The Strongest Dandy in the City-Chapter 383: The Xus Get Involved

After traveling for more than an hour to Wu State, the Mercedes-Benz business van came to a steady halt in front of the Nings’ villa. Ning Minyan took a deep breath and, together with Ye Dongjian, was the first to step off the vehicle. Ning Yuting’s face showed no change in expression, but the tight grip of her hands clearly revealed the complexity of her emotions at that moment.

Ye Chenfeng gently patted the back of Ning Yuting’s pale hand and comforted her, "Don’t worry about getting out of the car. I’ll shoulder anything that comes our way. There will be no problems, I assure you."

Ning Yuting looked at Ye Chenfeng’s confidently smiling lips, nodded slightly, and felt quite a bit more relaxed. Then, holding Qianqian’s hand, she stepped out of the Mercedes-Benz van. Ye Chenfeng was the last one to get out.

"Yuting, Minyan, you two have finally returned! Why haven’t you two girls come home to visit all these years?" Lin Meiqin, as a woman and as the mother of Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan, approached and took hold of her daughters’ arms, displaying an exceedingly affectionate manner.

Walking behind Lin Meiqin, Ning Guangfeng, as a man and the father of Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan, believed that he should maintain the dignity a father is entitled to, not realizing that Yuting and Minyan had long ceased to regard him as a father.

"It’s good that you’re back. After all, your last name is Ning. The Nings’ home is your true home." Ning Guangfeng’s tone was neither very warm nor particularly cold, striking a very moderate note.

Confronted with Lin Meiqin’s enthusiasm and Ning Guangfeng’s greeting, Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan’s facial expressions did not change. They just stood there silently, which immediately made the atmosphere awkward.

Fortunately, Lin Meiqin quickly changed the subject. Looking at Ye Dongjian, who was standing next to Ning Minyan, she said, "Minyan, is this your fiancé?"

"Uncle, hello, Auntie, hello, my name is Ye Dongjian." Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan could afford to ignore Lin Meiqin and Ning Guangfeng, but Ye Dongjian could not. He was here at the Nings’ to ask for a hand in marriage, representing the face of the Yes. He couldn’t give the Nings the cold shoulder like Yuting and Minyan, could he?

"Dongjian is indeed a fine-looking young man! Minyan will surely live a happy life with you," Lin Meiqin said with a smile. Her gaze then moved to Qianqian, who was holding Ning Yuting’s hand, and she asked, "Yuting, is this little girl Qianqian? She’s so adorable."

Finally, Lin Meiqin’s gaze settled on Ye Chenfeng and she asked, "So, who might this be?"

Before Ye Dongjian, Ning Yuting, or anyone else could answer, Ye Chenfeng spoke up, "Bodyguard. I’m just a bodyguard from the Yes."

Upon learning that Ye Chenfeng was merely a bodyguard from the Yes, Lin Meiqin quickly shifted her attention, "Dongjian, Yuting, Minyan, don’t just stand there, come inside quickly! The elder is waiting for you all!"

Ye Dongjian, Ning Yuting, and Ning Minyan looked at Ye Chenfeng with puzzlement, not knowing what game Chenfeng was playing. In reality, Chenfeng had simply spoken impulsively. He could tell that the Nings were currently treating Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan very well, probably because of their association with the Yes. Ye Chenfeng, being a direct descendent of the Yes, knew that if the Nings were aware of his identity, ingratiating themselves with him would be inevitable, and Ye Chenfeng disliked such falseness.

Ye Dongjian and the others followed Ning Guangfeng and Lin Meiqin into the Nings’ great hall. Through Lin Meiqin’s introductions, the people of the Nings soon became acquainted with Ye Dongjian. Of course, Ye Chenfeng, as the direct descendant of the Yes, was naturally ignored by everyone; they didn’t need to waste time on a mere bodyguard.

"Yuting, Minyan, are you still holding a grudge against your grandfather? I was forced to do what I did back then! Your grandfather will definitely not make such decisions again in the future. Can you forgive me?" Ning Rongxuan’s face showed a look of guilt, and his tone was very soft and benevolent, truly embodying the image of a caring grandfather.

