Chapter 2019: Rejecting Hong Ling (4)

Hong Ling laughed sincerely, holding Jiaojiao’s hand with a hint of deliberate flattery: "Jiaojiao, you’re really nice."

Hong Ling wasn’t foolish.

During her stay at Yuansu, she clearly realized how favored Jiaojiao was in the Ruan Family, and also knew how much Ruan Hao doted on this younger sister. Although she felt a bit jealous each time she saw Ruan Hao shower Jiaojiao with love, she understood how to restrain such feelings because she knew the most important thing for her now was to win Jiaojiao’s favor.

Only by building a good relationship with Jiaojiao would she have more chances to get close to Ruan Hao and continue to develop her plans.

On the other side, after Ruan Jun sent Hong Ping back to her room, he stayed with her while she ate something, and only went out to greet guests again when Ruan Chi came to call him.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Hong was observing Ruan Hao in the hall; the longer she looked, the more satisfied she became.

After watching for a while, she reluctantly withdrew her gaze, asked a waiter for a bowl of chicken soup, and carried it to Hong Ping’s room.

"Pingping, are you hungry? Mom brought you chicken soup, drink it while it’s hot," Mrs. Hong said as she opened the door and saw Pingping sitting by the table eating, which surprised her: "You ate already?"

Hong Ping’s face didn’t look good. She responded indifferently, "Ajun’s aunt brought it."

"That stepmother of his, really knows how to act nice," Mrs. Hong remarked somewhat dismissively.

Mrs. Hong had already figured out Liu Qingyun’s background, knowing she was just a waitress at the Ruan Family’s hotel and married Ruan Jiandang as his second wife. Not one of Ruan Jiandang’s three children from his second marriage was hers, so Mrs. Hong couldn’t help but look down on this step-relative a bit and didn’t pay much attention.

"Mom." Hong Ping knew that Ruan Jun respected this stepmother a lot; hearing her mother’s tone, she was a bit displeased and called out.

"Alright, alright, I didn’t mean anything, yet you’re so defensive. Anyone who didn’t know would think you were her daughter," Mrs. Hong said, also slightly annoyed, coming over to take away the porridge Pingping was eating and handed her the chicken soup she brought: "This is specially made by the kitchen at my request. You are preparing for pregnancy with Ajun and should eat more nutritious food."

Hong Ping felt warmth in her heart knowing it was specially made, and her previous dissatisfaction due to Hong Ling dissipated a bit.

She lowered her head and drank mouthful by mouthful.

Mrs. Hong sat down beside her, watching her drink half before suddenly speaking: "Pingping, I heard from you before that the Ruan Family has nine brothers, right? What’s the name of the eldest one? Is he married? How old is he?"

"Cough cough cough..." Hong Ping was suddenly choked.

Mrs. Hong immediately reached out to pat her back: "Slow down, slow down, why so hasty? You’re such an adult, yet still so reckless."

Hong Ping, however, rejected her help, turned to glare at her, and questioned: "Mom, what exactly are you up to? Could it be true what Lingling said, that you agreed?"

Mrs. Hong was somewhat flustered under her gaze, hesitantly defending herself: "I was just asking, what are you thinking about."

"Asking? Asking what? Mom, have you lost your mind? How am I supposed to face the Ruan Family after this?!!!" Hong Ping was both angry and upset.

"It’s not like there’s a tradition of sisters marrying brothers among Ajun’s family, and even if there were, do you think Lingling is a match for them?!"

"Pingping, how can you speak like that about your sister? What’s wrong with your sister? Why wouldn’t she be a match?"