Chapter 72
Xie Shiqing seemed to suddenly realize that the person in front of her was actually a very gentle person.
She always appeared cheerful and carefree, but was extremely considerate in the details.
When she first came to the Xie family, she had asked the butler about Xie Shiqing’s preferences. The butler did not tell her and instead reported the matter to Xie Shiqing.
Yet after spending so much time together, Zhong Ning had never made the same mistake twice.
Without being told what Xie Shiqing liked, she would observe carefully, and once she discovered something, she would remember it with great care. Just like that bowl of mango pomelo sago, Xie Shiqing had never said she disliked sweets, but Zhong Ning somehow knew.
Zhong Ning had never mentioned or boasted about these little things, never brought them up to seek praise or show off how attentive and considerate she was.
She simply did it, as if it was her responsibility.
It was merely doing what was expected of her.
In Zhong Ning’s mind, being good to her and making her happy were natural, while making her angry was wrong.
Could loving someone be this humble? Yet Zhong Ning clearly did not see it as a problem, nor did she feel that she had abandoned her dignity.
It was as if she had a checklist in her heart, a standard. Although she did not know how to date, she knew what an excellent girlfriend should do and how to interact with the person she liked.
She did not feel humble, nor did she think what she was doing made her inferior.
What kind of environment had Zhong Ning lived in before? What kind of person had she been to develop such thoughts?
As the one being doted on, Xie Shiqing seemed to have no standing to mock or judge.
In fact, she had already begun to feel a bit guilty.
For having deceived the feelings of such a kind and good person.
While she was enjoying all of this, she was still planning in her heart how to perfectly make her exit after completing her revenge, how to end this relationship.
Compared to Zhong Ning, she felt like a despicable petty person.
By her ear, Zhong Ning’s soothing whispers continued. She didn’t wear perfume; there was only the fresh scent of laundry detergent on her body, now overlaid with the refreshing and elegant fragrance of grapefruit blossom pheromones.
Xie Shiqing turned her head and bit the girl’s earlobe.
Zhong Ning let out a surprised cry, but did not dodge. Instead, she asked, "Why... mm!"
A hurried kiss initiated by Xie Shiqing followed. She sucked at Zhong Ning’s lips without any method, her arms hooked around Zhong Ning’s neck, pulling her forward in a stumble, her knees bumping against the sofa as she ended up half kneeling.
The one who was looking up and the one who was lowering her head had switched places, but the kiss still had not ended.
No matter how intense the kiss was, Zhong Ning never tried to take the initiative. She was like an ocean, gently embracing everything about her, as if no matter what Xie Shiqing did, she would accept it all.
Xie Shiqing tightly shut her eyes, her eyelashes trembling nonstop.
She would not give up on her revenge. Everything belonging to the Zhong family, she had to obtain. What she had suffered in her previous life, she was determined to return in full in this one.
After all, she was not a good person. She must not forget her true nature just because she was getting too close to Zhong Ning.
Using her to gain control over the Zhong family and to rid herself of the effects of Pheromone Imbalance Disorder were the only two things she needed to keep in mind.
When the kiss ended, Xie Shiqing regained her composure. The emotional fluctuation just now felt like a fleeting dream, but she had not forgotten the role she was playing. She adjusted the frequency of her blinking and lowered her eyes in a melancholic manner. "I feel much better, thank you, Ning Ning."
"Thank you for staying with me."
A smile instantly appeared on Zhong Ning’s face. "This is what I should do, Shiqing. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. As long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about firewood."
"I know." Xie Shiqing sighed. "Can you make me another mango pomelo sago today? I still want to eat it."
"Of course." Zhong Ning agreed without hesitation, deliberately putting on a serious tone. "I am your exclusive dessert chef, at your service! Whether it’s day or night, as long as you give the word, I will present you with the most delicious mango pomelo sago!"
Xie Shiqing chuckled, her moist red lips curving up like a red plum blossom slowly blooming in the snow.
Zhong Ning’s tightly pressed lips also curved upward. She gazed unblinkingly at the rare smile on Xie Shiqing’s face these days, deeply feeling that today’s visit had truly been worth it.
"Then I’ll go home now?" she softened her voice, her gaze still lingering on the other’s face.
Xie Shiqing nodded. "Be careful on the way, Ning Ning."
Listening to the sound of footsteps fading away, the door opening and closing, Xie Shiqing seemed to suddenly deflate, sinking into the sofa. She raised her arm to cover her forehead, her expression filled with melancholy.
"Zhong Ning."
She softly called out the name.
She didn’t want to admit that a trace of hesitation had risen in her heart.
But when she thought of the mental torment she had suffered in her previous life, of how she had been betrayed by the joint schemes of the Zhong and Le families, cornered and torn apart like a trapped beast with nowhere to turn,
Her wavering thoughts immediately hardened once more.
The incident of Lunar Rescue’s film source leak quickly caused a huge uproar across the internet, and Xie Corporation had not yet issued any statement in response.
The usual competitors could not wait to jump out, bribing marketing accounts to spread all kinds of dirt and exaggerating the matter to an extreme degree through press releases.
Xie Shiqing was indeed not idle. True, she did not engage in emergency public relations, scrambling to suppress the situation. Strictly speaking, she had intentionally allowed the leak to spread far and wide.
But the emergency shareholders’ meeting still had to be attended.
The shareholders who could make it came in person, while those who couldn’t joined via video conference.
As soon as Xie Shiqing entered the conference room and sat down, an elderly shareholder knocked on the table. Her gaze was sharp, and though she was well-maintained, traces of wrinkles remained on her face. She immediately began with a reproach.
"Chairman Xie, do you have anything to say about the enormous crisis this incident has brought to the company?"
"We shareholders usually support your decisions because we believe you have a unique vision and can lead Xie Corporation to glory. But this crisis has caused too much damage to the company."