PANT - Chapter 52
Chapter 52
In the restaurant’s ostentatiously decorated restroom, Mo Lingyuan stood before the sink.
She reached out and turned on the faucet. The sound of gurgling water filled the air, splashing against the edge of the basin.
The water swirled down the drain, seeming to form a vortex.
Mo Lingyuan stared coldly at that vortex. She kept staring and staring until, after a long while, she almost felt as if she too would be swallowed by it.
Everything that had just happened in the dining room seemed to be replaying in her mind.
Mo Lingyuan scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on her face. The icy sensation reminded her to stay calm.
After doing this, Mo Lingyuan looked up at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were clear, but a closer look would reveal the confusion hidden within.
The woman in the mirror was approaching thirty, yet her face was still as gorgeous and radiant as a rose. Seeing such a face, others would say she was destined for a happy life.
From the moment she was born, her genes had determined her future.
The probability of a top-tier Omega appearing was so small that she had always been the center of attention.
People who had business dealings with the Mo family had repeatedly tried to probe and inquire since she was a child, wanting to reserve her future marriage, reserve her womb, reserve her genes.
Her genes and her family destined her to be pursued all her life, but also to be sold repeatedly like a commodity.
When her mother was alive, it was still fine.
But after her mother fell ill and that woman moved into their home, brainwashing her father daily, she gradually started down this path.
To think that even after she’d been away for ten years, that damn woman was still scheming against her.
Mo Lingyuan didn’t even need to close her eyes to recall everything that had just happened in the restaurant.
The sharp and harsh words of Mo Qi’s birth mother still echoed in her ears.
“Shi Ning, what do you think of our little Yuan? Do you still like her?”
“Her gland are damaged, and she can’t find a good family now. You’re her good older sister who’s known her for so many years; you can’t just ignore her, can you?”
“If you ask me, marriage is something that requires more caution. Shi Ning, that wife you found, which prominent family is she from? I’ve never heard of her. Auntie is telling you, once you reach our status, marrying someone from the lower rungs of society just isn’t appropriate.”
In short, Mo Lingyuan knew that woman’s unexpected invitation for Shi Ning to dine today was definitely ill-intentioned.
But she never expected the woman to be so thick-skinned as to still try and sell her off like a product to the Shi family, even after Shi Ning had already appeared on a romance reality show with her wife.
Did she really think the Shi family would agree to something like this?
Did she truly believe Mo Lingyuan was such a hot commodity that everyone had to come begging for her?
Throughout the entire meal, Shi Ning hadn’t shown a pleasant expression. She was merciless with her words, every sentence a direct hit against Mo Qi’s birth mother.
This was completely within Mo Lingyuan’s expectations.
In Mo Lingyuan’s memory, Shi Ning was one of the few people who would stand in front of her to confront and speak out against Mo Qi’s birth mother on her behalf.
She had always been like that.
She didn’t care about others’ opinions, said whatever she wanted, and never took that woman seriously.
And during that dinner just now, Mo Lingyuan’s attention was mostly on her older sister and her new wife.
Sometimes, Mo Qi would speak up to stop her mother when things were getting out of hand.
But in front of her mother, she was just someone with no say.
She didn’t know what had changed Mo Qi in the past ten years, but she had become even more cowardly than before. A single glance from her mother was enough to silence her.
When they weren’t arguing, Mo Lingyuan could only watch as she treated another person with tenderness.
Mo Qi probably liked her wife.
Perhaps.
The thought of this made Mo Lingyuan’s heart ache.
She propped her hands on the countertop, lowered her head, and took a deep breath. She turned off the endlessly running water, but as she turned to leave, her footsteps froze completely.
Shi Ning had appeared behind her at some point and was watching her leisurely, her expression probing.
Mo Lingyuan’s face turned cold. “What are you doing here?”
Shi Ning shrugged. “Nature calls. It’s not illegal for me to come to the restroom, is it? Or has your family booked out this entire restroom?”
Hearing Shi Ning’s words, Mo Lingyuan said nothing and turned to leave, but Shi Ning’s next sentence rooted her to the spot, unable to move.
Shi Ning’s tone was casual, but her words were enough to startle Mo Lingyuan.
“By the way, that person you mentioned before, the one you can’t love, is sitting in the restaurant, right?”
