No matter the cost, he would never abandon Gu Yingxi, because nothing could outweigh his past sacrifices. Ning Yuncheng had long regretted his actions, but what use was regret now? He was mired too deeply in this mire; extricating himself was nearly impossible. The only recourse he saw was to accumulate enough wealth in this lifetime to lock Gu Yingxi within his embrace.

Father Ning trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Ning Yuncheng as he roared: “Didn’t you say you finally saw reason? Why are you bringing up that woman’s name again? This house isn't ours, and even if it were, I wouldn't give it to you!”

As the words left his mouth, Ning Yuncheng seemed to grasp something profound, laughing as he pointed back at his father: “Now you finally admit it? You wouldn't acknowledge it before, but now you finally confess the house is yours? You want to deny me and give it only to Ning Yunhuan? Not a chance. I won't let her go!” Having declared this, Ning Yuncheng turned his gaze back to his father, his face twisting with resentment: “Dad, I am your son too. Was I picked up from the roadside? Why are you so cruel to me, yet so kind to that wretched woman? What does she have that you favor her? Can she even bear a child to carry the Ning name?”

When Mother Ning heard this, she thought of Ning Yunhuan, now married. Given the high status of her marriage, things might not be entirely smooth sailing with her in-laws. Considering they were currently on Lanling Yan’s territory, she worried that if Lanling Yan learned of these words, it might negatively affect Ning Yunhuan. Thus, she hastily intervened, trying to placate him: “Yuncheng, don't speak like that. Your sister is married now; her husband is a very good man…”

“Get away from me! You’re in league with Father. You conspired to break me and Xi’er up, and now that I’m back, you’re secretly delighted, aren't you?” Ning Yuncheng’s eyes were bloodshot. He couldn't stomach giving up Gu Yingxi, but he also couldn't bear to sever ties with his parents. The more he pondered, the more indignant he became. The past few days spent enduring the humiliation at the Gu residence now felt entirely manufactured by Father and Mother Ning’s perceived lack of understanding—that they had deliberately tried to separate him from Gu Yingxi.

Love, at times, is blind and irrational. When he faced resistance in his relationship with Gu Yingxi, their vows became earth-shattering commitments. But once Father and Mother Ning seemed to withdraw their interference, Ning Yuncheng suddenly felt the connection lacked substance. Now, he suspected his parents hadn't actually withdrawn; perhaps they were setting a trap for him to fall into. Once this thought took root, his heart chilled, believing he had found the truth. Recalling his recent coldness, evasion, and the verbal abuse directed at Gu Yingxi, he felt a sudden clarity about the cause. His resentment towards his parents intensified, and without hesitation, he advanced on Mother Ning: “Mom, you have your desired outcome now. Are you very pleased?”

Seeing his bloodshot eyes and ferocious expression, Mother Ning felt a prickle of fear and quickly shook her head: “How could that be…”

“I demand you sever all ties with that woman surnamed Gu!” Father Ning hammered his cane on the ground, declaring each word with force. Ning Yuncheng’s gaze immediately locked onto him. Father Ning felt a coldness in his heart, yet his expression solidified: “If you won't cut ties, I won’t allow you back through the Ning family gates!”

“I’ll fight you all!” At that moment, everything Father Ning said translated in Ning Yuncheng’s mind as nothing more than forcing him back into his old life, intent on separating him from Gu Yingxi. Driven by a sudden heat in his head, Ning Yuncheng shoved his father. Father Ning had recently undergone surgery and was never fully robust. Though he had recovered somewhat, the sudden shock from Ning Yuncheng sent him reeling toward the edge of the pavilion. As Ning Yuncheng continued to advance, Father Ning instinctively tried to recoil. Mother Ning was pulling at Ning Yuncheng when suddenly Ning Yunhuan shrieked: “Dad…”

Father Ning pitched backward. Though the ground below was water, his advanced age was a factor. Security guards immediately plunged into the pond and swam toward them. When Father Ning was hauled out, he had swallowed some water, but the real catastrophe struck when his blood pressure spiked instantly. He gasped, his mouth agape, and then his hand dropped lifelessly.

They had a family doctor on call. After examining him, the doctor called an ambulance, then turned to shake his head at Ning Yunhuan.

Father Ning had suffered a heart attack. In his previous life, he was angered to death by Ning Yuncheng; in this one, he still could not escape the fate already sealed. The fragile blood vessels in his brain burst, exacerbated by the heart attack triggered by the shock of falling into the water. Before they even reached the hospital, he had stopped breathing.

Upon receiving the devastating news, Mother Ning dissolved into tears. Ning Yuncheng, realizing the disaster he had wrought, fled and had not been seen since. He likely remained unaware of his father’s death. Ning Yunhuan, who had intended to inquire about Ning Lianlian, let the matter drop for the moment.

