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Ying Jing’s determined look made Chu Ning highly suspicious that his usual simple-mindedness and foolishness were all an act.
She looked left and right, recalling the route they had taken.
“You can’t get out.” Ying Jing saw through her thoughts and calmly said, “You need to register to enter and exit here. Your ID card is still with me.”
After completing the registration upon entering, he had been holding her ID card without returning it.
Chu Ning really wanted to strangle him and angrily said, “There’s a saying, ‘A tiger fallen on flat ground is bullied by dogs.’“
Ying Jing looked at her innocently, “Woof~”
Chu Ning was momentarily stunned, then laughed despite herself, “Damn.”
Ying Jing also curved his lips, “Alright, since you’re already in Xingcheng, my invitation to my home is also a gesture of hospitality as the host.”
“This isn’t called an invitation; this is called deception.”
“Oh, if it’s deception, so be it.”
Ying Jing turned around leisurely, quite justified.
Chu Ning calmed down. Since she was already here, declining would seem pretentious, so she followed him.
“Do you live here?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t this all training grounds? I haven’t seen any residential buildings.”
“Turn two corners and you’ll see them. Be careful.” As they walked, Ying Jing suddenly tugged her arm, pulling her behind him.
An elderly man rode by on a motorcycle, putt-putt-putting.
“Don’t you watch for vehicles?” Ying Jing nudged his mouth.
“You’re so tall, blocking my way. How could I see?”
“Never mind, I won’t argue with you. No matter what I say, you always have something to counter.”
Chu Ning was caught between laughter and tears, “I’m just stating the facts.”
“A real man doesn’t fight with a woman.”
Ying Jing left those words and continued walking forward with his head down.
After a few steps, he suddenly turned back, his eyes hiding a hint of arrogance, pointing down at her from above, “You, this female comrade, recognize your current situation. This is my territory, I…”
“So what?” Chu Ning interrupted, taking a step forward, looking up but her gaze was not the slightest bit weak.
Their eyes met.
Chu Ning’s eyelashes were beautiful, like feather fans. With a blink, it was like a gust of wind blew. Like equipped with a navigation system, it aimed directly at the target, blowing straight into Ying Jing’s heart.
…He fell for it.
…A miscalculation.
Ying Jing’s heart was pounding, but he refused to admit defeat.
The facade of tough support was written all over his face.
How could it escape Chu Ning’s eyes?
She was confident and calm, like a hunter teasing a little rabbit, waiting until his face turned eight parts red before nonchalantly shifting her gaze away.
Ying Jing sullenly lowered his head, charging forward like a little cannon.
Chu Ning jogged after him, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him back, “You stop right there.”
He refused to comply, pulling hard forward while the person behind pulled even harder. In the end, his neck nearly choked, and Chu Ning finally let go.
Ying Jing coughed violently, his already eight parts red face turning even redder.
Chu Ning sighed, “I’ve been taking care of you for so long, how come you haven’t improved at all?”
Ying Jing pointed at him, ordering, “Don’t talk, cough cough cough.”
“Are you feeling better?” Chu Ning couldn’t bear to watch, went over and patted his back, “You, this person, except for your stubborn mouth, your emotions are all written on your face. What’s in your heart, others can see clearly at a glance. In the future, when working on projects, you will inevitably encounter more people. You might not figure out good or bad intentions, but others will see through you immediately.”
Ying Jing glanced at her sideways, “Then have you figured out what’s in my heart?”
Chu Ning was momentarily stunned.
“Hmph.” Ying Jing shoved both hands in his pockets, chin slightly raised, finally gaining the upper hand.
This military district compound was somewhat famous. Chu Ning secretly searched on Baidu, discreetly observing the surroundings.
After turning two corners, she saw rows of old Western-style houses. The exterior wasn’t new, but rich in heritage. Along the roadside, each house had a small plot of land with flowers and grass. The more diligent ones even cultivated tiny vegetable patches, growing some green onions and garlic.
Almost there, Chu Ning called out to him, “What does your father do?”
“He works.”
“...”
Ying Jing turned to look at her, then smirked mischievously, “What, are you nervous?”
Chu Ning swung his head to the other side, “Can you stop imagining things?”
Ying Jing led her to turn right, “My dad specializes in meetings. You don’t need to be afraid of him. Leaders are usually approachable to common people.”
Chu Ning already understood, blandly commenting, “I didn’t expect, you’re actually a second-generation red.”
While talking, a voice called out Ying Jing’s name, “Xiao Jing.”
Chu Ning turned towards the sound and saw a man standing on the second-floor balcony.
With a neat crew cut, sharp eyebrows, and prominent nose, his features were striking, adding much spirit to his appearance.
