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◎"Have you always liked me?"◎

There were four people at the table, and the other three had their eyes on Xie Zhiyan.

Xie Zhiyan said calmly, "I don't really eat much at home."

Ning Yuxuan raised her eyebrows.

Zheng Xinmei chimed in, "Zhiyan is just like me in this respect; his tastes are almost exactly the same as mine. He has never liked spicy food since he was a child."

Ning Yuxuan's heart stirred slightly: "You never eat it?"

Zheng Xinmei thought for a moment: "Anyway, I've never seen it. If I had to say, there was only one time—when he was little, someone teased him and gave him a shredded potato with chili peppers. As a result, Zhiyan took a bite and started crying non-stop."

Ning Yuxuan laughed out loud: "Did you cry from the spiciness?"

Zheng Xinmei smiled and said, "That's right. I had to wipe his tears and comfort him for a long time before I finally calmed him down."

Ning Yuxuan glanced at Xie Zhiyan and finally couldn't help but laugh so hard she almost fell over.

When Ning Fei brought Ning Yuxuan to Beicheng, she was not even eight years old. She had met Xie Zhiyan a few times, but she had no recollection of it.

The two first officially met and became acquainted when Ning Yuxuan was in her third year of junior high school, and Xie Zhiyan tutored her for a whole summer vacation.

At that time, Xie Zhiyan was already nineteen years old. Although he was not as powerful and influential as he is now, he already showed signs of the composure and maturity he would later possess.

Ning Yuxuan really can't imagine what it would have been like if Xie Zhiyan had cried so much because of a spicy potato shred when he was a child.

She asked Zheng Xinmei with a smile, "Auntie, how old was he when that happened?"

Zheng Xinmei pondered, "It should be around six or seven years old, when I first started elementary school."

Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but imagine that Xie Zhiyan, who was six or seven years old, probably had a round face and looked like a little dumpling.

She turned her head and glanced at Xie Zhiyan.

Xie Zhiyan's eyebrows twitched: "What?"

Ning Yuxuan suppressed a laugh and said, "I was thinking about what you looked like when you were little, and also..."

She blinked her eyelashes and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "And the way you looked when you cried with tears streaming down your face back then must have been incredibly cute."

Xie Zhiyan gave her a deep look.

Zheng Xinmei only heard the first half of Ning Yuxuan's sentence and said enthusiastically, "That's easy. I have many photo albums at home, all of which contain photos of Zhiyan when he was a child. Next time you come to my place, Xuanxuan, I'll take them all out and show them to you."

Ning Yuxuan looked at Zheng Xinmei: "That's great, I'll definitely remind Auntie next time I go."

Zheng Xinmei grinned from ear to ear: "Okay, okay, oh right—"

She put down her chopsticks and took out her phone.

“I also have a few photos in my phone’s album,” Zheng Xinmei said as she flipped through the album. “Xuanxuan, wait a minute, I’ll find them for you.”

More than a decade ago, taking photos with mobile phones wasn't as convenient, so Xie Zhiyan's childhood photos were kept in thick photo albums.

However, Zheng Xinmei would occasionally look through those photos at home, and if she saw something really cute, she couldn't help but take a picture of it with her phone.

Zheng Xinmei has now distanced herself from the social circles of wealthy women, and these photos are mostly for her to enjoy alone.

When Ning Yuxuan asked about it, Zheng Xinmei couldn't wait to show it to her.

Ning Fei looked at her friend's impatient nature as always and smiled helplessly.

As the saying goes, "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature."

After marriage, Zheng Xinmei seemed to have lost the carefree spirit of her youth and become gentle and composed, but in front of familiar people, she reverted to her former personality.

"Xinmei, don't rush," Ning Fei said. "You can still see the photos after you finish eating."

Zheng Xinmei: "We just happened to be talking about this, oh, I found it!"

She held her phone across the table, intending to hand it to Ning Yuxuan.

The two were separated by the entire diagonal of the dining table, with a bubbling hot pot stove in between.

Zheng Xinmei struggled to hand it over, and Xie Zhiyan helped her out at the right moment: "Give it to me, Mom."

The man, with his long limbs, easily caught the phone from Zheng Xinmei's hand.

Upon receiving the phone, Xie Zhiyan paused slightly, not immediately handing it over.

Ning Yuxuan stared intently at him.

Xie Zhiyan chuckled: "Why are you looking at me like that? Are you afraid I'll hog it all?"

