Seeing "Ning Anmiao" in a daze, Bai Jiaying let out a sigh, her eyes filled with kindness. "Miaomiao, your father and I sincerely hope that your marriage can bring you happiness and joy, rather than grievances and torment."
"If it's the latter, we'd rather you stay single and accompany us for the rest of your life."
Bai Jiaying wasn't just saying this casually.
After all, the Ning family was quite wealthy. Even after they passed away, the antiques, cultural relics, and ancient books left by the Ning family would be more than enough to support Ning Anmiao for the rest of her life.
Ning Anmiao was, of course, aware of this.
Lu Yan also didn't deny it.
Before getting in the car, Bai Jiaying reminded her to fasten her seat - belt. "Drive slowly on your way back. Pay attention to safety."
"Ning Anmiao" paused for a moment, her expression calm and her emotions steady. "I know. Thank you, Mom."
Not long after the car started, the phone on the side suddenly rang.
He found an intersection, stopped the car, and answered the call.
"Where are you?"
This was their first conversation since the last time.
On the phone, Ning Anmiao's voice was tinged with obvious nervousness. "I heard from the secretary that you drove out of Shanghai?"
Lu Yan frowned slightly.
His secretary was really competent.
"Yeah, I'm in Jiangcheng."
Lu Yan replied in a deep voice and started the car again. "What's up?"
At first, when the secretary reported that "Madam" had driven out of Shanghai, she was a bit surprised.
Given their previous experiences, she was worried that Lu Yan, in her body, would cause more trouble, so she made this call.
But she never expected that he had gone to Jiangcheng. She was momentarily stunned and then asked after a brief silence. "What are you doing in Jiangcheng?"
"I'm driving now. We'll talk when I get back."
Hearing the sound of the car engine starting and the wind blowing in through the window on the other end of the phone, the words Ning Anmiao wanted to ask got stuck in her throat.
"Okay, I'll wait for you to come back."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Yan stepped on the accelerator, and the car slowly moved forward.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and rubbed his temples with his right hand, feeling extremely irritated.
He hadn't figured out how to talk to Ning Anmiao yet.
It was truly a mixed - feeling situation.
---
When it came to Jiangcheng, Ning Anmiao couldn't help but think of the Ning family in Jiangcheng.
Her home.
Lu Yan going to Jiangcheng out of the blue might have something to do with the Ning family.
Thinking of this, Ning Anmiao couldn't sit still in her office. She left the company early and waited for Lu Yan at home.
After about two hours, Ning Anmiao heard the sound of a car engine outside the house. She immediately stood up from the sofa.
As soon as Lu Yan entered the house, while taking off his shoes, he could feel a pair of burning eyes on him.
"You're back quite early today." Lu Yan said calmly, walked towards her, and sat down on the sofa.
After driving for nearly six hours, he was really tired. Leaning against the sofa, his tense body relaxed a bit.
Ning Anmiao nervously bit her lips. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she finally asked. "What did you do in Jiangcheng today..."
"Visited your father."
Lu Yan answered casually, his tone calm. "Your father was hospitalized due to a sudden cerebral infarction."
As soon as he said this, Ning Anmiao held her breath. Her hand hanging by her side tightened suddenly, and she stopped breathing for a moment.
"Fortunately, the rescue was timely. He's out of danger now, and his mental state is good. He should be fine after some recuperation."
As soon as he finished speaking, even Ning Anmiao herself didn't notice that she let out a long sigh of relief. The heart that had been hanging in the air finally settled.
Thank goodness, he was okay.
Lu Yan noticed every subtle expression on her face. He lowered his eyes slightly and said in a soft voice. "He misses you very much."
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao was stunned for a few seconds, then she hooked her lips self - deprecatingly. "He misses me?"
This was even funnier than a joke.
"You went to see him in my appearance. It's lucky that you didn't make him faint again."
Obviously, Ning Anmiao was quite self - aware.
Lu Yan remained calm. Looking at the stubborn Ning Anmiao, he hooked his lips.
They were really father and daughter.
After learning that Ning Zhijing was out of danger, Ning Anmiao calmly coughed twice and said softly. "Thank you."
"For what?"
Ning Anmiao: "For visiting my parents on my behalf."
Ning Anmiao knew very well that if it were her, she probably wouldn't have returned from Jiangcheng so calmly.
In fact, she didn't even have the courage to go back to Jiangcheng alone.
Lu Yan raised his eyebrows, hiding the depth in his eyes. "Don't you want to know what I talked to your father about?"
Ning Anmiao took a deep breath. She felt that Lu Yan was doing it on purpose.
He clearly knew that she cared most about her parents, but he was like squeezing toothpaste, saying one thing after another, not only making her anxious but also deliberately teasing her.
This annoying man.
Seeing Ning Anmiao biting her lips without saying a word, Lu Yan slowly opened his thin lips. "Your father asked when you're going home."
"Humph, I'm not going home. Whoever wants to go can go..."
Ning Anmiao instinctively retorted. Then, when she realized what Lu Yan had said, her pupils suddenly dilated.
"Are you... serious?"
Lu Yan remained expressionless. "Yes, he asked when you're getting divorced and told you to go home early after the divorce."
This was probably what Ning Zhijing meant.
He thought it was necessary to convey this message.
Even though this wasn't what he wanted.
"He said that as long as I get divorced, I can go back to the Ning family?" Ning Anmiao paused, looking stunned. "There are no other requirements?"
"No." As he answered, Lu Yan's eyes darkened slightly.
He could probably guess what Miaomiao's choice would be.
Ning Anmiao looked at Lu Yan's expression. Her lips parted slightly as she was still shocked by what he said.
Ning Zhijing, such a stubborn person, actually agreed to let her go back to the Ning family?
Lu Yan tried not to care about the excitement in Ning Anmiao's eyes. His gaze lightly swept across her face. "So, what's your decision?"
Ning Anmiao frowned tightly.
She didn't answer immediately. Lu Yan wasn't in a hurry either. He just quietly waited for her answer.
After a long while, Ning Anmiao finally replied.
"No divorce."
When he heard these two words, Lu Yan turned to look at her, the corners of his lips curving slightly.
His Miaomiao still...
"Why should I get divorced just because he wants me to?" Ning Anmiao suddenly said, her voice cold. "I don't need anyone to interfere in my life."
"Whether to get divorced or not is a matter between you and me. Even if I want to get divorced, it won't be because I'm bowing to him."
"I've had nothing to do with him since three years ago. What he thinks is his business. It has nothing to do with me."