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Feng Ziyang pounded his chest in frustration, nearly driven mad by the unexpected actor.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Get back here, you bastard!”
Wasn’t this just adding to the chaos? Could this farce even continue?
Feng Ziyang felt as if a burning knife were slicing through his heart, fearing the whole setup would fall apart. That kick had left him unable to stand, so he could only roar like a wounded beast: “Chu Ning!!”
Hey, hey, hey, she’s right here.
Coming to her senses, Chu Ning prioritized the bigger picture and tried to pull Ying Jing’s hand, “Wait, wait.”
Ying Jing was furious, “At a time like this, what do you still want to do?”
With both mothers present, some things couldn’t be said too explicitly.
Anxious, Chu Ning simply squatted down, lowering her center of gravity, trying to hold him back.
Ying Jing’s strength was immense, like a small cannon, while Chu Ning was light; she couldn’t stop him. She was dragged along the ground.
Great! Now it turned into a sled-pulling scene.
Feng Ziyang’s vision went black. It was all over. His carefully arranged prime-time soap opera had gone haywire.
The room was in complete disarray. Mrs. Feng couldn’t bear to watch any longer and sternly shouted, “Everyone, stop this at once!”
Mrs. Feng had been a Spanish professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University in her early years, with impeccable family education and personal demeanor. One Feng Ziyang had already disgraced her enough, let alone another... someone who seemed strange and not particularly good either—Ying Jing.
This disgrace was unbearable for her.
“Have you all had enough of this nonsense!”
Ying Jing naturally respected elders and reluctantly stopped, albeit unwillingly.
Chu Ning seized the opportunity to break free from his grasp.
That small move didn’t escape Chen Yue’s sharp eyes. But Chen Yue was no fool; at this moment, she certainly wouldn’t foolishly ask who he was.
After enduring the pain, Feng Ziyang managed to straighten up, gritting his teeth at Chu Ning, “Alright, alright, Little Ning, I never expected you to be so cunning, having a helper ready, huh?”
Their eyes met with silent understanding.
Chu Ning cooperatively began to shed tears again.
“I’m cunning? If I were cunning, I wouldn’t have trusted you so much.”
Feng Ziyang sneered, “All these years, turns out I’ve been sleeping next to a wolf.”
That phrase… Chu Ning slightly furrowed her brows. What kind of terrible metaphor was that?
And that “sleep” word, like a cannon, exploded in Ying Jing’s mind.
Chu Ning timely choked up, her eyes red and teary, evoking sympathy from onlookers.
“Let’s part ways amicably. I wish you happiness.”
Alright, alright, wrapping it up.
Feng Ziyang solemnly nodded, “Thank you.”
Tsk, this breakup ceremony officially concluded amidst the chaos.
But, Ying Jing was on the verge of suffocation.
So, she wasn’t devoid of tender and vulnerable sides; she just loved the wrong person.
Thinking of this, the sense of loss in his heart rose like a towering skyscraper built from the ground up.
Ying Jing was filled with both hatred and pain, emotions erupting as he yelled at Chu Ning, “Why are you wishing him happiness?!” Then turning to Feng Ziyang, he scolded, “You damn bastard, act like a human being!”
Then he turned around and walked off.
A gust of wind blew in from the doorway, scattering feathers everywhere.
Feng Ziyang was dumbfounded, his mind full of question marks.
Why am I not a human being...
Mrs. Feng was so angry she didn’t want to say another word and left with her bag. Chen Yue always avoided making situations irreparable; though frustrated, she still had plans. With a stern face, she left as well.
After two minutes, Chu Ning peeked at the door and sighed in relief, “No one’s here.”
Feng Ziyang slumped down, collapsing onto the sofa, vengefully saying, “That brat named Ying Jing, I’ll find someone to deal with him now.”
He actually started making a call.
Chu Ning walked over, snatched the phone from his hand with a sweep.
Feng Ziyang was enraged, kicking the coffee table without restraint, causing excruciating pain in his big toe.
Solid mahogany, sturdy indeed.
Chu Ning sneered, “Still not chaotic enough for you?”
“That dead kid dared to kick me! No one has ever touched a single finger of mine since I was a child!” Feng Ziyang fumed.
