For the following few days, Ning Ran continued busying herself with work.
Soon, it was the weekend, and she received a call from Rong Rong, who said that she had arrived in Flower City and asked whether it was convenient to meet.
Even if Ning Ran had no relationship with the Rong family, she would still like the latter very much.
When she met Rong Rong in Livingsfill for the very first time, she had already felt a sense of affinity with her.
She believed that it had nothing to do with the blood ties between them but because Rong Rong had some of the same qualities as her.
Since Rong Rong was asking her out, she was naturally more than glad to meet up.
Moreover, Rong Rong had specifically urged her to bring the twins along.
Ning Ran could understand that request, for Rong Rong would be inexorably thrilled upon learning that she had a nephew and niece out of the blue and wanted to meet them.
Thus, Ning Ran agreed to bring the twins along to meet her.
She also asked Lu Jingyuan along. After all, the three of them got acquainted in Livingsfill together, and it would be livelier with more people there.
Rong Rong was a guest from out of the city, so it went without saying that Ning Ran hosted the gathering.
For privacy's sake, Ning Ran chose a private dining restaurant.
Looking pure and innocent, Rong Rong skipped into the private room in a denim outfit and an acoustic guitar on her back.
She had hardly changed, still as beautiful, simple, and natural.
Verily, she was the most typical and classic personification of a female university student, young and vibrant without being weighed down by life.
When Ning Ran met her again, her sense of affinity seemingly intensified further.
Putting down the guitar, Rong Rong greeted affectionately, “Ran.”
That had always been her address of Ning Ran, but it felt different when she called the latter such then.
Meanwhile, Ning Ran urged the twins, “Quick, greet your Aunt Rong.”
“Hello, Aunt Rong!” Dabao and Erbao greeted in concert.
Rong Rong was so emotional that her eyes turned red-rimmed. “Hello. You've both grown much taller.”
Subsequently, she asked Ning Ran hesitatingly, “May I hug them?”
However, Ning Ran had no authority to make a decision about that. Instead, it depended on the twins themselves.
Both of them were geniuses. Such children could not be treated like kids but equally as one would treat an adult. Otherwise, it was easy to spark resentment and defiance.
That was doubly true for Dabao, whose personality resembled Nan Chen's greatly. Without his consent, even a simple hug would offend him.
For that reason, Ning Ran did not answer Rong Rong immediately but turned to Dabao. “Your aunt would like to hug you both. Is that okay?”
Dabao cast a glance at Rong Rong before walking over to her slowly and spreading his arms wide.
Over the moon, Rong Rong crouched and gently hugged the little boy, inhaling the faint fragrance wafting off him.
Finding her incredibly amicable, Dabao docilely stretched his hands out and hooked them around her neck.
That suffused Rong Rong with such bliss that tears almost escaped her eyes.
After she had hugged Dabao, Erbao came over. The latter's embrace was far more enthusiastic.
Clinging onto Rong Rong's neck, the little girl hugged her tightly and even took the initiative to peck her on the cheek.
Erbao had always been great at socializing, so all that was nothing.
“You can play the guitar, Aunt Rong?” Erbao queried.
“Yes. I wrote a song for you and Dabao as a gift. I brought my guitar along because I want to play it for the two of you,” Rong Rong replied.
Erbao clapped her hands with a bright smile on her face. “Yay!”
Ning Ran had never expected that to be Rong Rong's motivation for bringing a guitar along.
She's really nice, even going so far as to write a song for the twins.
Before Ning Ran could inquire about it, Erbao could not resist asking, “Why didn't Yunxue come, Ms. Lu?”
“Their uncle came and wanted to take them out for lunch, so they didn't tag along with me.”
It turned out that Lu Jingyuan's brother had come to Flower City.
“Why didn't you ask your brother to come along? It would be livelier, then,” Ning Ran interjected.
“No, it's okay. We're all girls, so it's slightly awkward for a man to be here. He'll be fine with Nan Xing keeping him company,” Lu Jingyuan explained.
At the side, Dabao muttered gloomily, “I'm a man, too.”
He felt offended that she said everyone there was female.
If this is a girls' gathering, I don't think I should be here.
It was only then that Lu Jingyuan realized her mistake. She hastily clarified, “You're a big boy, Dabao. You need to stay here to protect us.”
“Nan Xing agreed to have lunch with your brother and the girls? Aren't you two having a cold war?” Ning Ran questioned in curiosity.
“He has no other choice. Back then, he was the one who personally brought me here from the capital. He promised my brother that he'd treat me well. Now that Tiance has come over, he will suspect a problem between us if Nan Xing doesn't entertain him. Left with no recourse, he can only deal with it.”
Hearing that, Ning Ran chortled. “I pity him, then. Your brother is always solemn, and Nan Xing can't stand such seriousness. He must be frustrated.”
Lu Jingyuan laughed as well. “Serves him right. He swore before my brother that he'd definitely treat me well. But when we arrived at Flower City, he felt that this was his territory and wanted to pick on me. Who does he think he is to do so? How audacious!”
Her remark piqued Ning Ran's curiosity. “What exactly is the progress of your relationship with him?”
“What do you mean? There's nothing between us. We're separate entities with no relationship whatsoever.”
Lu Jingyuan sounded beyond nonchalant, but Ning Ran found it unfair to Nan Xing.
“Why did you have him dine with your brother, then? What if the girls expose him? If your brother were to learn that Nan Xing lied to him back then, his life would likely be a living hell.”
In response, Lu Jingyuan waved a dismissive hand. “That's his business. Let's eat. There's no need to bother about him.”
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