Ying Jing waved back, “Brother Meng, have you eaten yet?”
“I’ve eaten. The crabs sent from Nanhu, I also sent a basket to your house. You’re just in time for dinner, go back and try them fresh.” Meng Ze spoke in standard Mandarin, clear and pleasant to hear.
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Chu Ning, teasing, “Oh, the first time I’ve seen you bring a girl.”
Ying Jing was inwardly delighted, but before he could open his mouth, Chu Ning beat him to it. She had guessed this person’s identity upon hearing “Brother Meng.”
“Mr. Meng, thank you for your generous help.” Chu Ning smiled politely.
Meng Ze’s expression was gentle as he brushed his hand, “It’s nothing, just a small favor.”
Out of politeness, Chu Ning said, “You really helped me a lot. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know when this factory issue would have been resolved.”
Her words were humble and pleasing to hear. Meng Ze chuckled, leaning slightly forward, elbows resting on the railing, a half-smoked cigarette in his mouth, “It’s rare for Xiao Jing to ask for my help. I was on a business trip in Wuhan, returned home late last night, and Xiao Jing waited for me at the door until one o’clock.”
Chu Ning felt a flutter in her heart, instinctively glancing at Ying Jing.
“That scene scared me, I thought something big had happened.” Meng Ze smiled, “That electronics factory changed bosses last year, several parties invested, it’s chaotic. Once their reputation goes downhill, they stray from the righteous path. You’re from Beijing, right? No wonder, being far away, it’s normal not to know. A friend of mine happens to manage that area, also a very unreasonable person, full of gangster vibes. Just compare who’s tougher.”
Meng Ze described it lightly, but Chu Ning knew the complexity involved.
She quickly responded, “Mr. Meng, when you have the chance to visit Beijing, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
Ying Jing was unhappy, “Why bother treating him? He’s in construction, he’s not short on money, he can pay himself.”
Meng Ze wasn’t angry, tapping off the ash from his cigarette, his tone profound, “Not bad, our Xiao Jing has grown up.”
After a few casual chats, they dispersed.
Fifty meters further, they reached the Ying family home.
Ying Jing hammered on the door loudly, “Mom, I’m back!”
The footsteps inside grew closer, “Coming, coming. You never bring keys, someday you’ll end up homeless.”
The door opened, revealing a gentle face. Though her words were scolding, her eyes were affectionate. Seeing her son return, Cui Jingshu was happy. Glancing past, she saw Chu Ning. There was no surprise, warmly greeting, “This must be Xiao Jing’s investor?”
The title of investor seemed distant, but it reassured Chu Ning.
She politely greeted, “Hello, Auntie.”
“Please come in quickly.” Cui Jingshu stepped aside to let them in, “Xiao Jing has mentioned you many times. Thank you for your meticulous guidance.”
Mentioned many times?
Could those be good words?
Meeting her gaze, Ying Jing accurately guessed her thoughts, whispering softly, “All good words, praising how pretty you are.”
... Then it definitely wasn’t good words.
Ying Yizhang was temporarily attending a meeting at the ministry, so dinner wasn’t at home. Cui Jingshu didn’t let Chu Ning help, busying herself in the kitchen with the maid. Chu Ning found herself free, observing the house. It was styled traditionally Chinese, ancient and profound. Several landscape paintings hung on the walls, and opposite were two plaques inscribed with the characters “Diligence” and “Uprightness.”
Hardworking and thrifty.
Upholding integrity.
A faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the house. In such a family, rooted in righteousness, it’s no wonder they produced several academic geniuses.
“Come with me.” Ying Jing patted Chu Ning’s shoulder.
“What for?”
“To show you my room.”
“...”
Ying Jing beamed brightly, “Don’t misunderstand, I’m just giving you a tour.”
His words made it seem like she had something to hide.
Chu Ning stopped arguing verbally, following him大方地.
Ying Jing’s room wasn’t small. After he started university, the cleaning lady still regularly cleaned the place, leaving it spotless, without a speck of dust.
Upon seeing it, Chu Ning gasped, “Your models are even more than Feng Ziyang’s.”
At a glance, at least four long glass cabinets filled the room, custom-made to fit the room dimensions, leaving only enough space to walk through at each joint. All kinds of models were there—planes, tanks, various guns.
Chu Ning walked back and forth twice, carefully examining, unable to help but exclaim, “Feng Ziyang treats these as treasures. Once, I touched one of his helicopters, I don’t know what it was made of, but the propeller fell off with just a touch. Feng Ziyang got so mad he almost threw me out.”
For a moment, Ying Jing’s eyes dimmed, his focus always peculiar, asking, “How did you become so close to him?”
