23 – Playing with Death, Are You Brave Enough?
“Grandpa and I are going to meet a few people. Don’t run off, alright?”
Ning Dai leaned close to Tang Qianluo’s ear, his voice low and melodious. The warmth of his breath sent a tingling sensation through her ear.
Finally, the two imposing figures had left. Tang Qianluo stepped out onto the terrace to catch her breath, but before she could even steady her breathing, Tang Wanning, as if equipped with a GPS, pinpointed her location exactly.
“Qianluo, did you know Luo Ying is back?”
Who? Tang Qianluo looked utterly confused.
Tang Wanning covered her mouth with one hand and said, “Oh, I forgot. You’re not familiar with the upper circles of the capital. She’s Ning Dai’s childhood friend—they grew up together.”
Tang Qianluo didn’t respond, instead fixing Tang Wanning with a cold stare that made her uneasy.
“Tang Wanning, do you have nothing better to do? So what if they’re childhood friends? Our father has several mistresses tucked away outside. Would you like me to count them for you?”
“You…”
“Instead of meddling in our marital affairs, you should focus on your own. Don’t wait until Tang Chengye brings his illegitimate child home—by then, you won’t be the Tang Family’s most pampered young lady anymore.”
Tang Qianluo curled her lips into a smile—three parts amusement, seven parts mockery. In that fleeting expression, she somehow mirrored a hint of Ning Dai’s demeanor.
Tang Wanning’s chest heaved with rage, rendered speechless and unable to retort.
“By the way, who bandaged your arm? It looks really awful!”
With that, Tang Qianluo turned and walked back into the banquet hall, leaving Tang Wanning stomping her feet in fury.
Ning Ao, being older, was no longer suited for high-intensity banquets. The guests were tactful—after presenting their gifts, those unfamiliar with the Ning Family quietly took their leave.
Only a few families with close ties to the Nings remained for dinner.
“It seems I’ve arrived a step too late. Quite a few guests have already left, haven’t they?”
The speaker was Ning Yun, dressed in a dark blue suit, walking toward the group with leisurely steps, his smile as bold and unrestrained as ever.
By his side was a woman in an elegant gown, her features delicate and refined, every gesture exuding the grace of a well-bred lady.
“Happy birthday, Grandpa.”
Ning Ao’s expression shifted. His second grandson had never been fond of the Ning Family and had always been at odds with Ning Dai. For this reason, he hadn’t specifically informed him about today’s banquet. Yet, here he was.
“What, not welcoming me? Or are you afraid of me?” Ning Yun’s smile was laced with sarcasm, and the surrounding guests had already been drawn by his voice.
Tang Qianluo smiled gracefully and linked her arm with Ning Dai’s, saying, “Afraid of you? Afraid you wouldn’t come, more like. Today is Grandpa’s birthday—shouldn’t the whole family gather together?”
Her words were poised and dignified, truly embodying the demeanor of the Ning Family’s lady!
Ning Yun glanced at the woman beside him and said with slight displeasure, “Luo Ying, aren’t you going to greet everyone?”
Luo Ying stiffened momentarily, as if startled, but she quickly composed herself and smiled. “Grandpa, Ning Yun, it’s been a while.”
The dinner took on a different tone with Ning Yun and Luo Ying’s arrival. Everyone sat around the long table, each lost in their own thoughts.
Luo Ying’s presence drew everyone’s gaze toward Tang Qianluo. Seeing her calmly enjoying her meal, they couldn’t help but inwardly marvel—were the rumors false? Where was the willfulness she was said to possess? This was the composure of a true noble lady!
Little did they know, Tang Qianluo genuinely didn’t mind!
In her eyes, a childhood friend was nowhere near as important as the dishes in front of her.“It’s Grandpa’s birthday today, and we’re eating this? One might think we’re feeding rabbits!” Ning Yun tossed his chopsticks aside, his tone laced with dissatisfaction.
Only a few people present knew why tonight’s banquet was entirely vegetarian. Ning Yun’s remark caused several faces to stiffen.
Ning Dai’s expression darkened as he glared at Ning Yun. The tension between the two powerhouses was palpable, every glance sharp as a blade.
Tang Qianluo set down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and asked with a smile, “What would you prefer to eat, then?”
“At the very least, a few medium-rare steaks would be appropriate!” Ning Yun leaned back in his chair, grinning.
“Fine, but dishes in the Ning Family aren’t added on a whim. If you want to add something, you’ll have to earn it!” Tang Qianluo’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“How do we play?”
“Ordinary games are too dull. If we’re playing, let’s make it high-stakes. We’ll play with our lives—do you dare?”
Tang Qianluo’s voice was icy, and the guests stared at her in stunned silence, unable to utter a word.
Ning Dai gripped her arm, but the words he wanted to say were silenced by her reassuring gaze.
She patted his hand as if to say, “Leave it to me.”
“Regular games like dice or dominoes are too boring. When I was a child, I saw a circus performance with a blindfolded dart-throwing act. I adored it and have never forgotten it. How about we play that?”
As she spoke, Tang Qianluo asked a servant for a ribbon and a dagger.
“Since you love games so much, an ordinary target won’t satisfy you. Why don’t we be each other’s targets? If you win, I’ll do whatever you say.”
The stakes were dangerously high, and a single misstep could lead to disaster. A few people couldn’t help but speak up, trying to intervene.
But Tang Qianluo had already shaken the dice cup in front of her. “There’s an order to everything. The one with the smaller roll goes first as the target!”
Ning Yun’s face gradually stiffened, his earlier smile gone. Forcing his composure, he shook his own dice cup.
“Let’s open them!” Tang Qianluo lifted her cup first—six, six, five. It was nearly impossible to roll higher!
Ning Yun hesitated for a long moment before suddenly kicking his chair aside and snarling, “You’re insane! You and Ning Dai are both mad!”
“Thank you for the compliment, Ning Yun. I think I forgot to mention last time we met—I may not have many virtues, but I’m fiercely protective. Three strikes and you’re out. Don’t provoke Ning Dai again.”
Tang Qianluo spoke expressionlessly, each word deliberate.
Ning Yun gritted his teeth, glaring at Ning Dai as he growled under his breath, “This will never be over between us!”
He then grabbed Luo Ying beside him and stormed out of the dining room. Throughout, Luo Ying was like a puppet controlled by Ning Yun.
She looked pleadingly at Ning Dai but didn’t even receive a glance in return.
At that moment, Ning Dai’s eyes were fixed solely on Tang Qianluo—the girl who usually laughed and joked around was now using her own methods to protect his secret and him.
Only after Ning Yun’s figure had completely disappeared did Tang Qianluo finally open his dice cup. Damn it! It really was three sixes!
Thank goodness she had opened hers first, or she would have been doomed!
She couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: Oh God, Lord, Buddha, your humble devotee thanks you for your protection. Since you’ve blessed me so generously, could you also grant me wealth and fortune, maybe even make me rich overnight?
Suddenly, her wrist was seized, and before she could react, she was pulled from her seat.
Ning Dai gripped Tang Qianluo’s wrist and strode away, ignoring the bewildered stares of everyone present.He couldn’t eat anything now, nor could he celebrate his birthday. All he wanted was to hold Tang Qianluo!
To hold her fiercely, to taste her neck, her lips!
To merge her very bones and blood with his own!
Someone who had never been protected before now found himself shielded behind another’s back!
Bang—
The door slammed shut with a loud noise that startled Tang Qianluo. Before she could react, Ning Dai had already pulled her fiercely into his embrace.