10 – Seeing Green Tea Again
Tang Chengye’s face was ashen, his teeth clenched tightly. Though furious, he was helpless. The Tang Family was declining year by year, and he truly had no choice but to rely on the Ning Family.
Wan Qing stamped her feet and snarled under her breath, “That unfilial child, that unfilial child!”
“Enough! Isn’t she the fine daughter you gave birth to? Not only did you fail to bear a son for the Tang Family, but both of your daughters are utterly useless!” Tang Chengye’s roar startled everyone. He shot a disdainful glance at Wan Qing and her daughter, snorted coldly, and headed upstairs.
Not only had she failed to secure the restaurant, but she had also earned her father’s contempt. When had Tang Wan Ning ever suffered such humiliation? Frowning anxiously, she asked,
“Mom, didn’t you say Ning Dai was on the verge of death? Why does he look perfectly fine?”
Wan Qing, feeling utterly humiliated herself, gritted her teeth and spoke in a tone that was both comforting and venomous,
“My sources are never wrong. All this information came from those society ladies and wives. Don’t worry, Ning Ning, that harbinger of doom won’t be arrogant for much longer.”
The atmosphere in the car remained tense all the way back. Even after returning to the Ning Residence, Ning Dai remained silent.
Tang Qianluo knew she was in the wrong. She lowered her head and obsequiously poured a glass of water, offering it to him. “You’ve worked hard, President Ning. Please have some water.”
Ning Dai remained motionless, sitting rigidly on the sofa and staring at Tang Qianluo, making her increasingly uneasy.
“Tang Qianluo, did I not say you are not allowed to leave without permission?”
Tang Qianluo pouted inwardly, thinking, Was it you who said that? That was the butler.
But she couldn’t voice this—it would only invite trouble. She nodded and whispered in defense,
“I had no choice. Uncle Wang came in person. If I didn’t go, my mother would make things difficult for him.”
Ning Dai let out a cold laugh. “So you delivered yourself to their doorstep to be bullied?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” she mumbled under her breath, not caring whether he heard her or not.
Ning Dai stood up, straightening his back, and said sternly,
“Remember this: members of the Ning Family never suffer losses!”
Tang Qianluo froze. This was the second time today he had mentioned the Ning Family.
Being bullied, framed, and subjected to unwarranted scoldings and beatings had been routine for Tang Qianluo for a long time. Now, being defended, she suddenly felt a pang of emotion, her nose tingling with unshed tears.
Suppressing her tears, Tang Qianluo lifted her head and smiled. “I was wrong, President Ning. Please don’t be angry.”
Ning Dai’s brow suddenly furrowed. Panicking, Tang Qianluo frantically tried to recall what she had said wrong when she heard him ask coldly,
“What did you call me?”
“Pr-President Ning?” Tang Qianluo stammered in reply.
Ning Dai’s lips curved into a smile, but it was sharp and dangerous, sending a chill down Tang Qianluo’s spine. What’s wrong with this CEO now?
“President Ning? Very good.”
Tang Qianluo suddenly understood and hurriedly smiled. “No, no, not good at all! We’re married—calling you President Ning is too distant. I should call you…”
The word “husband” stuck in her throat, refusing to come out. Suddenly, an idea struck her.
“I should call you Mr. Ning! I’m Mrs. Ning, and you’re Mr. Ning—a perfect match!”
Her little trick didn’t escape Ning Dai’s notice. He let out another cold laugh and said,
“In that case, from today onward, Mrs. Ning is not to leave my side, day or night, even for a moment.”
Tang Qianluo’s eyes widened as she inwardly complained, Officer, help! Someone here is restricting personal freedom!”What, you’re unwilling?” Ning Dai’s magnetic voice lingered by Tang Qianluo’s ear, but the threat in his words was so strong she couldn’t appreciate it.
She shook her head frantically, saying, “How could I be? I’d be overjoyed.”
God, I’ve sinned—I lied!
