Because of the extra month-long vacation that came out of nowhere, and one without that scumbag Lu Chen or the Tang family interfering, Tang Ning had practically gone crazy with fun, all arranged by Xu Sinian.
Almost every day, the first thing I think about when I open my eyes is where I should go today. Before I go to sleep, I close my eyes and think about how great the activity I did during the day was, and how I want to go back another day to have more fun.
As I've already said, Xu Sinian's bottom line regarding Tang Ning is that he has no bottom line at all.
So whenever she was on vacation, Xu Sinian would work from home unless absolutely necessary, and his speed in handling affairs visibly improved because he wanted to spend more time with Tang Ning.
Perhaps even Xu Sinian himself didn't realize that he was now completely different from the cautious, closed-off person he used to be, who would never show any emotion to Tang Ning's indifference. Or perhaps he had realized it, but still allowed these feelings, which were dangerous to him, to run rampant.
As for the pair of mandarin ducks, Tang Ning had already embroidered them long ago, and even used the embroidery to make a pair of knee pads for Xu Sinian. Now, these ugly knee pads are worn on Xu Sinian's knees every day, and he has never felt that there is anything wrong with them. On the contrary, occasionally after finishing his work, he will reflexively touch them, and as he touches and strokes them, the corners of his mouth cannot help but turn up.
Oh, you're asking what Tang Ning did during her holiday?
It has everything.
Because the world is in such a chaotic state, and Tang Ning was also interested, Xu Sinian took her to the shooting range first.
Unexpectedly, Tang Ning has quite a bit of talent; she was already able to hit the bullseye after only a short period of training.
Although Xu Sinian's legs had been broken in an accident when he fell off a horse, he couldn't help but ask Tang Ning if she wanted to ride a horse when he saw her looking at him with a look of surprise and longing as she passed by the horse farm. After receiving Tang Ning's affirmative answer, he immediately called over the servants at the horse farm to bring Tang Ning a gentle, chestnut-colored mare and ordered them to teach her how to ride.
One can only say that if Tang Ning were a man, he would probably be someone who could make a name for himself in such a chaotic world.
She had only been learning for less than half a day, yet she was already able to ride a horse on her own.
From beginning to end, Xu Sinian's gaze never left Tang Ning.
He felt that Tang Ning, riding on horseback under the bright sun, dressed in fiery red, with a radiant smile, was someone he would likely never easily forget for the rest of his life.
Then, that very night, Xu Sinian's breathing became much more rapid than usual. It was also the first time Tang Ning had seen him so infatuated since he came to her side.
It must be admitted that the other person's long, narrow eyes tinged with red, and their dreamy, unfocused gaze, were truly captivating and mesmerizing.
Xu Sinian's current favorability rating: 85.
Time passed by little by little in Tang Ning's company with Xu Sinian, filled with eating, drinking and having fun, and the New Year was fast approaching.
Around midnight on New Year's Eve, every household sets off firecrackers to celebrate and welcome the New Year, and the Xu family is no exception.
It can only be said that Tang Ning is quite daring. Originally, it was arranged for A Sheng to set off the firecrackers at home, but she insisted on going herself. Xu Sinian actually agreed to such a dangerous request.
Then, as soon as the firecrackers went off, Tang Ning, the adorable little girl, pounced into his arms, covering her ears tightly but still laughing out loud from the excitement.
Almost instantly, Xu Sinian grabbed her waist, leaned close to her ear and said gently but sternly, "This is the only time, and there will be no next time, do you understand?"
"Um!"
Tang Ning nodded vigorously, her face flushed with happiness.
The next second, Xu Sinian cupped her face and kissed her deeply. Although his subordinates and servants from the Xu family were standing around, since that night of indulgence, Xu Sinian seemed to have suddenly broken through his meridians. He was no longer the aloof and celibate man he used to be. On the contrary, he would often want to cuddle with Tang Ning, as if he could not see anyone else but Tang Ning. His honesty was shocking.
After the kiss ended, Xu Sinian took out a handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped the smudged lipstick from Tang Ning's lips. He then reached out and tidied her hair. Looking into Tang Ning's eyes, he gently pecked the tip of her small nose.
If he could, he would even wish that time could stand still at this moment.
But he knew it was impossible.
Xu Sinian's current favorability rating: 88.
Listening to the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers all around him, Xu Sinian reached out and tucked Tang Ning's rabbit fur cloak under his arm, and said gently, "I might be a bit busy these few days after the New Year and won't have much time to spend with you. If you get bored, I can have Asheng and the others take you to the horse farm and the shooting range, or any other place you like."
"Am I going alone? That would be so boring. I only want to go with you..."
Tang Ning immediately hugged Xu Sinian's neck.
Now she speaks these sweet, comforting words with such ease.
Xu Sinian really fell for this, and immediately smiled and pinched her earlobe. Perhaps when he told her to go out and play, he was just saying it casually. In his heart, he was still thinking about Tang Ning being able to play with him, even though he could only get around in a wheelchair.
Thinking of this, Xu Sinian's smile slightly faded.
That night, after Tang Ning fell asleep, in the dimly lit room, Xu Sinian calmly watched the traditional Chinese medicine doctor carefully taking his pulse. Only after the doctor withdrew his hand did he ask, "How is it? Is there any chance of recovery... or rather, is there any possibility that I can stand up again?"
Hearing his words, the white-bearded old doctor sighed softly, "We can only try our best. As for whether he can stand up, we'll have to see how the treatment goes. I dare not make any rash judgments."
