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nSong Ning’s eyes brimmed with tears again.

nMu Chen gently caressed her cheeks as he said, “Ningning, your problem is you worry too much about things that have yet to happen. You try to plan for every eventuality, but life’s unpredictable. It’s impossible to plan for everything. What can you do by worrying needlessly?”

nWhen he saw that Song Ning was listening to him attentively, he smiled and added, “Learn from Grandma and live in the present. Whatever will come, will come. We just need to face it calmly at that time. I only hope that you won’t be too sad and too hard on yourself if something unexpected happens…”

nSong Ning understood Mu Chen’s meaning. She said, “Don’t worry. He thoroughly broke my heart back then. No matter what he does in the future, I won’t be sad anymore. I only have anger left for him.”

nMu Chen remained silent even though he thought there was little to no difference between sadness and anger. They were both emotionally exhausting.

n…

nNing Zhe paced back in his study, trying to suppress the anger that threatened to overflow in his heart.

nNing Chun stood at the side, too afraid to speak.

nNing Zhe finally came to a stop next to his table with a determined expression on his face as though he had finally made up his mind. He said to Ning Chun, “On the opening day of Zhuang Ji, send ten baskets of flowers to congratulate my daughter in my name.”

nNing Chun was stunned. “You’re going to make the Young Miss’s identity public?”

nNing Zhe nodded.

n“But…” Ning Chun said.

nNing Zhe raised his hand and interjected, “Since she’s unwilling to return, I can only force her to admit she’s the Eldest Young Miss of the Ning family. Her mother raised her to be so stubborn. As her father, I have to teach her a lesson.”

nNing Chun asked worriedly, “What if Young Miss reveals what happened in the past?”

nNing Zhe fell silent. After a moment, he looked up and said with a sigh, “Is this retribution? Ning Chun, do you think the Ning family will be affected by what happened back then?”

nNing Chun mulled over Ning Zhe’s words before he replied, “I don’t think it’s a big deal. Most influential and wealthy families are no strangers to this kind of incident. It’s not even sensational enough to become a dinner conversation. However, on the off chance that it develops in a different direction, I’m afraid Madam and Young Master will become targets of public criticism.”

nNing Zhe nodded. “There will always be gains and losses to everything. There’s nothing I can do if things develop in that direction. I’ve never mistreated the pair of mother and son. If Ning Dong does well, I’ll naturally make the best arrangements for him.” He sighed before he continued to say, “Back then, if it weren’t for Ning Dong’s recklessness, I’d have another son. If Su Tong didn’t anger Ning Xia, would things turn out this way? It’s really retribution. An eye for an eye. It’s fine if Ning Xia wants revenge. It’s only right that I let her vent her anger, right? After all, she’s my flesh and blood. Moreover, she’s now married into the Mu family.”

nNing Chun had nothing to say to these words, and so, the two men fell silent.

n…

nOutside the door of Ning Zhe’s study, a figure quietly retreated, dragging his bag on the floor as he left.

nNing Dong locked the door after he entered his room and slumped against the door dejectedly. He pressed his hand against his forehead, trying his best to hold back his tears, but it was futile.

nWhen he closed his eyes, he saw a woman lying in a pool of blood with a pained expression on her face.

nAt that time, they had said that the woman’s child, his half-brother, was gone. The fact that he had robbed his half-brother of his life was a nightmare that would plague him for the rest of his life.

nHe truly did not do it on purpose, but no one would listen to a child’s explanation. No one cared about his lingering nightmare.

nAfter so many years, he thought that the matter had passed. At the very least, on the surface, no one mentioned the matter anymore. However, he was wrong.

nThis matter had always been a thorn in his father’s heart. Moreover, his father was using the matter as a reason to let his sister do whatever she wanted. In order to let his sister vent her anger, his father was willing to go all out to the extent of sacrificing him. It was clear to him that between him and his sister who was more important to their father.

nAfter so many years, no matter how obedient he was, he still failed to meet his father’s expectations. It was similar for his mother as well. It seemed like in his father’s eyes, no matter what he and his mother did, they would not be able to satisfy him.

nHow could one compare to someone who had passed? One would always cherish those they could not have and take what they already had for granted. That scheming woman and his beautiful and gentle sister would forever live in his father’s heart.

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