Contract Marriage: The Tycoon's Pampered Wife
Chapter 27 - 027: It’s me, Quan Yu.

Chapter 27: 027: It’s me, Quan Yu.

After Li Annan left, Ning Guiwan sat in the cafe for a while longer before returning to the company.

Outside the manager’s office, Ren Xiaofei appeared anxious. Seeing her, she immediately approached. "Manager Ning, are you all right?"

Ning Guiwan walked into the office and asked with a smile, "What could be wrong with me?"

Ren Xiaofei scrutinized her carefully for a moment. Seemingly convinced by her expression, which showed no sign of sadness or distress, she breathed a sigh of relief before going to the water dispenser to pour her a cup of water.

"So, what do you plan to do now? Continue dating Mr. Li, or break up?"

Ning Guiwan took a sip of water and looked at Ren Xiaofei. "You seem very interested in my personal matters?"

Her question was casual, but it made Ren Xiaofei stiffen, her expression clearly unnatural. She quickly covered it up by saying, "I was just asking. If you don’t want to answer, pretend I didn’t ask."

"There’s a meeting at four-thirty. I’ll go organize the materials for you."

Watching Ren Xiaofei’s hasty retreat, Ning Guiwan’s gaze slightly intensified. People generally aim high, but Ren Xiaofei deliberately aimed low, opting to be her assistant instead of taking the Director’s Assistant position.

「...」

The meeting ended before six o’clock. In Shencheng, the sky didn’t darken early at this time of year; the sun was still hanging in the west. As Ning Guiwan passed a flower shop, she stopped to pick out a bouquet of lilies and two bunches of white chrysanthemums, then drove northward to Beishan Cemetery.

By the time she arrived, it was completely dark.

The cemetery at night was not just colder than during the day, but also more desolate.

Ning Guiwan first placed the two bunches of white chrysanthemums at her maternal grandparents’ gravestone, then walked towards her mother’s grave.

Under the dim streetlights, she noticed a fresh bouquet of lilies in front of her mother’s gravestone, much to her surprise.

Death is like a lamp snuffed out. It has been four years since Mother passed away, yet someone still remembers to visit her. It must be someone who misses her dearly. Who could it be? Father?

The thought had barely formed when Ning Guiwan scoffed, dismissing it.

He’s probably busy consoling that precious daughter he had with Yun Shu. How could he possibly have time to come here and remember Mother?

On her drive back to the city, Ning Guiwan mulled over this. She was slightly distracted, and in just two or three seconds, she rear-ended the taxi in front of her.

Ning Guiwan’s forehead hit the steering wheel. Before she could recover, the taxi driver was already banging on her window with a furious demeanor.

She pressed down on her wildly beating heart and rolled down the window. The driver frowned. "How do you drive?"

"Sorry." Ning Guiwan opened her door and got out. She checked the point of impact between the two vehicles; the damage wasn’t severe.

"I’ll take responsibility for this."

Seeing her sincere attitude, the taxi driver’s expression eased. Just as he was about to speak, the taxi’s left rear door opened. The girl who stepped out looked at Ning Guiwan, her face alight with surprise.

"Xiaowan?"

Ning Guiwan looked up. Recognizing the girl’s face, her smile slowly deepened. "Lai Yang."

Lai Yang was Ning Guiwan’s childhood friend. They had been in the same class from elementary school through high school and were once inseparable. At the end of the first semester of their senior year, Lai Yang immigrated to Singapore with her parents. Initially, they kept in touch, but after Ning Guiwan encountered troubles and moved abroad, they lost contact.

"It really is you!"

Lai Yang’s face lit up with joy. Clutching her limited-edition handbag, she trotted over to Ning Guiwan and affectionately linked arms with her. "It’s been four or five years since we last saw each other! I’ve missed you terribly!"

「Half an hour later, at a Chinese restaurant.」

They both ordered their dishes. Lai Yang sipped her juice while carefully studying Ning Guiwan. "You’ve changed so much. I almost didn’t recognize you on the street earlier."

"You’ve changed a lot too."

"Am I prettier than before?" Lai Yang touched her cheek, her smile revealing a world-unaware innocence.

Looking at her innocent expression, Ning Guiwan was reminded of her own carefree younger days. The gloom in her heart seemed to dissipate somewhat, and her smile became more genuine. "When has our great beauty Lai ever not been stunning?"

Lai Yang’s maternal grandfather was French, and she had inherited his high-bridged nose and large eyes from her mother. From a young age, she had been a beauty with a strong, exotic flair.

Upon hearing Ning Guiwan’s words, Lai Yang cupped her cheeks and giggled. Suddenly remembering something, she gave Ning Guiwan a knowing wink. "Are you and your Brother Xiangru getting married soon?"

Ning Guiwan’s expression froze for a moment before she offered a faint smile. "Yes, he is getting married."

"But the bride isn’t me."

"How is that possible!" Lai Yang’s voice rose. "You two were so in love..."

Before she went to Singapore, she and Ning Guiwan were stuck together like glue all day. No one understood Ning Guiwan’s relationship with Quan Xiangru better than she did. And Ning Guiwan wouldn’t joke about something like this.

"Did that Quan guy cheat on you?"

Ning Guiwan lowered her gaze, a slight smile on her lips. "We broke up."

The past betrayal was real, but so were the past feelings. Ning Guiwan didn’t want to slander anyone; it was a way of respecting their past relationship, and respecting herself.

"But why?" Lai Yang was bewildered. "In the past, the thing you talked about most was marrying Quan Xiangru after graduating from university. Why did you break up?"

Ning Guiwan didn’t want to dwell on the matter any longer and casually changed the subject. "Are you back for good this time, or just visiting for a few days before heading back?"

At the mention of this, Lai Yang’s face fell, and she looked as if she bore a terrible grievance. "Don’t even get me started! I secretly ran back here because my dad actually wants me to marry some old, divorced man. Anyone who wouldn’t run would be a fool!"

"Oh, by the way, I haven’t found a place to stay yet. Can I come home with you?"

Lai Yang propped her chin in her hands, flashing a wide grin, her big eyes blinking.

Ning Guiwan: "..."

「...」

Ning Qinghan was still hospitalized. Ning Honghua and Ning Rongyue weren’t home tonight, so the villa felt empty and quiet.

It was very late by the time they finished tidying up and went to bed. Lai Yang, who wasn’t prone to sleeplessness in unfamiliar beds and had been traveling all day, fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Ning Guiwan, however, tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

After adjusting Lai Yang’s blanket several times, she got up, went downstairs, and poured herself a glass of whiskey. She downed it in one gulp, then returned to bed, finally feeling a little drowsy.

「The next morning.」

She was awakened by her ringing phone.

Lai Yang was also disturbed, mumbling impatiently before turning over to continue sleeping. Ning Guiwan groggily answered the phone.

"Hello? Who is this?" Her voice was thick with sleep.

There was a pause on the other end before a low, resonant male voice came through. "It’s me, Quan Yu."

Those four simple words instantly chased away all of Ning Guiwan’s sleepiness.

She opened her eyes and instinctively turned to look at Lai Yang before asking, "Uncle Yu, is there something you need?"

"Tell Lai Yang I’ll be there to pick her up in half an hour."

Ning Guiwan: "..."

Lai Yang’s maternal grandmother and Old Master Quan were biological siblings, making Quan Yu Lai Yang’s first cousin, once removed. Clearly, Lai Yang’s whereabouts had already been discovered. Ning Guiwan wasn’t surprised; given the Quan Family’s stature and their intricate network of connections in Shencheng, finding someone was all too easy.