That Shi Ning could remember this sentence was entirely thanks to Mo Lingyuan’s appearance, which had, in a sense, stimulated her memory and granted her the original owner’s memories.
Those things were crystal clear in her mind. Almost every word Mo Lingyuan had said, the look in her eyes as she spoke, the tone of every syllable—it was all etched into her sea of consciousness.
Shi Ning didn’t know if her previous self had noticed this, but now, during this meal, in the way Mo Lingyuan’s gaze repeatedly rose and fell, in her repeatedly emptied wine glass, she could confirm that Mo Lingyuan’s attitude toward Mo Qi was beyond ordinary.
If she really needed any hard evidence, then the surprise, fear, and evasion that flashed in Mo Lingyuan’s eyes the moment she asked that question was more than enough to prove her speculation.
Her reaction was undoubtedly that of someone whose secret had been exposed, like a long-hidden truth suddenly seen through by another.
Seeing this, Shi Ning sighed softly and asked with genuine curiosity, “What do you like about her?”
She truly couldn’t understand.
Normally, Shi Ning would never ask someone such a question.
Because she knew that love was blind, and falling for any kind of person was entirely an individual’s freedom.
The fact that Mo Lingyuan liked Mo Qi wasn’t enough to surprise Shi Ning.
Her time as a lawyer had exposed her to all facets of life; she had encountered all sorts of bizarre situations and heard every kind of outrageous story imaginable.
But from her observation, she didn’t think Mo Qi had any qualities worthy of Mo Lingyuan’s affection.
Perhaps she was biased, but based on Mo Qi’s behavior in the restaurant today, she just seemed like a cowardly woman who didn’t dare to rebel against her mother’s authority or have her own thoughts.
Shi Ning had to admit that her natural aversion to Mo Qi was influenced by the “original owner,” but even without that layer, she would have judged her the same way.
As for how deeply in love Mo Qi was with her new wife?
Shi Ning couldn’t agree.
The other party did love her; the adoration burning in her eyes was almost enough to scorch a person.
But Shi Ning couldn’t see an equally intense and consistent gaze in Mo Qi’s eyes. Mo Qi’s feelings for her wife and her wife’s feelings for her were completely different.
It was just that Mo Qi was a consistently gentle person. She spoke to her wife in a soft voice, showed concern for her every move, and patiently offered her help. Seen this way, they did look like a loving couple.
It wasn’t that Mo Qi didn’t speak up for her younger sister Mo Lingyuan when her mother was causing trouble, but she was more like a blade of grass on a wall, full of conviction one moment and yielding to her mother the next.
She probably didn’t even know what she wanted.
Shi Ning didn’t think such a person was worthy of Mo Lingyuan.
At this moment, she finally understood why the original owner’s lingering feelings of unwillingness were so strong that they could affect her after meeting Mo Lingyuan.
This unwillingness likely stemmed not just from not possessing her, but perhaps more from the bitterness that the rose she had held in the palm of her hand ended up falling for someone like this.
From this, she could deduce that the original owner probably knew about Mo Lingyuan and Mo Qi’s situation as well.
Tsk.
As expected of the novel’s main characters, their youthful relationships were already so entangled.
Faced with Shi Ning’s conclusion and question, Mo Lingyuan’s first reaction was denial. She insisted, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mo Lingyuan: “Move.”
Shi Ning: “Of course you know what I’m talking about. Mo Lingyuan, didn’t you realize this problem years ago? She can’t love you and doesn’t love you. She’s always been like that.”
Shi Ning’s words were direct, like sharp little knives stabbing viciously into Mo Lingyuan’s heart.
Mo Lingyuan couldn’t help but throw a punch at Shi Ning’s face.
Shi Ning instinctively dodged, not retaliating.
She didn’t want to use the physical difference between an Alpha and an Omega to overpower Mo Lingyuan.
In a way, perhaps this was exactly what Mo Lingyuan needed right now to vent her emotions.
Shi Ning asked jokingly, “Want to fight? Why don’t we go to a boxing gym and have a proper match?”
Mo Lingyuan swept her leg out without hesitation.
Shi Ning sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a kick to her calf.
After several exchanges, Shi Ning finally lost her patience.
She reached out, restrained Mo Lingyuan, and pinned her hard against the wall.
Shi Ning advised her coldly, “You’d better not go crazy in here.”
