Fang Youning descended the stairs wearing a high-waisted, figure-flattering pink spaghetti-strap dress.
Fang Dongming and Fang Zhouyang, seated on the sofa downstairs, both looked up with expressions of admiration upon seeing her.
Fang Zhouyang’s eyes lit up, and he involuntarily stood up, stepping forward to praise her: “This dress really suits you, Youning. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.”
A flicker of regret crossed Fang Dongming’s face. Dressed like this, she was indeed more beautiful than Mingzhu. It was just a pity—her fate was unfortunate.
“Let’s go, we shouldn’t keep people waiting.”
“What about Mom and Mingzhu?” Fang Youning asked.
Fang Dongming replied, “Mingzhu is still injured, and her eyes are swollen from crying because of you. It’s not suitable for her to go out and meet people. Your mother is staying home to keep her company, so they won’t be coming.”
Fang Youning frowned slightly, a sense of unease welling up inside her.
Fang Zhouyang immediately comforted her, saying, “Don’t worry, your brother is here with you. I won’t let you embarrass yourself.”
As he spoke, he extended his hand for her to hold.
However, Fang Youning deliberately pretended not to see it and said, “Thank you, but I’m not worried.”
With that, she hurried to catch up with Fang Dongming.
Fang Zhouyang smiled bitterly, awkwardly shaking his hand before taking a deep breath and following them.
“Mom, look at the dress Fang Youning is wearing. How could they give such a beautiful dress to her?”
Fang Mingzhu stood on the balcony, watching Fang Youning get into the car. Of course, she also noticed the dress she was wearing—the very one she had picked out first.
She never expected her brother to buy it and give it to that wretch.
“Alright, sweetheart, why bother with her? If a commodity isn’t dressed up nicely, how can it be sold?”
“Sold? Mom, what do you mean?” Fang Mingzhu asked excitedly.
Li Meifen snorted with satisfaction and said, “Do you think your father only takes her out for social engagements and not you just because you’re injured and your eyes are swollen? Silly child, your father is doing this for your own good. You are our treasure—we would never let anyone wrong you. Today, she won’t be coming back, and from now on, she will never cause any more trouble between you and Shen Yunhai.”
“Really? Mom, I knew you were the best to me.”
Fang Mingzhu happily hugged her, acting coquettishly.
Li Meifen patted her shoulder affectionately and said, “You are my precious daughter, the lucky star of our Fang family. Who else would I treat better? Once you marry Shen Yunhai and we become relatives with the He family, we won’t have to worry about He Zhenting not helping us. By the time our family’s company goes public, you’ll be able to buy any dress you want.”
“Brother Yunhai said he’ll take me to meet his uncle in a few days. As long as I can win his uncle’s approval, Dad can arrange a meeting with him,” Fang Mingzhu boasted proudly.
Hearing this, Li Meifen was even more delighted. Truly, this was her daughter with Fortune Luck.
If it weren’t for her Fortune Luck, how could she have had the chance to meet He Zhenting’s nephew and become relatives with He Zhenting?
However, this Fortune Luck was still not enough.
Only if Fang Youning, that girl, suffered more would her Mingzhu’s Fortune Luck grow stronger, and their Fang family would prosper even more.
“Dad, why isn’t it a hotel?”
The car stopped in front of a KTV. Just as Fang Dongming was about to get out, Fang Youning suddenly spoke up to ask.
Fang Dongming said, “They’re all old friends. There’s no need to go to a hotel.”
“I don’t want to go to a place like this,” Fang Youning refused.
Fang Dongming said angrily, “We’re already at the door, why are you throwing a tantrum again? Bringing you to meet friends is a recognition of your status. Don’t be ungrateful.”
“Then I’ll be ungrateful. If you’re unhappy, you can just pretend you don’t have a daughter.” Fang Youning pushed the car door open and got out, but walked toward the road instead.
Fang Dongming was so furious his face turned pale. Just as he was about to start shouting, Fang Zhouyang stopped him with a look.
