There was an open-air garden outside the room where Mrs. Lin and her daughter resided.

In the garden, a pitch-black cat crouched by the glass, its sharp eyes fixed intently on the mother and daughter inside, a mocking smile playing at the corners of its lips.

When Mrs. Lin led her daughter out, the black cat followed, leaping down from the terrace. What should have been a graceful landing turned into a clumsy tumble.

Damn it, he still wasn’t accustomed to walking on four legs. The black cat struggled to rise and wobbled unsteadily through the main house window.

Yu Ning entered the Lin family’s main house, finding the interior even more opulent than the exterior.

It was furnished in a modern Chinese style, the work of a renowned designer, exuding an air of sophistication.

“Whom are you looking for?” a servant inquired.

“My name is Yu Ning.”

“Ah—you are the young mistress? Why are you here alone? Didn’t the Fifth Young Master come to fetch you?”

“Just call me by my name.”

“Miss Yu, you have arrived.” Mrs. Lin descended the stairs gracefully, followed by the sullen-faced Jia Qingqing.

“I am A-Jun’s stepmother; you can call me Aunt Jia.”

Mrs. Lin smiled warmly, clasping Yu Ning’s hand in a friendly manner.

Yu Ning took the opportunity to examine her face, her brow gradually furrowing. She discreetly withdrew her hand.

Mrs. Lin’s friendly gesture fell flat, leaving her slightly embarrassed.

“Hey! You bumpkin, don’t you know how to appreciate kindness?” Jia Qingqing sneered at Yu Ning.

Ignoring her provocation, Yu Ning turned politely to Mrs. Lin and asked, “Could you please tell me where my room is?”

“The third floor. I’ll have Mrs. Wu take you there. I have some matters to attend to. If you need anything, feel free to call me.”

Mrs. Lin summoned the housekeeper, Mrs. Wu, to assist Yu Ning with her luggage.

“Bumpkin with so much junk,” Jia Qingqing scoffed, eyeing Yu Ning’s three large suitcases with disdain.

She wondered how long Yu Ning intended to stay, feeling a pang of jealousy at the thought of her living on the same floor as her cherished brother Lin.

Suddenly, her gaze fell on the white porcelain jar Yu Ning was holding.

That jar looked familiar. The Lin family’s great-grandmother had a similar one, said to be a valuable auction piece.

Why did the bumpkin have one too? Could it be a betrothal gift from the great-grandmother?

Enraged with jealousy, Jia Qingqing lunged and shoved Yu Ning from behind.

Yu Ning stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to hold the jar tightly, protecting its precious contents.

Seeing her attempt fail, Jia Qingqing rushed forward, reaching for the jar.

She knew the great-grandmother would be furious if she found out the “betrothal gift” was broken.

Yu Ning’s eyes flashed with anger. Once could be accidental, but twice was deliberate. She kicked Jia Qingqing in the stomach.

Jia Qingqing felt as if she had been hit by a sledgehammer, flying backwards.

“Ah!!!”

Jia Qingqing sat on the ground, stunned. Yu Ning pulled out a piece of cloth and secured the jar to her body before approaching Jia Qingqing.

“We have no enmity; this is our first meeting; why are you trying to harm me?”

“You hit me! How dare you hit me—” Jia Qingqing was about to explode when she noticed someone entering the room. Instantly, she began to perform theatrically, flailing on the floor.

“Miss Yu! How could you be so cruel? The room was arranged by the great-grandmother. If you find it too small, tell her, but why take it out on me?”

Yu Ning frowned, wondering if this woman was mentally unstable.

“What’s going on here?”

Lin Anbang entered, seeing his stepdaughter crying, and hurried over.

“Uncle Lin!” Jia Qingqing, tears streaming down her face, crawled over and clung to his leg.

Yu Ning wore an expression of exasperation, finding the scene highly unpleasant.

“She hit me! I kindly offered to help her with her luggage, but she was dissatisfied with the room and took it out on me, kicking me so hard I can barely breathe.”

Jia Qingqing’s wailing brought Mrs. Lin to the scene.

“It’s just children’s squabbles, nothing serious. Qingqing, you are the host; she is the guest; apologize quickly.”

Mrs. Lin’s gentle attitude softened Lin Anbang’s expression; this was the grace he expected of a noblewoman.

In contrast, the girl favored by his grandmother arrived in sportswear, already causing trouble. How could such an unrefined girl ever become the matriarch of a household?

Mrs. Lin signaled her daughter, and Jia Qingqing crawled over to Yu Ning, kneeling and wiping her tears.

“Sister, I may not be Uncle Lin’s biological daughter, but my life still has value.”

Yu Ning remained silent, staring blankly at the spotless floor.

The Lin family’s floor was so clean; perhaps it was this drama queen’s pants that polished it. Sitting, crawling, and kneeling around, she had done a better job than a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Lin Anbang’s face grew darker. This Yu Ning was intolerable!

Qingqing had apologized and was clearly distressed, yet Yu Ning still maintained her arrogance. If she was this insolent before marrying his son, how much worse would she become once she was in the family?

“Miss Yu, we need to talk.” Lin Anbang said it coldly.

“Wah, wah, Miss Yu hit me because of that jar. She said it was a betrothal gift from the great-grandmother and that I wasn’t even worthy to touch it.”

Jia Qingqing continued her act, trying to deepen Lin Anbang’s bad impression of Yu Ning.

“Please be quiet,” Yu Ning interrupted, unwilling to listen to her nonsense.

“You!” Jia Qingqing wanted to curse.

Mrs. Lin squeezed her hand, and she immediately lowered her head, biting her lip, looking deeply wronged.

“Qingqing lost her father young and lacks a sense of security. Anbang, I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“I haven’t taken good care of her, but I’m grateful for your understanding, Ruan Ruan.”

Lin Anbang looked guiltily at his wife, whose eyes were red from suppressed tears.

She must have endured so much without complaining, and her forbearance only made him love her more.

“Ah, love so deep, rain so cold, the world exists only in your eyes.”

The sentimental melody from Yu Ning’s phone rang out, perfectly matching the scene.

Lin Anbang and Mrs. Lin’s expressions stiffened as they looked at Yu Ning.

“Don’t you like this background music? Let me change it.” Yu Ning quickly switched the song.

“Nothing is more beautiful than a sunset’s glow. Warm and serene.”

The phone of a political science teacher had all kinds of songs. With an average age of over 60 among the academy’s trainees, her playlist had to cater to the elderly. It was coming in handy now!

On the windowsill, the black cat watched the scene with interest.

The girl chosen by the great-grandmother had a serene madness in her eyes—an intriguing character.

He hadn’t seen the elegant Mrs. Lin lose her composure in a long time—was this a breakdown?

Mrs. Lin’s expression briefly twisted before she forced a smile.

“Anbang, Miss Yu didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t be angry; after all, she was invited by the grandmother.”

Soothed by his gentle wife, Lin Anbang’s anger flared uncontrollably.

“I don’t care if you were invited by the old lady. In this house, I make the rules. Get out now!”

The black cat squinted. The old man was still as despicable as ever. He wondered how this interesting girl would handle the old man’s impotent rage.