Chapter 41

The Ge family banquet ended in a lively and cheerful manner. 

Chief Ge, the old lady of the family, and his wife saw Sheng Changyu and the others off. 

Two cars were parked at the entrance, each guarded by officers. 

Sheng Changyu personally opened the back door of the car for the old lady. 

Once she was seated, Ning Zhen turned to him to say goodbye. “Governor, I’ll head back now.” 

Sheng Changyu’s eyes darkened. 

He spoke up, “Ride in my car, I have something to say.” 

Without hesitation, Ning Zhen responded, “Alright, I’ll just inform my mother.” 

Her eagerness and excitement eased the irritation Sheng Changyu had been feeling. 

The old lady nodded, “Go ahead.” 

Her car departed first. 

Ning Zhen then got into Sheng Changyu’s car. 

The heaviness that had been weighing on Sheng Changyu’s chest seemed to lift. 

He normally didn’t spend much time thinking about others. 

But it was all because of Cheng Baisheng, who had insisted that Ning Zhen was angry and avoiding him. 

Sheng Changyu didn’t particularly care who was angry or not, but this situation gnawed at him. After thinking it over from start to finish, he realized that he was the one who had the right to be angry, not Ning Zhen. 

The more he dwelled on it, the more unsettled he became. 

What right did she have? 

What gave her the right to avoid him? 

Earlier, he couldn’t bear it any longer. He knew that if he went to bed, he would still be thinking about this. 

It wasn’t that Ning Zhen had that much charm; it was simply about the matter at hand. 

As Sheng Changyu pondered, he found himself thinking about her more and more. 

—Why did she think she had that much influence? 

Tonight, Ning Zhen would have to apologize, and this issue had to be resolved. 

Sheng Changyu no longer wanted it weighing on his mind. 

After getting into the car, perhaps because he had just vented his frustration by beating someone, or maybe because of Ning Zhen’s eagerness, his mood had improved significantly. 

Unexpectedly, he found himself calm. 

“…You need to apologize to me,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen: “Why?” 

“You don’t want to apologize?” 

“It’s not that, Governor. If I apologize without understanding the reason, it would just be to placate you, not a sincere apology. So I want to know the reason, and then I’ll reflect on my actions,” Ning Zhen replied. 

Sheng Changyu: Smart move. 

“Earlier, on the street, I had Cheng Baisheng call for you. Why did you run away?” 

Ning Zhen’s attitude was earnest. “I’m sorry, Governor. I apologize for that day. I did hear you.” 

“And then?” 

“Because of the issues with the second and third concubines, I was worried you were angry and would take it out on me. I rarely get a day off, and I just wanted to have a carefree day out, so I avoided facing you,” Ning Zhen explained. 

Sheng Changyu remained silent, his expression unreadable. 

“I was wrong. From now on, if I encounter you, even if you don’t want to see me, I’ll make sure to greet you,” Ning Zhen continued. 

She added, “And earlier, when you were sick, I should have gone with the old lady to visit you at the residence. I didn’t go that time, and I apologize for that as well.” 

Sheng Changyu’s long, slender fingers lightly tapped on his knee. 

He still didn’t speak. 

After Ning Zhen finished apologizing, she turned to look at him in the quiet car. 

At the same time, Sheng Changyu turned to look at her. 

Their eyes met in the dimly lit car, but Sheng Changyu’s gaze was piercing. 

Ning Zhen didn’t continue to challenge him and was the first to look away. 

“You need something from me?” he suddenly asked. 

Ning Zhen: 

He wasn’t easy to fool. 

“Ning Zhen, I’m not a difficult person. If you please me, I’m willing to give you something in return. So, what is it you want?” he asked. 

Ning Zhen’s string of apologies had been unusually humble. 

After all, she was Fourth Miss Ning, someone who carried a gun wherever she went. When had she ever been this submissive? 

Fortunately, Sheng Changyu had calmed down and picked up on the fact that she was after something. 

If Sheng Changyu was still angry, hearing her words probably made him feel much better. 

“Governor, should I really say it?” 

“Say it.” 

