Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
The volume of Ying Jing’s voice message was too loud, so Chu Ning held her phone farther away, her brows knitted in disgust.
Just as she was about to reply, the doorbell rang.
Chu Ning was startled, quickly gathered the messy items on the table, and then hastily threw them into the bedroom. Slipping on her slippers, she peered through the peephole and immediately relaxed.
“I thought it was someone else,” Chu Ning said, opening the door.
Guan Yu walked in, holding a bag of large bread. “Who did you think it was?”
She changed her shoes, walking barefoot to the living room, tossing the bag of bread casually, then went to the kitchen for water.
Chu Ning found a new pair of slippers for her, handing them over. “Why have you been so elusive lately?”
Guan Yu scoffed, rather disdainfully. “Clearly, you’re the one who’s been traveling everywhere, and you’re blaming me. How was Danba, was it fun?”
Chu Ning had sent her many beautiful landscape photos back then, and it was obvious who she was with.
Guan Yu pointed at the bread on the table. “The one you usually eat, freshly made.”
The whole house was filled with a faint milky scent. Chu Ning rummaged through the bread, feeling in a good mood. “It was fun, really beautiful. You should go see it sometime too.”
“I don’t have the chance, I don’t have a boyfriend there.”
Chu Ning glanced at her, a smile still on her lips.
Guan Yu leaned in and sniffed. “Tsk, you smell like romance.”
“And I’m a romantic fairy,” Chu Ning retorted, calling her exaggerated.
Guan Yu giggled, pulling back, scrutinizing her from top to bottom, drawing out her words mischievously: “Oh, you’re even perkier now.”
Chu Ning spat crisply! “Pervert.”
Guan Yu lived up to her reputation, even extending her hand pretentiously. “Let me feel.”
Chu Ning dodged swiftly. “Not as big as yours.”
The two laughed and played. After that bout, Guan Yu complained about the heat, lowered the room temperature a bit, then sat cross-legged on the sofa, drinking iced water, chatting idly, showing no signs of anything amiss.
Chu Ning picked a piece of bread and sat beside her, eating it, casually asking, “Hey, you haven’t had any problems recently, have you?”
“No, nothing.”
“Don’t mind me saying this, but if you have something, don’t bear it alone. Speaking out might bring more people to help find a solution.”
Guan Yu scoffed. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Chu Ning looked at her, always direct, and said, “Did you borrow money from Feng Ziyang?”
This was a private matter, and for anyone else, asking this would indeed be inappropriate. But she and Guan Yu were not ordinary friends. Chu Ning was emotionally distant, a very difficult person to confide in, whether in love or friendship.
In Guan Yu’s words, she exuded an air of sexual indifference from inside out, keeping people at bay.
But if she truly regarded you as her own, then she would naturally bare her heart without hesitation.
Guan Yu raised an eyebrow. “Feng Ziyang really does favor you, telling you everything.”
“Don’t be sarcastic. He meant no harm, and he’s not stingy, he’s purely concerned.” Chu Ning bit into half a piece of bread, her cheeks puffed, and swallowed before continuing: “Why did you suddenly need so much money? Are you covering your stock margins again?”
Guan Yu smiled frankly. “No more covering. Didn’t I invest in a Tmall store? The initial operations were pretty good, but it’s definitely losing money at the beginning, so it was just for cash flow. But it’s fine now, I’ve recovered.”
Chu Ning had heard about this. Unlike her, Guan Yu wasn’t singularly focused on one business. This person was naturally restless and liked to dabble in many things, operating flexibly and cashing out quickly. She seemed flighty and unreliable, but with her small ventures, she had indeed accumulated a lot of money.
Not comparable to large capital, but more than enough for a woman to spend on herself.
Seeing her so candid, Chu Ning also felt relieved. “As long as you understand the ins and outs. But, if you really need money, tell me first.”
“Got it! Rich lady!” Guan Yu raised an eyebrow. “But you have a young boyfriend to support now, so the pressure must be immense, right?”
