Mrs. Lu was now speaking in a flattering and polished manner, as if she had forgotten how she had once berated Ning Anmiao and humiliated her humble origins.
However, Ning Anmiao didn't want to argue with Mrs. Lu anymore.
Moreover, her parents were here today. She just wanted to go through this necessary process so that she could get back together with Lu Yan smoothly.
Ning Zhijing turned a deaf ear to Mrs. Lu's flattery and false compliments. He simply pointed at the table and said, "Everyone's here. Let's serve the dishes."
"Yes, yes, yes. Let's talk while we eat," Mrs. Lu, who thought she was good at reading the atmosphere, immediately nodded with a beaming face. Then she turned to the waiter outside and ordered the dishes to be served.
The room was enclosed, and with the vulgar smell of perfume on Mrs. Lu, it was impossible to calm down in such an environment.
After the waiter served all the dishes and opened the window for ventilation, the expressions of Ning's parents looked a bit better.
Seeing that the atmosphere had improved, Lu Yan took the opportunity to bring up the matter of their engagement.
Ning's parents also nodded, indicating their approval of the arrangement between Lu Yan and Ning Anmiao, and told them to proceed as planned.
Everything was going smoothly. Lu Yan unconsciously let out a sigh of relief and his eyes briefly fell on his mother, who had been very quiet all the time.
She had no objections to all these arrangements. She just listened to them talking. Lu Yan felt a bit guilty for no reason.
After all, she was the mother who had given birth to and raised him, and the only relative he had in this world.
Thinking of this, he looked at his mother and said in a steady voice, "Mom, do you have any thoughts about my marriage to Miaomiao?"
Suddenly hearing Lu Yan asking her actively, Mrs. Lu felt a bit touched. She was just about to open her mouth when she caught a glimpse of Ning Zhijing from the corner of her eye.
As expected of the elegant Ning family, even though Ning Zhijing was getting old, his back was still straight. He was in good health, with deep and mature eyebrows, and had the temperament of a scholar.
No wonder Mrs. Nangong didn't believe that their family was marrying Ning Zhijing's daughter.
She raised her head, rolled her eyes, and smiled gently, assuming the posture of a kind - hearted mother. "Mom has no objections. You and Miaomiao have prepared very well. Just follow your arrangements."
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao couldn't hide her surprise.
She had thought that even though Mrs. Lu now knew her identity, she would still make things difficult for her to some extent or say some sarcastic remarks.
But unexpectedly, she was extremely obedient today.
Was it that she had misunderstood Mrs. Lu too much, which was why she was so suspicious of her?
A sense of guilt welled up in Ning Anmiao's heart.
To err is human.
Maybe after all that had happened before, Mrs. Lu had also realized her mistakes and wanted to turn over a new leaf and repair the relationship with her son.
Thinking of this, Ning Anmiao showed a smile and was just about to speak when Mrs. Lu suddenly spoke up.
"I have an unseemly request. I wonder if Mr. Ning can agree?" Mrs. Lu said with an obsequious smile, and there was a greedy glint in her eyes.
Lu Yan's heart sank. On the surface, he remained calm, but in fact, he said, "Mom, today we're talking about my marriage to Miaomiao. Let's put other things aside for now."
"Yes, everyone, let's eat quickly. The food will get cold," Ning Anmiao was very in sync with Lu Yan. She immediately picked up the conversation and urged everyone to start eating.
Both of them had a bad feeling. Mrs. Lu's request might be very excessive, so they had to nip it in the bud before she said it.
Unexpectedly, Ning Zhijing said expressionlessly, "Please feel free to speak, sister - in - law."
Ning Anmiao paused for a moment. Seeing the angry look on her father's face, her heart skipped a beat. She immediately tugged at the cuff of Lu Yan's shirt.
Something big was going wrong.
Mrs. Lu was overjoyed and immediately replied, "Actually, it's not a big deal. I've just heard that Mr. Ning's calligraphy is peerless and is a model of national - learning art."
With every word Mrs. Lu said, Ning Zhijing's face became darker.
What he hated most was this kind of flowery and insincere flattery.
"Mrs. Lu, just say what you want directly," he said.
The coldness spread from the depths of his eyes.
Mrs. Lu still didn't realize the situation. Seeing that Ning Zhijing was so easy - going, she was extremely happy and boldly said, "Could Mr. Ning give me a calligraphy work as a keepsake? It would be nice to display it at home and add glory to our family."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Zhijing couldn't help but sneer.
"Only the deceased are 'enshrined'. Mrs. Lu, your choice of words is inappropriate."
He was mocking Mrs. Lu for her lack of culture.
Having seen a lot in his life, Ning Zhijing naturally knew what Mrs. Lu was up to, so he didn't hold back when speaking.
His words were very harsh. Mrs. Lu's face immediately changed. "You've misunderstood. I didn't mean to offend you."
Although she said so, Mrs. Lu rolled her eyes in her heart.
It was just a wrong choice of word. Sure enough, these pedantic scholars liked to nitpick over useless details.
"A calligraphy work is not difficult for Mr. Ning. Moreover, our Lu Yan has given such a generous betrothal gift, almost half of his entire fortune," she said.
The implication was that since Lu Yan had given Ning Anmiao so much property, Ning Zhijing should also show some sincerity.
It didn't take much effort to just write a few words, let alone give high - value property.
It would have been better if she hadn't said this. This half - respectful and half - threatening tone directly enraged Ning Zhijing. He slapped the table and stood up, coldly sneering, "According to Mrs. Lu, does it mean that our Ning family is overreaching?"
"If Mrs. Lu looks down on our Ning family, there's no need to force this. Our Ning family doesn't have to get married into yours!"
Mrs. Lu wasn't one to be submissive. Seeing Ning Zhijing suddenly putting on an air of self - righteousness, she disdainfully said, "Since the Ning family is so high - minded, why are they so eager to sign the property - division agreement?"
After saying that, she deliberately sneered, "Isn't this just like selling your daughter?"
Until now, Mrs. Lu still disapproved of Lu Yan's decision to give half of his fortune to Ning Anmiao.
She was Lu Yan's mother, but she didn't even get any shares from him!
"Mom, stop talking!"
Seeing that the atmosphere was getting more and more tense, Lu Yan's voice turned cold. Before things got worse, he stopped her. "Let Song Qin take you home to rest now."
Seeing that Lu Yan was going to send her away, Mrs. Lu was even more unhappy. She stuck out her neck and said defiantly, "Lu Yan, I'm your mother! You haven't even got your marriage certificate yet, and you're going to make me a laughingstock?"
Lu Yan didn't even lift his eyelids. "Song Qin, take the madam home."
"I'm not leaving!" Mrs. Lu's face was extremely ugly. She directly pushed away Song Qin, who came to pull her. "I just want a calligraphy work. Is that too much to ask compared to all that property?"
It was just a matter of holding a brush and writing a few words. What's with the self - righteousness?
Ning Zhijing had had enough. He slapped the table and stood up. "In that case, I'm afraid I can't fulfill your request. We'll leave!"
After saying that, Ning Zhijing flicked his sleeves and left with Bai Jiaying!
Seeing that her parents were leaving, Ning Anmiao got anxious. She quickly glanced at Lu Yan and then chased after them.