After the funeral formalities for Father Ning were complete, Mother Ning prepared to return to the main Ning family estate. Given the recent events, Ning Yunhuan accompanied her to the manor to help pack. Ning Yunhuan carried a hidden burden regarding the incident; though she despised Ning Yuncheng, had she known it would cost her father his life, she might have endured it.

“Mom…” she began, but Mother Ning shook her head. A mother knows her daughter best, and Mother Ning had long discerned the knot in her daughter’s heart. She sighed: “Life and death are decreed by fate. Perhaps your father owed Yuncheng something in his past life and was repaying the debt here. Even if he’d survived this time, Yuncheng is still fixated on that slut. In the future, he would have driven your father to an early grave anyway. It has nothing to do with you, other than your presence causing Yuncheng to lose his composure sooner and thus anger his father to death.”

As she spoke, Mother Ning’s tears flowed again: “Your brother is already insane. Who knows what that woman possesses that he remains so devoted, even after she’s dragged him to this state. Regarding your father’s death, do not blame your brother. From now on, simply pretend you don’t know him. We’ll see when he finally repents.”

Now a mother herself, Ning Yunhuan understood the depth of Mother Ning’s feelings. Her own nose stung, and she took a deep breath: “Mom, since Father has passed, why don't you move over here? If anything happens, we can look after each other.”

“I must return to the Ning family home. We lived there for so many years; every corner holds a shadow of your father. As you heard, your father, before his death, insisted I hand everything over to you. The Ning family doesn't have much of value now, nor is it comparable to the money Xiao Jiu gave you, but it is still your father’s heartfelt wish. If you don’t mind, please accept it. I certainly don’t want to leave it for Ning Yuncheng to benefit that vile woman!” Because of Father Ning’s death, Mother Ning now harbored a profound hatred for Gu Yingxi, spitting out the name with clenched teeth.

Although Ning Yunhuan also disliked Gu Yingxi, she disagreed with Mother Ning on this point. Gu Yingxi was merely shameless; the one who truly caused Father Ning’s death was his beloved son. With her father gone, Ning Yunhuan wanted to shield her mother from further sorrow. Mother Ning sought to give her son one last chance; despite outwardly displaying such intense hatred for Ning Yuncheng, everyone knew she held a sliver of hope for him. But that was fine; Ning Yunhuan would avenge her father, and on top of that, she would make Ning Yuncheng pay double for what he did in the previous life!

After seeing Mother Ning settled back at the Ning residence, Ning Yunhuan looked at the room, which seemed colder and emptier following Father Ning’s passing. A wave of sadness washed over her. The initial days after her transmigration felt like a distant dream. She sat in the living room, lost in thought, until Mother Ning, having finished putting things away upstairs, came down and saw her daughter’s solitary figure. Her heart ached, and she spoke softly:

“Your father actually left without regret. You are married and have a son. Though he learned of it late, he did manage to hold his grandson before he passed.” Mother Ning sighed, then sat beside Ning Yunhuan: “It’s a pity the Ning family has so few people left; otherwise, it could be livelier…” Mother Ning was not as close to her maternal family as before. With her husband gone and her children leading their own lives—Ning Yunhuan married and unable to stay by her side constantly—Mother Ning felt a growing loneliness.

Her mention of this jogged a memory for Ning Yunhuan: “Mom, are there really no other relatives in the Ning family?”

Last time, she had returned to the manor to see Ning Yuncheng because of Ning Lianlian, whom Gu Yingnuo mentioned might be connected to her maternal lineage. However, after Father Ning’s accident, Ning Yunhuan had forgotten. Now she recalled it. Mother Ning looked at her with a bewildered expression and shook her head: “No relatives. Your father was an only child; your grandfather had no siblings either. The Ning family has followed a tradition of single heirs for three generations, and you were the extra child born in this generation. Why do you ask so suddenly?” Since marrying into the Ning family, Mother Ning had never heard of any other relatives. If Father Ning didn’t know, she was curious why her daughter was asking. Ning Yunhuan didn't hide it:

“Mom, there’s a person in our company named Ning Lianlian.” Finishing this, Ning Yunhuan recounted the incident where someone tried to throw something at her, but Gu Yingnuo abruptly pulled someone else in front to take the splash. She concluded: “Later, Yingnuo said this person might have some connection to the Ning family. That was something my husband mentioned.” She hadn't yet questioned Lanling Yan, as too many events had transpired recently, leaving her no time for that matter.

“Ning Lianlian? I haven't heard of her. But that Gu Yingnuo is surnamed Gu. Are you comfortable keeping her around?” Mother Ning had actually seen Gu Yingnuo last time, but before she could ask Ning Yunhuan about the situation, her husband died. Due to the Gu Yingxi issue, she held no favorable impressions of anyone with the Gu surname. Ning Yunhuan understood her distress and had deliberately left Gu Yingnuo behind this time.