Seeing Jiang Xixi spouting nonsense, "Ning Anmiao" frowned. "Please get your facts straight. It was Lin Chuluo who struck first."
"Struck first? That was clearly self - defense!"
Jiang Xixi got excited as soon as this topic came up. "My fiancé has congenital mental illness. You provoked him and kept pestering him. That's what forced him to act."
"You just got a scratch on your head, but he was exposed by the media, causing Yunyun to lose hundreds of thousands. How dare you even bring this up!"
Lu Yan was speechless and embarrassed.
It was the first time he had heard someone turn black into white.
This Jiang Xixi was truly love - struck.
Facing such a stubborn and unreasonable person, he found her annoying and didn't bother to reason with her anymore.
"Mr. Lu, you businessmen always like to pursue profit. Don't you feel ashamed to marry a woman who likes to flirt around?"
"Lu Yan" didn't say a word. Apparently, he wasn't affected by her goading.
Seeing that "Lu Yan" didn't react and "Ning Anmiao" also showed no interest in her, Jiang Xixi gritted her teeth in anger.
She stamped her foot in rage. Then, as if remembering something, she venomously said, "No wonder Uncle Ning, who always doted on you, was willing to kick you out of the Ning family."
"A cheap woman like you is not worthy of being a descendant of the Ning family. Uncle Ning was so good to you, and my brother..."
At this point, she realized something and stopped. Then, she just sneered, "A woman like you who is unmotivated and always wants to take shortcuts by relying on men will never have a good end in life."
"If Uncle Ning knew you were having affairs and ruining your virtue outside, he'd probably regret having you in this lifetime!"
"You still want to go back to the Ning family? In your dreams!"
"Shut up!"
Suddenly, the silent "Lu Yan" roared. His eyes were gloomy, and his breathing quickened. "Since when did you get the right to dictate the affairs of the Ning family?"
"Get out, right now."
"Lu Yan" said coldly with a straight face, "Jiang Xixi, watch your words. The Jiang family is a respectable family. Don't disgrace it."
Jiang Xixi didn't expect that "Lu Yan" would still stand up for "Ning Anmiao" in this situation. As a young girl who had never been shouted at like this, she was stunned.
"Ning Anmiao" didn't even get angry. "Lu Yan" was just an outsider. Why should he be so angry?
After hearing these words, her eyes instantly turned red. She wiped her tears aggrievedly, then rushed out and slammed the door hard.
Finally, the ward was quiet.
Seeing Jiang Xixi finally leave, Ning Anmiao's tense body gradually relaxed. Her roar just now seemed to have exhausted all her strength.
At this moment, she slumped into the chair and stared blankly out of the window. Bit by bit, a sour feeling welled up in her chest.
Although Jiang Xixi's words were meant to provoke "Ning Anmiao", they did hit home.
Her memory seemed to be pulled back again, and the voice of the once kind - hearted but now heart - broken and angry man still echoed in her ears—
"You're not worthy to be my daughter, not worthy to be a daughter of the Ning family!"
"Get out! From now on, I, Ning Zhijing, don't have a daughter like you!"
She lowered her head, unable to hold back the tears.
Lu Yan was lying in bed. Looking at the dejected Ning Anmiao beside him, his temples throbbed. He felt his headache getting worse.
It was all that Jiang Xixi's fault for making his wife cry.
When his wife cried, he had to comfort her.
"Miaomiao, come here."
He raised his hand and waved to Ning Anmiao. "Sit closer."
"What for?" Her voice was muffled, and there was already a hint of a sob in her throat, but she still stubbornly asked.
"Let me see what my face looks like when crying. I've rarely cried in my life." Lu Yan said softly with a hint of a smile.
"I didn't cry." Ning Anmiao bit her lip tightly and deliberately said stubbornly, "I'm just worried about getting a scar on my head. I was just anxious for a moment."
"Okay, I believe you." Lu Yan went along with her poor excuse. "Don't worry. I'll ask my secretary to find the best scar - fading medicine so that there won't be a single scar on your body."
"Is there really such a medicine?" Ning Anmiao looked up and murmured to herself.
Scars on the body could be faded with medicine and time. But what about the scars on the heart?
She didn't know.
Lu Yan, of course, knew what she was asking. He raised his hand and placed it on top of her head.
"Even if they can't be completely eliminated, at least they can become a memory."
"A memory that will make you smile after a long time."
Ning Anmiao smiled bitterly. "I don't think these scars will ever become a laughingstock in the future."
These scars were more like thorns.
Thorns that were stuck in the tip of her heart, bleeding all the time.
After being comforted by Lu Yan, the grievance and sadness that had welled up in her chest just now eased a little. She composed herself.
"What did you and Lin Chuluo talk about in the alley?"
Ning Anmiao suddenly remembered that she didn't really know much about this accident.
All she knew was that when she arrived, Lu Yan was already lying on the ground.
Lu Yan glanced at Ning Anmiao but didn't say a word.
He remembered.
Lin Chuluo had said that Yunyun could be a stepping - stone for Miaomiao's development; that he could get closer to Ning Zhijing through a marriage alliance with the Jiang family and reconcile the father - daughter relationship.
Thinking of this, he said in a deep voice, "What Yunyun can do, Xinghe can do just as easily."
Ning Anmiao was stunned for a moment before she realized what he was talking about.
He was probably referring to the matter of allocating a portion of funds for fashion design and opening a second production line.
She quickly shook her head. "No, the risk is too high."
"Xinghe hasn't been around for long, and its foundation isn't solid enough. It's not suitable to change the development direction temporarily."
Lu Yan frowned and said expressionlessly, "If Lin Chuluo can do it, can't I?"
"Or do you underestimate my ability so much?"
Ning Anmiao was too lazy to argue with him. She waved her hand. "In any case, it's not suitable for Xinghe at present."
"Moreover, I'm quite happy being the design director. There's no need to expand further."
Looking at Ning Anmiao's naivety, Lu Yan looked at her half - smiling.
"I really don't know if you're really innocent or just pretending to be stupid."
"Miaomiao, do you think I'd go to so much trouble to find factories and select partners just to prepare clothes for the artists?"
Lu Yan glanced at Ning Anmiao and continued, "Or do you think I set up the position of 'Fashion Design Director' just to keep you busy?"