Volume One, Chapter 21: A Splash of Urine to Wake You Up

Upon arriving at the Ning family’s old estate, Elder Ning had already moved a small stool into the courtyard to wait for them.

Watching Ning Yuelan’s BMW slowly pull into the courtyard, Elder Ning set down his teapot and walked over with a beaming smile. Fang Mo’s father stepped out of the car and immediately shook hands with Elder Ning.

"Uncle Ning, it’s been a long time."

"Indeed, it has. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, our two families would become in-laws? Hahahaha."

Elder Ning was quite satisfied with Fang Mo’s family. After all, he shared a life-and-death bond with Fang Mo’s grandfather from their time on the battlefield, and he had even watched Fang Mo’s father grow up. He knew everything there was to know about Fang Mo’s family background.

With that, the elder smiled and gestured for Fang’s father to sit down for tea. Just then, the housekeeper hurried over to urge them: "Sir, lunch is ready."

Elder Ning frowned slightly, but his brow soon smoothed out. "Little Fang, we’ll have to finish our chess match after we eat."

"Of course, I wouldn’t dream of refusing your invitation, Elder."

As they walked toward the house, Fang’s father’s voice could still be heard drifting back: "Speaking of the children, I feel a bit guilty, Elder. What virtue or merit does our Fang Mo have to be worthy of marrying your Yuelan? I’ve been so anxious, fearing you might not agree to this union. If you hadn’t, I would have come today to beg for your forgiveness; since you have, I am here today to formally propose."

Fang’s father was a wily old fox; having gauged Elder Ning’s attitude, he began putting on a show. Anyone else might have accused him of being smug, but Elder Ning actually enjoyed the man’s glib tongue.

The two elders went inside first, followed by Fang’s mother, leaving Ning Yuelan and Fang Mo standing there, looking at each other.

"Sister Yuelan, have we taken this 'fake act' a bit too far?" When his father mentioned the formal proposal, Fang Mo felt his face flush for no reason. A formal proposal meant that the elders fully accepted the marriage. If it was all just a ruse, wasn't this becoming a bit too official?

"What?" Ning Yuelan’s delicate brows furrowed. "Are you looking down on your sister for being past her prime?"

Before Fang Mo could even utter a "no," Ning Yuelan gave a sly smile and pinched his arm. "It’s too late to back out now. After all, we’re living together, and Xiaojie can act as the eyewitness. Younger brother, you can’t just eat your fill, wipe your mouth, and walk away!"

Fang Mo’s expression stiffened. He couldn't help but feel that there was a hint of a conspiracy in her words.

During lunch, Ning Yuelan kept piling food onto the elders' plates until even Elder Ning couldn't take it anymore. "That’s enough, enough. Stop putting on a show in front of your parents-in-law; just be your usual self."

Hearing this, Ning Yuelan’s face turned red, and she let out a soft huff. Seeing this, Fang’s parents exchanged a smile. They had watched Ning Yuelan grow up; she was a woman with great vision, which was why she had been able to take over the family business in her twenties and manage the Ning household’s affairs with such efficiency. Even now, Fang’s father felt that Fang Mo winning Ning Yuelan as a wife was like the Fang family’s ancestral grave emitting auspicious smoke.

"Come to think of it, it was unexpected that the two children would fall in love at first sight."

As the wine flowed and the meal progressed, Elder Ning, with a flushed face, reminisced with Fang’s father. "If I had known, I should have arranged a betrothal for them back then. The children are clearly in love, so why did I even bother trying to set Yuelan up with anyone else?"

Fang’s father gave a bitter smile and raised his glass. "You overestimate our Fang Mo, Elder. The boy is slow to catch on. If we had arranged a betrothal, your Yuelan might not have even liked this brat. Do you remember the first time Fang Mo came to your house? If Yuelan had known back then that she would have to marry a brat like him, she certainly wouldn't have been happy!"

Fang Mo, sitting at the end of the table, hadn't been able to get a word in during the whole meal. Only when his childhood was mentioned did he lift his head, looking at the elders in confusion. Honestly, he only remembered visiting the Ning family with his grandfather when he was about seven or eight years old, but he had forgotten every detail of what had happened.

Pfft—

Just then, Ning Yuelan pursed her red lips and coughed twice. Her movement caused the elders to share meaningful smiles.

Fang Mo was stunned. "Sister Yuelan, did something special happen the first time I came to your house?"

"Um..." Ning Yuelan didn't speak, keeping her head down to eat.

Fang’s mother smiled and said, "You little rascal, you made quite a fool of yourself the first time you visited them. You were only about seven or eight. Your grandfather retired a bit later than Elder Ning, so we were already having you around when he retired. Your sister was about fifteen or sixteen at the time."

Elder Ning took over the conversation, waving his hand. "Don't pick on the child; boys are mischievous when they're young. That’s perfectly normal."

Hearing the elders say this, Fang Mo’s curiosity grew. What heaven-defying mischief had he committed for the elders to have such strange expressions?

Just then, Ning Yuelan leaned toward Fang Mo’s ear. "I suggest you’re better off not knowing. Otherwise, I might just get angry and beat you up!"

Beat him up? Did the trouble he caused have something to do with her? What exactly happened? Fang Mo’s desire to know was fully ignited.

At that moment, Fang’s mother noticed his curious gaze and chuckled. "I’ll tell you later; everyone is eating right now."

"Forget it, we're almost finished. Since the boy has forgotten, tell him. Let the brat hear for himself how he used to bully his own wife!" Fang’s father spoke up.

Fang Mo raised an eyebrow in confusion. Him? Bullying Sister Yuelan?

"That time you came to Elder Ning’s house, we were all chatting in the living room. Seeing you were bored, we let the nanny take you to wander around the courtyard. Who knew that as soon as you were out of our sight, you’d completely lose your inhibitions?"

"The nanny couldn't keep an eye on you at all. While she went to the restroom, you vanished. When we heard the report, we all started searching for you, and we finally found you in Yuelan’s room."

As she reached this point, the faces of everyone at the table became peculiar. Fang Mo swallowed hard. Had he really broken into a girl’s private chamber as a child? He felt that whatever his mother was about to say next was the key.

"A... and then?" Fang Mo stared at his mother.

Ning Yuelan bit her red lip and pinched Fang Mo hard under the table. "I told you not to ask! And then... what else could there be? Everyone walked in to find a young boy standing over a sleeping girl, 'watering' her while shouting, 'Little sister, don't die! Watch me wake you up!'"

Fang Mo: ???