She had always been a woman of action. Picking up her camera, she informed the housekeeper of her departure and sent a courtesy message to Luo Yanzhi.
Declining the housekeeper’s offer of a chauffeur, Ning Ruohuan hung the camera around her neck, changed into casual clothes, and left the villa carrying her gear.
The villa district was renowned for its stunning scenery. The landscaping and vegetation were meticulously curated, and being far from the bustling city center, the air was exceptionally fresh. The wide spacing between the buildings made it an ideal location for photography.
During her five years of living here, Ning Ruohuan had taken countless photos. However, fearing she might expose her specific location, she had never posted them on social media. Furthermore, since the scenery had remained unchanged for years, it had lost the joy of exploration and novelty for her.
Ning Ruohuan raised her camera symbolically. After the mechanical shutter clicked, she lowered it and began walking along the spacious road leading outward.
On foot, it would take quite a while to reach the exit, but Ning Ruohuan had a habit of daily exercise, so this level of exertion was nothing to her. Walking and shooting as she went provided a different kind of pleasure.
“Sister.” A little girl on roller skates slowed to a stop beside her, her arms slightly spread to maintain balance.
It was evident she was a beginner with little experience. “Are you here to take pictures too?”
Ning Ruohuan blinked. Hearing the child’s tender voice, she leaned down slightly to meet the girl’s eyes at an equal level. “In a way. I’m a resident here.”
The little girl nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite. Her features scrunched up as she stared intently at the camera in Ning Ruohuan’s hands, her gaze filled with a mix of shyness and anticipation.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ning Ruohuan spotted a young woman standing not far away. The woman offered a friendly smile; she was likely the girl’s family.
Understanding the situation, Ning Ruohuan asked softly, “Would you like me to take a photo of you?”
The little girl’s eyes instantly lit up. “Really?” she asked in pleasant surprise.
In her excitement, she forgot her balance. One foot slid forward while her upper body failed to react in time. She began to slide straight toward Ning Ruohuan, her torso tilting backward.
“Careful!” the young woman cried out in alarm.
In a flash, Ning Ruohuan caught the girl’s shoulders. She bent one leg to brace herself, the hidden strength in her arms beneath her hoodie erupting to stabilize the girl’s frame.
The young woman rushed over, crouching down to pull the girl into a heart-pounding embrace. She began cooing at the child while simultaneously thanking Ning Ruohuan.
The girl was well-protected with a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. Ning Ruohuan’s shin had been struck by the roller skates and was currently throbbing with pain, but she kept her expression neutral and shook her head. “You’re welcome.”
The little girl acted spoiled in her mother’s arms. “Mommy, blow on it.”
“Okay.”
This is a child raised in love, Ning Ruohuan thought.
A natural warmth touched her eyes as she raised the camera.
Click.
The loving scene was frozen in time.
Afterward, she transferred the photo to the young woman. Upon receiving consent from both the mother and the daughter, Ning Ruohuan saved a copy for herself.
Not forgetting the reason the girl had approached her, she squatted down, tilted her head slightly, and asked, “Would you like me to take a few solo shots of you, little sister?”
The girl nodded enthusiastically. She hugged her mother’s neck, turned to Ning Ruohuan, and said shyly, “Thank you, sister.”
To prevent another accident, the roller skates were taken off. The mother watched her daughter with eyes full of affection.
As Ning Ruohuan adjusted the camera settings and watched the scene through the lens, she felt a sensation that was hard to describe—somewhere between warmth and bitterness.
Ning Lan had never looked at her with such a gaze.
Swallowing the sourness of her unfulfilled longing, she spoke gently to the person in the frame: “Are you ready?”
The residents here placed extreme value on privacy. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Ning Ruohuan swapped in a new memory card and handed the original one to the young woman.
These people didn’t lack photographers; it was simply a chance encounter. A lively girl had a sudden whim, and a mother who loved her didn’t want to dampen her spirits. Otherwise, a single phone call could have solved the problem—there was no real need to bother a stranger.
“A little while ago, when Mommy and I were playing nearby, we met someone else with a camera,” the child said innocently. “But she wouldn’t take my picture. She even told me to stay far away.”
Ning Ruohuan smiled. “Well, if we meet again in the future, I’ll take pictures for you, okay?”
The little girl nodded vigorously. “Okay!”
Ning Ruohuan waved goodbye to the girl and continued her leisurely stroll.
She took the opportunity to check her phone. As her eyes grazed the message bar below, she remembered the message Shi Wen had sent her. Because of Luo Yanzhi’s intervention, she had delayed opening it.
She had almost forgotten.
She tapped on the “spam” message and then opened the string of garbled letters and numbers.
Boss, we’ve discovered that Ning Yu has been frequently appearing in your residential area lately. Also, she has visited the Luo Group several times. Do you need us to investigate her motives?
Ning Ruohuan’s fingers flew across the screen: No need.
Her relationship with the Ning family had long since withered into nothingness. Ning Yu was her cousin; her voice had appeared in the background during that phone call with Ning Lan.
She guessed that Ning Yu’s motive likely involved Luo Yanzhi. Once she let Shi Wen investigate, it would inevitably involve Luo Yanzhi as well. And she was unwilling to let unnecessary people create unnecessary cracks between her and Luo Yanzhi.
After sending the reply, she deleted the message and continued walking.
Suddenly, a Bentley with a familiar license plate entered her field of vision. The pitch-black car was parked by the side of the road. On this wide road surrounded by lush greenery, in a spot where no one paid much attention, even passing cars would rarely stop to look due to the high status of the residents.
