Chapter 115
Thanks to Ning Manqing's unique publicity, the popularity of The Exiled soared online, even surpassing a popular IP drama airing at the same time.
Li Chu's fanbase grew again. Career fans were delighted that her career and status had risen another level, while appearance fans were happy to see another side of Li Chu's sweet visuals.
Although The Exiled and Li Chu's previous hit drama, Die at Dawn and Dusk , were of the same genre, the characters she portrayed in the two dramas were completely different, making it impossible for viewers to confuse the two. Each captivating character possessed unique charm.
Both Rong Yun and Qin Mu were imperfect protagonists, each with their own contradictions. But it was precisely this interwoven sense of conflict that made the characters more three-dimensional.
The external praise didn't make Li Chu conceited. She understood that to go further in this path, she needed to continuously produce new works. Now that she was managing her own studio and was her own boss, free from company pressure, she could carefully select scripts without rushing. Although she hadn't felt much pressure before, being in charge made a difference.
Her current drama had about half a month left of filming. Li Chu calculated the days and figured she should be able to wrap up the day before New Year's Eve.
The timing was just as Li Chu had predicted, even a day earlier. Filming wrapped on the 28th of the last lunar month.
Li Chu flew back to Yunzhou that night. Her belongings were piled haphazardly in her mountain villa. Too tired to unpack, she hurriedly took a shower, rolled herself in a blanket, and started catching up on sleep.
Ning Manqing had apparently rested there the night before. The bedding still carried the faint scent of Cloud Mist Tea pheromones. Li Chu nuzzled the soft pillow and drifted off to dreamland.
At 2:00 AM, a business car drove into the mountain villa.
Ning Manqing signed an electronic document. Looking up, she noticed the light on the second floor and paused, the icy demeanor in her eyes melting away, revealing a touch of unspoken joy.
Tao Tao had told her Li Chu's flight was on the 29th. Why was she back early?
Gazing at the light, Ning Manqing asked, "She's back?"
Her secretary nodded. "Yes, Miss Li's flight arrived at 11:00 PM. She specifically asked me not to inform you, wanting to surprise you."
Hearing this, Ning Manqing couldn't contain herself. She strode towards the door, waving her hand dismissively at her secretary.
Ning Manqing went straight to the second floor. The hallway lights were on. Yuanzi was curled up on the small sofa in the hallway, playing on her phone. Sensing Ning Manqing's arrival, she immediately stood up and greeted her.
Yuanzi whispered, "Miss Li should be resting. She hasn't slept since last night."
"She specifically told me not to turn off the lights, saying she wanted to leave them on for you."
Ning Manqing's hand on the doorknob softened. She nodded to Yuanzi, signaling that she could go and rest.
Knowing Li Chu was asleep, Ning Manqing didn't rush into the master bedroom. Instead, she went to the study.
The study was connected to a bathroom, equipped with a full set of bathing facilities and her everyday clothes. Sometimes, due to long working hours and Li Chu's absence, Ning Manqing would simply rest in the study when she was too tired.
She was still wearing her business attire. Her suit jacket retained the lingering smell of cigarettes and perfume from the dinner party she had attended that evening, an unpleasant mix.
After carefully washing up and drying her hair, Ning Manqing entered the master bedroom.
The blanket was bunched up, not neatly spread on the bed, but folded and rumpled from the sleeping figure's movements. Li Chu slept casually, curled up under the covers. Part of her back was exposed to the air. She seemed to feel cold, but unable to shake off her drowsiness and wake up, she could only keep snuggling further in, causing the blanket to roll up even tighter, eventually falling onto the floor.
Ning Manqing gently lifted Li Chu's legs from the blanket. The sleeping figure stirred in discontent at being disturbed. Inhaling the faint peach scent on Li Chu, Ning Manqing pulled the blanket back over her, and wrapped her arms around Li Chu's waist.
Li Chu seemed to sense the familiar scent. Her hand rested on Ning Manqing's, and she peacefully drifted back to sleep.
