The already quiet lounge bar was now even quieter.
The two of them were sitting face to face, seemingly waiting for the other's next words.
Ning Anmiao closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, but still couldn't calm her surging emotions.
It was as if the things she had always deliberately ignored were brought out again by Yin Yiyan, making her clearly realize that she simply couldn't let go.
She couldn't let go of the industry she had always loved.
Ning Anmiao's shoulders trembled slightly. After a few seconds, she downed the grape juice in her glass in one gulp. Finally, she couldn't hold back the answer that had always been too scary to speak out.
"You're right. I can't be a coward anymore."
If she could be so determined to fight with her family for her love three years ago, then three years later, she naturally couldn't choose to compromise so easily.
But this time, she wouldn't be as impatient as she was three years ago.
She had grown up and matured.
Hearing this, the seriousness in Yin Yiyan's eyes turned into surprise. "Changed your mind?"
Ning Anmiao looked up at her, her tone even more determined than before. "Yes, I promise you."
"I promise you that we'll open a studio together and create our own brand."
---
Even though Ning Anmiao had made up her mind, she still needed to take care of other things.
For example, she had promised to accompany her mother back to Jiangcheng.
She promised Yin Yiyan that she would stay in Jiangcheng for a week to catch up with her parents, and then return to Shanghai to find her.
"Okay, it's a deal." Yin Yiyan grinned. "If that's the case, I'll go and apply for the studio license in the next few days."
Ning Anmiao nodded with a smile. "Let me know if you need anything."
Yin Yiyan blinked. "You don't need to do anything. Just send me your ID number later."
"After all, it's our studio."
...
A few days later, Ning Anmiao and Bai Jiaying returned to Jiangcheng together.
When she returned to the familiar mansion, Ning Anmiao realized that her home was even warmer than she remembered.
Ning Anmiao knew that her family's mansion was always the most classical and elegant one in Jiangcheng. Whether it was the exterior design of the whole building or the interior details, they all showed the grace and grandeur of the Ning family.
Spacious and bright.
Standing at the door, she even felt a bit awkward.
"Come in quickly. This is your home. Don't act like a guest." Bai Jiaying greeted her with a beaming smile.
Everything was just as she remembered. The furniture in the house hadn't changed. The classical tea set of her father was still on the coffee table.
On the table, there were also the antique jade beads that her mother often liked to fiddle with and the fine embroidery. Everything seemed so harmonious and warm.
She couldn't help but wet her eyes.
Bai Jiaying beside her pulled her to sit on the sofa and gently patted the back of her hand. Her voice was gentle. "Miaomiao, you haven't been home for a long time. Do you miss home?"
"Yes." Ning Anmiao's voice was muffled. She didn't dare to say another word for fear that her tears would fall.
She was overjoyed.
The mother and daughter sat together and immediately opened up their conversation. When Bai Jiaying mentioned the things that had happened in the family in the past few years, she couldn't help but smile brightly.
Listening to the things of the past three years, Ning Anmiao was also very relaxed. Her eyes always fell on her mother's face, with warmth in her eyes.
She was very greedy for this feeling.
"Mom, I'm hungry."
After the conversation ended, Ning Anmiao touched her stomach and pouted. "I want to drink porridge."
"Okay. Our Miaomiao has always liked sweet porridge. Mom remembers." Bai Jiaying knew her daughter well. She kindly stroked her head and then turned to enter the kitchen.
Sitting on the sofa, Ning Anmiao was even happier. She almost wanted to hum a tune.
Sure enough, only at home could she be so relaxed.
She leaned against the sofa and kept looking around the house. Although it wasn't much different from her memory, she still couldn't help but look.
She wanted to look at her home again and again, the home that loved her, cared for her, and always protected her.
Bored, she started to move around. She walked into the study in the house and stayed there for a while, then walked into her own room.
The decoration in the room was still the same as before, and it was also very clean. It was obvious that her mother often came in to clean it.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but fill her eyes with tears again.
She couldn't even imagine how many times her mother had come to her room, stared blankly at the things belonging to her daughter, and missed her daughter again and again.
She felt that she was very unfilial.
Ning Anmiao sniffed. She felt a little sad. Then she wiped the corners of her eyes and adjusted her emotions again.
In the future, she would treat her parents well and would never be willful again.
Kind words can warm one's heart in winter, while harsh words can hurt one even in summer.
She was no longer the girl she was three years ago. She knew better how to use appropriate words to express her direct attitude and thoughts.
...
Before she could reminisce in her room for too long, there was a noise at the front door downstairs. It seemed that someone had come back.
She suddenly felt a little nervous and even a little excited.
Ning Anmiao opened the door and walked downstairs. She saw her father coming back with a walking stick at a glance.
The father and daughter looked at each other.
Ning Zhijing's eyes were still serious, but the moment he saw her, those weather - beaten eyes were stunned for a moment.
Ning Anmiao's heart was pounding. She was both nervous and scared. She heard her voice trembling slightly. "Dad, I'm back."
Then, everything around seemed to fall into silence.
Ning Anmiao lowered her head and walked down the steps step by step. She walked in front of her father, took a deep breath, and said it again.
"Dad, I'm back."
After a long time, the old man in front of her heaved a heavy sigh and said in a relieved voice, "It's good that you're back."
There was nothing more to say.
There was no need for more blame and sarcasm. The grievances and sufferings that Ning Anmiao had endured over the years had already given her the answer.
"What, have you figured it out?" Ning Zhijing held his walking stick. His voice was slow but powerful. "Divorced that rascal?"
Ning Anmiao knew that her father could guess her mind. "If I hadn't divorced, I wouldn't have dared to come back to see you."
"Don't talk like that." Ning Zhijing frowned slightly. His expression was calm. "It's as if I'm breaking up a loving couple and forcing you to divorce."
"If you really couldn't bear to divorce, I couldn't force you."
This was true.
Ning Anmiao lowered her head and pouted. She used the tone of acting coquettishly towards her father since childhood. "I know I was wrong, Dad."
This soft and waxy sentence directly melted the old man's heart, and the last bit of resentment dissipated.
"If you're sensible, you're still a good girl."