Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The Ning family had been following the show's developments, so they naturally knew about Wen Shen's "claiming family ties" act on the program. However, running into him by such a coincidence at the He residence tonight was still quite unexpected for Ning Shaoren and the others.

After getting out of the car and spotting the Ning family, Wen Shen and his companions recognized them and adopted a rather cold attitude.

Led inside by the butler, the couple accompanying Wen Shen immediately called out upon seeing Ning Yichu: "A Ning..."

Ning Yichu clicked his tongue lightly. "Didn't Wen Shen tell you I don't like being called that?"

The couple paused. Wen Shen then stepped forward, calming them down and telling them not to rush. He sighed and said, "Even disregarding any possible blood ties, given our age, we are at least of your parents' generation. Even if you don't like us, is it necessary to be so impolite?"

Wen Shen's sister and brother-in-law were around forty-nine or fifty years old. Wen Shen, with a larger age gap from his sister, was thirty-five this year. Compared to Ning Yichu, who hadn't yet turned twenty-three, being over a decade older indeed placed them in the elder generation.

Ning Yichu scoffed. "This counts as impolite? You really are delicate."

Hearing this, Wen Shen's sister and brother-in-law looked somewhat hurt.

He Shixia also spoke up. "And that's a strange thing to say. If you're already disliked, why bother being polite? Isn't that contradictory?"

He Weian felt a headache coming on seeing so many people. "Everyone, stop—Butler Li, no need for special tea service. Take the servants and leave, and don't let anyone else in. As for our guests, please sit down first. Let's talk slowly. Before that, kindly introduce yourselves."

Butler Li acknowledged and led the remaining servants out of the hall.

The four members of the Ning family and Wen Shen's group of three exchanged glances and walked over to sit on the sofas—fortunately, the He family's main hall was spacious, and the sofas weren't too cramped, which would have been awkward. Now, there was enough space for the seven of them to sit with social distance between them, avoiding a crowded, somewhat comical scene.

Watching them sit down, Ning Yichu thought of the original novel's protagonist, Ning Zeshu, and his "destined" partner, Wen Shen, both here but still strangers who didn't recognize each other. He found it oddly amusing.

As Wen Shen was about to speak again after sitting down, Ning Yichu interrupted him and first asked Ning Shaoren, "Didn't you say you brought the share contract? Let's handle this first. Where is it?"

"Ungrateful wretch." Ning Yichu was tired of hearing this. "Can't you come up with something new? Do you also want to argue with me like Wen Shen about what attitude towards elders means? Honestly, as heads of families, you really should learn from He Shixia's mom about what 'sincerity' is. Since you've already decided to yield to me, please have a better attitude. Grumbling and complaining while yielding won't get you any favors... No wonder everyone says the current head of the Ning family is useless."

Ning Shaoren nearly choked with anger. "You...!"

If not for the interests involved, He Weian truly didn't want to listen anymore. She sighed with a complicated expression.

Wen Shen's sister couldn't help but speak up, looking at Ning Shaoren and the others. "Is this how you usually treat A Ning... Yichu? No wonder he's developed such a defensive personality now—clearly forced out for self-protection. How dare you still shout at him like that!"

Ning Shaoren usually couldn't stand others criticizing him, but after being questioned by Wen Shen's sister, he only turned away with a displeased expression and didn't retort.

This unusual reaction made even Ning Zeqi and Ning Zeshu, who had resolved to only watch and not get involved tonight, glance at their father curiously.

At this moment, Ning Yichu said leisurely to Wen Shen's sister, "You have no standing or status, don't know if there's a blood relationship, and even if there is, you didn't raise me. Yet you still dare to shout at me? Stop the hypocritical act; it's delaying my actual business."

Wen Shen's sister, Ning Yichu's biological mother, froze upon hearing this, then her eyes reddened. "Child..."

Wen Shen quickly comforted his sister. Ning Yichu's biological father said with a complicated expression, "We lost you back then and couldn't find you all these years. Coming now is indeed late, but we truly didn't mean it. Child, why must you be so hostile? Listen to us explain slowly..."

"Then let's take it slow for now," Ning Yichu said. Regardless of their expressions, it didn't affect his plan to handle things one by one. He reminded Ning Shaoren again, "The contract. If you don't want to give it, you can leave now."

Ning Shaoren gritted his teeth, snorted displeasedly through his nose, but simultaneously took out the contract from his briefcase. He placed it on the coffee table with some force.