“Get lost, he doesn’t need me to support him.” Chu Ning’s eyes couldn’t hide her pride. “You don’t know how amazing he is. He quietly participates in all sorts of competitions, and his personal fortune is especially full.”
Guan Yu smiled, her expression calm. “Is that so?”
“Yes,” Chu Ning rarely showed such genuine emotion. “Our little Jing’er is really sweet.”
Guan Yu immediately rubbed her arm. “I can’t stand it!”
She didn’t stay long at Chu Ning’s place before preparing to leave. Chu Ning called out, “Wait.”
Then she went back to the bedroom, and when she came out, she handed her a rough linen bag with a woven charm inside.
“I bought it in Danba. The old lady is over eighty and almost blind. It’s not easy for her to make a living doing handicrafts. They say it brings peace and safety, so it’s for you.”
Guan Yu quite liked it, feeling the front and back, then held it in her palm, blowing a kiss into the air. “Thanks, Ning’er!”
Chu Ning lifted her chin. “Go on now.”
________________________________________
Two days later, Ying Jing returned to Beijing from Xingcheng.
Chu Ning specifically left work early to pick him up. Before getting out of the car, she touched up her makeup, specifically outlining her lips to be a vibrant red. She smacked her lips twice, like a flower. Today, she was dressed casually, not even wearing high heels, opting for white sneakers, jeans, and a loose, thin boyfriend-style trench coat. Her hair was tied up, making her look incredibly youthful.
At the same time, on the platform, the train doors hissed open, and the first person to burst out was like a small rocket, rushing out with fierce momentum.
Ying Jing stood out in the crowd, quite striking.
Chu Ning had just been pacing and counting beats. Looking up again, she saw Ying Jing five meters away.
He grinned, his teeth perfectly white.
Three meters.
Chu Ning’s eyes sparkled, and she unhesitatingly opened her arms.
One meter.
Their eyes met with an electric spark.
“Ah!” Chu Ning gasped, enveloped in his embrace.
Ying Jing was strong. He wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around, lifting Chu Ning off the ground. The hem of her trench coat flared out like a blooming flower.
Forehead to forehead, intimate kisses followed.
Ying Jing was like a hungry wolf emerging from its den, his tongue savagely intertwining. Chu Ning passively accepted, her body yielding first. Within seconds, she fully immersed herself in his rhythm.
“Did you miss me?” Ying Jing asked in a hoarse voice.
Chu Ning kissed his cheek. “What do you think?”
Ying Jing pinched her waist. Their eyes met, and the two mischievous souls tacitly walked towards the car.
An hour later, in the apartment.
The bedroom door was ajar, a jacket, a knit sweater, and a black bra were scattered about, leaving only a thin layer of sheer fabric. Slippers were overturned on the floor, scattered haphazardly, a total mess.
Through the crack in the door, the spring light shone brightly.
In the half-length mirror, only the man’s solid back was reflected, and two feet dangled from his waist.
Chu Ning couldn’t take it anymore. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes unfocused, but she still reached for the pillow on the bedside table, always wanting to hold onto something for security. But as soon as she moved a few centimeters, her waist tightened, and Ying Jing forcefully pulled her back down.
Chu Ning didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, kicking him with her feet. “Are you a bull?!”
He seemed to have endless energy.
Ying Jing was shameless and replied, “I’m a snake, completely wrapped around you.”
Chu Ning was indignant. “Shut up.”
Ying Jing whispered in her ear, his voice deep: “Ning’er, say it a couple more times. It sounds so good.”
Chu Ning was so exhausted by him that she felt like a salted fish, yet he was still full of energy, which was simply infuriating. So, she wasn’t kind and retorted indignantly: “Two sounds—mm, I’m done.”
Ying Jing was amused, pressed down, full of mischief: “That’s not how you say it. Come, let me remind you.”
The earth shook, again and again.
Chu Ning closed her eyes, wanting to cry. She had thought before that the box of stuff would last forever. Now, she really bit her tongue, feeling melancholic!
