"I know, he’s also doing it because he dotes on you," Guo Shuzhen sighed lightly, her words bearing no other implication. "Old Madam Quan doted on Ning Guiwan like her own granddaughter, and as an uncle and elder, it was only natural for Quan Yu to dote on Ning Guiwan as well."
"It’s just that the orchestra training program only recruits once every three years. Missing this opportunity means having to wait another three..."
Guo Shuzhen was not an unreasonable person.
Qiao Youning injuring Ning Guiwan badly enough to be hospitalized, without any prior conflict between them, was indeed Qiao Youning’s fault.
Moreover, with Qiao Youning showing no remorse afterward, Quan Yu teaching her a lesson was well-deserved.
But at the end of the day, Qiao Youning was her own precious daughter, and as a mother, she had to consider her future.
"Xiaowan..." Guo Shuzhen tried to put herself in Ning Guiwan’s shoes.
"Mrs. Qiao, there’s no need to say more. I understand what you mean," Ning Guiwan softly interrupted Guo Shuzhen’s almost pleading words, smiling as she said, "However, I still believe this matter has nothing to do with Uncle Quan. He invited members of the orchestra to dinner, perhaps for some other reason. Rest assured, I am willing to clarify with the head of the Examiner Team that the incident with Miss Qiao was just a small misunderstanding, not serious enough to indicate a character flaw."
Guo Shuzhen brightened; this was precisely the purpose of her visit.
"Then I’ll have to trouble you."
There was a significant difference between Ning Guiwan offering to help proactively and Guo Shuzhen asking for help first, with Ning Guiwan then agreeing.
Guo Shuzhen smiled as she looked at Ning Guiwan. Whether this matter was related to Quan Yu or not, she had her own judgment. She should have gone directly to Quan Yu, but after much thought, she felt that the one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it.
"You really are a sensible and good child. It seems rumors can’t be trusted at all," she said.
Hearing this, Ning Guiwan still wore a graceful smile. "Over the past few days, I’ve received the sincerity from you and Mr. Qiao. Miss Qiao is still young, and I wouldn’t want to see her future jeopardized by a moment of impulsiveness."
The smile in Guo Shuzhen’s eyes deepened.
"Speaking of which, Chaolian even considered matching you with our fifth son a while back, but alas, he wasn’t fortunate enough..." As she spoke, she genuinely seemed to regret it. It wasn’t that she was particularly fond of Ning Guiwan... but she was certainly better than the one Qiao Yishen kept in his villa.
"You have the nerve to mention that!" Old Madam Quan’s displeased voice interrupted Guo Shuzhen. Ning Guiwan looked over and saw Butler Fang helping the elderly lady approach, her face etched with anger.
"Your family is really something, taking turns bullying our Xiaowan, and you still have the audacity to visit!" Old Madam Quan hadn’t forgotten how Wei Chaolian had initially agreed to act as a matchmaker for Qiao Yishen and Ning Guiwan, only to suddenly back out, which was infuriating.
"Sister-in-law..." Guo Shuzhen knew she was in the wrong. "It’s my fifth son who lacks discernment. A wonderful girl like Xiaowan will definitely find the best."
"HUMPH!" Old Madam Quan huffed coldly. "As if we needed you to tell us that."
Guo Shuzhen was speechless.
"If you don’t discipline that daughter of yours properly, who knows what trouble she’ll cause in the future," Old Madam Quan said, her face stern.
Guo Shuzhen could only nod in agreement. "I will certainly discipline her strictly. Rest assured, Sister-in-law, she won’t dare to trouble Xiaowan again."
Guo Shuzhen sat for a while longer before finding an excuse to leave. Ning Guiwan got up to see her off but was stopped by her.
The driver held the car door open for her at the foot of the steps. Remnants of snow covered the tree branches.
Just as she settled into the car, she received a call from her daughter. "Mom? How did it go?"
Guo Shuzhen intended to use this incident to scare her daughter a little and teach her a lesson.
"I think you should prepare to try again in three years."
After a moment of silence on the phone, Qiao Youning’s sobbing voice came through. "I don’t want to! I’ve put so much into this exam! The examiners all said I have talent, that I played well! I don’t want to wait another three years..."
Her lifelong dream had been to join the National Orchestra. It had been within her grasp, only to be shattered by a moment of impulse. How could she accept that?
In three years, her peers might have already toured internationally, returning laden with honors, while she would only just be starting. She didn’t want that...
"So now you know how to cry?" Though Guo Shuzhen’s heart ached, she steeled herself to lecture her. "You’re twenty-one years old, yet you act so recklessly and willfully, without considering the consequences..."
Ning Guiwan returned to her room, holding the small box Guo Shuzhen had left behind. Inside was a Rhinoceros Horn Comb of rather fine quality.
"Mrs. Qiao is very thoughtful. Combing your hair with a Rhinoceros Horn Comb is very good for the scalp," said Aunt Zhang. Having been with the Quan Family for a long time, she was quite knowledgeable and recognized the comb’s material at a glance.
Old Madam Quan also had one, and Aunt Zhang often combed the Old Madam’s hair with it.
Ning Guiwan smiled, placed the comb on the table, and removed her hat. "Please help me wash my hair," she said. "It feels really awful."