Han Wenhua, Ning Zeqi, and Ning Zeshu watched him take out the contract without saying a word.

He Shixia stood up and helped bring the contract over.

Although Ning Shaoren wasn't much of a business mind, he knew the contract needed to be in triplicate, including the board members' signed consent forms. He didn't plan to intentionally delay this time, so he directly brought out three copies, similar to He Weian's approach earlier.

Ning Shaoren's words were also similar: "It just needs your signature. After you review it, sign and return two copies to me."

Seeing He Shixia bring the contract to Ning Yichu's side, Han Wenhua, who hadn't spoken earlier, attempted to play the good cop, speaking kindly: "Xiao Chu ah, your father just has this bad temper. You've known it all these years. But no matter what, this contract is real, right? Mom and Dad have indeed neglected you in the past..."

Seeing Ning Yichu's mocking expression, Han Wenhua paused and changed her tune: "Yes, not just neglect—we treated you very poorly. But considering we sincerely want to make amends, can we be a proper family from now on? Now, the other Ning family members have gotten what they deserved, their situations aren't great. Even if they're still free outside, they're always uneasy. You've pretty much had your revenge. From now on, you, your father, and your brothers Zeqi and Zeshu can work together to properly manage Kangning..."

Ning Yichu remained silent, his expression shifting from mocking to playful, making Han Wenhua's attempt at a tender speech falter, and she awkwardly stopped.

Ning Yichu didn't answer her. Instead, he looked at Wen Shen's sister and brother-in-law. "Introduce yourselves?"

Wen Shen spoke on their behalf: "This is my sister, Wen Jin. My brother-in-law is Xuan Luo. We found out the He family's address through various contacts from people we knew in the country before. They just returned to China today and came straight over without resting..."

Ning Yichu interrupted: "You don't seem short on money for international first-class flights, so don't bother saying how tired you are from a ten-hour flight—it's a weak attempt at pity that misses the point. I'm going upstairs to put away and fetch some things. You can chat among yourselves first. I'm sure you all have plenty to talk about."

Then he stood up, signaling He Shixia to take all the contracts and follow him upstairs first.

He Shixia felt very pleased about "Ning Yichu asking him to act together." Such a natural, subconscious move meant Ning Yichu now considered him part of the team. How could that not be satisfying?

He Weian adapted well to Ning Yichu's abrupt departure, leaving a group of people downstairs. Tang Qingshan, usually rather quiet by her side, showed no reaction either.

Among the remaining people, only Ning Zeqi and Ning Zeshu remained relatively calm.

Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua were accustomed to Ning Yichu's past "docile and silent" demeanor. Although they knew he wasn't that mild-tempered now, the past impression was more deep-seated, so being faced with this firsthand change was still hard to accept.

As for Wen Shen's group, before coming, they felt more pity for Ning Yichu, expecting that even if the child was initially stubborn upon seeing his biological parents, he would soon embrace them. Now, doused by this cold reality and left hanging there, Wen Jin and Xuan Luo felt quite stifled.

Ning Yichu said the remaining people should have plenty to talk about, but no one spoke up first. Until Ning Yichu and He Shixia returned downstairs, no one uttered a word during that time.

Ning Yichu and He Shixia went upstairs to put away the contracts. On the way down, Ning Yichu stopped by the cloakroom and brought the jade pendant. Returning downstairs, he tossed it onto the coffee table and said to Wen Jin and Xuan Luo, "The jade pendant you're looking for."

Wen Jin, Wen Shen, and Xuan Luo were all stunned. Then Wen Jin picked up the pendant, and together with Xuan Luo, who leaned in to look, they almost cried with joy. "Yes, this is the pendant..."

"You are our child..."

Wen Shen was surprised the pendant was still there. "Didn't you say you threw it away?"

Ning Yichu raised an eyebrow. "I also told you not to take such liberties in acting familiar. Why didn't you believe that? Why throw away a perfectly good jade pendant? It's real jade; if I ever can't afford food, I can still sell it for money."

The words "can't afford food" reminded Wen Jin again of what she knew about Ning Yichu's past treatment by the Ning family, making her heart ache even more, unable to speak.

Xuan Luo also fell silent for a moment before speaking again: "Child, so you already knew we are your biological parents? That truly surprises me. But no matter what, since you knew yet didn't look for us and now have this attitude, it means you must have misunderstandings about us. Please listen to us explain what happened back then..."