After their passionate interlude, Chu Ning lay on his chest, weakly saying, “Next time, don’t come back. Just stay in Xingcheng forever.”
Ying Jing thought she was saying one thing but meaning another, and stated plainly, “You’re lying, you were clearly moaning just now—ugh!”
The word wasn’t fully uttered before Chu Ning covered his mouth.
Ying Jing mumbled, completing his sentence: “...four times.”
Chu Ning wanted to sit up cross-legged, but as soon as her waist moved, the pain was excruciating. She secretly swore to herself that from today onwards, she must brainwash her boyfriend and teach him what restraint and moderation mean!
“I went home this time and confessed to my parents,” Ying Jing suddenly said.
Chu Ning almost bit her tongue, frowning. “Confessed what?”
“About us. I told them I have a girlfriend, named Chu Ning. Guess what my mom’s first reaction was?” Ying Jing still found it amusing: “She was so horrified, she thought I was selling myself out to get investment!”
Chu Ning laughed, not feeling embarrassed at all, raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t that right?”
Ying Jing raised his arm, his small muscles bulging, looking quite interested: “President Ning, how much are you willing to invest in me?”
Chu Ning leaned halfway into his arms, pulling a corner of the blanket over her chest. After their lovemaking, her skin was faintly red. She smiled, “I’m putting my entire dowry on you.”
These words were true.
Ying Jing paused, then became sullen. He spread his legs and clamped her underneath him, clinging like an octopus.
Chu Ning didn’t move, secretly catching her breath. She stroked his soft hair and whispered, “I never regret my decisions, Xiao Jing. You are excellent, and you are very worthy.”
Ying Jing didn’t speak, holding her, his voice muffled, “Chu Ning.”
“Hm?”
“Take me to meet your parents.”
Ying Jing’s idea wasn’t a whim.
The Ying family was a genuinely red family, with deep roots. Their family traditions and values were, at their core, very traditional and responsible. For major events, for instance, they still upheld the old customs: matchmakers, elaborate wedding processions, and a proper status.
Chu Ning figured it out—
Ying Jing was asking for a proper status with her!
Her heart immediately filled with mixed emotions.
No woman could resist such tenderness from her lover. This tenderness carried a certain resilience, fulfilling and powerful, a future that could be clearly seen.
“Okay.” Chu Ning solemnly agreed. But.
“Give me some time, I’ll arrange it, okay?”
Ying Jing expressed understanding, scratching the “hickeys” he had left on her chest. Hmm, this time the “planting” wasn’t swollen enough, he’d definitely try harder next time.
Chu Ning closed her eyes. Her body, though exhausted, couldn’t fall asleep at this moment.
She wondered how she could make Chen Yue accept Ying Jing.
Before she could sort out her thoughts, the phone on the table “buzzed”—a sudden movement, like a thunderclap in the quiet night.
Chu Ning looked at the screen and frowned.
And she had never thought that Ying Jing and the Zhao family’s first meeting would begin in such a bizarre way—
________________________________________
#69: Faking an Accident
The call was from Feng Ziyang.
Unlike his usual optimistic demeanor, as soon as she answered, his voice was hoarse. “Little Ning’er.”
Chu Ning was startled by his tone. Her fingers, which had been playfully poking Ying Jing’s chest, settled. She asked, “What happened?”
Ying Jing glimpsed the name on the screen and, clearly displeased, forcefully put Chu Ning’s fingers back on his chest.
Chu Ning gently kicked him under the covers, then got out of bed.
She was undressed, barefoot, her waist slender, with several red finger marks on it.
Beauty is in the bone, not just the skin. Chu Ning’s figure was graceful, making Ying Jing pant into the pillow.
Feng Ziyang spoke a few words, and Chu Ning’s expression grew solemn. “You two talk it out properly, don’t be impulsive. Do you need me to come explain?”
“Don’t come, I can handle it myself.” Feng Ziyang couldn’t bear the sharp shouting in his ear. At this moment, he was irritable. He flung open his trench coat, one hand on his waist, enduring to the extreme.
