Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Chu Ning followed behind Ying Jing like she was admiring a martyr, completely drenched in sweat.
The house was bustling, even more crowded inside. There were grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The female guests gathered with Cui Jingshu, chatting about daily life, while the male guests were divided into several groups, speaking in low voices, not making a fuss, very well-mannered.
Cui Jingshu, the lady of the house, gracefully served tea and offered fruit for everyone to taste, speaking kindly and politely: “These melons are from the Southwest, fresh and very juicy.”
A small child running around with a milky voice exclaimed, “So sweet!”
Cui Jingshu had been a head nurse in an affiliated hospital under the military region for over a decade, working in the cardiovascular internal medicine department before transferring to obstetrics and gynecology until retirement. She had a deep affection for children and was happy to see them full of life.
“Here, no grabbing, everyone gets some,” she distributed, and the children happily went back to watching Paw Patrol.
Cui Jingshu called out, “Come back for more after you finish, Grandma will cut more for you.”
A large family, brimming with lively, earthy warmth.
Someone, with enthusiastic intent, announced, “Xiao Jing brought a girl back!”
Goodness, the scene seemed to hit a pause button.
No more chitchat, no more eating fruit. Only a line from the cartoon channel could be heard: “All puppies, move out!!”
Everyone’s eyes collectively turned to the door.
Chu Ning considered herself to have never backed down from anything in her life, but today, she might have broken that rule. She stood behind Ying Jing, moving further and further back. Their hands, which had been holding perfectly, turned into a tug-of-war.
Ying Jing first politely greeted people: “Hello, Uncle Wang; Hello, Grandma; Hey, Uncle Li, I heard my mom say last time you went to Shenyang to teach, are you back?” He then continued to call out several more people, his memory sharp, not missing a single one.
After greeting everyone, he turned his head, frowning in displeasure: “Why are you hiding?”
Chu Ning silently tried to release her hand from his grip, but he held on tightly, refusing to let go. The two engaged in a silent contest, their faces flushed.
Ying Chen walked forward with a smile, naturally putting an arm around Chu Ning’s shoulder and leading her into the house.
Ying Chen’s growing belly immediately drew everyone’s attention.
“Oh! Chen Chen’s belly is so pointed!”
“Why haven’t you gained weight anywhere else? You really need to eat more.”
“Due next month, right?”
Ying Chen responded to each comment, keeping her arm around Chu Ning’s hand the entire time she spoke.
Chu Ning felt grateful. Ying Chen was helping her out, making her feel less awkward.
Cui Jingshu came out of the kitchen, her smile warm: “Ah, Xiao Ning is here, hurry, sit, sit, I’ll cut you some fruit!”
Chu Ning pursed her lips, “Hello, Auntie.”
It was still a little awkward to talk about. This wasn’t their first meeting, but their current relationship was different. Remembering all the past events, she truly felt a bit embarrassed.
Cui Jingshu smiled and smiled, “Eh! Good, good, good, sit for a bit!”
Chu Ning then respectfully greeted Ying Yizhang: “Hello, Uncle.”
Ying Yizhang was very refined. He nodded, “Hello, Xiao Ning.”
A peer teased: “Xiao Jing, aren’t you going to introduce her?”
Ying Jing complained, “I just got back as a world champion, and you don’t even ask how I feel. That’s not very kind.”
The whole room burst into laughter.
In the kitchen, a helpful neighbor craned her neck, looking out repeatedly, and asked while washing fruit, “Is this Xiao Jing’s girlfriend?”
Cui Jingshu, who was cutting melon, hummed, “Yes.”
“Does she work?”
“Yes.” Cui Jingshu looked up, glanced over, and pondered, “What? Can you tell? Is it obvious?”
“Nah, not at all.” Knowing her concern, the neighbor sister reassured her, “She’s quite young, fair-skinned, and has a good complexion. Standing next to Xiao Jing, you really can’t tell any difference. Don’t you think her demeanor is particularly vibrant? You can tell she’s a quick worker and understands people’s emotions.”
Upon hearing this, Cui Jingshu felt pleased and remarked, “As long as Xiao Jing likes her.”
Outside, the conversation had already returned to Ying Jing’s competition.
“Were you nervous?”
