Chapter 16 Ning-ge, when are we getting married?

After the banquet, it was already getting dark when Ning Yao returned home.

The courtyard was quiet, and there was no candle lit in the kitchen.

She went to the study first. "Brother Ning, are you home?"

She still doubted that the figure she saw at the banquet was Ning Yiwen.

Although the person's clothing and appearance were very different from his own.

But Ning Yao had a vague premonition about it.

"What's up?"

Before Ning Yao even entered the study, she heard a familiar voice coming from inside.

"Brother Ning, so you're home."

Lifting the gray curtain of the study, the room was somewhat dark, without even a candle lit.

"Why didn't you turn on the lights, Brother Ning? It's so dark, you'll ruin your eyesight."

As she spoke, Ning Yao walked to the tall candlestick behind Ning Yiwen's desk and lit the kerosene lamp on it.

Ning Yiwen looked up from his book, his expression indifferent. "What, can't I stay home?"

"No, not exactly." Ning Yao shook her head.

Then she told Ning Yiwen about what she had seen and heard that day.

Finally, he added, "Brother Ning, I saw someone at the banquet who looks a lot like you."

As she spoke, Ning Yao stared intently at Ning Yiwen's face, trying to spot any unnatural signs on his expression.

But no.

Ning Yiwen paused for a moment, his expression unchanged, and calmly denied, "That's not me."

Ning Yao smiled and stopped dwelling on the topic.

He changed the subject, "Brother Ning, they also said they'll organize another rally in the next couple of days to discuss the parade again. I'm hesitating whether I should participate?"

Since the beginning of the year, there have actually been several rounds of protests on the streets.

The teachers have mentioned this situation in their lectures, but opinions vary from person to person, and no unified opinion has been given.

However, Ning Yao's social circle was limited, and no one ever invited her to go together.

I never expected to run into you today.

Ning Yiwen, unusually, didn't give an answer. Instead, he asked her, "Do you want to go?"

Ning Yao tilted her head, thought about it seriously for a moment, and said, "I want to go."

"Then go ahead." Ning Yiwen did not stop him.

He knew that the world would only get worse in the future.

No one can remain unaffected.

It's better to get involved sooner rather than later.

"Then I have something else to do." Ning Yao's mind raced.

She even agreed to the idea of ​​a march; in Ning Ge's eyes, she must have grown up.

It was only today that she realized that many things had been under Ning Ge's control all along.

This was the case when Huo Li transferred classes a few years ago.

A few years later, the theme of the banquet was the same.

So, her relationship with Brother Ning must have always been under Brother Ning's control.

Since that's the case, she needs to get to the bottom of it.

"What?" Ning Yiwen looked at her quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Ning Yao took a deep breath and asked the question that had been weighing on her mind for three years.

"Brother Ning, when are we getting married?"

Ning Yao's words caught Ning Yiwen off guard.

A turbulent undercurrent flickered in his eyes, but it quickly vanished.

In Ning Yao's eyes, not even the slightest change in his expression or expression.

He simply said casually, "No rush."

Ning Yao was very confused, "Why aren't we in a hurry?"

She leaned forward, getting closer to him.

She was so close that she could see her small figure reflected in Ning Yiwen's eyes.

“Three years ago I was sixteen, and you didn’t agree then. We were both too young back then, but now I’m nineteen. Ning, you can get married at seventeen, so why aren’t you in a hurry? I really don’t understand.”

Ning Yao spoke urgently, but her voice gradually became lower towards the end.

It looked like a wilted eggplant after being hit by frost.

Ning Yao was very sad. She lowered her eyes and pressed her thin lips into a line.

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Ning Yiwen sighed deeply and asked helplessly, "But what about you? Do you like me?"

He looked at her with gentle eyes as he spoke.

"I like it!" Ning Yao answered without hesitation.

She looked at him with very serious eyes.

It seemed she wanted him to believe what she was saying.

Ning Yiwen naturally believed Ning Yao's words.

However, that's different.

What he saw in Ning Yao's eyes was clarity and dependence.

He thought it might be because the two of them had spent too much time together and were too familiar with each other.

Moreover, Ning Yao has always been his childhood sweetheart.

From a young age, her mother taught and instilled in her the idea that she would marry him when she grew up.

Therefore, this became a knot in Ning Yao's heart.

But the reason he painstakingly nurtured her was never that he hoped she would follow the wishes of her deceased friend.

The deceased are gone; those who remain should look forward.

“Ning Yao,” Ning Yiwen said earnestly, “listen to me, be good. We’re really not a good match right now.”

Ning Yao was stunned; she stared at him blankly.

Ning Yao had no idea what Ning Yiwen was thinking; she only picked up on the word "inappropriate."

Ning is probably just making excuses.

Otherwise, why would he say things that are inappropriate for her?

Their harmonious relationship after spending so much time together is genuine.

How could it be unsuitable?!

At the same time, a voice in Ning Yao's heart told her cruelly and bluntly.

He phrased it euphemistically, but the meaning was clear: he didn't like her.

Ning Yao opened her mouth, wanting to ask Ning-ge whether he liked her or not.

But she couldn't bring herself to ask.

It seems... there's no need to ask.

