7 – Getting a Store for Free
Tang Wanning gritted her teeth in frustration, yet she still had to force a smile and exchange pleasantries. “Young Master Mo, it’s been a while.”
Mo Qi curled his lips into a meaningful smile. “Miss Tang, have we met before? I don’t recall.”
Tang Wanning’s smile stiffened, but she maintained her ladylike composure as she replied, “We met at the Mo family’s gala last time.”
“Oh, really? That banquet had many distinguished guests. I suppose Miss Tang didn’t stand out that evening.”
With every word, Mo Qi demeaned Tang Wanning as worthless. She clenched her jaw, her fury boiling with no outlet, and decided to drag Tang Qianluo down with her.
“Qianluo, it’s quite improper for you to socialize with these gentlemen so soon after your wedding. If Young Master Ning finds out, he might think our Tang family has failed in teaching you manners.”
Tang Qianluo crossed her arms indifferently. “The Tang family taught me?”
Tang Wanning pressed a hand to her chest, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls.
“Qianluo, please don’t hold such hostility toward the Tang family. Aren’t we family? Besides, I’m only thinking of your well-being. If Young Master Ning learns how… how should you face him?”
Tang Qianluo was genuinely curious—did this woman have some kind of mechanism? How could she cry on command like that?
“What is this? Promiscuity? Fickleness? Infidelity?” Suddenly, Ning Dai’s deep voice came from behind Tang Qianluo. With each word, his smile grew colder. “Since when do my wife and I need to report to the Tang family when we meet friends?”
Zuo Ye noticed Ning Dai’s furrowed brow. He had been agitated earlier and wasn’t in the best state, which was why Zuo Ye had advised him not to come along.
Tang Wanning stood frozen, even forgetting to wipe her tears. She shook her head in explanation. “That’s not what I meant. I didn’t know you had plans. I only came to give Qianluo my membership card. This restaurant is quite expensive, and Qianluo has been living rather… modestly these past two years.”
She trailed off, implying Tang Qianluo couldn’t afford such luxury.
Ning Dai’s eyes were icy, sending chills down Tang Wanning’s spine. She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
“Si’ang, is Beyond the Tower Restaurant owned by the Gu family?” Ning Dai asked.
Tang Wanning stood bewildered, not understanding the implication.
Gu Si’ang chuckled. Having known Ning Dai for so long, he understood perfectly. “I’ll arrange for the restaurant to be transferred to the Ning family tomorrow.”
“Put it directly under Tang Qianluo’s name. From now on, the restaurant opens only when she says so, and only those she permits may enter.” Ning Dai’s voice was quiet but firm.
By the time he finished speaking, Tang Qianluo was completely stunned. Was she just getting a restaurant for free?
Ning Dai turned and left without another word. Tang Qianluo hurried after him, unaware that Tang Wanning was stomping her feet in rage behind them, wishing she could trample Tang Qianluo into the ground!
Tang Wanning glared viciously at their retreating figures, then recalled her mother’s words—that Ning Dai was already weakened internally, sustained only by medication—and felt slightly better.
“Ning Dai, you were joking earlier, right?” Tang Qianluo caught up to him, glancing back at the luxurious restaurant.
“I don’t joke,” Ning Dai said, opening the car door and getting in.
Tang Qianluo followed and quickly clarified, “I don’t want it! Such a huge restaurant—I don’t want it!”Ning Dai turned his head to scrutinize Tang Qianluo. What others desperately sought, she treated like a hot potato.
“Is your relationship with the Tang family very poor?” Ning Dai asked calmly.
He had plenty of ways to investigate Tang Qianluo, but recalling her words from earlier in the day, those methods turned into spoken questions.
“Rather than poor, it’s more like hostile? I’ve been separated from the Tang family for two years now, so this marriage brings you nothing but disadvantages.”
Tang Qianluo propped her head with one hand, her tone neither sorrowful nor joyful.
“Does the Ning Family need to profit through marriage?” The car’s passing lights swept across his sharp features. In the darkness, his eyes were profound, like a king descending upon the world.
Tang Qianluo raised an eyebrow. Right, this was the Ning Family of the capital—just a stomp from them would make the city tremble. How could they possibly need marriage alliances?
Thinking about it now, Ning Dai was pitiful too. Bound by an elder’s promise, he had to marry the daughter of the declining Tang family.
It wasn’t until they returned to the Ning residence that Tang Qianluo suddenly realized a problem: she had fallen asleep in Ning Dai’s room yesterday. So where would she sleep tonight?
Standing in the main hall, she hesitated, unsure where to go next.
“Aren’t you going back to the room? Do I need to invite you?” Ning Dai asked expressionlessly.
Tang Qianluo coughed lightly, raising her right hand. “Where is my room? I’m not still sharing with you, am I?”
A faint, ambiguous smile curled at the corner of Ning Dai’s lips. “If you don’t stay in my room, go keep Bach company!”
With that, he headed upstairs, leaving Tang Qianluo utterly confused. Bach?
The butler approached her and bowed slightly. “Bach is the young master’s Belgian Malinois. He usually stays on the lawn in the backyard.”
Damn! Staying in a doghouse? Seriously?
Tang Qianluo finally experienced the saying “under someone’s roof, one must bow their head.” She punched the air fiercely a few times before resigning herself and heading toward the second-floor room.
When she entered, Ning Dai was lying on the bed reading. The bright lights illuminated the room as if it were daytime. Squinting, Tang Qianluo asked, “Where are my pajamas?”
Ning Dai glanced at the wardrobe without a word. Cursing inwardly but not daring to show it, Tang Qianluo retrieved her clothes and went to the bathroom to change. She thought to herself, I need to hurry back to my rented apartment!
Exhausted from the long day, Tang Qianluo dragged her tired body to bed. She was sensitive to light while sleeping, and the room was so bright it was nearly blinding!
Before she could voice her complaint, a dull thud sounded. The book in Ning Dai’s hand flew directly onto her face.
“Read to me,” Ning Dai said, closing his eyes.
“Why should I?” She had already read half the night yesterday! The mere sight of books now made Tang Qianluo nauseous.
“Read!”
“Fine, I’ll read. But in exchange, you can’t make me accompany you to the company tomorrow,” Tang Qianluo said with a sly smile.
Ning Dai opened his eyes, his cold gaze sending a chill down her spine. Instantly cowed, she waved her hands and conceded, “Alright, alright, I’ll read.”
Starting from where she left off yesterday, she read on for who knows how many pages until she finally succumbed to sleepiness and collapsed against the headboard.
Not long after the woman’s melodious voice ceased, Ning Dai woke up. He had slept well during the time she read to him, so at this moment, seeing Tang Qianluo curled up asleep in his arms, he didn’t even feel angry.
He shifted slightly, allowing a sliver of light to fall on Tang Qianluo’s face. She frowned faintly and burrowed deeper into Ning Dai’s embrace.Ning Dai paused for two seconds, picked up the remote control from the side, and dimmed the lights in the room.
Tang Qianluo’s brows and eyes gradually relaxed, no longer needing Ning Dai’s embrace to block the light.
Watching Tang Qianluo move further away from him, Ning Dai suddenly felt displeased. With an expressionless face, he picked up the remote control again and adjusted the lights to be even brighter than before. Only when Tang Qianluo frowned and hid back in his embrace did he finally put down the remote control.