Chapter 13. Ning Yiwen reacted as if he had been burned...

After school, Ning Yiwen went to pick up Ning Yao as usual.

Ning Yao looked sullen, while Ning Yiwen's face was fine, but his eyes were heavy.

Ning Yao asked, "Brother Ning, do you think the modern curls look good?"

Ning Yiwen didn't quite hear what she said, and just nodded haphazardly.

He was still sorting out his thoughts.

All afternoon, he still couldn't figure out what had gotten into him back then.

Why would he find the sight of Ning Yao and Huo Li chatting together irritating? Shouldn't he be more concerned about the fact that it was Huo Li?

Huo Li is not an easy person to get along with.

The Huo family wielded absolute power in the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce; they were ruthless and cunning individuals.

Moreover, Ning Yao cannot accept gifts from others casually; this is a matter of principle.

Why did he blurt out that he was unhappy she received a gift...?

This is very abnormal of him.

Ning Yiwen clenched his fists.

He looked down at the girl who was quietly following him beside him.

He followed closely behind, his eyes clear as he looked ahead, a hint of displeasure on his face, all his emotions written on his face.

He knew the reason without even thinking; it was probably because of the cricket that had retreated.

Thinking of this, he recalled how he had killed her cricket in a fit of anger last night.

It was only at this point that he realized it.

It seems that no matter how outrageous he does, Ning Yao never gets angry with him.

Ning Yiwen's heart sank even further.

He hopes that Ning Yao in the future will be an independent and self-reliant person.

Now, she seems to have become his little shadow, which is completely different from what he wanted.

Was his approach of taking on everything himself the right thing to do?

Since his rebirth, Ning Yiwen has been proceeding cautiously, thinking three steps ahead for every one he takes, and for the first time he is somewhat uncertain.

Night fell.

Today is the fifteenth of the lunar month, and the moon has gone from full to waning.

The moonlight was no longer as bright as it had been a few days before.

Late at night, another figure appeared in the grass in the corner of the Ning family's courtyard.

The figure bent down and groped through the grass with his bare hands, again and again.

The next day, a rooster crowed, breaking the sky, and the rising sun pierced through the clouds.

Ning Yao stretched and got up, folded the blankets, and walked out of the room.

At a glance, I spotted a small gray cloth bag lying all alone on the stone table in the middle of the courtyard.

This cloth bag...

Ning Yao thought he looked familiar.

As I got closer, I realized that this was the bag she had used to hold the crickets the night before last.

Did Brother Ning pick him up?

Ning Yao opened the cloth bag and was surprised to find two live crickets inside.

Ning Yao blinked in disbelief.

"You're up?" Ning Yiwen's voice came from behind. "Then let's go have breakfast."

“Brother Ning…” Ning Yao held the cloth bag, her eyes clearly showing a question mark.

Ning Yiwen glanced at it, then looked away.

He cleared his throat before saying, "Didn't I kill one of yours? I'll compensate you, I'll compensate you with two."

Ning Yao pursed her lips, smiling broadly, her fingers tightly gripping the drawstring of the bag.

"Thank you, Brother Ning!"

Her voice was clear and crisp, and anyone could hear the joy in it.

Ning Yiwen's lips also curved into a smile.

As long as you're happy.

"Then you should study hard from now on."

"good!"

*

Three years later.

Shanghai, 1915.

The spring breeze of March swept across the Huangpu River, rippling the surface and sparkling in the sunlight.

The plane trees in the concession area rustled, and the cries of rickshaws and newspaper boys mingled and echoed through the streets.

A girl in a blue schoolgirl uniform was riding her bicycle leisurely down the street.

A gentle spring breeze caresses the face.

The girl's long, black hair swayed in the wind behind her.

The bicycle bell rang, and passersby understood, consciously moving a few steps to the side of the road.

The bicycle stopped in front of the newspaper office.

The newspaper office sign reads in large characters: Spring and Autumn Times.

At the entrance of the newspaper office, a middle-aged man was walking out of the office.