Had it not been for their experiences back then, Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan might have actually believed Ning Rongxuan’s pretentious words. How had the Nings forced Yuting to marry the corpse of Xu Zhanchi, under pressure from the Xus? Ning Rongxuan had been the most resolute in his decision-making at that time, having once said, "The women of the Nings are prepared to sacrifice for the family; you should feel honored."

"Honored my foot," Yuting and Minyan had long seen through the pretenses of the people of the Nings, including their own biological parents. If they believed Ning Rongxuan’s words now, they would truly be fools.

"Yu Ting, Min Yan, we all know you two have suffered outside. Why don’t you come back to Wu State? The Nings’ doors will always be open for both of you," Ning Guangzhi, Ning Yuting’s uncle, said.

"Yes! Where is it more heartwarming than home? Yu Ting, Min Yan, we will definitely do our utmost to compensate you both in the future," Ning Guangbo, Ning Yuting’s younger uncle, immediately echoed.

"Yu Ting, Min Yan, Mom also hopes you can come back to the Nings. You two are flesh of my flesh!" Lin Meiqin said with deep emotion.

It was indeed a splendid scene. Anyone who didn’t know the full story would surely be moved by the Nings’ actions, but Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan knew that the Nings behaved this way entirely because of their relations with the Yes from Capital City.

"Alright, don’t trouble Yu Ting and Min Yan any further. Let them consider it." Ning Rongxuan glanced at the wall clock and added, "It’s almost time for dinner; let’s get ready to eat. Today is the day that Yu Ting and Min Yan return to the Nings. I’ve specially had your favorite dishes prepared."

From beginning to end, Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan didn’t say a word. They didn’t know what to say. These once-familiar family members now felt so strange to them.

Just as they were about to start the meal, two men walked into the Nings’ living room. One was a man of about forty, a leading figure in the second generation of the Xus’ collateral branch named Xu Jian. The other, a man in his late twenties, was Xu Jian’s son, Xu Kai, a favored son of the Xus’ collateral branch’s third generation.

Following the elder Xu’s instructions, the father and son had come to the Nings on a mission. They didn’t dare disregard the elder Xu’s orders, and frankly, they didn’t consider the Nings worth their attention. They had heard that people from the Yes of Capital City had also arrived, but this was Wu State, where the Xus were the emperors of their domain, backed by the elder Xu. Therefore, they weren’t afraid of the Yes’ people.

"Ning patriarch, are you about to dine? I heard that Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan have returned, so I came specifically to see them," Xu Jian said dismissively, not even bothering to glance at Ning Rongxuan.

"Tomorrow is Pengfei’s funeral, and since Yu Ting is married to Zhan Chi, by name she is Pengfei’s elder sister-in-law. I’ve come today to invite Yu Ting to attend the funeral tomorrow. I assume the Nings have no objections, right?" Xu Jian asked with a smile.

Ye Chenfeng hadn’t expected that right after their arrival at the Nings, the Xus would show up seeking to invite Ning Yuting to Xu Pengfei’s funeral. His eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth hinted at a faint smile.

Seeing that not a single Ning family member stood up to speak, Xu Jian continued, "Ning patriarch, I know you have tied connections with the Yes of Capital City, but you must understand this is Wu State. The Xus could destroy the Nings in a heartbeat, and the Yes wouldn’t be able to stop us."

"Our Yu Ting will surely attend Pengfei’s funeral punctually tomorrow. After all, Yu Ting is Pengfei’s elder sister-in-law!" Ning Guangzhi, Ning Yuting’s uncle, hastily said, seemingly intimidated by Xu Jian’s words.

"Yes, tomorrow Yu Ting will definitely be on time at Pengfei’s funeral," Ning Guangbo, Ning Yuting’s younger uncle, also said.

...

Thus, the Nings’ repulsive true colors were revealed once again. Just a moment ago, they had been insisting that Ning Yuting and Ning Minyan return to the Nings, promising to make full amends. Now, however, they turned their backs faster than flipping a book, an utterly disgusting display.

Ning Yuting, who had harbored a sliver of hope in her heart, had completely given up on any fantasies about the Nings. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. She said firmly, "Why should I attend the funeral of that beast Xu Pengfei? I have nothing to do with the Xus." (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)