“He didn’t touch your fingers; he kicked your stomach.”
Feng Ziyang was livid, “You’re still defending him!”
Chu Ning didn’t argue with him, tilting her chin to the right, “First, settle the girl’s payment.”
Feng Ziyang’s expression softened, pulling out his wallet and taking out a dozen bills, “Here you go.”
The girl beamed, “Eh! Thank you, Brother.”
Feng Ziyang was soothed by the sound of “Brother.” Seeing her smile, those cute dimples were really charming, so he added another five hundred, “What year are you in at the Film Academy?”
“Second year.”
Chu Ning knew Feng Ziyang too well. Probably smitten, he might give her future resources.
After the girl left, Chu Ning asked, “What got into you? Why did you ask her?”
Feng Ziyang glanced at her seriously, “Don’t you think she looks a bit like you?”
“Like me?” Chu Ning scratched her cheek.
“Like you, especially when she smiles with that silly charm.”
“Go to hell.” Chu Ning threw a pillow at him.
Feng Ziyang didn’t dodge, sinking into the sofa with a dashing laugh, “Problem solved. Let’s have dinner tonight, at Aunt Ju’s place. I’ll have her arrange the innermost private room.”
“Not going.” Chu Ning reapplied some lipstick, picked up her bag, and prepared to leave.
Feng Ziyang saw through her intentions and called out to her retreating back, “Going to find that kid?”
Click, the door was tightly shut.
Waiting for the elevator, Chu Ning called Ying Jing.
This time, neither of them was stubborn; one made the call, and the other answered quickly.
Chu Ning entered the elevator, pressed the first floor button, “Where are you?”
Silence.
Chu Ning patiently softened her voice unconsciously, “Where are you, hmm?”
Ying Jing finally replied, “At the subway station.”
“Which entrance? Going back to school? Wait for me.”
“… Going to the high-speed rail station.” Ying Jing said, “Back to Xingcheng.”
Chu Ning paused briefly, then said, “Then come out, I’ll take you to the station.”
Ying Jing refused, “No need.”
“It’s fine.”
“I’m already on the subway.”
“…”
It was clear he was still angry.
But unlike his usual blunt outbursts, this time, he was subdued, almost resigned.
The elevator descended quickly, and when the door opened, Chu Ning softly said, “Alright.”
She returned to the elevator and headed to the parking garage to retrieve her car.
Driving out onto the road, sunlight bathed everything, blinding rays flooding her eyes.
Chu Ning put on her sunglasses, holding the steering wheel with one hand. She drove onto the elevated highway, following the dense traffic flow slowly forward. Today was Saturday, no need to go to the office. Though this major issue hadn’t been resolved perfectly, it was finally settled.
In an instant, it seemed as if all worries had vanished.
This sudden peace, however, didn’t bring Chu Ning any ease.
She even felt aimless, directionless, like driving without knowing where to go.
Her heart was empty, her mind chaotic.
Chu Ning took a deep breath.
Off the elevated road, at the first traffic light, due to just passing the toll gate, the traffic was dense, heavily congested. Five minutes passed, and only a few cars moved. Impatient honking continuously echoed.
Noisy, grating, making Chu Ning restless.
Behind her followed a large truck, occasionally flashing its hazard lights, blinding her view.
After four cycles, Chu Ning finally inched across the line just before the green light turned yellow.
The honking behind her started anew.
Ahead was another congested stream of traffic.
Seizing this as a reason to change routes, Chu Ning decisively switched lanes, steering towards the relatively spacious right-turn lane. Fortunately, it was green; she stepped on the gas and sped off.
Arriving at the station at 1:30 PM.
Chu Ning called Ying Jing, “What time is your high-speed train?”
Ying Jing was startled, “Huh?”
“What time?”
He raised his hand to check the time, “There are nine minutes until departure.”
Chu Ning didn’t bother looking for a parking spot, parking directly by the roadside, regardless of whether she’d get ticketed. She got out and ran towards the entrance.
“Tell me your platform and train number!” She panted while running.
Ying Jing understood, abruptly standing up from his seat, “Entrance A21, G3248, Carriage 3.”
