The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 171

Chapter 171: I’ll Support You By Handing Out Flyers Part 16

It was getting late, the sun had long set, the moon already risen, and the lights in the rooftop garden twinkled like stars.

The sounds of traffic below and the chatter from the banquet hall couldn’t reach this quiet, secluded space.

Fu Guanyue repeated, “So, tell me, why are you here?”

A faint smile appeared in Tao Ning’s eyes, her expression brightening: “I’m glad you’re willing to listen, I thought you didn’t want to and were about to leave.”

Fu Guanyue suddenly felt awkward, she hadn’t intended to leave, just needed some fresh air, the ballroom too stuffy.

But wasn’t this also a hidden hope, a desire for a reasonable explanation, one she might even believe?

Tao Ning said truthfully, “My father called a few days ago, saying my grandmother left something for me, and he wanted me to come home today, he would only give it to me after the banquet.”

Fu Guanyue was surprised: “Your father used your grandmother’s keepsake to force you to come home?”

Was this something that happened between a father and daughter?

She remembered Tao Ning’s words in the car that night, that she was alone.

Fu Guanyue: “Did you know he actually wanted you to come back for… a marriage alliance?”

Tao Ning’s eyes lowered, her emotions hidden, her shoulders slumping slightly: “I just found out.”

Fu Guanyue: “Just now?”

Forced to learn the truth, how heartbreaking.

Fu Guanyue had heard of such things, even witnessed them as a bystander, but happening to Tao Ning, it was still hard to believe.

Tao Ning, however, comforted her: “It’s okay, I’m not upset.”

Indeed, she wasn’t upset at all, Father Tao had already taken several pills after seeing her.

The more she said, the more Fu Guanyue sympathized with her, seeing Tao Ning’s forced smile, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Fu Guanyue: “How could he do this to you?”

Tao Ning simply smiled: “It’s nothing, just a normal occurrence, I don’t need that keepsake anyway.”

She was willing to let it go, which meant this happened often?

Fu Guanyue felt even more annoyed, who were the Feng family? With her protection, no one would dare force Tao Ning into anything.

Cultivation, family background, she had it all, why should Tao Ning suffer such humiliation?

Fu Guanyue’s voice turned cold: “If he dares threaten you again, don’t go back, if he bullies you, tell me, I’ll protect you.”

These weren’t empty words, and if Fu Xi and Fu Luo were here, they would be shocked.

They had never heard Fu Guanyue make such a promise to anyone.

Tao Ning’s eyes flickered, looking up at Fu Guanyue, her gaze intense, and after a long moment, her lips moved slightly, whispering, “Can I hug you?”

Fu Guanyue was stunned.

She had been prepared to offer reassurance, not this, her mind going blank.

The garden was filled with the fragrance of flowers, carefully tended, the figure standing among them like the moon surrounded by stars, radiant and beautiful.

Tao Ning’s white dress trailed on the ground, her hair neatly styled, a stray strand framing her delicate face, and time seemed to slow down.

Fu Guanyue, as if mesmerized, slowly opened her arms, pulling Tao Ning into an embrace.

Then she realized she wasn’t tall enough, Tao Ning, usually not that much taller, now towering over her in high heels.

The height difference was obvious.

Fu Guanyue, unwilling to concede, stood on her tiptoes, her hands cupping the back of Tao Ning’s head, intending to pat her back comfortingly.

Her hands, however, touched smooth, delicate skin, and she quickly retracted them as if burned.

The warmth and softness, like warm jade.

Tao Ning leaned against Fu Guanyue, her head buried in her shoulder, her voice muffled: “I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

Fu Guanyue immediately said, “Then let’s go, we don’t have to stay.”

She had forgotten about waiting for Fu Xi and Fu Luo, her only thought being to take Tao Ning away.

She didn’t know why she said that, it felt like eloping with a young mistress.

Tao Ning straightened up, her eyes bright: “You’ll take me away?”

As the warmth left, Fu Guanyue felt a pang of regret: “You don’t like it here, neither do I, let’s go.”

She took Tao Ning’s wrist and led her away, towards the elevator.

Tao Ning said, “This hotel is connected, there’s another elevator on the other side, it’s less crowded.”

And they wouldn’t run into anyone.