Chu Ning paused for a moment, then said indifferently, “You’ve only met him a few times, how do you know we’re close?”
She didn’t answer the question directly, diverting the topic.
Sure enough, Ying Jing took the bait, saying, “I’ve met him twice, finding him quite amiable. Moreover, there’s a natural chemistry between you two.”
“Amiable? Hah, perhaps the first character fits, but he certainly doesn’t deserve the ‘good’ part.” Chu Ning admired a ship model, bending halfway to examine it closely.
Quiet for a moment, Ying Jing asked, “Are you all like this?”
“Hmm? Like what?”
“Having many masks, adapting to different situations.”
Chu Ning turned her head, her gaze deepening, looking at him once, “You noticing this aspect shows progress.”
“You treat me like a kid. How much older are you than me?” Ying Jing furrowed his brows.
“Still not convinced?” Chu Ning shifted her gaze, continuing to look at the ship, “There are many things in this world where you just have to accept it.”
Regardless of whether the other party felt good or not, Chu Ning chatted freely, “Your collection looks better than Feng Ziyang’s.”
Ying Jing hadn’t recovered from his earlier gloom, petulantly replying, “Of course it’s better than his. I made all of them myself.”
“Made them yourself?” Chu Ning exclaimed in surprise.
“Mm, the toolbox is over there.”
Chu Ning couldn’t help but admire, “Amazing.”
Ying Jing ate this up, his bad mood swept away, becoming lively again. He enthusiastically introduced, his tone and expressions animated, very infectious.
Even if you didn’t understand much, it was still enjoyable.
“Let me show you something else.” Unconsciously, Ying Jing grabbed her hand. Chu Ning resisted weakly, but seeing how absorbed he was, she let it go, not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm.
At the bookshelf, he let go of her hand.
Ying Jing pulled open the bottom drawer, and Chu Ning saw... a drawer full of wooden carvings.
“This is a washbasin, this is a pen, this is a sofa.” Ying Jing counted them off fondly, showing her each one, “All carved by myself from wood, do they look alike?”
This time, Chu Ning was thoroughly astonished!
They weren’t just alike—they were vividly lifelike.
“You can carve too?”
“When I was bored studying, I carved to pass the time.”
“How did you have so much time? Didn’t you have homework?”
“Those were too easy, didn’t take much of my time.” Ying Jing lifted his chin, smiling at her, “I have great grades.”
Chu Ning also squatted down, fingers rummaging through the little wooden carvings, picking out a figurine-like one, asking, “Who is this?”
Ying Jing leaned over for a glance, “Oh, that’s my sister.”
No wonder it looked somewhat familiar. Chu Ning put it down, suddenly asking, “I heard from your sister that your goal for the college entrance exam was Tsinghua.”
For a moment, silence reigned, then Ying Jing nodded, “Mm.” Without reservation, he confessed, “I didn’t get in.”
“Did you not perform well?”
“The night before the college entrance exam, I had a high fever, reaching 41 degrees. During the English listening test, I had tinnitus, resulting in a poor score.” Ying Jing’s voice was flat.
Chu Ning was speechless, straightforwardly asking, “Didn’t you think about retaking the exam?”
He shook his head, “I don’t want to retake it. It’s not a problem with my ability. If I retake it and encounter this again, what then? Don’t tempt fate; anything can happen.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning smiled.
Ying Jing also relaxed, “I was just a few points short of Tsinghua’s admission line that year. Actually, I could have transferred to another major, but I didn’t want to. I’d rather die than not study something I love.”
As he spoke, his eyes slightly brightened, calm and grand.
A roomful of quietly displayed models bore witness to this choice.
Resolute, confident, fearless.
In an instant, Chu Ning felt his blood heat up.
“Fact has proven my choice correct. C Hang’s aerospace engine major ranks among the top three nationwide. I’ve met many good friends, learned a lot of knowledge, and most importantly, I met you—currently, this seems the most important.”
These words were spoken too calmly. His brow was smooth, unmoved by external forces.
This posture carried a hint of masculinity.
He didn’t look at her, allowing her to interpret his feelings however she wished, standing tall and unwavering.
Chu Ning’s brain began to ache again.
Fortunately, it didn’t last long. Ying Jing asked, “What about you?”
“What?”
“Tell me something about yourself.”
“What is there to tell?” Chu Ning regained her calm, becoming composed again.
“Tell me what kind of men you like.”
“...”
To prevent her from countering, Ying Jing preempted, “Not counting your ex-boyfriend, you already mentioned him last time, he was a refined type, give me something fresh.”
Chu Ning raised her hand and flicked his forehead hard, “Fresh my foot.”