“I exchanged my youth for your wolfish heart and dog-like lungs!”
“Every time you’re unhappy, you tell me to get lost, what do you take me for?!”
The woman’s voice intermingled on the other end, her emotions intense, her attitude agitated.
Chu Ning didn’t fully catch what was said before Feng Ziyang hung up.
Ying Jing clung to her from behind, kissing her shoulder. “Bold. Openly flirting with your ex-fiancé in front of your current boyfriend.”
Chu Ning found his kisses ticklish and dodged him. “This person isn’t right.”
Ying Jing harbored a grudge against Feng Ziyang and wasn’t in a good mood. “Mind your own business.”
Chu Ning shot him a look. “Why are you so petty?”
“He used to be your fiancé, just a fake product.”
Chu Ning was at a loss with him. “You’re jealous.”
It was just a verbal spat. After this moment, Ying Jing could still make decisions for her and asked, “Did something happen to him?”
“He has a girlfriend, it’s just...” Chu Ning coughed, feeling a bit awkward explaining.
“An underground relationship,” Ying Jing answered directly.
Chu Ning nodded sheepishly. “Yeah. They’ve been having a big fight recently.”
After listening, Ying Jing was very calm. “If it really doesn’t work out, tying them together with a rope won’t help. If there’s true affection, no matter how agonizing the process, there can still be a good outcome.”
Chu Ning laughed. “Oh, Teacher Ying.”
“You’re my teacher,” Ying Jing raised an eyebrow at her, speaking unhurriedly: “But the teacher’s lecture just now was a bit loud, it was very stimulating.”
“...” Chu Ning held her breath, unable to catch it, staring at him, her face flushed.
When it comes to shamelessness, men always have the upper hand.
Just past eight, the night quietly settled.
After lounging around for so long, their stomachs rumbled. They were about to go out for food when Feng Ziyang called again.
Chu Ning and Ying Jing were waiting for the elevator, laughing and talking in each other’s arms. As soon as Chu Ning answered the phone and listened for a few sentences, her expression changed.
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
She hung up, then turned to Ying Jing, taking a deep breath. “You go eat by yourself. I’m sorry, I have to go there.”
Chu Ning rarely had such panicked moments.
“Don’t panic.” Ying Jing held her shoulders, tightening his grip as if to soothe her. “What happened?”
“Feng Ziyang’s girlfriend was provoked and said she’s going to talk to both sets of parents. Feng Ziyang is already rushing there.” That wasn’t the main point. Chu Ning looked troubled: “The Feng family is attending a banquet tonight.” She paused, then said, “My mom was also invited.”
Ying Jing immediately: “I’ll go with you.”
“No need, it’s too chaotic. My mom is that kind of person...” Chu Ning sighed. “Can I go and check the situation first?”
Ying Jing was sensible and didn’t cause more trouble, readily agreeing: “Okay, drive carefully.”
The elevator doors opened.
“Hey.” Ying Jing pulled Chu Ning’s hand. “Don’t panic when something happens. Call me if you need anything.”
At critical moments, this man truly had a calming presence. Ying Jing’s gaze was steady, unflustered, and looking at him brought a sense of strength—very reassuring.
It wasn’t too long from the residential area. Both were within the Fourth Ring Road, about half an hour without traffic.
It seemed to be a charity auction, held with grand flair, even inviting a few second-tier celebrities as a gimmick. Chu Ning had seen many such banquets; they were usually quite boring and uninteresting. When she was almost there, she called Feng Ziyang.
“Where are you?”
Feng Ziyang said, “I’m parking, southeast side.”
“Okay, I’ll be there in two minutes.”
Chu Ning turned the steering wheel and saw the main character’s black Land Rover.
She honked the horn twice, and Feng Ziyang responded in kind, indicating he saw her. The two got out of their cars and met. Chu Ning was anxious: “How did it get like this?”
Feng Ziyang’s eyes were red, not from intense emotion, but purely from disgust. His trench coat was also wrinkled, and two buttons were missing from his shirt collar. Chu Ning, sharp-eyed, understood at a glance that things had truly escalated.