Fu Guanyue immediately changed direction, leading Tao Ning towards the other elevator.

Tao Ning smiled and followed, the scent of flowers fading as they left.

It was only then that 520 understood why Tao Ning had looked at the hotel’s layout last night.

It had assumed she was planning escape routes in case of trouble with Father Tao, but now, it seemed there was another purpose, to facilitate her elopement.

Indeed, opportunities favored the prepared.

A random encounter with a celestial master, and she was ready to elope, even having planned the best route.

As Tao Ning had said, the other elevator was less crowded and much quieter.

Alone in the elevator, Tao Ning sent a message to the insistent Song Yanshu, then said to Fu Guanyue, “I brought my car keys, I can drive.”

“Car keys?” Fu Guanyue was puzzled, she had only seen a small clutch, now empty after she took out her phone, no sign of any car keys.

Then she saw Tao Ning lift the slit of her dress, revealing a small black pouch strapped to her thigh, its shape not visible beneath the flowing fabric.

No one would have noticed it, not even Fu Guanyue if Tao Ning hadn’t revealed it.

Tao Ning unzipped the pouch and pulled out her car keys: “I didn’t leave them in the dressing room.”

Fu Guanyue was shocked, looking at her leg, then at the keys: “This is…”

520 thought, See? This person is full of tricks.

Tao Ning glanced at the pouch: “I bought it for running, but I haven’t used it, it finally came in handy.”

She had discreetly put it on after sending everyone away, as for the bag and clothes she left in the dressing room, she didn’t need them.

Fu Guanyue didn’t know what to say, and after a moment of silence, she complimented Tao Ning, “This bag is very… white… I mean, you’re very well-prepared.”

Tao Ning lowered her dress, a playful smile on her face as she leaned closer: “You think this bag suits me? But it’s black.”

“…”

Fu Guanyue’s face flushed crimson, mortified.

She tried to explain, “No, I mean, I saw it, this bag, it…”

Before she could dig herself into a deeper hole, the elevator reached the first floor with a cheerful ding, and the doors opened.

Fu Guanyue, relieved, pointed at the door: “W-we’re here, we can leave now.”

Tao Ning straightened up, walking out first: “Let’s go.”

The banquet upstairs was still ongoing, the luxurious lobby almost deserted.

The doorman was still on duty, leaning against the door, looking up at the sky, shifting his weight from one leg to the other.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him, assuming it was a guest leaving early, and he stepped forward to open the door.

He glanced up, the face vaguely familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

But the person had already left, and whether he recognized her or not didn’t matter, he shrugged and returned to his post.

His walkie-talkie crackled, the manager’s anxious voice: “Did you see a young woman in a silver-white dress leave?”

Doorman: “Yes.”

The manager, hearing this, his voice filled with relief: “Where is she now? Stop her!”

The doorman scratched his head: “But she’s already left.”

Another voice came through the walkie-talkie: “What?! How dare she leave?!”

Doorman: “…”

What a strange question, she has legs, she can leave if she wants to.

He had thought it was just a minor incident, but a few minutes later, several elegantly dressed guests emerged from the elevator, hurrying towards the entrance.

The Tao family’s butler asked anxiously, “Where is she?!”

The doorman’s heart sank, such a commotion, Did I let a fugitive escape?

Just as he was about to answer, he saw the hotel owner and his wife approaching, and he discreetly shook his head.

The doorman’s anxiety subsided slightly, and he pointed outside: “I just saw her leave.”

Before he could ask any further questions, Father Tao pushed past him and rushed outside, Mrs. Tao, in high heels, being helped along, her pace slower.

As they reached the entrance, a car was driving away, and the butler quickly said, “That seems to be Miss, Master, that car!”

The doorman, watching the scene unfold, wondered what was happening.

Father Tao, afraid she would escape, rushed forward to stop the car: “Stop! Tao Ning, I’m warning you, stop!”

The car stopped, a meter away from him.

Father Tao continued, “Get out of the car, Tao Ning, I need to talk to you.”

The others also urged her to get out, their voices overlapping.

The Tao family hadn’t noticed the small crowd gathering by the entrance, watching the drama unfold, their numbers growing.

“What’s happening? Who ran away?”