Unexpectedly, this flick failed, as Ying Jing grabbed her wrist mid-air, pinning it in place.
His strength was great, effortlessly gripping her, and with a little more force, he could break bones.
“Don’t always treat me like a child.” He stared at her, sharp and restrained, “I’m just willing to yield to you.”
After a brief eye contact, Chu Ning snorted coldly, raising her other hand and mercilessly tickling his waist.
“Wow, damn it!! So itchy!! Ha ha ha.”
Ying Jing curled up into a ball, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
Chu Ning thought, competing with me? Hmph.
The unexpected first visit to the Ying family went relatively smoothly; this kid didn’t misbehave. They had a proper dinner, and at seven o’clock sharp, Chu Ning rose to bid farewell. Cui Jingshu was very warm, repeatedly urging her to visit often.
Before Chu Ning could respond, Ying Jing answered first, “Of course!”
Cui Jingshu gave a suspicious glance, quickly pushing her son towards the house by the shoulders, “Go practice your calligraphy, I’ve prepared the ink, hurry up.”
With too many company affairs, Chu Ning decided to return to Beijing today. Upon learning this, Ying Jing insisted on accompanying her, with a fairly substantial reason, “Driving at night is unsafe, I’ll keep you company.”
Chu Ning declined, “I have a business supervisor with me.”
“He wears glasses! Nearsighted people can’t see the night roads clearly, my vision is good, I need to help you watch the road.”
He always managed to come up with a bunch of twisted logic.
Too lazy to argue, Chu Ning considered that he had to return to school in Beijing anyway, so she gestured with a wave, “Get in the car.”
They arrived in Beijing at a little past eight.
Chu Ning’s neighborhood was not on the way to C Hang, so they compromised. She let the business supervisor drive her car to drop Ying Jing off, then park the car at the company. At this hour on Saturday night, Jianguomen was still a bit congested, slowly making their way. By the time they reached the neighborhood, it was nearly ten o’clock.
Chu Ning got out of the car, not expecting Ying Jing to jump out after her.
“What are you doing again?” Chu Ning frowned. Her words had barely finished when her gaze swept behind her, and she froze.
In her building’s parking spot, a black Beijing-licensed Audi Q7 with three consecutive 7s at the end—it was Zhao Mingchuan’s usual private car.
Why was he here?
Just as she thought, Zhao Mingchuan stepped out of the car. Today he wore a black wool coat, knee-length. The weather was cold, so he also wore a dark plaid scarf, tied in a “V” shape around his neck, neatly tucked into his coat collar.
His fashion sense was always good, and his figure complemented it, making him stand out even more.
Chu Ning and Ying Jing stood side by side, both staring at Zhao Mingchuan.
“You go ahead first.” Chu Ning said.
Ying Jing looked at her, then at the man, saying nothing.
Zhao Mingchuan approached her, removing one leather glove, tilting his chin at her, his tone icy, “Find a place, I have something to tell you.”
He was a true Beijinger, pure Beijing accent, quite pleasant to hear.
Without realizing it, Ying Jing looked at him a couple more times and unconsciously moved closer to Chu Ning.
Chu Ning nodded slightly, “Alright.” She then whispered to Ying Jing, “You get in the car first, Supervisor Li will take you back to school.”
Out of instinct, Ying Jing tugged her sleeve, “Eh?”
Understanding, Chu Ning softened her voice, seemingly consoling, “It’s fine, don’t worry.”
This dose of gentleness melted Ying Jing’s heart.
Chu Ning took a few steps forward, but strangely, she tripped over a stone, losing balance and falling to the ground.
One knee hit the ground, her left hand quickly supporting her, “Ouch—” Small stones were sharp, like needles, pricking her leg and hand painfully.
At this moment, Ying Jing and Zhao Mingchuan almost simultaneously reached her.
Only Ying Jing was farther, running.
Zhao Mingchuan was closer, walking steadily as ever.
“No injuries, right? Eh?” Ying Jing ran anxiously, extending his hand urgently before reaching her.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mingchuan also extended his hand, the unremoved sheepskin glove subtly gleaming, fitting perfectly with the winter night.
Two people, two hands.
Ying Jing panted, his concern unhidden.
Zhao Mingchuan’s face was frosty, his impatience and disdain evident, but he didn’t retract his hand.
The air instantly froze.
Enduring the pain, Chu Ning’s mind raced quickly. The next second…
She placed her hand in Zhao Mingchuan’s palm. He gripped it tightly, and she used the force to stand up.
Her long hair cascaded down, concealing her expression.
Ying Jing stood dumbfounded. Although nothing was explicitly stated, it was as if someone had seized his vital point.
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