Shangguan Yingnuo hadn’t even hung up the phone when Mrs. Nuo anxiously asked, "Nuonuo, what exactly is going on?"
"At Luo Family’s, our family, and Xing Nong’s, we are gathering for dinner. Luoluo will co to pick us up at five thirty, she said Uncle Luo has already made arrangents with Dad..." Ying Nuo quickly dialed the number: "Right, I’ll ask Dad how he discussed it with Auntie, so we don’t end up with conflicting plans."
"Hurry up and ask, your Auntie doesn’t know we have any dealings with Secretary Luo’s house. If she finds out we’ve been hiding this from her, who knows how she might complain about your Dad." Mrs. Nuo said as she snatched the phone: "Let talk to him."
Ying Nuo rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction: "Mom, you’re underestimating too much, you have that little trust in ?"
Mrs. Nuo patted her daughter soothingly, "It’s not that I don’t trust you, I’m worried you won’t convey the seriousness of the situation to your Dad."
"What’s so serious?" Shangguan Yunhang’s voice ca through the phone.
Mrs. Nuo quickly said, "Auntie just called us saying she made plans with you, and Luoluo also called saying you and Secretary Luo made arrangents. What exactly have you coordinated?"
"It just happens to be at the sa hotel. You stay with Auntie’s family and their prospective son-in-law, while Nuonuo and I will greet Auntie shortly and then go to the Secretary’s and Commander Yan’s side. Once Auntie’s party is over, you join us later."
Mrs. Nuo, worried, said, "It’s just that Auntie has never known about our connections with the Secretary and Commander Yan. Now that you let her know, is that okay?"
"It was a coincidence. Actually, Auntie asked first, and then the Secretary called. Not to ntion Nuonuo and Luoluo’s relationship, but considering the Secretary’s high rank, when he took the initiative to invite , I couldn’t refuse. I had no choice but to tell Auntie the truth. Being soone within the system, she could understand. However, she emphasized that you should accompany her. She doesn’t want Minmin to be looked down upon by the man’s family in the future. Honey, it’s going to be tough on you."
Mrs. Nuo sowhat doubted Mr. Nuo’s words, and her tone intensified, "Tell the truth, did Auntie really... not scold you?"
"You think too lowly of Auntie, she may be strict with rules, but she can distinguish what is important. Okay, I won’t talk to you anymore, soone is knocking on the door..."
"Okay, I won’t talk to you anymore, soone is knocking on the door..." Mrs. Nuo mimicked her husband’s tone while muttering and frowning, then glanced at the ti, anxiously pacing around, "What to do now, there’s no ti to buy clothes."
Ying Nuo watched her speechlessly, "Mom, if soone didn’t know, they’d think you’re the one going on a blind date. With so many clothes in your closet, can’t you find one that you like?"
"Ah, I’ll go look." Mrs. Nuo heaved a sigh and headed towards the bedroom, still mumbling, "A woman’s wardrobe is always missing one piece of clothing..."
A smile tugged at the corners of Ying Nuo’s lips. Ever since Mom beca friends with Aunt Wen, she’s so much more fun. Before, she used to be so uptight.
Thinking of Mom’s earlier advice, Ying Nuo beca pensive. She understood why her Mom was conflicted. Compared to the Luo Family, the Shangguan Family was far behind. Although the two families had beco friends, if they were to beco relatives by marriage, the Shangguan Family really was lacking.
In the past, she never felt the gap in family backgrounds was an issue, but as she grew older and more experienced, she started to understand the logic behind certain societal norms.
Take Sister Minmin’s marriage prospects, for example: those in better conditions than Auntie’s family would look down on Minmin, while those worse off would try to ingratiate themselves.
She used to despise such things, but now, she was increasingly cognizant that living in this world, one inevitably has to face things they don’t like.
Like her father’s promotion—if not for Uncle Luo’s care, even if her dad was capable, whether he would be appreciated was uncertain.
Before, when they visited Grandpa and Grandma’s place, Auntie’s family always overshadowed theirs, but now, their family was clearly the center of attention.
And all of this was brought by Luoluo.
She liked Luo Feng, but truthfully, she didn’t want others to associate her affection with power and influence.
Luo Feng’s attitude also baffled her. Obviously, he was always seen with Princess Rong, but she could sense his inherent indifference towards Princess Rong.
She had discreetly observed that despite Luo Feng and Princess Rong being a couple, they had never displayed affectionate gestures, and in Wang Peirong’s eyes when she looked at Luo Feng, there seed to be a mix of resentnt and fear. What was the story behind all this?
Now, she was becoming increasingly apprehensive. Is this what it feels like to fall for soone? Did Luoluo feel the sa about Ye Xuan?
"Cuckoo... Cuckoo..."
The sudden sound of a cuckoo bird made her startle, then she realized it was her new ringtone, and she scrambled to answer her phone: "Hello, who is this?"
"It’s , put on an extra layer and co down."
Luo Feng!
Ying Nuo’s heartbeat quickened, and without thinking, she responded, "Okay." Looking at the light grey loungewear she was wearing, she patted her head in annoyance and quickly ran back to the bedroom. Rummaging through the closet, she sighed in defeat, "Indeed, a woman’s closet is always missing one piece of clothing."
