"Yunzhao, Yunzhao."
Seeing Ning Yunzhao walking out, Eldest Master Ning in the pavilion gestured for him as he sipped his tea.
Ning Yunzhao approached and called out "Father."
"It's been tough on you," Eldest Master Ning said, his voice tinged with sympathy, gesturing for Ning Yunzhao to have some tea. "Your mother usually has such a good temper, I don't know what got into her this time to be so stubborn."
Compared to Eldest Madam Ning, Eldest Master Ning and the other members of the Ning Family had a much better attitude towards the marriage arrangement, none showing the vehement reaction like Eldest Madam.
"This matter was indeed too abrupt on my part, not discussing it with mother first, so it's normal for her to be angry," Ning Yunzhao said, lifting his cup to drink some tea.
Moreover, the reason Eldest Madam Ning was upset was not just because of this, but because of what he said about liking Miss Jun.
Eldest Master Ning shook his head.
"I already told you, the situation was urgent at that time, how could you explain it to the family," he said. "Women love to fuss over such trivial things."
Of course, Ning Yunzhao would not agree with his father criticizing his mother, and upon hearing this, he reiterated that he was at fault.
Eldest Master Ning himself felt his words were inappropriate and gave a slight cough, lifting his teacup to cover it up.
"However, I think this is not a bad thing," he rectified his stance.
Ning Yunzhao's face spread with a smile.
"Yes, father is wise," he said. "This marriage is truly a good thing for our Ning Family. At the very least, it prevents people from accusing us of betrayal and, instead, earns us a good reputation."
Eldest Master Ning had always known he was wise, and wasn't particularly delighted by the praise, merely responding with a smile.
"Everyone knows this," he said nonchalantly. "What I mean is Miss Jun herself."
The smile on Ning Yunzhao's face deepened, and his eyes shone even brighter.
"Father also thinks highly of her," he said.
Eldest Master Ning stroked his beard.
"Of course she's praiseworthy. The art of vaccination is a feat that will be remembered through history," he said with sparkling eyes. "Think about it, the Jun Family of Ning - such glory."
Ning Yunzhao laughed heartily.
"But father, it should be called Jiuling Hall," he then said seriously.
Eldest Master Ning clucked his tongue.
"That's still Jiuling Hall of Ning Jun Family," he said.
Father and son exchanged a glance and both laughed.
"Thank you, father," Ning Yunzhao said solemnly, his expression sincere. "For not making your son feel regret for liking someone he shouldn't have."
Eldest Master Ning coughed.
"I trust my son's judgment," he said.
Ning Yunzhao had always been smart, and while Eldest Master Ning managed the family's secular affairs and was not much for academia, Ning Yunzhao always followed Ning Yan, so father and son did not spend much time together.
It wasn't clear whether it was the lack of time spent together since childhood or the son's intelligence that caused a certain estrangement in his heart.
But at this moment, looking at his son's smiling face, he felt that the distance between them had disappeared.
Ning Yunzhao laughed again.
"Thank you, father," he said.
"What's there to thank for, it's also because Miss Jun is so accomplished, achieving such great feats," said Eldest Master Ning, with a hint of admiration. "Who would have thought that the Jun Family, despite their modest background, would do great and righteous deeds? Old Master Jun is well-known in Runan for saving lives, Master Jun sacrificed himself for his country, and Miss Jun has invented vaccination, relieving the suffering of countless people. It's truly admirable."
Yes, the smile in Ning Yunzhao's eyes dispersed, she truly was admirable.
That's why his uncle would have no choice but to consider and deliberate how to handle the situation; that's why his father's attitude shifted so quickly, no longer dissatisfied or opposed to her involvement with the Ning Family, but instead was eagerly accepting; as for other members of the Ning Family, needless to say, where was their earlier disdain and contempt? They were all excitedly thrilled about having a divine doctor joining the family.
It was not his doing, but Miss Jun's own making; she forced everyone to submit and admire her.
"No wonder father wrote the marriage contract back then," Eldest Master Ning sighed.
Probably was also won over by Old Master Jun's magnanimity.
As for why he later regretted it and refused to mention it anymore, that was not considered.
"Father, the past engagement has already been dissolved; after all, that marriage proposal was never real." Ning Yunzhao said with a smile, "Mother truly got angry, Father doesn't need to get angry about it in the future either."
Eldest Master Ning twirled his beard and smiled.
"The marriage proposal was fake," he said, "but your feelings have always been real, right?"
His feelings had always been genuine, and he wasn't afraid to admit it to anyone.
Ning Yunzhao nodded with a smile.
"Now that she's back, who's to say the fake can't become real?" Eldest Master Ning said, "You won't know unless you try."
He chuckled again.
"Son, you can't possibly lack confidence in yourself, right? Miss Jun used to like you quite a bit."
That was in the past.
Ning Yunzhao smiled faintly, but in truth, he doubted this "past."
Ever since he had been in contact with Miss Jun, he had never felt that she liked him. At most, she didn't dislike him, and later on, as they grew acquainted, they treated each other as friends.
What did "liking someone" look like?
Wanting to see them every moment, missing them all the time, eyes lighting up upon seeing them, feeling a piece missing when they're not around, just as he did.
Yet, evidently, she had not felt the same as he did.
As for trying again, he had already tried once before.
Should he try one more time?
Ning Yunzhao stood up.
"By the way, how did she suddenly return from the capital?" he asked, "She clearly stated before that she wouldn't come back. Could something have happened?"
............…..
At this moment, the Fang Family residence was crowded with people. Unlike the noise outside, these people were very quiet.
Although they all looked excited, no one spoke a word, and there was no flurry of calling out for Divine Doctor Miss and the like.
They were family, so of course, there was no need for such formalities.
But 'family' felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang gazed at the girl standing before them, their expressions a bit dazed.
It had been nearly a year without seeing her, the girl had grown taller, her facial features had opened up, the naivety of youth was fading, and the glow of budding maturity was slowly emerging, yet the calmness in her eyes softened that brilliance, not so blatantly compelling.
Compared with that girl who had arrived from Funing, they really felt no resemblance at all.
"How is it, having not seen me for so long, does everyone feel estranged?" Miss Jun laughed, unfastening her cloak.
Fang Chengyu immediately reached out to take it.
Liu'er glared with discontentment, unhappy that the task that was hers had been usurped, and rudely snatched the cloak from Fang Chengyu's hands.
Before Old Lady Fang could speak, Fang Yuxiu was the one who laughed first.
"Why should we?" she said, standing beside Old Lady Fang and looking at Miss Jun seriously, "We've been hearing about you every day, it's as if you were right at home, constantly giving us shocks and scares."
This statement reminded everyone of that day the girl was brought home from Funing. From that moment on, the house truly had never been peaceful, with frequent commotion.
Starting from the marriage commotion in Yangcheng and ending with the engagement ruckus in the capital, after all the twists and turns, she was still her.
With this statement, the initial feeling of strangeness and distance dissipated, and the girl before them once again became the person they were familiar with.
Facing the faces that seemed both reproachful and concerned, Miss Jun smiled.
"I thought you would all have gotten used to it by now." She laughed, walking towards Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang, and curtsied, "Grandmother, Aunt."
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Thanks to "The Last Shot?", "Southern Ice" for rewarding with the He's Bi, (>^ω^<) meow
Thank you, everyone.
Continuing to ask for the basic monthly votes~\(≧▽≦)/~ la la la, sorry to disturb everyone.