Chapter 19

The hotpot meal was lively and full of chatter.

Ning Fei was especially cheerful today, reminiscing about many amusing stories from Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue’s childhood.

Having raised her two children alone over the years, Ning Fei had endured countless hardships—difficulties only she truly understood.

Especially during those early days in Beicheng, Ning Fei refused any help from her ex-husband. The only support she had came from her close friend, Zheng Xinmei.

Zheng Xinmei helped her find an affordable place to live in Beicheng and occasionally, when Ning Fei was overwhelmed with filming, took her children to stay with the Xie family for a few days.

It was because of this that Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue had met Xie Zhiyan at a young age.

But those hard times were long past.

Ning Fei didn’t want to cling to the past nor did she wish her children to feel any guilt over it.

Now, when she spoke of her daughter and son growing up, Ning Fei’s face was always calm and smiling, sharing only the joyful and tender moments.

Everyone at the table was fully engaged, and the conversation never once quieted.

Mentioning how Ning Shiyue once cried in frustration over a math problem he just couldn’t solve, Ning Yuxuan mercilessly teased him, “No wonder you’re such a crybaby!”

Ning Shiyue retorted indignantly, “You’re the crybaby! I remember you crying just as much as I did when we were little!”

Ning Yuxuan made a funny face. “At least I never cried just because I couldn’t solve a problem, right, Mom?”

Ning Fei chuckled, joining in the memory. “It seems… Yuxuan really never cried over her studies.”

Although her daughter had caused her plenty of worry in other ways, academically she had never been a concern.

Yuxuan had always been a good student. After middle school, with Xie Zhiyan’s help tutoring her, she consistently ranked near the top of her class.

She smoothly entered a prestigious high school and then was admitted to A University.

It was precisely because of this promising future that Ning Fei had been so heartbroken when her daughter wasted time for the sake of a romance.

Her daughter deserved a bright future to shine in life, not to be consumed daily by heartbreak over a man.

Hearing her mother say this, Ning Yuxuan beamed. “See? Mom said it herself.”

“That’s only because…” Ning Shiyue bit into a piece of tofu fiercely. “That’s because whenever you don’t understand something, you just send it to Zhiyan Ge to solve. With someone helping you, of course you wouldn’t cry!”

“That’s called making good use of resources,” Ning Yuxuan defended herself confidently. “Besides, didn’t you know Xie Zhiyan back then too? Why didn’t you ask him?”

The siblings bantered back and forth non-stop, while the man they mentioned remained serenely uninvolved.

Xie Zhiyan leisurely sipped his sour plum juice, showing no awareness that he was the center of the conversation.

Ning Shiyue glanced quickly at Xie Zhiyan and quickly looked away.

He didn’t want to admit that it was because of pride that he hadn’t asked Xie Zhiyan for help with such a simple problem.

Clearing his throat, Ning Shiyue said, “It’s because I don’t have a thick skin like you, constantly bothering others whenever I have a problem!”

“Is that so?” Ning Yuxuan looked innocently toward Xie Zhiyan. “Do you find it troublesome?”

Xie Zhiyan was silent for a moment as all three others turned their gazes on him.

The man sighed, drinking some water.

“No trouble at all,” he finally replied.

Satisfied with the answer, Ning Yuxuan proudly raised her eyebrows at Ning Shiyue, practically wagging her tail with delight.

Ning Shiyue rolled his eyes at her.

“Zhiyan Ge,” Ning Shiyue turned to Xie Zhiyan, “you’re just too kind. The more you treat my sister well, the more—”

Ning Yuxuan poked a fish ball with her chopsticks and stuffed it into Ning Shiyue’s mouth.

Ning Shiyue was speechless, eyes wide as he glared at her.

Ning Fei laughed heartily, reminding Ning Shiyue, “Eat slowly, be careful not to choke.”

Xie Zhiyan smiled as well.

“It’s alright,” he said to Ning Shiyue. “There’s plenty of time ahead. I have enough time to slowly get used to your sister’s temper.”

Ning Yuxuan glanced at Xie Zhiyan.

On the way home, Ning Shiyue had already heard Ning Fei mention over the phone that Xie Zhiyan planned to invest in Huayuan and that Ning Yuxuan was preparing to open a new store.

Ning Shiyue assumed these were future business collaborations and didn’t think much of it.

But Ning Fei had paused briefly, her gaze shifting between her daughter and Xie Zhiyan.

By the end of the meal, all the hotpot ingredients they had bought were finished.

Ning Yuxuan casually glanced at Ning Shiyue’s bowl and realized that the slice of beef she’d tossed in, covered in chili, had somehow been eaten by Ning Shiyue.

After a hotpot meal, it was best to clean the dishes and stove promptly, as the smell was strong and it was better not to leave it until the maid’s next shift.

Xie Zhiyan and Ning Shiyue together tidied the pots and dishes, taking them into the kitchen.

Though the house had a dishwasher, they still needed to do some preliminary cleaning before loading it.

Ning Fei wanted to help in the kitchen but was stopped at the doorway.