“Not bad.”
“You’re bragging. In that kind of situation, how could you not be nervous?”
“Honestly not nervous, just one thought.”
“What?”
“I want to win.”
Ying Jing’s attitude was sincere and very convincing. A group of younger relatives had stars in their eyes: “Wow! Big brother is amazing!”
Chu Ning, on the other hand, was led by Ying Chen to meet this aunt and call out to that other aunt. After a round of auspicious greetings, Chu Ning felt that this family was both simple and lovely. It was no wonder Ying Jing’s personality was so good.
Chu Ning’s gaze drifted to the right. Ying Jing was the center of attention. He was completely relaxed, with a gentle, clean smile on his face. When others spoke, he listened with a smile, not interrupting regardless of whether he agreed or disagreed. Only after they finished speaking did he gently express his own views.
Polite, calm, well-mannered.
A faint smile touched Chu Ning’s lips. Just then, Ying Jing’s gaze also turned, and their eyes met, everything unsaid.
________________________________________
After the necessary greetings and the lively gathering, neighbors and friends gradually said their goodbyes.
Stepping outside, the enthusiastic discussions still lingered—
“Old Cui’s Xiao Jing is really a credit to the family, so promising!”
“That girl is beautiful too, poised and with a lovely smile.”
“Is she older than Xiao Jing?”
“What does it matter? Old Cui doesn’t bring it up, and if you don’t think about it that way, standing together, honestly, do you really think the girl looks old?”
After thinking for a moment, they shook their heads. “No, you really can’t tell.”
The evergreen bushes along the road were neatly trimmed into spherical shapes, and the straight road stretched far, lush and green, adding warmth to the winter day.
The dinner prepared by Cui Jingshu was incredibly lavish, with twelve dishes, symbolizing completeness and perfection. Chu Ning ate generously; she loved meat and didn’t deliberately restrain herself for appearances. She was also polite at the table; some dishes were a bit far from Ying Yizhang and Cui Jingshu, and with her good eyesight, she always proactively served them.
Cui Jingshu was gracious and didn’t decline, speaking politely: “Xiao Ning, do the dishes suit your taste? I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I could only ask Xiao Jing.”
No wonder, six or seven dishes on the table were her favorites.
“If there’s anything you particularly like, just tell me. I’ll make it for you tomorrow.”
Chu Ning politely said, “Auntie, your cooking is exceptionally delicious. Look, I’ve already eaten two bowls of rice tonight.”
“It’s fine, I cooked two pots of rice,” Cui Jingshu smiled, adding, “Li Kun and Xiao Jing are both big eaters. I was thinking of buying another rice cooker so that when they come back, both pots can cook at the same time, saving us from using the pressure cooker.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning looked at Ying Jing with confusion.
“Brother Li needs to eat more for his training, it’s a job requirement. But what about you? You don’t do physical labor, nor do you exercise...”
“Can’t I be going through a second growth spurt?” Ying Jing retorted confidently, with plenty of reasons.
Ying Chen scoffed, “He’s just greedy.”
The whole family burst into laughter.
After dinner, Li Kun took his wife out for a walk to aid digestion. Ying Yizhang had official duties to attend to and went to the government building. Cui Jingshu, meanwhile, went to the square for her daily dance. Chu Ning said, “Auntie, I’ll go with you.”
“Oh,” Cui Jingshu was quite surprised, “Xiao Ning can dance too?”
“No,” Chu Ning answered honestly, “But I can learn.”
Cui Jingshu chuckled, “Alright, let’s go.”
Ying Jing quickly said, “I’m not going, okay? I already know the moves to all those dances of yours.” He found it incredibly boring.
“Nonsense, your Aunt Sun and I have already choreographed new songs. And we won’t let you see them. Xiao Ning, let’s go.” Cui Jingshu, as if she had someone backing her up, led Chu Ning proudly to change shoes.
Ying Jing handed her a water cup from the table. “Don’t forget to take it.”
Then he whispered to Chu Ning, “I’m going to my childhood friend’s place tonight. If you get bored, just give me a call. It’s very close; I’ll come pick you up.”
This family lives a practical life. While daily routines might seem mundane, that’s how life is lived.
