In the afternoon.
The Ning family had all returned home.
After learning that Chu Tianqing (Chu Tianqing) had visited, Ning Zhongyi (Ning Zhongyi) was filled with disgust. He immediately questioned Ning You.
“What did Chu Tianqing come here for?”
Ning You’s voice was naturally soft, but her attitude was firm.
“Why do you care?”
Ning Zhongyi slammed his hand on the table.
“Watch how you talk! I’m your father!”
Ning You sneered.
“Now you remember you’re my father?”
“When I was starving, you didn’t remember. When Ning Hong and her mother bullied me, you didn’t remember. When I was working myself to death for your family, you didn’t remember.”
“And now you suddenly remember? Too late.”
Ning Zhongyi was so angry his head hurt.
“Too late? I’m your father! I can discipline you anytime!”
Full of “father authority” energy.
Ning You curled her lips in mockery.
“Do whatever you want. If I listen to a single useless word from you, I lose.”
With that, she slammed the door and went back to her room.
Ning Zhongyi was so furious he felt like he needed oxygen.
He cursed twice:
“Unfilial daughter!”
“Unfilial daughter!”
If he weren’t worried she might ruin his plans, he would’ve already taught her a “lesson in fatherly authority.”
He Meili (He Meili), on the other hand, was happy to see the father-daughter relationship worsen. She pretended to comfort him gently.
“She’s just a child. Don’t argue with her. She misunderstands you. When she has children of her own, she’ll understand how hard it is to be a parent.”
“You should go rest. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
Ning Zhongyi left in frustration.
Ning Hong (Ning Hong) hadn’t returned yet—she was still at a matchmaking event.
Ning Yu (Ning Yu) glanced around when no one was paying attention, then sneaked up to Ning You’s door and knocked.
“Meow~ meow~”
Ning You’s mouth twitched when she heard it.
Only someone raised by He Meili could come up with something this stupid.
She opened the door.
Ning Yu slipped inside like a little mouse, looking left and right.
“I’ve figured out what I can trade for your noodle cake! You promised, right?” His small eyes were full of innocent stupidity.
“Of course I keep my word,” Ning You replied.
Ning Yu giggled, then quickly tried to look serious when he realized how silly he sounded.
Ning You: …Good thing I don’t have misophonia, or I would’ve thrown him out by now.
“So what are you using to trade?” she asked. “If it’s not valuable, I won’t exchange.”
Ning Yu panicked.
“It’s valuable! Definitely valuable!”
Ning You smiled faintly.
“Whether it’s valuable or not isn’t up to you. It’s up to me. Understand?”
Her slightly mocking gaze made Ning Yu’s face turn red.
Then, impulsively, he blurted out:
“I know a secret—it’s definitely valuable!”
“Dad always goes to a place called Red Lantern and won’t let me follow him. He even threatens me…”
Ning You immediately became alert, though her expression remained calm.
“Oh? Red Lantern?”
Red-light district?
Does something like that exist here? Isn’t that illegal?
Ning Yu, desperate for noodles, continued trying to convince her.
“It’s true! I’ve seen it many times!”
He shivered slightly, remembering how Ning Zhongyi had warned him coldly that if he told anyone, he would be sold.
“I swear I’m not lying! The Red Lantern is near the scrap collection yard!”
Now Ning You understood.
“Fine.”
She pretended to be reluctant.
“This information isn’t very useful… but since you’re so desperate, I’ll give you a little.”
Ning Yu was instantly overjoyed.
Even if it was just a bite, he’d take it!
Ning You handed him a palm-sized piece of instant noodles.
“Here. Eat it here. If you don’t, you won’t get any next time.”
Ning Yu quickly obeyed, eating in the corner and finishing it obediently.
He wiped his mouth and asked, “Can I go now?”
Ning You waved him off.
Hurry up and leave.
Ning Yu slipped out like a practiced thief.
Ning You: …This kid is way too skilled at this.
Just then, crying suddenly came from outside.
Ning You’s curiosity instinct instantly activated.
She stepped out.
Ning Hong was sitting on the sofa, crying like a wreck.
Her eyes were swollen like eggs. With her greasy hairstyle, she looked both pitiful and ridiculous.
He Meili came in carrying food.
“What happened? Didn’t you go to the matchmaking event? Didn’t go well?”
At that question, Ning Hong’s crying paused—and then got even louder.
“Waaah… Mom! They were too much!”
“They were all blind! Not only did they not praise me for looking better, they said… they said I was even oilier than the factory machines! They bullied me!”
Pfft.
Someone laughed.
Oh—it was Ning You, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, watching the show.
“Seems like the comrades from the leather factory have pretty good eyesight.”
Ning Hong screamed in rage.
“Mom! Control Ning You! She’s laughing at me!”
Ning Zhongyi slammed the door from his room and stormed out, too annoyed to eat anymore.
“Old Ning?” He Meili called.
The only response was the cold slam of the door.
It felt like a silent slap across the face of the household head.
Her expression stiffened, turning dark and ugly.
And she finally lost patience with Ning Hong.
“Ning Hong, can you behave for a few days?”
“Do you really need to tear this family apart to be satisfied?”
Ning Hong, frightened by Ning Zhongyi’s slam, stopped crying instantly. Standing helplessly, she whispered through tears:
“I’m not here to destroy this family… I’m here to join it…”
Ning You: …Pfft!!
This step-sister was kind of unintentionally funny.
…
Meanwhile, Shao Yu (Shao Yu) had been deeply unsettled after meeting Ning You.
That night, she woke from a nightmare.
Looking at the man beside her sleeping soundly, she quietly got up, went to the study, and sat in the dark for a long time.
Then she turned on the light.
She opened a locked drawer and took out a locked notebook.
Her rough, cracked fingers touched the edge of the notebook as she stared at it silently.
She hesitated—still not opening it.