Mo Lingyuan looked up at Shi Ning, her eyes red and bloodshot with anger. The fury hidden within was plain to see. “Shi Ning-”
Mo Lingyuan suddenly let out a cold laugh. “If you don’t let go, I’ll kiss you.”
Shi Ning: “...?”
What the hell kind of move was that?
Mo Lingyuan: “Do you want Su Tianxue to misunderstand?”
As if her vital point had been seized, Shi Ning released Mo Lingyuan and took a step back.
Mo Lingyuan’s ploy succeeded. She shook her wrist. “There’s something I wonder if you still remember.”
Shi Ning: “What?”
Mo Lingyuan: “In the past, whenever I attacked you, you would never dodge. Of course, I can interpret that as you’ve lost your feelings for me, so I no longer have any special privileges with you. But… did you know? When you used to stop me, you had a habit of pinning both my hands behind my back. Today, you used a different method.”
When subduing someone, Shi Ning preferred to grab both their hands and push them up above their head, rather than pinning them behind their back.
Shi Ning pressed her lips together.
Mo Lingyuan chuckled lightly. “Time and the past might change a person, but they can’t turn someone into a completely different person. Shi Ning, what do you think?”
Shi Ning was surprised by Mo Lingyuan’s sharpness, but there were some things she couldn’t admit.
Shi Ning: “People always change.”
Mo Lingyuan: “You’re right. So, please keep your speculations to yourself. Things said in childhood can’t be taken as gospel. Just as you said, people always change.”
Shi Ning looked at Mo Lingyuan, meeting her gaze.
After a moment, Shi Ning smiled. “You’re right.”
When the two returned to the restaurant, everyone’s eyes were focused on them.
Mo Qi’s mother was the most gossipy, looking as if she couldn’t wait to find evidence of some illicit affair between Shi Ning and Mo Lingyuan so she could marry Mo Lingyuan off to Shi Ning right away.
She winked and asked, “Why did it take you two so long to come back?”
Shi Ning chuckled. “What’s this? Is Auntie trying to manage my bathroom schedule now?”
Mo Lingyuan burst out laughing, earning a glare from her stepmother.
Seeing the situation, Ye Wanlan and Qin Li didn’t say much.
Qin Li seemed completely uninvolved in this battle, saying to Ye Wanlan, “Help me pass the roast duck over here.”
Ye Wanlan nodded and turned the glass platter on the table.
Seeing this, Mo Qi’s mother seemed a bit envious and remarked, “Aiya, Miss Ye and you are so close. Not like my family…”
She shot a sideways glance at Mo Lingyuan mid-sentence.
Mo Lingyuan lowered her eyes and picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks.
Shi Ning’s mouth was merciless. “My mom is human. What about you?”
Mo Qi’s mother’s face contorted.
She was so angry!
Her blood pressure was about to spike!
Mo Qi spoke up to admonish her. “Shi Ning, my mother is your elder, after all. It’s probably not appropriate to speak like that.”
Shi Ning: “If being older than me makes someone my elder, then I might as well get on my knees and call every old person I see on the street ‘ancestor.’”
She couldn’t be bothered with Mo Qi, yet Mo Qi had the nerve to talk to her?
Shi Ning clicked her tongue. “I didn’t get to ask you, where did that scar on your face come from?”
From the moment she entered, she had noticed a small, deep cut on Mo Qi’s right cheek, near her brow bone. She didn’t know what had scraped her.
Mo Qi replied calmly, “I bumped into something by accident.”
After she spoke, her eyes fell on Mo Lingyuan.
Mo Lingyuan rolled her eyes.
Shi Ning took it all in and chuckled. “That’s quite a coincidence. Getting bumped just a few days after your wedding. You should be more careful.”
Mo Qi’s mother couldn’t take it anymore.
She felt like her nerves would explode if she listened to Shi Ning any longer.
Mo Qi’s mother: “Enough, enough!”
Shi Ning chirped, “Thank you for your hospitality today. Wan’er Jiejie, Mom, let’s go back.”
After the group said their goodbyes, Qin Li finally spoke. “What’s with you today? It’s like you ate a firecracker.”
Shi Ning: “Born as gunpowder, I’m sorry. By the way, Wan’er Jiejie, will today’s incident affect our cooperation with the Mo family?”
Ye Wanlan: “Even if it does, it’s not a big problem. Besides, the Mo family made you unhappy. As your older sister, how could I let them be happy?”