Cui Jingshu was quite happy. Taking Chu Ning out with her was quite eye-catching. Older people, after all, tend to have a bit of a competitive streak. Chu Ning was beautiful, had a good demeanor, and had her own way of interacting with people. She wasn’t shy with strangers, greeted them warmly, and could even chat about everyday topics.
She was well-liked and earned people’s praise.
A few close old friends turned their backs and exchanged heartfelt opinions—
“Old Cui, your daughter-in-law is pretty good.”
“Oh, don’t talk nonsense, nothing’s set in stone yet.” Cui Jingshu was secretly happy but maintained a calm expression.
“Heh, I know you. If you hadn’t approved, how could you bring her home? What does she do for work?”
Cui Jingshu said proudly, “She has her own company, in finance.”
During a short break, the music of “Jasmine Flower” began to play.
Chu Ning sat on the stone steps, watching with keen interest. The sky in Xingcheng was truly beautiful. In winter, at a little past six, there was still a lingering afterglow, extending from the square all the way to the training ground in the west, like a pontoon bridge suspended in mid-air.
The scenery was truly beautiful.
Chu Ning took out her phone and snapped two photos. After a thought, she posted an update on WeChat Moments:
“Winter, sunset, peace.”
These three words were a reflection of her current state of mind.
Calm and happy.
A stream of comments and likes immediately appeared:
Zhou Qin: “CEO Ning, where are you playing? So beautiful.”
X CEO: “Wow, is that in Yunnan?”
Qi Yu: “Sister Ning, isn’t this Xiao Jing’s home?!”
Zhou Yuan and the others were mutual friends and could see each other’s comments. They asked, “Are we preparing to contribute to the wedding fund?”
Zhang Huayu: “Beijing is having strong winds and a cold snap. I’m freezing to death. I need to go to Xingcheng to escape the cold too.”
Refreshing again, Feng Ziyang: “Damn! ‘The one nearest the water gets the moon first,’ my moon really flew away!”
Chu Ning chuckled as she read.
Coincidentally, Zhao Mingchuan sent a message, just one sentence:
“Reign in that bad temper of yours; don’t embarrass yourself in front of their parents.”
Even through the screen, one could imagine his impatience while typing. Chu Ning raised an eyebrow. He was saying one thing and doing another, and had the nerve to criticize her? He was clearly concerned and reminding her, but his way of expressing it was so bad.
Chu Ning was very generous and sent him two red packets directly.
At that moment, CEO Zhao had just finished a video conference and returned to his office to catch his breath. With one hand, he unbuttoned his shirt collar, and with the other, he clicked on the red packets. One was 200 yuan, the other 50.
He realized then that it was 250 yuan! (A colloquial term for a fool in Chinese).
CEO Zhao was so angry that he slammed his phone on the table with a thud. Ungrateful wretch!
________________________________________
The dance wasn’t even over yet, but Ying Jing came to find Chu Ning first.
He had somehow found a scooter. With one foot on the ground, he picked up speed, then stood steadily with both feet. As he went downhill, his arms spread slightly, his expression relaxed, moving with ease.
A young man riding the wind.
From afar, he smiled at her: “Ning’er!”
Chu Ning waved. When he was closer, she asked, “Are you done with your business?”
“Not even close. I was afraid you’d be bored, so I came to pick you up,” Ying Jing took her hand and naturally put it in his pocket, tucking it in: “It’s cold, warm up quickly.”
With so many people watching, Chu Ning felt embarrassed. She tried to pull away, but he reprimanded her: “Don’t move, you’re like an ice pop.”
Chu Ning wasn’t quite used to such intimacy, but Ying Jing convinced her with his reasoning: “You need to get used to it. To put it simply, we are officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Is it too much for your boyfriend to hold your hand?”
Chu Ning pondered, thinking it made some sense, so she nodded.
“To put it broadly, when we’re married, we’ll be family. All their actions towards you are out of concern, and you can’t refuse them; if you refuse, you’ll hurt their feelings.” Ying Jing’s eyes were deep and wide, and in the twilight, his expression glowed.
Perhaps it was related to his technical research background; when he articulated his views, he exuded a natural sense of righteousness and logic. This aura was very convincing. Chu Ning looked at him, thinking, This boy is really handsome.