Ning Yuxuan knew he wouldn't, but she still teased him, saying, "Who knows if you're trying to hide your dark history and deliberately not giving it to me?"

Xie Zhiyan raised his chin: "I'll give it to you after you finish eating."

Ning Yuxuan still had half a beef ball between her chopsticks, but hadn't put it in her mouth.

"No." Ning Yuxuan threw the meatballs into the bowl. "So you won't change your mind. I want to see it now."

Xie Zhiyan glanced at her helplessly, but still gave Zheng Xinmei's phone as instructed.

Ning Fei and Zheng Xinmei across from them exchanged a glance and smiled.

Zheng Xinmei was even more surprised. The last time her son brought Ning Yuxuan home, the two of them didn't get along this naturally.

Ning Yuxuan, in particular, although she appeared quite lively and outgoing, she still occasionally seemed reserved in certain details.

Unlike now, they can naturally act coquettishly towards Xie Zhiyan in front of them.

It was as if, in the past two weeks, the relationship between the two of them had taken another big step forward.

Ning Yuxuan got her phone as she wished and started looking through the photos in the album.

The first picture is a close-up of the boy, who looks to be under ten years old. He is wearing a blue and white striped crew neck short-sleeved shirt and looking at the camera.

The original photo had limited resolution, and the subsequent copying made it even less clear.

However, the blurry pixels couldn't hide the boy's good looks: delicate eyebrows and eyes, a high nose bridge, and a face that was slightly thinner than boys of the same age.

The boy in the photo has his lips slightly pursed, and his expression is hard to describe. He seems a little shy, yet also a bit cool.

Like a little adult.

Xie Zhiyan asked gently in his ear, "What are your thoughts?"

Ning Yuxuan glanced at him and gave a three-word objective evaluation: "He's quite handsome."

She simply couldn't bring herself to lie and say that the boy in the photo wasn't good-looking.

Besides, both elders were at the table, so it wasn't too much for her to praise him.

Zheng Xinmei, who was on the other end of the line, chuckled and said, "Right? Xuanxuan, you're looking at the picture of Zhiyan wearing a striped T-shirt?"

Ning Yuxuan: "Yes."

The photos on her phone were Zheng Xinmei's favorites; each one was her most cherished possession. She didn't even need to look at them; the photos were already imprinted in her mind.

Zheng Xinmei explained, "That should have been taken during the summer vacation when Zhiyan was in the third grade of elementary school, at a relative's house. This child has never liked taking pictures or smiling since he was little. I had to coax him a lot before I got him to cooperate with me for that one photo."

Ning Yuxuan looked at the boy's arrogant expression in the photo and smiled: "I can tell, he really doesn't like to smile."

Zheng Xinmei chimed in, "Right? He won't listen to me. Xuanxuan, you should talk to him for me. How can he not smile for a photo?"

As she spoke, she glared at her son, half-jokingly.

Xie Zhiyan calmly replied, "No one says you have to smile when taking a picture."

Zheng Xinmei was amused by her son's words: "No one says it's wrong, but you look better when you smile. Besides, when you and Xuanxuan get married, are you going to take all those ID photos and wedding photos with a straight face?"

Xie Zhiyan didn't argue back.

Ning Yuxuan, who was listening nearby, felt inexplicably guilty.

In terms of timing, she and Xie Zhiyan have been married for a month.

After they came out of the marriage certificate room, Xie Zhiyan asked her who would keep the marriage certificate.

Ning Yuxuan felt that it was safest and most reliable to keep the marriage certificates in her own hands, and that she could still maintain control. So she put both marriage certificates away.

The two marriage certificates are now in a drawer in the small study of the villa. She usually works in the small study, and the drawer is locked, so it's double security.

Ning Yuxuan never took out the marriage certificate again, and had no recollection of what the photo on it looked like.

Did Xie Zhiyan smile in that photo?

Ning Yuxuan couldn't recall it for a moment.

When I feel guilty, I subconsciously want to find someone on the same side to ease my anxiety.

In a way, she and Xie Zhiyan were in the same boat, both hiding the fact that they had already registered their marriage from their respective families.

Ning Yuxuan subconsciously looked at Xie Zhiyan, only to meet the man's deep gaze.

Xie Zhiyan probably thought of the same thing, and neither of them spoke for a moment.

Zheng Xinmei, however, misunderstood their silence.

Her gaze lingered between the two people opposite her, glancing at her son and then at Ning Yuxuan, who remained silent.