A smile spread across Shi Ning’s face, and she gave Ye Wanlan a thumbs-up.
Her Wan’er Jiejie was the one who truly had the domineering CEO script down.
Shi Ning said goodbye to Ye Wanlan and Qin Li, watched them get into their car and leave, then hailed a cab to go find Su Tianxue.
She was still worried about the message from this morning. Now that she had some free time, she forwarded Su Tianxue’s message to her private doctor to ask what the symptoms meant.
The private doctor hadn’t replied yet.
Shi Ning casually scrolled through her phone, surfing the internet, when she spotted a news headline.
《Sudden Fire in North A-City, Family of Five Burned to Death, Cause of Fire Was This Tiny Thing!》
She clicked on it, skimmed through it in seconds, and when she saw the half-obscured photo of the victim, her eyes turned cold.
Shi Ning: “Driver, change of address.”
Half an hour later, with special permission, Shi Ning met with the already detained W.
Her sentence had been passed down. The police were very efficient, and she was now being prepared for transfer to prison.
When W saw Shi Ning, her attitude was contemptuous. “Why are you here?”
Shi Ning sat in the interrogation room, accompanied by the police, and looked at the woman. She asked only one question: “You live on Shunnan Street. You have a son and a daughter, two elderly parents, and your husband, making a family of five, correct?”
W was stunned.
Shi Ning: “Today’s top news headline. A family of five perished in a great fire-”
W: “No! That’s impossible! She said she would take care of my family!! She said she would send Yueyue to the best kindergarten, and Lele could go to a key elementary school. This is impossible!”
Shi Ning’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Who is ‘she’?”
W: “You must be lying to me, you must be lying, right? I won’t believe it, I won’t believe it!!”
Because W became overly agitated, Shi Ning was asked to leave the interrogation room.
She watched the woman being dragged away, her suspicions from yesterday now a certainty.
But the case was already settled. To overturn it-
Shi Ning had dealt with prosecutors and the police before. She knew this wouldn’t be easy, especially since she had no evidence right now, only a theory.
She told the police officer her thoughts. He said they would investigate and told her to relax and not be too anxious.
See, she knew it.
Shi Ning decided to wait until this stand-in for W was in prison before visiting her again. But she worried that in the process, the stand-in might die.
Then the trail would truly go cold.
Shi Ning immediately urged the officer to pay extra attention before she left.
A notification sound came from her phone. It was a reply from her private doctor.
Doctor: Miss Shi, I don’t believe this situation indicates any physical abnormality. Based on the current data, it can only suggest that the patient may be in a state of emotional excitement.
Doctor: Miss Shi, don’t think I’m being nosy, but I just wanted to ask, what is your relationship with this patient?
Shi Ning: My wife.
Doctor: Oh, then she must like you quite a lot. /facepalm laugh
An hour later, Shi Ning arrived at the gate of the Su family home.
She had spent a lot of time at the police station, and by now, it was almost dinnertime.
Shi Ning stood outside the gate and knocked.
No one answered.
The key she had from when she lived with Su Tianxue had been dutifully returned by her long ago. Now that no one was opening the door, she had no choice but to stand outside and stare, then call Su Tianxue.
Su Tianxue: “Hello?”
Shi Ning called out pitifully, “Wife, where did you guys go today? Why isn’t anyone home? Isn’t it a day off?”
Su Tianxue: “Where are you?”
Shi Ning: “In your heart.”
Su Tianxue: “...Be serious.”
Shi Ning: “Alright, alright, I’m at your gate right now. Wife, when are you guys coming back? I miss you a little.”
Sometimes, Su Tianxue really admired Shi Ning.
How could she say such embarrassing things so naturally? Su Tianxue couldn’t figure it out. It was as if this woman was born to say such things.
When the other end of the line remained silent, Shi Ning could hear the supermarket’s loudspeaker announcing sales promotions. She tapped the edge of her phone. “Wife, why aren’t you talking? Are you at Yonglin Supermarket right now?”
Su Tianxue: “How did you know?”
Hearing the surprise in Su Tianxue’s voice, Shi Ning chuckled. “Of course I know. Our hearts are connected.”
Su Tianxue: Sometimes she really didn’t know how this person managed to steer every sentence toward things like this.
Shi Ning: “How much longer will you be?”
Su Tianxue: “We just got here.”
Shi Ning: “Buying groceries?”
Su Tianxue: “...Yes.”
