Ning Anmiao looked up at her father and gave him a sweet smile.
Making up with Ning Zhijing was what Ning Anmiao had been longing for in the past three years.
Ning Zhijing was not only her father but also the teacher in her life.
...
The family was finally reunited. Bai Jiaying was in a great mood and cooked a big table of dishes. Cheerfully, she invited the father - daughter pair to the table.
The Ning family always advocated not talking during meals and sleeping. The only sound on the table was the clinking of chopsticks and bowls, which was rather harmonious.
The bright light shone on the table, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
After the meal, Bai Jiaying thoughtfully prepared pajamas for her and placed them on the bedside in the bedroom.
"The room has been cleaned up for you. The quilt has been aired. You can have a good sleep tonight."
Ning Anmiao nodded and saw Bai Jiaying out of the room. "Mom, I'm not a child anymore. You should go back and rest."
Although this was her own room, she still felt a bit strange as she hadn't lived in it for a long time.
She sat on the bed, looking at the spotless bedsheet and the neatly arranged quilt beside it. A warm feeling welled up in her heart.
This was the kind of thoughtfulness only a mother could have.
She sat on the bed for a while, then got up and took a shower in the bathroom. She changed into the pajamas her mother had prepared and lay on the bed sweetly.
The bedsheet and quilt cover gave off a nice smell. The aired quilt was very fluffy and so warm that one didn't want to leave.
She squinted her eyes and soon felt sleepy.
Ning Anmiao turned over and reached for her phone on the bedside table, planning to check her messages before going to sleep.
Yin Yiyan had sent a message and also taken a photo, which was the license of their studio.
She was always so efficient.
Ning Anmiao replied with a "Got it". Seeing that there were no other messages, she was about to put down her phone and go to sleep.
Suddenly, a message popped up on her phone.
[Are you home?]
Ning Anmiao was stunned for a moment and then clicked it open.
It was from Lu Yan.
Ning Anmiao didn't expect Lu Yan to care about her actively. Her eyes fell on those words and she was in a daze for a while.
After thinking for a few seconds, she decided not to reply.
The two were already divorced. If she replied to this late - night message, she didn't know if he would send another one.
She was a bit sleepy.
Drowsily, she put down her phone and closed her eyes.
The environment was a familiar place in her memory. Although Ning Anmiao was particular about the bed, she fell asleep quickly.
On the other end of Shanghai.
Lu Yan was wearing a loose bathrobe. Standing in front of the French window in the study, he held his phone and waited for a long time.
The words "Read" on it indicated that Ning Anmiao had received his message.
He was looking forward to a reply with all his heart.
However, he waited for a full half - hour, but she didn't send back a single word.
She should have fallen asleep.
Lu Yan opened half of the window and casually sat on the chair in the study, putting his phone beside the table.
He took out a cigarette and lit it skillfully. The fire of the cigarette butt glowed slightly, creating a faint light in the dark study.
He knew that he wouldn't receive a message from Miaomiao tonight.
Yes, she had finally returned to her own home as she wished and resolved the conflict with her parents. She should be very happy.
Sending her a text message might have disturbed her mood.
Lu Yan raised his hand and rubbed his temples. It was the first time he had encountered such a helpless situation.
A sense of tiredness and powerlessness swept over his whole body. He really didn't know what to do.
If Assistant Song hadn't told him that Yin Yiyan had successfully obtained the studio license today, he really would have thought that Miaomiao would never appear again in his life.
It's okay, he comforted himself.
It was good enough that they were in the same city, that they were facing the same sky, that they were breathing the air of the same city...
It was good enough to know that she was close to him.
He stayed in the study for a long time because this was the place where Miaomiao used to stay most often when she was at home.
It seemed that in this way, he could sense Miaomiao's breath and be with her.
Lu Yan closed his eyes.
He noticed that his emotions were surging and growing more vigorously and strongly than before.
This emotion was called missing.
He had been holding it back.
That night, he couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
...
A few days later.
After staying at the Ning family for a few days, Ning Anmiao felt very relaxed. From time to time, she would chat with Bai Jiaying. The laughter of the mother - daughter pair never stopped. Ning Zhijing didn't scold them either. Only when the noise they made was too loud would he laugh and scold them: "Keep your voice down. What a ruckus!"
Every time this happened, Bai Jiaying would whisper to Ning Anmiao: "Your dad is putting on airs again."
Ning Anmiao couldn't help but smile knowingly.
She thought the agreed - upon one - week stay would be very long, but happy days were always short. In a blink of an eye, it was the weekend.
Thinking that Yin Yiyan was still waiting for her in Shanghai, Ning Anmiao made up her mind that she must find a time to talk to her father clearly.
Although she guessed it might be very difficult.
That afternoon, Ning Zhijing, as usual, locked himself in the study to do research on Chinese classics.
Ning Zhijing used to be a professor at a well - known university. However, as he got older, he didn't like the noisy atmosphere in the classroom. The college also showed consideration for him and let him do research on ancient Chinese literature and classics at home.
The old man was very stubborn. Although he no longer taught, he was very serious about his research.
Ning Anmiao took the initiative to do the work her mother usually did. She said she would make tea for her father herself and ask about his recent work.
Hearing this, Bai Jiaying smiled so much that her eyes narrowed. There was a look of relief in her eyes. "Miaomiao, you've grown up. You know how to care about your old - fashioned dad."
Ning Anmiao stuck out her tongue guiltily.
Although there was also a component of caring, this time, more importantly, she wanted to talk to her father about going back to Shanghai to do fashion design.
"Your dad likes to taste Longjing tea. I've already made the tea for you. You carry it up, pour him a few cups and chat with him." Bai Jiaying clearly understood this father - daughter pair. "He's been locked up in there doing research for a long time. Sometimes he's very lonely."
"I usually talk to him, but he always thinks I'm an outsider and doesn't want to talk to me much. As his daughter, you should talk to him more, ask about his recent progress and give him some advice at the right time. Maybe you can open up his mind."
Ning Anmiao thought her mother was overestimating her.
Now, her father's level was beyond the reach of ordinary people. If she went there to try to enlighten him, it would be good if she wasn't scolded for making a mess of things.
"Okay, I know."
Ning Anmiao replied orally. She carried the teapot with the brewed tea and tiptoed up to the attic. She walked to the study door and gently knocked twice.
There was no sound from inside the study.