Upon hearing this, Xu Sinian's expression remained neither happy nor sad. In fact, he had heard such wording at least eight or ten times over the years.
In fact, he had long given up the idea of getting back on his feet, but whenever he thought of Tang Ning, he always hoped that he could become better, and even better.
He also wanted to ride alongside her, instead of just sitting by and watching.
"Alright, Dr. Li will do his best."
After Xu Sinian finished speaking in a low voice, he ordered someone to send Doctor Li from Huichuntang out.
But a short while later, the door to the room was knocked on again; it was Ah Sheng.
Xu Sinian, who was about to return to his room, stopped when he heard that A Sheng had something important to report. Then the man heard what A Sheng had to say.
Master Shen now knows Lu Chen's identity as the young marshal of Fengcheng from who knows where. However, because of the enmity between the two, which has reached the point of no return, and fearing that Lu Chen will use Fengcheng's troops to retaliate, he has decided to strike first and will soon send someone to ambush Lu Chen.
"I understand. Our people don't need to pay any attention to it."
These two are like a wolf and a tiger, neither of them are easy to deal with. It would be good if one of them could die, but it would be even better if they both were severely injured.
Thinking this, Xu Sinian pushed his wheelchair back to his and Tang Ning's room. As soon as he lay down on the bed, Tang Ning's fair and delicate arms instinctively wrapped around him.
"Ouch, it's so cold. Where have you been? It's so late..."
Because she was still half asleep, Tang Ning's voice was also filled with a sticky, sleepy tone.
"I went out for a while. Go to sleep. I'll stay here."
Xu Sinian took the opportunity to hug her and coaxed her in a low voice.
"Um……"
Tang Ning responded almost inaudibly, and the arms that were holding Xu Sinian's neck slowly loosened.
Xu Sinian was left kissing her cheeks and lips again and again in the cool moonlight, then he covered her completely with the blanket and fell asleep in the embrace.
Sure enough, as soon as the Spring Festival was over, Xu Sinian immediately got busy.
If he weren't busy, Tang Ning would probably spend all the time she had left in this world on Xu Sinian alone.
That won't do!
So, starting after the New Year, Tang Ning developed a habit of going to a coffee shop on Wenxi Road every afternoon at two o'clock to have a cup of coffee.
However, rather than saying she went to drink coffee, it would be more accurate to say she was "fishing"!
Sure enough, after less than a week of sticking to this habit, a "big fish" jumped out on its own.
As Tang Ning emerged from the coffee shop, she looked at the rickshaw parked in front of her, the driver whose face was obscured by a felt hat, and of course, the enormous name "Lu Chen" above the driver's head.
Tang Ning smiled inwardly, but her expression remained unchanged as she got into the rickshaw.
"I'm sorry to trouble the Xu family."
After saying that, she stopped talking.
The driver, having learned her destination, didn't respond and pulled the rickshaw forward.
As they ran, something seemed off. Although Tang Ning hadn't been in Haicheng for long, she was very good at finding her way around, and this road was clearly not the way to the Xu family.
In an instant, she realized that Lu Chen must have pulled some kind of hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress trick on this road, and maybe even a self-inflicted injury.
Tang Ning refused to tolerate Lu Chen's scheming and his bad habit.
She sat up almost immediately. "Driver, this road doesn't seem to lead to the Xu mansion..."
Upon hearing Tang Ning's suspicion, Lu Chen, disguised as a rickshaw puller, felt a chill run down his spine and ran even faster. He hadn't expected Tang Ning to be so perceptive.
Just as he was about to pull Tang Ning to the place he had planned without a second thought, a cold, hard object pressed against his back.
Lu Chen, who immediately realized what this thing was, froze, and then heard Tang Ning's cold voice behind him.
"I don't care who sent you, turn around right now, or we'll see if your legs are faster than my bullets..."
This was Tang Ning, whom he had never met before.
Tang Ning spent five years with Xu Sinian.
Unable to control himself, Lu Chen wanted to turn around and see the expression on Tang Ning's face, but he managed to hold back. However, under Tang Ning's threat, he had no choice but to return the way he came.
Just then, a gunshot grazed the rickshaw's cloak.
Lu Chen was well-trained, and in the face of danger, he reacted almost instinctively. The man who had been hunched over pulling the cart for Tang Ning immediately pounced on her and pinned her to the ground.
When their eyes met, Tang Ning stared wide-eyed in disbelief as she clearly saw the other person's appearance.
But there was no time for the two of them to say anything more. Lu Chen grabbed Tang Ning's hand and hurriedly moved to a safe spot to the side.
He clearly didn't want Tang Ning to have an easy time. Heaven knows why, the moment the gunshot rang out, the only thought that arose in his mind was to protect Tang Ning. Even now, he doesn't want to let go of her hand at all.
While fleeing, Lu Chen desperately gripped Tang Ning's fingers, his mind a complete mess.
Meanwhile, the Xu family company.
"Bang!"
Xu Sinian was working in his office when he suddenly heard the door being pushed open from the outside.
"Something's wrong, Mr. Xu..."
Upon hearing this, Xu Sinian, feeling inexplicably flustered, slashed a line across the document in front of him with the pen he was holding.
But by the time Xu Sinian arrived, it was already too late.
The last thing Tang Ning saw as she was being protected by Lu Chen and falling into the river was Xu Sinian's bloodshot eyes. He was about to rush towards her in a wheelchair, but due to the weakness in his legs, he only took two steps before collapsing to the ground.
What rang in my ears was his desperate and piercing scream—
"Ningning!"
Xu Sinian's current favorability rating: 90.
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