Xia Ning hadn't seen him since she helped him with the play last time; it was as if he had completely disappeared.
She thought this was fine; it was just a fleeting affair anyway, and once the business was done, they wouldn't bother each other anymore.
But Xia Ning felt uneasy. She touched a small lump on the side of her nose and guessed that her period was coming. So she attributed her depressed mood to hormonal imbalance.
A few days later, Xu Lai approached her, wanting her to join him in opening an oil pressing factory.
Xia Ning was very happy to accept. She hadn't touched the money Nie Yuxuan had given her before, partly because she didn't know how to spend it, and partly because she didn't have many expenses recently.
She spent some time preparing a risk assessment report, which wasn't difficult for her, given her expertise. If she had successfully married Nie Yuxuan back then, she would definitely still be working for that company, continuing to toil like a slave for her boss.
But things are different now. She got rid of that jerk and started her own company with her best friend. Except for not having a boyfriend, she has everything else.
She wasn't in a hurry about this, and her parents had the same attitude. Both sets of parents had met before, and they thought they had reached an agreement, but who would have thought that at the last step, the man would cheat on her.
They stopped pressuring her; Xia Ning could find anyone, as long as he was devoted to her.
...
After winter arrived, the temperature dropped sharply. Xia Ning didn't tuck herself in properly while sleeping at night, and her nose was stuffy when she got up. She rummaged through the medicine box at home, found a packet of powder, and just as she was about to brew it, she was about to drink it.
She suddenly had the idea to check the production date, and her expression immediately fell. "It's already six months past its expiration date."
She straightened her clothes; her grandmother wasn't home, and she didn't know where she had gone.
Xia Ning took out her phone, made a call, and after a few rings, the other end answered, "Ningning."
Xia Ning took out a tissue, wiped her nose, and said, "Grandma, where did you go? I didn't see you at home."
Grandma Xia said, "I'm at the village clinic. Your Grandma Eying is getting her injection here. I came over to chat with her."
Xia Ning patted her head, feeling a throbbing sensation in her temples. She hummed in agreement, "Grandma, could you please bring me some cold medicine?"
Around noon, Grandma returned. Xia Ning hadn't expected him to come either, and she immediately stood up from her chair, somewhat wary. "What are you doing here?"
Zhang Ye shrugged. "Didn't you say you wanted cold medicine?"
Xia Ning looked at her grandmother and said, "I meant for Grandma to take care of her, I wouldn't dare trouble you."
Zhang Ye put the cold medicine on the table. "It's a bit damp outside. I was worried that Grandma would have trouble walking, so I came with her."
The implication is that it has nothing to do with you, so stop trying to make yourself look good.
Xia Ning sneezed again. Zhang Ye pressed down on the box and tapped it, "Since you have a cold, take your medicine."
She took the box, opened it, and asked, "How much is it? I'll pay you."
Zhang Ye chuckled. "Do you think Grandma Xia would take the medicine without paying?"
Xia Ning was always speechless at his words, so she simply stopped talking and started making her own cold medicine.
Zhang Ye made a move to leave, but his grandmother persuaded him to stay, saying, "Since you're already here, why don't you have a meal before you go?"
Xia Ning thought he wouldn't stay and was prepared to watch the show, but he said, "Okay, Grandma, wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
Grandma smiled and said, "No trouble at all."
Grandma took Xia Ning to the kitchen to cook. After a busy day, she made three dishes and a soup. She wiped her hands on her apron and said, "It's just simple food, Dr. Zhang, please don't mind."
Zhang Ye patted his stomach, "Grandma, you don't mind at all. This smell makes me hungry."
Xia Ning glared at him, her eyes saying: You better watch your mouth and don't say anything out of line.
Zhang Ye ignored her, ladled out some soup for himself, served it to Grandma Xia first, and then gestured to Xia Ning with the second bowl, "Would you like some?"
Xia Ning pulled out a chair and sat down. "I can do it myself."
During the meal, his grandmother kept subtly and overtly asking him if he had a girlfriend, how old she was, and where he lived.
Xia Ning picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and put it in her grandmother's bowl. "Okay, Grandma, don't talk while you're eating."
After the meal, Xia Ning saw him out, saying, "Didn't I tell you that after I helped you, we shouldn't have any further involvement?"
Zhang Ye scratched his head. "I have a favor to ask."
Xia Ning crossed her arms and said, "Tell me, I want to hear how unwilling you are."
He sighed, "Well, it's my mom's birthday in a couple of days. As my girlfriend, do you think you can miss it?"
Xia Ning corrected him, "You're wrong, it's an act."
Zhang Ye nodded, "Yes, that's right, it's acting, so acting can't be absent, right?"
Xia Ning pressed her fingertips against her temples and thought for a moment, "Alright, this is really the last time. Don't bring up your dad's or grandma's birthday again next time."
She was truly exasperated; sleeping with him was like having a criminal record.
On the day of Zhang's mother's birthday, Xia Ning personally prepared a gift, and Zhang Ye bought another one to make up the difference, carrying a full hand of gifts.
Zhang's mother was very puzzled. She celebrated her birthday according to the lunar calendar, but today was her birthday according to her ID card. She had never done this in previous years, but she didn't know what had gotten into her son this year, insisting on doing it.
His reason was that if he didn't do it, his wife would run away.
When Zhang's mother heard this, she was alarmed and invited her close friends and relatives to have a meal together.
After the meal, Zhang's mother gave her a gift and a red envelope, saying it was a greeting gift.
She looked to Zhang Ye for help, but he only told her to accept it. Xia Ning thought it was just an act and returned the item on her way back.
Zhang Ye stopped the car and said, "Actually, I really want to be with you. I can't quite explain how I feel, but whenever I see you, I want to tease you and see you every day. I don't know if this is love, but I do have feelings for you."
Xia Ning's fingers gripped the chair. "Don't joke around. I believe you know very well how we met."
Zhang Ye nodded, "I know, I know all of this, but so what? I don't care."
She unbuckled her seatbelt and made a move to get out of the car. "You know why you still like me? Do you know what they say about me? They say I'm a leftover woman, that I wasted so much time and my boyfriend became someone else's husband."
Zhang Ye locked the door, leaned over, and kissed her lips. After a long while, they separated, a thin strand of saliva between their lips. He wiped it on her lips and said, "Don't talk about yourself like that."
Xia Ning pushed him away and slapped him across the face. "Are you going to die if you don't touch me? Open the door!"
The two parted on bad terms. Zhang Ye touched his face where he had been slapped. The girl's grip was really strong; his face was even a little hot to the touch.
Since that day, the two have not been in contact, and Xia Ning has deleted all of his contact information.
As the days went by, she passed by the town's primary school on her way to the street and saw a job posting at the school gate. Xia Ning happened to be free, so she submitted her resume.
Two days later, she was notified that she could go for an interview.
Xia Ning had prepared for a long time, and without a doubt, she passed the test and was assigned to teach second-grade Chinese.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
