Chapter 495. Stranger
For Ning Chu, the word “father” felt foreign.
The man before her was so unfamiliar that she couldn’t muster any feelings of closeness; his white hair didn’t evoke any sympathy. She simply sat on the sofa, indifferently watching him walk in, then expressionlessly lowered her head to fiddle with her phone.
It was unlike the mixed emotions she had envisioned upon meeting her father. After satisfying her curiosity about his looks, her heart remained unmoved, and she felt too lazy to cast him even a glance.
Wen Yang emerged from another room, sensing the subtle atmosphere in the living room. He immediately understood the stranger’s identity and walked over to sit beside Ning Chu, covering her icy little hand with his broad one.
Black Bean’s excited expression quickly dimmed upon seeing the guest outside. She ran barefoot toward the kitchen, making a commotion: “Mom! Uncle is here!”
“Got it, put on your slippers! The floor is covered with your footprints!”
“I don’t like wearing slippers…”
“Why can’t you be like Ning Chu! Learn the good things, not the bad ones!”
From the kitchen came the sound of their mother scolding Black Bean, and Ning Chu glanced down at her bare feet before hastily slipping on the slippers that she had kicked under the coffee table.
If their mother hadn’t mentioned it, she probably would have completely forgotten about the slippers after getting off the sofa, just like Black Bean, running around barefoot in the house.
No one was entertaining the man, and he awkwardly stood by the door, hesitantly looking at the two sitting on the sofa—one tall, one short.
Their mother walked out of the kitchen, followed timidly by Black Bean. She glanced at the man and said in a sarcastically sweet tone, “He’s your son, you don’t recognize him?”
The man revealed a gentle smile and took out the latest flagship smartphone from his briefcase, placing it on the coffee table as he said to Wen Yang, “Ning Chu, I brought you a phone from abroad…”
“…”
Wen Yang raised his head in confusion, and Ning Chu’s icy face nearly cracked a smile.
“Is she your girlfriend?” The man then pulled out a stack of red envelopes from his bag, wearing a somewhat ingratiating smile. “First meeting, here’s a gift for you.”
Wen Yang rubbed his nose, baffled at how he had suddenly gained a father.
“That one next to you is Ning Chu,” their mother reminded him, “that’s Ning Chu’s boyfriend.”
“…”
Only then did the man focus his gaze on Ning Chu, staring blankly at the girl with a slightly youthful face but alluring eyes, looking bewildered, not knowing what to say.
He even questioned his memory; though he left not long after Ning Chu was born, surely she must’ve looked like a little worm?
How could she grow up to be a beautiful young lady, and now she has a boyfriend?
“Mom, I’m going to play on the computer.”
Ning Chu sighed in disappointment, stood up, and walked straight into her room.
Black Bean hurriedly followed her in.
This secondary bedroom was now occupied by Black Bean, filled with cat-themed decorations, the bedding replaced with cute pink ones, and on the computer desk sat a small fish tank with a tiny turtle inside.
Once in the room, Ning Chu removed her outer clothing and sat down at the computer, staring blankly at the little turtle.
She just couldn’t accept a father who had appeared out of nowhere… even if he showed up trying to make amends with an eager expression, pulling out an expensive phone and red envelopes.
However, this did not endear him to her; instead, it made her snicker inwardly.
If he’s so wealthy, surely he must have been doing well outside, yet over the years, he hadn’t sent a single penny home.
“Sis~ isn’t my little turtle cute?”
“Yeah, pretty cute.”
“I’ve had it for a week!” Black Bean’s little head poked out from the side, looking eagerly at the turtle.
Ning Chu reached out to ruffle Black Bean’s little head, feeling her cold cat ears, and covered them with her hand.
She turned to Black Bean and asked, “Do you dislike that person?”
This kitty couldn’t hide her emotions; they were always written on her face, making it easy for Ning Chu to read her.
“Dislike!”
“Why?”
“Last time he came over, he made Mom cry.”
Ning Chu found it hard to imagine her mother crying; it made her heart ache, and she asked, “Did he say something to Mom?”
Black Bean’s cat ears wiggled in her palm as she recalled, “I don’t think he said much; Mom just cried when she saw him…”
“Oh~”
“Is he sister’s dad?” Black Bean asked, looking up.
Ning Chu didn’t deny it, nodding slightly. “Didn’t he ask who you were?”
“Nope~”
Suddenly, there was a gentle knock on the door, interrupting the sisters’ conversation.
They turned their heads toward the door, hearing a strange voice: “Ning Chu, do you want to go out for dinner tonight?”
The tender, coaxing tone she used with Black Bean instantly turned cold in front of this man. Ning Chu decisively refused, “No, we’re having dinner at home.”
“Dad’s taking you to the restaurant for seafood, along with your uncles, cousins, everyone—don’t you want to go?”
Hearing that self-introduction made Ning Chu instinctively feel a wave of distaste and aversion. The latter part sent waves of discomfort through her, and anger surged in her chest.
“I said no!”
Her voice involuntarily sharpened, startling Black Bean into pulling back her neck in fright.
Ning Chu gently patted Black Bean’s head, biting her lip, her expression shifting between emotions.
It was only when she heard the sound of the door closing outside that she stood up, opening the door to leave her room.
Wen Yang was standing at the door, leaning against the wall. Seeing her, he immediately approached with concern and walked beside her.
“Here, the phone.”
“No.”
“You don’t want the free one?” Wen Yang then handed her the red envelope with a teasing grin, “There’s five hundred in it; he’s being quite stingy with just this for a meet-and-greet gift.”
Right, why not take something free? Wouldn’t it be ridiculous to give it back?
He owes me!
Thinking of this, Ning Chu happily took the phone and the red envelope, her mood instantly lifting as she rolled her eyes at Wen Yang, “Still calling him a father? I don’t see him as my dad.”
“My mom is definitely doing this on purpose; she didn’t tell him ahead of time, just to see him embarrass himself.”
Their mother had already set the prepared meals on the dining table, and upon seeing the two of them come in, she cheerfully asked, “So, how was your first impression of your dad?”
“Forget it…” Ning Chu scoffed lowly, muttering, “He hasn’t supported us in over a decade, and he thinks giving me a phone will win me over.”
She casually tossed the red envelope and phone on the table, “Is that how you are too? Just give money upon meeting?”
“Not at all! I didn’t get anything; he just complained about how I raised you as a girl~” Their mother leaned on her hand, half-teasing, “As soon as he returned, he starts treating everyone to meals, making sure everyone knows he’s made money on the outside and has borrowed a lot from his brothers.”
“How much he makes has nothing to do with us…”
“So, marrying someone has to be the right one; some people are just ingrates who can’t be raised.” Their mother glanced at Wen Yang, “Right?”
Wen Yang’s expression tightened, and sweat broke out on his forehead, nodding vigorously, “Right, Auntie is absolutely right! I would never abandon Ning Chu, I wouldn’t do such a thing.”
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