17
The drive wasn't particularly long, but it got a bit congested during rush hour.
When Zhang Xinjie and Shen Ning arrived, Han Wenqing and Xu Xinnuan were already there. The table in the private room was full of various seafood dishes, and everyone in the room was enjoying their meal.
"You two are finally here! If we had been any later, we would have finished eating!"
Zhang Jiale urged the two girls to sit down quickly. There were two empty seats to Xu Xinnuan's left, so the two girls sat next to each other, while Zhang Xinjie sat on Shen Ning's other side.
This was the second time Shen Ning had seen Xu Xin Nuan. The other woman smiled at her, as if greeting her, and seemed quite friendly.
"It's nice to see you again. Congratulations!"
The private room was crowded and lively. After Chen Ning sat down, she leaned closer and said, "I just heard the good news today and didn't have time to give you anything. I'll make it up to you later."
Xu Xinnuan quickly waved her hand and gestured something, then suddenly realized she was still wearing disposable gloves and felt very embarrassed. She wanted to take them off and type on her phone instead.
At this moment, Han Wenqing, who was on the other side, spoke up to translate: "He said thank you for your tickets. They sold out instantly as soon as they went on sale, and I didn't manage to get one."
Shen Ning smiled knowingly, "It's alright, it's all thanks to family connections. We don't have any other tickets, but we have a lot of tickets for cultural performances. I told the team leader that we'll give them to you when we get more."
Xu Xinnuan started waving her hands again, looking startled.
"Don't mention it. I don't know much about music, and I've only been to a few concerts. Anyway, it's just a waste of my time. I might as well give it to someone who needs it."
After saying that, seeing that Xu Xinnuan was still a little hesitant, Shen Ning added, "You still gave me candy? How about this, every time you come, bring me a piece of candy, like the White Rabbit candy, or other small snacks will do."
Shen Ning smiled, and her words didn't sound like she was showing off. It was just like a normal gift exchange between friends, not caring who gave more, but simply expressing her feelings.
Xu Xin Nuan also felt that it was not appropriate to keep insisting on declining, so she tilted her head and looked at Han Wen Qing for his opinion, only to hear Han Wen Qing say: "You don't need to consider me, you decide for yourself."
That means it won't affect their daily work.
Xu Xin Nuan felt relieved, smiled and nodded, and even made the sign language for "thank you". After Han Wen Qing acted as the translator, the two girls ate and chatted intimately.
Thus, the group consisted of boys chatting in small groups, girls chatting amongst themselves, a translator, and Zhang Xinjie, who tried to keep quiet even during meals, adhering to the principle of "not talking while eating."
Little did they know that Zhang Xinjie had been paying attention all along, just like Han Wenqing, and had overheard everything the two girls said.
"I've always wanted to ask, what skincare products do you use? Although everyone says you look young, your skin is really good." Shen Ning gradually adjusted her phrasing when speaking to Xu Xin Nuan, trying to ask in a binary way, "Are they functional products? Whitening, anti-aging?"
Xu Xinnuan shook her head.
"Just hydration, moisturizing, and sun protection?"
Xu Xinnuan nodded.
Staring intently at her smooth, fair profile, he couldn't help but sigh, "So you're naturally beautiful... so fair and delicate."
This statement is like that of a lecherous man; he's just short of actually touching her.
Xu Xinnuan's cheeks flushed slightly, while the two men on either side silently picked up a piece of seafood with their chopsticks and pretended to eat it to cover up their embarrassment.
The person involved didn't seem to find anything wrong at all and continued to ask, "Are you usually very careful about what you eat? Don't you eat sweets or spicy food?"
Xu Xin Nuan was stunned, and shook her head frantically.
The violent shaking of her head made Shen Ning react for a moment, and then she began to ponder between the two answers: "not eating" and "not that she doesn't want to eat."
Han Wenqing was very familiar with this question and answered immediately: "The negation of negation is affirmation."
Contemplation: ? ? ?
"She loves sweet and spicy food."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Xinnuan nodded vigorously, her face showing a hint of pride.
Ah, this...
They really are a perfectly compatible couple.
Shen Ning was quite envious, her smiling gaze sweeping between the two. Zheng Chengfeng and the others overheard this and joined in with a few teasing remarks.
