About a week later, Lu Yan voluntarily offered to take Ning Anmiao back to the Ning family, and she didn't decline.
However, she felt a bit nervous inside.
Although Lu Yan had seriously told her that Ning Zhijing already knew he had misunderstood her before, Ning Anmiao still felt a bit uneasy.
She knew her father's personality all too well.
The previous times she went back, it wasn't very pleasant; she was very worried that this time would also end in disappointment. On this morning, her heart was still pounding with nervousness.
---
Lu Yan was quite calm. Just like last time, he prepared gifts for the two elders this time as well.
Lu Yan wouldn't miss any of the proper courtesies.
This time, he prepared Su embroidery handkerchiefs and a set of precious tea sets. Both items were very valuable.
It was obvious that he attached great importance to every meeting with the two elders.
When they came to the Ning family this time, Bai Jiaying was much calmer than last time. With a smile on her face, she welcomed the two of them in.
"Xiao Lu, why did you bring things again?"
Bai Jiaying looked at the boxes in his hands, half satisfied and half scolding: "You always spend money every time you come to our house. This kind of practice is not good."
Lu Yan smiled faintly and said modestly, "This is the proper courtesy. It's enough if the two elders like them."
Ning Zhijing was leaning on his walking stick. When he saw the two of them come back, he slowly stood up and glanced at them.
The two young people were holding hands, standing at the door chatting and laughing with Bai Jiaying. The scene looked quite harmonious and warm.
"Ahem, are you two just going to stand at the door like door gods? Why don't you come in and sit down quickly!" Ning Zhijing's voice was serious. As soon as he said this, the people at the door immediately fell silent.
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit oppressive.
Startled by this shout, Ning Anmiao unconsciously tightened her grip on Lu Yan's hand.
The man looked down at her and gently squeezed her fingers to comfort her, signaling her not to be too anxious.
With Lu Yan's encouragement, Ning Anmiao relaxed a bit. She pulled him over and they sat side by side on the other side of the sofa.
They were just facing Ning Zhijing.
Their little actions were noticed by Ning Zhijing. He glanced at Ning Anmiao and said in a cold tone, "Ning Anmiao, come here."
Obviously, he wanted to separate the two of them and not let them get too close.
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao exchanged a look with Lu Yan. Seeing him nod slightly, she then let go of his hand and obediently sat next to Ning Zhijing.
"Humph, I told you to sit next to me, and you still have to look at his face?!" Ning Zhijing was very unhappy. "Do you always have to listen to him at home?"
Lu Yan paused and couldn't help but smile. "Uncle, you've misunderstood."
His tone was rather relaxed, but there was a bit of seriousness in his words. "I usually listen to Miaomiao. It's just that I'm a bit nervous when I see you this time, so I rely on her a bit more."
His humble tone made Ning Zhijing raise his eyebrows. He looked at Ning Anmiao suspiciously. "Is that so?"
Ning Anmiao immediately nodded vigorously.
Looking at Ning Zhijing, Lu Yan said respectfully and gently, "Uncle, you can rest assured. Even if I have to suffer grievances myself, I won't let Miaomiao be wronged."
Ning Anmiao's face couldn't help but turn red.
Ning Zhijing frowned, and his face darkened. "You're such a silver-tongued devil. A man like this just seems unreliable!"
Seeing that her father was about to reject Lu Yan, Ning Anmiao quickly interjected, "Dad, it's not like that. He usually doesn't talk much. I'm the one who talks a lot."
"A mute? Even worse!" Ning Zhijing's voice became a bit harsher. "Otherwise, the house will be so cold. Are you two a couple or just casually living together?"
Just then, Bai Jiaying came out of the kitchen with the brewed tea. Hearing Ning Zhijing's harsh words, she couldn't help but smile and walked over.
"Alright, alright. You're just chatting with the younger generation. Why are you always making things difficult for them?" Bai Jiaying obviously was quite satisfied with Lu Yan. There was a smile in her eyes.
"Xiao Lu came here with great difficulty. As an elder, how can you be so unreasonable? Otherwise, people will laugh at you."
With just a few words, Ning Zhijing was immediately left speechless.
"You... forget it!" Ning Zhijing tapped the ground with his walking stick. Looking at Ning Anmiao, he looked like he hated iron for not being steel.
"Ning Anmiao, tell me the truth. Do you really have to be with this man?"
Ning Anmiao lowered her head, looking at her nose and then at her heart. She didn't answer her father immediately.
She knew that if she showed too much enthusiasm on this issue, it would definitely arouse Ning Zhijing's dissatisfaction.
At this time, Lu Yan spoke up, his words sincere. "Uncle, Miaomiao doesn't really have to be with me."
As soon as he spoke, Ning Anmiao nervously looked at him.
Lu Yan said, "With Miaomiao's own conditions and family background, she has a wide range of choices. She can definitely find a man who is more outstanding and more satisfactory to you than me."
When he said these words, every word was filled with humility and even a bit of trepidation.
"From your perspective, I'm not a good choice. I know your concerns and understand your misgivings. That's exactly why I will cherish her even more and take good care of her."
Although Ning Anmiao was sitting next to Ning Zhijing, her heart had already flown to Lu Yan.
She didn't know how to describe this feeling.
This wasn't the first time Lu Yan had said such things, and she had heard them many times; but when he made these promises in front of her parents, it was a completely different matter.
This was more like an oath, an oath that once spoken would never be broken, making people deeply believe in it.
She felt that being loved by this man was a kind of happiness.
Ning Zhijing listened silently. After pondering for a few seconds, he turned to look at Ning Anmiao. "Have you signed that property division agreement?"
Ning Anmiao hesitated for a while and then honestly replied, "No."
After saying that, she couldn't help but explain, "Dad, I don't think I need to sign that agreement. Our family doesn't need those materials to guarantee my marriage."
Ning Zhijing snorted heavily. "As long as the agreement isn't signed, it's all just empty showy moves."
Obviously, he cared a lot about the property division agreement that Lu Yan had taken out last time.
"Dad, when did you become so obsessed with interests?" Ning Anmiao was a bit disappointed. There was even blame in her voice. "You used to say that you didn't like profit-seeking businessmen."
"Now you're forcing me to sign this agreement. How are you any different from the people you look down on?"
Ning Zhijing had been quite calm, but when he heard his daughter's words, he immediately flew into a rage. He was so angry that steam seemed to be coming out of his head. "Why are you turning against me? You're such an ungrateful daughter!"
"No matter what you say, I won't sign that agreement!" Ning Anmiao's stubbornness flared up. With anger, she threw down these words.