Ruan Mother’s words acted like a sedative, and Cheng Xining’s mood improved somewhat.
"You!" Ruan Mother chuckled and poked Cheng Xining, "Everyone knows about your little scheming."
"Auntie Mom." Cheng Xining stamped her foot coquettishly, "You just like to tease me."
"Alright, let’s go, go outside!"
Ruan Mother took Cheng Xining’s hand and led her out.
By their generation, the Ruan Family had few members. She had only given birth to Ruan Yiyang, while Ruan Lingyu had two children: one was Ruan Yiqian, and the other was a girl who had gone missing when she was just over two years old.
Thinking about her lost niece, Ruan Mother sighed deeply. The child had been very clever, with bright, large eyes, and she looked like a doll. Being the only girl in the Ruan Family, she was lavished with affection.
Unfortunately, she had been lost due to carelessness over a decade ago, and despite the Ruan Family’s considerable resources and efforts to find her, there had been no news to this day.
Had the child grown up, she would be about the same age as Shen Mianmian, and she probably would have been as adorable as Shen Mianmian.
The three returned to the living room to find Ruan Father and Shen Mianmian chatting away. Shen Mianmian, not at all stage-frightened, appeared poised and gentle. From Ruan Father’s expression, it was evident that he was fond of this young girl, Shen Mianmian. Content orıginally comes from 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝
Seeing this scene, Cheng Xining grew unhappy again and huffed as she sat down on the sofa. Ruan Father noticed and said, "Xining, you’re about the same age as Mianmian. Sit closer to her and chat for a while."
In Ruan Father’s eyes, two young girls of similar age should have more to talk about.
Shen Mianmian was a good student and seemed to be a well-behaved young girl. Cheng Xining, in his view, would be better off in her company than with the other young girls she normally associated with.
"She likes to hang out with boys and doesn’t enjoy chatting with me," Cheng Xining said sarcastically.
Discerning the subtext in her words, Ruan Father frowned, "Xining, you’ve been spoiled at home and become increasingly unreasonable. You’re twenty-three years old. How can you carry on ?"
Ruan Father was fond of Cheng Xining, but he believed that girls should not be too spoiled, and Cheng Xining was clearly being indulged.
"Uncle, now that you have a goddaughter, you don’t care about me anymore, do you?" Cheng Xining pouted, looking very aggrieved.
Ruan Lingyu, laughing, tried to smooth things over, "All young girls have a bit of a temper. Don’t pick on her. There’s a guest present, so let’s save some face for Xining."
After speaking, she glanced at Shen Mianmian.
Ruan Father felt Ruan Lingyu was being too indulgent towards Cheng Xining, but as his sister-in-law and being the younger brother, he couldn’t say much and let it go.
Unexpectedly, He Nan interjected coldly, "Trouble comes from the mouth. Education is essential, even for young ladies. But Aunt Ruan is right; it’s better to wait until we’ve left to do the educating."
His comment was a clear response to Ruan Lingyu’s mention of a guest.
Ruan Lingyu didn’t expect He Nan to be so protective of Shen Mianmian. Although the child had always been reticent, it was the first time he had ever talked back to her.
Cheng Xining, on the verge of tears from feeling wronged, thought to herself, could Nan Ge be so blinded by Shen Mianmian that he would show her such disrespect?
Ruan Father and Ruan Mother were both surprised, having never imagined that the usually silent He Nan would stand up for Shen Mianmian.
Compared to the rest, only Shen Mianmian remained the most composed, as if all these matters had nothing to do with her, or as if she hadn’t picked up on the hidden meanings in the adults’ conversation.