PANT - Chapter 69
Chapter 69: Mo Lingyuan x Original Shi Ning
Shi Ning had initially thought Mo Lingyuan’s words were just a whim.
In the past, she had long grown accustomed to Mo Lingyuan’s fleeting interests.
The princess was not a patient person.
In high school, she would throw a tantrum over the last math problem simply because she didn’t want to keep calculating.
Pursue her again?
She might as well be chasing the northwest wind, Shi Ning thought.
But on second thought, she felt that wasn’t the right way to look at it.
If there was one thing Mo Lingyuan had persisted in for a long time, in Shi Ning’s eyes, it was this—loving Mo Qi.
In this matter, Mo Lingyuan possessed more patience and perseverance than for anything else.
This princess, who couldn’t bear being rejected or losing face, could endure anything for Mo Qi.
........
Ha.
The more seriously Shi Ning thought about it, the more Mo Lingyuan’s sudden outburst seemed like a playful joke.
In her teens, she might have believed that love could change a person.
That if she loved hard enough, she might change the mind of someone who didn’t love her back.
That sooner or later, Mo Lingyuan could fall in love with her.
But now, she was almost thirty.
She was no longer that little girl from the past.
Full of passion, her face a picture of innocent courage.
Ten years of drinking ice can hardly cool the hot blood.
She wasn’t a saint; she couldn’t do it.
This time, she could no longer love the way she had before. Under these circumstances, would Mo Lingyuan still love her?
The only answer Shi Ning could give to that question was a giant question mark.
Because she had witnessed what Mo Lingyuan looked like when she loved someone else with all her heart.
So she knew better than anyone.
She was always the one standing by her side, a mere foil.
The stage illuminated by the spotlight did not belong to her.
She was dim.
After thinking all this, Shi Ning was still surprised, still shaken, when she saw Mo Lingyuan’s actual actions.
Mo Lingyuan was serious about returning to the country.
She transferred her overseas assets back home.
She was even preparing to open a studio.
As an internationally acclaimed, award-winning architect, it wasn’t difficult for her to establish her own studio.
What was difficult was that Mo Lingyuan would actually ask for Shi Ning’s advice during the process.
“What do you think of this location?”
“Help me pick a name for the studio.”
“Ning Ning, Ning Ning, come look at the logo I designed.”
Shi Ning would always quietly go over and help Mo Lingyuan weigh the options.
When Mo Lingyuan was happy, she would smile like a cat, her beautiful eyes curving into two crescent moons as she beamed at her, a hint of pride in her expression.
“I knew you’d come.”
“Ning Ning is the best.”
These were words Shi Ning had never heard in the past.
And in every moment of their daily lives, Mo Lingyuan seemed to be changing.
She would wake up in the morning and make breakfast.
Fried dough sticks and soy milk she’d bought would be placed on the table.
Occasionally, on a whim, she would choose to cook herself and show off her skills.
The problem was, while Mo Lingyuan was decent at making Western-style breakfast—well, what she meant was, her skill at making sandwiches with a sandwich maker was decent—her Chinese cooking skills were absolutely terrible.
One morning, she tried to make congee. After two hours, it still wasn’t cooked.
Baffled and unable to stand it any longer, Mo Lingyuan went to ask Shi Ning why.
Shi Ning went over to look, and even she, someone who never cooked, knew that you had to turn on the stove to cook.
Mo Lingyuan hadn’t even turned on the heat.
It would be a miracle if anything cooked that way.
In the end, it turned into Shi Ning cooking while looking up recipes on her phone.
Shi Ning: .......
How did it end up being her cooking again?
When she turned to look at Mo Lingyuan, she would be leaning against the kitchen doorframe, smiling, and saying things that, in Shi Ning’s view, were only half-truths.
“Watching you like this, I really have the urge to hug you from behind.”
Shi Ning didn’t dare, didn’t want to, and was unwilling.
Mo Lingyuan was like a bottomless, endless abyss.
She had spent ten years and still hadn’t escaped from it.
If she were to turn back and fall in again now, wouldn’t that be too easy, too foolish?
She didn’t want to be a fool in love again.
She was almost thirty; she had to learn to be smarter.
So, in the face of Mo Lingyuan’s ambiguous words, she never responded. She would lower her eyes, nod her head, and pretend to be blind and deaf. Utterly oblivious.
