Chapter 20: The remarkable shape and time of that day, should be fine, right?
Zhang Yanfei stood below the hospital, his hair, which he usually let down, was now neatly combed back, giving him a more deliberate and refined appearance than usual.
He stared at the hospital gate, and soon saw Ning Tang walking out of a small door with her bag slung over her shoulder.
Zhang Yanfei immediately went to greet him, not forgetting to put on a fake smile:
"Comrade Ning Tang, are you off work?"
Ning Tang paused, and when she saw the person in front of her clearly, the smile on her lips vanished instantly.
He cautiously created some distance and nodded politely: "Captain Zhang, is there something you need?"
"It's nothing serious," Zhang Yanfei said casually. "I just met a girl at the gate this morning. She said she was your sister and had been waiting for you all night but you didn't come out."
"I felt sorry for her, a young girl all alone, so I helped her find a place to stay."
As he spoke, he raised his chin, subtly observing Ning Tang's reaction.
It turns out that the woman they were talking about at noon was Ning Xin.
She even deliberately sent him to deliver a message, clearly intending to use Zhang Yanfei to test her attitude.
Ning Tang suppressed the coldness in her heart, and a look of grievance appeared on her face:
"Fortunately, my sister ran into Captain Zhang. When I got back last night, I was thinking of getting her some food, but... it wasn't very convenient."
"I originally planned to wait until everyone was asleep before going out, but I was so tired from working half a day that I fell asleep myself."
Zhang Yanfei listened and immediately expressed her understanding.
He knew that Xu Qiaofeng had been staying at the team's residence these past few days. It was obvious that the couple had no feelings for each other, and Ning Tang, a weak woman, must not have had a good time in the Xu family.
Just thinking about it made his heart ache so much that he wanted to hold the beauty in his arms and comfort her.
Seeing that he believed her, Ning Tang continued:
"Then I'll trouble Captain Zhang to go back and explain this to my sister properly."
“They’re all family, what’s there to explain?” Zhang Yanfei was puzzled. He felt that Ning Xin was easy to talk to, but she had a problem with her eyes and would always twitch at him.
Ning Tang gently shook her head, her tone tinged with helplessness:
"Actually, my sister is stubborn. We used to bicker all the time at home. If she does anything unreasonable, Captain Zhang, please don't take it to heart. I'll talk to her properly when I have time."
This statement both gave Zhang Yanfei an excuse to come to her today and subtly implied that my relationship with Ning Xin was not good, and that I shouldn't come looking for her again unless necessary.
Just as Zhang Yanfei was feeling that something was wrong, she heard the sound of a car behind her.
The two turned around at the same time and saw Xu Qiaofeng's car parked steadily on the side of the road.
As the car window rolled down, a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes when his gaze fell on Zhang Yanfei, before he looked at Ning Tang.
"Ning Tang, get in the car."
"They're here."
Ning Tang nodded to Zhang Yanfei: "Captain Zhang, I'll go ahead now."
"Thank you for helping my sister find a hotel."
After saying that, he walked quickly towards the car, not giving Zhang Yanfei a chance to speak again.
As soon as the car drove away, Zhang Yanfei's smiling face instantly fell.
He spent so much money today, but in the end he didn't even get an invitation to dinner. The thought of Xu Qiaofeng occupying the position without doing anything made him feel even more frustrated.
But then I thought about it again, and there was still peace of mind.
She doesn't refuse anyone who comes her way; even if she can't eat it, just enjoying the taste is fine.
...
As soon as she got into the car, Ning Tang's smile turned cold.
It's not good to always have Ning Xin hanging around under her nose; she needs to think of a solution.
Xu Qiaofeng noticed Ning Tang's unusual behavior and frowned.
He broke the silence: "Pang Bo insisted that I take you to his house for dinner, saying it was a welcome feast. His wife had already prepared the food, but I found out a little late."
"I saved him once during training, and I've been wanting to treat him to a meal ever since."
If you feel uncomfortable, don't force yourself. I'll come over and explain in a bit.
Ning Tang turned her head to look at Xu Qiaofeng, and seeing a question in his eyes, she gently shook her head.
"It's no trouble at all. Comrade Pang Bo and his wife are just showing their good intentions. It would be wrong not to go."
She knew that Pang Bo had prepared this welcome banquet for her out of respect for Xu Qiaofeng.
If you refuse, it will seem distant and you will also be letting down the other person's good intentions.
When Xu Qiaofeng saw that she agreed, his tense handsome face relaxed a little.
The two didn't chat for the rest of the journey, except for a few words when they went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a gift for their visit.
Finally, he listened to Ning Tang's advice and bought a box of soda crackers from the Soviet Union.
The car arrived at Pang Bo's house quickly.
Although his official rank was similar to Xu Qiaofeng and Zhang Yanfei, their backgrounds were different, and he was assigned a building by his superiors.
The building was almost entirely filled with wives of soldiers who had come to live with them. Coincidentally, Zhang Yanfei lived right across from Pang Bo's house.
As soon as he entered the door, Pang Bo's wife, Dong Yue, came out of the kitchen with a smile to greet him.
"Your sister-in-law is really beautiful."
"You're here, why did you bring anything?"
Dong Yue was a natural at making friends, and even Ning Tang's introverted nature was made much more lively by her, with a genuine smile on her face.
She took off her coat, intending to go into the kitchen to help.
As soon as he moved, Xu Qiaofeng gently pressed his shoulder and made him sit down again.
He rolled up his sleeves and said in a low voice, "You're pregnant, and the kitchen is full of fumes. I'll go help out. You rest."
When the topic of pregnancy came up, they lowered their voices, considering that the first three months were still unstable, so that only the two of them could hear.
After saying that, he went into the kitchen to find Pang Bo, who was busy working.
Seeing Xu Qiaofeng's gentle demeanor, Dong Yue almost popped her eyes out in surprise, and jokingly teased him:
"Little sister-in-law, there's always a different way to tie up a monkey."
"Captain Xu is known for his cold and stern personality in the army. He never gives anyone a kind look, but he's only so considerate to you."
Dong Yue moved closer to Ning Tang, her face full of amused laughter.
Her husband had previously complained that Captain Xu was like a rock that couldn't be warmed up, but now it seems that he just hadn't met anyone who could warm him up before!
As if suddenly remembering something, Dong Yue abruptly stopped baring her teeth.
"Sister-in-law, I have a question for you, please don't be angry."
Ning Tang didn't take it seriously. Seeing her hesitant expression, she assumed it was something important and gestured for her to speak quickly.
"Well, Captain Xu, is that alright? If not, there's a folk remedy back home that specifically treats this..." Dong Yue said, becoming less and less confident.
Ning Tang's face turned red instantly.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word in defense of Xu Qiaofeng for a long time.
Given the considerable shape and timing of that day, it should be fine, right?
Ning Tang was somewhat dazed.
I told myself not to overthink, but the images in my head just wouldn't go away.
On the contrary, it is becoming clearer and clearer.
It felt like the air I exhaled was scalding hot.
Seeing her like this, Dong Yue thought she had hit the nail on the head, and with an expression that said "I understand," she patted Ning Tang's shoulder heavily.
A short while later, the two people in the kitchen also came out.
When Xu Qiaofeng saw Ning Tang lost in thought, he was taken aback, thinking she was tired from work.
Just as dinner was about to be served, a piercing scream suddenly rang out from the doorway—
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