Chapter 33. Her heart immediately started racing. ...
It was already past the chill of early spring in March, and it was midday.
But even with the gentle breeze blowing and the cloudless blue sky above, Ning Yao still felt a chill.
She shrank back slightly. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away, but it was firmly gripped.
"Brother Ning..."
"Explain yourself clearly."
Ning Yiwen frowned, his long-standing habit of being condescending passively seeping into his tone.
He said so much today simply to open his heart to her.
If she truly has someone else in her heart, then no matter how much he does, it will be meaningless.
Ning Yao swallowed, looked away from him, and gazed around.
The surrounding area is all green grass and trees, without any small flowers to decorate it. The yard is not big, and the surrounding area can be seen at a glance.
But Ning Yao, as if studying the differences between each blade of grass, pretended to be engrossed in the observation.
"Well... I saw you at the Fan family's house back then, and I also saw you and Miss Fan at the middle school."
Ning Yiwen thought carefully, but he still couldn't recall the time he spent with Fan Ruoxuan in the school.
"When did you go to the middle school to look for me? And when did I..." His words trailed off.
He recalled the last time when Commander Fan invited Fan Ruoxuan to visit the school, and the principal happened to assign him to entertain Fan Ruoxuan.
Did anything unusual happen that time?
Ning Yiwen asked himself, but after thinking for a long time, he couldn't come up with any special plot details.
He only remembered that Fan Ruoxuan brought him good news on behalf of Commander Fan that day.
His mind was completely focused on the good news. Now, when he tried to recall it, even Fan Ruoxuan's face was a little blurry. He couldn't even remember what clothes Fan Ruoxuan was wearing or what else she said that day.
He asked, somewhat puzzled, "So, what did you see that made you think I have feelings for her?"
Ning Yiwen's attitude was so frank that Ning Yao felt more and more that she might have misjudged him again.
She stammered, "I heard you praising her, and...it seemed like you were holding her hand..."
Ning Yiwen: "..."
Outrageous!
He had completely forgotten the details of that day and couldn't even provide any evidence to prove that he hadn't done it!
He raised the hand he was holding. "Ning Yao, in my whole life, I've only ever held your hand! I really can't remember what she said or did when she came that day, but I'm sure you must have seen wrong!"
Ning Yao looked down at his clenched hand, and then at his expression as if he were about to raise his hand to explain Yue Zhaozhao.
My heart skipped a beat again for some reason.
Ning Yao pursed her lips, not even daring to look to the side, "Then, I guess I was mistaken."
Her expression was evasive, and her tone was light and airy. Ning Yiwen couldn't tell whether she believed him or not, and felt like he had no way to defend himself.
“Ning Yao…”
"Um, Brother Ning..."
The two spoke at the same time.
Ning Yiwen subconsciously stopped and listened to Ning Yao speak.
Ning Yao didn't even dare to look him in the eye. "Brother Ning, it's getting late. Afternoon classes are about to start."
"Alright," Ning Yiwen sighed softly.
He sat on the steps without moving, looked at the person beside him, pulled his hand back from his own, and ran away as fast as he could.
That swaying little figure seemed to be being chased by something.
Although she knew that class was about to start, Ning Yiwen was still a little unhappy.
The entire courtyard suddenly became empty.
He looked up at the sky, which was a clear, azure blue, and completely empty of clouds.
When will that white cloud willingly drift over and settle beside him?
On the other side, Ning Yao clutched her rapidly beating heart, ignoring the grass under her feet, and ran straight back to the classroom.
He sat down in his seat with a thud.
She bit her lip, panting, her fingers clenched tightly, her mind in turmoil.
She felt very hot and couldn't help but fan herself.
It was almost time for class, and almost everyone had arrived. Most people didn't seem to care that Ning Yao was running back like that, since everyone was afraid of being late for class.
However, Wan Hongye, who was behind Ning Yao, narrowed her eyes and nudged Lou Yu in the waist with her elbow, signaling her to look at Ning Yao.
He whispered in her ear, "Look at her, isn't there something a little off about her?"
At this moment, Ning Yao's face was flushed, and even the tips of her ears and the areas of her neck not covered by her hair were red.
Lou Yu glanced at him, puzzled. "You must have been running too fast. Just have some water and you'll feel better."
Wan Hongye was speechless. She glared at Lou Yu with disappointment and continued to speak softly but firmly, "No way, who can become this famous by running a few steps?"
Based on her many years of experience writing storybooks, there must be something wrong.
But Lou Yu didn't believe her, saying, "You're overthinking it."
He dismissed her with just one sentence.
Wan Hongye choked for a moment, feeling disgusted with her deskmate for the first time.
He turned to look at Ning Yao and Bu Shuli in front of him.
One is the person herself, whom she definitely cannot ask; the other... is completely engrossed in the book and cannot extricate herself.
Wan Hongye was completely dejected.
At this moment, she felt as if she had discovered a shocking secret, but she was distressed because there was no one to share it with and no one cared.
She glanced around the classroom, which was a mess and full of smelly men, before the teacher arrived. She had no interest in sharing it.
I'm so angry! Why isn't the school I went to an all-girls school?!
Until school ended, Wan Hongye suddenly slapped her forehead and came up with a brilliant idea.
"Hey, everyone, how about we get together for a little get-together this weekend?" Wan Hongye said to Ning Yao and the others, her eyes mostly fixed on Ning Yao.
After an afternoon of classes, Ning Yao had recovered, but Wan Hongye's scheming glance made her heart race again for some reason.
The promise that was about to come out was swallowed back down. Instead, he turned to look at the quiet Bu Shuli beside him and asked, "Shuli, do you have any plans for the weekend?"
Bu Shuli was stunned for a moment.
