After Xia Fei returned ho with her husband, Ning Youguang went upstairs alone to her room to rest.
Just then, a call from Shi Wangyue ca through—
"Are you tired?" he asked gently.
"Not too bad," Ning Youguang replied, "I just had so Longjing tea pastries downstairs, now I’m in my room."
"I want so too," Shi Wangyue said.
"I’ll bring you so when I get back," Ning Youguang said warmly, "Is there anything else you want to eat? I’ll bring it all for you."
"Yes, there is." Shi Wangyue said.
"Tell ," Ning Youguang turned on the speakerphone on her cell and opened her phone’s notepad.
She planned to jot down everything Shi Wangyue wanted to eat, buy it tomorrow and send it back to him, but unexpectedly, he only said one word in a lingering tone.
"You."
Ning Youguang felt a headache, "Mr. Shi, are you at work?"
"Yes," Shi Wangyue said with a gentle smile, "I’m standing by the office window."
"Guess what I’m looking at?" he asked.
"What are you looking at?" Ning Youguang asked curiously.
"Snow," Shi Wangyue said, "It’s snowing in Beijing, and I’m missing you very much."
Ning Youguang’s heart skipped a beat.
"It’s snowing, huh," she said, "Be careful driving ho after work."
The New Year was approaching, and Lao Nie, the driver, had also gone ho for the holiday.
Mr. Shi, who was all alone in Beijing, had to hold down the fort at work by himself without an assistant or a driver, it was indeed a bit pitiful.
Thinking of this, Ning Youguang felt a bit of compassion.
She wasn’t as calm and rational as she thought she was, especially when facing Shi Wangyue.
"Alright," Shi Wangyue agreed gently, "I want to watch the snow with you."
Ning Youguang’s voice softened, "I’ll be back in a few days, then we can watch the snow together."
"I want that now," Shi Wangyue’s voice beca quieter too.
It fell into Ning Youguang’s ears and instantly made her heart feel heavy.
Unbearable longing and missing caught her off guard, but she had no way to be by his side right away.
"I miss you," she said after a brief silence, "Next year I’ll return early to visit grandpa and grandma, grandpa, uncle, and aunt. I won’t co back for the New Year."
She promised, "Let’s spend the New Year together then."
"Okay," Shi Wangyue’s voice was still soft, but it felt lighter, as if it could float up to the sky, into the void.
...
Before the New Year.
Xia Fei was going to attend a charity event within the circle, and since Ning Youguang was in Jincheng, she wanted to drag her along.
"Co with , look at with a big belly, if I go alone, no one will be there to take care of ," she persuaded forcefully, "After the charity event, there’s a charity dinner, I’m the vice-chair, I have to attend, and for such a long ti, can you bear to see a pregnant woman fighting alone?"
"What do you an fighting alone, isn’t Aunt going too?" Ning Youguang said with amusent.
"How is that the sa?" Xia Fei said, "My mom has her friends to take care of. She won’t be able to look after . This ti our family’s art gallery is a major contributor, my mom will certainly be busy in the evening, please go with , I’m begging you."
"Alright, alright," Ning Youguang was most afraid of people pleading with her.
"That’s great," Xia Fei was happy, "Don’t worry about coming with . This charity event is definitely not just for show; the attendees are all prominent figures in the circle, together we can still do sothing for society."
"Got it," Ning Youguang laughed.
...
Before the charity event began, guests were gradually seated in the venue.
Even though Xia Fei was six months pregnant, she was the vice-chair of today’s charity event and kept busy as people continually approached her for chit-chat.
Ning Youguang, deed unique in Jincheng’s upper circles for never partaking in social gatherings, did not recognize most of the attendees.
So, after entering with Xia Fei, she sat in the spot arranged for her by the event organizers—naly Xia’s chair—and quietly awaited the event to start.
Just shortly after she sat down, soone also took a seat next to her.
It was a young, elegant woman in a lotus-pink evening gown, adorned in jewels, tall and beautiful.
"Miss Ning?" The woman looked at her intently upon sitting, then hesitantly spoke up.
"Hello," Ning Youguang smiled gracefully, acknowledging her identity.
After confirming she hadn’t mistaken her, joy surfaced on the woman’s ticulously made-up face.
"What a coincidence that you’re here today," she said, "Are you back for the New Year?"
"Yes," Ning Youguang nodded.
"Did Director Ning and the others co back with you?" She asked again.
"No," Ning Youguang replied.
As the lady continued talking, she occasionally lifted her long hair, and the brilliance of the big diamond ring on her hand several tis flashed into Ning Youguang’s eyes.
Taking advantage of the chance, Ning Youguang praised, "Your ring is really beautiful."
"Isn’t it?" The beautiful lady giggled coquettishly, "It’s a New Year gift from my husband."
"Your husband is so good to you," Ning Youguang praised again.
The lady’s smile brightened, "Not bad."
Then, she complinted Ning Youguang back, "It’s been years since I last saw Miss Ning, and you’ve beco more and more beautiful."
"Thank you," Ning Youguang replied politely.
The woman inquired curiously again, "I heard Miss Ning has been in Beijing with Director Ning all these years, you must be developing there, right?"
"Yes," Ning Youguang nodded.
"Beijing is great," the lady said enthusiastically, "Though Jincheng is nice, it’s not as packed with dignitaries as Beijing is. With Director Ning and Mrs. Ning to teach you personally, you must be well-exposed and enlightened."
"Not at all," Ning Youguang shook her head.
The lady realized that no matter what she said, Ning Youguang’s responses were appropriately polite yet revealing nothing, so she was embarrassed to continue probing.
However, she thought, with Miss Ning’s background, bearing, composure, and looks...
Even if she did nothing in Beijing, rely living as a privileged heiress, her future would likely not be ordinary. Having the fortune to build a good rapport with her was excellent.
So she proceeded to introduce herself, "My husband is the chairman of Sanhu Industrial Group, and I’ve started my own food brand, Carol’s Kitchen, focusing on frozen and convenient foods."
Ning Youguang displayed just the right amount of admiration, "Wow, Carol’s Kitchen is your brand? I often eat your Zhajiangmian and Tomato Zhajiangmian, they’re really delicious. Every ti I go I have to queue up; your store’s business is good, you’re truly amazing."1314
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