"How dare you!" Ning Zhijing snapped, his eyes fixed intently on the wooden carving held high in the air, not shifting for a moment.
Ning Anmiao's hand finally lowered slowly. She hugged the half - finished wooden carving to her chest like a precious treasure. Looking down at it, her eyes were filled with tenderness.
"You're reluctant to part with it too, aren't you?" Her previous aggression faded, and her voice softened. "Since you've experienced the pain of letting go, why not give your daughter some freedom?"
Ning Zhijing fell silent for the first time.
Looking at her bewildered father, a pang of pain welled up in her heart. Even though he was a respected father and a towering figure in the field of traditional Chinese learning, he had still given up what he once loved.
"Dad, I really love fashion design," she continued slowly. "Just as you once loved carving, there's no difference." Her eyes were open and honest, burning with passion. "I was naive before. I never had a proper talk with you about this, thinking you wouldn't understand."
"But when I saw this wooden carving, I knew you could understand me. You're my father and also my life's mentor."
Ning Zhijing raised his head slightly and began to re - evaluate his daughter. Looking at the determination and earnestness in her eyes, he started to seriously consider his daughter's request for the first time.
When he first learned that she had secretly gone to study fashion design, Ning Zhijing was furious. He always thought she was doing something unorthodox. But gradually, it seemed that the reason for his anger was no longer that she loved fashion design, but that she didn't follow his arrangements.
It seemed that he had become the stubborn one, insisting that his daughter live her life according to his plan. Only then would it be perfect. But this so - called perfection would lead to Miaomiao's imperfect life.
The stubborn old Mr. Ning finally realized his own problem, and his eyebrows knitted tightly.
The study fell silent. No one spoke.
After a long while, Ning Anmiao slowly opened her mouth, enunciating each word clearly and slowly. "So, what do you think should be done?"
"I plan to open a fashion design studio with a friend in Shanghai. We'll create our own brand and design our own clothes." Her eyes didn't even blink. She had made up her mind long ago, and it came out very naturally.
Rather than being coy, Ning Zhijing preferred straightforwardness.
After a few seconds of deep thought, Ning Zhijing was calmer and more composed than expected. He said steadily, "Okay, I agree."
This was like a pleasant surprise. Ning Anmiao's nervous heart immediately settled down, and she felt an indescribable sense of excitement.
"However," Ning Zhijing's tone changed. His eyes were deep and meaningful. "Since you're going to develop in Shanghai, don't reveal your identity as a daughter of the Ning family."
"Since you've chosen a different path from the Ning family, don't try to rely on the Ning family's glory."
Ning Anmiao understood what her father meant. A flash of disappointment crossed her heart. "I understand. Thank you, Dad."
Seeing the look of dejection on Ning Anmiao's face, Ning Zhijing coughed lightly. "I don't want you to use your status as the eldest daughter of the Ning family to gain attention, but you still need to come home. The Ning family will still recognize you as their daughter."
The implication was obvious. Although he wouldn't let her benefit from the Ning family, the Ning family would be her most solid backup in case of any accident.
Ning Anmiao's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Her eyes were slightly moist, and her throat felt a bit dry. "Thank you, Dad."
Ning Zhijing waved his hand and sat back at his desk, not even looking up. "Alright, I know what you, this ungrateful little thing, are up to."
"Pretending to come here to bring me tea, but actually trying to fight for the chance to start a business in design? " Ning Zhijing drank the already cold tea. "Alright, you've achieved your goal. Don't bother me anymore."
Ning Anmiao couldn't help but laugh. Her nose was stuffy. "Dad, I'm not an ungrateful little thing."
"I've raised you for so long. Not only did you run away with someone in the middle, but you also don't listen to my arrangements. You insist on going out to make a name for yourself. If that's not being an ungrateful little thing, then what is?" Although there was still a hint of blame in his words, there was more teasing. "By the way, since you're going back to Shanghai, you're not going to get back together with that brat, are you?"
He was referring to Lu Yan.
Ning Anmiao lowered her head. When she heard the name that she hadn't mentioned for a long time, she was in a daze for a second, as if he had become very distant. If her father hadn't reminded her, she wouldn't have thought of him.
If she went back to Shanghai, she might run into Lu Yan. But she quickly dismissed this possibility. Shanghai was such a big city. Lu Yan was always busy with work, living a two - point - one - line life. How could they possibly run into each other?
As long as you don't want to see someone, even if you live in the same alley, you might not see each other for decades. Not to mention in such a huge city. They were two people with no connection.
"No, there's... no relationship between us anymore."
After saying that, she snapped out of her brief daze. She refilled her father's teacup and then left the room.
...
She spent the last few days at home. On the day she left, she smiled and said goodbye to her parents, then took the bullet train back to Shanghai.
Shanghai was a city that was both familiar and strange to her.
It was evening when she got off the train.
Yin Yiyan asked about the time of her bullet - train arrival in advance and waited for her at the station. After picking her up, she drove her back to her place.
"You can stay with me for a while. I'll go back to the Yin family on weekends."
Ning Anmiao nodded. Her mood was a bit strange. During the three years in Shanghai, she had lived in Lu Yan's mansion. This time, going to a strange environment made her a bit unsure. But compared to living in the Lu family, she felt much more relaxed.
Yin Yiyan drove steadily while observing Ning Anmiao's expression through the rear - view mirror. Her expression was calm.
"Um, I haven't had a chance to tell you. Before we set up the studio, I took on a big order." Yin Yiyan held the steering wheel tightly, trying to sound as normal as possible. "The client offered a very attractive price, but the workload is quite huge."
Before Ning Anmiao could ask, she quickly added, "But we can definitely complete it together."
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao smiled. "Yanyan, you don't have to worry so much about me."
"I agree with all your decisions."
Ning Anmiao believed that with Yin Yiyan's character, she would never lie to her, let alone set her up.
Hearing this, Yin Yiyan let out a sigh of relief. Her nervous heart relaxed a bit. "That's good. I was afraid you'd be unhappy."
"Oh, by the way, why don't you ask about the name of our studio? I've already chosen the location for the studio. It's just near our place. So we won't have to get up early for work in the future. We can even sleep in!"
Ning Anmiao listened quietly, smiling from time to time. Until—