Chapter 49

Night.

After a whole day of work, he poured a glass of red wine and looked down at the night view of B City from the 33rd floor of the Golden Tower. There was a sense of grandeur, as if he held the world in his hands.

Tang Chengtian felt that everything had been going smoothly lately. The new project had received good feedback, the new spokesperson had been signed, and cooperation with some international companies was also in negotiation. Everything was developing in the direction he had envisioned.

Suddenly, his phone on the redwood desk rang.

He stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, squinting his eyes, enjoying the beauty of the city lights under the dark night. He ignored the incessant buzzing of his phone.

The ringing continued for a while before stopping.

Tang Chengtian let out a slow breath, thinking that no one should disturb him while he admired the night view and imagined the wonderful moments of the future.

“Beep—Beep—Beep—”

Not long after, the phone rang again.

Tang Chengtian waited for a moment before setting down his wine glass, furrowing his brows as he picked up the phone. “Who is this?”

After a while, his frown deepened. “Police Station?”

After hanging up the phone, Tang Chengtian grabbed the car keys from the desk, walked to the door, took his coat from the hanger, and hurried downstairs.

When he arrived at the police station, he saw Yan Ning sitting alone.

There were police officers nearby, and a woman stood in front of her, seemingly saying something, but her attitude was very aggressive.

Zhang Qing stood in front of Yan Ning. “It wasn’t even a big deal at first. Why do you have to be so stubborn? We saw each other at the banquet last time. Don’t you remember?”

Yan Ning’s gaze was clear, and her attitude was firm. “Aunt, he held a knife to my back and threatened me. Is that not a big deal in your eyes?”

“Ah, it wasn’t really a big deal, was it? Nowadays, some young girls are so delicate—such a tiny thing and they have to call the police. Acting all high and mighty, really thinking they’re something special?” Zhang Qing pointed at Yan Ning’s forehead and scolded, before softening her tone again. “This issue can be resolved if you just nod. You might not know, but originally, Siyue and you were promised in a betrothal. If we’re being honest, he’s technically your fiancé, and now this whole joke has happened.”

“Aunt, you might be suffering from delusions. I don’t have a fiancé like that. And, my friend was injured by him. Do you still think that’s not a big deal?” Yan Ning’s tone remained calm.

“You—” Zhang Qing didn’t expect the girl to be so stubborn. In a moment of anger, she raised her hand to slap Yan Ning, her mouth continuing to curse. “A little girl, just how old are you? A boy has to block a knife for you, and I don’t think you’re such a good thing yourself.”

Zhang Qing’s slap never landed. Tang Chengtian stepped forward and lightly grasped her wrist. “Madam Zhang, it’s better to choose your words carefully. It’s already unattractive to bully someone younger, and you want to raise your hand?”

Tang Chengtian used his strength to push Zhang Qing away, his gaze finally turning to the police nearby.

The officers over there quickly reacted and pulled Zhang Qing aside.

Seeing Tang Chengtian, Zhang Qing’s momentum faltered, and her expression turned sour. She didn’t resist when they pulled her away, but her face remained grim.

Tang Chengtian never imagined that one day he would be at the police station to bail someone out.

Turning his gaze to Yan Ning, he sized her up, noting that she didn’t have any visible injuries. He then spoke, “Your uncle is here to take you home. Now, tell me what happened.”

Yan Ning looked up at him, her gaze calm, but beneath that calmness, there was a hidden undercurrent of emotions.

She had expected her aunt, Tang Minrou, to arrive first, but she didn’t expect Tang Chengtian to be faster than her mother.

She half-closed her eyelids to hide the emotions in her eyes and recounted what happened.

That evening, after school, she had waited outside the school gate for Uncle Zheng.

Uncle Zheng, who was usually very punctual, hadn’t arrived yet that day. She called, but he didn’t pick up.

After waiting for a while, most of the students had already gone home.

There weren’t many people on the street, so she considered going to the nearby bubble tea shop to buy something and wait there for Uncle Zheng to arrive.

Just as she was about to turn around, she felt something sharp pressed against her lower back.

She guessed it was some kind of spring-loaded knife, and the person demanded that she follow him to a secluded spot.

From the sound of the voice, Yan Ning could tell she didn’t know the person.

She tried to turn around, but the moment she made any movement, the sharp object was pressed harder against her, warning her not to resist.

