Lanling Yan was disinclined to speak with these people, but she hadn't expected the middle-aged woman to adopt such a victimized air. Frowning coldly, she finally spoke, "If you find the arrangement unsatisfactory, you are welcome to appeal to the court. For now, I must ask you to leave immediately. If you approach my mother-in-law again, I will report you for harassment and request your arrest."

Lanling Yan’s blunt dismissal caused some awkwardness for Ning Zhizhong’s family. Ning Lianlian dropped the snack she was holding onto the table and glanced awkwardly at Ning Yunhuan. "Sister…"

"Miss Ning Lianlian, I am not your sister. Whether in a professional or personal capacity, I believe you shouldn't address me that way. Your injury was indeed caused by the company’s improper handling, but since you put forth conditions and I have already met them, you should cease disturbing my mother." Ning Yunhuan couldn't fathom the goal of the Ning Zhizhong family, but her mother, having just lost her husband, truly didn't deserve to think that the relatives she finally found were only approaching her with ulterior motives.

"Auntie…" Ning Lianlian panicked slightly, a flicker of hurt crossing her heart-shaped little face. Madam Ning turned her face away, offering no reply.

Ning Zhizhong’s cheek muscles twitched. After a long moment, he took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Since that is the case, I won't impose any longer. Miss Ning, I hope you will seriously consider Lianlian’s work situation." Having said this, he shot a look at his wife and daughter. Ning Lianlian then lowered her head and scurried over to him. As they were leaving, she quietly called out, "Brother-in-law…"

Lanling Yan’s mouth twitched, and she acted as if she hadn't heard a thing until the family finally pulled the door open and departed.

"Mom, regardless of whether this Ning Zhizhong is a genuine relative of the Ning family, we cannot associate with him." With that, Ning Yunhuan recounted the incident where they demanded fifty thousand yuan in compensation. "Even after that, they still act as if I owe Ning Lianlian something. Even if Ning Lianlian was injured because of me, I have done everything I was obligated to do." Although she had been injured, the cosmetic treatments afterward meant she wasn't disfigured. Modern technology is so advanced; it’s no longer the era of lagging techniques. Ning Lianlian’s neck and chest healed without a trace, despite the suffering she endured. Fifty thousand yuan as compensation was certainly sufficient.

While fifty thousand yuan might not buy a house outright, it was certainly enough for a down payment on a small apartment in Jing. Ning Yunhuan had no intention of using the money to silence them, but her sincerity was evident. She couldn't fathom why Ning Zhizhong was showing up at her house to claim kinship now, but no matter the reason, Ning Yunhuan wanted no dealings with them until their true intentions were revealed.

"Back in their hometown, Ning Zhizhong and his wife borrowed over four million yuan from relatives and friends under the guise of investment, pouring it all into some project. They were swindled and lost everything. The creditors are pursuing them relentlessly," Lanling Yan said, sitting down. She accepted the hot tea handed to her by her mother-in-law, took a sip, and then slowly laid out Ning Zhizhong’s situation. "Besides looking after Ning Lianlian in Shangjing, they are also here to evade debt." In their hometown, the most they could get by selling their property was a little over a million. For the remaining two or nearly three million yuan, Ning Zhizhong had inadvertently learned about a branch of relatives in Shangjing, and he intended to seek them out and make a fresh start.

Hearing this, although Madam Ning had prepared herself somewhat when her daughter revealed Ning Zhizhong’s identity, the reality that Ning Zhizhong’s interactions were far from the selfless facade they presented left her deeply disappointed.

"In this day and age, why are people so complicated?" If he had been direct with Madam Ning and admitted their plight, she might have been willing to lend a million or so out of respect for her late husband. But for Ning Zhizhong’s family to resort to such scheming was petty, bordering on despicable. Madam Ning felt a pang of distress. "It’s fortunate we discovered this early. Otherwise, in the future…"

Seeing Madam Ning’s crestfallen expression, and knowing the Lunar New Year was fast approaching, the Ning household felt desolate. Perhaps because she was alone, Madam Ning seemed to place little importance on the holiday. A slight sourness welled up in Ning Yunhuan’s heart. "Mom, why don't you come back with me? Once I graduate, we can go abroad. You shouldn't concern yourself with Ning Yuncheng anymore; he's beyond saving."

Madam Ning clung to the house because it still held traces of Father Ning, but more importantly, she still hoped to provide a haven for Ning Yuncheng. Though she was disappointed in her son, a sliver of hope remained. Ning Yunhuan knew that while her mother spoke harshly, the very fact she was unwilling to press charges against Ning Yuncheng revealed that a piece of her heart still belonged to her son.

"Huanhuan…" The moment her son’s name was mentioned, Madam Ning’s tears began to fall. She was too lonely, too desperate for a relative to anchor her faith—otherwise, the Ning Zhizhong family couldn't have approached Madam Ning so easily. She still missed her son; after all, Ning Yuncheng was flesh and blood, nurtured from infancy to his present state. Even with all his faults, Madam Ning couldn't bear to abandon him. She knew she should hate him, but the bond between mother and son was too deep; she simply couldn't bring herself to be ruthless.

