Chapter 24
"The computer the butler prepared is really good."
"Also, I missed you so much today, Shiqing."
Missed me? Xie Shiqing sneered inwardly. Missed me but still had time to flirt with other women? Isn’t it all just an act?
Her red lips curled up. Xie Shiqing softened her voice and said, "I missed you too, Ning Ning."
Zhong Ning was overwhelmed with surprise.
She truly had thought about Xie Shiqing many times, starting from the moment she opened her eyes.
After arriving in this world, she had no friends and no real family. The only one even remotely familiar, someone she could think about and hold dear, was Xie Shiqing.
She hadn’t expected that Xie Shiqing was also thinking of her.
Zhong Ning, always honest, never even considered that lying was an option. Everyone she had known before had been sincere, her close friends all genuinely heartfelt.
She had already erased the word “deceit” from her dictionary.
"I actually want to chat with you more, but I’m afraid of disturbing your work. Does this frequency bother you?"
"Thinking about it, I might talk a little too much," Zhong Ning smiled a bit sheepishly, "but I just can’t help it, I want to share with you."
She thoughtfully added, "You can reply to my messages whenever you have time. If you’re busy, just leave them aside."
That was exactly what Xie Shiqing had been doing.
Even when she wasn’t busy, if she found the messages annoying, she wouldn’t reply. She’d just let them sit, and only respond when she felt like it.
But Zhong Ning’s considerate attitude did slightly ease her mood.
This was the attitude a pleasing person should have.
Her brow lifted slightly. Xie Shiqing twirled a lock of black hair with her pinky finger, her smile finally carrying a hint of sincerity. She lazily raised a hand, not minding to offer a little sweetness.
"Want to hold hands?"
Doing the right thing deserved a reward, doing the wrong thing deserved punishment. This was how those in power treated their subordinates, no different from training a dog.
Due to her blindness, she naturally lacked a key tool for reading people’s expressions. And since the Xie Corporation was an entertainment company practically built on façades and personas, Xie Shiqing had honed these interpersonal tactics to the point of instinct—they came out naturally.
And she didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it.
Zhong Ning, on the other hand, was overjoyed.
A major breakthrough!
Strictly speaking, Xie Shiqing’s hand wasn’t exactly soft, because it was too slender.
Her fingers were long and thin, with little flesh, and her hand was quite small.
Yet Zhong Ning found it hard to let go, even feeling like she was some kind of pervert, always wanting to be close to her.
It was manageable when they were separated by a phone screen—she merely missed her. But when Xie Shiqing stood right in front of her, Zhong Ning found it hard to control herself.
It felt as though this person possessed some kind of magnetic pull. Once she laid eyes on her, she just wanted to move closer.
And once she did, she wanted to get even closer, the urge to kiss her stirring restlessly within.
The act of holding hands barely helped to ease this desire.
It didn’t quench the thirst in her heart, but at least it could moisten her throat a little.
They walked together to the first floor. Dinner wasn’t ready yet—not because the chef was slacking off or had forgotten the time, but because Xie Shiqing wasn’t used to eating right after getting home.
In her opinion, it would be best if people didn’t eat three meals a day—she simply didn’t like eating.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all easily skipped. Only when absolutely necessary would she force herself to take a few bites.
The later, the better.
However, these past two days—perhaps due to Zhong Ning’s pheromones—her body and emotions had stabilized quite a bit, and she even had the appetite to eat a few more bites.
Zhong Ning, on the other hand, cherished this short time they had together.
Though they will have plenty of time in the future—an entire lifetime, still—every single moment now feels precious.
What should she talk about?
With hidden little thoughts in her heart, she didn’t let go of their interlocked hands.
What could she do to quickly draw their hearts closer together?
She didn’t mind laying herself bare, exposing her inner thoughts to Xie Shiqing, accepting her opinions and feedback, letting her say what parts she liked or disliked.
The parts she liked, Zhong Ning would keep. The parts she disliked, Zhong Ning would change.
But Xie Shiqing was truly a sensitive person. Zhong Ning had to tread carefully, edging closer little by little, ensuring that her words didn’t inadvertently become daggers that might hurt the omega.
Just like that time in the hospital.
"Do you want to go for a walk? The temperature outside is just right now, it’s nice and cool."
Xie Shiqing responded casually.
As Zhong Ning had said, summer nights were perfect for taking a walk.
Gentle evening breezes carried soft fragrances. The lanterns in the garden outshone the stars, but the round moon, like a silver glowing globe amidst the cloudy sky, warming the night. Silver light shined down onto the two figures walking.
Pink and purple roses trembled silently in the breeze as Zhong Ning racked her brains for a topic.
Talk about the unique color of the roses?
Zhong Ning couldn’t see it—that would be like poking a wound.
Mention how beautiful the moonlight was tonight?
Too awkward, and it shared the same issue as before.
Talk about something funny that happened today?
She had already shared all of that on WeChat.