Given her skills, it wouldn’t be so easy for her to be intimidated.

But she wanted to know who this person was and why they had targeted her, so after being threatened again, she didn’t resist.

She obediently followed his instructions and walked to a quiet alley.

Just as she was preparing to counterattack, someone came from behind and subdued the person threatening her.

The man with the knife was extremely frantic. After being restrained, he kept swinging his weapon. The person holding him hadn’t expected him to be so strong, and their hand was slashed, leaving a long wound.

Yan Ning saw this and her eyes hardened, almost losing control.

It was then that the person called out to her, telling her to call the police, which led to the current situation.

Yan Ning finished speaking and lowered her head.

Of course, she didn’t mention her original plan. If she had followed her emotions at that time, the attacker would likely be lying in the ICU by now.

After hearing the story, Tang Chengtian had a rough understanding of the situation. From the previous conversation between Zhang Qing and Yan Ning, he also had a good idea of who the culprit was.

If he wasn’t mistaken, the person who was supposed to be betrothed to Yan Ning was Zhang Qing’s son, Qiao Siyue.

However, Qiao Siyue had already been engaged to Yan Wan. Zhang Qing’s claim that he was Yan Ning’s fiancé was truly laughable.

He stepped forward and stood in front of Zhang Qing: “Mrs. Zhang, how do you think we should resolve this? Shall we have a talk?”

Zhang Qing had originally planned to try to pressure that girl before Tang Minrou arrived, so that it would be easier to handle things later. However, she didn’t expect it to be Tang Chengtian, not Tang Minrou, who showed up.

What surprised her even more was that Tang Chengtian was actually backing up this girl.

“Mr. Tang, this is a family matter between my family and that girl. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to get involved?” Zhang Qing said.

Tang Chengtian smiled lightly: “I am Ningning’s maternal uncle. Isn’t that reason enough for me to be involved? I won’t waste time with words. Mrs. Zhang, if you don’t want to settle this privately, we are open to that as well. We can check the surveillance footage near the school, and it will make it clear how this should be resolved.”

“You!!!” Zhang Qing glared at Tang Chengtian, holding back her anger.

Once the surveillance footage was reviewed, there was no way to reverse what Qiao Siyue had done.

He was still in college, and as the most highly anticipated firstborn and eldest grandson of the Qiao family, he simply couldn’t bear such a stain on his reputation.

After receiving the phone call today, she had come here quietly on her own, not daring to let the rest of her family know.

If the men in her family found out, Qiao Siyue would definitely receive a beating when he got home.

Seeing that Tang Chengtian was handling things here, Yan Ning stood up and walked inside. Just then, the person who had been treated came out of the room with a police officer by his side.

“Fengfeng.” Yan Ning quickened her pace, walking up to him. Seeing the bandages wrapped from his hand to his forearm, her eyes filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

Lu Fengfeng patted her with his uninjured hand, comforting her: “It wasn’t you who hurt me, there’s no need to apologize. If anything, I’m glad it was me who got hurt…”

The young police officer standing nearby, unintentionally caught in the situation, expressionless, urged: “You two, please come this way. We still need to ask you some questions.”

It was already past eleven at night when Tang Chengtian, Yan Ning, and Lu Fengfeng finally left the police station, and Zhang Qing and Qiao Siyue were with them.

With Tang Chengtian taking charge, everything was handled smoothly—the medical fees and compensation were settled without issue. Originally, Qiao Siyue wouldn’t have been released immediately, but Zhang Qing had used her own methods to get him out.

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng got into Tang Chengtian’s car directly.

Zhang Qing pulled Qiao Siyue aside to the underground parking lot to retrieve her car. Looking at her son, who was taller than her, she didn’t know what to say.

“You… what exactly has clouded your judgment? How could you suddenly do something so outrageous? If your father finds out, he’ll peel the skin off you.”

Qiao Siyue’s expression remained calm and gentle, as if nothing had happened, completely unaffected by the fact that he had just been bailed out of the police station: “I just wanted to scare her. I didn’t expect to run into someone. Mom, you don’t need to worry. I know what I’m doing.”

“How can I not worry with you acting like this? Why would you even think of scaring that girl? And even if you wanted to do something, why did you have to handle it yourself? What if something happened to you? How would your mom live with that?”