“I’m so damn fed up, she’s threatening me with death, like she’s gone crazy!” Feng Ziyang was furious, unleashing his temper without any restraint.
Chu Ning reminded him: “Alright, alright, it has to be resolved, right? Did Qin Miao really go to your mother?”
“I don’t know,” Feng Ziyang said, leading Chu Ning towards the banquet hall. “She sent me over a dozen messages. I think she’s completely lost her mind.” Feng Ziyang despondently tugged at his hair. “Damn it!”
Chu Ning suddenly exclaimed loudly: “Is that her?!”
Pointing to the left, a distraught, slender figure was about to enter the venue.
After a pause, Feng Ziyang had already rushed over.
Chu Ning was afraid something would happen to him: “Feng Ziyang!”
Qin Miao’s mental state was extremely poor; she was jumpy and startled. Seeing someone, she was utterly provoked and screamed, “Don’t come over here! You scumbag!!”
Feng Ziyang’s temper also flared, and he pointed at her: “Can you be a decent person?!”
Qin Miao began to cry, her wails exaggerated and shrill. “You dump me! What do you take me for?! Come and go as you please, right?! My youth these past few years has all been fed to dogs!”
Feng Ziyang suddenly laughed, his smile cold, desperate, and sorrowful.
“I have a clear conscience toward you. Qin Miao, there’s a pair of eyes watching from above.” He raised his hand, his index finger pointing straight to the sky, squeezing out each word: “These past few years, how have I treated you, how have I treated your family? Put your hand on your heart and tell me, tell me!”
Chu Ning was startled by the scene. She went to pull Feng Ziyang. “Hey.”
His hand was flung away.
Feng Ziyang’s eyes were red. “Which request of yours did I not fulfill? Not to mention anything else, I’ve handled no less than ten jobs for your relatives’ children. I told you to go out and work, not because I lacked money to support my woman, but because, look at yourself, Qin Miao. You’re so lazy that your spirit is empty. As a woman, you must first respect yourself.”
His words made sense, but the emotional outburst was too strong.
Qin Miao shrieked: “You’re still saying you don’t dislike me! I don’t care, I don’t care.”
Feng Ziyang, however, had completely calmed down, his gaze distant. He looked at her and said, “My feelings are real, what about yours? You pile all your insecurity and fear in your heart and refuse to face them, only consuming the years of affection between us. Qin Miao, let’s part amicably. Can we please stop this torment?”
These trivial matters, when spoken by a man who deals with major affairs, naturally made him seem petty—it was beneath him.
Yet, the twists and turns of love, heaven and hell, are nothing more than quantitative changes turning into qualitative ones in these mundane matters of life.
Whether a man has feelings for you can be seen in a single glance.
With just one glance, even Chu Ning understood that Feng Ziyang had truly hardened his heart.
A man like him, when in love, his life is yours.
When out of love, there’s not a single word of room for negotiation.
Heartless.
His words were unpleasant, but they truly stabbed at one’s heart, hitting where it hurt most. Qin Miao was thin-skinned, and her state was one of complete abandon, so she suddenly started screaming and crying, sitting on the floor.
Chu Ning couldn’t bear to watch. She kindly offered her a tissue. “Don’t sit on the floor, it’s cold.”
Qin Miao, however, slapped her hand sharply. “Get lost!”
Chu Ning’s eyes almost teared up from the pain. Just then, there was a commotion at the entrance of the hall. Feng Ziyang’s face changed; Darn.
Feng Mu, dressed in a qipao-style dress, with a pair of jade earrings swaying without a breeze, exuded a cold and unapproachable aura. Someone had informed her that Feng Ziyang was seen at the entrance, and it seemed something had happened. Feng Mu couldn’t sit still.
In less than two seconds, Chu Ning was also surprised.
Following behind was Chen Yue!
The two mistresses of the households had formed a group—
“Ziyang.”
“Chu Ning.”