Shi Ning was suspicious. “Do you and Su Wanxing know how to cook?”
Su Tianxue thought of the tip in the love guide Su Wanxing had given her: The way to an Alpha’s heart is through her stomach. Also, make a loving bento for her to express your feelings.
This was why she and Su Wanxing were at the supermarket buying groceries.
She hadn’t expected Shi Ning to come today. She had just planned to buy some things and practice at home.
Su Tianxue had initially been prepared for the possibility that the food she made might not be edible.
But then…
Shi Ning was coming.
This meant that today’s meal had to be a success, not a failure.
She had already failed at confessing once. If she failed again…
Su Tianxue said coolly, “I’m a fast learner.”
Shi Ning smiled. “Then you two go ahead and shop. I’ll come pick you up in a bit.”
Su Tianxue: “No need.”
Shi Ning: “I insist, I insist!”
Su Tianxue: “...Then come.”
Su Tianxue hung up and turned to look at Su Wanxing.
Su Wanxing was standing in front of a pile of tomatoes, unable to tell what was different about them and why their prices varied so much.
Su Tianxue pushed the cart over to Su Wanxing’s side. “Shi Ning is coming.”
Su Wanxing was still looking at the tomatoes and hadn’t processed it yet. “Buy ten pounds?”
Su Tianxue: “I said, Shi. Ning.”
Su Wanxing: “What about her?”
Su Tianxue: “She’s coming to pick us up.”
Su Wanxing: “...How long?”
Su Tianxue estimated, “About forty minutes.”
Su Wanxing: “This is not good!”
Su Tianxue didn’t understand. “What’s wrong?”
Su Wanxing turned to look at her sister seriously. “Sis, have you forgotten? One of the rules in the love guide is to always pay attention to your appearance when you meet them, to show them how much you value them. For example, if you usually just wear a hat without washing your hair when you go out, for her, you can wash your hair and put on a full face of makeup.”
Su Tianxue: “So?”
Su Wanxing facepalmed. “So, the way you look right now is not okay.”
Su Tianxue looked down at the loose wide-leg pants she had grabbed randomly and her pair of pristine white sneakers.
She thought she looked fine.
But Su Wanxing was insistent.
“Okay, let’s not buy groceries for now. Let’s go upstairs, buy some clothes, and then go to a makeup store for a quick makeover.”
Su Tianxue: “...That’s not necessary, is it?”
Su Wanxing: “Sis!”
Su Wanxing shouted earnestly, “Do you want to fail again?”
Su Tianxue pressed her lips together. “Let’s go buy clothes.”
Shi Ning hadn’t driven. She estimated the time and grabbed a shared bike to head to the supermarket where Su Tianxue was.
The supermarket was about two kilometers away, not far. It would take about fifteen to twenty minutes by bike.
Shi Ning hadn’t ridden a bike in a long time. She took this opportunity to enjoy the autumn breeze and clear her head.
Shi Ning felt like every letter she saw now looked like a W.
Shi Ning shook her head, deciding to get it out of her mind for now.
Seeing her wife was more important.
After arriving at the shopping district where the supermarket was, Shi Ning called Su Tianxue. On the other end, Su Tianxue said she needed a little more time, so Shi Ning started to wander around.
When she saw a perfume shop, she thought of Su Tianxue. After going in for a look, she found herself unconsciously carrying a bag.
She couldn’t help it. As soon as the salesperson asked if she was buying for her lover and made a recommendation, she couldn’t control her hands.
After a stroll, Shi Ning, who had arrived empty-handed, was now carrying large and small bags.
Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was visiting relatives for the New Year.
When she finally saw Su Tianxue, this was how Shi Ning looked, like a shopaholic who had just finished a spree.
And the Su Tianxue that Shi Ning saw was a completely different sight.
Unlike the usual relaxed state she saw her in, Su Tianxue looked a little nervous now, perhaps due to what she was wearing.
She didn’t know who had picked out her clothes: a long slip dress with a trench coat over it. Su Tianxue wasn’t good at wearing high heels, so she had on a pair of low, flat heels. She carried a small purse in her hand, looking completely different from her usual self.
Her hair also seemed to have been styled; her long, straight black hair was slightly curled, making it look voluminous.
Her makeup was light, but the color of her red lipstick was bright, catching one’s eye immediately.
Seeing Su Tianxue like this, Shi Ning had only one question in her mind.
