6 – Enemies on a Narrow Path
Ning Dai’s clothes carried a faint scent of sandalwood. Tang Qianluo, nestled in his embrace, found herself feeling slightly breathless from the fragrance. But before she could savor the moment for even two seconds, Ning Dai pushed her aside again.
She was now almost certain—this man had a split personality!
Ning Dai frowned coldly as he looked at Mo Qi, who had been watching the scene unfold. “Did you come here just to stand around?”
Mo Qi finally remembered the real matter at hand. He slapped his forehead and said, “Huo Yan wanted to go to the Ning Family’s old residence to find the old master earlier. We stopped her, and she’s at the hospital now. I came to ask how you plan to handle this.”
Somehow, Ning Dai suddenly recalled how Tang Qianluo had scolded someone during the day. He bent one leg and rested his arm on it, saying, “Doesn’t she want to marry into the Ning Family so badly? Then let her marry that person!”
As he spoke, the smile on Ning Dai’s lips remained, but Tang Qianluo felt a chilling coldness from it.
Mo Qi found Tang Qianluo’s terrified expression highly amusing. He grinned and asked, “Little sister-in-law, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? A few of us childhood friends are getting together for a meal. Care to join?”
It’s hard to refuse someone who’s smiling, especially when that someone is as handsome as Mo Qi. The words of refusal were right at the tip of her tongue, but Tang Qianluo swallowed them back at the sight of his face!
“Then let’s—”
“Go home!” Ning Dai’s icy voice abruptly cut her off.
All day, Tang Qianluo had only eaten half a bowl of spicy hot pot. Frowning, she protested, “Why? You’ve already eaten your fill, but I haven’t had anything!”
Mo Qi had never seen anyone dare to defy Ning Dai in his life. Suddenly, he felt that skipping this dinner would mean missing out on a great deal of fun. Clearing his throat lightly, he said, “Little sister-in-law, do you like Sichuan cuisine? I know a place that makes amazing Sichuan dishes!”
Tang Qianluo felt her mouth watering. She grabbed Ning Dai’s arm and pleaded, “Let’s go, please!”
Ning Dai looked at Tang Qianluo’s slender fingers wrapped around his arm, faintly sensing the warmth radiating from her palm—a stark contrast to his perpetually cold body.
“Address,” Ning Dai asked in a low voice.
Mo Qi’s eyes widened in astonishment. At that moment, even a collision between Mars and Earth wouldn’t have shocked him more than the scene before him. Ning Dai, the man who always stood by his word and adhered strictly to rules, had actually changed his mind—and because of a woman, no less!
“Beyond the Tower Restaurant,” Zuo Ye answered mechanically.
Tang Qianluo had heard of this restaurant before. It was famous for its five major Chinese cuisines, where one could taste the most authentic dishes from each culinary tradition.
The prices there were shockingly high, yet it was always packed. Without a reservation, it was impossible to get a table.
By the time Tang Qianluo and the others arrived, Zuo Ye and another young man were already seated inside.
The young man’s gaze was indifferent, scrutinizing Tang Qianluo from the moment she entered the room. His hawk-like eyes seemed to see right through her.
But Tang Qianluo didn’t feel awkward. She had grown accustomed to such appraising looks. Compared to the man’s curiosity, the spicy dishes on the table were far more appealing to her.
Noticing Gu Si’ang’s intense scrutiny of Tang Qianluo, Mo Qi smiled and said, “This is Gu Si’ang. The Gu Family of the capital—you’re not unfamiliar with them, are you, little sister-in-law?”
Truth be told, she was quite unfamiliar. Tang Qianluo only knew that the Gu Family of the capital was in the hospitality and restaurant business—beyond that, she knew nothing.After all, it was Tang Wanning who had accompanied their parents to social events since childhood—she was merely a backdrop, the kind not even worth introducing. Moreover, she had already left the Tang family two years ago.
But at this moment, Tang Qianluo didn’t want to think about anything except eating. She nodded perfunctorily, her gaze stealthily drifting toward the Sichuan dishes on the table.
As they spoke, the group took their seats and began to eat. Tang Qianluo loved spicy food, and today’s dishes suited her taste perfectly.
Ning Dai watched Tang Qianluo devouring her meal with gusto and found himself feeling a bit of an appetite too. He took a bite of tofu but found it rather ordinary, wondering how she could enjoy it so much.
“Huoyan contacted the old master privately just now, but it seems the old master doesn’t want to get involved anymore either,” Zuo Ye said, setting down his chopsticks and taking a sip of red wine.
Gu Si’ang let out a light snort, his tone laced with sarcasm. “She deserves it. Did she really think she could cling to the Ning Family forever?”
Ning Dai, resting his chin on his interlaced fingers, said impatiently, “Settle this once and for all!”
No sooner had he spoken than their conversation was interrupted by Tang Qianluo’s violent coughing. Tears welled in her eyes as she choked on the spicy peppers.
Frowning, Ning Dai grabbed a glass of water from nearby and handed it to her, scolding, “Can’t you eat slower?”
Tang Qianluo drank the entire glass before barely suppressing her coughs. Gasping for air, she replied hoarsely, “It’s not like I knew I was going to choke.”
As she spoke, a single tear unexpectedly slid from the corner of her crimson eye. The sight of a beauty in tears was enough to stir anyone’s pity, and at this moment, she looked genuinely delicate and vulnerable.
Ning Dai reached out and gently wiped the tear from the corner of her eye with his thumb. Both of them froze in place as he completed the gesture.
Tang Qianluo never denied that Ning Dai was truly handsome—his beauty carried a dangerous edge. With his slender phoenix eyes, straight nose, and thin lips that could captivate with just a slight curl, he was mesmerizing.
But a man this dangerous was too risky to fall for. Liking someone else might cost you your heart, but falling for him could very well cost you your life!
She coughed awkwardly twice, picked up her chopsticks, and continued eating.
For the rest of the meal, Tang Qianluo didn’t say another word. As they left, she walked beside Ning Dai, thinking to herself, How many livestreams would I have to do to afford another meal like this?
The men, with their long legs, walked quickly. Lost in her thoughts, Tang Qianluo unconsciously fell far behind.
When they reached the lobby, a familiar voice made her stop in her tracks. Though it was just two words, Tang Qianluo recognized it immediately—it was Tang Wanning.
Talk about bad luck running into each other!
“Qianluo, why didn’t you tell your sister you were coming here to eat? I have an annual membership—I could have put it on my tab for you.”
Tang Wanning wore a smile, playing the part of the caring older sister perfectly.
Tang Qianluo rolled her eyes inwardly. Put it on your tab, so you can go home and tell Mom and Dad, then use it against me?
She couldn’t be bothered to respond, but Mo Qi, who had turned back to look for her, intercepted the conversation.
“Well, if it isn’t the Tang family’s eldest young lady speaking to our little sister-in-law.”
Only then did Tang Wanning notice that Mo Qi, the second young master of the Mo family, Gu Si’ang, the third young master of the Gu family, and Zuo Ye, the eldest young master of the Zuo family, were all present!
Each of these three families was influential in their own right, and now they were gathered together—with Tang Qianluo, no less!
Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms until they ached.Tang Qianluo, she was merely her own substitute, the unfavored second daughter of the Tang family. What right did she have?