Xi Mohan looked at Ning Yan’er in front of him. In fact, when Ning Yan’er uttered those words, he was already a bit displeased, but as he heard more of what Ning Yan’er had to say, his face returned to an extremely indifferent expression, like an eternal iceberg.

The man’s thin lips pressed lightly together. After a long pause, he looked at Ning Yan’er and said, "The relationship between you and me is just that of ordinary friends. I came here today because my grandfather instructed me to bring something to your grandfather. As for my matters, I don’t like others meddling, understand?"

Upon hearing Xi Mohan’s words, Ning Yan’er’s face turned pale and then flushed. Perhaps this was the first time Xi Mohan had said so much to her in one breath, but what he said made her feel embarrassed.

Because she understood the meaning behind Xi Mohan’s words.

She tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a smile that was uglier than crying, and directly said, "I’m sorry, I overstepped. But Mohan... can’t you give me a chance?"

Xi Mohan gave her a cold glance, but said nothing, directly opened the car door, and sat inside.

Ning Yan’er, having received no response, felt very dejected, and could only watch as Xi Mohan’s car left the Ning Family, disappearing from view.

After standing outside for a few minutes, Ning Yan’er finally turned around and walked back to the living room.

In the living room, Grandpa Ning was sitting on the sofa drinking tea and watching the news. Hearing footsteps, he turned his head to look at the despondent Ning Yan’er with her head hung low. Grandpa’s expression remained unchanged, having already more or less guessed what was going on with his granddaughter.

He set down his teacup and called out to Ning Yan’er, who was about to head to her room, "Yan’er, come here."

Stopping her steps, Ning Yan’er turned her head to look at Grandpa Ning, but obediently walked over to his side.

Grandpa Ning pointed to the seat next to him with his chin, "Sit down."

Ning Yan’er, feeling a bit uneasy, obediently sat down next to Grandpa Ning and cautiously asked, "Grandpa, did you call me for something?"

Grandpa Ning looked at her and asked, "Do you like that boy from the Xi Family?"

Grandpa Ning wasn’t good at remembering names, especially those outside the family, so he would often refer to others by mentioning which family they came from.

Ning Yan’er didn’t quite understand what Grandpa Ning meant, but still replied honestly, "Yes, Grandpa, I like Mo Han. I’ve liked him for over a year."

Ever since meeting Xi Mohan at that banquet, Ning Yan’er had been captivated by him, her whole heart almost given to him.

But just now, her confession had been doused by Xi Mohan’s words, leaving her feeling utterly low and wishing only to retreat to her room for solitude.

Grandpa Ning continued watching her and asked, "Were you rejected?"

Ning Yan’er nodded.

Grandpa Ning sighed, his gaze filled with pity as he said, "Yan’er, matters of the heart cannot be forced. That child from the Xi Family is ultimately not meant for you, and you won’t be the woman by his side. There’s no need to waste any more time on him; the woman meant for him is already fated."

Ning Yan’er’s eyes widened, and in the next second, tears rolled down her cheeks as she exclaimed, "Grandpa, do you... not even you think Mo Han and I have a future?"

"It’s not that I don’t believe in it, Yan’er, he simply doesn’t belong to you. Continuing like this will only waste time and your youth, ending in nothing gained." Grandpa Ning’s attitude was not harsh, but rather filled with affection as he looked at Ning Yan’er.

Hearing Grandpa Ning’s words, Ning Yan’er felt tears rolling down once again. Looking down at her fingers, she spoke, "But Grandpa, I only like him, I find I really can’t help it, I just want him..."

Grandpa Ning raised his hand and patted Ning Yan’er’s shoulder, "Yan’er, Grandpa is advising you for your own good. If you want a good future for yourself, don’t be headstrong anymore. Also... Wanwan is your sister. I know you two haven’t gotten along since childhood, and Grandpa doesn’t wish for you both to continue on like this. If possible, Grandpa hopes that you can get along well with Wanwan; you’re both Grandpa’s granddaughters."

Ning Yan’er’s body stiffened, and she looked at Grandpa Ning blankly, a bit stunned.

But she quickly recovered and immediately looked down, saying, "Grandpa, I understand."

Get along with Ning Wan? How is that possible?

...

Ning Wan learned about her parents’ deaths in an accident one morning.

Upon hearing that her parents had died, Ning Wan could hardly believe it, as just days ago they had lovingly chatted with her, moments still vivid in her mind, and now they lay in the hospital.

Grandpa Ning arrived at the hospital before Ning Wan. Unable to initially accept the news, he fainted and was taken into a ward. Ning Yan’er and her parents stood outside the ward, with nothing to say as they stood there when Ning Wan arrived.

The color had already drained from Ning Wan’s face, her expression terribly calm, like a soulless porcelain doll, as she walked up to Ning Yan’er and her family, her voice steady as she asked, "Where are my parents?"

Ning Yan’er’s father, also Ning Wan’s uncle, stepped forward, patting Ning Wan’s shoulder and said, "Wanwan, my condolences, your parents have passed."

However, the originally calm Ning Wan, upon hearing this, immediately became agitated, almost yelling, "I’m asking you, where are my parents? Where are they?"

"Ning Wan, is this how you speak to my dad?" Ning Yan’er couldn’t stand Ning Wan yelling at her father, stepping forward, she said, "My dad kindly told you that your parents are dead, why are you taking it out on him? He’s your elder; is this how you treat your elders? If your parents knew, they would roll in their graves..."

Before Ning Yan’er could finish, a loud slap echoed down the hallway.