Seeing Ning Anmiao's obvious slump in mood, Lu Yan heaved a sigh. Knowing that this little girl needed to be coaxed, he slowly opened his mouth, "I've gotten tired of eating at home recently. How about going out for a change of taste?"
Ning Anmiao could tell that this was Lu Yan's greatest concession.
"I want to have a big meal then," Ning Anmiao blinked her eyes, looking expectantly at him. "I want a private chef to customize it."
Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, Lu Yan helplessly pinched her cheek. "Well, you guessed right."
Ning Anmiao was still wondering why Lu Yan was being so kind. It wasn't until evening that she found out that the Lin family was hosting a family banquet.
Thinking that it should be to celebrate Jiang Xixi's pregnancy, Ning Anmiao nodded to show her understanding.
"The Lin family is having double joys. Naturally, they'll hold a grand celebration," Lu Yan smiled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "This time, old man Lin probably won't be able to hold back his smile."
Double joys?
Ning Anmiao didn't understand.
"The eldest young master of the Lin Group, who had been missing for years, has been found. It's Zhou Si."
As soon as this explosive news came out, Ning Anmiao's eyes widened in disbelief. "Zhou Si is Old Mr. Lin's..."
"Yeah, an illegitimate son from many years ago," Lu Yan's expression turned slightly gloomy. A sneer inadvertently tugged at the corner of his lips. "In a way, Zhou Si and I are of the same kind."
They were both born without being expected and would only be valued when they were of use.
As he said this, a chill emanated from his body, making people shiver.
Seeing this, Ning Anmiao didn't even think before hugging him and rubbing against his chest. "No, it's not like that. You now have a warm family, a company with great development prospects, and most importantly—"
"Most importantly, you have a wife who loves and dotes on you," Ning Anmiao tilted her head and smiled at him. "You're a very important and special person!"
Her smile was pure. Looking at her plain and beautiful face, the tense expression on Lu Yan's face softened a bit.
Ning Anmiao's tenderness and delicacy were like a warm current, gently flowing through every vulnerable and confused part of Lu Yan, peeling him away from pain and inferiority and gradually making him a complete person.
He was very grateful.
Lu Yan lowered his eyes and hugged her tighter.
Just before they were about to turn off the lights and go to sleep, Ning Anmiao suddenly suggested in his arms, "Let's go visit my parents this weekend."
She thought that the best way to cure Lu Yan's fear and confusion about children was to let him experience true fatherly and motherly love.
Ning Anmiao believed that her parents could do it.
Lu Yan didn't think much. Thinking that the little girl missed home, he nodded in acquiescence.
---
Lu Yan was right. The "double joys" of the Lin family made Old Mr. Lin full of energy, smiling from ear to ear.
To announce it to the world, he directly invited a group of top chefs from a top - grade restaurant to host a banquet at home and invited all the bosses in the industry and important media.
The old man's intention was obvious.
Naturally, Lu Yan and Ning Anmiao were also on the invitation list. Sitting in the car on the way to the Lin family, Ning Anmiao tugged at the hem of her cheongsam and held a gaudy handbag in her hand.
Inside was the congratulatory gift for Jiang Xixi.
Although there had been unpleasantness before, but with a kind heart and considering that she was now pregnant, Ning Anmiao suddenly couldn't blame her anymore.
Anyway, they were just here as guests today, so it was reasonable to bring a gift.
Lu Yan looked down at the congratulatory gift in her hand and casually asked, "Is it for the baby?"
Actually, what he wanted to say was that there was no need to prepare things for the baby.
With Lin Chuluo's vicious mind, it was still unknown whether this child could be safely born in the end, and this congratulatory gift was even more unnecessary.
But he didn't plan to tell Miaomiao.
These were the dark and calculating gray sides of life. He didn't want Ning Anmiao to see them.
He hoped that his Miaomiao could always be simple and pure, bathed in love and sunshine; it would be best if she never saw the sufferings of the world.
"No, it's for Xixi," Ning Anmiao lifted her chin. Her voice was soft and she looked serious. "The things the baby needs have probably been well - prepared by the Lin and Jiang families. Whatever I give will probably be left idle, so it's better not to give."
Lu Yan also agreed with this and nodded.
Looking at her gentle expression and the simple and elegant yellow classical cheongsam she was wearing, Lu Yan's eyes softened. He reached out and ruffled her hair.
"You don't mind what happened before?"
Lu Yan was referring to the things that Jiang Xixi had done to hurt her. None of those things were trivial, and she had even almost lost her life.
Ning Anmiao shook her head. It took a while before she replied, "I do mind. Of course, I do." She wasn't some holy and innocent person who could forgive those who had hurt her for no reason.
However, thinking of the little things between the Ning and Jiang families, she still felt a lot of emotion.
When they were kids, there weren't so many grudges and conflicts.
They were carefree every day. The relationship between the two families was also very close, and they would get together for meals and chats from time to time.
Jiang Xixi was the first and the longest - known friend of Ning Anmiao.
But somehow, the look in her eyes towards herself had been filled with wariness and hostility, as if she was always unhappy with her.
If only life could stay as it was when they first met. How wonderful that would be.
Pulling back from the memories, Ning Anmiao felt stuffy in her heart, as if there was a cotton ball blocking it.
"The old Xixi was really nice. She was outgoing and enthusiastic. I didn't like to talk when I was a kid, and she would take me to play everywhere. She even said that she would let me marry..."
Caught up in talking about childhood, Ning Anmiao forgot about the taboo. Before she could finish her sentence, a chill ran down her back and she immediately stopped. "I mean, it was just playing house."
"What's playing house?" Lu Yan's eyebrows had already sunk when she didn't finish her sentence. "Is it the kind of pretending to be a couple?"
Ning Anmiao: "..."
She shouldn't have said so much. She hung her head and didn't dare to look up, but she could feel the man's deep gaze directly hitting the top of her head.
It was quite scary.
"How do you play house? Hmm?" Lu Yan was serious. His voice was deep. "Miaomiao, I've never played it. Tell me specifically."
Ning Anmiao wanted to cry but had no tears. She could only brace herself. "Just a few kids sit together, put out plates and bowls, and then pretend to be a family. Then..."
The further she went, the softer her voice became.
She felt that the man's patience had reached its limit and he could swallow her up at any moment.
Ning Anmiao didn't dare to continue. She quickly thought of something to redeem the situation. "It's just a kids' game. It doesn't count! Besides, now I'm really 'playing house' with you."
"Is it more fun playing with me or with them?"
"Definitely with you!" Ning Anmiao's eyes were extremely firm. "They were all fake. You're the real one!"