"I showed you the pendant now so you'd have time to collect yourselves, lest you're still busy being emotional when we get to matters concerning you later," Ning Yichu refused. "But I don't plan to handle your affairs first."

With that, he leaned back on the sofa and looked at He Weian and Tang Qingshan. "The topic we were discussing earlier was interrupted by their sudden arrival. Let's continue now."

Ning Yichu's highly organized, one-thing-at-a-time approach would have been quite admirable to He Weian in a work setting. But now, she just wanted to interrupt: "Xiao Chu, regarding Ruxue's biological mother causing trouble—if you arranged that earlier, I won't say more. You can proceed with your original plan. But as for Shixia's father's matter, is it really necessary?"

Ning Yichu smiled. "Mom, don't worry so much. Did you forget? I said I'm bringing this up as 'compensation' for Ruxue's matter."

Finally hearing Ning Yichu call someone "Mom," but not herself, Wen Jin, his biological mother, felt conflicted. Han Wenhua, his adoptive mother, also felt like she was sitting on pins and needles... although she never felt much mother-son affection with Ning Yichu in the past either.

Tang Qingshan couldn't help but want to speak. He Weian glanced at him, and years of tacit understanding made Tang Qingshan understand this was a signal to stop, so he ultimately didn't say anything.

He Weian didn't stop Ning Yichu further. Again, for some reason, she basically believed Ning Yichu was telling the truth nowadays, aside from when he was intentionally being sarcastic.

Listening now, she didn't think Ning Yichu was being sarcastic.

Meanwhile, seeing Tang Qingshan's reaction, Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua realized Ning Yichu's earlier words concerned Tang Qingshan. And something that made both He Weian and Tang Qingshan immediately want to stop Ning Yichu from saying... Their faces changed simultaneously.

Now it was their turn to want to stop him, but as Ning Shaoren just started to speak, Ning Yichu was already past listening and said directly: "So, you were willing to cooperate with the Ning family to facilitate the marriage contract between He Shixia and Ning Zeshu precisely because the Ning family—specifically Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua—used the secret about the fire that happened in He Shixia's father's former teahouse as leverage to threaten you?"

Ning Shaoren nearly bit his tongue off.

Ning Yichu had originally only known about the fire, but he hadn't known that Ning Shaoren and the others had actually used it to blackmail He Weian and Tang Qingshan, and had succeeded for a time. It was only now, seeing the reactions of those involved, that he was certain.

He Weian and Tang Qingshan remained silent. Han Wenhua still tried to interrupt: "Xiao Chu, dear..."

"You were played. The teahouse fire wasn't caused by He Shixia's father knocking over a candleholder while drunk. It was started by the then eighteen-year-old Ning Zeqi, who was learning to smoke. While waiting for his father, he secretly lit one. Halfway through, his father called him to leave. Not wanting to be caught, he casually hid the still-lit cigarette butt under the tatami mat." Ning Yichu said in one breath.

Amidst the shifting expressions of the He and Ning families, Ning Yichu continued: "That fire caused massive financial losses. More importantly, two servers couldn't be rescued and were killed."

"Once Ning Zeqi realized he was the cause and felt he couldn't handle it, he told his parents—my adoptive parents, you two—the truth. Your solution was to pin it on Tang Qingshan, who was indeed drunk and had knocked over a candleholder. You showed him the surveillance footage of the room, but you didn't show him the part where the candleholder was immediately dealt with by a passing server."

"Coincidentally, that server was also one of the victims who died in the fire. No one was left to tell Tang Qingshan the truth. He even had to thank you for keeping his secret, preventing him, the 'arsonist,' from going to jail for arson and accidental death."

—Seventeen years ago, Ning Shaoren hadn't yet taken over Kangning. Interactions between the Ning and He families were more frequent. Ning Shaoren and Tang Qingshan, who had married into the He family, had even been like brothers for a few years and had once opened a teahouse together.

That's why Ning Shaoren and Ning Zeqi happened to be at the teahouse then, and why Ning Shaoren could manipulate the surveillance and successfully deceive the drunk Tang Qingshan into believing the fire was his fault.

In the original book's plot, years later when the families fell out, the truth finally surfaced. But by then, both Ning Yichu and He Shixia were already dead. The plot seemed in a hurry to write off the He family; it never mentioned this incident, though it had been used to push the marriage alliance.

—More likely, the original author simply hadn't thought it through. This was one of the many bugs and oversights in the original book. This world filled in these gaps during its initial operation; otherwise, neither the characterizations nor the internal logic would hold up.