"Zhiyan." Zheng Xinmei frowned. "It's not that you don't want to take wedding photos, is it?"

Xie Zhiyan withdrew his gaze from Ning Yuxuan and answered his mother, "No."

Zheng Xinmei, however, did not believe it.

Doesn't she know her son well? He's never liked having his picture taken since he was little. Even if you force him to take a picture, it'll look like the ones you see on your phone. He's very reluctant to even smile at the camera.

The expression on their faces when their son and Ning Yuxuan looked at each other just now clearly showed that the two had already discussed the wedding photos and had not yet reached a consensus.

Ning Yuxuan is such a young and beautiful girl, at the age when she loves beauty. How could she not want to record her most beautiful and happiest moment in her wedding dress?

So without a doubt, it must be that the son didn't want to film, which led to the conflict between the two.

Thinking of this, Zheng Xinmei looked at her son and said decisively, "No! Zhiyan, you must take wedding photos with Xuanxuan, and you must cooperate well and smile more during the photos."

Xie Zhiyan: "..."

Zheng Xinmei: "Did you hear that?"

Xie Zhiyan glanced at Ning Yuxuan.

Ning Yuxuan was still a little confused, her expression slightly bewildered.

Wasn't she looking at Xie Zhiyan's childhood photos? How did the conversation turn to wedding photos?

Seeing this, Ning Fei spoke up from the side: "Xinmei, wedding photos are the children's own business, let's not get involved."

Zheng Xinmei disagreed: "That won't do, Fei. Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Where to take photos and how to take them is the children's own business. But since Xuanxuan wants to take photos, then we have to."

Ning Yuxuan: "..."

She didn't say she really wanted to take wedding photos, did she?

Zheng Xinmei misunderstood Ning Yuxuan's silence and comforted her, "Don't worry, Xuanxuan, Auntie will back you up. I'll make sure Zhiyan takes photos with you until you're satisfied."

Ning Yuxuan pursed her lips.

Now that things have come to this point, she couldn't very well say that she didn't really want to take pictures and would disappoint the person's kindness.

At least verbally agree.

Ning Yuxuan: "Thank you, Auntie."

Zheng Xinmei beamed with joy: "There's nothing to thank me for, your satisfaction is the most important thing. Here, there are several more photos at the back of the album, keep looking."

As she spoke, she reached for her chopsticks and picked up a piece of mutton with wild onion for herself.

Ning Yuxuan was a little flustered by the sudden discussion about wedding photos.

Why does it feel like I'm accumulating more and more debt?

Buying a house, wedding, honeymoon, and now there's something else called wedding photos.

Ning Yuxuan glanced at the man beside her.

Xie Zhiyan looked back at her, his expression seemingly saying: It was because you insisted on seeing the photos now that this whole wedding photo thing came up.

Actually, you can't read such complex meanings just from a man's face.

But Ning Yuxuan, seeing Xie Zhiyan's meaningful gaze, judged him by her own standards and felt that this was definitely what he meant.

Ning Yuxuan then glared at him silently.

Xie Zhiyan's lips curled slightly as he glanced at her bowl and reminded her with a faint smile, "The meatballs will get cold if you don't eat them soon."

The half-eaten beef ball in Ning Yuxuan's bowl remained untouched.

She took a small bite before looking at the photo and almost burned herself, so she didn't finish it right away.

Ning Yuxuan had indeed forgotten about the half-eaten meatball, but now that Xie Zhiyan reminded her, she subconsciously replied, "I won't eat it."

She had just expressed her dissatisfaction to him, so how could she obediently do whatever he said?

Xie Zhiyan did not try to persuade him further.

Ning Yuxuan turned her gaze back to her phone, her finger swiping down to look at the next photo.

The man reached out with his chopsticks and casually picked up half a meatball from her bowl.

Ning Yuxuan watched helplessly as the beef balls in her bowl were taken away: "...?"

Xie Zhiyan had already put half a meatball into his mouth without changing his expression.

Ning Yuxuan's heart skipped a beat for a moment, and she reflexively looked up at the person opposite her.

Zheng Xinmei was eating mutton with her head down, and Ning Fei was drinking water; no one noticed what they were doing.

She had just breathed a sigh of relief when she met the man's ambiguous smile.

Ning Yuxuan: "You..."

Xie Zhiyan slowly savored the beef balls.

After he finished eating, a faint smile played in his eyes, but his tone remained calm: "It'll get really cold if you don't eat it now. If you want some more, I'll get you another one."