Ning Manqing watched her for a long while, kissed the back of Li Chu's neck, and then reached out to turn off the soft light before closing her eyes, holding Li Chu close.
When Li Chu woke up the next day, she subconsciously reached out to the side, only to find emptiness. She jolted awake, sat up, and then fell back onto the bed.
She lay there for a while, rubbing her temples, unsure if Ning Manqing had actually returned last night. She slipped on her slippers and went to the bathroom.
Seeing freshly changed pajamas in the laundry basket, Li Chu knew last night wasn't a dream. She happily started brushing her teeth.
Because she had gone to bed early last night, it was only 9:30 AM.
Li Chu sat in the dining room, eating breakfast. Afterward, she nestled on the sofa, lazily scrolling through her phone, indulging in her daily routine of "cloud raising" cats online. Li Chu had considered getting a cat, but always reconsidered. Any pet needed companionship to bond, and with her unstable work schedule, it was best to just admire them from afar for now.
She was boredly browsing Weibo when she saw Zhao Zhichun's post. Intrigued, she clicked into the comments. Zhao Zhichun's Weibo interactions were a constant source of amusement for her.
@PuffPuffUnknowingSpring: Zhao-dog, New Year's is coming, are you going to be nagged by your mom about marriage again? I suggest you take a look at me. After all, I have no resistance to your magical alpha powers.
Zhao Zhichun replied: Get some magic resistance.
Li Chu laughed so hard she trembled. Her hand slipped and she accidentally liked the comment.
Li Chu suddenly realized she had forgotten to switch accounts. But after a moment's thought, she decided it didn't matter and continued to happily browse other Weibo posts.
Then her phone buzzed with notifications. As expected, it was Zhao Zhichun.
【Zhao Zhichun】: Oh ho, Li-sang, you were actually laughing at me on Weibo.
【Xiao Chu】: Thank you, Chun-sang, for providing me with a day's worth of good mood.
【Zhao Zhichun】: Hmph. Have you finished filming?
【Xiao Chu】: Yes, I'm back.
【Zhao Zhichun】: What are your plans for tomorrow? Going back to the Ning family's ancestral home with Sister Ning, or what?
Li Chu froze at Zhao Zhichun's question. Her New Year's plan was indeed to spend it with Ning Manqing, but she seemed to have forgotten that Ning Manqing would return to the Ning family's ancestral home for the New Year.
She had previously assumed that since Ning Manqing's parents had passed away, and those who should be in jail were in jail, Ning Manqing wouldn't go back. Now, with Zhao Zhichun's reminder, Li Chu realized she had made an assumption.
In previous years, it wasn't just Ning Manqing's immediate family who returned to the ancestral home for the New Year. According to the family genealogy, Ning Manqing's father belonged to the third branch, and there were also the first, second, and fourth branches. Going back another generation, Ning Manqing's grandfather belonged to the second branch, and there was also the eldest aunt's lineage.
The Ning family placed great importance on bloodline, tradition, and family reunions. It was a large and flourishing family. Although everyone had their own lives and didn't interact frequently in recent years, they would still return to their ancestral home during the New Year, re-acquaint themselves with each other, and celebrate together.
Thinking of this, Li Chu felt hesitant.
She didn't know what to do. She and Ning Manqing weren't married yet, so proactively offering to go to the ancestral home with her felt inappropriate. Facing all those elders in that capacity also seemed awkward. But asking Ning Manqing not to go didn't feel right either, as it was a family tradition.
After much deliberation, Li Chu decided to see what Ning Manqing thought.
Ning Manqing left work early that day. When she heard Li Chu's question, she said thoughtfully, "I was hoping you would go back with me. If you have other arrangements..."
Ning Manqing wondered if she had been inconsiderate, assuming Li Chu had no connection to her family, and realizing her presumption might have been a bit overbearing.
"Won't your elders say anything?" Li Chu asked nervously, fiddling with her sleeve.