The young girl was shy and a little embarrassed, while Han Wenqing was as calm as if he were protected by an invincible shield, picking up a piece of food from a distance for Xu Xinnuan with his chopsticks. Upon closer inspection, there was a small pink rubber band on his wrist.
Basically, they just show off their love every day, blinding single people with their sweetness.
"That's wonderful," Shen Ning couldn't help but exclaim.
Han Wenqing seemed to still remember the previous somber remarks about the "love rival," and whether intentionally or unintentionally, he said, "Then you should find one too."
"...Captain, you hold grudges too much."
You're overthinking it.
Completely bewildered, Xu Xinnuan looked at Han Wenqing with a questioning gaze.
Zhang Jiale also joined in, looking like a busybody who never misses a chance to stir up trouble, urging Han Wenqing to gossip.
Having won in every sense, Han Wenqing naturally didn't shy away from saying to Xu Xinnuan, "Chen Ning said before that if she were a man, she would definitely snatch you away."
"Ah, Chen Ning!" Qin Muyun slammed his fist on the table, demanding an answer. "And then? What did you say?"
Han Wenqing said casually, "She didn't have a chance."
"Oh!!!" Everyone at the table burst into laughter, and some even whistled. Xu Xinnuan was so annoyed that she poked Han Wenqing several times with her elbow, but everyone thought it was just her being affectionate, which only made the couple seem even more lovey-dovey.
Shen Ning was holding her breath, and looking at Han Wenqing's nonchalant, confident, and dismissive expression that his opponent was trash, she really... wanted to slap him!
Zhang Jiale shouted, "Chen Ning, ask your wife now, if you were a man, who would she choose?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Xu Xinnuan: ? ? ?
Before Xu Xin Nuan could react when the topic suddenly shifted to herself, Shen Ning decisively refused, "I won't ask."
"Why didn't you ask?" Song Qiying rarely spoke up.
"Little Song, if I get rejected to my face, don't I have any pride?"
"Maybe Sister Xu will choose you?"
"If I embarrass my boss, I'll lose my job." Shen Ning, with the air of a seasoned veteran, earnestly advised Song Qiying, "You're still young, you don't know how dangerous the world can be."
Song Qiying: ...I feel that the captain is not sinister, but I dare not say it.
"Did you hear that, Lao Han? Calm down."
Zhang Jiale didn't care about any battles between gods; he just loved to join in the fun. Everyone turned to look at Han Wenqing because of this, and saw that the main character was still calm and composed, but Xu Xinnuan next to him was resting her head on her wrist and laughing uncontrollably.
Qin Muyun asked curiously, "Is the team leader's wife also caught up in the show? She's laughing so happily?"
Xu Xinnuan smiled with her head down and waved her hand.
Once she calmed down a bit, she started peeling shrimp with her lips still upturned. Her technique was incredibly skillful; she broke open the belly, pulled the head and tail, and in a few seconds, a whole shrimp was out.
Xu Xin Nuan placed the shrimp directly onto Chen Ning's plate, leaving Chen Ning stunned.
Peel shrimp for her?
She didn't even receive this treatment when she was with her ex-boyfriend!
Her composed smile gradually widened, the unexpected joy making her feel elated, as if she were determined to succeed.
"Oh!! The team's wife has chosen Shen Ning?!"
"Wow, that's exciting!!"
"I knew Sister Xu might choose Sister Chen Ning!"
"Hahaha, Lao Han, you've been poached!!!"
In a battle between rivals, Shen Ning seemed to have the victory in her grasp, but then the sharp-eyed Zheng Chengfeng suddenly discovered a new world.
"Even the vice-captain is laughing! He's having a good time watching this drama!"
Zhang Xinjie, who had been silent all along, was rarely called upon, and the atmosphere in the private room became even more lively, with people clamoring for him to say a few words.
With a calm and confident demeanor, he said, "Vice Captain, you also think I've won completely, right?"
Zhang Xinjie, a bystander, glanced thoughtfully at Chen Ning and chuckled, "Don't you guys think this shrimp looks like a friend card?"
Contemplation: ? ? ?
Everyone: ? ? ?
Zhang Xinjie explained slowly and deliberately: "You're a good person, but I can't accept you, so I can only give you a shrimp..."
At this point, Zhang Xinjie paused, looked at Shen Ning, and added slowly and deliberately, "To offer... some solace."
Chen Ning: ...
"Holy crap..."
"That's so damn heartbreaking!"
