Ning Li was on the phone with Gu Siyang.
“Ning Li, Ning Li! Your exams ended today, right? When are you coming to the Capital?”
His excitement and anticipation could be heard across the phone.
“Tell me when you’ve decided to come over so I can arrange for you to go to the training grounds.”
Ning Li rubbed her temples and held the phone a little further away.
“I’m going in a few days and will let you know if I have time to visit after the camp.”
She did not promise him anything, but Gu Siyang pretty much considered it a done deal if she could say this.
“Okay! It’s a deal! I’ll wait for you in the Capital!”
Ning Li was a little surprised. “You’re already there?”
‘Weren’t they still in Lincheng? They should’ve just picked up the car at this time. Why is Gu Siyang back in the Capital so soon?’
Gu Siyang did not want to talk about it.
On the night they had picked up the car, his uncle had booked a ticket back to the Capital for him. He had not even gotten to return to his house in Yunzhou and had straightaway been dropped off at the airport with his luggage.
Gu Siyang had no other choice but to get on the plane.
He coughed. “Ah, yes…I just got back.”
Ning Li did not think much of it since she did not know the background story.
After all, Gu Siyang had been staying in the Capital before Yunzhou, so it was normal to go back.
She glanced out the car window and saw that Lu Huaiyu had already made his way back.
“I’ll hang up first. We’ll talk later when I get to the capital.”
“Okay, sure!”
Gu Siyang felt that this was a sure deal and felt some comfort to his wounded heart, so he hung up the phone with satisfaction.
Lu Huaiyu pulled open the car door and sat inside.
“You’re done?”
“Mm, he said the same thing.”
Lu Huaiyu leaned back in his seat and smiled. “He’s quite persistent.”
Ning Li put her phone away. “Second Brother, you don’t need to send me home. I can go back by myself.”
Lu Huaiyu raised his hand and gently flicked her forehead.
“It’s on the way.”
The Ye family home was certainly not on the way to Yunding Fenghua. Not many would be as thick-skinned as Lu Huaiyu to say this with such confidence.
…
Pei Song stood at the door.
From where he was standing, he could vaguely see Lu Huaiyu flicking Ning Li’s forehead as they spoke.
Ning Li wrinkled her nose.
Lu Huaiyu propped his head up with one hand and nodded with a smile.
Only then did Ning Li relax her eyebrows and sit back.
The car quickly drove away.
Pei Song stood in place for a while until he noticed the coldness seeping in, so he went back inside.
He had not worn a jacket when he opened the door, only a thin coffee-colored sweater, so his body was cold after standing outside for a long time.
Looking detached, Pei Song casually put the book on the coffee table without going through it.
…
Ning Li returned to the Ye family home, only to find that Ye Ci had come back before her.
In fact, Cheng Xiangxiang had planned for them to go to a KTV after dinner, but Ye Ci was not in the mood and had excused herself by saying that she was not feeling well.
After coming home, Ye Ci went into her room, locked the door, and called Ye Yiming.
Ye Yiming was also frustrated because of this case recently.
He thought that he had done enough to cover his tracks, but who could have known that Ning Li’s lawyer would be from the Cheng family!
They had used certain methods to investigate everything clearly.
He felt sorry for Ye Ci and said, “Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with you. You just have to be stubborn and not admit to anything. They can’t do anything to you if they can’t find evidence.”
Ye Yiming comforted her a while before Ye Ci gradually felt more settled.
“Thanks, Cousin. It’s my fault for causing you so much trouble.”
Ye Ci bit her lip.
“I was afraid that Mom and Dad would be angry if they found out…”
Ye Yiming immediately said, “They won’t. This is the kind of business that this company does and will be involved in this kind of lawsuit from time to time. They’re used to it and won’t ask questions. Also, your father’s been busy with the Qinghe Bridge project lately, so he won’t have time to care about such minor things.
Ye Ci could hear footsteps outside the door. It seemed like Ning Li was home.
She hurriedly said, “I’m sorry to have troubled you, Cousin. I won’t bother you then.”
After that, she hung up the phone.
The footsteps outside got closer and stopped right at her door.
Ye Ci held her breath.
Ye Ci felt like Ning Li had stomped on her heart when she stopped abruptly at her door. Her body was very tense.
Even if Ye Yiming had repeatedly confirmed that Ye Ci’s involvement had not been exposed and Lu Huaiyu had also mentioned that they had not found out the source of the video, Ye Ci still felt worried.
Ning Li looked at the closed room door and silently smirked.
The light in Ye Ci’s room was still on, so Ye Ci obviously knew that Ning Li was outside, yet Ye Ci did not dare to come out.
After a short pause, Ning Li continued to walk towards her room.
Hearing her departing footsteps, Ye Ci’s heart still did not feel relieved.
Numerous chaotic thoughts flashed through her mind.
‘What was Ning Li doing standing outside? Did she want to come in and question me? Or was it something else? Is she beginning to suspect me for Zhang Yang’s case too?’
Knock knock.
The sudden knock on Ye Ci’s door startled her.
“Who is it?” Her voice was a bit shrill because of the tension and panic.
“Lil Ci, it’s Mom.”
Hearing that it was Su Yuan, Ye Ci breathed a long sigh of relief.
She tried to make herself look calm before she went over to open the door.
“Mom, it’s so late. Why are you here?”
Su Yuan held a stack of freshly laundered clothes in her hand and said, “You’re going to the Capital soon, and it’s colder there than in Yunzhou. I’ve just picked these out for you so you should take more clothes.”
Ye Ci’s felt comforted and went forward to hug her mother’s arm.
“Thanks, Mom. You can just put these there. I’ll pack my suitcase later.”
Su Yuan put down the clothes and asked, “Were you doing your practices? Did I disturb you?”
Ye Ci shook her head and smiled.
“Of course not. I was just thinking about some things… Don’t worry about me. Sister Ning Li is coming along and the teacher in charge there is a friend of Mr. Zhou, so everything’s been arranged well.”
Only then did Su Yuan feel a little more at ease.
“That’s good, but you shouldn’t feel too stressed. You just finished your exam, so just relax and unwind. You can continue your practices tomorrow.”
“Okay, thanks, Mom.”
…
The next day, Ning Li went to Heyuan district and checked the binoculars and cameras in the north-facing bedroom. She also packed some things to take away.
…
Yunzhou Airport.
Zhou Hua drove Ning Li and Ye Ci there.
Su Yuan and Ye Cheng were also there to send them off.
“Lil Ci, remember to send Mom a message after you arrive at Capital First High.”
Su Yuan tightened Ye Ci’s scarf.
Ye Cheng stood by the side and helped with her suitcase.
“Sister! Mom and I will miss you!”
Ye Ci smiled and stroked his head. “Sister Ning Li and I will miss you too.”
Ye Cheng pursed his lips, “I don’t want her to miss me!”
Ning Li took her suitcase from the trunk and faintly glanced at the few of them before she walked towards the entrance.
