Chapter 19: Encountering An Sheng

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Ning Chu was following Zhou Ran’s lead, finding it quite refreshing. She had eaten something spicy midway through, so spicy that her mouth turned red, and she drank several sips of water. This level of spiciness was unlike what the chef usually made; it was far too hot. Her lips and face flushed from the heat, drawing a few curious glances from nearby diners.

Zhou Ran handed her a napkin. “Don’t eat any more of that; I’m worried it might upset your stomach. Try the tomatoes—they’re delicious.”

Ning Chu didn’t dare eat any more and followed Zhou Ran’s suggestion, sampling the tomatoes and mushrooms instead.

Zhou Ran swallowed the meat in her mouth before asking Ning Chu, “You really got divorced?”

Ning Chu nodded. “Yes.”

“And your parents? Did they say anything? Are you okay?”

Ning Chu replied, “I was abroad for over ten days, and they couldn’t find me. I just came back a few days ago, and they came looking for me, but I told them to leave. They won’t ever be able to control me again.”

“Hey, can I get to know you?” Just as Ning Chu finished speaking, a young man approached, hoping to get her WeChat.

Ning Chu hesitated, then shook her head. “Sorry.”

The man said, “Can we just be friends?”

Ning Chu replied, “Sorry, I don’t add strangers.”

Zhou Ran stood up and blocked Ning Chu. “My friend said no.”

Though the man looked displeased, he didn’t press further and left somewhat disappointed.

Zhou Ran returned to her seat and looked at Ning Chu. “You really attract too much attention. It’s my fault—I should have booked a private room.”

Ning Chu smiled lightly. “It’s fine. I actually find it quite novel.”

The two continued eating. At that moment, An Sheng entered with her friends; it was finally their turn.

The server led them to a spot not far from Ning Chu. At first, Ning Chu was chatting with Zhou Ran and didn’t notice, but An Sheng immediately saw her!

She had heard the news that Ning Chu and her husband had recently divorced. When An Sheng heard it, she thought of the man she saw at the Ning family’s house—the distinguished, powerful, and handsome gentleman. How could her sister be willing to divorce him?

An Sheng hesitated and told her friends, “I just saw someone I know. I’m going to say hi.”

Zhou Ran was engrossed in gossip about the law firm with Ning Chu. Suddenly, someone came over and called out to Ning Chu, “Sister, what a coincidence!”

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Ning Chu looked up and saw An Sheng. She appeared shy and timid, looking at Ning Chu with lowered eyes. “Sister, you’re here for hotpot, too?”

Zhou Ran frowned, looking at An Sheng. “Sister? Ning Chu, I don’t remember you having a younger sister.”

Ning Chu nodded. “I really don’t have a sister. She’s mistaken.”

An Sheng bit her lip, her eyes red, clutching the hem of her clothes, looking pitiful. “Sis… I’m sorry… I won’t call you ‘sister’ anymore.”

If anyone didn’t know better, they might think Ning Chu had bullied her. An Sheng’s friends, seeing her trembling as she approached, immediately accused Ning Chu, “Did you bully her?”

Ning Chu almost laughed. “Who are you?”

The girl was momentarily taken aback by Ning Chu’s expression but then her eyes flashed with jealousy. “Did you bully my friend? What did you say to her?”

Zhou Ran was speechless. “How shameless can you be? She just mistakenly called my friend ‘sister’—who’s her sister? Stop calling people that. And as for you, I could sue you for defamation. Bullying? She’s the one crying and making a scene. We didn’t say a word. We don’t even know her. Sounds like a scam to me.” Zhou Ran rolled her eyes.

The girl turned to An Sheng. “An Sheng, what’s going on? Did they bully you?”

An Sheng shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “No, no, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have called her sister. Sis… I’m sorry.”

Ning Chu didn’t want to watch the drama or let it ruin her mood. “Stop it. I’m not giving you any money. You can go cry in front of Mr. Ning; he might be more willing to give you something.”

Zhou Ran exclaimed, “Damn, it’s a scam for money. Ning Chu, do you know her?”

Ning Chu replied, “I’ve met her once—came to my house to scam money, claiming to be my father’s daughter.”

Zhou Ran’s eyes widened. “Daughter?! That’s a mistress’s child!” Her voice got louder, drawing attention from others, who started whispering.

The girl who spoke for An Sheng gasped. “An Sheng, you…”

An Sheng covered her face. “No, no, that’s not true. I’m not. Sorry, sister, I shouldn’t have shown up in front of you. It’s all my fault.” She ran off, crying.

Her friends chased after her immediately.

Once she left, Zhou Ran said, “Is what you said true? She really is your father’s illegitimate daughter?”

Ning Chu nodded.

Zhou Ran slammed the table. “Your father is such a scoundrel!” Then she looked at Ning Chu apologetically. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

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Ning Chu’s expression remained calm. “He really is a bastard.”

“Ah?” Zhou Ran was stunned this time.

…

After they finished eating, they left the hotpot restaurant. Zhou Ran grabbed Ning Chu’s hand and started wandering through the mall. “You probably haven’t done much shopping, right? Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Not only had she rarely shopped, she had never experienced the bustling crowd of a mall like this. Most of her things were arranged by Zhou Erqin, and she didn’t have time to shop herself—she had much to learn.

After marriage, most of her belongings were custom-made; she didn’t need to buy much. Gifts were prepared by the butler, and anything she wanted was delivered straight to her home. There was no need to go out shopping.

No one would accompany her either, and most importantly, Zhou Erqin wouldn’t allow it!

“As aristocrats, we must maintain an air of mystery!” Zhou Erqin had said. “Showing yourself in public is what the lower class does.”

Strolling with Zhou Ran, browsing this and that, Ning Chu felt happy. Zhou Ran even took her to try claw machines and arcade games. Ning Chu got a little addicted but couldn’t win a single prize after spending a hundred yuan in game tokens.

In the end, Zhou Ran helped her win one. “Thank you.”

“No problem, we’re friends!”

Meanwhile, after An Sheng ran off, her friends chased after her. “An Sheng, what’s going on? Was that really your sister just now? And what about this mistress’s child?”

An Sheng nodded. “Yes, she… I don’t really know. My mother worked at a bar and was forced by my father.” She blushed, then continued. “Afterward, she got pregnant and wanted to abort me, but her health was poor, so she took me back to the countryside. My mother had no choice but to raise me there…”

“I’m studying now, and my family doesn’t have money. My mother is sick and couldn’t take care of me, so she brought me here. My father is the chairman of the Ning Group…”

“Wait a minute, you said your father is the chairman of Ning Group?” Ning Group was a huge corporation they all knew well. They hadn’t expected their new acquaintance to be the daughter of Ning Group’s chairman.

An Sheng nodded shyly. “Yes. My sister is my father’s wife. My mother… so…” She lowered her head, looking uneasy, afraid her friends would despise her. “My mother really didn’t know back then. Now she’s ill, and we have nowhere else to go.” She wiped her tears.

Zhang Liuru patted her shoulder. “Even if you’re a mistress’s child, you didn’t know. You’re just a kid. Besides, your father forced your mother back then. In these rich families, marriages are often arranged. I think your father liked your mother but had no choice because of family reasons.”