After a morning of tossing and turning, Tang Qianluo was so hungry her stomach was sticking to her back. Seeing the feast spread across the table, she didn’t wait for Ning Dai and dug in heartily.
Just as she was enjoying her meal, she looked up and spotted Zuo Ye standing at the restaurant entrance.
“Doctor Zuo? What a coincidence! Would you like to join us?Zuo Ye’s mouth corner twitched uncontrollably as he watched Tang Qianluo gnawing on chicken wings at the table. That bastard Ning Dai had tricked him again!
“Half an hour ago, Ning Dai told me you were injured. I rushed over as fast as I could. So where exactly are you hurt?”
Tang Qianluo had just swallowed a mouthful of chicken wing. She stared blankly at Zuo Ye for a long moment before asking, “Does eating too much count?”
Zuo Ye facepalmed, feeling like he was about to die from frustration, when he heard Ning Dai’s dissatisfied voice from behind,
“Why so slow?”
“Boss, do you know how far my place is from yours? And what’s wrong with your wife anyway?”
The term “your wife” clearly touched upon Tang Qianluo’s knowledge blind spot. Blushing, she hid her embarrassment and shyness by continuing to eat chicken wings.
Ning Dai frowned as he approached them and said, “Her cheek.”
Only then did Zuo Ye notice that Tang Qianluo’s right cheek was slightly red and swollen. But for something this minor, applying an ice pack would suffice—did it really require his expertise? His consultation fees were expensive, damn it!
Though internally screaming, Zuo Ye had no choice but to tend to Tang Qianluo’s injury under Ning Dai’s intimidating presence.
“Sorry, Doctor Zuo, for making you come all this way for such a small matter,” Tang Qianluo said apologetically.
“No problem. Just remember to pay my consultation fee at the end of the month.”
Consultation fee? Tang Qianluo was stunned. There was a fee?
Seeing her reaction, Zuo Ye decided to tease her,
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know? I charge 200,000 per hour for house calls. But since Ning Dai and I have been friends for years, I’ll only charge you 100,000.”
Tang Qianluo’s eyes widened in alarm. She hastily snatched the ice pack from Zuo Ye and started applying it herself,
“Such a small matter doesn’t require your expertise, Doctor Zuo. Have a safe trip!”
Her stingy demeanor made Zuo Ye burst into laughter. The Tang family’s second daughter was becoming more amusing by the day.
Realizing she’d been fooled, Tang Qianluo sulkily tossed the ice pack aside. If Ning Dai was crazy, why were the people around him so boring too!
Noticing this, Ning Dai used his cold fingers to gently lift Tang Qianluo’s slender chin, examining her cheek.
As she gazed into his deep eyes, her heartbeat skipped a beat uncontrollably. She wondered if it was an illusion, but she actually sensed a hint of warmth in Ning Dai’s gaze.
Suppressing her racing heart, she cursed herself inwardly for being so useless—actually getting captivated by a handsome face!
“Remember to wear a mask when you go out later. You look ugly.”
Ning Dai’s icy words, accompanied by Zuo Ye’s even more exaggerated laughter, echoed in Tang Qianluo’s ears. Faintly, she seemed to hear the sound of her own heart shattering!
Great. Not only did her heart stop racing—it stopped completely!
This feeling of heartbreak persisted even when she accompanied Ning Dai to the company later, without any sign of recovery.The noon visit to the Tang residence had taken up quite some time. After arriving at the company, Ning Dai had been busy with work, head lowered, leaving Tang Qianluo with little to do but lounge idly on the sofa, flipping through magazines.
Suddenly, a knock at the door caught her attention.
“President Ning, your coffee,” the female assistant said as she brought the coffee forward.
“Wait a moment.” Remembering Zuo Ye’s instructions, Tang Qianluo abruptly sat up from the sofa, quickly walked to the desk, and said with a smile, “Could you please change it to a cup of clear tea instead?”
“Madam, didn’t you know? President Ning only drinks coffee on a daily basis,” the assistant replied, her tone tinged with surprise, though the provocative smile at the corner of her lips was unmistakable.