Chapter 48: Reunion part 1
Ning Yunyi and his eldest brother froze in place, their gazes fixed expectantly on the doorway.
Big Brother Ning had already reverted to his natural black hair and black eyes, abandoning the red-haired disguise he had used while in hiding. This stood in stark contrast to Ning Yunyi, who stood beside him, still sporting a head of red hair.
As the door opened fully, Professor Ning appeared. He looked much the same as the last time Ning Yunyi had seen him, though now dressed in a decent shirt and black trousers, wearing rimless glasses. He just looked thinner.
Perhaps because he hadn’t felt the sunlight so genuinely in a long time, he instinctively raised a hand to shield his forehead.
As the blinding glare faded, he clearly saw the spaceship parked not far away, and the two figures standing before it.
One was his eldest son. The other, despite the red hair and the visible stubble, he recognized instantly as his youngest son.
This appearance was similar to how he looked when he had arrived with Lord Ichi earlier. At that time, Professor Ning had thought it would be the last time he ever saw his child.
He hadn’t expected to be released so soon.
Professor Ningâs eyes rimmed with red. The fact that he was released, and that his eldest son could appear so openly, could only mean one thing: Zhanfengâs name had been cleared.
But how could it have been easy? These past few months, these two children must have suffered greatly.
Heartache drove him to take a few quick steps forward, stumbling slightly, but he didnât look back.
Big Brother Ning rushed over as well, pulling his fatherâwho had lost so much weightâinto a tight embrace, patting the back of his hand firmly.
Both men were of few words, but the bond between father and son was understood in silence.
Ning Yunyi barely managed to control his emotions. To the outside world, he wasn’t currently Professor Ning’s second son; he just stood there, yet his eyes grew moist.
He didn’t know if he was affected by the atmosphere of the reunion or by the residual emotions of the original host remaining in the body.
Lately, he always felt as if his memories and the original host’s memories were merging, and even the original host’s feelings were indirectly influencing him.
Professor Ning knew this wasn’t the place to talk. He patted Big Brother Ning on the back. “Good child. Youâve suffered these past few months.”
Big Brother Ning shook his head. “Father, let’s go back first.”
Professor Ning didn’t ask further questions and nodded in agreement. Then, as if casually performing for outsiders, he asked, “Where is your second brother? Why didn’t he come?”
Big Brother Ning played along, his body swaying slightly as he put on a sorrowful expression. “Father, I’ll explain when we get back. Little Brother, he…”
It seemed he couldn’t bring himself to continue. When the father and son turned around, their backs looked significantly more hunched and desolate.
This scene fell into the eyes of the guard inside the open gate not far away. He exchanged a look with his colleague and quickly went back to report.
It seemed the rumors were trueâsomething had really happened to the Second Young Master of the Ning family.
Otherwise, at such a critical moment, if he were fine, it would be impossible for him not to come and pick up his father.
The three of them returned to the spaceship. Once the prying eyes were gone, Professor Ning finally let out a sigh of relief.
As soon as they sat down, a small head popped out from the back, tilting to get closer. A small robot blocked his face as a milky voice asked, “Grandpapa, guess who I am?”
Professor Ningâs moist, reddened eyes flooded with a gentle smile. He turned and scooped the little guy onto his lap. “Let Grandpapa guess… it must be our familyâs most well-behaved, most adorable little grandson, right?”
Ning Xiaomiao immediately moved the robot aside, his eyes shining. “Grandpapa guessed right!”
Professor Ning held the little guy, examining him closely. Seeing that he was as fair and cute as the last time they met, he relaxed. “I didn’t expect the cub to be talking already. Wonderful, this is truly wonderful.”
The warm atmosphere washed away the earlier sadness for both Big Brother Ning and Ning Yunyi.
Ning Yunyi looked at the grandfather and grandson chatting away. “Big Brother, where is Lord Ichi? Didn’t you say he arrived a long time ago?”
Zong Hao, who was lying nearby in his half-hidden beast form, pricked up his ears at this. He had just decided that if it came down to it, he wouldn’t get off the spaceship.
Surely Ichi wasn’t so poor that he had to hitch a ride on the Ning family’s spaceship.