He caught up to Fang Youning, grabbed her arm, and said, “Youning, I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not explaining things clearly. I know you don’t like these kinds of occasions, and I don’t either. But Dad already promised the other party. If we don’t show up, he’ll lose face. Come in with me. We’ll just say hello and leave immediately. I promise—as soon as we greet them, I’ll take you away.”
“Promise? Do you really… see me as your sister? I know Mom and Dad may accept me on the surface, but deep down, they don’t truly regard me as their daughter. What about you? Do you see me as your sister in your heart?”
Fang Youning looked at him deeply, her voice strained as she asked.
Fang Zhouyang met her gaze and felt a momentary panic.
Such resolute, profound eyes were not something a twenty-year-old girl should have.
In his impression, a twenty-year-old girl should be like Mingzhu—willful, straightforward, with eyes clear and naive.
But her eyes were too deep, impossible to look directly into.
“Youning, you still don’t trust me.”
After a long pause, he sighed softly, lowered his eyes, and said with pain, “I thought I had done enough, but you still refuse to believe me. But I know it’s not your fault—it’s mine. I just don’t know what else I can do to make you trust me. Whatever you say, I’ll prove it to you.”
“Transfer me money.”
“Huh, what?”
Fang Youning said, “I said, transfer me money. Last time, you said you’d compensate me for the rent I lost. Even though I got some of it back, if it weren’t for you, I could have gotten more. If you want me to trust you, transfer me the money. Sorry, but I’ve lacked money since I was young. Only money feels the most trustworthy to me. If you want to prove it to me, do it in the way I like best. Only then will I believe you.”
Fang Zhouyang smiled and immediately took out his phone. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? If I knew your trust was this simple, I would have transferred it to you long ago. Is 100,000 enough?”
“No need for that much. 83,600—transfer me 83,600,” Fang Youning said.
“Why 83,600?” Fang Zhouyang asked, puzzled.
Fang Youning smiled but didn’t explain.
After receiving the money, she showed a satisfied expression and went back with him.
Fang Dongming didn’t ask why she had changed her mind. Seeing her willing to return, his expression softened slightly.
He had already made promises to others and couldn’t afford to mess things up now, or the project would be lost.
“Young Master Chen, long time no see.”
After entering the private room, Fang Dongming greeted a man warmly.
However, Young Master Chen’s gaze went straight past him and landed on Fang Youning.
Upon seeing Fang Youning clearly, his eyes lit up, and he asked with a smile, “Is this Mr. Fang’s other daughter?”
“Yes, Mingzhu’s older sister. They’re fraternal twins, so they don’t look much alike,” Fang Dongming introduced.
“Youning, say hello to Young Master Chen,” Fang Dongming turned and reminded Fang Youning.
This Young Master Chen had a fairly decent appearance, but his eyes carried a lecherous and greasy glint that made people feel quite uncomfortable.
Fang Youning glanced at Fang Zhouyang, who introduced, “Young Master Chen has known our family for many years and has always had business dealings with us.”
“Hello, Young Master Chen.”
For such an important person, she could only greet him respectfully.
“Today, I am fortunate to meet a beauty like Miss Fang. Only now do I realize that all the women I’ve seen before were mere common powder and rouge. President Fang truly has good fortune, with two such beautiful daughters,” Young Master Chen said with a meaningful tone.
Fang Dongming laughed heartily, “Hahaha.”
Fang Zhouyang said, “Dad, you chat with Young Master Chen. I’ll take Youning back first.”
“You just arrived, why are you leaving already? Do you have no manners?” Fang Dongming was very displeased.
Fang Zhouyang replied, “Youning doesn’t like such occasions. I promised Youning I would take her away.”
Fang Dongming wanted to say more but was interrupted by Young Master Chen, who said, “President Fang, let Young Master Fang take Miss Fang away! We can discuss our matters.”
“Alright, take your sister back first,” Fang Dongming had no choice but to agree.
Walking out of the private room, Fang Youning breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to thank Fang Zhouyang, he suggested, “Let’s go to the next room. This Young Master Chen is particularly good at drinking and will definitely get Dad drunk. We can’t leave him alone here.”
“Alright.”
Fang Youning’s gaze darkened, and she agreed with a slight curl of her lips, though her smile was filled with bitterness.