Chapter 05

The fog is thick, and my eyes have turned red with urgency, yet I do not know how to refute it; in any case, everything is Ning Mo's fault

The thick fog came to a halt, and turning back, I saw Ning Mo and Lu Xiaoyuan affectionately performing the "father-daughter bond," with their eyes sparkling. I thought to myself that at least Ning Mo has some humanity, as he loves children.

Zilu did not invite her, specifically reminding me that this is a gathering of old friends. Ning Mo smiled.

Recalling the foolish question she asked just now, Wu Nong felt an overwhelming urge to bite her tongue

Wu Nongnong glared back fiercely. Then suddenly recalling that this opportunity tonight was hard to come by, she had to start thinking about what to say to initiate a conversation. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Why hasn't Jian Ran come?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Wu Nongnong wished she could slap herself. Jian Ran was never supposed to come.

The misty face turned slightly red, and all one could do was awkwardly smile in response

But one must ask who sent it; if it wasn't Lu Xiao, then who could it be? Why did Bai Li look at Ning Mo that way?

Ning Mo stepped aside in a very gentlemanly manner, allowing Wu Nongnong to enter first.

She certainly cannot tell Feng Ziluo that Ning Mo did not come to pick her up. She cannot ask Ning Mo why he did not come to pick her up, as their relationship is so awkward that it is only reasonable for Ning Mo not to come. Yet it is precisely this reasonableness that leaves her pent-up anger with nowhere to vent.

"She has a bit of business today." Ning Mo replied with a smile. Hearing his inconsistent answers and seeing his annoying smile, Wu Nong felt a sense of dislike.

This smile makes one feel as if they could slap themselves in frustration, truly a case of bringing up the wrong topic. The motives behind this dinner are questionable; she averted her gaze with a guilty conscience. Could it be that Ning Mo knows that tonight's dinner was specially prepared by Feng Zilu for them?

It is undeniable that she always felt nervous when seeing Ning Mo, whether it was eight years ago or eight years later

The fog thickened, and my heart skipped a beat. Many years ago, Bai Li was not in a good situation and could not afford such jewelry. In Wu Nongnong's view, although the materials used for this piece of jewelry were not top-tier or precious, the design was unique, and it was not available on the market at all. It was either custom-made for someone else or a limited edition, far beyond what Bai Li could purchase

With the thick fog surrounding, I raised my head to take a look. Initially, I was filled with disdain, thinking that with Bai Li's perspective, it couldn't be anything remarkable. However, upon this glance, I found myself captivated.

Where is Luyu? The fog is thick and there is nothing to say, so I can only randomly drag someone out to ask. As the male host, it is indeed a bit abrupt for Luyu not to come out and greet us

"No, they are all old models, things from many years ago." Bai Li, taken aback by the praise, cast a timid glance at Ning Mo.

Feng Ziluo embraced Lu Xiaoyuan and left, clearly to create an opportunity for Wu Nongnong and Ning Mo to be alone together. Unfortunately, Wu Nongnong may not appreciate her arrangement; being alone with Ning Mo, his aura became increasingly intimidating. He remained silent, with a smile at the corner of his mouth that was hard to discern as either mocking or genuine, making Wu Nongnong restless. She constantly felt the urge to lower her head, but the current situation did not allow her to concede defeat.

The thick fog made things awkward; she suddenly recalled the chaotic relationship she had with Lu Yu, and it was only natural for others to avoid her

It seems that Feng Ziluo's arrangements are indeed quite good, deliberately scheduling half an hour for her and Ning Mo, so as not to reveal too much evidence of drawing the red line. This is a skillful move, but unfortunately, it encountered three people who are not punctual

It was a half-open petal necklace, shaped like a question mark, adorned with several pear blossom-shaped petals set with white gemstones on a golden-hued chain, exuding a subtle elegance with a touch of dazzling flamboyance. Complementing this, on the right hand's index finger of Bai Li was a large ring in the same color, resembling a golden pear blossom, creating a harmonious effect.

The workers from the Lu family quickly delivered the fragrant English milk tea

However, Bai Li has always maintained a delicate image, which seems somewhat incongruous with this bold and extravagant piece of jewelry

The thick fog made her take a cold breath, and she unconsciously glanced in Ning Mo's direction, only to be caught by Ning Mo's gaze. It felt as if she had been caught red-handed, a burning sensation enveloping her.

The fog was thick, and a sense of unease filled her heart. She stood up with a calm expression and inquired about the location of the restroom, saying, "Please excuse me for a moment." The moment she entered the restroom, she rushed to the mirror, looked left and right, and only felt at ease after confirming that there were no suspicious blushes on her face, fortunately, the makeup was thick enough.

Ning Mo merely stared at Wu Nongnong, his gaze unsettling. He had not yet changed this habit of his, always fixating on her, which made Wu Nongnong feel as though she had done something wrong. Yet, she could never discern his true thoughts.

