When Ning Xuchen arrived at the hospital, Ning Zhen had already completed a thorough full-body examination.

The doctor, holding the medical chart, gave a general update, “Overall, his condition looks quite good. However, there will be a long recovery period ahead. The family should be mentally prepared for that.”

Ning Xuchen had anticipated this. The fact that Ning Zhen had woken up was already a blessing. As for rehabilitation, the Ning family had no shortage of money, so naturally, Ning Zhen could take his time with it.

He nodded and said, “Understood, Doctor. Can I speak with him for a bit now?”

“You may, but the patient needs to rest. Keep the conversation under thirty minutes.”

Ning Xuchen gave a gentle smile. “I won’t need that long.”

After entering the hospital room, Ning Xuchen quickly locked eyes with Ning Zhen, who lay on the bed. Compared to his previous comatose state, Ning Zhen now looked much better. Though his complexion still appeared pale, it no longer carried that lifeless aura.

Ning Xuchen took the initiative to introduce himself, “Hello, Second Uncle. I’m your nephew, Ning Xuchen. You can call me Xiao Chen, or refer to me by my family ranking— I’m the second son of my generation.”

Ning Zhen opened his mouth but could only utter a few meaningless sounds.

Ning Xuchen sat down beside him, gently patting his arm in comfort. “Second Uncle, you’re not in a condition to speak right now. Just listen to me.”

Ning Zhen quietly observed this relative he had never met before.

But though they had never met, during the time his mind hadn’t fully regained clarity, he had heard this young man’s voice in fragments.

Ning Xuchen sighed deeply. “Grandpa missed you terribly. This year, our whole family returned to the country just to reunite with you. We hadn’t expected you to have suffered such a serious car accident seven years ago.”

Had they known, the old master would have come back much earlier.

He quickly shifted the tone of the conversation and smiled, “Thankfully, you’re awake now.”

Since Ning Zhen couldn’t speak, Ning Xuchen took the lead in continuing the conversation, “Grandpa’s health hasn’t been great these past two years. At first, I didn’t want to tell him you were in a coma. But considering his strong-willed personality, I eventually told him the truth. He’s already heard the good news and will come to see you soon.”

Thinking of how he couldn’t even sit up now, and yet his elderly father would have to make the trip to visit him, Ning Zhen couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. But what was done was done, and overthinking wouldn’t help.

Ning Xuchen continued, “Now that we’ve found you again, Grandpa wishes to host a banquet to let everyone know about this wonderful news.”

Reuniting with a long-lost relative after so many years and having a full family reunion truly counted as a blessing.

Ning Zhen lifted a hand, signaling for Ning Xuchen to go on.

“Grandpa mentioned it to Xiao Yu, but she didn’t agree on the spot. She said that this kind of thing should be decided by you. What do you think?”

Ning Xiaoyu never had any contact with them and it was clear that she didn’t want much to do with them either— likely fearing they might become a burden.

What saddened Ning Xuchen was that during Ning Xiaoyu’s most difficult times, they had been nowhere to be found.

Now that her life had taken a turn for the better, they suddenly appeared.

Putting himself in her shoes, even Ning Xuchen admitted he might not readily accept such a group of so-called family members either.

Ning Zhen struggled to make a sound, “……A……alright.”

Ning Xuchen tentatively asked, “So the main figures of the banquet would be you and Xiao Yu?”

Upon hearing that, Ning Zhen shook his head slowly but firmly.

Ning Xuchen’s heart sank.

Was his second uncle still thinking about his ex-wife and youngest daughter?

Ning Zhen had to know that that mother and daughter duo hadn’t visited even once in the past seven years, acting as if they wished he’d die soon so they wouldn’t have to be burdened.

Besides, Zhang Xue had already remarried into the Shen family. Regardless of what went on behind closed doors, on the surface, they lived quite glamorously.

If Ning Zhen still held onto hope for them……

Well, besides persuading Ning Zhen, there wasn’t much else Ning Xuchen could do.