“Old Tao tried to marry his daughter off to the Feng family’s sickly son for their benefit, she probably found out and ran away.”

“So that’s their so-called collaboration? A marriage alliance?”

“Kicking her out when they don’t need her, then calling her back, how shameless.”

“With Old Madam Tao gone, the Tao Corporation is declining.”

“…”

The crowd gossiped, the rich kids among them enjoying the show, having been watching Tao Ning, expecting some drama.

She had disappeared for a while, and they thought it was over, but unexpectedly, there was more.

What was this?

#Sixty-year-old father stopping a car in the middle of the street?#

Exciting.

Tao Ning was indeed in the car, watching Father Tao’s antics with a cold expression, and she said to Fu Guanyue, “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”

Fu Guanyue was worried: “But there are so many of them.”

Tao Ning smiled reassuringly: “Don’t worry, you’re here, I’ll be back soon.”

She opened the car door, and Fu Guanyue could only stay put.

As Father Tao and the others were about to reach the car, the door opened, a foot in flat shoes stepping out, followed by another leg.

Tao Ning closed the door, her dress trailing on the ground as she walked towards them, her pace unhurried: “I’m here, what do you want?”

Father Tao, catching up, panting, his neatly styled hair disheveled, said, “I didn’t allow you to leave, who told you to leave early?”

Another question.

Tao Ning finally understood why she hated talking to him: “I can leave if I want to, why do I need your permission?”

Father Tao still couldn’t understand when she had become so defiant, instinctively treating her like before.

Mrs. Tao, seeing the situation escalating, quickly intervened: “A-Ning is here now, talk to her properly, she’ll listen.”

Father Tao, a businessman, finally understood the situation.

Taking a deep breath, he said, “A-Ning, you don’t know, our family has encountered some problems recently, big or small, and someone is willing to help, you just need to meet them, you don’t even have to say anything, just a brief meeting, and they’ll help us.”

He tried to appeal to her emotions: “I raised you, you’re spending our family’s money, just do us this favor, the Tao Corporation was built by your grandmother, you don’t want to see it crumble, do you?”

Everyone looked at Tao Ning, expecting her to soften…

But she just looked at them with a strange expression, as if observing some exotic species.

Father Tao shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, as if she could see through him: “A-Ning, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Tao Ning said clearly, “Tao Rencheng, you’re mistaken. First, I wasn’t the one who left, you kicked me out. Second, the money I’m spending isn’t yours, it’s from the shares Grandmother left me, you know this better than I do.”

“Finally, understand this, even if the Tao Corporation goes bankrupt, I won’t be poor, the one who’s responsible for the company’s current predicament is you, not me.”

Tao Rencheng hadn’t expected her to refuse, and he was both angry and anxious: “You’re truly so heartless? You don’t even want your grandmother’s keepsake? She said it could save your life!”

Tao Ning glanced at the jade pendant in his hand, similar to the one she had found, now repaired and placed before the ever-burning lamp in her home.

Tao Ning: “I don’t want it.”

Tao Rencheng, thinking he had misheard, was stunned: “What did you say?”

Tao Ning shook her head, repeating, “I don’t want it.”

Tao Rencheng was her father, he knew everything about her, and with his last card useless, he finally panicked: “Do you know this could save your life?”

Tao Ning: “I know, but I don’t need it, it’s too late.”

Tao Rencheng didn’t understand what she meant by “too late,” his hand trembling slightly as he gripped the jade pendant, his eyes dark, and he blurted out, “I knew you were always wary of me, despite all these years, carefully keeping this for you, did you find another specialist to help you?”

These words confused everyone, even Mrs. Tao, who only knew that according to Tao Rencheng, this jade pendant was very important to Tao Ning, the key to his plan.

But now Tao Ning was refusing it, something she had treasured for years, something she wouldn’t even let her new children touch, now discarded so easily?

Not wanting to waste any more words, Tao Ning opened the car door and said to the stunned Tao Rencheng, “Move, I’m leaving.”

There was no point in arguing with someone on the verge of ruin.

Tao Rencheng wanted to throw the jade pendant, but seeing its quality, knowing his mother wouldn’t give Tao Ning anything worthless, he kept it, just in case.

The car started, driving past Tao Rencheng, his curses having no effect on Tao Ning.