Big Brother Ning replied, “When I arrived, I only saw Lord Ichi waiting there. He gave some instructions, said he had business to attend to, and left in a hurry.”
Ning Yunyi didn’t think much of it. After all, Ichi was working for Marshal Zong. With the Marshal still recovering from severe injuries, it was natural for Ichi to be busy.
Hearing that Ichi wasn’t there, Zong Hao finally let his suspended heart drop.
Professor Ning finished catching up with his little grandson and finally looked at the two brothers. “You rescuing me this time… does it mean the suspicion regarding Zhanfeng has been cleared?”
Big Brother Ning didn’t hide anything and quickly recounted the events that had occurred after the accident at the Ning family home.
This included how Ning Yunyi had found a great opportunity to escape the Garbage Star and return to the Capital Star, changing his name and identity. When he mentioned that Mu Jiayi had colluded with Ning Second Uncle and Ji Hao, Professor Ning trembled with rage.
“How dare he? All these years heâs been incompetent. If I hadn’t helped him out of the little remaining brotherly affection I had, he would have been kicked out of District A long ago.” Professor Ning was filled with regret. He thought Ning Second Uncle was just a bit selfish and fond of taking petty advantages, but at least wouldn’t make major mistakes on important matters.
Who knew that the moment the Ning family fell, he would be so frenzied as to conspire with outsiders to harm his own nephew?
Professor Ningâs face was pale, shaking with anger. “It was Father who was too indecisive. Father failed you and the cub.”
He couldn’t imagine that when Yunyi brought the cub back to the Ning family hoping to help, what he received was a second blow from his own closest kin.
If not for the great opportunity on the Garbage Star, perhaps…
Professor Ning took a deep breath. “Zhanfeng, later you will accompany me to Ning Second Uncle’s house.”
Big Brother Ning looked over, sensing something. “Father, you intend to…”
Professor Ning gritted his teeth. “Doesn’t he want ‘face’? Then I will tear that mask of his right off. We will sever ties and collect the debt. Over the years, he has borrowed quite a few Star Coins from me in the name of brotherhood, but never paid them back. Before, I thought since we were brothers and I didn’t lack money, I’d turn a blind eye. But now… such a ‘brother’ is not worth having.”
Since that relationship was gone, paying back debts was only righteous.
This time, not only Big Brother Ning but also Ning Yunyi was quite surprised.
In the original host’s memory, Professor Ning had a gentle personality and was always kind to othersâin other words, a pushover, overly tolerant and non-confrontational.
It seemed that during these months at the military base, Professor Ning had seen enough of the fickleness of human nature, and his mindset had changed significantly.
However, this was a good thing.
Sometimes, good people… don’t necessarily live long.
In the original book, the gentle Professor Ning didn’t survive. The dutiful and loyal Big Brother Ning didn’t survive.
Even the original host, Mother Ning, and Eliasâwho only wanted to live a good life with his brother and never harmed anyoneâdidn’t survive. The lonely and helpless Ning Xingyao died in the ruins.
Conversely, the proactive harm-doer Mu Jiayi and Zong Ling, who occupied the Zong family’s glory, lived well, surrounded by children and grandchildren, laden with honors.
How ironic.
Ning Yunyi laughed. “Father is right to think this way. Since Ning Second Uncle’s family is unkind, they can’t blame us for being unjust. Is the ledger in one of the boxes in the attic’s secret room? I put those away. After Ning Second Uncle seized the Ancestral Home, he couldn’t find the secret room. Later, I set a trap to reclaim the house and temporarily stored the items in the Underground City. I’ll find them for Big Brother later, and I’ll send you some extra manpower.”
Professor Ning and Big Brother Ning agreed. The conversation then turned to Mother Ning’s situation.
Professor Ning wasn’t clear on this either. he had been taken away suddenly and could only hurriedly leave a message in the secret room. He didn’t know what happened afterward.
The only thing Professor Ning was sure of was: “Your mother should be safe. She is a member of the Royal Family, after all. If something had really happened to her, itâs impossible that no news would have leaked out. Once your brother goes back to report for duty, I will apply to enter the palace to see if I can meet your mother.”
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thanks for the chapter!