It’s over, there’s no escaping now.
And Qin Miao, on the ground, seemed to go mad, instantly pinpointing Feng Ziyang’s weakness. She quickly stood up, rushed to Feng Mu, and shrieked hysterically: “Do you really think your son is a good person?!”
Feng Ziyang roared: “Shut up!”
Chu Ning’s face also paled. Without thinking, she grabbed Qin Miao’s hand and pulled her aside. “Hey!”
Feng Mu and Chen Yue exchanged glances, both growing suspicious. When they looked at the three of them again, their faces were icy.
Qin Miao pushed Chu Ning away, heedless of everything. “They’re lying! They’re lying to you! Fake dating, pretending to be a couple, pretending to be engaged! It’s all a cover-up! One is after money, the other is after stability! They’re both bad people!!”
The gunpowder in the air was fully ignited.
Chu Ning closed her eyes, thinking, What on earth is going on?
Then she looked at the two elders. Feng Mu had already recognized Qin Miao, feeling she had seen her somewhere before. It turned out to be the girl Feng Ziyang had brought home two years ago. However, at that time, Feng Mu strictly forbade her from entering the house, only glancing at her from a distance.
A delicate white flower, soft and fragile. Heh, quite different from her demeanor tonight.
Feng Mu possessed both the rigor of an old-school scholar and the sharp demeanor of a matriarch of a prominent family. She greatly valued her reputation and image. This truth was simply unacceptable to her. And the previous fondness she had for Chu Ning, as well as the sense of indebtedness she felt when her son broke up with her, vanished entirely.
She cast a calm, ripple-less glance at Chu Ning.
Although displeased, she still held a glimmer of hope, perhaps it was a misunderstanding?
As the atmosphere stiffened, no one noticed that the utterly enraged Qin Miao suddenly reached out to Chu Ning.
Chu Ning took a heavy shove, thrown hard to the ground.
“It’s all you, it’s all you! Feng Ziyang’s change of heart is all because of you!” Qin Miao, disheveled and furious, had completely lost her mind.
Chu Ning’s fall was hard. She was stunned and took a long time to recover.
Just then, a figure, quick as lightning, rushed over from an unknown direction.
“Ning’er, get up.” Heaven and earth be my witness, Feng Ziyang was purely apologetic and anxious. Before his fingertips even touched her, he was knocked away by this figure.
Ying Jing blocked Feng Ziyang completely, full of hostility.
Then, as if declaring his ownership, he shielded Chu Ning in his arms. “Are you alright?!”
Seeing who it was, Chu Ning’s heart felt a surge of blood. “You, why are you here?!”
“I was worried, so I took a taxi and followed.”
And he had hidden and observed for a long time, restraining himself for a long time. No matter how big the commotion, he could still stay clear-headed, reminding himself not to add to her troubles. But, seeing Chu Ning being pushed to the ground just now, how the hell could he still endure it?!
Now, all four parties involved were present, and in the eyes of Feng Mu and Chen Yue, they all looked like illicit lovers.
No one was foolish. Feng Mu saw Ying Jing, and that last glimmer of hope shattered completely.
She spoke coldly: “Oh? Are you saying Ziyang and Chu Ning are faking their relationship?”
Qin Miao, with nowhere left to turn, hardened her heart and nodded: “Yes!”
Feng Mu remained calm, her expression placid. “Then what about him?” She pointed at Ying Jing.
Chu Ning’s mind went blank, feeling Chen Yue’s gaze like a thorn, sharply piercing her.
Feng Ziyang was about to smooth things over.
“Whether they’re faking it or not, I don’t know, but I’m real.” Ying Jing was frank and open, letting anyone examine him without a hint of fear.
I am her genuine man.
Chu Ning couldn’t describe her feelings at that moment. There was shock, touching emotion, happiness, and also melancholy.
And her mother, Chen Yue, had a stern face.
The atmosphere was at its worst.
This evening’s farce was a long-accumulated explosion.
It began with chaos and ended in utter disarray.
