Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Zhong Ning responded with a soft “Okay.”

The group then split up. Zhong Ning, with slightly damp temples, returned to the bench and asked naturally, “Had a good rest? Can you still walk?”

Xie Shiqing had a ball of frustration stuck in her chest. “I can walk.”

Zhong Ning calmly slung her bag over her shoulder. “Then let’s go. There’s still some distance to the exit.”

The two of them walked one in front of the other, with a small gap between them. Xie Shiqing was behind, and she slightly tilted her head to glance at Zhong Ning’s still dewy side profile.

Her heart ached dully, as if it had been placed into a simmering pot, slowly heating up, slowly being stewed—until flesh and blood separated, and nerves snapped one by one.

Don’t be sad. There’s no time to waste on sorrow.

Xie Shiqing silently told herself: No matter what Zhong Ning was thinking, as long as she was still willing to speak with her, wasn’t that already the best outcome?

As long as there was contact, communication—there was still a chance to pursue.

Don’t ask for too much. Don’t ask for too much.

Stay calm. Stay calm.

Xie Shiqing quietly took a deep breath and put her smile back on. In a soft, sweet tone, she said, “Ning-jiejie, what are we eating for lunch? I heard there’s lots of specialty food around here—should we try something?”

Zhong Ning replied without hesitation, “I’m fine with anything. What do you want to eat?”

“Salted duck?” Xie Shiqing made a troubled expression, puffing out her cheeks a little. “I’m not really sure either, but maybe these kinds of dishes taste better at specialty restaurants?”

“How about we eat out? Let’s not go back to the hotel.”

“Sure,” Zhong Ning said. “Now’s a good time to check what you want to eat, then we’ll head straight there by taxi.”

Xie Shiqing started browsing on her phone. As she scrolled, she happened to come across a century-old stew restaurant that was running a promotion. The owner’s daughter was getting married, so they were offering a couple’s set menu for the whole week.

Her eyes gleamed, and she switched to the dish showcase page. “I want to eat this. We can drink soup too, and I’ve been craving soup.”

“Sure.”

The century-old restaurant was already quite popular. Zhong Ning made a reservation in advance, and even after arriving by taxi, they still had to wait for a bit—there were two people ahead of them.

There was a designated waiting area, live performers singing on stage, and the restaurant provided snacks, so it wasn’t too boring.

Xie Shiqing sat on a chair, slowly shelling two peanuts in her hand. The performer on stage was singing Huangmei opera, dressed in full costume, face painted thickly with makeup, the voice warbling like an oriole.

“I used to think opera was hard to listen to, but now I find it strangely charming. What about you, Ning-jiejie?”

Zhong Ning replied, “It’s very nice.”

Xie Shiqing said, “People’s opinions really change quickly. I keep thinking about the past these days. Do you, Ning-jiejie?”

“No.” Zhong Ning looked at her and said, “I don’t. The past has already happened. There’s nothing to be attached to. Looking to the future is what I prefer.”

The smile on Xie Shiqing’s lips froze for a moment, then slowly bloomed again. “Right, the future matters more.”

A server came over and told them their table was ready, then led the two of them upstairs.

The sound of Huangmei opera gradually faded and distorted in the distance. The noise of chattering voices and the bubbling of the hotpot replaced the music, becoming the only melody in the space.

It was a table for four, with just the two of them seated across from each other. In the center was a clean square table, with a large iron pot set on top.

A server stood by and spoke gently. “You can scan the QR code on the table corner to order dishes, or I can make recommendations for you.”

Xie Shiqing turned her head slightly, smiling as she said, “You have a couple’s set meal here, right? We’ll have one of those, please.”

The server let out a soft “Wow,” then replied, “You can place the order directly on your phone. If you order the couple’s set, you’ll also receive a blessing.”

“Please wait a moment.”

With that, she quickly walked away.

Xie Shiqing looked toward Zhong Ning, blinking a few times. Her fingers moved restlessly on the table, fidgeting as if nervously, “I saw that it’s a meal for two. The dishes seem just right, feels like it matches our appetite. The other options were either too much or too little.”

Zhong Ning gave a small smile, looking her straight in the eye, and said, “Sure.”

Xie Shiqing pinched her voice delicately and said sweetly, “It’s a couple’s meal though. I was worried Ning-jiejie might not like that. We can choose another one if you want.”

“Why would I not like it?” Zhong Ning raised an eyebrow. “There’s no wife in a wife cake either. Ordering a couple’s set doesn’t mean the diners are a couple.”

“It’s just a set meal.”

She said calmly, “Jingjing, you’re overthinking.”

The server who had left came briskly back, holding two dewy, vividly red roses in her hand. The petals were still in bud, fresh and full, carrying a charming fragrance.

She presented the two roses to them with a proper smile. “Our restaurant wishes you both a lasting union, a smooth path in love. Even when facing hardships, may you overcome them together, achieve happiness, and stay together forever in harmony and joy!”

The rose stems were neatly trimmed, without a single thorn, but when Xie Shiqing held it in her hand, she felt a phantom pain, as though a thorn had pierced her palm.

Or perhaps it was the sharpness of those words that had cut into her heart?

After giving her blessing, the server mentioned that the dishes would be served in about ten minutes and then left.

Xie Shiqing’s smile froze on her lips. She lowered her gaze, then lifted it again moments later, as if nothing had happened. Cheerfully, she said, “I know it’s just a set meal, I was only worried Ning-jiejie might misunderstand.”

“I won’t.”

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Xie Shiqing (Jingjing version): If you eat a couple’s meal, that makes you a couple~

Zhong Ning: Rebound

Aaaa two days ago was Qixi Festival! Happy Qixi, darlings! (So late) (Actually I dreamed of a goddess wife, didn’t want to wake up, lived a perfect lifetime in the dream, and when I did wake up, it was already two days later…)

Chapter 70

The vibrant scent of roses was intoxicating, the color a rich, pure red. But Zhong Ning unexpectedly thought of the clusters of blue-violet roses in the Xie family’s villa garden—melancholy and dreamy, like an illusion drawn on canvas.