Chapter 329: Clearly Hiding Something

Chapter 329: Clearly Hiding Something

Zhuang Shao hesitated slightly and answered hesitantly.

"Uh...it's an old friend."

Ning Jiewei had an inexplicable sense of foreboding in her heart, and she always felt that this old friend was Leng Man.

She sat still, looking up, her suspicion evident.

"Who?"

Zhuang Shao's smile was as bright as the sunset, kind and calm, but there was a hint of guilt in his eyes.

"He is a person I met in my early years. We haven't seen each other for several years. He is mediocre and unremarkable. You don't even know him when I tell you."

As he said this, he pretended to be in a hurry and couldn't delay.

"You guys go ahead and do your work, I'll be back soon."

Ning Jiewei became even more suspicious upon seeing this and hurriedly called out to stop him.

"Godfather, wait a minute!"

When Zhuang Shao stopped, he shrugged unconsciously, adjusted his expression, and looked back, looking energetic, as usual.

"What's the matter?"

Ning Jiewei asked directly about the exit.

"The person that foster father saw, could it be Madam Xu?"

Unexpectedly, she guessed it right at once, and Zhuang Shao broke out in a cold sweat.

"Mrs. Xu? Which Mrs. Xu?"

Ning Jiewei pouted and spoke angrily.

"She is the wife of Lord Tongshi Xu."

Zhuang Shao smiled helplessly, trying his best to hide his panic.

"How can I see her? Why do you say that?"

Ning Jiewei was unhappy and asked tentatively.

"Is the foster father's friend a man or a woman?"

Zhuang Shao's eyes were warm and his expression was relaxed.

"Of course it's a man."

If you didn't know what Leng Man was planning, it would be difficult to notice that something was wrong with him.

Seeing how determined he was, Ning Jiewei felt dazed for a moment, and subconsciously suspected that she was wrong, so she continued to test him.

"Are you a citizen or a subject?"

Zhuang Shao looked at him kindly, seemingly patiently, but in fact he was already panicking and nervous.

"He is a civilian. I met him when I was in exile. Last year, Brother Gu pardoned him. I have not seen him since then."

It sounded like it was true, Ning Jiewei was a little confused and wanted to confirm it further.

"May I ask your surname?"

Zhuang Shao’s thoughts raced.

A male name suddenly popped up in his mind. He didn't know the person, so he just picked it up and used it.

"Zhou Zixi."

Ning Yunxi had stood up respectfully since Zhuang Shao entered the room. She wanted to remain silent, but when she heard these words, she could not help laughing.

"The person that Uncle Shao is meeting is my fourth senior brother?"

Zhuang Shao was shocked when he realized what was going on.

"Oh - this is your senior brother's name..."

He stopped abruptly and didn't continue speaking. Instead, he smiled awkwardly and tried to make up his mind.

"What a coincidence, we have the same name, hehe..."

Now, Ning Jiewei completely saw through his intention and no longer doubted herself. She became angry and questioned him without any courtesy.

“Godfather is lying, you are going to see Madam Xu, right or wrong?”

Zhuang Shao insisted.

"I don't know her, why would I see her?"

Ning Jiewei responded sternly, her expression particularly serious.

"My foster father insisted on deceiving me because he had ulterior motives and wanted to use this opportunity to return to my brother's side!"

As she spoke, her eyes were stern, and she had already regarded Zhuang Shao as an enemy.

"Go back if you want. It's not wrong for Godfather to think so."

Zhuang Shao was startled and felt deeply innocent.

"What are you talking about? Why would I want to do that?"

If the conversation continued, something bad might happen. Ning Yunxi lowered her eyebrows and spoke in time.

"Uncle Shao, calm down. Fourth sister is outspoken and there is indeed a misunderstanding. I apologize on your behalf and beg Uncle Shao to forgive me."

This was unexpected, and Ning Jiewei was shocked. She reminded him urgently, and it was obvious that she was very angry.

"What do you mean, sister? My foster father is clearly thinking about something!"

When Ning Yunxi lowered her eyes, she pretended to be casual and winked at her sister.

"Don't make up stories. You really misunderstood. Uncle Shao never meant that."