“My second brother wants to work at the Security Bureau. Among the children of those commanders, only my brothers are still on the front lines. Someone from the Ning family needs to stay behind and guard the home. My eldest brother is willing to follow our father, but my second and third brothers want more stable positions,” Ning Zhen explained. 

Sheng Changyu asked, “Where does your third brother want to go?” 

“The Quartermaster’s Department.” 

“Alright,” Sheng Changyu replied. 

Ning Zhen asked, “Which one is alright?” 

“Both are fine,” Sheng Changyu said. “You’re my wife, and having your brothers in the city can also provide you some support. I’ve agreed. Tomorrow, Baisheng will handle it, and the orders will arrive at their posts within half a month.” 

Ning Zhen was stunned. 

Just like that? 

So simple? 

She turned to face him, “Governor, if you think there’s anything inappropriate…” 

“I’m not speaking in reverse, Ning Zhen,” Sheng Changyu said. “You apologized and knew how to navigate the situation. That makes me happy.” 

Ning Zhen:  

“And about that day when I told you to get lost… You should know that I tend to speak harshly. It wasn’t directed specifically at you. If you’re no longer angry, I’ll also apologize. It was my fault; I spoke too harshly,” Sheng Changyu said. 

Ning Zhen: ! 

Her scalp tingled, and a strange, eerie feeling crept up. 

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. 

Sheng Changyu probably sensed something off as well, so he didn’t speak again, and in silence, they arrived at the gate of the old house. 

True to his word, the next day, Sheng Changyu had Cheng Baisheng arrange for her two brothers to be transferred back to the city. 

“You reconciled with Ning Zhen?” Cheng Baisheng asked, surprised. 

Sheng Changyu replied, “It’s all your fault. You kept going on about how she was avoiding me, and I ended up obsessing over it for several days. Turns out there was nothing to it after we talked.” 

Cheng Baisheng: ? 

You handed out two official positions, and that’s “nothing”? 

What more could you possibly give? 

You tyrant! 

“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll poison your tongue,” Sheng Changyu said. 

With the matter settled, Sheng Changyu felt much more at ease. 

Cheng Baisheng asked, “You really don’t have any thoughts about Ning Zhen? Not even considering asking her to move into the Governor’s Mansion?” 

“Shut up. All you do is talk about Ning Zhen. I’m starting to think you’re developing feelings for her. Why don’t you go and be her advisor?” Sheng Changyu shot back. 

Cheng Baisheng:  

The issue that had troubled Ning Zhen’s father and brothers for two years was resolved with just a few words from Sheng Changyu, leaving Ning Zhoutong equally bewildered. 

Ning Yian, the eldest brother, was completely puzzled. He had no idea how Ning Zhen had managed it. 

Ning Yishen quickly took up a position at the Security Bureau as the head of the archives, a role that was important yet relatively easy. 

Ning Ce was assigned to the Quartermaster’s Department, which was filled with people who had powerful connections. Fortunately, being the Governor’s brother-in-law gave him considerable influence even among those well-connected individuals. 

Ning Zhoutong and Ning Yian couldn’t return to the city, so they sent a telegram home to let everyone know they were safe. 

The Ning family was overjoyed. 

Their grandmother and mother were on the verge of tears from happiness. 

The eldest sister-in-law invited Ning Zhen to come home for a meal. 

“Zhen’er, why don’t you ask the Governor if he’d like to come over for a meal?” the grandmother suggested. 

Ning Zhen was startled by the suggestion. 

Was she joking? Their relationship had just eased, and he wasn’t causing any more trouble. Now they wanted to invite him over for dinner? 

What if he thought it was a trap? 

“Don’t mention it!” Ning Zhen quickly said. 

She then turned to her two brothers, “The process of securing your positions wasn’t straightforward, but it’s not because the Governor has forgotten the past. Keep a low profile from now on.” 

Ning Yishen and Ning Ce both nodded. 

But their grandmother continued, “You should give it a try. What if the Governor agrees? Whether he comes or not is his choice, but not inviting him would be our fault. If you don’t invite him, I’ll do it myself.” 

Ning Zhen almost kneeled down in front of her grandmother out of sheer panic.