Just as he was about to bring up all the selfish and shameless things that the pair had done over the years, Ning Zhen forced himself to speak, “Yu.”

Ning Xuchen frowned slightly. “You mean Ning Xiaoyu?”

Ning Zhen nodded vigorously.

Ning Xuchen guessed, “What about Xiao Yu? Do you want to see her? Unfortunately, she’s still filming a variety show and might not be able to visit right away.”

Ning Zhen shook his head again.

Ning Xuchen tried another guess. “Then you want to speak to her on the phone? That should be doable.”

Thinking of those heartfelt words he had heard in his dazed state, Ning Zhen fell silent again.

He owed his eldest daughter far too much.

Remembering that Ning Xuchen was still in the room, Ning Zhen slowly shook his head once more.

This man, now with gray at his temples, no longer bore any trace of the spirited young master he had once been.

Ning Xuchen saw in Ning Zhen the weight of a life filled with hardship.

For a moment, Ning Xuchen couldn’t bear to look.

How had his second uncle— someone from a prestigious family— ended up living like this?

He was still trying to make sense of Ning Zhen’s words when a thought suddenly struck him. “You mean the banquet should be for Xiao Yu alone? And you’ll just stay in the background?”

Letting the spotlight fall entirely on Ning Xiaoyu?

This time, Ning Zhen finally nodded.

Ning Xuchen let out a breath of relief. It seemed that during these seven years of unconsciousness, Ning Zhen had come to terms with some things.

After all, how could anyone force someone to stay when they were determined to leave?

Sometimes, holding on too tightly wasn’t a virtue.

Ning Xuchen nodded. “I’ll make arrangements right away. I’ll make sure everything is grand and beautiful. Xiao Yu will get all the recognition she deserves. Rest assured.”

Ning Zhen trusted this nephew he had never met. After all, he was the son of his older brother who had always done things in a swift and decisive manner.

At this point, the conversation had run its course.

Not wanting to disturb Ning Zhen’s rest any longer, Ning Xuchen politely took his leave. After all, Ning Zhen still had to meet with the old master soon.

When the father and son who were separated for decades met again, who knew what words they might exchange?

But that was not something a member of the younger generation like Ning Xuchen needed to interfere with.

────ρя


Elsewhere, Ning Xiaoyu still had no idea that Ning Zhen had regained consciousness. She was lying comfortably on the grass, enjoying a well-earned rest.

The insect-repelling powder provided by the natives worked wonders and no mosquitoes or bugs had come near while she lay there.

She completely emptied her mind, lying there like a salted fish doing nothing, when the main team that Ning Yuwei belonged to finally arrived.

Brother Wang, the eldest of the group, stepped forward as their representative to negotiate.

He held a few pieces of chocolate that Ning Yuwei had given him and gestured while speaking, “Porridge. We want porridge.”

Perhaps because they came in such an aggressive manner and with overwhelming numbers, the natives reacted with obvious hostility. Before long, quite a few of them rushed out from the tribe, holding bows and arrows.

Mu Jiajia frowned. “Brother Wang, something’s off. Why does it feel like they’re not welcoming us?”

Shen Yueyue, who overheard the conversation from a distance: “……”

You people showed up in a big group like you were here to start something, so how can they possibly welcome you? The fact they haven’t already started a fight is already considered restrained.

The natives let out low, broken growls from their throats, sounding like the noise a dog makes when it sees an enemy.

It was obvious they were warning the group not to come any closer, or they would resort to violence.

Seeing the tension escalate, and conflict on the verge of breaking out, Ning Yuwei hurriedly spoke up, “Hungry, food!”

Previously, Ning Xiaoyu had successfully used those words to bluff her way into getting some porridge, so they figured it might work for them too.

Watching all this unfold from nearby, Shen Yueyue couldn’t help but let out a quiet snort of laughter.

Ning Yuwei always looked down on Ning Xiaoyu and disapproved of her methods, yet there she was copying Ning Xiaoyu exactly.

