Chapter 5: Qin Qiulan Escorts Her Back to the Ning Residence

"So, you had the surveillance for that area set up well in advance, too?"

He Mingyuan knew his plan would never come to fruition, so he decided to simply let everything fall apart.

"Yes. I knew you would definitely try to cause trouble for me today, so I contacted the manor's steward and had him install surveillance in every corner of the estate."

The manor had been booked by the Ning family, and as a young lady of the household, her making such a request was only natural. The steward, mistakenly believing it was an order from the Ning family, had agreed without hesitation.

The truth was laid bare.

Ning Huaizhi didn't care to say anything more and turned to leave. She did not need He Mingyuan’s apology—it was meaningless—and she would never forgive him.

He Mingyuan watched her go, finding her deeply unfamiliar. In his memory, Ning Huaizhi was a simple-minded person; she wasn't entirely ignorant of schemes, but she had never been so calculating. When exactly had she changed?

A gust of cold wind blew, and He Mingyuan began to shiver. His clothes were no longer dripping wet, yet they still clung to him like a layer of thin ice. If it had been the old Ning Huaizhi, she surely would have felt sorry for him and wrapped him in a coat. But now, he could only watch as she walked past him without a single glance back.

With the two main protagonists gone, the crowd began to disperse, talking among themselves as they walked.

"I really didn't expect that. Ning Huaizhi is actually quite clever. She knows how to utilize her resources; she has some ability."

"To her, the Ning family is nothing more than a den of lions and tigers. If she didn't have any ability, how could she survive in that house?"

"It’s the first time I've heard of a family not treating their own biological daughter—who they worked so hard to find—with kindness, only to favor an impostor."

"They raised her for eighteen years; even a dog would have formed an attachment by now."

"At least a dog is loyal. What is Ning Lebao, anyway? Calling her a 'white-eyed wolf' is giving her too much credit. The Ning family was kind enough to keep her, and yet she secretly plotted against their true daughter behind their backs."

"It’s because that couple in the Ning family is blind. Otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to be so arrogant."

A woman in a champagne-colored gown and a man walked at the very back.

The woman remarked with a sigh, "Little brother, you were right. She was the one who tampered with the surveillance. How about that? Do you know her?"

"I don't."

The man recalled the eyes he had seen—beautiful and filled with fury, like flames erupting from the deepest core of the earth, capable of burning everything to ash. How could someone with eyes like that be a poor, downtrodden creature? Perhaps everything was already within her grasp.

"Is that so?" The woman took a step forward, blocking his path, her eyes full of mischievous amusement. "And what if I don't believe you?"

"You don't have to believe me," the man replied, his tone calm and devoid of any ripple.

"Sigh, you really are too boring. I just think that if you like the young lady, you should go get to know her. Qin Qiuhong, you aren't young anymore; it's time you paid attention to the major affairs of your life. I think that young lady is quite good..."

The woman's chattering did not reach Qin Qiuhong's ears. He interrupted her directly: "How much money did you take from Mom and Dad for this?"

"Hehe, it's just that I saw a bag recently, and it was just so..."

"I'll have someone send it to your place later. Stop nagging me."

"You got it, little brother."

Having secured her reward, the woman immediately shut her mouth and walked beside him obediently, never mentioning another word. Qin Qiuhong, however, found himself thinking back to her words and those beautiful eyes.

***

With the incident having occurred, the banquet naturally could not continue. The other guests left the mountain villa by car.

Ning Huaizhi stood at the manor entrance, looking around. She did not see her parents, and as for the second young master of the Ning family and Ning Lebao, they were nowhere to be found. She had been brought to the mountain villa by the Ning family driver, and now that she couldn't find anyone, she had no way home.

*Perhaps I should stay at the villa for the night?*

Ning Huaizhi seriously considered the possibility. She had caused quite a scene at the villa tonight, so the steward likely wouldn't be pleased with her, but even if he were displeased, he wouldn't truly leave her stranded.

A silver car braked in front of her. The woman in the driver's seat took off her sunglasses and winked at her: "Miss Ning, would you like a ride?"

Seeing it was her, Ning Huaizhi was stunned for a moment. She remembered this woman, though only from her past life. During this same banquet, when everyone had been accusing her, only this woman had stepped forward to confront He Mingyuan. Although the end result hadn't changed, Ning Huaizhi remained grateful to her. Later, she had inquired about her and learned that she was the eldest daughter of the Qin family, Qin Qiulan.

Ning Huaizhi glanced at the backseat of the car and didn't see anyone else. If she remembered correctly, Qin Qiulan had come to the banquet with her younger brother, Qin Qiuhong, the president of the Qin Group. Perhaps they hadn't arrived together.

Ning Huaizhi collected her thoughts and smiled at the woman: "Then I would appreciate the trouble, Miss Qin."

She did not intend to refuse the offer of kindness; after all, she truly had no way to get down the mountain. Once she sat in the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt, Qin Qiulan asked curiously: "Do you know me?"

"The eldest daughter of the Qin family—I doubt there is anyone at this banquet who doesn't know you."

The Qin family was one of the most prominent families in the capital, and countless people sought to build relationships with them to gain some advantage. A look of scrutiny flickered in Qin Qiulan’s eyes. Ning Huaizhi met her gaze without flinching, her smile clear and serene. Qin Qiulan then withdrew her gaze.

The car fell silent.

"Just now in the monitoring room, thank you for speaking up for me, Miss Qin."

Qin Qiulan was taken aback for a moment, only then recalling what she had said in the monitoring room. She chuckled softly: "It was no trouble at all."

It was just a small matter; she hadn't given it a second thought. She had only spoken up because she found the girl agreeable. Anything more, even if she could help, she wouldn't have done.

"Regardless, thank you anyway."

Qin Qiulan felt, for some reason, that the girl wasn't just referring to that one incident. But other than that, had she and Ning Huaizhi ever had any other interactions?

The other guests had already departed, and the number of vehicles outside the manor had dwindled significantly. Qin Qiulan decided not to dwell on it and started the car to head down the mountain. Along the way, she asked for the Ning family's address and drove the girl directly to their gates.

Ning Huaizhi had spent the journey with her eyes closed, resting, and her fatigue had faded somewhat. She turned to look at Qin Qiulan and said, "Thank you, Miss Qin. I wonder if I might have your contact information? I'd like to treat you to a meal sometime."

"Sure," Qin Qiulan agreed readily.

The two exchanged phone numbers and WeChat IDs. Ning Huaizhi got out of the car and waved goodbye. The silver vehicle soon disappeared into the night.

Ning Huaizhi turned and walked toward the Ning family gates. The guard had already spotted her and opened the gate. The steward hurried over, and seeing that Ning Huaizhi was alone, he hesitated: "Third Miss, did Master and Madam not return with you?"

"They haven't returned yet?" Ning Huaizhi raised an eyebrow. *Could they still be busy coddling Ning Lebao?* That made sense; Ning Lebao had suffered such great humiliation today, surely they would be heartbroken for a while.

"Would you like to call them and ask?"

"No need. I'm a bit tired, I'm going to go back and rest."

Ning Huaizhi refused directly and walked straight toward her living quarters.