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Novel Catalog
Chapter 14
“Auntie, what were you chatting about with my mom?” Jiang Ning asked, noticing the awkwardness in the air.
The auntie’s face reddened instantly. She waved her hands dismissively. “Oh, nothing, nothing at all.” She quickly turned and disappeared, not daring to linger any longer. She had initially wanted to poke fun at Sumei’s family for rejecting the boy she introduced, but now, she was too embarrassed to continue.
The boy she had introduced—a civil servant earning only four or five thousand a month—wasn’t someone who could ever afford such an expensive car. But Jiang Ning… he was different. The mere thought of it made her feel small.
Sumei and Lin Wen stood there, utterly stunned. Their mouths hung open in disbelief.
“This… this car…” Sumei breathed, taking a moment to process the situation. She never imagined that Jiang Ning could afford something like this. She had never seen him display any signs of wealth.
“And where’s your scooter?” Lin Wen asked suddenly, noticing its absence. After all, they had spent over $2,000 on it.
“The car shop was having a trade-in promotion, so we swapped it for a new vehicle,” Jiang Ning replied smoothly, without hesitation. His face remained calm, while Lin Wen and Sumei exchanged doubtful glances.
Lin Wen didn’t buy it. “A trade-in? For a BMW?”
Lin Yuzhen, flustered and unable to lie convincingly, finally admitted, “Jiang Ning bought it. He said I shouldn’t ride the scooter to work in the morning because I might catch a cold.”
Sumei, though still skeptical, looked at Jiang Ning with newfound wariness. “He really bought it?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Jiang Ning didn’t seem bothered by the questions. “Yes, I did. And after your legs heal, I’ll buy you one too,” he said casually, continuing his meal.
At that moment, the whole room fell silent. Sumei stared at him, a mixture of emotions flickering across her face. Lin Wen, on the other hand, looked bewildered.
“I… I don’t think I’ll ever recover,” Lin Wen muttered bitterly, looking down at his immobile legs.
Jiang Ning looked at Lin Wen thoughtfully. “I know a doctor who specializes in this area. He’s currently abroad, but once he’s back, I’ll have him come to Donghai.”
Lin Wen’s eyes lit up with hope. For the first time in years, he felt a glimmer of possibility, but he quickly squashed it. Could someone like Jiang Ning really know a doctor with such skills?
“Really?” Lin Yuzhen asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Of course. Don’t worry,” Jiang Ning reassured her.
Lin Wen looked at him for a long moment, clearly unsure but still willing to entertain the idea.
Later, after dinner, Sumei pulled Jiang Ning aside into the kitchen. She had a serious expression on her face and was holding a knife in her hand.
“Mum, what is it?” Jiang Ning asked calmly, noticing her tense demeanor.
Sumei’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him. “Who are you really? What are your intentions with Yuzhen? If you harm her in any way, I’ll fight you to my last breath.”
Her voice was filled with protectiveness. She wasn’t foolish. Jiang Ning didn’t appear to be the helpless, homeless man he claimed to be. His strength, confidence, and recent display of wealth made her suspicious.
Jiang Ning sighed, his smile softening. “Mum, I promise you I have no ill intentions towards Yuzhen, you, or Dad. I just want to be by her side and protect her from being hurt by others.”
Sumei remained silent for a long moment, still glaring at him. Then, finally, she spoke. “Why? Why are you doing this for her?”
Jiang Ning took a deep breath, his expression softening as he spoke. “She saved my life once. There are things I can’t tell you now, but in time, you’ll understand everything. Please trust me for now.”
Sumei’s expression softened, but she kept the knife close, her eyes still sharp. “I’ll trust you for now, but if you hurt her in any way, you’ll regret it.”
Jiang Ning nodded calmly. “I understand. I won’t hurt her.”
After their conversation, Jiang Ning walked out of the kitchen, his thoughts on the next step. “Got all your documents?” he asked Lin Yuzhen, who was preparing to leave.
“Yeah, let’s go. I’ll send you to the office,” he said, opening the door for her.
Meanwhile, at the Lin Group Headquarters, Lin Qiang sat in his office, a cold expression on his face.
“Have you found out anything?” he asked impatiently.
Lin Feng, his son, smiled cruelly. “Yes. I’ve discovered the truth behind Jiang Ning’s past. He and Huang Yuming were once homeless together. Jiang Ning saved Huang Yuming’s life by giving him half of his bun, and now that Huang Yuming is rich, he’s simply returning a favor.”
Lin Qiang’s face twisted in frustration. “So, it wasn’t Lin Yuzhen selling herself to Huang Yuming after all… it was that useless Jiang Ning who married into the family!”
Lin Feng smirked, trying to remain calm. “Don’t worry, Dad. Huang Yuming is the type of person who will return a favor and then forget about it. Once Jiang Ning has received his favor, he’ll be on his own.”
Lin Qiang’s eyes narrowed. He knew people like Huang Yuming—calculating, ruthless, but always presenting themselves as gracious. “We’ll make Jiang Ning pay for this. He’ll regret embarrassing me and my family.”
“Have you arranged everything at the factory?” Lin Qiang asked coldly.
“All done,” Lin Feng replied, a sinister smile creeping across his face. “Lin Yuzhen will regret taking this project back. We’ll make sure of that.”
The stakes are high now, with the Lin family conspiring to make Jiang Ning and his new family regret their decisions. Yet, Jiang Ning’s mysterious past and his connection with Huang Yuming could still turn the tide. The tension is mounting—how will this all unfold?