Qiao Siyue reassured Zhang Qing: “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Next time? You’re getting on a plane and going back to school tonight. Don’t let your father find out.”

“Where’s there even a flight now? I’ve already taken leave. I’ll go back in a couple of days. Mom, I promise I’ll go back as soon as I’m done with everything.”

Qiao Siyue had always been smart and independent in his actions.

Zhang Qing couldn’t persuade him otherwise, so in the end, she returned home alone.

Qiao Siyue went back to the hotel.

—

In Tang Chengtian’s car, there was no one in the passenger seat. Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng sat side by side in the back.

The two were seated apart, with some distance between them, but Yan Ning slowly moved her fingers across the leather seat, inch by inch, and gently hooked Lu Fengfeng’s pinky finger.

Lu Fengfeng was startled for a moment, his finger trembling slightly, but he didn’t lower his head.

He looked ahead with a serious expression. His pinky finger was initially hooked, but then his fingers moved, and he reached back to hold Yan Ning’s entire hand in his.

Tang Chengtian drove, glancing in the rearview mirror every now and then to look at the two in the back. After a while, he glanced again. The two hands, once linked, remained tightly clasped.

No matter how he intentionally swerved or accelerated, their hands stayed together, as if glued by superglue, refusing to separate.

Yan Ning noticed that he seemed to be in a slightly bad mood. She glanced at Lu Fengfeng, who just happened to turn his gaze toward her. The two exchanged a smile.

“I said, you two are enough!” Tang Chengtian spoke, his tone filled with helplessness, and a hint of sourness.

Yan Ning ignored him. When Lu Fengfeng had saved her at the entrance of the alley that evening, she had wanted to hug him tightly.

But due to the time and circumstances, she had held back.

At that moment, she was also mindful of the driver’s (Mr. Tang’s) feelings, so she merely hooked her finger, trying to restrain herself from exploding.

Most of the people who knew her thought that someone like her didn’t need rescuing, didn’t need protection.

On the contrary, she was the one who should be reaching out to help the weaker ones, to support them.

In reality, it had been a long time since anyone treated her as someone who needed gentle care.

She thought, back on Angel Island No. 4, Lu Fengfeng already knew her abilities, but he still treated her like an ordinary girl, showing tenderness and care.

There had been many moments when she had felt touched by Lu Fengfeng, but in the end, she was just an ordinary person.

But none of those moments compared to today.

The emotions filling her heart almost overflowed, a feeling that was both sweet and irresistible.

Yan Ning tightened her grip on Lu Fengfeng’s hand with her fingers, one hand resting on the back of the front seat, slightly leaning forward: “Uncle, what exactly did Yan Wan do to offend you? Can you tell me?”

She managed to calm her emotions a bit and asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time. The main reason was that Tang Chengtian’s targeting of Yan Wan was too obvious, almost shamelessly so.

And just after she had torn her relationship with Yan Wan today, Qiao Siyue came knocking.

Although Qiao Siyue didn’t mention Yan Wan in his words, Yan Ning knew for sure that Yan Wan was involved in this.

She and Qiao Siyue had never interacted before. The only connection between them was Yan Wan.

Tang Chengtian kept his eyes fixed ahead, no longer letting them wander. After a long pause, he finally spoke: “Why are you asking about this?”

“Uncle, you must be able to tell that there’s tension between Yan Wan and me, otherwise, you wouldn’t have helped me like you did today.” Yan Ning was always straightforward, not one for beating around the bush.

“I helped you? I just got a call and happened to come pick you up,” Tang Chengtian retorted, purposely twisting her words.

“Gu Han told me that you’re an ambitious businessman, someone who handles things cautiously. I rarely see you target someone so obviously. Uncle, if you just tell me a little bit, maybe I can help you?”

Tang Chengtian chuckled sarcastically: “That little brat Gu Han is itching for trouble, daring to make up stories about his food and clothing provider.”

Seeing that Tang Chengtian truly didn’t want to speak, Yan Ning didn’t press him further.

Her phone suddenly rang. It was Uncle Zheng.

“Hello, Uncle Zheng. Yeah, I’m on my way. No need to come, Uncle Tang is giving me a ride back. It’s Little Uncle Tang.”

Tang Chengtian glanced at her through the rearview mirror, fell silent for a moment, then asked: “Is your relationship with your mom not good?”

