Rong Zhaonan's eyes widened in surprise, and he murmured hoarsely, his emotions a complex mix: "Ning Yuan..."
Ning Yuan interrupted him with a smile, her big eyes crinkling: "The night the college entrance exam ended, you said you wanted me to have children after graduation, stay home as a good wife and mother to support your work, and wait for you to come home."
“I told you I want to go out and make my own way in the world. Whether or not I have a child, and when, is up to me. I will only be on your side if you agree to these conditions. Otherwise, I won’t want the child.”
Rong Zhaonan stared intently at her with his cold, narrow eyes; of course he remembered her.
That night, he turned around, got out of bed, and left.
He hated that she had clearly fallen for him, yet she still made conditions before going to bed with him, saying that she could have a moment of pleasure even if the conditions weren't right, but she didn't want his child.
He believed she was an extremely selfish woman who refused to be a virtuous wife and loving mother like women of today.
If we have different principles, we cannot work together. What is the point of continuing?
Ironically, two months later, the one who turned back was still unwilling to give up.
He was unwilling to accept that she could let go so easily, since she was the one who provoked him first and kissed him!
Ning Yuan cupped his face in her hands, drew out her words, and slowly laughed: "Well, well... I am the kind of person you said I am, self-interested and selfish. I even have to make conditions when I sleep with someone I like. Maybe I was born to be a shrewd businessman."
Rong Zhaonan had mixed feelings. The words were exactly the same, but that night, he only felt anger and coldness.
But at this moment, his heart was beating erratically, because the girl in front of him seemed to have a calm yet radiant light in her eyes.
It allowed him to see his own wretchedness, but it also warmed his frozen mind and cold heart.
Ning Yuan calmly and frankly looked back at him—
"Therefore, all the decisions I've made in my life are choices I've made at that moment after weighing the pros and cons."
"Whether it's the conditions I proposed to you that night, or cooperating with your action plan today, it was all my decision. So what if something unexpected happens?"
She paused, her expression gentle yet firm—
“Every adult should be responsible for their own choices. I will take responsibility if I am wrong. You don’t need to feel guilty or make amends. It was my own choice at the time to wipe out Tang Jun and my adoptive parents.”
Rong Zhaonan's cool eyes met hers for a long time.
She was so nonchalant, as if the action that almost cost her her life was no big deal.
It's all in the past now; it was her own choice, and it has nothing to do with him.
Even though it was the girl in his arms who was hurt, he was the one who reacted negatively.
She needs to comfort her...
The more he hated her "selfishness" and "aloneness," the more he understood that it was precisely her "selfishness" that made her a girl who could fight alongside him and remain unharmed.
Despite being a lively and impulsive young woman, she possessed a maturity that made him occasionally feel a kind of—clear-eyed foolishness—in her presence.
Even though he was several years older than her, in some ways she was the one who guided him.
Rong Zhaonan suddenly closed his eyes tightly, leaned down, and pressed his soft lips to her delicate palm, using her hands that were cupping his face.
His fine bangs fell between his delicate, sharp eyebrows, and his long eyelashes cast gentle shadows on his cold, handsome, and fair face.
The tall man's posture resembled that of a fierce and proud beast king, submitting—and only submitting to his beast tamer.
“Ning Yuan…” he said hoarsely with his eyes closed.
"What I said before still stands—I agree to all your conditions."
Ning Yuan was taken aback, then said with a hint of helplessness, "What are you feeling guilty about? Don't force yourself to do things that make you unhappy or unwilling."
"Don't let this disrupt your life plans. I don't blame you, and I won't leave you because of what happened today."
All that talk she just gave him to soothe his stress and self-blame, was it all for nothing?
Can values and life philosophies that are decades apart in age be reconciled and accepted in just a few months?
He still felt so guilty that he wanted to make amends to her by compromising his life!
Rong Zhaonan opened his eyes, his cool gaze fixed on her, his voice hoarse yet gentle.
"There was no coercion, no compromise, because you showed me—"
"Your decisions and strategies are correct and feasible, not arbitrary or reckless. You are not only capable of cleaning up your own mess, but also of leading the way for your companions."
This time, he cupped her small face in his hands and lifted her up, asking softly, "I've said before, a lone wolf can't form an army. Can we team up? From now on, I'll listen to you in life, Comrade Ning Yuan."
Ning Yuan was stunned, her eyes swirling with emotion.
It clearly has nothing to do with sweet talk; it sounds more like evaluating a comrade-in-arms...
No, it's like the cold, hard words used to describe a business partner.
But it made her feel as if someone had grabbed her heart.
For her, it was the most tender and beautiful love confession in this reborn world.
The Grand Duke Jupiter bows his head, and the tiger sniffs the rose!
He no longer saw her as a cute and pitiful possession who only needed to be obedient and protected, but as an independent "person," a comrade-in-arms and partner who could be trusted and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
Ning Yuan looked at him intently for a long time, then suddenly smiled brightly.
You ask me what I seek in life? Nothing more than to have close friends on the road ahead, and perhaps, to be companions for life.
She reached out, stood on tiptoe, and hugged his neck tightly: "Comrade Rong Zhaonan, the cooperation is complete!!"
When Rong Zhaonan was hugged by the petite girl in his arms, even the icy coldness in his eyes could be melted away.
He closed his eyes, a slow smile appearing on his lips, and held her tightly in his strong arms.
She was his spring sunshine in the cold night, and probably the curly-haired little rabbit girl he would never want to let go of for the rest of his life.
Or perhaps, it's his "little sister".
...
Sometimes, we don't hug enough.
To achieve fulfillment, one must walk hand in hand with kisses and embraces, and become a part of the other's being.
Being so close, Ning Yuan could clearly feel that he reacted because of her hug.
The crisp November air in the south becomes ambiguous.
She loosened her grip slightly, raised her large eyes, and glanced at him discreetly; he happened to be looking at her too.
His clear, beautiful eyes were cool and focused, reflecting her image: "I still want you."
He still wanted to be physically intimate with her, to the point of near-nuclear distance.
Ning Yuan didn't say anything, she just looked at him quietly, without refusing.
I don't know who made the first move, maybe the atmosphere was just right, and the kiss just happened naturally.
Having learned from his previous experiences, his kisses were no longer so awkward.
He pried open her lips and gently probed into her soft mouth little by little, his breathing slowly becoming rapid.
As their lips met, he suddenly lifted her up and placed her on his waist, saying in a hoarse voice, "I haven't showered yet, will you stay with me?"
Ning Yuan was taken aback, her round face flushed, and she put her arms around his shoulders, whispering, "Hmm...you...you're quite good at it, where did you learn it?"
Wow, is it going to be so exciting in the bathroom for the first time?
But the bathroom... there's no shower, what should I do?
Rong Zhaonan lifted her little bottom and carried her to the bathroom like a child, whispering in her ear, "Help me take off my clothes."
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