Lu Yan was silent for a few seconds and wanted to stop her. "Miaomiao, maybe we should still..."
"Answer it." Ning Anmiao took a deep breath to steady herself. All her attention was fixed on the phone screen.
Fine sweat was seeping out from her palms.
She didn't want to admit it, but she had to.
She was looking forward to this call from her father.
"Hello."
The moment the old man's voice came from the phone, Ning Anmiao's eyelashes fluttered slightly. The breath she had just managed to steady became unsteady again.
She opened her mouth but covered it with her hand instead. Her eyes were on Lu Yan.
"Ning Anmiao, why aren't you saying anything?" On the other end of the phone, Ning Zhijing's voice was neither angry nor pleased, with his usual authority.
Seeing that Lu Yan didn't answer her father, Ning Anmiao got a bit anxious. She reached out and poked him, signaling him to respond quickly.
"Go ahead."
Lu Yan tugged at his lips and stiffly uttered two words.
Lu Yan, who always had everything under control, for the first time felt so uncertain when facing a phone call.
He could guess that Ning Zhijing's call was definitely not to care about Ning Anmiao.
"Humph, you've grown bold, haven't you?"
Sure enough, after hearing the sound, Ning Zhijing suddenly raised his voice. "Where have you lost your upbringing! Do you really not plan to recognize me as your father anymore!"
"With a man backing you up, you don't even understand the most basic courtesy?"
Hearing her father's scolding, Ning Anmiao was extremely anxious. Her eyes pleaded with Lu Yan, and she almost knelt down for him.
Lu Yan closed his eyes and really wanted to end the call.
"Dad, it's my fault." Unable to resist Ning Anmiao's pleading gaze, he mechanically opened his mouth. "Do you have something to tell me?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Ning Zhijing's voice became even harsher, with an accusatory attitude. "I heard you met Xixi?"
"Yes, we ran into each other before." Lu Yan calmly spoke, looking composed.
Hearing the other side admit it, Ning Zhijing got even angrier and directly shouted into the phone. "You and Xixi have been friends since childhood. How could you bully her!"
Bully her?
"Originally, I never approved of you marrying Lu Yan, a scion of a business family. It's fine that you don't avoid her, but you even boldly let him bully Xixi's fiancé for you?"
"Ning Anmiao, you've really grown capable now. With a backer, you've started to bully your own people, haven't you?"
Ning Anmiao was stunned.
She suddenly felt that her previous anticipation had now turned into countless sharp swords, swarming towards her and stabbing directly into her chest.
It turned out that Ning Zhijing had contacted her actively just to support Jiang Xixi.
Lu Yan held the phone and silently watched Ning Anmiao, observing every emotional fluctuation of hers. He didn't say a single word into the phone anymore.
"Ning Anmiao, if you have any conscience, tell that Lu guy to stop right away. It'll be the wedding day soon. Do you want so many people to laugh at the Jiang family?"
"The Jiang family has treated you like their own since childhood. Is this how you repay them? All the principles I've taught you have really gone to waste!"
Ning Zhijing was a scholar and couldn't say anything too harsh, but these words were already hurtful enough.
Seeing Ning Anmiao sitting across from him with her eyes turning red in an instant.
Lu Yan frowned slightly. He wanted to refute into the phone countless times, but in the end, he didn't say a word.
He knew that Ning Anmiao didn't want him to do that.
In Miaomiao's heart, even though her father was extremely disappointed in her and even drove her out of the house, she was still unwilling to argue with her father even once.
Sometimes, her stubbornness was so heart - wrenching.
"Anyway, handle Xixi's matter as soon as possible. Don't act recklessly just because you have a reliable man!"
"If you don't handle it well, I'll go to Shanghai myself and break your legs!"
As soon as the words were spoken, there was a series of busy tones on the phone.
Ning Zhijing hung up.
Without even looking at the screen, Lu Yan casually threw the phone aside and sat down next to Ning Anmiao.
At this moment, Ning Anmiao's back was very tense. Her fists were tightly clenched, and she hung her head in silence.
Lu Yan knew that she was holding back.
Being scolded by her own father without any investigation, anyone would feel wronged.
Not to mention Ning Anmiao.
"Miaomiao, don't hold it in."
Lu Yan pursed his lips, but he didn't know how to say the comforting words.
He was not good at this kind of thing.
Ning Anmiao kept her head down. Suddenly, she let out a breath, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes.
However, it still seemed that she was about to lose control.
"Why..."
After a long time, she finally looked up. With tear - filled eyes, she looked at Lu Yan. Her throat was already hoarse. "Who on earth is his daughter?"
Lu Yan didn't answer.
This was a family matter of the Ning family, and it was also a conflict between Ning Anmiao and her father.
He had no right to interfere, nor was he qualified to comment.
"You'll always be his daughter, Miaomiao."
Lu Yan spoke. His voice was reassuring. "It's just that the conflict between you and him hasn't been resolved yet."
"He needs time, and so do you."
Ning Anmiao's eyelashes fluttered. She reached out to wipe away her tears. When she looked up again, her eyes were dull.
She didn't need meaningless comfort.
She had heard Ning Zhijing's attitude clearly just now.
"Lu Yan, do me a favor."
"Go ahead."
Ning Anmiao took a few deep breaths and adjusted her emotions a little. "Give up targeting Yanyun and give Lin Chuluo a chance."
Lu Yan wasn't surprised by Ning Anmiao's decision.
"Okay."
Almost without any hesitation, Lu Yan directly agreed to her. "I'll return the shares intact, and all the elite employees I've poached will be sent back."
"As for the public opinion..."
Before Lu Yan could finish talking about the remedial measures, Ning Anmiao interrupted him. "Returning the shares is enough. The elite employees can stay in Xinghe."
Since Ning Zhijing just wanted Lin Chuluo to have a chance to survive, giving him a chance to catch his breath was enough.
There was no need to let him return to his previous state unscathed.
Ning Anmiao pursed her lips and said in a soft voice. "I owe you this time. I'll find a way to pay you back later."
After saying that, she got up directly and walked into the study.
She needed some time to be alone.
Seeing her walk away in a hurry, Lu Yan watched her departing back with a deep look in his eyes and curved his lips.
Owe him this time?
What she owed him was far more than just this.
...
In the study.
Ning Anmiao could no longer hold it in. She curled up on the chair, hugging her legs with her arms and burying her head in them. Her whole body formed a closed triangle.
Sobs kept coming out.
The sound insulation in the study wasn't very good. When Lu Yan passed by the door, he could still hear the sound inside.