Finally, it was Ying Jing who found hotel staff, called a car, and sent Qin Miao back. Feng Ziyang was exhausted, and Chu Ning had fallen, hurting her arm badly. Ying Jing, however, became the pillar of support for both of them, tossing Feng Ziyang into the back seat and having Chu Ning sit in the passenger seat.
“You’re not allowed to look back at him,” he said, driving rather possessively: “You’re only allowed to look at me.”
After driving for a while, Chu Ning quietly said, “Take me home.”
Back to the Zhao family.
Ying Jing: “Okay, I’ll go with you.”
Feng Ziyang: “I’ll go with you too.”
Both spoke at the same time.
“Slap!” Ying Jing smacked the steering wheel, his tone very aggressive: “You say one more word, and I’ll throw you out of the car!”
Feng Ziyang was also displeased. “Damn it, this is my car.”
“Alright, alright, you two stop arguing,” Chu Ning said, her head aching. “Neither of you needs to. I’ll go back alone.”
Both rejected in unison: “No way.”
Chu Ning scoffed, her expression weary. “Feng Ziyang, you tell me yourself, going to my house now, aren’t you trying to make me die faster?”
“I...” Feng Ziyang hesitated.
“You don’t even need to say it.” Chu Ning sighed faintly, and when addressing Ying Jing, her tone softened, terribly wronged: “My mom is very stubborn. Let her digest it first. Once I’ve explained clearly, then I’ll bring you.”
Ying Jing considered it seriously for a long time. This time, he wasn’t angry, but understood tolerance and consideration. He pursed his lips, then said in a muffled voice: “I’ve always been liked by elders since I was little, you have to believe me.”
Feng Ziyang sneered coldly. “Congratulations, you’re about to hit a brick wall.”
“It’s okay if I hit a brick wall, but you hit a durian tonight, and it pierced your heart.”
“Damn it, you brat!”
“Hmph, loser!”
Well, the two rivals were at it again.
Chu Ning turned her head to look out the window, light and shadow flickered across her brow.
________________________________________
As expected, upon returning to the Zhao family, Chen Yue exploded at her.
“Chu Ning, you’re absolutely audacious, aren’t you?!”
Chu Ning used softness to overcome hardness, putting on a cheerful face, slowly changing her shoes. “Don’t get angry yet, listen to me explain.”
“Explain what?!” Chen Yue was truly angry, her face pale, her lips trembling slightly: “You fake relationships, fake being someone’s fiancée. Can you be any more terrifying?!”
Chu Ning patiently, still smiling, said: “How am I terrifying? Did I lose your face, or did I steal money from home?”
“You still dare to speak!”
“What do I dare not to say?” Chu Ning wasn’t a soft touch. When she had reason, she wouldn’t suffer a loss. “Yes, I admit I was wrong in this matter, but I neither stole nor robbed, we reached a consensus, and then ended it peacefully. I didn’t do anything wicked, and I have a clear conscience.”
From Chu Ning’s perspective, heaven and earth be my witness, her relationship with Feng Ziyang was like a business partnership.
If it hadn’t been for tonight’s incident, the matter would have come to a peaceful end, and everyone would have found it reasonable and unobjectionable.
She saw through Chen Yue; the focus of her mother’s thoughts wasn’t on this at all.
Sure enough—
“What about that person named Ying Jing?” Chen Yue questioned, raising her voice.
“My boyfriend,” Chu Ning answered frankly.
“What boyfriend? Some young punk, where did he come from? I don’t agree!”
“Of course you can’t agree, he’s not dating you.” Chu Ning’s words were also sharp, making it impossible for anyone to deal with her.
Chen Yue sat on the sofa, her back ramrod straight, with an uncompromising expression.
“Where does he live?”
“Xingcheng.”
“That far! No way.”
“Far what? It’s just half an hour by high-speed rail.”
“What do his parents do?”
“Retired veterans.”
Chen Yue reacted intensely: “Then no way!”
“Why so many ‘no ways’? What’s wrong with retired military personnel?”