Ning Yuxuan: "I..."

Zheng Xinmei finished eating the mutton and happened to hear this, so she chimed in, "Yeah, Zhiyan, you can reach far enough, so please help Xuanxuan pick out more food."

Xie Zhiyan: "Okay."

Ning Yuxuan: "..."

He was the one who ate the leftover meatballs; no one else saw this.

Why did she inexplicably feel like he was teasing her and that she had suffered in silence?

...

After dinner, Ning Fei and Zheng Xinmei turned on the TV and chatted on the sofa.

Zheng Xinmei brought some gifts this time, and all three members of the Ning family received one.

Zheng Xinmei has been sending gifts to the Ning family every year for years, and Ning Fei has long been used to it and doesn't stand on ceremony with her.

The two reciprocated each other's gifts, and Ning Fei often brought gifts for Zheng Xinmei.

Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan went upstairs.

"Xie Zhiyan." As soon as they got upstairs, Ning Yuxuan couldn't wait to accuse the man, "Why did you steal my meatballs just now?"

Xie Zhiyan replied casually, "I didn't steal any food; I ate it openly and honestly."

Ning Yuxuan: "Whether it's aboveboard or not, I've still eaten it!"

Xie Zhiyan didn't reply, but gave her a meaningful look at her lips.

Ning Yuxuan: "...What do you mean?"

Xie Zhiyan slowly said, "We've already kissed."

The second half of the sentence was not finished, but Ning Yuxuan immediately understood.

We've already kissed, what's wrong with eating her leftover meatballs?

In an instant, Ning Yuxuan's cheeks flushed.

Is there anyone who would talk like that?

But the man, with a nonchalant expression, retorted, "Isn't that right?"

Ning Yuxuan: "...No!"

"Then..." Xie Zhiyan looked at her and said slowly, "Maybe after a few more times, you'll get used to it?"

As the man seemed to be getting closer and closer, Ning Yuxuan's heart was pounding.

What does "come a few more times" mean?

Should I eat her leftovers a few more times, or kiss her a few more times?

Thinking of the latter possibility, Ning Yuxuan immediately took several steps back to get away from him.

Not to mention that Ning Fei and Zheng Xinmei could come up at any time, the more important thing is... they just finished eating hot pot!

Especially since she was the only one eating spicy hot pot the whole time, and hadn't even had time to brush her teeth afterward, she definitely didn't want to kiss him at that moment!

Ning Yuxuan retreated too quickly, and before she knew it, her calf bumped into the sofa behind her.

She cried out in pain.

Xie Zhiyan came over to help her up. Ning Yuxuan grabbed the man's arm and stood up. The first thing she did after she stood up was to glare at the man fiercely.

Xie Zhiyan looked at the spot where she had bumped herself and asked gently, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Ning Yuxuan rubbed her calves: "It hurts so much!"

The sofa is soft overall, with support at the corners; it hurts a little if you bump into it.

However, the pain was far less intense than she described; she was simply angry with Xie Zhiyan.

If Xie Zhiyan hadn't suddenly approached, she wouldn't have bumped into the sofa.

Xie Zhiyan: "Let me see?"

Ning Yuxuan: "No need."

After a few seconds of pause, she said again, "It's all your fault!"

Xie Zhiyan didn't immediately defend himself, but went along with her and said, "It's my fault."

Perhaps realizing she wasn't actually in that much pain, the man paused, then asked with a hint of a smile, "Why did you retreat so hastily?"

Ning Yuxuan: "Isn't it all to avoid you..."

Xie Zhiyan: "Why are you avoiding me?"

Ning Yuxuan pursed her lips.

She dodged because she was afraid he would suddenly kiss her.

But she couldn't say that, what if she misunderstood and he didn't actually want to kiss her at all?

That would be too embarrassing.

She misunderstood him and even bumped her calf.

After hesitating for two seconds, Ning Yuxuan cleared her throat: "It's nothing, I need to go to the restroom, don't follow me!"

The impact wasn't severe to begin with, and by the time he finished speaking, his calf no longer hurt.

Ning Yuxuan walked briskly to the second-floor restroom, glancing back before entering.

Xie Zhiyan didn't come over; he was still standing on the sofa where he had been.

His gaze, however, remained fixed on her.

Ning Yuxuan closed the bathroom door.

She first looked down at her calf; the impact hadn't been too severe.

There are no marks left yet, not even a red mark. I just don't know if there will be a small bruise when I wake up tomorrow.