“Uh… not really, she’s just too busy.”

Tang Minrou still hadn’t shown up, hadn’t returned Yan Ning’s messages either.

But Yan Ning knew that Tang Minrou had returned home today.

Earlier, she had posted a picture of her flight ticket on the chat app, a 2 PM flight, saying she was going back to see her younger daughter.

When Yan Ning had been taken to the police station and asked to contact her parents, she hadn’t planned on telling her family.

But then she was informed that, since she was still a minor, regardless of the situation, her parents had to be present.

That’s when she called Tang Minrou, but the call didn’t go through. She sent a message afterward.

After waiting for a while with no reply, she called Tang Chengtian.

Yan Ning lowered her head, a faint layer of melancholy clouding her eyes. She probably just wasn’t born with much familial connection.

Suddenly, the hand she had been holding was lifted, and she turned her head.

Lu Fengfeng took her hand and placed it on his knee. “From now on, no matter what happens, you have to be the first to call me. I’ll protect you.”

“Eh?” Yan Ning didn’t quite understand, but her heartbeat definitely started to race.

Lu Fengfeng stared at her for a while, and she returned his gaze without blinking. In the end, it was he who looked away first, slightly turning his head to look out the window.

Tang Chengtian watched their clingy interaction and felt very uncomfortable, likely due to the frustration of an empty-nester. “You’ll protect her? What can you do to protect her? It was still me who pulled you two out today.”

Lu Fengfeng raised his eyes and stared at the back of Tang Chengtian’s head for a while, but didn’t say anything.

In the world Yan Ning lived in, only he could protect her.

Later, he proved that with his actions.

Lu Fengfeng asked Tang Chengtian to drop him off at the intersection. Yan Ning leaned against the window, watching him. “Fengfeng, let’s have lunch together tomorrow at noon.”

“Okay.”

Tang Chengtian couldn’t stand their lingering goodbyes. With a sharp “whoosh,” the car sped away from in front of Lu Fengfeng.

Once they had driven a distance and could no longer see him, the car slowed down.

Tang Chengtian observed Yan Ning through the rearview mirror for a while before speaking, “Weren’t you two broken up?”

“You know about that? Aren’t you busy?” Yan Ning was surprised.

Gu Han once said that even the time it takes for Tang Chengtian to tie his shoes could earn an average worker’s annual salary. It’s the very definition of “time is money.”

“I overheard a few words. Since you’ve already broken up, why is there still some lingering attachment?”

“Well, when we broke up, there were some reasons. But recently, I feel like the time I spend with him makes me happier than usual,” Yan Ning said.

For some reason, when facing Tang Chengtian, she could be very honest about her feelings.

Tang Chengtian was reminded of some unpleasant past events, “Hmm, I’m just giving you a little warning, don’t get annoyed, I’m doing this for your own good. That guy is too charming, and if you can’t keep him, you’d better let go early to avoid heartache later.”

“Mm, thank you, Uncle,” Yan Ning replied, not really caring whether she understood or not, just obediently accepting his words.

Yan Ning’s quick acceptance, with no resistance, made Tang Chengtian feel somewhat unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

They continued chatting happily, neither of them realizing their conversation was already in the “young love” territory.

As an elder, Tang Chengtian’s reaction was very calm.

As a junior, Yan Ning found it a bit unbelievable that she was sharing her romantic matters with an elder, just like any ordinary conversation.

Tang Chengtian drove Yan Ning to the entrance of her house. Sometime during the ride, a light rain had started outside.

Yan Ning got out of the car, planning to run the short distance to her house with her backpack. Just as she opened the car door, Uncle Zheng was already holding an umbrella, standing by the door. “Miss Ning, you’re back.”

Yan Ning gave a soft “mm” in reply, got out of the car, bid farewell to Tang Chengtian, and then walked toward her house with Uncle Zheng.

“Is Mom back?” Yan Ning asked.

“Yes, Madam came back around six o’clock. After returning, she went to the hospital to see Miss An. I drove her to the hospital, and on the way back, there was traffic, so I couldn’t pick you up in time.”

“Oh, I see. Is Mom at home now?”

“Madam is still at the hospital with Miss An tonight, she hasn’t come back,” Uncle Zheng replied in a formal tone.

Yan Ning nodded without saying anything further.