It was a car belonging to the Ning family.
Ning Ruohuan looked up. Due to the angle, she couldn’t see if anyone was in the driver’s seat, nor could she be sure if the people inside had seen her.
Was it Ning Yu?
Her footsteps faltered for half a beat before she continued walking without stopping.
She brushed past the car. After walking a dozen steps, the doors remained closed, and there was no reaction from the vehicle behind her.
Ning Ruohuan’s thumb traced the body of her camera. After Ning Yuan’s words were cut off that day, neither Ning Lan nor anyone else from the Ning family had contacted her. It was as if that chapter had been quietly closed.
But as a member of the family, Ning Ruohuan knew them well enough to know this didn’t fit their style. And Shi Wen’s message had arrived the same day as that phone call—meaning that even before then, Ning Yu had started appearing in this area.
To wait and watch for such a long time…
Ning Ruohuan’s heart sank.
Just as she was lost in thought, the rapid click-click-click of a camera shutter sounded.
Ning Ruohuan instinctively turned around.
Having been discovered, Ning Yu unhurriedly snapped a few more photos. Then, shaking her aching arm, she walked toward Ning Ruohuan with a light step, feigning surprise. “Oh, cousin? You’re out for a stroll too. What a coincidence.”
Ning Ruohuan gave a half-smile. “Indeed. Going out for a stroll and running into you by chance.”
She lived here; Ning Yu did not. To spend so much time coming here just for a “stroll”—anyone could see the hidden intentions behind that.
Ning Ruohuan had no desire to waste words with her. Just as she was about to leave after the greeting, Ning Yu called out, “Cousin, aren’t you curious?”
Ning Ruohuan turned slightly toward her.
Ning Yu admired the portraits she had just taken, then mockingly pressed the delete button. Only after clearing them did she speak. “Aren’t you curious how I got in?”
The security here was of the highest level. Any non-resident seeking entry had to pass through a rigorous system and a series of procedures.
Ning Ruohuan’s tone was flat. “I’m not.”
With that, she prepared to walk away.
Ning Yu grew anxious. She had expected Ning Ruohuan to lose her composure, but the other woman’s calmness made her unable to hold back. She shouted hurriedly, “Luo Yanzhi gave me permission to enter!”
Ning Ruohuan froze, wanting to laugh. Ning Yu’s method of provocation was far too foolish.
Ning Yu approached triumphantly, saying provocatively, “You probably haven’t received the notification yet, have you? The marriage alliance plan between the Ning and Luo families has changed.”
She carefully observed Ning Ruohuan’s expression, sensing victory. “Didn’t Auntie tell you? The candidate for the alliance has been swapped.”
Ning Ruohuan’s eyes were like a deep well, devoid of ripples. She asked calmly, “Are you finished?”
Ning Yu choked. “…You… you’re a person without any supernatural abilities. Did you really think Luo Yanzhi would choose you?”
Ning Ruohuan replied, “If you’re finished, move aside.”
Because of Ning Yu’s scene, Ning Ruohuan’s mood for a leisurely walk was completely ruined. She turned and headed back.
The car parked by the road started moving, and the driver’s side window rolled down. Ning Yu’s voice faded as she drove past: “Ning Ruohuan, you are merely a disposable pawn.”
Ning Ruohuan pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
Hundreds of meters away, another car was driving toward Ning Yu’s vehicle. The two cars paused and faced each other for several seconds.
Ning Ruohuan’s head was buzzing; she didn’t even notice the second car slowly following her for several seconds. It wasn’t until the car veered from its path and drew closer, almost forcing her onto the curb, that she snapped back to reality.
“Sister?” Luo Yanzhi revealed half her face. “What are you doing here?”
Ning Ruohuan got into the car and sat beside Luo Yanzhi. Suddenly, something pressed against her. She instinctively looked over and saw a camera sitting steadily to the side—its color was identical to the one Ning Yu had.
Her fingers gripped her own camera tightly, her fingertips turning a pale, sickly white from the force.
She loved photography; perhaps Luo Yanzhi had specially brought it for her. Besides, she hadn’t seen the specific model of the one in Ning Yu’s hand, only that the color was the same. Furthermore, only a few minutes had passed—how could it have reached Luo Yanzhi’s hands so quickly?
But why is it unpacked? There isn’t even a box. Did Yan-Yan open it to look and then just couldn’t be bothered to put it back?
Ning Ruohuan was amused by her own overreaction. She said softly, “I’ve been cooped up at home for a few days, so I took advantage of the good weather to get some fresh air. I sent you a message, but you probably didn’t see it.”
Only then did Luo Yanzhi check her phone. “I didn’t check my phone much this afternoon.”
Ning Ruohuan caught a glimpse of the screen. Her vision was excellent, and she immediately saw the pinned chat at the top. It was hers.
Ning Ruohuan smiled inwardly at her own unnecessary worries.
Ding-dong.
A notification sounded.
Luo Yanzhi tilted her head. “Check your phone, sister.”
Ning Ruohuan opened it.
Luo Yanzhi: Okay. Be safe, sister.
Ning Ruohuan’s eyes filled with a smile as she replied: Okay.
As they drove through the villa gates, the car door opened automatically. Ning Ruohuan stepped out first. Seeing that camera again, a trace of unease lingered. She asked with feigned nonchalance, “What’s this?”
Luo Yanzhi replied, “A friend gave it to me.”