Ning Yao's eyes held a faint hope, but Wan Hongye threatened her with a look that said, "Try saying something if you dare."
"Are you two having another fight?" In the end, Bu Shuli chose to remain neutral.
"No."
"How is that possible!"
Ning Yao and Wan Hongye spoke at the same time.
Lou Yu, who was standing to the side, burst out laughing.
Bu Shuli sighed and said, "Um, a new coffee shop just opened near the back gate of the school. My treat, shall we all go and try it?"
No one objected.
However, they all left some time for Ning Yao to go and tell Ning Yiwen first.
Wan Hongye stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest, between Bu Shuli and Lou Yu, watching Ning Yao and Ning Yiwen talking from behind.
"Why does Ning Yiwen pick her up from school every day? Is he that worried about this route?"
Bu Shuli doesn't like gossiping behind people's backs, but Wan Hongye's chatter made her want to chat as well.
"Indeed, this eldest brother of the Ning family has truly fulfilled his duties as an elder brother to the fullest extent."
Rain or shine, she picks him up and drops him off. I heard she takes care of everything at home too, so Ning Yao doesn't have to lift a finger.
They are all women who have servants at home, so they should be used to being waited on.
But whenever my gaze falls on Ning Yao and Ning Yiwen, I can't help but feel a little envious.
I envy her for being so close to her family; despite being poor, she lives a carefree life.
The group chatted like this, exchanging one sentence at a time.
When Ning Yao saw Ning Yiwen, she couldn't help but slow down.
As school ended, many people poured out, making the corridors crowded.
Ning Yao could still spot his figure at a glance, causing the surrounding crowd to blur.
His attire was the same as what she had seen at noon—a typical blue long gown outfit. She had seen it many times before and should have gotten used to it by now.
But seeing him standing there today, with his tall, slender figure and focused gaze as he watched her walk towards him, made her want to turn away and run away.
But that won't work.
Moreover, there were classmates waiting behind her, so Ning Yao had no choice but to keep moving forward with difficulty.
"Brother Ning, you should go back first." Ning Yao took a deep breath and said to Ning Yiwen in a normal tone.
Ning Yiwen glanced past her and looked at the girls in the classroom behind her, asking softly, "Are you going to be with them?"
Ning Yao nodded, "Yes, let's go to the newly opened coffee shop by the back door."
"Okay, then be careful." Ning Yiwen didn't try to stop him.
He noticed her uneasy look but didn't say anything.
Take your time.
So many years have passed.
Ning Yao quickly took her friend's hand and left Ning Yiwen's sight.
She felt much more at ease, and her smile became much more natural.
Wan Hongye noticed every subtle change in the situation.
Could her change of heart be because of Ning Yiwen?
Wan Hongye shook her head, feeling as if water had gotten inside her.
How could you think like that?
Ning Yao is clever and lovely, while Ning Yiwen is upright and honest. The two depend on each other for survival, yet she still makes unwarranted speculations.
Wan Hongye secretly cursed herself before picking herself up and starting a lively gathering exclusively for her girlfriends.
Ning Yao didn't get home until very late that night.
Ning Yiwen sat alone in the study, glancing up at the empty desk opposite her from time to time, wondering what she was doing at that moment.
After a night of being upset, Ning Yao spoke to him again early the next morning.
"Brother Ning, I have a date with Yan Sifan tonight."
Ning Yiwen: "..."
Are you avoiding me?
A sentence remained stuck in my throat, yet I couldn't bring myself to say it.
Ning Yiwen looked down at her, "Besides tonight, do you have any other plans for tomorrow night or the day after tomorrow?"
After thinking for a moment, he added, "I haven't checked your studies in a long time."
Since before the Lunar New Year, he has almost completely let Ning Yao develop her studies on her own, and he no longer follows up on everything.
Therefore, this statement has a somewhat contrived, "I'm trying to hide something" feel to it.
But Ning Yao didn't notice. She didn't even raise her head, just kept shaking her head, "No more."
Ning Yiwen looked at the whorl of hair on her head and felt helpless. "Let's go then, let's go to school."
He walked out of the house first. Ning Yao followed closely behind him, glancing up at his figure every now and then.
Ning Ge's influence on her is growing.
When I returned last night, the courtyard was quiet, with only a small lamp hanging under the osmanthus tree.
The lamplight was covered, and several small insects kept rushing towards the light, only to be bounced off the cover and then rushing towards it again.
She went to the study, which was lit up, intending to tell Ning Yiwen that she had come home.
Unexpectedly, when she lifted the curtain, she saw him sitting by the lamp in the dimly lit study. He turned his head and glanced at her, and in that one glance, her heart immediately started racing.
The same familiar eyebrows and eyes, the slightly upturned tails of the eyebrows, the flickering candlelight reflected in the eyes—I don't know how many times I've seen them studying together by lamplight late into the night.
But this time it's different.
Ning Yao, who had wanted to chat with Ning Yiwen a little longer, hurriedly greeted him and ended the conversation.
I thought I would feel better after a night's rest.
Just now, Ning Yiwen approached, and the faint scent of cedar lingered around her nose, instantly leaving her at a loss for what to do.
Ning Yao lowered her head, her head drooping. She probably knew something was wrong with her.
But she was reluctant to admit it.
The two were on their way to school.
It was still early morning, and the streets were already bustling with people coming and going.
Ning Yiwen slowed down so that Ning Yao could keep up, and would occasionally look back at her.
I felt helpless, but also secretly pleased.
I wonder when she'll finally understand, or if she already does but can't face it?
Just as he was thinking this, a man pulling a van came over, and Ning Yiwen turned around and pulled Ning Yao to the other side.
Ning Yao immediately felt an unbearable burning sensation on her wrist.
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