Ning Yuan reached out and poked Aheng's forehead, her face full of disappointment and frustration.
"Hey! What's going on in your head? You call that liking? You're just lusting after my brother's body! You're disgusting!"
Ah Heng stuffed watermelon into his mouth while retorting confidently—
"Who said I don't like him? Of course I do! Your brother is handsome, has a great physique, can cook, knows medicine, and can sew—he's practically an all-around talent, the perfect person for any occasion! If I'm attracted to his body, he shouldn't be happy; if I'm not, he should be crying!"
Ning Yuan choked, and for a moment she was speechless.
She paused for a few seconds, then put down the watermelon: "The kind of liking I'm talking about isn't the kind like 'he cooks well' or 'he can sew and mend,' the kind of liking you'd have for a nanny. I mean... the kind of liking that's romantic, do you understand?"
Ah Heng paused in his act of stuffing watermelon into his mouth, muttering, "The kind of thing that men and women like?!"
She didn't quite understand why Xiao Ning was suddenly so serious.
Seeing her confused look, Ning Yuan felt even more uncertain.
She frowned: "Aheng, you've known him for so long, you should know my brother... He's different from you. He's not as carefree as you, able to take things in stride. He's always been a... very kind, extremely kind man, traditional, and patient."
Ah Heng pursues freedom and lives like a flame, igniting passion wherever he goes.
But his older brother, Wei Heng, was different.
He is traditional and patient, like lukewarm water, plain yet indispensable.
So it was only many years after Wei Heng passed away in my past life that I learned he had once been fond of me.
Now that the eldest brother has finally let go of his ego, he has met the fiery and radiant Ah Heng.
They are a perfect match.
But……
Ning Yuan organized her thoughts and continued, "My brother isn't a chauvinist; he just has a very simple belief that if you marry someone, you should give her the best and treat her well for the rest of your life."
Ah Heng blinked: "I know, he really is very good to me!"
Ning Yuan looked at her and felt a wave of helplessness wash over her face: "Don't you understand? My brother is the kind of person who takes responsibility when he falls in love with someone. His love is the kind that flows slowly and steadily, not just a passing fancy. He definitely wants a wife, kids, and a warm bed."
She sighed: "Aheng, I've always liked you, Aheng, really. I also support you in pursuing freedom and dreams, but are you planning to have children? Have you discussed it with my brother?"
She said, enunciating each word clearly, "If you only change your mind and want to be with my brother because he's useful to you, then that's not fair to my brother."
Aheng was stunned, and the smile on her face slowly disappeared. She seemed to finally realize what Ning Yuan wanted to say.
Ning Yuan paused for a moment, then emphasized, "If one day you find that my brother isn't as 'useful' as you think, would you abandon him without hesitation and pursue the life you want?"
"What will my brother do then? He'll be stuck in that place suffering for many years, unable to get over it!"
A moment of silence fell over the air.
Ah Heng squatted on the sofa without saying a word.
Ning Yuan didn't press her, but patted Aheng on the shoulder and said, "I just want to say one thing: don't wrong my brother, and don't wrong yourself either."
She wasn't trying to be discouraging, but marriage isn't something you can just have one night of fun and then forget about; that's called having a bed partner.
They were all very important to her; they were all indispensable people in her life.
She didn't want them to become enemies one day and lose their friendship, so she needed to think it through carefully.
Ah Heng remained silent for a long time, then squatted on the sofa with the remaining half of the watermelon, looking like a Tibetan mastiff gnawing on a big bone, his brows furrowed, and he didn't utter a sound for a long time.
Ning Yuan didn't disturb her, only saying, "You don't need to answer me right away, there's still plenty of time, just think it through carefully."
She got up, grabbed a rag, and began to help tidy the room.
Men are generally less meticulous, and besides, Ah Heng... well, he joined the army a long time ago, and he's not exactly a capable person.
Ah Heng suddenly lowered his head, quickly finished the remaining watermelon in his hand, and then threw the rind into the trash can with a "thud".
She wiped her hands haphazardly and said to Ning Yuan in a muffled voice, "I'm going to my room to sleep for a while. Call me when it's time to eat."
After saying that, he went into the room without looking back.
Ning Yuan nodded and replied as she tidied the table, "Okay."
Some things can't be rushed; the person involved has to figure them out for themselves.
Outside the door, Wei Heng, who was supposed to leave to buy groceries, did not leave.
He leaned against the door, his expression complicated, his knuckles white as he gripped the key in his hand.
He had forgotten to take his shopping bag and wanted to come back to get it.
Then they overheard Ning Yuan and A Heng talking in the room.
Eavesdropping is wrong.
He didn't know what was wrong with him; he stood at the door as if possessed and listened to what they were saying.
He had very mixed feelings, unable to say whether he was happy or sad.
I don't even know what I want to hear.
Could it be that Ah Heng said she didn't just want to be with him on a whim, or is there something else...?
