Contract Marriage: The Tycoon's Pampered Wife
Chapter 36 - 036: Rushing back

Chapter 36: 036: Rushing back

But soon, Ning Guiwan felt that her thoughts were utterly ridiculous.

Quan Yu had emerged halfway to seize control of the family business, and there certainly were many in the group who were unhappy, especially Quan Heng and the directors and shareholders who supported him.

However, over the years, there hadn’t been any news of disturbances within the Ruiyin Group.

This spoke volumes of Quan Yu’s shrewdness and methods.

Such a man certainly needed no one’s sympathy.

...

After that night, Ning Guiwan did not encounter Quan Yu for several consecutive days. Only later did she hear that he had gone abroad on a business trip.

The happiest person during Quan Yu’s absence was probably Lai Yang.

But not everyone was happy.

Old Lady Quan was very unhappy and hadn’t eaten properly for two days.

The reason for this went back two days.

According to the message from Wei Chaolian, Su Liang had taken quite a liking to Ning Guiwan after meeting her. Furthermore, Su Liang’s parents did not view Ning Guiwan with prejudice. This had greatly reassured Old Lady Quan.

Thus, two days ago, when Su Liang’s mother visited with gifts and attendants, Old Lady Quan had happily welcomed them.

But who could have known that one of the household servants had accidentally overheard Su Liang’s mother saying to her own attendant, "If it weren’t for Old Lady Quan doting on her so much, who would want such a base, malicious woman even if she were free? She’d simply ruin the family’s reputation!"

When Old Lady Quan heard this from her servant, she initially didn’t believe it. However, upon confrontation, Su Liang’s mother faltered and eventually left in a hurry with her attendant. Only then did Old Lady Quan understand what had happened.

At this point, how could Old Lady Quan not understand?

She was about to die from anger! What kind of people were these? Her Xiaowan had indeed made some mistakes, but she was young and ignorant at the time. If the Su family couldn’t accept her, why pretend to be magnanimous?

Old Lady Quan couldn’t swallow this insult. She summoned Wei Chaolian and berated her harshly for mishandling the matter.

Wei Chaolian was, in fact, quite blameless in this matter.

It had started when Su Liang’s mother approached Wei Chaolian, asking for help in introducing a suitable girl to Su Liang. Wei Chaolian, who was worried about Ning Guiwan’s prospects, mentioned her to Su Liang’s mother.

Ning Guiwan had a bad reputation and was disregarded by Ning Honghua. Apart from her looks, she seemingly had little to offer, so Wei Chaolian had mentioned Old Lady Quan’s affection for her.

Old Lady Quan doted on Ning Guiwan, so marrying her would be akin to forging a connection with the Quan family.

Upon hearing this, Su Liang’s mother was clearly tempted.

Soon after, she took the initiative to request a matchmaking meeting between her son and Ning Guiwan.

In truth, there was nothing inherently wrong with this; marriages within large families often involved aligning interests.

Wei Chaolian had never imagined that Su Liang’s foolish mother would dare to say such outrageous things on Quan family turf.

"How did you assure me? Given Xiaowan’s special circumstances, you were to carefully select a match where family background didn’t matter as much as character. Yet look at the kind of person you’ve introduced!" Old Lady Quan grew angrier the more she thought about it.

Fully aware that she was in the wrong, Wei Chaolian put on a placating smile. "Cousin, I really did my best. You know Xiaowan’s situation, she’s... quite difficult..."

Especially with that recent scandal. Although the reports were quickly suppressed, those who needed to know already did. Forget marrying well; it’s debatable whether your Xiaowan can even get married off at all.

Of course, Wei Chaolian did not dare to mention this in front of Old Lady Quan.

In fact, Old Lady Quan was well aware of these matters herself, without needing others to point them out.

The more prominent the family, the more they valued appearances.

She couldn’t help but recall her own past. Because she had been divorced, after marrying Old Master Quan, she had endured considerable harshness and disdain from the Quan Matriarch of that time, who was still alive then.

And it was for this very reason that Old Lady Quan was even more worried.

...

Ning Guiwan knew her issues were causing distress for Old Lady Quan, so this evening, she left the company early, planning to go to the supermarket to buy some groceries and cook some favorite dishes for Old Lady Quan.

Lai Yang was waiting for her in the car downstairs.