"Oh, why hasn't Jian Ran come?" He Lina looked at the thick fog and then at Ning Mo.

However, Ning Mo did not invite Wu Nongnong to his birthday, which is precisely Wu Nongnong's sore point

Feng Ziluo took the flowers from the thick fog and said, "They are really beautiful. I will find a vase to arrange them." Then she turned around and took Lu Xiaoyuan from Ning Mo's hands, "Xiaoyuan, would you like to go with Mommy to arrange the flowers?"

"Lu Xiao sent this? When did he become so skilled at buying gifts for women?" Feng Ziluo said half-jokingly

Bai Li handed over the red wine and said, "I apologize, it was originally scheduled for 7:30, but we arrived early. I hope you don't mind" Bai Li said apologetically

Mist sat opposite Ning Mo, her head lowered as she ate in silence, her ears turning red. She was still wondering if Ning Mo's intelligence would see through her little thoughts, while he was secretly mocking her in his heart.

The thick fog reminded her of this, and anger surged from her heart. She deliberately took a big gulp and even let out a light "ha" of appreciation. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Ning Mo, whose expression showed no change.

Fortunately, the door opened at that moment

"Welcome, but it's too late." Feng Zilu replied with a smile. Originally, she had not invited He Lina, knowing that she and Wu Nongnong were at odds, fearing that she would ruin Wu Nongnong's good fortune

As she stepped onto the stairs amidst the thick fog, although feeling somewhat nervous and unaccustomed, she still held her head high to meet Ning Mo's gaze, her hand gripping the bouquet becoming slightly damp with tension

However, Ning Mo has never been interested in such things. Recalling the time when she used to drink this, Ning Mo would always frown and impatiently snatch her cup away, saying things like it has a high fat content and is detrimental to physical and mental health, forcing her to drink Chinese tea

The thick fog makes it difficult to discern whether the strange feeling deep within my heart is disappointment

The fog was thick, and the corners of the mouth curled up.

The fog was thick as she took a couple of deep breaths and made a gesture of encouragement to herself. Feeling troubled, she thought to herself, it was like this before, and it is still like this now. Whenever she was with Ning Mo, she could never find the right words to say. She was always anxious, afraid of saying something wrong that would make him laugh at her. And the truth proved that she indeed was not suited to talk to him; her mind just couldn't come up with the appropriate words, which was a stark contrast to her lively banter in class.

Feng Zi Luo sensed that something was amiss and quickly said: "It's time to eat, it's time to eat, everything is ready."

Zilu, I was at Baili's house today and just found out that you are hosting a gathering tonight. You won't mind this uninvited guest, will you?" He Lina chuckled

The answer is truly at hand

Little Yuanyuan from the Lu family saw Ning Mo enter and rushed over excitedly, sweetly calling out "Godfather"

When I finally organized my mood and stepped out into the thick fog, I happened to see Bai Li and Lu Xiao, a couple, exchanging pleasantries with Feng Zi Luo, with He Li Na standing behind Bai Li.

With a thick fog, she vigorously tossed her hair, walking through the door without looking back. The tips of her hair brushed harshly against Ning Mo and the books' cheeks, which could be considered a small act of revenge.

Wu Nongnong racked her brains, pondering what words to use for small talk, while Ning Mo appeared relaxed, as if he had never considered finding a topic to discuss. This made Wu Nongnong feel like throwing the flowers she held right at his face.

Ning Mo picked up Lu Xiaoyuan and joyfully pinched her little apple-like face, "Little chubby, you've gained weight again"

Both being late and arriving early are forms of being unpunctual

"Oh, Lily, your necklace is truly unique, it matches the ring on your hand perfectly, it is really beautiful," Feng Ziluo spoke, breaking the silence.

Result Fengziro smiled awkwardly, "He is showcasing his skills in the kitchen"

"Nong Nong, Ning Mo, please come in, please come in." Feng Zi Luo warmly said to Wu Nong Nong: "Knowing that you didn't drive, I specifically asked Ning Mo to pick you up to come together." Feng Zi Luo seemed very pleased with her thoughtful arrangement

The mist was thick, and a sense of relief washed over me. I picked it up and took a sniff; Lu Yu liked to drink this kind of milk tea, which is why I had been quite fascinated by it for a while.

In the past, when the fog was thick and one tended to overcorrect, in order to avoid being late, he chose to arrive early. When he went to Ningmo Company, he completely ignored her, insisting on waiting until the appointed time to greet her, his fiancée.

"Indeed, I was just saying that," He Lina responded.

He Lina glanced at Wu Nongnong, let out a sneer, "Oh, Miss Wu, why didn't you attend Ning Mo's birthday party the other day? All of us sisters missed you so much." He Lina was fully aware of the fact that the Wu family had gone bankrupt and was acquired by the Ning family, yet she still addressed Wu Nongnong as 'Miss', which was clearly a form of sarcasm.