He felt as if a large stone was lodged in his chest, making him feel suffocated and unable to breathe.
Wei Heng ultimately did not knock on the door. Instead, he turned around and left step by step, as if walking on cotton, floating away.
...
At dinner time, Wei Heng, wearing an apron, brought out plates of dishes that looked and smelled delicious.
Stir-fried beef with pickled bamboo shoots and stir-fried small sea snails with perilla leaves are both fragrant and delicious local dishes from Ningnan.
Of course, Wei Heng's favorite fried chicken legs are indispensable, golden and crispy, along with fragrant scrambled eggs with scallions.
At the dinner table, Ah Heng was unusually quiet, only focusing on picking at the rice in his bowl, barely touching his chopsticks.
Wei Heng, as usual, served Ning Yuan food and soup.
His gaze would occasionally drift towards Ah Heng, then quickly look away.
An eerie silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of chopsticks hitting bowls, echoing in the empty room.
Ning Yuan pretended not to know and smiled: "Brother, this stir-fried beef with pickled bamboo shoots is really delicious. Your cooking skills haven't changed. It still tastes like home cooking."
Wei Heng forced a smile: "Eat more if you like."
Ah Heng remained silent, his head bowed even lower.
The meal was so bad that I couldn't taste anything.
After finishing the meal, Ning Yuan rushed to clear the dishes: "Brother, you and Aheng go take out the trash and take a walk while you're at it."
She pushed Wei Heng out, then looked at A Heng and said, "A Heng, can you help my brother get some trash?"
Ah Heng suddenly stood up, coughed, and said, "I'm a little... tired today. Well, I'll take a shower and change my dressing first. Thank you all for your help. I'll clean up next time!"
After saying that, she rushed to the balcony to grab a towel and a change of clothes before heading to the bathroom.
Wei Heng said calmly, "If she doesn't want to go, then so be it. I'll go take out the trash."
Ning Yuan nodded and rolled up her sleeves: "Then I'll wash the dishes."
Wei Heng didn't say anything, silently picked up the trash bag, went out, and came back to start mopping the floor without a word.
Looking at him like this, Ning Yuan sighed inwardly. It's good that they both need to think things through.
Many people get together in a daze, full of passion, but eventually, when the hormones subside and the physical attraction fades, they part ways because of differing goals and paths.
After tidying up the kitchen, Ning Yuan picked up her bag and prepared to leave: "Brother, I have to go on a business trip for a while tomorrow, so I need to go back early to pack my luggage."
Wei Heng walked her downstairs, stood at the top of the stairs, and asked, "Where are you going?"
Ning Yuan replied, "Yes, I'm going back to Shenzhen for investment research. I'll call you when I get to the hotel."
Wei Heng nodded and said gently, "It's safer there than in Hong Kong. It's your own territory, no one will dare to bully you. Take good care of yourself."
As they were talking, Awei had already arrived with his men to pick up Ning Yuan.
Ning Yuan got into the car, waved to him, and the car slowly drove away.
Wei Heng stood there, watching the car drive away, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.
He took a clumsy puff and choked, coughing violently.
"Cough cough cough..."
He bent over awkwardly, coughing so hard that tears were almost streaming down his face.
I still can't get used to smoking it. I don't know how Rong Zhaonan, who didn't smoke often before, never choked on it.
Finally, in frustration, he stubbed out his cigarette, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it hard.
He stared blankly for a while, guessing that Ah Heng was already asleep, before slowly going upstairs.
As he passed Ah Heng's room, he subconsciously stopped in his tracks.
Her room door was tightly closed, and it was pitch black inside, as if she were asleep.
Wei Heng's lips twitched slightly. Hmm, she's thought it through. She'll probably be moving out soon, right?
That's good, I've moved away, it's less of a hassle now.
She wasn't the kind of breeze that would stay for anyone; it was just a passing fancy.
He shook his head with a self-deprecating smile, grabbed a towel and a change of clothes, and went to boil water for a bath.
Fifteen minutes later, Wei Heng came out after taking a shower.
He was drying his wet hair when he opened the door and saw Ah Heng standing at the door of the bathroom.
Water droplets slid down his muscular chest, shimmering alluringly under the light.
Ah Heng's gaze was uncontrollably drawn to it.
Wei Heng was taken aback for a moment, then regained his composure, covered his chest with a towel, and asked casually, "Need to use the restroom?"
He turned to the side, gesturing for Ah Heng to go inside.
Unexpectedly, Ah Heng suddenly raised her hand and slammed her arms against the wall with a "bang," trapping him between the wall and her body.
The walls were cold, but her body was burning hot.
Wei Heng froze: "What are you doing?"
Ah Heng raised her beautiful, sharp eyes and stared straight at him, her gaze burning as if she wanted to incinerate him completely.
"Wei Heng, I've figured it out."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
