Chapter 28
The wet nurse served Ning Qingyuan more rice and said with a smile, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, it's very lively outside, would you like to go and take a look?"
Even after attending school, Ning Qingyuan remained unrefined: "Go away, go away, go away!"
Ning Qingshan asked, "Is my older sister back?"
The wet nurse hesitated for a moment: "They're probably coming back..."
Ning Qingshan took a sip of soup and remained silent.
The wet nurse sighed inwardly.
Ning Qingshan is a good kid in every way, except he's a bit quiet. He won't say anything when he's unhappy; he'll just stay by himself and brood.
In contrast, Ning Qingyuan's emotions were much more straightforward; everything was written on his face.
For example, at this moment, she, who was originally cheering and jumping for joy, also lowered her head and drooped after listening to Ning Qingshan speak.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and the only sound was the scraping of a spoon against the bottom of a bowl, until Ning Qingxi burst in.
Ning Qingyuan immediately stopped eating, threw down his chopsticks, and went out.
"Let your older sister see if our A-Yuan has grown taller."
Ning Qingxi squatted down and was embraced by Ning Qingyuan. Looking up, she saw that Ning Qingshan had also come out and was standing at the door, looking unsure whether he should come over.
“Ah Shan has grown taller too,” Ning Qingxi said, looking at him. “Is he feeling better?”
Ning Qingshan breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Much better, I'm not coughing much anymore."
"That's good... Have you finished eating?"
The wet nurse smiled and said, "No, I'm eating right now. Would you like some, young lady?"
Ning Qingxi waved her hand: "It's good that they haven't eaten yet. I'll take them out to get something to eat. Are you coming too?"
The wet nurse glanced at Huo Yanci, who remained noncommittal. Just as the wet nurse was about to refuse, he said, "Let's go together for the Mid-Autumn Festival, so it can be considered a family reunion."
Ning Qingxi turned around and looked at Yitian in confusion: "Why did you suddenly pick that up?"
Huo Yanci: "...Do you need me to interrupt when your family members are having a conversation?"
He was referring to the awkwardness he felt as an outsider when he entered the house, as the three members of the Ning family exchanged pleasantries.
Ning Qingxi, however, didn't have such a detailed mind. She was used to being rough around the edges, and upon hearing this, she scoffed, "That's fine. Let's just leave it at that for the next few decades."
Ning Qingshan suddenly spoke up: "Sister, I'm sorry."
Ning Qingxi suddenly turned around and looked at Huo Yanci: "This time it really sounds like family."
Huo Yanci consciously went out the door, taking the wet nurse with her, and thoughtfully closed the door behind her.
After leaving the house, Huo Yanci looked at the wet nurse and asked, "Grandma, are you getting used to taking care of their daily needs?"
The wet nurse rubbed her legs: "They're fine. I'm used to serving people. It's just that sometimes when I see them, I think of you when you were little..."
Huo Yanci's gaze fell on the wooden door, and she twitched the corner of her mouth: "They should be much easier to serve than me, at least they won't wake up in the middle of the night looking for someone because of nightmares?"
“It’s common for children to have nightmares, but Ah Shan is too weak, and we have to worry about him a lot.”
Huo Yanci and the wet nurse were chatting casually when the door suddenly opened. Huo Yanci turned around and saw Ning Qingxi standing at the door with a child in each hand, looking quite open and honest: "You two can talk to each other."
Huo Yanci: "...?"
The two children under Ning Qingxi's command didn't look too good, as if they were reluctant to admit their mistake.
Huo Yanci probably guessed what was going on, and stood calmly to the side, like an emperor.
The two, too proud to admit their mistake, reluctantly apologized. The emperor, however, condescended to say, "It's alright, they're just children."
Ning Qingxi was very pleased: "That's right, we'll all be family from now on, and we'll see each other all the time. The way you've made things so complicated makes it very difficult for me to face people."
Huo Yanci had already booked a table at Zuixianlou. When the five of them arrived, they were led directly to a private room. The room was luxuriously furnished, with various ornaments that looked very expensive. Ning Qingyuan asked curiously, "How much will this meal cost?"
Ning Qingxi said, "You don't need to worry about it. Someone's treating, right, boss?"
The second half of the sentence was addressed to Huo Yanci, and the teasing tone was self-evident. Huo Yanci turned to look at her: "If I say no, will you give me the money?"