"Ning Yao, you're here."

Ning Yao nodded, her eyes crinkling as she greeted him, "Uncle Ding, go on out."

Ding Yu was one of the newspaper's editors.

Ning Yao stepped into the newspaper office and went straight to the second floor.

She had been frequenting the newspaper office for a year and was already very familiar with its internal structure.

In the past, she was just running errands for Brother Ning to collect his royalties; today, she's here to collect her own royalties.

My first payment for a manuscript!

There were even more people coming and going on the second floor.

Ning Yao greeted everyone before arriving at the very back, a small corner hidden by stacks of newspapers.

A woman is squatting down, sorting through newspaper and magazine materials.

"Sister Chen, why are you organizing documents by yourself today? Where is your assistant?"

Shen Luoying is the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper and also Ning Yiwen and Ning Yao's editor.

"He's on leave. Your payment is on the table; take it yourself."

Shen Luoying was very busy at the moment and didn't have time to chat with Ning Yao.

But Ning Yao's visit this time wasn't just about collecting royalties.

She stood there, bent down, propped her elbows on the messy table, and said softly to Shen Luoying, "Sister Shen, there's something else I'd like to ask you."

Shen Luoying paused in her movements, looked up at her, her fair face full of curiosity.

"What's up?"

Ning Yao said, "I'd like to ask you about someone."

Shen Luoying simply stood up, patted her back, and said, "Speak now, while I'm taking a break."

Do you know who uses the pen name Yan Xu?

A few days ago, she saw an article in the newspaper and was instantly amazed!

How could anyone write such an exquisite article!

Shen Luoying shook her head: "You asked about this? Then I can't tell you. Our publishing house usually protects authors, especially authors like Yan Xu."

Seeing Ning Yao's persistent expression, he added, "Don't even think about it. This author always submits his work via mail, so we don't know who he is."

Yan Xu is a contributor to their newspaper.

He expressed many basic views on the current situation.

However, given the current deterioration of diplomatic relations with Japan, this seemingly superficial view has been a welcome relief for many.

Shen Luoying always found his manuscripts amazing.

Many newspapers treat such comments on current affairs with great caution.

But Yan Xu grasped the balance very well, finding the right degree.

His writing was unbiased, without embellishment or judgment, and he didn't even criticize those in high positions. He simply discussed what the common people could do and what scholars should do. This ability to write effectively led to the widespread dissemination of his ideas.

Hearing Shen Luoying's words, Ning Yao sighed deeply, "That's such a pity."

Shen Luoying laughed at her: "What's there to regret?"

Ning Yao said, "I always felt that many of his views were familiar, so I wanted to have a good talk with him."

Actually, it wasn't her, it was Ning Yiwen.

She felt that Yanxu's views were very familiar, similar to the views Ning Ge expressed when she talked with him at home.

Ning told her last month that the treaty would be partially accepted. The situation might get worse, but it won't stay bad forever.

Similar to the articles published by Yan Xu during this period.

Of course, Yan Xu's writing style is more subtle.

Shen Luoying chuckled and shook her head. "I think you should work on your writing skills. Your current writing is fine for journalistic reporting, but when it comes to storytelling, you don't even have 30% of what your brother Ning has."

Ning Yao shook her head: "Don't even mention 30%, 10% is enough for me to be secretly happy."

Ning Yiwen's novels have become wildly popular in the city over the past two years, even boosting the reputation of the Chunqiu Times, the newspaper that serialized them. To retain him, they significantly increased his royalties. This kind of ability isn't something everyone possesses.

Shen Luoying smiled and didn't continue the discussion.

Ning Yao collected her royalties, went downstairs, got on her bicycle, and went straight home.

Their home was just one street behind the newspaper office.

Last year, Ning Yiwen moved with her from the western suburbs to the vicinity of the school in the east of the city.

I rented a small three-bedroom house with a courtyard. The courtyard was similar to the previous one, but it cost eight dollars more.