“Auntie,” Xie Zhiyan said with a faint smile, “Shiyue and I will handle the cleanup.”

Ning Fei protested, “You’re our guest, it’s not proper—”

Xie Zhiyan bent down, placing an empty bowl in the dishwasher, speaking gently, “I came for a free hotpot meal, so I can’t just do nothing.”

Ning Fei had no choice but to relent. “Thank you then.”

While Xie Zhiyan and Ning Shiyue cleaned, Ning Fei stepped out and happened to meet her daughter’s gaze.

Ning Fei smiled. “Zhiyan is really a good kid—efficient and hardworking.”

Ning Yuxuan teased her, “Mom, just one dishwasher load and he’s bought over, huh?”

Ning Fei smiled softly and shook her head.

After the meal, Ning Fei vaguely sensed something unusual between Xie Zhiyan and her daughter.

Yet she wasn’t certain, and since her daughter had just come out of an unpleasant relationship, Ning Fei didn’t want to rush things.

So she merely tested the waters, and seeing no reaction from her daughter, she dropped the subject: “Once Zhiyan finishes tidying up, Yuxuan, you see him out.”

Ten minutes later, the kitchen and dining room were spotless, with only the dishwasher humming quietly.

Ning Yuxuan followed through, escorting Xie Zhiyan out.

His car was parked in the garage beside the villa—a minute’s walk.

Neither spoke along the way.

At the garage entrance, Ning Yuxuan suddenly said, “My mom… I think she’s starting to suspect something about us.”

Xie Zhiyan furrowed his brows slightly. “Really?”

Ning Yuxuan nodded. “Yeah… I can’t quite explain it, but I feel like she’s noticed something. Maybe… what if we just go with it?”

Under the moonlight, their faces were faintly visible from a distance.

Xie Zhiyan saw Ning Yuxuan’s eyes sparkling, as if stars shimmered within them.

She looked up at him. “What if we just go along with it and start dating for real?”

Xie Zhiyan was speechless.

For a rare moment, he was lost in thought for several seconds.

Ning Yuxuan waited a while, and seeing no reply, added, “I already hinted to my mom that you’re the one pursuing me. If we’re going to ‘date,’ you have to show that you like me more.”

She continued crafting the scenario herself: “Yes, because you really like me, you took the initiative to pursue me. I’m just a little interested in you and agreed to date you while still figuring things out.”

She blinked, seeking Xie Zhiyan’s opinion. “What do you think?”

“...Fine,” he answered.

Ning Yuxuan’s eyebrows twitched.

Was he hesitating? His tone sounded different from usual.

The light was too dim to read his expression, leaving her unable to guess his feelings.

She confirmed, “So you agree?”

The silence around made his voice sound even deeper than usual: “Mm.”

Encouraged by his answer, Ning Yuxuan began pondering how to make their story more believable.

“But just suddenly pursuing me like this… it’s a bit abrupt…”

She thought for a moment, then brightened. “How about this? Actually, you’ve liked me for a long time, but because I was already seeing someone, you never confessed. Now that the opportunity is here, you’ve decided to express your feelings. How’s that for a plot?”

Xie Zhiyan said nothing.

Ning Yuxuan guessed he was reluctant, so she reasoned with him: “I know, this might not fit your personality, but it’s the most reasonable explanation. It can’t be that I’ve always liked you—because that wouldn’t make sense, especially since I was so infatuated with Gu—”

The name “Gu Yunhao” barely left her lips before being cut off.

The man’s voice was deep, tinged with restrained emotion: “Yuxuan.”

Ning Yuxuan was startled. “Hmm?”

Xie Zhiyan said, “I understand what you mean.”

She blinked in surprise. “...Really?”

“Mm.”

In the darkness, his voice was slow and clear: “It’s me who likes you and is pursuing you.”

Ning Yuxuan was speechless.

Even knowing he was merely repeating her words, her heart involuntarily quickened.

Thankfully, the night was the best disguise; she couldn’t see his expression, and surely he couldn’t detect the slightest unease on her face.

Collecting herself, Ning Yuxuan smiled nonchalantly. “Alright, it’s settled then. Next time my mom sees us, we’ll be boyfriend and girlfriend.”

She pointed to Xie Zhiyan’s car. “It’s getting late—you should head home.”

Xie Zhiyan gave a low “hm,” but didn’t move right away.

Ning Yuxuan suddenly felt inexplicably nervous, even more so than when they had registered their marriage earlier that morning.

“You…” she began.

Before she could finish, Xie Zhiyan took a step forward.

Ning Yuxuan instinctively held her breath.

At this close distance, she could finally see the depth of his dark eyes—but still couldn’t guess his intentions.

Xie Zhiyan looked into her eyes. “If we’re pretending to be a couple, shouldn’t we be a bit more intimate?”

Surrounded by his cool breath, Ning Yuxuan felt her mind nearly stop working. “Re…ally?”

The next moment, he leaned in slightly, his warm lips brushing her forehead.

A delicate, fleeting kiss.