Saying that, he immediately headed towards the train door.
“You, wait for me a bit, I’m entering the station.” Chu Ning gasped for breath, struggling to speak.
Ying Jing wanted to ask, how can you enter without a ticket?
But fearing she’d struggle to answer, he said nothing.
He had already gotten off the high-speed train, standing on the platform, intently staring at the nearby elevator.
Five more minutes!
Ticket checking had already stopped.
The elevator doors slid open, Ying Jing’s heart skipped a beat. Several large suitcases rolled out, passengers rushing crazily.
Not her.
“Dear passenger, please board the train; it’s about to depart,” the attendant approached politely calling Ying Jing.
He checked his watch; only two minutes left until departure.
Chu Ning, Chu Ning…
Too late, too late.
Ying Jing had no choice but to reluctantly board, looking back every few steps. The attendant stood inside the door reminding, “Hurry up, the doors are closing.”
Ying Jing stepped inside, just turning around when he saw the elevator doors open again in the distance. A white figure dashed out!
Chu Ning’s face was flushed from running, her hair slightly disheveled, looking somewhat disheveled.
She looked around, finally locking onto Carriage 3.
By then, the train doors had tightly closed.
Ying Jing’s heart raced, “Chu Ning!”
He quickly ran towards the carriage, disregarding other seated passengers, pressing against the window and waving frantically at her.
The train had slowly started moving.
Chu Ning chased after it, running alongside the train.
Ying Jing’s palm pressed firmly against the window; she reached out, trying to touch it.
The train sped up, she couldn’t keep up, slowing down gradually.
Finally, her fingertips grazed the window, brushing against the glass, lightly touching the palm of Ying Jing’s hand.
Too dangerous, he shouted loudly, “Go back!”
But due to the soundproofing, only the movement of lips could be seen.
Station staff loudly intervened, two people running towards Chu Ning.
Out of breath, Chu Ning stood in place, bending over, propping herself on her knees, panting heavily.
The high-speed train headed straight south, swiftly disappearing along the tracks.
Ying Jing’s face was still pressed against the window, eyes straining backward, nearly twitching.
Inside the carriage, everyone chuckled kindly.
Someone asked, “Your girlfriend?”
“Kid, can’t see anymore yet still looking?”
Only then did Ying Jing remove his face from the window, icy cold, while his body felt like it was about to explode.
He called her, but the train entered a tunnel, total darkness, no signal.
Six tunnels in a row, the light flickering on and off, mirroring Ying Jing’s current mood perfectly.
He was excited, like a physiological reaction, utterly uncontrollable.
He tried to remain rational, keeping a clear head.
What did her actions mean? Just betrayed by her fiancé, she turned around and showed such genuine feelings towards him.
Was it hypocrisy? Or her old tricks again?
Stringing him along, playing with his emotions.
Ying Jing waged a tug-of-war between these two extreme emotions. Leaning against the backrest, listening to the rumbling sound of the train, he stared blankly upward.
Expressionless, but gripping his phone tighter and tighter, as if wanting to crush it.
Finally, he abruptly sat upright, still dialing her number.
“Dial tone... Dial tone... Dial tone…”
Just three rings in, it suddenly went dark.
Another tunnel.
Ying Jing impatiently scratched his palms, redialing Chu Ning the moment he regained signal.
But for some unknown reason, either he couldn’t dial out, or there was no signal on her end.
It was bizarre.
High-speed trains were fast; in less than forty minutes, they arrived at Xingcheng.
Ying Jing followed the crowd out of the station. It was mid-afternoon, the sun blazing, heat waves surging. Within moments, his back was soaked.
Ying Jing considered replacing this broken phone, feeling irritable, increasingly agitated.
He headed towards Exit W2, preparing to take the subway back to the compound.
The station hall’s broadcast repeatedly announced train schedules: “Respected passengers, the G354 train from Beijing West to Shanghai South is about to begin boarding. Please queue up and wait.”
Ying Jing remembered this train; it arrived in Xingcheng in the afternoon, closest to the one he had taken.
However, he didn’t pay much attention, continuing to push his suitcase out of the station.