For a moment, captivated by his charm, she nodded again, genuinely.
Ying Jing suppressed a smile, his mischievousness clearly written on his face.
Only then did Chu Ning react, her beautiful eyes widening. “Pah! Who wants to marry you!”
Ying Jing was serious. “I don’t care, you agreed. You’re a CEO; you have to be responsible for the physical and mental well-being of your employees.”
Chu Ning was torn between laughter and tears, pulled forward by him. “Hey! Where are we going?”
Where else could they go?
To show her off, of course.
There were many children of the courtyard, all of whom grew up together. This time, they had a rare complete gathering and agreed to go KTV that night. Chu Ning’s arrival caused quite a stir.
“Ying Jing, you cheated! We agreed to stay single until twenty-nine, why did you get a girlfriend first?!”
“Damn, and she’s so pretty!”
The playful ones, eager to stir up trouble, said: “Hey, yesterday Jiao Jiao and Mei Mei even called me, asking why you didn’t drink the loving milk they sent you?”
Ying Jing roared, “Get lost! Jiao Mei my ass! Milk my foot!”
The person was chased around the room by him, and laughter filled the air.
These young people presented another vibrant scene.
Chu Ning looked at the boisterous Ying Jing and suddenly felt at ease. He must have been this mischievous as a child too—pure, lively, rational, and passionate.
After enough fooling around, everyone went to sing.
For a moment, the private room was filled with howling, earth-shattering wails. In truth, their voices were quite good; if they sang seriously, it would surely be beautiful. Chu Ning was quiet, curled up on the sofa, sipping fruit wine leisurely with her legs crossed, her fingers tapping lightly to the rhythm.
Ying Jing put his arm around her, leaning in to whisper in her ear, “Are you happy?”
Chu Ning said, “Yes, I’m happy.”
Ying Jing said, “I will make you happy forever.”
“Don’t make random vows. How far is forever? Can you calculate that?” Chu Ning looked back at him, a faint smile in her eyes.
“I can,” Ying Jing held her hand, gently placing it on his chest. “Your being with me is forever.”
Chu Ning was stunned.
“Xiao Jing! Your song!” Someone called out.
“Coming,” Ying Jing replied, enthusiastically telling Chu Ning, “I sing much better than them. Let me cleanse your ears.”
With that, he confidently rose, took the microphone, and even gave it a practice tap.
The lights were dazzling, gently swaying, casting a shimmering glow on him, like ripples kissed by the spring breeze.
The prelude began. Chu Ning glanced at the screen. The song title was “Dispelling Sorrows.”
“When you walk into this joyful place, Carrying all your dreams and aspirations, Faces with various makeups, No one remembers your true appearance.”
Chu Ning was slightly startled. Ying Jing’s low voice, expressed in this way, was unexpectedly beautiful.
He stood in a relaxed posture, looking at the screen, emotions gradually intensifying in his eyes.
“A toast to the morning sun, a toast to the moonlight, Awakening my yearning, warming my cold window.”
As Ying Jing sang, he walked to a high stool a few steps away, casually sat down, one hand holding the microphone, the other lightly around his waist. He no longer looked at the screen; he remembered all the lyrics.
“A toast to my hometown, a toast to the distant lands, Guarding my kindness, urging me to grow, So the paths from north to south are no longer long.”
The last line was murmured softly and affectionately, his expression fervent, his gaze falling on Chu Ning:
“The soul is no longer without a resting place.”
With you, my soul finds its home.
The song ended.
Chu Ning suddenly stood up, walked over and took his hand, opening the door.
Neither of them spoke as they walked through the hallway, descended the elevator, and pushed open the revolving door. The cold winter wind whipped their faces, and outside, stars twinkled and neon lights shimmered.
Chu Ning finally stopped. Behind them was the tallest building in Xingcheng, its LED light effects continuously changing into various dazzling images, colorful and vibrant, also a landmark of the city.
Ying Jing smiled and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Chu Ning looked up slightly, her hand hooked around his neck, and she whispered in his ear, “Ying Jing, let’s kiss.”
Just then, the building behind them transformed into the brightest red.
The light radiated brilliantly, like a dazzling sun.
Ying Jing wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and a kiss, as she wished, descended.
Google Sites
Report abuse