maintaining a calm demeanor, "This is just a small token of my appreciation. I didn't intend to reveal it, but I didn't expect everyone to find out."
This detached attitude, doing good deeds without seeking recognition, was so domineering!
Applause thundered like a storm.
The reporters seized the opportunity, scrambling to interview.
The banquet hall reached new heights of excitement.
It wasn't until the interviews were nearing their end.
A reporter noticed the thank-you letter issued by Jing University.
He quickly posed the question from the letter, "Miss Lu, Jing University has extended an olive branch to you, hoping you will enroll as an honorary builder. Do you have any intention of doing so?!"
This question made the guests laugh, "How did Jing University do its homework? Miss Lu has already received Recommended Admission to Jing University!"
The reporters were stunned. How was this possible? Wouldn't the school know if they had admitted someone?
In their confusion, someone asked, "Excuse me, are you Miss Lu Ning Xi?"
"..."
The banquet hall seemed to have been muted...
It was so quiet that you couldn't even hear breathing.
The air felt thick with awkwardness, making everyone in the room want to dig their toes into the ground.
After a while, Lin Wanhui was the first to react, angrily waving the reporters away, "What are you doing? You don't even ask clearly before interviewing. Get out, get out! Lu Ning Xi isn't here!"
The reporters pressed on, "But in Jing City, only your Lu Ning Xi fits the age requirement."
Lin Wanhui angrily pushed the reporters away, "Impossible! The Lu Ning Xi in my family is dirt poor, her clothes are patched. How could she have money to donate! Hurry up and leave, don't ruin my daughter's banquet!"
Certain they had interviewed the wrong person, the reporters became even more frustrated.
If they had said it wasn't her earlier, it would have saved them time chasing headlines.
"Whether she donated money or not, she knows herself. We've been interviewing for so long, and she didn't say a word. She really knows how to brag."
The reporters grumpily packed up their equipment.
They left, slamming things around.
A strange, eerie silence fell over the banquet hall.
The guests forced awkward smiles.
What do you call this? It's like trying to flatter a donkey and ending up kicking its leg...
They tried to maintain the facade, but it only lasted three minutes before they couldn't pretend anymore. Everyone found various excuses and hastily left the banquet hall.
Soon, the lively venue was empty, leaving only a mess.
Lu Xinyue, feeling wronged, threw herself into Lin Wanhui's arms, "Mom, my sister ruined my banquet!"
Lin Wanhui's face turned red with anger, "Bringer of misfortune, wherever you go, disaster follows!"
She tugged at Lu Ang's sleeve, "Third Brother, say something! Are you just going to let your sister be bullied!"
Lu Ang's face was grim, lost in thought.
After a long while, he slammed the table, "Where did she get so much money? She must have stolen it from the Lu family! 380 million, no, I have to get it back from her!"
As Lu Ang spoke, he rushed out the door.
Seeing this, Lin Wanhui quickly pushed Lu Xinyue.
"Third Brother, you don't know the way to that poor place. Let Xinyue take you!"
...
Shen Ning Xi was contemplating how to plug the bottomless pit that was the Shen family.
Suddenly, a video call came through on her mobile phone.
It was Fang Wanshan.
As soon as the call connected, Fang Wanshan said anxiously, "Ning Xi, I've brought Xiao Xue here. Is there anything else that's not right?"
Shen Ning Xi had him adjust the phone in several directions. After confirming that Fang Wanshan had followed all her instructions, she nodded slightly, "It's fine."
Fang Wanshan didn't hang up the phone.
He ordered people to film the scene and show it to Shen Ning Xi.
This swimming pool was very large; completing 49 laps would be quite a distance.
Fang Wanshan didn't delegate the task but personally pushed Fang Xue, who was in a wheelchair, around the edge of the swimming pool.
Three doctors from Chen An Hospital were also present, their expressions grave and unhappy.
After ten laps, they began whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
After twenty laps, the three of them opened and closed their mouths several times, eager to speak.
By the thirtieth lap, someone finally couldn't hold back and stepped forward, "Director Fang, this will make the young lady catch a cold. She's frail and can't endure this!"
Fang Wanshan paused, looked at the mobile phone, and Shen Ning Xi calmly uttered two words: "Continue."
He gritted his teeth and quickened his pace.
By the fortieth lap, Fang Wanshan was clearly losing strength. The three doctors simultaneously approached, "Director Fang, this method won't work at all. Don't be deceived; you'll both get sick!"
Fang Wanshan took a deep breath, glared sternly at the three of them, and pushed them aside, "Stop the nonsense and move aside."
He tucked the blanket around Fang Xue, his eyes reddening. He let out a long breath and continued forward.
Madam Fang didn't say much, just quietly followed behind.
The wealthy couple, who were usually seen as high and mighty by outsiders, were now just parents desperate to save their daughter.
Fang Wanshan counted in his heart: forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight...
He held his breath and completed the last lap, mentally counting forty-nine...
As this number popped into his mind, he heard a very faint crying sound from in front of him...
Fang Wanshan froze, stopped, and crouched down in front of the wheelchair, "Xiao Xue, are you awake? Don't be afraid, Dad is here!"
Madam Fang also cried and crouched down, "Mommy is here, Xiao Xue. Wake up, say something to Mommy!"
The two of them kept calling out, over and over again.
On the unknown nth repetition, the young girl in the wheelchair finally opened her eyes.
After a few seconds of daze, she threw herself into Fang Wanshan's arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Mom and Dad— save me..."
✦✦✦