He's taken care of her for so long; he probably thinks of her as a younger sister.

Ning Yao was lost in thought, her face was somber, her eyes were downcast, and she looked so dejected that even Ning Yiwen couldn't understand her.

"Ning Yao, what are you thinking about?" Ning Yiwen asked.

Ning Yao shook her head subconsciously.

"I wasn't thinking about anything."

How can you say that you're thinking about whether he likes you or not?

Asking the question will likely just get you a clearer answer.

"Um... I suddenly realized I still have homework to finish."

Ning Yao lowered her eyes, stopped looking at him, and turned back to her desk.

Sit down, pick up the brush, and dip it in ink.

Staring at the blank paper, my mind was also completely blank.

I don't know where to begin.

But she knew that Brother Ning was still watching her.

Ning Yao casually picked up a book from a stack of books next to her; it was "Commentary on the Waterways Classic".

This book was recommended by the teacher as supplementary reading during class.

But it's okay.

Ning Yao didn't even look up or change the book; she just opened it and started copying without a care in the world.

Dot, stroke, left-falling stroke, vertical stroke, horizontal stroke with a hook.

Ning Yao's long-term practice of calligraphy quickly calmed her down.

Even the brushstrokes are gradually becoming more stable.

That's settled then.

Ning always has his reasons for doing things.

He didn't marry when he was sixteen.

This year is still not suitable.

Doesn't this tell us anything?

Brother Ning, Brother Ning.

Since I'm the older brother, then I'll always be the older brother.

Ning Yao made up her mind.

He was completely absorbed in copying the book.

Unlike Ning Yao's silence, Ning Yiwen, sitting opposite her, couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

He looked up, staring blankly at Ning Yao opposite him.

She calmed down.

From initial helplessness to stiffly holding the pen, and then to now writing fluently and with complete concentration.

She has accepted his answer.

Why does he seem so unhappy?

Ning Yiwen forced herself to bury her head in the book and pull herself together.

But I still can't concentrate on reading a single word.

My thoughts always drift back to her.

Ning Yiwen was curious why she had stopped asking questions when she clearly had something else to ask.

How could this be...?

Even after his mind was disturbed, he was still able to study so attentively.

Ning Yiwen really wanted to speak up and interrupt her concentration.

I even miss the feeling when the two of us looked at each other just now.

She could only see him.

Thinking of this, Ning Yiwen's breath hitched.

How could he think that?

He was with Ning Yao...

Ning Yiwen gripped the book tightly in his hand.

The scene of Ning Yao guarding his lonely grave alone after his death in her previous life flashed before her eyes once again.

Ning Yiwen closed his eyes.

He cannot.

He had already ruined her life in her previous life.

I will never repeat the same mistake in my life!

That night, no one spoke in the study, and a heavy atmosphere filled the room.

Even after nightfall, when both of them went to rest, they had not recovered.

*

The next day, at cockcrow, it was just beginning to get light.

Ning Yiwen got up according to his daily biological clock and came to the kitchen, only to find that Ning Yao was already up.

The fire in the stove was already lit.

"Ning Yao, why are you up so early today?"

Can't you sleep?

Ning Yiwen left the second half of the sentence unsaid.

"How could that be? I sleep the best." Ning Yao turned around with a bright smile on her face.

“Brother Ning, I can’t always expect you to make me breakfast every day. I also want to make you breakfast.”

Perhaps because his smile was too bright, Ning Yiwen also smiled.

"Alright, you can arrange breakfast this morning."

But for some reason, I couldn't feel happy.

It felt like a hand was gently squeezing my throat.

It's uncomfortable, but not suffocating yet.

Ning Yiwen returned to the courtyard with the book in his hand and sat down to wait for Ning Yao's breakfast.

The book in my hand is still on the same page, from yesterday until now.

I can't read books, and... it's not very pleasant to look towards the kitchen.

Ning Yiwen looked at the large osmanthus tree that had been there since the time he rented the place.

It was still early spring in March, with new branches sprouting and tiny, newly emerging green leaves falling when the wind blew.

It's only spring now.

Ning Yiwen's thoughts drifted and scattered with these tender buds.

He didn't know what was wrong with him.

It should be a time of joy for my daughter to grow up, but I just can't feel happy.

"Breakfast is here!" Ning Yao placed two bowls of white porridge on the table. "And I'll go get more."

Then they brought out two large steamed buns and a small dish of side dishes.

Just like what Ning Yiwen usually prepares.

Ning Yao handed the chopsticks to Ning Yiwen and watched him pick up a small dish with them.

"How about it?"

She asked curiously.

It's a bit too salty.

Ning Yiwen glanced at her and nodded, "Not bad. Better than the first time I did it."

Ning Yao smiled and quickly reached out with her chopsticks, but Ning Yiwen blocked her way.

"Don't just eat the vegetables, have some white porridge with them."

Ning Yao nodded, "Okay."

The two finished their breakfast slowly, with some time before class.

Ning Yao collected all the bowls and said to Ning Yiwen, "Brother Ning, you go to class first. I'll ride my bike in a bit, it'll be quick!"

Ning Yiwen was stunned.

Watching her run back to the kitchen, the words "No rush" stuck in my throat.

This was the first time they went to class separately.