"No, don't worry," Ning Manqing understood her concerns, a smile playing on her lips. She rubbed Li Chu's head and said, "Not all of my family members are like my parents. Some are very easy to get along with."
"Besides, you're the one I've chosen. Since the funeral, those relatives have been aware. They have no standing to interfere."
Li Chu felt relieved and nodded.
On New Year's Eve morning, Li Chu transferred 50,000 yuan to the original owner's mother, the same amount as last year. Li Chu didn't intend to increase the amount just because her income had increased. This was simply fulfilling her obligation to support the original owner whose body she now occupied.
The original owner's mother called after receiving the transfer. Their conversation was still somewhat awkward, exchanging New Year's greetings.
The original owner's mother hesitantly asked Li Chu about her relationship, but then felt she was being too nosy and stumbled to change the subject, saying she was glad Li Chu was doing well.
And so, their only interaction of the year ended.
Li Chu hung up the phone, feeling indifferent, as if she had completed a task. However, on the way to the Ning family's old house, she couldn't help but feel nervous. She checked her makeup in the mirror from time to time, fidgeting restlessly like someone with ADHD. Ning Manqing, amused, tapped her between the eyebrows.
"Settle down."
Li Chu obediently stopped moving and grabbed Ning Manqing's hand.
"Why so nervous? Don't worry."
"I know, but I can't help it. I'm about to meet so many of your relatives."
Li Chu said dejectedly. She knew it didn't matter whether they approved or not, and most likely no one would say anything, but the thought of the Ning family's large size and the sheer number of people made her gulp nervously.
"It's okay, I'm here."
Ning Manqing unfolded Li Chu's palm, wiped the cold sweat from her hand with a handkerchief, and looked up at her, her eyes gentle.
The Ning family's ancestral home was located in a town a few hours' drive from Yunzhou. The family remained prosperous to this day, and the ancestral home occupied a vast area. The plaque on the main gate, weathered by years of rain and wind, still clearly displayed the character 'Ning,' a testament to centuries of history.
The multi-courtyard mansion with its high thresholds wasn't suitable for cars. In the past, people would arrive by sedan chair. Now, that wasn't practical, so everyone had to walk slowly. Some elderly family members used electric wheelchairs.
Li Chu had expected a lot of people, but not this many. Everyone she met on the way to the main hall was a member of the Ning family. Li Chu greeted each one, walking for twenty minutes before finally reaching the main hall and greeting a room full of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Li Chu had been nervous initially, but seeing the smiling faces of the elders, she relaxed.
The meal was lively. Seated at the head of the table was Ning Manqing's great-aunt. Her grandfather had long since passed away. In this gathering of four or even five generations, the great-aunt undoubtedly held the highest seniority.
The great-aunt was ninety years old, but she seemed to be in good spirits and mentally sharp. She looked at Ning Manqing and Li Chu with a kind smile, her eyes full of care.
"Third branch's Manqing, you're not young anymore. When are you planning to have children?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the elders at the long table turned their attention to Ning Manqing and Li Chu, their eyes filled with similar concern.
They all thought the same thing: the Ning family's third branch used to be prosperous, but now, with some deceased and others facing misfortune, only Ning Manqing, who had no children, remained. Ning Manqing's eldest and second brothers' children were taken by their ex-wives. The continuation of the third branch depended on this young couple.
Everyone chimed in, urging, "It's time to put it on the agenda."
"Look at your cousin from the second branch, he already has great-grandchildren."
"You don't need too many children, too many are hard to raise. Following your parents' example and having four would be good."
Under the table, Li Chu gripped Ning Manqing's hand tightly, her toes curling into an SOS on the floor.
Ning Manqing squeezed her hand in return, smiling and nodding as she listened.
Then she leaned slightly towards Li Chu and whispered in her ear, "Don't listen to them, listen to you."
The blush on Li Chu's cheeks deepened. She stepped on Ning Manqing's foot in retaliation.
Help! She would never laugh at Zhao Zhichun being pressured about marriage again. They weren't even married yet, and they were already skipping straight to being urged to have children.
How terrifying!
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