Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: My Tail Is Going to Break Through the Roof

Shen Ningning’s gaze fell to the signature on the painting—it was Xie Suzhi’s seal.

And he had personally inscribed the title: "My wife and beloved daughter."

Shen Ningning’s small hand couldn’t help but touch the palm of the infant in the painting.

She didn’t know if the mole on the infant’s palm was an accidental drop of ink or if the baby, like her, also had a mole there.

But either possibility was too much of a coincidence.

So coincidental that her heart began to race, and a bold speculation formed in her mind.

’Could Godfather have made a mistake? Since that maidservant was able to steal the child, she must have been a bad person.’

’In that case, could that bad person have swapped her with someone else’s daughter, then claimed that she was the farmer’s child?’

Shen Ningning had no way to verify any of this, yet she was imagining so much based on a single mole.

The little one pressed her lips together. ’I’m probably just getting my hopes up,’ she thought dimly.

But she wished so badly that her godfather and Brother were her real family.

Suddenly, Xie Suzhi’s voice came from the doorway. "Ningning? Little one, why are you reading without a lamp on? It’s bad for your eyes."

However, as soon as Xie Suzhi entered, he saw Shen Ningning examining the painting he hadn’t had time to put away.

The little one looked up and saw that Xie Suzhi’s expression was calm. He merely paused for a moment before a gentle smile surfaced on his face.

"Oh, so you were looking at the painting. Forgot to light the lamp, didn’t you? Let Godfather help you." He walked over and lit the lamp.

"Godfather, this painting..." She couldn’t stop herself from speaking, eager to tell him her speculation.

But when the words reached her lips, Shen Ningning couldn’t bring herself to say them.

She carefully guarded this hard-won happiness, terrified that the warmth of a family like this was like heavy snow under the sun, destined to melt away at the slightest touch of light.

The little one worried that if she said too much, Xie Suzhi would think she was insatiably greedy.

She wasn’t coveting the Xie Mansion’s status; she just wanted to find her real family.

But to question whether Xie Suzhi had made a mistake in his investigation based on a mole that might just be a splatter of ink...

...in Shen Ningning’s eyes, that was no different from causing trouble for the Xie family.

So, she gave a shy, well-behaved smile. "Is that Godmother in the painting? She’s so beautiful!"

Xie Suzhi smiled, his gaze falling on the painting as he nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. I painted this right after our daughter was born. In the blink of an eye, it’s been almost five years."

"I usually keep it at the bottom of a chest. I only take it out occasionally to reminisce, and every time, I’m filled with sorrow."

Seeing the nostalgia and sorrow in Xie Suzhi’s eyes, Shen Ningning quickly took the initiative to roll up the scroll.

"Let’s not look at it for now, then. Godfather, you should put the painting away. Let’s go eat! My little tummy is hungry, and I even brought back some crispy duck for you." She flashed a sweet and obedient smile.

In the unlit study, illuminated only by the faint blue twilight from outside, Xie Suzhi lowered his head slightly. A dimness flickered in his eyes, gone in an instant.

He looked up and chuckled softly, patting Shen Ningning’s little head. "Alright, let’s go eat."

Just then, Xie Mingxu’s voice came from the doorway. "Ningning?"

Xie Suzhi immediately said, "Mingxu, take Ningning to wash her hands, then wait for me in the dining hall."

The door stood open, and Xie Mingxu’s tall figure stood there like a majestic mountain, radiating a sense of security.

Shen Ningning scampered toward him. "Brother! Hold me."

Xie Mingxu smiled and lifted her up, letting the little one sit on his shoulders.

"Let’s go, Brother will take you to wash your hands. I heard you bought Father some crispy duck. What will you bring for Brother next time, hmm?"

The two of them left, talking and laughing.

In that moment, Shen Ningning felt a small sense of relief.

’Godfather doted on his daughter so much. How could he have possibly gotten it wrong?’

’I must have been indulging in wishful thinking.’