She had a happy look on her face and showed no less respect to Zhuang Shao.

"Uncle Shao, please go and meet your friends without worrying. I will take care of the store and comfort Fourth Sister."

Ning Jiewei was extremely anxious and raised her voice a little.

"elder sister!"

Zhuang Shao seized the opportunity and fled immediately.

"Thank you, Xi'er."

Seeing that he had disappeared and only the loud sound of a door closing was left, Ning Jiewei stood up and wanted to chase after him, but was stopped by her sister.

"Why did you let him go, sister? My stepfather is obviously moved, how come you can't see that?"

Ning Yunxi stared at her, with a mixture of complaint and instruction.

"I also know that he is my foster father, how dare I disrespect my elders?"

Ning Jiewei clenched her teeth, her eyes filled with anger.

"But he is about to rebel!"

Ning Yunxi raised her lips in an affectionate manner and comforted her sister to sit down.

"That's not true. Stop talking nonsense."

Ning Jiewei took a seat obediently and turned to look at her sister with a puzzled look on her face.

"Sister really didn't see through it, didn't she?"

Ning Yunxi smiled calmly and then took a seat.

"Uncle Shao is straightforward and can't hide things, how could I not notice it?"

After she answered, a hint of relief slowly revealed in her calm eyes.

"That's great. I finally know what he means. No wonder he has no interest in other women. It turns out he loves someone else."

Ning Jiewei was still impatient.

"But the one he loves is Leng Man! Everyone knows that Taiwei Leng is the emperor's man."

She lost interest in her manners and stamped her feet in anger.

"This person used a little trick to make my foster father so obsessed that he even deceived us. If his love is so deep, he will definitely follow her!"

If the warm sun shines, Ning Yunxi's face will be warm.

"It's not a bad thing for brothers to be reunited. He should have been following the emperor."

As she spoke, she changed the subject and naturally came to the defense of Zhuang Shao.

"But I don't think Uncle Shao will abandon us."

Ning Jiewei's mouth corners turned down, but her anger did not abate.

"Then why did he lie?"

Ning Yunxi smiled sweetly and explained her answer in words that were easy for her sister to understand.

"It's human nature to be shy."

Ning Jiewei couldn't believe it and questioned it.

"Just shy?"

Ning Yunxi nodded and responded seriously.

"It looks like it to me."

Ning Jiewei was stunned for a moment.

"is it?"

After her sister's words and actions, she began to think carefully about her adoptive father's words and actions, and after a while, she smiled with satisfaction.

"That's good."

"That's what I said. How could our godfather not want us? He must be shy."

Ning Yunxi smiled dotingly and agreed, giving her sister enough face.

"Yes, you are right."

Thinking that something good might happen, Ning Jiewei was full of anticipation and immediately made a suggestion.

"Shall we go and take a look?"

Ning Yunxi thought for a moment and then refused.

"That's totally unnecessary. It's really rude."

Ning Jiewei clenched her slender fists, shook her hands gently, and started to act coquettishly.

"Oh, I'm curious, so I'll go take a look. Good sister, I beg you, okay?"

There was nothing Ning Yunxi could do, so she had to agree.

"Then go ahead, I'll watch the store."

Seeing that her two strands of long hair were hanging in front of her and looked a little messy, Ning Yunxi took out a wooden comb and straightened her hair.

Ning Jiewei was a bit willful and acted coquettishly.

"How could my sister not accompany me?"

Ning Yunxi was a little troubled.

"If we all go, who will take care of Yiren Qingcheng?"

After thinking about it for a while, Ning Jiewei immediately came up with an idea.

"I'll ask the maid to go to Yuexi Mansion and ask Mr. Gao to come over."

As she spoke, she took her sister's hand, couldn't wait to leave her seat, and urged her repeatedly.

"Alright, alright, sister, let's go. If we're any later and our stepfather walks away, we won't be able to catch up."

After instructing the maid, the two sisters hurried to the stable in the backyard and asked the horse feeder and manager Fang where they were going. Then they got on the carriage and followed the direction. Soon, they saw Zhuang Shao's carriage.