Caixue was frightened by Zhao Luoning's attitude. She pointed shiveringly at the hall not far away.
"He asked me to find him a servant's uniform. He should be in the hall keeping an eye on the fake Second Young Master now."
Feixing was trying to make up for his negligence.
Zhao Luoning frowned. Zhao Luojing really needed to be watched. She couldn't call Feixing back now.
It was better to go back to the hall first and find a way to call out that fake "Zhao Luojing" to get things clear.
Zhao Luoning composed herself and calmly returned to the hall. She searched in the direction Caixue had pointed and indeed saw Feixing with a solemn face, dressed in the Ji family's servant's uniform, mingling among the attendants responsible for greeting the guests.
Just as Zhao Luoning was about to go and ask Feixing to clarify the ins and outs of the matter, she heard someone shout,
"Master Sima of Sima Villa comes to wish the Grand Old Lady a happy birthday."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the businessmen present craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the true face of this mysterious wealthy merchant.
Zhao Luoning had no choice but to sit back beside the Grand Old Lady and look for another opportunity.
"They say that this Master Sima is not only talented but also very handsome."
"Alas, any girl who marries him will be very lucky."
"Indeed!..."
Hearing the women around her discussing Sima Yi, Zhao Luoning couldn't help but recall the news about Sima Villa she had received a few days ago.
Sima Villa was a business firm that became well - known almost overnight. In less than a month, it had opened branch stores in more than a dozen major towns across the country.
Sima Villa had almost monopolized all the money - related businesses in the country.
And this Master Sima was the only heir to Sima Villa.
No one had ever seen what the old villa master looked like. People only knew that Sima Villa was extremely wealthy.
With the mysterious rise of Sima Villa, this young villa master had also been shrouded in a legendary aura.
People almost forgot that there was an old villa master in Sima Villa and regarded the young villa master as the owner of the villa.
When Sima Yi came to visit the other day, Zhao Luoning had sent Feixing to investigate his background.
The only information they could find was what everyone already knew.
Either Sima Yi had no secrets and was just a simple wealthy merchant, or the Sima Yi they saw was just the tip of the iceberg. There was a very powerful organization behind him that had protected his information so well that even Feixing couldn't find out.
Her intuition told Zhao Luoning that this Master Sima Yi belonged to the latter.
An ordinary person couldn't suddenly emerge overnight and become a popular figure in the business world.
"Brother Sima."
Hearing that Sima Yi had entered, Ji Shisu stood up to greet him.
"Shisu, Grand Old Lady."
Sima Yi entered the hall politely. After paying respects to the Grand Old Lady, he ordered his servants to present the gifts he had brought.
The Grand Old Lady took the gifts but didn't rush to open them. She said with a smile,
"Master Sima, please take the seat of honor."
Sima Yi nodded and sat next to Ji Shisu's seat, only a few steps away from Zhao Luoning.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, he glanced at Zhao Luoning. Zhao Luoning happened to meet his gaze.
A chill ran down her back, and she quickly averted her eyes and turned around.
Sima Yi smiled faintly. There was a lot to think about in his dimples.
Zhao Luoning had no time to deal with him now. The fake Zhao Luojing was already giving her a headache.
Zhao Luoning walked up to the "Zhao Luojing" sitting in the corner. After all, he was a well - known and legendary young master of the Zhao family. Many people wanted to get close to him, but "Zhao Luojing" propped his head up with one hand, pretending to be asleep and looking unwell. He didn't receive anyone.
It wasn't until he heard a maid call out, "Second Young Mistress."
Zhao Luojing opened his eyes, stood up abruptly, and looked at Zhao Luoning in surprise.
"Luojing, I have something to tell you. Come with me."
The "Zhao Luojing" nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining.
Zhao Luoning led the "Zhao Luojing" to a room that Caixue had specially emptied. Caixue waited outside the door, while Zhao Luoning interrogated the "Zhao Luojing" inside.
"Who on earth are you? Why are you pretending to be Luojing?"
"Sister."
As soon as she spoke, Zhao Luoning immediately recognized her voice.
"Ning Ruonian?!"
Ning Ruonian always wore a veil in the mansion, and no one had ever seen what she looked like under it.
Unexpectedly, the first time she showed her face, it was in this way!
The other person nodded and had no intention of hiding herself at all.
"That day when I went to find you, I accidentally heard your conversation with Caixue, so I took the liberty to..."
"You... how could you..."
"Sister, are you asking why I look exactly like you?"
"Yes, do you know the art of disguise?"
As she said this, Zhao Luoning stared fixedly at Ning Ruonian, observing her reaction.
Ning Ruonian smiled and said, "Sister, although it's rare to find people who look alike in this world, it's not impossible. Maybe there's a special bond between me and you."
A special bond?
Zhao Luoning wasn't a person who didn't believe in accidents in the world, but she didn't believe that such an accident would happen to her so coincidentally.
She looked at Ning Ruonian, and her eyes gradually changed.
She softened her tone and asked, "Why did you come to the Ji family?"
"To let Huier recognize his ancestors and return to the family and to be able to see my relatives all the time."
If it had been before today, Zhao Luoning might have thought that the relatives she mentioned referred to the Ji family members, but now she understood.
"Who on earth are you?"
Ning Ruonian paused and looked up at Zhao Luoning. She found that Zhao Luoning was staring straight at her, as if trying to see through her.
Her heart started pounding.
Had sister already recognized her identity?
But she couldn't say it now.
She could only force herself to stay calm.
"Sister, you've asked this question before. I'm Ruonian, Ning Ruonian."
Zhao Luoning looked at Ning Ruonian, her eyes filled with pity. She stepped forward and gently held her hand.
"Ruotian, thank you for helping me."
Ning Ruonian looked up in surprise.
"Sister, I eavesdropped on your conversation and took the liberty to pretend to be Luojing. Aren't you afraid that I'll harm you?"
Zhao Luoning gently shook her head. "If you wanted to harm me, you could have done it when you brought Huier into the mansion. You wouldn't have waited until today."
Zhao Luoning gently patted Ning Ruonian's hand and said, "Moreover, I know that you would never harm me."
Ning Ruonian's eyes filled with tears at these words.
Zhao Luoning really couldn't bear to see her cry. She reached out to wipe her tears, but at this moment, Caixue knocked on the door, interrupting their conversation.
"Miss, the Grand Old Lady is sending someone to look for you."
Ning Ruonian smiled through her tears and pulled her hand out of Zhao Luoning's.
"Sister, go and attend to your business."
Zhao Luoning nodded and looked back at her reluctantly several times before opening the door and following Caixue out.
Ning Ruonian stared at the direction where Zhao Luoning had left. The tears that had been swirling in her eyes finally fell.
"Sister, I'm sorry. I promised him that I still can't recognize you."