Chapter 692 - 463: Favorite Ningning

In the white bone china cup, the tea shimmered with a faint golden glow, reflecting the lights on the ceiling.

Jiangg Ning lifted it and set it back down, sending ripples across the surface of the tea.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

She showed no signs of fatigue as she studied the tiny print in the thick book. She underlined passages line by line, occasionally brushing a strand of hair from her forehead, her red lips parting as she murmured to herself.

For obscure and difficult words, she wouldn’t just recite them silently; she would also read them aloud and even write them down on a separate piece of paper. Engaging her hands, eyes, and mind all at once made her much more efficient.

At first, Chen Yuan was actually getting into it, managing to focus alongside her and even finding some enjoyment in the process. But as time crawled on, that high level of concentration became harder to maintain, and he found his mind wandering more and more frequently.

Sometimes, he would zone out, and several minutes would pass before Chen Yuan realized he wasn’t looking at the materials anymore.

After a few more attempts, he felt he was pretty much at his limit. He needed a break; forcing himself to keep studying would only be counterproductive. So, Chen Yuan looked away from his computer and turned his gaze to Jiangg Ning.

’She was much easier on the eyes than any book.’

There’s a special kind of charm to someone who’s completely absorbed in what they’re doing.

Jiangg Ning was already stunningly beautiful, but seeing her so diligent and self-disciplined made her seem even more sophisticated and lovely than ever.

Her small, elegant nose, her dewy lips, her face with its near-perfect contours, and, beneath gently trembling lashes, those beautiful eyes.

He could never get tired of looking at her.

There was a saying that put it well: A wife’s beauty is her husband’s glory.

At that moment, Chen Yuan felt incredibly proud. To have a girlfriend this beautiful and self-disciplined... She didn’t just radiate intelligence; she was an absolute stunner.

It was no wonder Liu He had felt a surge of pride after meeting Jiangg Ning, wanting to claim her as a daughter-in-law right away.

’An ordinary family could never hope to marry a daughter-in-law like her.’

The longer Chen Yuan watched, the happier he felt, and he had to fight the urge to break into a silly grin. The corners of his mouth were already curving upward.

’Sometimes he felt that Jiangg Ning was just a little bit prettier than Jiangg Yao, and it wasn’t the first time he’d had that thought. But they looked identical. So it was a little strange.’

He hadn’t really thought about why.

’Maybe it was because people who look identical can still give off different vibes. That was probably it.’

Meanwhile, Jiangg Ning was completely engrossed in her studies. It was as if she hadn’t noticed his gaze at all, and she let Chen Yuan watch her for over ten minutes.

She seemed to be in a state of complete, selfless focus.

Chen Yuan couldn’t help but admire her intense focus.

After watching her quietly for so long, Chen Yuan had an idea. ’I should sneak a picture of Ningning.’ The scene was just too beautiful. Later, when he was on a business trip, he could set it as his phone background without Yaoyao knowing. Wouldn’t having a photo to look at be much better than just this fleeting moment?

With that thought, Chen Yuan stealthily pulled out his phone and adjusted the camera angle.

CLICK.

A photo, with both the lighting and the subject captured perfectly, was saved to his album.

Chen Yuan set down his phone and was admiring his masterpiece with satisfaction when Jiangg Ning, head still bowed, spoke softly, her voice drifting into his ear.

"If you’re tired from studying, you can go to the other room for a while. It’s only been a little over an hour, and I still have a lot of studying to do."

Chen Yuan froze.

’So Ningning wasn’t completely oblivious to her surroundings after all. She had already noticed his sleazy behavior. That meant she must have noticed him staring earlier, too; she’d just chosen to ignore it.’

"No, I’m not that tired. I can keep studying after a short break," he said earnestly.

His eyes were sincere.

He didn’t want to be kicked out by Jiangg Ning.

"Alright, then rest a bit longer."

She turned a page, gave Chen Yuan a small smile, and then lowered her head and resumed writing.

Though he didn’t want to break Jiangg Ning’s concentration, Chen Yuan was getting really curious. After a moment, he couldn’t resist asking:

"Ningning, it’s been over an hour. Aren’t you tired? I don’t think you’ve stopped for a single second."