Tang Minrou was at the hospital with Yan An. She recalled the scene from yesterday when she went to visit Yan An.

If that was the case, she had nothing to blame or feel unfair about toward her.

Yan Ning thought, if she were to compare herself to Yan An, Tang Minrou cared more about Yan An, and she could understand that.

Once she got home, Yan Ning changed her shoes at the entrance and prepared to head upstairs.

Even though she had an umbrella, some raindrops still landed on her. She wanted to quickly go upstairs and take a shower.

The living room light was on, but there was no one there. While running her fingers through her damp hair, she walked upstairs.

Suddenly, Yan Yu stood up from the sofa. Since he had been sitting on the sofa with his back to the entrance, Yan Ning hadn’t noticed him.

At this moment, his eyebrows were furrowed, and his rounded face looked a bit unpleasant, as if he had been waiting for her.

Yan Ning didn’t stop walking. She didn’t share much in common with this silly brother of hers, and they often didn’t understand each other, making communication difficult.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Yan Yu, seeing her unaware, felt his anger surge. He quickly walked over to the foot of the stairs.

Yan Ning turned her head: “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else would I be talking to? Are you deaf?”

Yan Ning stopped and turned around, looking down at this little chubby kid. Her tone was indifferent: “I’m not deaf. But do you have a problem? Every time you talk, it’s like you’re throwing a tantrum. Where did I offend you, Young Master? Do you think I have mind-reading abilities, or do you think the world revolves around you?”

Yan Yu didn’t expect Yan Ning, who usually stayed silent at home when troubled, to suddenly be so assertive.

And her words were especially irritating, making his face turn red with anger.

He raised his finger and pointed at Yan Ning. “Don’t you realize what you did wrong? Why did you expose Lili’s identity at school? Why post that kind of video? Do you know how heartbroken Lili is? She’s already so fragile, and when she’s upset, her chest hurts. She’s nothing like you, a wild girl.”

“Ugh—” Yan Ning slapped her chest, almost vomiting from how irritating this kid was. She had to admit, he really knew how to get under her skin.

“Sorry, I almost couldn’t hold it in. First of all, that post wasn’t made by me, so don’t blame me for everything. Second, what was said in that post wasn’t wrong—Yan Wan is indeed not part of this family. But there are many adopted children who live well, in the identity of a foster son or daughter. She was adopted from the start, so if she wants to avoid this kind of awkwardness, she should just go back to her real family. Hiding and covering up all the time, unable to control her vanity, is it not her own fault when it gets exposed? Third, what’s wrong with that video? She did those things herself, and her character is problematic. As the victim, should I pamper and protect her? You two siblings really think you’re the center of the universe, huh? Everything should revolve around you? Yan Yu, as your so-called older sister, I suggest you go get your head checked. Otherwise, don’t call me your sister outside. I’d be too embarrassed.”

After she finished speaking, Yan Ning turned and went upstairs without looking back. She had never met someone so foolish.

It was like being treated as a fool, and his way of thinking was childish.

If she could, she’d request to switch brothers with someone else.

Being a little mischievous was fine, but the key was to not be so empty-headed.

Yan Yu was left speechless by Yan Ning, feeling both angry and frustrated, yet he couldn’t do anything about it.

He realized he couldn’t win an argument with her.

Moreover, the things she said felt like sharp needles, piercing through his carefully protected heart and leaving tiny little wounds.

He knew Lili had some minor flaws, like occasional jealousy, but that was proof that she cared about her family.

No matter what flaws Lili had, it wasn’t up to Yan Ning, an outsider, to criticize her.

Yes, this was the right mindset.

After the intense anger, Yan Yu found a defense for himself in his mind.

As his emotions slowly calmed, he glanced at Uncle Zheng, who was standing quietly nearby.

Uncle Zheng had been like a statue since the siblings started arguing, his gaze neutral, his posture unmoving.

“This matter must not be told to Mom and Dad,” Yan Yu threw out as he went upstairs.

Uncle Zheng stood there for a moment, waiting until the sound of a door slamming upstairs echoed through the house. Only then did he shake his head and walk to his own room.

The large light on the first floor was turned off, leaving only a small light in the entrance.

The house’s master, the butler, and the servants had all retired for the night, and the place fell silent. Even the second-floor hallway was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Yan Wan quietly locked her bedroom door, then sat on the bed, her eyes bloodshot as she muttered to herself, “Why is she back? Didn’t Brother Siyue take care of it? How is it that no one can do anything about this?”