Ten minutes later, she examined herself in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction, and hurried downstairs.
"Nuonuo, where are you going?" Mrs. Nuo’s voice called from a distance.
"I’ll be right back." Her voice trailed off as she had already run down two flights of stairs.
"This girl, what’s with all the crazy rushing?" Mrs. Nuo muttered before turning her attention back to examining the clothes.
Black jeans, an apple-green sweater paired with an off-white cotton jacket, and deep brown suede ankle boots on her feet. Because she had run so quickly, her little face was flushed red, making her look even more youthfully compelling. Luo Feng watched her, his lips curving into a gentle smile, "Silly girl!"
Ying Nuo pouted, "Brother Luo Feng, did you call here just to call silly?"
"Of course not." Luo Feng cleared his throat, his cheeks unexpectedly turning red. Ying Nuo eyed him, reaching out to check, "Fever? Shy?"
"That..." Luo Feng suddenly grasped her small hand, looking her straight in the eyes, "Nuonuo, there’s sothing I need to tell you."
"Go ahead." Ying Nuo bowed her head, her face burning up. The sound of her heart pounding "thump, thump..." was clearly audible in her ears, and her face turned even redder...
Luo Feng looked around and pulled her to a secluded spot out of the wind, gazing at her seriously, "I know you’ve always been worried about my relationship with Wang Peirong, and now, I can tell you, everything between her and was just an act..."
After Luo Feng finished, Ying Nuo stared at him in a daze, tears rolling down like pearls falling off a broken string, but she remained silent.
"Nuonuo, I didn’t tell you before not because I didn’t trust you, but because I was worried about the potential chain reaction if the other side found out. Please don’t be angry, and don’t bla Luoluo, okay?" Luo Feng explained softly.
"No, I’m not angry, nor do I bla Luoluo..." Ying Nuo shook her head, frantically clarifying, "I’m just scared after the fact. How can there be such despicable people? But, Brother Luo Feng, will you be safe from now on?"
Luo Feng held her small hands, "Yes, now it’s safe. Nuonuo, I don’t want to deceive you. In families like ours, you never know when soone will get the wrong idea and play dirty tricks. Do you want to face all this with ?"
"Do you an..." Ying Nuo looked at him with surprise, sowhat unable to recover from the shock.
Luo Feng’s lips curled up, "I an, Nuonuo, will you be my girlfriend?"
"I..." Just as she was about to nod, Ying Nuo suddenly collected herself and looked seriously at Luo Feng, "Brother Luo Feng, I really do like you, but I want to know if you’re accepting because of Luoluo’s request, or if you truly like ?"
"Fool, do you think we, siblings, are people who would joke about feelings?" Luo Feng indulged her by stroking her head, "I admit, initially it was Ye’er’s suggestion that made consider our relationship, but through our interactions, I found many qualities in you that I like.
Today, telling you all this is a result of careful consideration. I truly want to hold your hand and spend my life with you. Will you accept it?"
"I will, but..." Ying Nuo looked at him uncertainly, "The Shangguan Family and the Luo Family are worlds apart in status. The Shangguan Family may never be able to genuinely help out the Luo Family. Is that okay?"
"The Luo Family and the Wen Family would never trade their children’s marriage prospects for political gain. Nuonuo, if you say these things to Ye’er, she will be heartbroken."
Ying Nuo looked up at his handso face, touching it gently with her hands, her cheeks turning red, "I like Luoluo, I like Brother Luo Feng, I like Grandpa Luo, and I like Uncle and Aunt. I asked these questions because I need a definite answer, to put my parents at ease..."
"I know." Luo Feng interrupted her, leading her towards the stairs, "Is Auntie at ho?"
Realizing what Luo Feng was intending to do, Ying Nuo stopped in her tracks and retreated, "Don’t, I’m not ntally prepared yet."
"ntal preparation is the least reliable thing." Luo Feng forcefully pulled her forward, "The reason I rushed over at this ti is to seek your consent in advance. We will announce our relationship tonight, but since I’m here, it would be rude not to visit my mother-in-law."
Ying Nuo pouted and sized him up, "Brother Luo Feng, how co I never noticed that you... could be so domineering?"
"Really?" Luo Feng rubbed her head, "Don’t worry, I’ll be good to you and won’t force you to do things you don’t like."
"Then why are you forcing now?" Ying Nuo muttered softly.
"This isn’t forcing, it’s so that I can be with you openly in the future, and so your mother-in-law can be reassured." Luo Feng stopped and looked at her, "Nuonuo, like you ntioned the issue of family status, it doesn’t bother our family, but it could bother Uncle and Aunt. I have to consider their feelings too, understand?"
"Mhm." Ying Nuo nodded, taking the lead and pulling him up the stairs.
----
Second update from Nuan, special thanks to "tigerxuejun" for the reward, and thanks to the guys who subscribe to the official version for Nuan. The next update will be around 3 p.m. tomorrow. (To be continued. If you like this work, please co to Qidian (qidian) and cast your Recomndation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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