After confirming that her leg was alright, Ning Yuxuan straightened up and her gaze fell on the mouthwash on the sink.

The mouthwash came in two flavors. After hesitating for a few seconds, Ning Yuxuan chose one of them.

...

When Xie Zhiyan came out of the bathroom, he was replying to messages on the sofa.

Ning Yuxuan walked over and casually glanced at his phone screen: "Busy with work?"

Xie Zhiyan: "No."

She had asked casually, but upon hearing this, she became somewhat curious: "What is it?"

Xie Zhiyan: "Liu Cheng sent me a message saying that the house you liked the most last time has been cleaned up and that the details you were concerned about have been confirmed to be in order."

Ning Yuxuan blinked.

On Friday, she had just talked to Xie Zhiyan about the house. Of all the houses, she liked the layout and location of one of them the most.

However, since that apartment was fully furnished and decorated, Ning Yuxuan was worried that the details of the renovation wouldn't meet her expectations, so she asked him to confirm them again.

I didn't expect it to be so efficient; everything was confirmed in just one weekend.

This made Ning Yuxuan quite expectant.

Although buying a house was a last-minute decision, she had lived with her family for the past twenty-odd years, except for a few years in college.

She had never even rented a room on her own before; this was the first time in her life that she had ever chosen a place to live.

Ning Yuxuan: "When can we go take a look?"

Xie Zhiyan's gaze paused slightly, lingering on her face for two seconds before a smile appeared in his eyes.

Ning Yuxuan was somewhat confused: What did she say? Why did he suddenly seem pleased?

Xie Zhiyan said, "That's the new house. Liu Cheng has already gotten the key. We can go see it anytime we want."

Ning Yuxuan recalled her schedule for the following week in her mind.

Hua Yuan's situation is on track, and Chen Jun and Zhou Lin have taken good care of everything, so Ning Yuxuan doesn't need to worry about it for the time being.

With only one episode left of "Dear Mom," Ning Yuxuan plans to fully dedicate herself to preparing for the opening of her new store once the show is completely filmed.

Although she wasn't busy at work, she still had quite a few things planned for this week.

I'm going to accompany Tao You to try on her wedding dress on Tuesday.

Tao You has been working overtime recently in order to free up time for her engagement banquet, and she finally managed to get a day off on Tuesday.

Friday is the day when the final episode of "Mom" will begin filming.

Since this is the final episode, the recording time is slightly different from usual.

It will start next Friday morning and end the following Monday.

The location is no longer in Beicheng. According to the production team, they will need to take transportation such as high-speed rail or airplanes, but the specific destination has not yet been revealed.

Therefore, it's best to avoid Thursdays as well. You should prepare in advance and get some rest the day before you travel far.

Ning Yuxuan: "Next week I'll only have time on Monday and Wednesday, so..."

She hesitated for a few seconds, intending to say Wednesday.

Xie Zhiyan spoke before she could decide: "Tomorrow?"

Ning Yuxuan: "...Okay."

Xie Zhiyan nodded: "Okay, then I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon."

Ning Yuxuan hummed in agreement.

After a few seconds of silence, Xie Zhiyan asked, "Does your leg still hurt?"

Ning Yuxuan: "It doesn't hurt anymore..."

Xie Zhiyan: "So, while you were still angry about dinner, I ate your meatballs?"

Ning Yuxuan: "..."

This man is deliberately bringing up things he doesn't want to talk about.

Ning Yuxuan decided to find a way to turn the tide.

She pondered for a few seconds and finally came up with a breakthrough.

Ning Yuxuan suddenly adopted a serious tone: "Thank you, Zhiyan."

Xie Zhiyan: "Hmm?"

Ning Yuxuan: "I discovered something during dinner just now."

Seeing her suddenly become serious, Xie Zhiyan's eyes flickered slightly: "What?"

Ning Yuxuan originally just felt that she had lost face in front of him a few times tonight and wanted to get back at him.

Meeting Xie Zhiyan's deep gaze, she thought about what she was about to say, and her heart began to race, and her throat suddenly felt dry.

Ning Yuxuan took a deep breath to encourage herself and forced herself to look the man in the eye.

"Xie Zhiyan." Ning Yuxuan pursed her lips nervously. "Have you always liked me? I mean... before we decided to get married."

[Author's Note]

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 00:00:00 and 23:50:00 on July 16, 2024!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 70618708 (1 landmine);

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