In any case, at the start of this second chance at life, Ning Yichu hadn't expected Ning Shaoren and the others to have such "gall," nor that He Weian could actually be threatened by such a thing...

But thinking about it now, it's not surprising for the Ning family to shamelessly use their own faults as leverage against others for their own gain.

And although He Weian was threatened, she only agreed to facilitate her son's marriage, without guaranteeing it would happen. Viewed this way, her accepting the threat isn't that far-fetched for He Weian.

Moreover, judging by the fact that He Weian still managed to acquire the Kangning shares from the other families, clearly the threat didn't work a second time. Ning Yichu didn't believe for a second that the Nings would watch her gather shares without trying to blackmail her again.

Ning Yichu had figured it out, but Tang Qingshan, hearing the truth for the first time, was floored.

He Weian also paused, repeating: "...The fire was caused by Ning Zeqi, and Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua knew? Yet they still used it years later to threaten me into letting Shixia marry into their family?"

Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua looked both embarrassed and worried. Ning Zeqi initially reacted with agitation but then fell silent again, offering no defense.

Ning Zeshu gave a faint smile in a corner, unnoticed by the others.

Ning Yichu shrugged and replied, "If revealing the truth wouldn't have also hit He Shixia's father, I would have exposed it back at the He family long ago."

Tang Qingshan's face turned ashen: "No... you did hit your mark. I feel like a total fool now... Ning Shaoren!"

Ning Shaoren quickly said, "Qingshan, listen, I did it for my son. If I hadn't said that, how would you have agreed to help me cover up the truth? You wouldn't have kept quiet all these years. I was just protecting Zeqi; he was only eighteen..."

"An adult, fully capable of bearing criminal responsibility," Ning Yichu drawled.

Ning Zeqi looked at him and suddenly spoke: "You've sent many Nings to prison. Planning to send me now? But there's no evidence left from back then. Do you have any?"

Ning Yichu smiled slightly: "You'll know by the end of tonight."

Han Wenhua hastily scolded her son: "Zeqi, be quiet! Xiao Chu, after all, you called him 'big brother' for years, didn't you? And Weian, Qingshan, you heard it too. Zeqi was only eighteen, just an adult. It was an accident. As parents wanting to protect him, it's not entirely unforgivable, right..."

He Weian let out a cold laugh: "So years later, to benefit another son, you used this as leverage. I guess your sons are precious, and mine is just a stepping stone for yours to climb?"

Ning Shaoren and Han Wenhua couldn't help but feel guilty.

At this point, He Weian and Tang Qingshan both instinctively glanced at He Shixia.

He Shixia remained calm about having been abandoned by his parents, looking back: "Don't worry about me. I haven't been concerned about your feelings lately either. In a way, we really are family."

Tang Qingshan turned away in shame, then glared furiously at the Nings again. The peace cultivated over many years was shattering: "All these years! I used to think that even if you weren't capable, Ning Shaoren, at least you were a loyal, tight-lipped friend. Turns out, I was just a clown..."

Ning Shaoren couldn't help but argue: "The fire wasn't without your fault either! If you hadn't insisted on so much wood in the decor, it wouldn't have been so flammable that the fire department couldn't even get there in time..."

"You have the nerve to say that! Because of that, in my new restaurant, I don't even let the chefs use wooden cutting boards; they're all stainless steel..." Tang Qingshan roared.

But this sudden outburst, sounding like a bad joke, made Ning Yichu, who was feeling relaxed, let out a laugh.

The atmosphere froze with his laughter.

Tang Qingshan and Ning Shaoren, after all, cared about keeping up appearances. Even now, they didn't come to blows. Ning Shaoren stayed put, while Tang Qingshan, who had stood up in his rage, sank back into his seat, fuming. He said directly, "I'm going to the police tomorrow morning! Evidence or not, there needs to be an accounting!"

Ning Zeqi hung his head in silence.

Ning Shaoren gritted his teeth and looked at He Weian: "President He, are you really going along with this? It's been over a decade. Reporting it will lead nowhere, but it will make us all laughingstocks again! The Ning family is already neck-deep in scandals, but does the He family not care about their reputation?"

He Weian said, her face stern: "If the Ning family truly doesn't care, why are you so eager to persuade me?—What's the next matter, Xiao Chu? What were you going to say?"

Ning Yichu tilted his head: "How about everyone's whereabouts on the night He Shixia and I had that accident at the Kangning Grand Hotel a few months ago?"