Contract Marriage: The Tycoon's Pampered Wife
Chapter 28 - 028: A nonchalant look of indifference

Chapter 28: 028: A nonchalant look of indifference

After hanging up the call, Ning Guiwan checked the time—it was almost seven o’clock in the morning.

Lai Yang always had a poor sleeping posture, so Ning Guiwan pulled the blanket over her exposed legs, rolled out of bed, finished washing up, and changed out of her pajamas before gently nudging Lai Yang’s shoulder.

"Time to get up. Your Second Uncle is coming to pick you up soon."

"Just a little longer..." Lai Yang murmured and rolled over again. After a few seconds of quiet, she suddenly sat up, staring at Ning Guiwan with a face full of terror. "Who did you say?"

Ning Guiwan smiled faintly.

But Lai Yang looked as if she were facing a formidable enemy. It’s over, it’s over...

It took her ten minutes to get herself ready. Then, she sat bolt upright on the living room sofa downstairs, like a primary school student waiting to be questioned by the teacher.

Seeing her like this, Ning Guiwan couldn’t help but laugh. "Are you that afraid of him?"

Lai Yang drooped her pretty face and nodded miserably. "Am I really such a coward? I’m not even afraid of my own dad, but this Second Uncle... he terrifies me. What can I do? He always has such a stern face, says so little, and I don’t even know him well. The moment I see him, I get nervous, feeling like I owe him hundreds of millions..."

Before she could finish speaking, there was a sound from the entrance.

Lai Yang immediately fell silent, her eyes wide as she watched, as if a ferocious beast might pounce out at any moment.

However, it was Ning Rongyue who entered.

As Lai Yang breathed a sigh of relief, she rolled her eyes. "Oh, it’s you. What are you doing here?"

Seeing her, Ning Rongyue was startled for a moment, but then she smiled. "Qinghan is being discharged from the hospital today. I came back to get things ready."

"Then you’ve come to the wrong place, haven’t you? Your house is the small building next door." Lai Yang had never liked Ning Rongyue much. While everyone said she was well-read and sensible, Lai Yang thought she was incredibly fake.

Ning Rongyue’s smile became even more gentle and virtuous. "I moved into the main building four years ago. You went to Singapore so early on, so there are many things you wouldn’t know."

"I can’t talk right now. Dad didn’t come home last night, and he has a board meeting this morning. I need to bring him breakfast in a bit."

After saying this, Ning Rongyue turned to instruct a servant to pack up some breakfast.

Lai Yang sensed something unusual in the air but couldn’t be sure. She turned to look blankly at Ning Guiwan, pointing at Ning Rongyue, who was heading upstairs. "Isn’t her father your dad’s driver? Do drivers also attend board meetings?"

From downstairs, Lai Yang’s voice came again: "Or has she been living in your house for so long that she’s started treating your dad like a godfather? Desperate to become a young lady of the house, isn’t she?"

Ning Rongyue, her back to the two downstairs, felt her face darken instantly upon hearing this.

She was so angry she almost spat blood, her expression twisting. In the past year or two, thanks to her deliberate efforts, most people had almost forgotten her identity as the driver’s daughter. That damned Lai Yang!

Gritting her teeth, she wanted to turn around and retort but feared it would seem too deliberate. Over the years, she had maintained an image of being non-confrontational and understanding; she couldn’t let it be ruined over such a minor thing.

Downstairs, Ning Guiwan sipped her tea, a faint smile on her lips. "She and her sister are my father’s children."

After a pause, she added, "Biologically his."

Even though Lai Yang had her suspicions, she was still shocked to have them confirmed by Ning Guiwan, her mouth agape.

Oh my God! This is simply... Lai Yang didn’t know how to describe it. Her mind had already concocted a melodrama of the patriarch of a wealthy family having an affair with the nanny and cuckolding the driver. After a while, she lowered her voice to ask Ning Guiwan, "What about your mother? Did she divorce your dad?"

No wonder there were no longer any photos of Chi Tingshuang on the walls. Previously, the walls of this home had been adorned with various artistic and candid photographs of Chi Tingshuang.

"She passed away." Ning Guiwan’s pale fingers pinched the cup handle, her expression remarkably calm as she spoke.

Lai Yang’s eyes reddened instantly, and she fell silent.

During this lull, the security guard at the door rushed in to report, "Mr. Quan has arrived."

Ning Guiwan put down her teacup and gently smoothed a few stray hairs on Lai Yang’s cheek, her expression tender. "Alright, don’t look so aggrieved. Your Second Uncle might think I’ve bullied you otherwise."

"Xiaowan..." Lai Yang started to say something, but her words caught in her throat as she glimpsed the tall, imposing figure entering through the doorway. She hurriedly uncrossed her legs, stood up straight, and adopted a newfound docility in her voice.