Upon hearing this bizarre explanation, the other team members' initial excitement for this juicy gossip instantly vanished. Bai Yanfei, with a mournful face, clutched his chest and slumped back in his chair, sighing, "Ah, the knife..."
It's not just a knife, it's a knife of sweet words coated with honey, making you smile as you approach, only to be slashed to the point of death, leaving you unable to even cry.
He stared intently at the shrimp on the plate, then turned to look at Xu Xinnuan in disbelief.
Although there was a smile on his childish face, he seemed quite troubled.
Under Shen Ning's gaze, Xu Xinnuan glanced at Han Wenqing, then silently and skillfully peeled a shrimp and placed it back on Shen Ning's plate.
"KO!"
With Zhang Jiale's shout, cheers and jeers erupted again in the private room, proving that the main character of this meal was indeed a dog food feast.
Xu Xinnuan tilted her head, resting her head on Han Wenqing's shoulder, laughing and feeling helpless.
Chen Ning sighed deeply, picked up a shrimp, and looked at it again and again.
"Do we need to translate this one again?" Zhang Xinjie asked.
Upon hearing this, Shen Ning stuffed the shrimp into her mouth without saying a word, while glaring fiercely at Zhang Xinjie.
Even if she's given a "friend zone" card, she still has at least two.
Unlike you, who doesn't even have a credit card, a sarcastic bachelor at your age, no wonder no one likes you.
The meal was lively, with lots of chatting and eating, and it didn't end until almost 10 o'clock.
Han Wenqing naturally had to escort Xu Xinnuan back. Zhang Xinjie had escorted Shen Ning when he came, so he naturally took over the escort back as well. The others went straight back to the club.
On the way, Chen Ning either closed his eyes to rest or looked out the window, looking listless.
Zhang Xinjie asked, "Are you tired?"
His deep voice was lazy: "How do you know I'm not holding a grudge against you?"
"You're not that naive. Is your account suspended?"
Shen Ning then remembered the anemia: "...How do you still remember?"
"I always do this. Is it up?"
Knowing he couldn't avoid it, he reluctantly took out his phone from his bag and started searching for appointment booking platforms.
Then Zhang Xinjie continued, "You need to get vaccinated for two consecutive days. You should have your blood drawn on the first day. Remember to fast in the morning. If you're getting anemia tests, you can't eat. The results will be available on the same day. Go see the doctor on the second day."
Shen Ning was quite surprised by the level of detail: "You investigated this too?"
"No, my blood tests are always normal every year."
"Then how do you know so clearly?"
Zhang Xinjie was silent for a few seconds before saying, "I searched online while I was eating."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ning couldn't help but look over.
These words were certainly not ambiguous, but they still stirred something within Shen Ning.
Zhang Xinjie didn't explain, as if there was no need to "protest," and Chen Ning naturally wouldn't ask any further questions.
However, she was still a little flustered. The flustered feeling made the atmosphere in the car even more awkward. Shen Ning didn't like this feeling, so she directly brought the topic back to registration.
"It's quite easy to get an appointment at the hematology department. Even at this hour, there are still appointments available for tomorrow morning."
"Yes, the hospital next door is a Grade II Class A hospital, not a Grade III Class A hospital. It's not usually that crowded, but it can still handle basic tests."
"Everything's hung up. Do I need to go through the leave application process?"
"No need, it shouldn't take much time, and you've already worked a lot of overtime during the summer break."
"Thanks." Having run out of things to say, Chen Ning glanced at the road. They were already near her home, so she pointed to an intersection ahead. "Let's park near there. It's hard to turn around if we go any further in. It's only a two-minute walk."
"OK."
Zhang Xinjie stopped near the intersection. Shen Ning got out of the car, thanked him, and was about to turn and leave when Zhang Xinjie rolled down the car window, leaned over, and said to her, "Go to bed earlier from now on. Staying up late is bad for anemia."
Perhaps it was the night breeze after getting off the car that changed her mood, but this time Shen Ning directly asked, "Did you specifically look it up during dinner again?"
The people in the car seemed surprised by her question, but they didn't try to hide anything and answered as frankly as ever: "Since we're going to investigate, we naturally need to understand all aspects."
Shen Ning smiled and said, "Okay, I understand."
It has to be said that the saying "birds of a feather flock together" is quite true. From the captain to the vice-captain, although their personalities are very different, they are all open-minded.
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