All thoughts of W were thrown to the far corners of the universe.
...
Is today some big, auspicious, special day?
Could it be the 100-day anniversary of when she and Su Tianxue met?
That didn’t seem right either.
Seeing Shi Ning’s pensive look, Su Tianxue glanced back at Su Wanxing.
Su Wanxing also didn’t understand why Shi Ning’s first reaction upon seeing Su Tianxue wasn’t to rush up and give her sister a passionate kiss, but to stand there frozen. But she firmly believed that her aesthetic sense was absolutely not the problem!!
Su Wanxing cleared her throat. “Ahem, Shi Ning, since you’re here, I’ll be going now.”
Only then did Shi Ning react. “Su Wanxing, so you were here too.”
Su Wanxing: What’s wrong with her? Am I not a person?
Does this person even want me to call her Sister-in-law or not!
Shi Ning looked at Su Wanxing and finally noticed something was off.
Shi Ning: “Are you moving out?”
Su Wanxing was carrying a huge backpack, filled with the clothes Su Tianxue had just changed out of.
She was also carrying a large cloth tote bag, which held the groceries they had just bought.
Su Wanxing forced a smile. “Yes, I’m moving out.”
Shi Ning: “There’s such a good thing?”
Su Tianxue: “...Shi Ning.”
Shi Ning: “Alright, alright.”
Shi Ning asked seriously, “Where are you going? Not going home?”
Su Wanxing: “None of your business! I’m a beautiful young girl, you think I don’t have places to go?!”
If it weren’t for giving these two some private time, would she be in this state? A considerate younger sister and sister-in-law like her was a rare find! Shi Ning should know to cherish her!
Su Wanxing tossed the tote bag of groceries to Shi Ning. “You take this.”
Shi Ning caught it, and the heavy bag nearly pulled her whole body down.
She couldn’t help but complain, “Are you guys planning to host a banquet for a hundred people?”
Su Wanxing: “You talk too much!”
Su Wanxing: “I’m leaving my sister in your hands. You’re responsible for taking her home.”
After saying this, Su Wanxing turned to leave, then quietly turned back behind Shi Ning’s back and made a fist at Su Tianxue in a gesture of encouragement.
Su Wanxing refused to believe that with her assistance, her sister’s confession could possibly fail again!
Absolutely impossible!!
Su Wanxing took one last look at Su Tianxue and Shi Ning, then departed silently, her good deed done.
Coincidentally, Zhu Yu sent her a message, saying she had finished yesterday’s schedule, returned to A-City, and just landed, feeling very hungry.
The two made a plan and decided to go out to eat.
With Su Wanxing gone, only Shi Ning and Su Tianxue were left.
Not only was Shi Ning carrying things, but that bag of groceries was nearly crushing her. Yet, not wanting to show weakness in front of her wife, she forced herself to remain calm. “Let’s go? We’ll take a taxi home.”
Su Tianxue nodded. “You didn’t drive today?”
Shi Ning: “I had a meal with the Mo family this morning. I was worried I might drink, so I didn’t drive.”
Su Tianxue: “The Mo family?”
Oh, crap.
Shi Ning explained in one breath, “My family has some business dealings with Mo Lingyuan’s family. Her older sister, Mo Qi, got married a few days ago when we were filming the show, and I couldn’t make it. So today, her mother organized a get-together for everyone to have a meal. Absolutely nothing happened between me and her.”
Su Tianxue: “I didn’t ask.”
Shi Ning: “But I want to explain!!”
She absolutely could not leave any room for trouble to brew!!
Shi Ning led Su Tianxue out and hailed a taxi. She had wanted to open the car door to show her gentlemanly side, but the large and small bags hindered her performance.
Su Tianxue took a step forward and opened the door. “Get in.”
Shi Ning suddenly became the one being taken care of.
She scooted inside. After Su Tianxue got in, she closed the door and gave the driver their home address.
The driver was a chatty person and babbled at the two, “Young couple just finished shopping at the supermarket?”
Su Tianxue: “No.”
She was shopping alone.
Shi Ning had wanted to join the conversation, but after hearing Su Tianxue’s words, her heart sank a little. The smile on her face didn’t fade, however, as she chatted with the driver, “Sir, are you working the night shift?”
The driver grunted in affirmation. “Yep.”
The driver was probably annoyed about a bad shift change and complained the whole way.