“If I give it to you now, I’ll have to bring my own two hands and one mouth to celebrate your birthday,” Ning Qingxi said, spreading her hands. “Money should be spent wisely, don’t you think?”
Huo Yanci turned around and continued walking, saying as she went, "Come on, I'm already grateful that you didn't ask me for a gift on my birthday."
Ning Qingxi looked at the person in front of her. Although he had just reached the age of twenty, he had an excellent physique. He climbed the steps steadily, showing that he had maintained his health in a special way. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. Ning Qingxi felt a little dry in her throat and lips.
She suddenly remembered a slightly suggestive joke she had seen online before, and her mind wandered off into a jumble of thoughts.
Huo Yanci was completely oblivious to her sly thoughts, and acted as a host with ease: "The dishes here are exquisite and taste good. The location is also excellent. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and this is the best place to see the lanterns."
Upon hearing this, Ning Qingyuan peeked out.
The scenery outside was indeed superb. Standing upstairs, I could clearly see what clothes the people below were wearing and what lanterns they were holding. The cool evening breeze made me feel even more relaxed and happy.
Ning Qingyuan exclaimed excitedly, "Sister! Look, a rabbit lantern!"
Ning Qingxi was pulled back to her senses and suddenly asked, "What?"
"Wait! A rabbit lantern!" Ning Qingxi suddenly realized and said, "Right, legend has it that the Moon Goddess Chang'e only has a rabbit and a toad for company all year round. I reckon no one would buy a toad lantern. What do you want?"
"Let's not talk about the lanterns yet, let's go for a stroll after we finish eating," Huo Yanci said considerately. "I heard it's going to be very lively today, with lantern riddles and such, and there are prizes for those who guess them correctly."
Ning Qingxi: "Will you pay?"
Huo Yanci: "..."
He almost burst out laughing.
Ning Qingxi held up a finger and shook it: "No prize can make you happier than money."
She looked exactly like a money-grubber, which made Huo Yanci both amused and exasperated: "Young Lady Ning, don't be so ambitious. Leave some money for others to earn, okay?"
Ning Qingxi readily agreed: "Okay, I'll leave some for you to earn."
"..."
Anyway, with money-grubbing Ning, this money won't leave her house.
The meal was enjoyed in a harmonious atmosphere, with clear division of labor. Ning Qingxi was afraid that Ning Qingyuan and Ning Qingshan would feel awkward, so she kept putting food on their plates. Suddenly, she remembered that she also had to bring water. She picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks to put in Huo Yanci's bowl, but when she turned around, she saw that the small bowl was completely full and there was even a small amount of food sticking out of it.
Ning Qingxi choked up a little: "I didn't realize you were such a practical person when it came to food."
Huo Yanci took the plate and accepted the food offered by her, stopping the wet nurse's chopsticks with one hand: "Stop, I have enough to eat, I really have enough to eat, Grandma, please help yourself."
By the time the meal was halfway through, all the food on the table had been devoured, except for what was in Huo Yanci's bowl. Ning Qingxi watched as he put one hand on his stomach and struggled to swallow, and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Your Highness Prince Jing seems to be very hungry. You've been eating for so long, should I ask you for some more?"
Huo Yanci has never liked extravagance and waste. Usually when they come to eat, the dishes are just a bite. Today there are more people, so the dishes are more. Ning Qingshan, this half-grown boy, has the air of eating his father out of house and home, and he has taken on more than half of the food for Huo Yanci. Ning Qingxi herself is also quite full and feels like the food is stuck to her throat.
Huo Yanci ate while looking worried: "I have a feeling I'll gain weight after this meal."
Ning Qingxi was very forgiving: "It's okay, just exercise more tomorrow, I believe you can maintain your figure."
Huo Yanci: "..."
Anyway, there's no option for him to get fat.
Huo Yanci, who relies on her looks, is also very self-aware and secretly resolves to spend a few days at the horse farm.
After dinner, the five of them went to stroll around the streets to admire the lanterns. Huo Yanci rubbed her stomach as she walked to help digestion. Ning Qingxi frowned, slowed her pace, and let the other three walk ahead while she and Huo Yanci walked at the back. "What's wrong? Still feeling full?"
Huo Yanci nodded: "I haven't exercised in a long time, and eating so much at once makes me feel a bit uncomfortable."