The system’s voice rang out, “Master, don’t worry too much. Qiao Siyue is much more capable than Yan Yu. Wait for two more days, and you’ll definitely see results.”

Yan Wan clenched her fist tightly, gritting her teeth, “I can’t wait any longer! I want her dead right now! And you, weren’t you the one who said she was easy to deal with? Why has it turned into this now?”

“Master, she really is different. We might have underestimated her before. It’s best to come up with a new plan, ensuring everything is foolproof.”

“A new plan? None of the plans we’ve had so far have destroyed her reputation. Tell me, what other methods are there?”

Yan Wan had never felt this much torment before. From the moment she learned the truth about her origins, she had been painstakingly maintaining the demeanor and grace of the eldest daughter, afraid that others would see through her.

But all the effort she had put in over the years was effortlessly destroyed by that bitch, Yan Ning.

Just the thought of how people looked at her when she returned from school today—their scornful, mocking, and pitying gazes—made her feel like there were thorns in her back.

“No matter what it takes, as long as I can make Yan Ning fall into a situation from which she can never recover, I’m willing to pay any price,” Yan Wan said, her eyes bloodshot.

“Master, don’t worry, I’m already prepared. You just need to wait a few more days,” the system replied, its tone slightly impatient. It liked these two qualities of the host: her ruthless mind and her ability to act without hesitation.

But she couldn’t seem to keep her composure, was always too impatient, overly verbose, and not very smart. Far more time was spent calming her emotions than on actually making plans.

“Alright, then I’ll leave it to you.” Yan Wan’s emotions finally settled down, and a malicious smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Once, she had slowly destroyed Yan An in the same way. Now, she was merely repeating the process.

Yes, she couldn’t afford to rush.

—

In a high-end residential area.

Lu Fengfeng had finished washing up and changing clothes. He sat by the window, gazing at the starless, pitch-black sky, and dialed Hei Jing’s number.

“Hello? Feng, what’s up?” Hei Jing answered almost instantly.

“There are two people. Keep an eye on them for me. Don’t let them hurt Yan Ning,” Lu Fengfeng’s voice was as cold as the dark night, emanating an endless chill.

“Watching two people is fine. But who could hurt Yan Ning? I think her mental abilities have definitely surpassed Class A. With the suppressor, she could even kill a stone dragon—she might even be stronger than you.”

Lu Fengfeng lowered his eyes, his long, delicate eyelashes fluttering twice. “Even if she’s powerful, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need protection.”

“You two… are you back together?” Hei Jing asked teasingly.

“… Not yet.”

“No? Then why are you so concerned? She doesn’t even know, what’s your angle?” Hei Jing was furious. This kid usually appeared so sharp, calculating without batting an eye.

But he never expected to fall into the hands of such a little girl.

“You don’t need to worry about that. I know what to do. Nothing else, I’m going to sleep,” Lu Fengfeng said, before hanging up.

Hei Jing had already been about to fall asleep. But after being disturbed by this call, he had a lot more questions, yet the kid just hung up on him.

He felt like a tool, only remembered when needed.

—

At 5:30 in the morning, Yan Ning opened her eyes and turned off the alarm.

She freshened up, got dressed, and went downstairs.

As expected, she heard the bubbling sound coming from the kitchen—Aunt Wu was making porridge.

The new aunt, Wu, was in her forties. She didn’t look old, and her appearance and dress were neat and tidy. At that moment, she was cutting vegetables on a glass counter.

Her movements were light, and every time she pressed the knife down, it made only a faint sound.

Hearing the faint footsteps, Aunt Wu looked up and, seeing Yan Ning, her eyes showed surprise, and she respectfully asked, “Miss Ning, why are you up so early today?”

Yan Ning, feeling energetic, walked over and curiously looked at the small dish of vegetables on the side. “Aunt Wu, I want to make something to eat. I’ll have lunch at school. Do you have any recommendations?”

She could cook, but wasn’t very good at it. Compared to Lu Fengfeng’s skills, she was probably lightyears away.

However, yesterday, he had injured his hand. A deep and long gash ran from his hand’s back all the way to his wrist.

Speaking of which, the blood that had flowed from his arm was red. She wasn’t sure if some medicine had been used to change the color of his blood, which might be why no one had suspected anything.