Upon reaching the subway station, he saw a sea of heads, swarming into the station. Various odd odors—sweat, leather, and an unknown stench of feet—mixed together, suffocating Ying Jing, who had slight cleanliness obsession.
“…” Forget it, better take a taxi.
He carried his luggage, retracing his steps.
Fifteen minutes later, Ying Jing queued for a taxi. The glaring sun prompted him to pull out his sunglasses. His features were already strikingly handsome; with the sunglasses, a star-like aura emerged. He wore a white T-shirt, linen cropped pants, rolled up twice, fresh and stylish.
Ying Jing chewed gum idly, watching taxis arrive.
Suddenly, his right shoulder felt heavy.
Instinctively, he glanced to the right.
… No one.
Then his left shoulder was tapped.
Annoyed, Ying Jing turned his head, endlessly irritated.
But this turn left him completely stunned.
Chu Ning appeared out of nowhere, tilting her head, smiling at him.
“How are you here?!” Ying Jing removed his sunglasses, utterly shocked.
Chu Ning didn’t speak, tucking stray hair behind her ear. Her forehead was covered in fine sweat, her fair skin flushed red from the heat.
Ying Jing noticed the train ticket in her hand and impulsively snatched it to look. G354, Beijing West—Guangzhou South. Precisely the train closest to his.
“How did you manage to buy a ticket?” Ying Jing puzzled. These two trains were only ten minutes apart, impossible to catch.
Chu Ning fanned herself with her hand, her tone calm, “I boarded directly and will pay upon arrival.”
Ying Jing fell silent.
Behind him in the queue was a female college student, who kindly smiled at Chu Ning, “Come stand inside.” Then, understandingly stepped back a couple of steps, making space.
Chu Ning didn’t refuse, standing behind Ying Jing.
The queue was long, the two close together. His broad back was right in front of her, carrying a faint scent of Blue Moon laundry detergent and the summer sun.
Chu Ning suddenly felt at ease.
They stood silently for a while. Ying Jing extended his hand, taking her bag.
Chu Ning whispered, “I want to take a shower.”
Ying Jing’s profile remained quiet.
“I’m dying of heat, all sweaty and smelly.” Chu Ning whispered even softer.
Just then, three taxis arrived in succession, their turn coming up.
Putting the luggage in the trunk, Ying Jing got in the car and told the driver, “Please take us to Si Mu Hotel.”
From that point on, they remained silent throughout the ride.
The air conditioning was refreshing, seemingly calming their restlessness.
Checked in.
Ying Jing placed his things in the room, saying indifferently, “You go first, I’ll step out and return shortly.”
Chu Ning hesitated to speak, but he had already closed the door and left.
The sound of water splashed; Chu Ning stood under the showerhead, eyes closed, rinsing for a long time.
This was a five-star hotel, with quality bath products. About ten minutes later, there was a knock on the bathroom door.
Chu Ning instantly became alert.
“It’s me.” Ying Jing’s voice.
She immediately relaxed.
“Fresh clothes are outside the door; you can take them yourself after you finish...”
Before the word “take” was fully out.
“Click.”
The bathroom door opened a crack, and Chu Ning’s bare hand reached out.
Ying Jing’s body stiffened abruptly.
She revealed half of her face and the faint outline of her collarbone, with water droplets slowly trailing down her skin, a tantalizing sight.
Chu Ning’s expression was calm; she didn’t even look up at him, as if it were the most natural thing to do. She simply reached into his arms and hooked out the new clothes he had just bought.
A fragrant scent wafted, then the door closed.
The fresh scent lingered in his nostrils, like a bewitching drug.
Ying Jing’s breathing quickened as he stared at the bathroom door, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate it. Although he couldn’t see anything, every frame his mind conjured was incredibly real.
Five minutes later, Chu Ning emerged in her new clothes.
A white dress, as fresh as a valley lily.
She nearly bumped into Ying Jing. “Hey, what are you doing?”
Ying Jing lowered his head, not wanting to look at her, his body tense. He muttered, “I’m hot, I’m going to take a shower too.”
The door closed, and the sound of splashing water immediately began.
Ying Jing stood barefoot under the shower, cold water wasn’t enough; he wished it were ice water.
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