It's also thanks to Brother Ning's generous royalties.

Two years ago, when Ning learned that she was interested in photography, he specially spent 120 yuan to buy her a camera.

They bought this bicycle last month.

Ning Yao loves taking photos and is also very fond of this bicycle. Even though the newspaper office is only a few steps away, she insists on riding her bicycle around two streets.

Back home, Ning Yao moved her bicycle into the courtyard, washed her hands, and then went to a small study in the back.

He lifted the curtain and said, "Brother Ning, I'm back."

The study wasn't large; one wall, not near the window, was lined with bookshelves, and another wall was covered with photos of Ning Yao practicing photography over the past few years. There were also two desks.

It's what Ning Yao and Ning Yiwen use for their daily studies.

One per person.

The tables clearly exhibit two different styles.

Ning Yiwen's desk was clean and tidy, with pens, paper, and books arranged in an orderly manner.

Ning Yao's was much more messy, with a book still open and being read on the table.

Ning Yiwen was standing in front of Ning Yao's desk, stacking the books on her desk one by one onto the bookshelf.

Upon hearing this, he turned around.

She wore a gray long gown, her features were elegant and clear, with distinct angles, and her appearance was as warm and clear as jade.

"I'm back." The voice was clear and bright, like a gentle breeze.

Ning Yao's eyes darted off for a moment. "Brother Ning, I've got my royalties back."

How many?

Ning Yiwen asked casually.

But Ning Yao walked straight up, took his hand with her palm facing up, and personally placed the bag of silver coins in Ning Yiwen's hand.

"Brother Ning, see for yourself."

They quickly let go of each other's hands, and the distance between them returned to the normal three steps.

But the scent of wind and pear blossoms that Ning Yao brought with her when she rushed up still lingered.

Ning Yiwen lowered his eyes to look at the bag Ning Yao had placed in his palm, his gaze focusing on the wrist that had just been touched.

Lately, she seems to enjoy touching him more and more?

In the past, he would hold her hand and take her to school.

But he hasn't done anything like that since Ning Yao turned seventeen.

"Brother Ning, why don't you open it and take a look?" Ning Yao said, taking another step forward.

A bright smile graced his face.

The fragrance of pear blossoms was even stronger.

Ning Yiwen's eyelashes trembled slightly. She put the bag on the table with her other hand and said indifferently, "It's light and flimsy, probably only three."

That was a very accurate guess.

But Ning Yao wasn't going to give up so quickly. She took another step forward and took his hand.

He placed his hand on the cloth bag, palms overlapping.

She said in a charming voice, "No way, Brother Ning, are you just going to treat my first payment like this?"

Ning Yiwen recoiled as if burned, his fingers curling slightly, hidden in his sleeve.

A hint of a smile flashed in Ning Yao's eyes, and she feigned confusion, asking, "Brother Ning, what's wrong?"

She admitted that she did it on purpose.

Ning Yiwen shook his head, "It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered something, I need to go out for a bit."

After saying that, he strode away without looking back, leaving the study and the courtyard.

Ning Yao stood there for a while, and then sighed, "Sigh, what am I going to do with you?"

She's nineteen this year.

Having read many books, she naturally learned a lot.

In addition, her female classmates shared several romance novels with her, such as "The Romance of the Western Chamber" and "The Peach Blossom Fan".

Ning Yao suddenly seemed to have an epiphany.

She observed Ning Yiwen for a long time.

I increasingly feel that Brother Ning is as rigid as an ancient scholar, expressing his feelings but stopping at the point of propriety!

Sure enough, when she touched him like that, he dodged away again.

A note from the author:

----------------------

Ning Yiwen: He really had something to do and needed to go out.

Let's review history: In 1915, Japan presented the "Twenty-One Demands." The situation was turbulent then, and the whole environment was bleak. I just wanted to remind everyone that everyone has their own way of living. Society can be dark, but people's hearts can also be bright.

No update tomorrow. See you in the next chapter on Wednesday! [heart emoji]