These days, Lai Yang had volunteered to be her private driver, responsible for her daily commute. During this period, Lai Yang had met a few friends with whom she used to get along quite well.

From those friends, she fully learned what had happened to Ning Guiwan after she had gone to Singapore.

The chauffeur’s daughter had become a half-sister, and her boyfriend had been stolen by this so-called sister. Lai Yang didn’t think Ning Guiwan had done anything too outrageous. She knew how deep Ning Guiwan’s feelings for Quan Xiangru were. If it had been her, she would have done even more.

The supermarket in the mall was on the fifth floor; the four floors below it housed various luxury brand boutiques. When they took the escalator up to the second floor, they happened to run into a friend Lai Yang had reunited with just a couple of days prior.

Lai Yang didn’t even greet her, instead pulling Ning Guiwan straight onto the escalator to the third floor.

She distinctly remembered how those people had badmouthed Xiaowan behind her back.

Ning Guiwan looked back and smiled faintly. "Aren’t you going to say hi to your friend?"

Lai Yang’s pretty face was stern as she glanced away. "There’s nothing to say."

Ning Guiwan just smiled and said nothing.

...

While cooking, Lai Yang followed Ning Guiwan around trying to help, but she was not much help at all; she couldn’t even peel onions properly, her eyes tearing up from the fumes, yet she remained enthusiastic.

Ning Guiwan didn’t consider her a hindrance.

There were three of them eating. Ning Guiwan made two meat dishes, two vegetarian dishes, and a soup.

It all looked quite presentable.

Initially, Old Lady Quan was full of praise, but after a few bites, tears suddenly streamed down her face.

Ning Guiwan and Lai Yang were taken aback.

"Grandma Quan, what’s wrong?" Ning Guiwan asked, offering a tissue.

"Aunt, why are you crying?" Lai Yang asked, completely at a loss.

Old Lady Quan dabbed her tears and choked up. "Xiaowan never used to cook..."

So what? Lai Yang was utterly confused.

Ning Guiwan, however, understood. For a pampered person to become capable of handling hardship, the process must not have been pleasant at all.

"It’s all my fault. When Shu Qin passed away, she entrusted you and your mother to me, but in the end, I didn’t take good care of Tingshuang, nor did I take good care of you..."

All the emotions Old Lady Quan had been suppressing these past few days erupted in that moment. Overcome with agitation, she suddenly fainted.

"Grandma Quan!" Ning Guiwan cried out, her face instantly losing all color.

...

The next morning, Quan Yu hurried back.

In the hospital room, upon seeing his mother on an oxygen tube, he stood still for a moment before turning and leaving.

"Is my second uncle angry?" Lai Yang asked. She had only slept for a few hours in the latter part of the night and now had large dark circles under her eyes.

Ning Guiwan, who had stayed awake all night, looked even more haggard.

She glanced at the hospital room door and stood up. "You stay here and take care of Grandma Quan. I’ll go check on him."

Lai Yang nodded hastily.

This was a private hospital for the elite, serene and luxuriously appointed, catering to dignitaries and the wealthy.

Quan Yu stood at the end of the corridor, facing the window and leaning on the windowsill with both hands. The light from outside enveloped him, making his silhouette appear hazy and indistinct.

Ning Guiwan paused for a few seconds then slowly walked over.

Perhaps hearing her footsteps, Quan Yu slowly turned around. He had a cigarette between his fingers and a black matte lighter in his other hand, but it wasn’t lit.

Ning Guiwan’s gaze slid over the cigarette, finally resting on Quan Yu’s sharply defined face.

He too appeared unrested, fatigue etched between his brows, but his clothing was still immaculate, barely wrinkled.

"I am very sorry," Ning Guiwan said, her eyelashes lowered. "It’s all because of me..."

Before she could finish, Quan Yu suddenly reached out, his hand snaking around her waist and pulling her into his embrace.

Ning Guiwan hastily pressed her hands against the man’s chest.

She couldn’t fathom his thoughts at that moment, only the tight grip of the hand around her waist.

"Uncle Yu..."

Quan Yu’s gaze darkened as he looked at her for a moment, then he suddenly lowered his head.

Ning Guiwan didn’t react in time. His thin lips brushed against the corner of her eye, moving to her ear, his voice very low, "It’s not your fault. You don’t need to blame yourself so much."

The skin where his lips had touched her eye corner burned. Ning Guiwan stiffened, wanting to break free, but Quan Yu released her first.