The mother and daughter clung to each other and wept for a while. As she left, Ning Yunhuan offered her mother one last plea. This time, Madam Ning did not immediately refuse but said she needed more time to consider it.

A fine mist of snow drifted from the sky, quickly coating the car windows in a sheet of white frost. Just as they cleared the residential gate, Ning Yunhuan caught a glimpse of a tall, thin figure in a threadbare grey down coat arguing with the security guard at the entrance. Her eyes narrowed, and she murmured, "Ning Yuncheng!"

"Should I help you beat him up?" Lanling Yan chuckled softly when she saw Ning Yunhuan’s gritted teeth. Ning Yunhuan nodded without hesitation. It had been a long time since Ning Yuncheng's father died from the stress he caused, and Ning Yuncheng had never appeared. If Ning Yunhuan hadn't been occupied, she would have dealt with him ages ago. Running into him now, there was no reason not to exact revenge. Although she had promised Madam Ning not to send Ning Yuncheng to jail, Ning Yunhuan was furious.

"I want him to have internal injuries, preferably ones that aren't immediately obvious, the kind that require hospitalization," she said. Ning Yuncheng was out of money now and was likely staying back at the Gu residence for the time being. Ning Yunhuan doubted that even the pure and kind Gu Yingxi could produce funds for his medical treatment given her current circumstances, should she learn he was injured.

Lanling Yan curved her lips slightly and issued a few brief instructions over the phone. The front passenger door opened, and a solidly built, muscular man jumped out and walked toward Ning Yuncheng. Even from a distance, Ning Yunhuan watched as the man treated Ning Yuncheng like a punching bag, battering him with fists and feet. Compared to this brute, the somewhat tall Ning Yuncheng possessed no power to fight back. After a few minutes, just as the stunned security guard snapped back to attention, the large man tossed the limp, corpse-like body of Ning Yuncheng onto the ground, quickly returned to the car, and sped away.

The license plate was obscured by the heavy snow. Even knowing the car had entered and exited the complex, which houses only the wealthy and influential, who would be foolish enough to offend a homeless wretch like Ning Yuncheng, potentially risking a serious lawsuit, just to help him?

Ning Yuncheng was beaten, yet no one around bothered to intervene. After cursing for a while, he clutched his chest and staggered back toward the Gu house. In the biting cold, Ning Yuncheng muttered curses until he nearly collided with the Ning Lianlian family, who had just emerged from the Ning residence, still unwilling to accept their rejection.

"Dad, Mom, why doesn't Sister like us?" Ning Lianlian was reluctant to leave; she hated the thought of returning to her rented room. Madam Ning had favored her lately, and she had started to feel a sense of belonging with an elder figure, making her hesitant to depart. Furthermore, her sister Ning Yunhuan’s boyfriend was incredibly handsome. He used to be a big boss at the company, and she had secretly idolized Lanling Yan as her dream lover. She never thought she'd have a chance to get close to him, always longing to spend more time in his presence.

Ning Zhizhong, his face grim, didn't answer his daughter. He merely exchanged a look with his wife. Seeing her parents ignore her, Ning Lianlian lowered her head sadly and began kicking at the ground.

It was Ning Yuncheng’s bad luck. The roads in Jing were usually immaculate; the thin layer of snow barely concealed the pavement. Ning Lianlian kicked up some snow, not realizing it contained a small stone. As she launched the kick, Ning Yuncheng emerged from around the corner. The snow, mixed with the pebble, struck him squarely on the forehead with a thud. A tearing pain shot through Ning Yuncheng’s body, and the unexpected impact to his head from the stone—which was hardened by the snow—was considerable. It split his forehead open, and blood gushed out.

"Hiss," Ning Yuncheng gasped, clutching his head and instinctively crouching down. After a moment, Ning Lianlian screamed, "Mom, Mom, I hit someone!"

Ning Zhizhong’s head began to ache when he saw the scene. Just as he was looking around, preparing to leave, Ning Lianlian stepped forward and helped Ning Yuncheng up. "Are you okay?"

Although the man was poorly dressed, as he looked up, Ning Lianlian saw a decidedly handsome face, which made her cheeks flush slightly. "You're bleeding. Let me take you to the hospital?"

Ning Lianlian’s mother felt a surge of annoyance at this suggestion. But since her own daughter had caused the injury, she hesitated, planning some way to slip away—no one was watching nearby, after all. Unexpectedly, Ning Lianlian had already jumped to the roadside and hailed a taxi. Muttering curses at her foolish daughter, she eventually took Ning Yuncheng to the hospital. The doctor confirmed that his forehead required stitches, and furthermore, his ribs were broken.