"I’m fine," she said, pausing her writing and looking up to explain. "When I was studying abroad, sometimes I’d only have one or two classes a day, but each lecture was over an hour long. Philosophy is obscure and repetitive, with a heavy emphasis on critical analysis, and it was all taught in a foreign language. The professors never repeated themselves, so you had to be 120 percent focused."

"In a foreign language, on top of all that... That’s so difficult."

"I’ve gotten a lot rustier now. It’s been a while since I graduated, so I can’t concentrate like that anymore," Jiangg Ning said, a hint of regret in her voice.

"That’s still amazing, you know? I can’t even last an hour."

"It just becomes second nature with practice. You could study with me more often to train yourself. Then you’d be able to do it too."

"No, no, no," Chen Yuan quickly waved his hands, looking startled. "Once in a while is fine, but regularly? Forget it."

Seeing how vehemently he was rejecting the idea, Jiangg Ning pressed her lips together in resignation.

Now that her concentration was broken, Chen Yuan didn’t want her to spend the rest of the night just studying. He decided to start a conversation, unwilling to let the time just slip by.

"You and Yaoyao are going for the prison visit tomorrow, right? Is everything arranged?"

"Mhm, we’re leaving in the morning. We’ll probably have to wait a while once we get there. I won’t be able to rest easy until I see her. Plus, there’s a lot we need to tell her. I have to at least let Mom know that the situation has been resolved, or she’ll just keep worrying."

"And what about after she gets out... have you thought about that?"

"Which part are you referring to?" Jiangg Ning asked, looking a bit puzzled.

"A lot of things. First of all, her career is gone, right? That in itself is a huge blow. Also, are you two planning to stay in Mingzhu City to keep her company for a while? Or what if she gets out and still isn’t resigned to her fate? What happens then? Just accepting reality will be a massive challenge for her."

Chen Yuan had a point. Jiangg Ning mulled it over for a moment without answering immediately.

She had, of course, thought about these issues, just not in great detail.

Jiangg Ning glanced at Chen Yuan. She had to admit, he had already become the pillar of support for her and Yaoyao.

Jiangg Ning liked being able to discuss things with him, exchange opinions, and come to a decision together.

"Here’s what I was thinking. We definitely can’t let her get involved in the business world again. Even if she insisted, she doesn’t have the capital to back it up. Right now, besides this house, our family doesn’t have anything of value... Yaoyao and I can’t stay with her for too long, since I have to go back to Linzhou with you. So, for now, we’ll just let her rest for a while."

She paused before continuing, "If it’s possible later on, maybe I’ll help her open a small, low-stress shop. Maybe something dealing in luxury goods... She might not be good at much else, but after all these years, she’s definitely developed an eye for luxury items. It wouldn’t have to make a lot of money, just enough for her to live on. What do you think?"

Chen Yuan nodded.

"That’s a great idea, a very thorough plan. People need something to do, otherwise being idle is bound to cause problems. A shop would give your mother something to focus on, and it wouldn’t be too tiring."

A smile spread across Jiangg Ning’s face, clearly pleased by Chen Yuan’s approval.

"I’m glad you think it’s a workable plan."

"I have to say, you’re really good to your mother," Chen Yuan remarked with feeling, "especially after all the things Jiangg Ruxue did that you hated. She’s lucky to have a daughter like you."

"What can I do? You only get one mother," Jiangg Ning said with a hint of resignation. "She and my sister were the two most important people in my life. Now, with you, it’s three."

"But I’m afraid she won’t appreciate all your effort. From my perspective... you won’t get mad if I say this, will you?"

"It’s fine. Say what’s on your mind. There’s nothing we can’t talk about," Jiangg Ning said, completely open.

"I think your mother is a bit selfish. It’s possible that no matter how hard you try, she still won’t understand your good intentions."

"There’s nothing to be done about that. I learned when I was young that you have to compromise on many things. When it comes to family, you have to make concessions. Forbearance is a mandatory lesson in life... I suppose it is."

She shrugged, her beautiful eyes perfectly clear.

"I know she used to force you to go on blind dates, wanting you to get married early. You must have really hated all that," Chen Yuan said suddenly.

"I hated it so, so much. But I had to go. I won’t have to anymore, now that I have you."

"So it seems your mother does influence your decisions, right?"

"She does. Because she..." Jiangg Ning thought for a moment before describing her. "She’s actually a very difficult person to deal with. Sometimes, there’s just nothing you can do."

"Ohh..."

Chen Yuan seemed lost in thought.