At dinner, Xie Heng made a point of having Yan Ning sit next to Xie Huaiye.

Xiao Zhu blinked her big eyes and looked around, then suddenly said:

Why does the brother keep putting food on his sister's plate?

Xie Huaiye said naturally:

"Because she loves to eat."

Yan Ning's ears turned slightly red. Not knowing what to say, she simply lowered her head and ate silently.

Xie Heng smiled and took over the conversation:

"Huaiye is very thoughtful; he even knows what Ningning likes to eat."

He turned to Yan Ning and whispered, "This kid has never been so attentive to anyone before. You're the first girl he's ever treated like this."

Xie Huaiye frowned, somewhat embarrassed, "Dad, please say less..."

Xiao Zhuo suddenly jumped off the chair.

He ran to Yan Ning's side and whispered something in her ear.

The sound was so loud that everyone could hear it:

"Sister, brother was so worried when he couldn't find you last night, he almost turned the whole mountain upside down!"

"Xiao Zhuo, eat your food."

Xie Huaiye coughed lightly, his ears turning slightly red.

Yan Ning secretly glanced at him, a sweet feeling rising in her heart.

After the meal, Xie Huaiye went to the kitchen to heat up some milk.

Xie Heng took the opportunity to say to Yan Ning:

“Ningning, Huaiye may be a little silly sometimes, but he’s really sincere towards you.”

He sighed, "He's been under a lot of pressure these past few years and rarely opens up to people."

"Okay, Uncle."

Yan Ning remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly.

At this moment, Xie Huaiye came over with a glass of milk and handed it to Yan Ning:

"Drinking it will help me sleep better."

Their fingers accidentally touched.

Yan Ning trembled slightly, and almost spilled the milk.

Xie Huaiye gently held the cup and chuckled softly:

"Am I that nervous to you?"

Xiao Zhu appeared out of nowhere, covering her mouth and giggling:

"Brother, you're so embarrassing!"

Xie Heng quickly picked up Xie Zhuo: "Come on, come on, Daddy will take you to brush your teeth, and let your older brother and sister talk for a while."

Xie Huaiye glanced at the time, his voice softer than usual:

"You must be tired after a long day. Why don't you go upstairs and rest? I had the room cleaned again and the sheets changed."

Yan Ning nodded and smiled gently at him: "Okay, see you tomorrow."

She turned and went upstairs.

Xie Huaiye watched her until she disappeared around the corner of the stairs before turning his gaze away.

Yan Ning pushed open the door.

The room was filled with a faint scent of lavender.

The sheets were clearly new, soft and clean.

The entire room was decorated in a simple yet elegant style.

It suited her taste better than the pink and tender room in the Su family home.

It seems Xie Huaiye really understands her...

Yan Ning lay down in the soft quilt.

My body was enveloped in just the right amount of softness, yet I felt no sleepiness whatsoever.

She turned over and faced the window.

Moonlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting blurry patches of light on the floor.

She had just closed her eyes.

The daytime scenes, however, emerged even more clearly.

Qingshan Guanli.

Xie Huaiye stood in front of her.

Those eyes, which always seemed overly calm, now held an unprecedented seriousness and tension.

Every word he said struck her heart: "Yan Ning, I just like you."

"I like Yan Ning, the little Taoist priest in Qingshan Temple who can catch ghosts and tell fortunes. He glares when he's angry and smiles when he's happy."

The path down the mountain suddenly felt so short.

His palms were dry and warm, holding hers tightly.

She could even recall the sensation of his thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand.

That small patch of skin still seems to be faintly burning.

And inside the car...

He leaned closer, his breath suddenly drawing near.

It has a crisp and pleasant scent.

She was so nervous that she held her breath, but he simply unbuckled her seatbelt.

When Xie Huaiye looked down at her, a faint smile seemed to flash in his eyes.

It was as if they were laughing at her nervousness.

It also seemed to carry a kind of indulgent gentleness.

"Ah... I can't think about it anymore!"

Yan Ning buried her burning cheeks deep into the pillow.

It was as if this could hide the surging emotions within.

But the sound of his heartbeat was so loud that there was nowhere to hide it.

The thumping sound echoed in the quiet room.

It was fast and heavy, like a panicked fawn thrashing around in my chest.

Only then did she belatedly realize:

Today, Xie Huaiye actually confessed his feelings to her!

It wasn't her imagination, nor was it wishful thinking on her part.

That person seemed to handle everything with ease.

He only occasionally reveals his clumsiness in front of her.

They made their intentions very clear.

A sweet, warm current surged up.

It spread rapidly to every part of the body.

Yan Ning's lips curled up uncontrollably.

Actually... she already had the answer in her heart.

Over time, she had grown accustomed to having him by her side.

I've grown accustomed to his silent yet steady companionship.

I've gotten used to his somewhat clumsy attempts at showing concern.

She was even more captivated by the tenderness he occasionally showed, a tenderness reserved only for her.

The air inside the blanket became thin and warm.

Her cheeks felt even hotter.

Well... I'll give him a clear answer tomorrow.

The thought popped into my head.

It felt like a feather had gently brushed against my heart, sending a sweet shiver through me.

I'm a little nervous and a little shy.

But more than anything, it's a sense of anticipation and joy that things have finally settled.

Yan Ning thus embraced her chaotic yet sweet thoughts.

After an unknown amount of time, my rapid heartbeat gradually calmed down.

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