The next morning, Lu Mansion>
The family of four sat at the dining table.
Lu Ting had a listless expression as she picked her meals.
"Mom, you seem to be in a bad mood. What’s wrong?" Her youngest son, Lu Ran asked with worry.
Lu Ting sighed, and dropped her cutlery.
"I dreamt of Xiao Ning last night." She started, her eyes drifting into nostalgia. "She is beautiful, and she has grown up as well."
Lu Jiang and Lu Quan exchanged glances. Lu Ran, on the other hand, was paying rapt attention to her.
"She waved at me. She also said she’s doing very well, but she wants to reunite with us, and she misses us." Lu Ting paused, her eyes glazing over. Tears filled her eyes instantly.
Sniffing, she continued. "She looked so much like the girl beside Huo Feng. Is she really my daughter?"
Lu Ting asked, and before the men could understand what was going on, her tears fell heavily.
"Mom, don’t cry." Lu Ran panicked. Since he was sitting close to her, he immediately handed her the tissue. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel-fire.ɴet
Lu Jiang exhaled. He didn’t want to let his wife know about the investigation. But he could tell that she was anxious.
Lu Ting wiped her tears, and turned to Lu Jiang.
"What about your investigation? How is it going? Have you been able to find out anything?"
Lu Jiang’s hand tightened slightly around the cup of tea. He hesitated, before meeting her expectant gaze.
"We’ve found some clues," he admitted carefully. "But I don’t want to rush into conclusions before confirming them."
Lu Ting’s fingers trembled against the tissue. "Clues? What kind of clues?" She asked expectantly.
Lu Quan exchanged a glance with his dad before stepping in. His tone was calm, but his words that followed carried weight. "There’s a possibility that Xiao Ning was not lost... but deliberately sent away."
Lu Ting froze. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
"Sent away?" she repeated after a few seconds of silence, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lu Jiang nodded. "The Yue couple—do you remember them? They may have been the ones who took her in."
Lu Ting’s heart skipped a bit "Them? That couple, but why? Who gave them Xiao Ning? And what’s their plan?"
Neither of the men answered immediately. The silence stretched, and was thick with unspoken suspicions.
Finally, Lu Jiang said, "That’s what we intend to find out. I’ve already arranged a meeting with them. Once we have answers, I’ll tell you everything."
Lu Ting’s tears spilled again, but this time, they were mixed with faint trembling, and hope. She gripped his hand tightly. "If she really is our daughter, you have to promise me you won’t let her suffer anymore."
Lu Jiang’s gaze turned cold. With clenched fists, he vowed. "I promise. Whoever dared to take her from us will pay for it."
_____________
Huo’s Ancestral Mansion>
Yue Ning was casually reading a novel. She flipped to the last page with a satisfied smile.
"And that concludes that novel. My points." Yue Ning slammed the novel shut with a satisfactory smile on her face.
The system’s imaginary lips twitched.
’Host, aren’t you bothered about your mission?’ The system inquired.
"Do you need the truth or do you want me to lie?" Yue Ning replied with a cheeky smile.
The system was speechless. It had never been bound to such a nonchalant host. Its previous hosts were all obedient, and always completed the task. Yue Ning was the only different one.
Seeing that the system was silent, Yue Ning narrowed her eyes. "Are you thinking about your past hosts and how they didn’t trouble you?" She asked, placing her hands on her chin.
Once again, her words left the system stunned.
Clearing its throat, it asked. ’How did you know?’
"I guessed." Yue Ning answered shortly. "Anyways, forget about that. I’m actually worried about the mission, and this time, it’s not about my points. I really want to know who my real parents are."
"I have to give it to the author of this novel. She didn’t even mention this in the novel. At least, I’d have gotten a clue, don’t you think?"
The system nodded its imaginary head. ’I agree with you. The author didn’t do you justice in this novel.’
"I just need to find my real family," Yue Ning sighed.
’I feel like you are close. You’ll surely get there.’ The system assured her.
Yue Ning waved her hand. "Let’s stop all these sentiments. Don’t forget to give me my points."
"I should check on Huo Yan," she mumbled under her breath, and stepped out of the room only to bump into Huo Mingjie.
He only glanced at her before walking away.
Yue Ning watched his retreating back, and her eyes narrowed.
"Strange," she muttered.
’I sense a change in him,’ the system spoke up.
Yue Ning’s brows furrowed, before calmly retracting her gaze away from him. "What change are you talking about?"
’I don’t know. I am unable to place my screws on what it could be.’ It paused, and Yue Ning’s frown deepened. ’I’d advise you to be wary of him.’
Yue Ning nodded. ’I’ll have to tell Huo Feng as well.’ She thought to herself before walking to Huo Yan’s room.
When she walked into the room, she found the younger girl curled on the sofa with a blanket over her head.
She sighed, and called out tentatively. "Yanyan?"
There was no response. Yue Ning smiled softly, before she walked to the sofa, and knelt by her side.
She carefully pulled the blanket, and she found the girl sobbing quietly.
Her heart broke at the scene, and she whispered. "Yanyan, it breaks my heart to see you this way. Please... stop crying."
Huo Yan finally opened her teary eyes as she stared at Yue Ning.
"I miss my grandmother." She croaked while sniffing.
The more she saw her this way, the more Yue Ning’s heart broke.
She held her hands, and consoled. "I know you miss her. I miss her as well, but if there is something Grandmother wishes, she hopes you live well."
Huo Yan stared into Yue Ning’s eyes, and she could see sincerity and honesty in them.
"How about I take you out? Just to have fun?" Yue Ning suggested.
"Sister-in-law, I..."
"You are not allowed to reject my offer," Yue Ning cut her off with her hands on her waist while still kneeling.
"Fine. I’ll freshen up now," Huo Yan smiled softly. She could only give in to her demands.
Yue Ning smiled victoriously. She would do whatever it takes so that Huo Yan would continue to have a bright smile.
For the first time in the past few days, the air felt lighter, as though Grandmother’s spirit was blessing them from above.
And in Yue Ning’s heart, a quiet resolve grew stronger—no matter the trials ahead, she would protect this family, and she would ensure Huo Yan never felt alone.