Leaving the Ruan Family, Shen Mianmian took a long sigh of relief. He Nan turned his head to look at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement, "Feeling nervous?" Thıs content belongs to 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝓷𝓮𝓽
"Pretty much." Shen Mianmian nodded. "Brother Yiqian’s mother doesn’t like me much, Miss Cheng doesn’t like me either, but Brother Yiyang’s family is very amiable."
When the three of them arrived in the kitchen, it was clear that Ruan Lingyu and Cheng Xining must have spoken to Mother Ruan, but when she came out, she was still very enthusiastic towards her, which comforted Shen Mianmian and finally made her understand why Elder Brother He had suggested she acknowledge Ruan Yiyang as her honorary brother instead of Ruan Yiqian.
Mother Ruan and Father Ruan were easier to get along with.
He Nan chuckled softly, "You’ve observed quite carefully."
"Elder Brother He, did you ask me to acknowledge Ruan Yiyang as my honorary brother because his family is more amiable?" Although she guessed as much, Shen Mianmian couldn’t help but ask.
He Nan nodded, "It’s not just that. The Ruan Family once had a younger daughter who went missing at a bit over two years old. The couple’s relationship has been strained for years, and after Ruan Lingyu lost her daughter, she doted on Cheng Xining as if she were her own flesh and blood, perhaps a bit overly so. With Cheng Xining not getting along with you, if you were to acknowledge Yiqian as your honorary brother, you would unintentionally stir up a lot of unnecessary trouble."
"Elder Brother He, I’ve heard you mention Miss Ruan of the Ruan Family several times; can you tell me about her? What kind of little girl was she?"
Everyone had mentioned that Miss Ruan many times, and that young lady even had a verbal marriage agreement with Elder Brother He. Shen Mianmian couldn’t help but be a bit curious about her.
Remembering those bright, round eyes, He Nan’s lips curved slightly, "A little kid. If she hadn’t gone missing, she’d be about your age."
"Oh..." Shen Mianmian deliberately drew out the sound, "You don’t mind that I’m several years younger than you. If Miss Ruan hadn’t gone missing, you and she might really have ended up together, and then everyone would have been happy."
Would she still have met Elder Brother He then?
Without meeting Elder Brother He, her life would have taken many more detours, right?
"You can’t compare the two," He Nan mused, and began talking about the Ruan Family, "Ruan Lingyu was the daughter of Father Ruan’s comrade-in-arms. When the comrade passed away, he entrusted her to the elder Mr. Ruan. Before the elder Mr. Ruan died, he was concerned that no one would look after Ruan Lingyu, so he left a will instructing Ruan Qi to marry her. The two of them never really had much of a connection, and the birth of Yiqian only slightly improved their relationship. Then came Ruan Mianmian, and the couple grew closer because of this daughter. However, the harmony was short-lived; during an outing with his daughter, Ruan Qi let his guard down for a moment, and Ruan Mianmian went missing. Their relationship fractured after that, and they only maintained appearances. It just goes to show that arranged marriages don’t guarantee happiness."
Outsiders were unaware of these details, but the He Family knew them.
It was her first time seeing Elder Brother He gossip about someone else’s family matters, and unexpectedly, it was to tell her not to overthink. Shen Mianmian felt secretly delighted, yet she also felt sympathy for Ruan Mianmian.
"Following the usual pattern of child trafficking, Miss Ruan’s life over these years must have been tough."
He Nan’s eyes narrowed slightly, "The last family that adopted her was a blind person who took her up the mountain to forage for wild vegetables. He accidentally fell to his death, and he was only found the next day. Since then, there’s been no news of Ruan Mianmian."
In those times, life was difficult. In order to take Ruan Mianmian up the mountain for some wild vegetables, the blind man tragically lost his life.