Most interstellar creatures had blue blood, but there were also a few with other colors. She had once seen an alien with golden blood.

She had never met anyone else from the same species as Lu Fengfeng, so she wasn’t sure what the color of his blood was.

The last time at the Stone Dragon dungeon, she didn’t even know which species he belonged to and subconsciously classified him as a member of the blue-blooded species.

Perhaps, their species’ blood was also red?

“Make something for the patient to eat, preferably something that can replenish blood,” Yan Ning thought for a moment and added.

Aunt Wu glanced at her expression, slightly pursed her lips, and gave a small smile. She probably guessed who Yan Ning intended to make it for, but didn’t point it out.

“Just so happens, I’ve sliced some fresh pig liver. I was planning to make porridge with it. But pig liver soup is good for replenishing blood. Would Miss like to try it?”

“Hmm, but if I leave it until noon, will it affect the taste?” After saying this, Yan Ning remembered she had her space ring.

The space inside the space ring was completely still, with no passage of time. If she put the pig liver soup in a thermos box and stored it in the space ring, it would stay warm and retain the same flavor as when it was freshly made.

Aunt Wu put down the vegetables and knife in her hands, walked over to the cabinet, and took out a cylindrical thermos. She smiled at Yan Ning, saying, “Miss, don’t worry. This thermos is of very good quality. I tried it a couple of days ago, and it can keep things warm for over twelve hours. If I put the porridge in it in the morning, it’s still scalding hot when I take it out in the evening. I’ll teach you how to make the soup. Once it’s done, we can store it in here, and it will be perfectly fine by noon.”

“Then thank you.”

Yan Ning planned to put the soup into the thermos box and then store it in the space ring. She would also prepare a similar-looking fake thermos to take to school, and when it was time for lunch, she would swap them out, ensuring everything went smoothly.

It took her about an hour and a half to prepare lunch.

As she finished in the kitchen, Uncle Zheng came out of his room.

The two of them had breakfast and, as usual, left for school.

—

Noon.

To be honest, as soon as the fourth period started, Yan Ning couldn’t help but feel a little restless, like a primary school student the night before a field trip.

During breakfast preparation that morning, Aunt Wu had been supervising her the entire time. Everything from the taste, color, to the plating had received Aunt Wu’s approval.

She couldn’t help but look forward to seeing Fengfeng’s reaction when he tasted it.

As soon as the class bell rang, Yan Ning grabbed the thermos box and sprinted out of the classroom. Shu Yue immediately ran over, wanting to go to the cafeteria with her, but there was no time.

She first went to a blind spot in the corridor, took out the thermos with the food from the space ring, and then ran straight to the door of Class 9.

When the students in Class 9 saw her, their faces froze for a moment, then they subtly turned their heads to look at Lu Fengfeng.

When he arrived at school this morning, the bandaged hand had attracted a lot of attention.

Later, it was rumored that he had gotten into a fight because of Yan Ning from Class 5, which caused the injury to his hand.

At first, everyone thought it was just gossip, but Yan Ning’s appearance seemed to confirm the rumor.

“Fengfeng.” Yan Ning stood at the door, waving at him.

Lu Fengfeng had already turned down Chen Wen’s invitation to lunch, and stood up to walk out.

When he reached the door, he took the thermos box from her hand, slightly raising an eyebrow. “What did you bring? It’s so heavy?”

“Mmm—some blood-replenishing soup, along with rice and vegetables.”

“You made it yourself?” Lu Fengfeng asked, his mouth curving upward slightly, the smile in his eyes spreading like snow melting on a mountain top, gradually extending outward.

“Yeah, Aunt oversaw everything, so the taste should be pretty good this time.”

He raised his injured hand. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to a place where no one’s around.”

Yan Ning gently reached out to support his palm, careful not to apply too much pressure.

Watching the two of them gradually walk away, some boys who had secretly harbored feelings for Yan Ning were defeated before they even took the first step.

“Didn’t they say they broke up?” There was disappointment and confusion in their tone.

“But it doesn’t look like it. They’re obviously in the honeymoon phase.”

“Ah, I also want to drink the soup Ningning-chan made herself.”

“Yeah, she looks way more beautiful up close than the school beauty, and she’s so cute. The fact that she made the soup herself—it’s enough to make you explode with excitement!”

