Even After My Death
Chapter 450 - 361 Encounter with Huo Family Members

Chapter 450: Chapter 361 Encounter with Huo Family Members

Hearing Jiang Ning mention going out for seafood, Qi Xingzhou’s dark eyes brightened, and the corners of his lips lifted as if he were somewhat pleased.

The two happily arrived at the seafood restaurant, thinking it would be more comfortable to dine in a quiet private room than in the main hall, Jiang Ning asked the waiter if there were any private rooms available.

"Yes, of course, please follow me," the waiter said with a good attitude, leading them into a small private room.

After they were seated, the waiter handed over the menu with both hands.

It wasn’t the first time Jiang Ning had gone out for seafood with Qi Xingzhou; they had eaten it together during their last trip to the seaside. Jiang Ning took the pen, neatly ticking off the dishes and meals they both liked. After she finished, she handed the menu to Qi Xingzhou for him to add anything else he wanted.

Once they had both made their choices, the waiter took the menu and left.

It wasn’t long before another waiter came pushing a cart, delivering utensils, a pot of hot tea, and some appetizers.

"You stay here, I’m going to the restroom," Jiang Ning said to Qi Xingzhou, then stood up and left the private room.

The restaurant’s restroom was at the very end of the corridor, seemingly well-maintained; the floor was clean and shiny, with no unpleasant odors.

The sound of running water echoed as Jiang Ning stood at the sink, washing her hands.

A surprised voice suddenly came from behind: "Jiang Ning?!"

Jiang Ning’s movements halted, she lifted her head, her gaze meeting that of the person behind her in the mirror.

"Is it really you?!" After getting a clear view of Jiang Ning, Huo Miao couldn’t help but exclaim in disbelief.

She had come to use the restroom as well and hadn’t noticed the person washing their hands at the sink until she stepped closer. Somehow, Huo Miao caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye and then froze.

The familiar figure and profile of the person before her made her blurt out Jiang Ning’s name before her own brain could process the recognition.

It really was her!

Huo Miao was like a cat on high alert, her face filled with wariness: "What are you doing here?!"

Huo Miao had just finished a ten-day detention and had been released from the detention center the day before.

Although the Huo family members were somewhat angry with her for her fraudulent fundraising, seeing Huo Miao who had lost a great deal of weight over the ten days stirred their sympathy; after all, she had been part of the family for over a decade. Thus, the family had specially decided to dine out today.

Jiang Ning hadn’t expected to encounter Huo Miao here, either.

Since leaving the show last time, the two hadn’t seen each other again.

However, Jiang Ning did remember the foolish things Huo Miao had done on the internet.

"Is this your place? Why can’t I be here?" Jiang Ning finished washing her hands and turned to face Huo Miao.

Upon getting a clearer look at Huo Miao, a flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Ning’s eyes.

In just over a month, Huo Miao seemed to have changed completely. Already petite and slender, her figure was now as gaunt as paper. Even the heavy makeup could not hide the exhaustion in her face, with red veins in her eyes and none of her former radiant vitality. Anyone with clear sight could see that Huo Miao’s condition had deteriorated.

Jiang Ning thought for a moment; the last time Huo Miao had appeared in her memory was... the fraudulent fundraising!

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but laugh.

So, this was right after getting out of the detention center?

Thinking this way, Huo Miao’s current state did indeed have a bit of that reformed convict look to it.

Jiang Ning’s gaze was forthright and sharp, and Huo Miao noticed it in an instant.

Huo Miao gritted her teeth in secret, her expression slightly embarrassed.

Two months earlier, Jiang Ning had been nothing but an annoying insect despised by everyone in the Huo Family, while she was the beloved daughter, doted on by all. Even though she had no blood relation to the Huo family, Jiang Ning couldn’t compare to even her fingernail.

But now, in less than two short months, Jiang Ning had made a miraculous comeback from being disliked by her family and hated by netizens, to becoming the internet’s new darling chased after by everyone.

And she... not only had she lost her position in the entertainment industry, but she had also been to the police station, and her reputation was ruined!

Huo Miao even felt uncertain about how she should live her life from now on.

However, being confronted by Jiang Ning like this brought back a trace of rationality to Huo Miao.

This was a restaurant, and by the look on Jiang Ning’s face, it seemed she really hadn’t followed her here on purpose.

Huo Miao stopped talking, lowered her head to avoid Jiang Ning’s gaze, and turned on the tap to wash her hands.

Seeing her take the hint, Jiang Ning couldn’t be bothered to argue with her and stepped away.

But Jiang Ning hadn’t gone far when she heard a second exclamation, surprisingly similar to Huo Miao’s: "Jiang Ning?!"

Huo Kaiping, who had just come out of a private room, was staring at the person walking towards him with wide eyes, his tone full of shock, "Is that really you?!"

Jiang Ning: "..."

She didn’t even glance at the fool, not sparing him a flicker of her peripheral vision, as if she hadn’t heard anything and continued towards her own private room.

"Wait!" Huo Kaiping stood frozen for a moment, then took a few steps to get in front of Jiang Ning, looking somewhat displeased, "I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear me?"

"Is there something you want?" Jiang Ning stopped, looked at Huo Kaiping, and spoke coldly, "Have you forgotten what I said when I left the Huo family?"

Huo Kaiping, upon hearing this, was for a moment at a loss to save face.

Of course, he remembered.

That day, Jiang Ning had acted like she was possessed, and after coming back from outside, she beat them all up, declared that she was leaving the family, and said that if they met again, they would be strangers.

Looking at Jiang Ning with cold eyes as if they had never known each other, Huo Kaiping frowned and said disdainfully, "If you don’t recognize us, then you don’t, who cares if you acknowledge us or not!"

It was only that he had been too shocked to see Jiang Ning just now that he had called out involuntarily.

Who wouldn’t be shocked to suddenly find that someone they used to live under the same roof with, and despised to no end, could now only be seen on a phone screen, and then unexpectedly run into her in real life?

Huo Kaiping didn’t think it was his fault at all, he just felt that Jiang Ning was really impolite for not responding to him.

Huo Kaiping’s loud exclamation had traveled down the corridor and through the unclosed door into the private room.

Madam Huo, Huo Song, Huo Li, Huo Kaian, and the others in the box all heard it, exchanged glances, and Huo Kaian was the first to step out of the room. He then wore an incredulous expression and turned back to Huo Song and the others, saying, "Dad, brother, it’s really Jiang Ning."

The members of the Huo family were startled upon hearing the name Jiang Ning. Huo Li, donned in his suit, rose and spoke with composure, "I’ll go take a look."

He had tried to contact Jiang Ning several times before and had never managed to get in touch. It had been a long time since he had seen Jiang Ning.

Huo Song and Madam Huo were also somewhat shocked to hear the name "Jiang Ning." Not just Huo Li, but even they had not seen Jiang Ning since she had left the Huo family.

Initially, Huo Song and Madam Huo were also hesitant about whether to go out and have a look, but upon hearing Huo Li say he would go, they both stayed seated in their places.