“What does this Ying Jing do for work?”
Chu Ning glanced at her, then said, “No job.”
“Unemployed?!”
“A university student.”
Chen Yue slapped the table and stood up. “I don’t agree!”
Chu Ning was also in no mood to fight. She stood up and threw out her words: “If you agree, I’ll have him come over another day to chat with you properly. He’s a high-achieving student, full of knowledge and grace, quite likable. If you don’t agree—”
Chu Ning answered steadily, “I also have my ways of dealing with disagreement.”
Just one sentence, plainly stated, but the underlying threat was clear.
For the latter half of Chen Yue’s life, to put it bluntly, she lived for her reputation.
She wanted face, she wanted to elevate her status, and she wanted something tangible to show off. She couldn’t achieve much herself, so she pinned all her hopes on Chu Ning. Yet, this stubborn girl had personality, ideas, and was independent.
Truly an untamable wild mare!
Chen Yue was furious. “Chu Ning, are you out of your mind? Of all people, you choose someone younger than yourself? He’s a poor student, how will he buy a house, how will he support a family?”
“I’ll buy the house, I’ll support the family, I’m willing,” Chu Ning remained unperturbed.
Her purpose was clear: to lay out the truth about Ying Jing to her mother, as it was inevitable they would have to face it sooner or later.
Chu Ning stretched leisurely, saying, “I’m going upstairs to get some clothes.”
It was from her last visit home, when she left a few dry-cleaned items in the bedroom.
Chu Ning went upstairs, humming a tune, her back spelling out a capital “Courage.”
Her bedroom in the Zhao family home was large, and the wardrobe was full.
After searching for about ten minutes, she grabbed a luggage bag, ready to return to her own apartment. Then—
“Huh? Why won’t the door open?”
Chu Ning turned the doorknob, tugging several times. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head, and her heart sank.
An angry roar echoed through the Zhao family home: “Mom! Why did you lock the door?!”
The desperate Ms. Chen had simply and brutally put Chu Ning under house arrest.
…
…
Chu Ning kicked the door, shouted, and pounded on the wall, all to no avail. Chen Yue calmly sat on the sofa, sipping flower tea.
Make a fuss, whatever.
Anyway, her husband Zhao Peilin was on a business trip to Germany and wouldn’t be back for at least ten days to half a month. Chen Yue was also determined not to allow her daughter to date a child from a retired veteran’s family. First, she’d lock her up for a night to let her cool down.
But she hadn’t expected that when Chu Ning got spirited, she would dare to do anything.
The bedroom was on the second floor. She pushed open the window and looked down, showing no fear.
It was at this moment that the Zhao family’s main gate slowly opened, and the bright headlights of a car shone directly, making her squint.
A black Audi was in front, followed by a large black Land Rover, with a license plate ending in three arrogant and domineering eights.
Zhao Mingchuan got out of the car and immediately saw Chu Ning with one foot perched on the windowsill, looking as if she was about to jump.
Zhao Mingchuan, uncharacteristically free of engagements today, had just returned from a card game with friends. He wore a light apricot-colored casual trench coat of moderate length, a refined style, but on him, it didn’t diminish his sharp demeanor in the slightest.
He looked up, his eyes deep, silently gazing at Chu Ning on the second floor.
Chu Ning seemed to have found a savior, uttering a crisp: “Zhao Mingchuan!”
At the same time, her right leg, which had been dangling inside the window, also swung over.
Zhao Mingchuan remained unperturbed, completely unmoved.
Chu Ning looked down at him from above, swallowed, and shouted, “Catch me!”
Then she leaped.
Zhao Mingchuan was quick, opening his arms and moving two big steps to the right, precisely positioning himself to catch her.
Chu Ning landed safely in his arms, not even uttering a sound.
Only, the force was so great that it almost made Zhao Mingchuan fall to the ground.
Zhao Mingchuan was not one to be easily tempered. He lifted her to the side, his anger carrying a dark undertone: “Are you faking an accident in the middle of the night? Hmm?”
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