Chen Wen passed by, overheard a few of these comments, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Want? I think you guys are craving peaches, huh? My bro got a long cut on his hand for her. What are you guys willing to do for Yan Ning?”

—

Yan Ning didn’t expect that Lu Fengfeng would bring her here—the stairwell on the fifth floor of the experimental building.

It was where they had met for the second time, and also where he had secretly met Chen Nuan in the past.

She stared at him, wondering if this guy was doing it on purpose.

Lu Fengfeng could feel the resentment in her gaze, so he pulled her up the stairs and took her to the small attic on the top floor of the experimental building.

It was quiet and desolate here.

Yan Ning sat down on the steps, reached for the cloth covering the thermos box, and said, “There are two side dishes, a soup, rice, and a little dessert for after.”

Lu Fengfeng sat beside her, squinting his eyes, content just watching her movements and listening to her voice.

Yan Ning looked up and saw the expression on his face, which made him seem like he was about to cry.

Maybe it was just her illusion.

She couldn’t help but feel that, compared to the previous times, there seemed to be less sadness in his eyes this time, replaced by a gentle and peaceful expression she couldn’t quite place.

The thermos box was a foldable, composite-style lunchbox. The bottom layer held the soup, and the top layer, when pulled open, contained several small boxes with side dishes.

Yan Ning handed him the bowl of white rice and then passed him the chopsticks. “Try my cooking.”

“Okay.” Lu Fengfeng took the bowl of rice, placed the side dishes on top, and took a big bite. “Mm, it’s really delicious.”

“Really?”

“How could I lie to you? It’s really good, I really like it.”

Yan Ning smiled, her eyes shining brightly. “That’s great.”

Nothing made her happier than hearing “I really like it.”

“Don’t just watch me, you should eat too.”

“Okay.”

The leisurely and pleasant lunch time passed quickly.

Yan Ning felt like it hadn’t been that long. After finishing their meal and chatting for a bit, the lunch break bell rang.

As she got up to leave, she suddenly remembered something. “By the way, have you decided on the director’s offer from last time?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I accepted it. But I haven’t had any professional training, so I’m not sure if I can do it.”

“Eh? Is your role confirmed?” Yan Ning asked curiously.

“Yeah, seems like it’s the male lead.”

“Straight to the male lead? That’s really impressive.” Yan Ning’s eyes showed a bit of envy.

Even though she didn’t know much about the entertainment industry, and without any buildup, making a debut by playing the lead role was something she knew had a very low probability of happening.

“Are you that jealous? I heard you signed a contract with Shengyi to be their spokesperson.”

“How did you know?”

A hint of mischief suddenly appeared in Lu Fengfeng’s pure eyes as he bent down to pick up the thermos lunchbox, took two steps down, and then turned back to extend his hand toward her. “As long as it’s about you, I know everything. I use all kinds of methods to find out.”

Yan Ning stared at him, feeling like the person in front of her was somewhat different from her previous impression of him, but she didn’t find it unpleasant.

“Are you scared?” His gaze never left her face, appearing calm on the surface, but inside, he was actually afraid of seeing disgust in her eyes.

Because it seemed like, gradually, he had become the kind of person he had once hated the most.

Crazy, wanting to control everything about her.

Yan Ning shook her head, placing her hand into his palm. “As long as it’s Fengfeng, everything is fine.”

He glanced back at her, tightly clutching her hand in his, and didn’t speak further.

Don’t ever say that to anyone else again.

He silently screamed in his heart, his face still gentle and calm.

It wasn’t until they walked out of the long, quiet corridor of the experimental building that his emotions slowly began to settle.

Lu Fengfeng watched Yan Ning enter Class 5’s classroom before turning and heading back to his own.

As soon as he sat down, Chen Wen, sitting two seats away, tossed a crumpled piece of paper at him.

Opening it, he saw a crookedly written sentence: “Finally got the girl?”

Lu Fengfeng pressed his lips together, crumpled the note into a ball, and put it in his desk.

No matter how Chen Wen tried to signal him, he ignored him completely.

—

In the evening.

When Yan Ning arrived home, she was in a good mood.

She was bending down to change her shoes in the entrance when Tang Minrou walked over, her brows furrowed slightly. “Ningning, can you go with Mom to see An’an tomorrow?”