"Second Uncle."

Quan Yu glanced first at Ning Guiwan, then turned his gaze to his niece, who had sneakily run back to the country. He responded with a faint "Hmm" before walking to the sofa and sitting down.

Ning Guiwan’s eyes were lowered, and she happened to see the clearly defined veins on the man’s ankle as he crossed his legs.

"Running away from home. Quite the feat."

Quan Yu adopted the air of an elder, his tone slow and measured, authoritative without being angry.

Lai Yang hid behind Ning Guiwan, peeking out with only half of her head. Looking at her Second Uncle, she said weakly, "They forced me to marry someone I don’t like; they were unreasonable first. Don’t I have the right to resist?"

Quan Yu looked up. Lai Yang immediately ducked her head back, desperately tugging at Ning Guiwan’s clothes.

Ning Guiwan glanced back at Lai Yang, hesitated for a moment, then flashed a bright smile at Quan Yu. "Uncle Yu, have you had breakfast yet? We haven’t. How about we have breakfast together, and we can talk about things afterward?"

"Yes, yes, I’m starving! Let’s eat first..." Lai Yang popped her head out to chime in.

Quan Yu sat with his legs crossed, his hands casually resting on the armrests—a typical boss’s posture. His demeanor exuded the composed air of someone long seasoned in the business world. His gaze landed on Ning Guiwan’s face, deep and cool. It was as if he was considering her suggestion, yet somehow, it seemed he was not.

After a while, just as Lai Yang was about to break under the pressure of his intense presence, the man finally responded, as if granting a favor.

"Very well."

Lai Yang claimed to be hungry, but in truth, she could hardly eat a bite.

She aimlessly poked at the food on her plate, stealing several glances at her Second Uncle until she finally couldn’t help herself. "Second Uncle, did Dad send you to bring me back?"

Quan Yu ate at an unhurried pace. Hearing her question, he looked up. "You don’t want to go back?"

Lai Yang immediately nodded her head vigorously.

Quan Yu’s gaze seemed to casually pass over Ning Guiwan as he said in a gentle tone, "Your dad is worried about you living alone outside."

"But I’m not living outside! I’m staying at Xiaowan’s place," Lai Yang immediately argued.

Quan Yu was noncommittal. He hadn’t eaten much. Putting down his chopsticks, he lit a cigarette, leaned back against the chair, and smoked slowly in a relaxed manner.

Lai Yang looked at him, furrowed her brows, then looked again. "Or how about this: I’ll stay at your place. You could talk to my dad and ask him to let me stay in the country a few more days, please?"

Quan Yu tapped the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray, his tone casual. "I’ll see what I can do."

Lai Yang was overjoyed. "That’s great! Thank you, Second Uncle!"

"Xiaowan, come and stay with me. Consider it keeping me company. It’s been several years since I’ve been back in the country; I don’t have any familiar friends left."

Her name suddenly called, Ning Guiwan was taken aback.

Her instinct was to look at Quan Yu, but she saw the man exhaling plumes of smoke with an air of detachment, as if it were none of his concern.

"I..." Ning Guiwan intended to refuse.

However, before she could speak, Ning Rongyue appeared at the entrance of the dining room.

"Mr. Quan, when did you arrive?" Ning Rongyue was meticulously dressed. The scar on her left cheek was well-concealed, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and her flowing long dress made her look elegant and gentle.

"Why didn’t any of you tell me?" Even when she chided the servants, her tone carried a note of virtuous gentleness, as if asserting herself as the mistress of the house.

"I’m so sorry, Mr. Quan. If our hospitality has been lacking in any way, please forgive us." Ning Rongyue looked at Quan Yu, her eyes gleaming slightly, the smile on her lips seemingly different from usual.

Quan Yu glanced at her but didn’t reply. He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and stood up. Gracefully straightening his suit, he looked at Lai Yang and said, "I’ll come to pick you up this evening to go to the old family estate."

After speaking, he glanced at Ning Guiwan, his eyes calm and profound. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Ning Guiwan smiled slowly. "I’ll see you out."

Lai Yang followed Ning Guiwan to see Quan Yu off. Ning Rongyue remained standing where she was, her complexion slowly paling.

Quan Yu’s "thank you for your hospitality" to Ning Guiwan was clearly a warning to her that this home was not her place to call the shots.

"Miss, the breakfast you ordered for the Chairman has been packed..." The servant handed a thermal container to Ning Rongyue.

Ning Rongyue turned her head, and the servant jumped in fright.

It was the first time the servant had seen the Miss with such a fearsome look in her eyes.

But by the time the servant regained her composure, Ning Rongyue had already reverted to her usual dignified and gentle self.