After getting out of the car, Shi Ning huddled like a quail, carrying the bags. Su Tianxue reached out a hand toward her.
Shi Ning: “What for?”
Su Tianxue said helplessly, “Let me help you carry some.”
Shi Ning: “No!”
Her wife was dressed so beautifully today; how could she let her carry these ugly grocery bags?
Relying on her strong will, Shi Ning endured the pressure of all the bags.
After an exhausting effort to get home, Shi Ning put the things down and quickly shook her wrists behind Su Tianxue’s back.
No way, if her wife saw that, what if she misunderstood and thought she was weak?
She expertly began to put away the groceries she’d bought and take stock of everything.
Seeing this, Su Tianxue stopped her. “Are you going to cook?”
Shi Ning: “Or would you like to?”
Su Tianxue: “...You go first.”
Su Tianxue felt that today was not a good opportunity to showcase her culinary skills.
Shi Ning: “Then I’ll just make some scrambled eggs with tomato and stir-fried pork with green peppers, okay?”
She was no longer the pampered young lady whose ten fingers had never touched spring water.
She knew how to cook now, too.
Su Tianxue watched Shi Ning’s busy figure, watching her stand in the small kitchen as the warm light from the overhead lamp shone on her.
Su Tianxue felt a little warmth in her heart at this moment.
These two dishes were quick to make.
Half an hour later, the two were eating.
They turned on the TV, which was showing a new variety show. Shi Ning hadn’t seen it and didn’t like watching it, but she felt uncomfortable eating without some background noise.
She glanced at Su Tianxue, who was holding her bowl and eating in small bites. A grain of rice was stuck to the corner of her mouth. Before Su Tianxue could reach up and pick it off herself, Shi Ning made her move.
She plucked away the grain of rice and ate it in one bite. Meeting Su Tianxue’s gaze, she smiled and said, “Can’t let it go to waste.”
After the meal, Su Tianxue volunteered to wash the dishes.
Shi Ning felt that this kind of ordinary, domestic life was very comfortable.
She moved closer, hugged Su Tianxue from behind, and nuzzled against her back. “Wife.”
Su Tianxue: “Hm?”
Shi Ning: “I miss you so much.”
Su Tianxue: “...We last saw each other 18 hours ago.”
Shi Ning: “What? Am I not allowed to miss you?”
Su Tianxue didn’t reply, silently washing the dishes.
Just when Shi Ning thought Su Tianxue wouldn’t say anything, she spoke: “The moon is quite beautiful tonight.”
This was a line Su Wanxing had written in the love guide.
Legend had it that in ten out of ten romance novels, Alphas had used this line to confess to Omegas.
Shi Ning looked up inexplicably, glancing out the kitchen window. “Why don’t I see the moon?”
Su Tianxue: Su Wanxing’s tricks don’t seem very reliable.
Shi Ning looked at Su Tianxue and leaned closer to ask, “Wife, were you just confessing to me?”
Su Tianxue felt a bit awkward now, feeling like her previous action was foolish, so she said, “No. My eyes were playing tricks on me.”
Shi Ning: “Huh?”
Su Tianxue: “It was the streetlight downstairs. I saw it wrong.”
Shi Ning: “Oh.”
She reached out and pinched Su Tianxue’s waist. “I thought when you said that, it meant you had feelings for me.”
Shi Ning stayed with Su Tianxue until the dishes were done. Su Tianxue didn’t ask her to stay, and after some thought, Shi Ning felt it wasn’t right to ask to stay herself.
She needed to wash away Su Tianxue’s previous bad impression of her! To advance their relationship!
Besides, Su Tianxue had said they were in the friend stage now!
How could she shamelessly ask to stay and get up to something?
Su Tianxue had clearly mentally prepared herself for Shi Ning to pester her into sleeping over, but to her surprise, Shi Ning bid her a frank farewell, leaving the things she had bought for her at the house.
After leaving the house, Shi Ning stood in the yard and looked up. She suddenly noticed that at the edge of the building, within the clouds, the moon was slowly revealing itself.
Su Tianxue’s eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on her at all.
-She clearly had feelings for her.
Shi Ning’s heart raced. She took out her phone and snapped a picture of the moon.
Shi Ning: The moon really is beautiful tonight.
Shi Ning: Wife, do you think it’s too late for me to turn around and come back upstairs?
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