"Happy birthday, Miss Ning,"
Ning Jing held her wine glass and faced a man whose decadent aura was immediately apparent.
"Spare me the pleasantries. What kind of person are you, Young Master Wang, to condescend to attend my birthday banquet?" Ning Jing scanned the man from head to toe.
Unlike her usual serene and gentle demeanor, Ning Jing's posture was somewhat flippant. A single glance revealed her dissatisfaction with the man.
"My dear lady, isn't this a surprise for you? Is it really fair to bully me the moment I return?"
The man pouted, making Ning Jing feel a chill.
This Young Master Wang, in the eyes of others, possessed a slightly plump, handsome visage, and such a gesture was most likely to evoke affection from beauties of all ages.
However, Ning Jing's heart already belonged to Ning Chen, making her find that man rather displeasing.
"Stop the nonsense. You returned and..."
Before Ning Jing could finish, her peripheral vision caught a familiar figure.
Ning Jing subconsciously straightened her chest, and a foot that had been casually resting shifted to a posture of attention.
"You have to go on stage later, why are you drinking?" Ning Chen walked to Ning Jing's side, took the wine glass from her hand, and placed it on a server's tray.
"Okay," Ning Jing replied obediently, her previously aggressive stance vanishing without a trace.
"Wow, is this your brother?"
Ning Jing subtly shielded Ning Chen.
Ning Chen, displeased by Ning Jing leaning towards Young Master Wang, grabbed her by the back of her collar and pulled her back.
"Your brother sure is controlling, not even letting you drink."
Young Master Wang, seeing Ning Jing acting as meek as a quail in front of Ning Chen, mistakenly believed he was standing up for her.
"I... you..."
If it had just been Ning Jing and this Young Master Wang, Ning Jing would have surely berated him from head to toe without holding back.
However, with Ning Chen standing beside her, Ning Jing, despite her anger, did not wish to appear aggressive in front of him.
As Young Master Wang spoke, Ning Chen's eyes narrowed, his oppressive aura piercingly directed at the young man.
Ning Chen had experienced much during his time in the military: the separation of comrades, being misunderstood, and even the life-and-death partings with his fellow soldiers.
Now that he had retired, his emotions seldom fluctuated, but Ning Jing was an exception.
From before he joined the army to after he joined, nothing had changed.
Her uncontrollable childishness.
Yet, despite this, Ning Chen's first thought was to ensure Ning Jing didn't misunderstand.
"You can drink when the banquet is over." By then, only he and Ning Jing would likely remain.
Ning Jing nodded like a pecking chick, appearing very well-behaved.
Young Master Wang looked at Ning Jing as if he had seen a ghost.
"Seriously, what are you afraid of? What can he do to you?" Young Master Wang asked Ning Jing with a look of confusion.
She, on the other hand, wished Ning Chen would do something to her.
Ning Jing grumbled inwardly, but maintained her docile facade.
Young Master Wang couldn't bear to see Ning Jing's quail-like, bullied demeanor. He reached out, grabbed Ning Jing's wrist, and pulled her towards him.
However, Ning Chen moved faster, stepping in front of Ning Jing.
"Please conduct yourself with more decorum." For the first time, he did not shield her by stating she was his precious sister.
"Alright, alright, I'll conduct myself with decorum."
With that, Young Master Wang stopped looking at Ning Jing and turned to join the other young masters not far away.
Young Master Wang had actually grown tired of Ning Chen's intimidating presence and would have fled long ago if he hadn't been trying to save face.
"Who is he?"
Even after the young master left, Ning Chen continued to stare at his retreating back with an expression that could potentially scare someone to death.
Making Young Master Wang genuinely feel the sensation of being watched.
"Huh?" Ning Chen did not turn around to look at her, and his tone was different from usual. Ning Jing was momentarily taken aback.
"Who is he?" Ning Chen asked again, his tone even more sharp this time.
"He's a classmate," Ning Jing replied truthfully.
"And?" Ning Chen pressed.
"Huh?" Ning Jing's attention was consumed by Ning Chen's tone, and her mind became confused.
"Just a classmate?" Ning Chen rephrased the question.
"And a friend," Ning Jing replied truthfully after a moment of silence, still not understanding Ning Chen's intentions.
"Hmph." Ning Chen let out a scoff.
Ning Jing was a little stunned. She had never heard Ning Chen speak to her like this before, and a wave of grievance threatened to overwhelm her.
Just as Ning Chen was about to ask more questions, Mother and Father Ning arrived.
"My little darling, happy birthday!"
Mother Ning looked at Ning Jing, who was standing there with her head slightly bowed, and saw her as a plump little dumpling, wanting to pick her up and toss her high.
"Mom." Because she wasn't feeling well, Ning Jing's voice was a little hoarse. Mother Ning instantly noticed something was amiss with Ning Jing.
"What's wrong, little darling? Did Ning Chen bully you? Tell Mom, and I'll personally discipline him."
Mother Ning affectionately ruffled Ning Jing's hair and glared fiercely at Ning Chen.
Ning Chen's gaze remained fixed on Ning Jing, completely oblivious to Mother Ning's glare.
Ning Chen bullying Ning Jing?
Impossible. Ning Chen had never bullied Ning Jing since they were children.
It was just that only Ning Jing, Ning Chen, and that boy were present just now.
Mother Ning knew that if that boy had bullied Ning Jing, Ning Chen would have surely retaliated on her behalf.
Therefore, it was a very accurate assumption for Mother Ning to place the blame on Ning Chen.
"No, Mom, I'm fine. I just caught a cold and my throat is a bit hoarse." Seeing Mother Ning's warm and kind face, Ning Jing managed a weak smile.
"Mom, I'm going to rest for a bit." Before Mother Ning could say anything, Ning Jing headed straight for the lounge.
Seeing this, Ning Chen followed closely behind.
"e=(´o｀*))) Alas," Mother Ning sighed, watching the direction they left, not knowing what to say.
...
"This is actually kind of cute."
Yun Shu Nian, who had witnessed the entire scene from not far away, clasped her hands under her chin like a young girl smitten by romance.
"Right?" Yun Shu Nian asked Mu Qi beside her.
Mu Qi did not respond, but this did not deter Yun Shu Nian from happily indulging in her own imaginings.
Thus, Yun Shu Nian gazed at their retreating figures with starry eyes, unaware that at that very moment, Mu Qi was staring at her profile, his heart aching.