Chapter 30 Best Friend

Xie Shiyan's gaze instantly shifted from the contract to her face. In his deep eyes, there surged an intense, almost overwhelming possessiveness, stronger than before, born from the loss and regaining of her, along with a hint of barely perceptible panic.

He didn't agree immediately; instead, he gripped her hand even tighter in his palm. The warmth of his palm and his silent tension were clearly conveyed to her.

Jiang Yining's heart softened. She placed her other hand over his tightly clenched hand, her fingertips gently caressing his tense knuckles. Her voice became even softer, carrying an absolute assurance:

"Brother Shiyan, I won't run around. I'll stay right there, where you can see me at a glance. Don't worry."

The clarity and certainty in her eyes made Xie Shiyan's Adam's apple bob. His gaze lingered on her face for a full three seconds before he finally released her hand with extreme slowness and reluctance.

The warmth from her fingertips vanished abruptly, and Jiang Yining immediately stood up, moving like a light butterfly, quickly towards the corner sofa area where Xiao Xiao and Shen Nian'an were.

Almost simultaneously, Xie Shiyan's gaze followed her closely, tracking the red figure until she settled comfortably between Xiao Xiao and Shen Nian'an.

That focus carried an almost pathological obsession, until Zhou Yanzhe beside him coughed softly, offering a kind reminder: "Ayan, the details of the plan..."

Xie Shiyan snapped back to reality, forcibly pulling his gaze away from that corner and refocusing on the documents in front of him. However, a lingering sense of unease still remained deep in his eyes.

As soon as Jiang Yining sat down on the soft sofa, Xiao Xiao and Shen Nian'an suddenly hugged her from both sides, so tightly that she staggered slightly.

"Lemon"

"It really is you...it really is you."

Both voices were choked with sobs, their arms clenched tightly, and Xiao Xiao's tears fell directly onto Jiang Yining's shoulder, the warm dampness seeping through the thin fabric.

Although Shen Nian'an didn't cry out loud, her body was trembling slightly. They felt the real body temperature, soft touch, and familiar scent of the person in their arms. After eight years, their hearts finally settled down at this moment.

It's not a dream, not an illusion. Their Ningning has really returned.

Xiao Xiao, overwhelmed with emotion, blurted out, "Ningning, what happened? How could you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Nian'an yanked her arm forcefully. Shen Nian'an quickly shook her head, gesturing to those around them that there were others, and lowered her voice: "We'll talk about it when we get back."

This is not the place to pursue bizarre truths. Xiao Xiao also instantly realized that she had almost said something inappropriate, and quickly stopped talking, but held Jiang Yining's hand even tighter.

She sniffed, pulled Jiang Yining down to sit, and casually picked up a delicate pastry from the coffee table, decorated with lemon slices and icing sugar, and handed it to her: "Ningning, eat this. It's your favorite lemon flavor."

Seeing the familiar lemon yellow color and the refreshing scent, Jiang Yining's eyes lit up. Like a satisfied kitten, she accepted it without hesitation: "Thank you, Xiaoxiao."

She ate in small bites, the familiar sweet and sour taste spreading on her tongue. The wives of the project team who had been invited nearby had already been drawn to this suddenly appearing, clean-looking, and extremely beautiful girl.

One of the elegantly dressed ladies couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mrs. Lu, Mrs. Zhou, is this... Mr. Xie's wife? Or his girlfriend? I don't think I've seen her before."

Shen Nian'an immediately put on a polite smile and naturally confirmed Jiang Yining's identity: "Ladies, this is Miss Jiang Yining, our CEO Xie's fiancée. CEO Xie cherishes her very much and rarely lets her attend social events, so you may not be very familiar with her."

Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable certainty: "Ningning, come and greet the ladies."

Jiang Yining put down the pastry she was eating halfway through, stood up gracefully, gave a slight bow to the ladies, and said with a sweet and generous smile, "Greetings, ladies."

Her excellent upbringing and ingrained manners allowed her to handle the situation with ease. Seeing her proper demeanor and outstanding appearance, the ladies smiled and nodded in response, their eyes showing understanding and appreciation.

So it was President Xie's secret fiancée, no wonder she was so nervous. An Kexia walked over, holding a wine glass, her gaze complicated. She looked at Jiang Yining, who was being protected by Xiao Xiao and Shen Nian'an, and forced a smile: "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

Xiao Xiao slapped her forehead: "Oh right, Ke Xia said yesterday that she encountered a beautiful woman who looked like Ning Ning who crashed into her car. It turns out it was you, Ning Ning. What a small world."

Chen Nian'an also introduced with a smile: "Ningning, this is also our good friend, An Kexia."

"Ms. An, hello. I'm so sorry about yesterday." Jiang Yining apologized again, her attitude sincere. "Have you gotten the damage assessment results for your car? How much do you need to pay? I'll definitely take responsibility."

Looking at the face before her, identical to the one she remembered, and hearing her gentle and polite voice, the last bit of resentment in her heart dissipated. She waved her hand cheerfully: "Hey, we're friends now, why bring up compensation? It's just a minor scratch, insurance will handle it, no need for you to worry. Besides, knowing you makes this car accident worthwhile."

She has a straightforward personality and had long since let go of her previous obsession with Xie Shiyan. Now, she feels a genuine fondness for Jiang Yining.