How ironic.

And their whole attitude— acting high and mighty while holding chocolates, like they were bestowing alms upon the natives— did they really come to exchange for food? Or were they just picking a fight?

Fortunately, Shen Yueyue didn’t laugh too loudly, so no one else noticed her.

However, Ning Yuwei’s words had no effect whatsoever.

The natives didn’t even understand those two words.

Back then, the leader of the tribe had only understood Ning Xiaoyu because of her harmless salted-fish face, which practically reeked of disinterest in conflict, along with her lively and humorous body language.

Moreover, Ning Xiaoyu’s gestures had been down-to-earth and easy to understand. Her exaggerated motions had naturally blended into the tribe’s atmosphere and quickly closed the distance between both sides.

Now Ning Yuwei only said those two words with no gestures, so it obviously wasn’t going to work.

The natives still looked at the group with cold vigilance. Besides the growling, some had begun speaking in a string of garbled syllables.

【What are they saying? Does anyone understand this language?】

【How would anyone know? You think everyone is the salted fish queen with a maxed-out talent in language?】

【With this many people showing up, and the tribe looking so poor, they might not even be able to offer any food.】

【If they came to ask for food, shouldn’t they act a bit friendlier?】

Some viewers, who weren’t fans of Ning Yuwei, couldn’t help but complain. Meanwhile, the atmosphere between the two sides grew even tenser.

Seeing the natives gripping their bows and arrows more tightly, the production crew quickly raised their hands to show they meant no harm.

They didn’t dare to retreat either, afraid the natives might shoot arrows at them from behind.

Damn it, these primitives were savage and backward!

Why had they even thought the tribe would agree to trade with them in the first place?

Just then, the director finally remembered that Ning Xiaoyu seemed to understand a bit of the tribe’s language. He immediately began searching for her, and with some help from viewers, found the salted fish queen lying comfortably nearby.

When the director saw Ning Xiaoyu lying there so content and at ease, he didn’t even know what to say.

They were over there anxious and fidgeting, while she was lying here relaxed and peaceful?

Was this the gap between people?

He cleared his throat. “Xiaoyu, we’re in a bit of trouble. Can you help smooth things over?”

Having her nap interrupted, Ning Xiaoyu couldn’t even be bothered to speak. She lazily replied with just one word, “What?”

The director said, “As long as you help de-escalate the conflict, I’ll give you a raise!”

Ever since she had been bound to the love system, Ning Xiaoyu no longer lacked money. Still, since she was bound to the system once, it meant she could be unbound one day too.

The love system would eventually leave.

But the money in her hands would never leave her.

Thinking that, Ning Xiaoyu opened one eye and slowly asked, “How much?”

【Here it comes— the salted fish queen’s signature move, the one-eyed look is back!】

【I’m dying laughing. The contrast between Xiao Yu’s peaceful vibe and the others’ tense standoff is too sharp.】

【Salted Fish Queen: As long as I dodge fast enough, trouble can’t catch me.】

The director gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll give you the same pay as a starlet!”

There was only one starlet in 《Hi, My Friend》.

It was Ning Yuwei.

Ning Xiaoyu had always received the lowest pay before, totally incomparable to Ning Yuwei. Now, being offered the same treatment meant she was winning big.

Ning Xiaoyu still only opened one eye and said, “Alright.”

The love system let out a pleased sigh. 〖Girl, you’ve finally grown.〗

In the past, its host wouldn’t even bother to stir up trouble for her cheap younger sister. She had once been a salted fish to an absurd degree.

Then Ning Xiaoyu added while still lying down, “One more thing.”

The director quickly asked, “What is it?”

“Dinner for the four of us. You’re covering it.”

The director gritted his teeth. “Deal!”

It was just dinner! As long as they didn’t get into a conflict with the natives and no guests got hurt, everything would be fine!

With the director’s promise secured, Ning Xiaoyu finally started to get up from the ground.

She raised her hand and called out, “Danayi, Danayi!”