Chapter 6: A Favor Owed Must Be Repaid

The Ye residence.

The entire villa was filled with a suffocating sense of awkwardness and gloom.

Ye Ming looked at Ning Li with a complex expression and asked tentatively

"Ning Li, did you... know Second Young Master Lu before?"

The gazes of the others present fell upon Ning Li.

Ning Li said calmly

"I met him for the first time today."

Ye Ming felt a sense of relief, yet he became even more puzzled.

Rumor had it that Lu Huaiyu was aloof and fastidious; it stood to reason that he wouldn't interfere in such matters. How could...

But Ning Li’s expression was open and calm, revealing nothing.

He rubbed his brow

"Forget it. You two go upstairs and rest first. Ye Sheng, come with me."

Ye Ci led Ning Li to the second floor.

As they passed a half-open door, Ning Li paused for a moment and glanced inside.

In the spacious and bright room, white curtains swayed in the breeze, and the corner of an easel was vaguely visible.

Seeing this, Ye Ci smiled and explained

"Sister Ning Li, this is the art studio."

Auntie Zhao, who was following behind, couldn't help but praise

"This is a studio the Master specifically prepared for the eldest... the second young miss! The second young miss is participating in the finals of the Huaqing Cup Calligraphy and Painting Competition next week. Vice Chairman Zhan of the Art Association said that the second young miss is very likely to take first place!"

Ye Ci pursed her lips and smiled

"Auntie Zhao, the competition hasn't even started yet. Besides, there are many hidden talents; it’s hard to say what the outcome will be."

This was a biennial competition held by the Yunzhou Art Association. Participants could not be over twenty years old. The winner would be granted a solo exhibition and could become a special admission student at West University, exempt from the college entrance examination.

Ye Ci was determined to win.

Hearing this, Ning Li nodded indifferently and continued walking forward.

For some reason, Auntie Zhao felt a bit awkward.

This Ning Li probably had no idea what the Huaqing Cup represented.

She really was from a third-rate small town.

Ye Ci’s eyes flickered. She caught up and said warmly

"Sister Ning Li, the day of the competition will be very lively. Why don't you come too?"

Ning Li said calmly

"I might not have time."

Ye Ci was stunned.

She had just arrived in Yunzhou and was unfamiliar with the place; what could she possibly be busy with?

She probably just didn't want to go.

But she had taken the initiative to invite her, and for Ning Li to refuse like this was a bit disrespectful.

She felt uncomfortable, but she didn't show it, smiling as she led her to the room at the very end of the hall.

Opening the door, a wave of pink and blue greeted them.

Ye Ci smiled and said

"Everything here was prepared by Mom in advance according to your preferences."

Ning Li seemed to smile, then walked inside.

She placed her black backpack on the desk and glanced at Ye Ci, who was standing at the door.

"Anything else?"

The implication to leave was obvious.

Ye Ci wasn't oblivious. Seeing that she wasn't welcome, she didn't intend to stay any longer.

She felt she had been quite kind to Ning Li, yet the other party didn't appreciate it at all.

"Nothing. Then I won't disturb Sister Ning Li’s rest."

With that, she closed the door and left.

Auntie Zhao couldn't help but frown. She glanced back with disdain and whispered

"Miss, I didn't expect this Miss Ning to have such a temper. You kindly invited her, yet she is so ungrateful."

Ye Ci tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the smile on her face fading significantly.

"Sister Ning Li is new here; it’s normal for her to be unaccustomed to things."

Auntie Zhao muttered under her breath

"This isn't about being unaccustomed! It’s clearly a lack of upbringing!"

Ye Ci didn't say anything more and went to Su Yuan’s room.

The room was exquisitely decorated, exuding a girlish atmosphere and filled with a faint scent of jasmine.

Ning Li scanned the room, picked up the bottle of aromatherapy on the table, walked to the bathroom, poured it all into the toilet, and then walked out to open the window.

The late summer air still carried a hint of heat.

She took a deep breath, and only when the scent gradually dissipated did her brow finally unfurl.

Su Yuan hadn't asked about her for eleven years; how would she know what she liked or disliked?

These furnishings, these colors, this scent—they were all things Ye Ci liked.

During the year she was confined to the nursing home, Ye Ci would visit her from time to time. Every time, she could smell that jasmine scent on her.

It always made her stomach churn and kept her awake all night.

However, fortunately, she wouldn't be staying in this place for long.

This rare peace was soon broken by a series of message notifications on her phone.

She took out her phone and glanced at it. In just a few seconds, she had received over a dozen messages

【Ahhh, Sister Li! Guess what I found in the basement? One of your sketches from two years ago!】

【You don't want this anymore, right? Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me!】

【I’m begging you! Save this child!】

Ning Li rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on, and began to type

【How much did you sell it for?】

The other party went silent instantly.

After a long while, the other party replied cautiously.

【The other side offered six figures. But! I haven't agreed yet! After all, it’s your stuff, Sister Li, hehehe...】

Ning Li didn't answer immediately, instead changing the subject.

【I remember you’re participating in the Huaqing Cup finals?】

This time, the other party was silent for even longer.

【...Sister Li, don't scare me. Since when do you care about such a small, crappy competition? Are you okay!?】

Ning Li poured herself a glass of water.

She had plenty of things to care about now.

【Take first place. The sketch is yours, the money is mine.】

【!!!】

【Sister Li, are you serious?】

Ning Li didn't reply. She scrolled down for a while until she found a number saved as "NULL."

She sent a message.

【Check if this car was tampered with.】

She attached a license plate number below.

The other party replied almost instantly.

【Is this kind of thing worth bothering me for?】

【By the way, take on a competition.】

The other party called her directly.

Ning Li answered.

The man’s voice, filled with undisguised surprise, came through the receiver

"What’s going on? Didn't you say a year ago that you would never take another job?"

Ning Li took a sip of water, leaned back in her chair, and licked her moist lips.

"Short on money."

The other party raised his voice, as if he had heard a joke

"What did you say?"

Ning Li rubbed her hair.

"Owe someone a favor. Need to pay it back."

Cheng Xiyue dropped Lu Huaiyu off at Yunding Fenghua.

This was a place Elder Lu had specifically bought a year ago to make it easier for Lu Huaiyu to recuperate.

It was a detached villa in the city center, and the price was exorbitant.

Just as he was about to get out of the car, Lu Huaiyu received a call.

He answered it casually

"Grandfather."

Elder Lu’s deep, powerful voice came through.

"Huaiyu, your Uncle Yan found an expert for you who will be returning to the country the day after tomorrow. Do you want to wait until you return, or should I have them go to Yunzhou to find you?"

Cheng Xiyue glanced at him.

Lu Huaiyu got out of the car and closed the door, his movements crisp and decisive.

"Neither is necessary."

The refusal was unmistakable.

Elder Lu’s voice sank.

"But how can you keep dragging it out like this? It’s been a year, you—"

Lu Huaiyu stood up straight and smiled.

"I have important business here."

Lu the Second: Chasing his wife is, of course, important business.