After Shen Ningning left, Xie Suzhi’s gaze suddenly turned deep and dark.

He lowered his gaze to the scroll, slowly unrolling it to search for any flaw that might expose the truth.

After a moment, the housekeeper’s voice came from outside. "Master, dinner is ready."

Xie Suzhi rolled up the scroll. "Understood."

At the dinner table, Shen Ningning magnanimously took out a three-thousand-tael silver note and handed it to Xie Suzhi with both hands, beaming.

"Godfather, I used the silver you gave me last time to buy some wood, and then I did a little business. I want to share some of the money I earned with you."

Xie Suzhi’s handsome, cool face was filled with a doting smile. "Is that so? Ningning is so capable, you even know how to do business now."

He took it and looked; she had surprisingly given him an extra five hundred taels.

Xie Mingxu chuckled. "Brother always knew Ningning wasn’t the type to spend money recklessly."

This comment was aimed directly at Second Madam Xie, who was sitting opposite them.

Sure enough, a flash of embarrassment crossed Second Madam Xie’s face.

She gave a forced laugh and said, "My, my, Ningning is so capable. She’ll make a fine businesswoman in the future."

"She could even follow the example of that impressive Eldest Lady of the Meng Family from our Cangyun Country. That would be quite something!"

Beside her, Xie Yuanjiu gently stirred her shredded chicken and bird’s nest porridge with a spoon.

She spoke slowly, a faint smile on her lips. "Mother, how could we let Ningning go into business? That would be a waste of her talents."

"The teachers repeatedly praised her exam paper and even told the rest of us to learn from her."

Second Master Xie’s eyes lit up. "Of course! After all, our Ningning got into the National Academy with the top first-class score. She’s brilliant!"

Xie Suzhi, sharing in the pride, smiled. "That’s right. I’ve been to the National Academy a few times, and the teachers can’t stop singing Ningning’s praises."

Shen Ningning put down her chopsticks and covered her little bottom.

Seeing this, Xie Mingxu couldn’t help but laugh. "What are you doing?"

"Godfather, Second Uncle, please slow down with the praise. I’m afraid my little tail of pride is going to poke a hole through the roof," the little one said in her soft, adorable, childish voice.

Xie Suzhi and Second Master Xie burst out laughing in unison, both of them immediately putting more food on the little one’s plate.

The housekeeper, standing to the side, smiled discreetly to himself.

Ever since Princess Funing came to live with them, the Master and Second Master were clearly much more cheerful.

Even the Eldest Young Master, Xie Mingxu, was coming home for meals more often. It was a good thing, a truly good thing!

Only Second Madam Xie lowered her head in displeasure, pursing her lips.

That evening, back in the second branch’s residence, Second Master Xie went to see Sima Han for acupuncture, leaving Second Madam Xie to complain to Xie Yuanjiu.

"Your Eldest Uncle, your father, and your Eldest Brother all spoil that Shen Ningning to no end."

"She’s so young, yet she’s already so full of sweet talk and knows how to butter people up. She’s turning into such a vulgar, grasping little thing."

"If this goes on, sooner or later, all the treasures in this Prime Minister’s Mansion will belong to her alone!"

Xie Yuanjiu listened, her tone eerie. "In that case, Mother, shouldn’t we just kill Shen Ningning? If she disappears, won’t our problems be solved?"

Hearing this, Second Madam Xie jumped in fright.

She disliked Shen Ningning, but she had never thought of wanting the girl dead. She was just a child, after all.

"Jiu Jiu, are you being serious?"

Xie Yuanjiu’s eyes, which had been sinister and ice-cold just a moment before, suddenly crinkled into a smile. "How could I possibly be serious?"

"I’ve just heard you complain so much that I got a little tired of it. That’s all. Now, Mother, you should go. I need to read."

Only then did Second Madam Xie pat her chest. "You child. Why must you always say such things to frighten your mother?"

After she left, Xie Yuanjiu’s gaze turned dark and profound.

She felt that Shen Ningning’s handwriting was very familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before.