He has a beautiful face, a very pleasing face. When he doesn't speak, he looks like a fairy descended from heaven. His prominent brow bone blocks half of the light, so the light from above doesn't affect him at all. Instead, his features are completely hidden in shadow, making him look more sharp.
Ning Qingxi unconsciously lowered her voice: "So what? I'll go buy you some hawthorns, will they help?"
Huo Yanci suddenly touched Ning Qingxi with her hand hanging down: "Take my hand, it'll work better than hawthorn."
He had originally intended to make a few flirtatious remarks, because he could tell that Ning Qingxi wasn't very enthusiastic about making their relationship public. But to his surprise, Ning Qingxi actually beckoned him with her finger and took his hand in return.
Huo Yanci's eyes widened slightly. Ning Qingxi felt a little awkward under his gaze and tried hard not to be distracted: "What's the principle behind this? Could it be that I'm so hungry that I get hungry just by looking at you?"
Huo Yanci had a curved eyebrow and looked harmless, but her speaking style was unusually wicked: "Yes, Miss Ning is a feast for the eyes."
Ning Qingxi squinted at him.
Huo Yanci always felt that she couldn't compete with him in terms of flirtatiousness.
Sure enough, Ning Qingxi said the next second: "You are more pleasing to the eye than I am. You know, I have a strong urge to throw you on the bed and strip you naked right now."
Just then, fireworks burst open nearby. The person setting off the fireworks covered their ears, laughed, and ran away. Amidst the noise, Ning Qingxi heard nothing but the flashing of fireworks, blooming on the treetops, and the colorful light falling on Huo Yanci's face.
"..."
What kind of atmosphere should we create at this time?!
Ning Qingxi felt a sense of guilt, as if she were driving a kindergarten school bus straight onto the highway.
Fortunately, the children on the bus weren't exactly gentle either.
As the wet nurse led the people back, they saw Huo Yanci and Ning Qingxi coming side by side. One looked lazy and content, with a satisfied expression after a big meal, while the other looked a bit doubtful about life, constantly wiping her lips with the back of her hand.
Huo Yanci lifted the candied hawthorns in her hand: "I'm a little full from eating too much, I'll buy some hawthorns to help with digestion."
As he spoke, he gave a little to each of the two children.
When someone who doesn't like sweets buys sweets, that's the beginning of a disaster.
Ning Qingxi was fed these hawthorns for three days in a row and was starting to question her existence: "Did these hawthorns go bad?"
Huo Yanci was also a little skeptical: "Really? It's only been out for a short time?"
Ning Qingxi was speechless at this ridiculous talk, rolling her eyes to the sky: "Brother Ci, I hope you remember that what you have in your hand is a genuine fruit product, not a lump of iron."
Huo Yanci: "What a pity, there are so many left over."
Ning Qingxi, unable to bear it any longer, snatched the hawthorn from his hand and threw it into the trash: "Is your life more important or the trash? Don't make me come to save you if you get sick from eating it!"
Having said all that, Huo Yanci reluctantly abandoned her beloved hawthorns and turned to ask, "Speaking of which, how's your drawing coming along?"
Ning Qingxi: "It's wonderful! I've never felt so good before!"
After drawing so many pictures, I got the hang of it and couldn't be stopped. My speed increased rapidly, but the progress was still disappointing. If this were a movie, it would probably only be at the dragon mark by now.
However, this did not diminish Ning Qingxi's confidence.
There was no other way; faced with such a massive project, if I wasn't confident enough, I should have hanged myself.
Ning Qingxi asked curiously, "Wait a minute, why didn't you go to the horse farm today? Aren't you afraid of gaining weight? No, I have to check your fitness results."
As she spoke, Ning Qingxi's hand reached down with lightning speed. Huo Yanci quickly dodged, and afterwards, she was still shaken: "Young Lady Ning, I almost thought you were trying to help me completely resolve the troubles of the mortal world."
Ning Qingxi, having failed, said dejectedly, "I misjudged you, don't overthink it."
Huo Yanci: "...Before you said that, I hadn't actually thought about anything."
Ning Qingxi chuckled twice, turned around to go back to continue drawing, when she suddenly heard someone behind her say, "Speaking of which, I have some good news to share with you."
"What good news?"
Huo Yanci feigned profundity: "The time isn't right yet. You'll find out in a couple of days."
"..." Ning Qingxi said sincerely, "Has anyone ever said that people who only say half of what they mean are bastards?"
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