Mo Lingyuan wasn’t discouraged.
What she said was truly from the heart.
During those ten years she spent by Shi Ning’s side, the thought of wanting to embrace her had constantly risen and fallen in her mind, never ceasing.
When she came home dead drunk and alone, Mo Lingyuan wanted to embrace her.
When she left a bustling, lively party and stood alone and lost on the roadside, Mo Lingyuan wanted to embrace her.
When she woke up from a nightmare, fragile and helpless, Mo Lingyuan wanted to embrace her.
She wanted to—
Give Shi Ning all the hugs she owed her from the past ten years.
But Mo Lingyuan knew that things couldn’t be rushed.
Every hurt she had inflicted on Shi Ning in the past was a reason for her to retreat now.
She couldn’t blame anyone else.
Only herself.
And, to be honest, Mo Lingyuan didn’t hold much resentment against herself for it.
She had thought about it over and over again during the past decade.
That was just how she was when she was young.
Obstinate, refusing to turn back even if it meant crashing and burning.
If she had changed, she wouldn’t be her.
But she only resented herself for not seeing her own heart clearly sooner, for using her words and actions to deeply hurt the person who loved her most.
After returning to this world, Mo Lingyuan had actually done one other thing.
She had looked for Su Tianxue.
Although—
She knew that the current Shi Ning hadn’t changed and wasn’t the person she had met before.
But she had met Su Tianxue.
At the time, she had jokingly said she would steal her away.
It was just to say that Su Tianxue was indeed very attractive.
To be precise, the special treatment one received after being loved by her was what attracted Mo Lingyuan.
A trace of lingering fear remained in her heart.
She was afraid that the Shi Ning of this world would meet Su Tianxue.
And then, fall in love with her too.
That was a situation Mo Lingyuan wanted to avoid at all costs.
She searched for information about her online, then hired a private detective to investigate.
The result was beyond Mo Lingyuan’s expectations.
In this world, there was no Su Tianxue.
Nor was there a Su Wanxing.
While relieved, she was also a little worried.
She wondered where they had gone.
How were their lives now?
Were they okay?
Mo Lingyuan would probably keep these little thoughts hidden in her heart for a lifetime, never telling Shi Ning.
Even if she did, Shi Ning probably wouldn’t believe her.
“Well, I met another you in another world, and she fell in love with someone else.”
......
Just listen to that. It sounded more ridiculous than the words of a fortune teller on the street corner who read palms for a hundred yuan a session.
Mo Lingyuan’s studio was set up quickly.
On the opening day, she dragged Shi Ning along.
The studio wasn’t large, with only seven people in total. They were all young, and together, they created a lively and energetic atmosphere.
Everyone got along well.
When they saw Shi Ning arrive, the other staff members couldn’t help but cheer. Someone clapped and screamed loudly, while another whistled.
Shi Ning: .......
Why did she feel like she had walked into a den of hooligans?
Still confused and unaware of why this was happening, Shi Ning understood the reason in the next moment when she saw Mo Lingyuan, surrounded by everyone, unveil the studio’s sign.
The studio’s logo was the version Shi Ning had revised.
The studio’s name was—Ning Yuan.
No wonder.
No wonder those employees had reacted that way when they saw her and heard Mo Lingyuan introduce her to the others.
Those two characters were certainly misleading enough.
Shi Ning looked at Mo Lingyuan.
Mo Lingyuan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Any objections?”
Shi Ning was speechless. In front of so many people, even if she had objections, she wouldn’t discuss them with Mo Lingyuan here.
Wouldn’t that make Mo Lingyuan lose face?
After the group dispersed, Shi Ning followed Mo Lingyuan into her office.
As soon as they entered, Mo Lingyuan casually closed the door, then leaned in, pressing close to Shi Ning.
In that instant, Shi Ning immediately pressed herself back against the doorframe, nearly standing on her tiptoes to dodge.
If one had to find a word to describe it, Shi Ning at that moment was like Jerry from Tom and Jerry, cornered by Tom.
Mo Lingyuan chuckled. “Is there a need to be so afraid of me?”
She really couldn’t figure it out.
She was a perfectly beautiful woman.
Mo Lingyuan pouted. “It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”
Shi Ning thought to herself, Mo Lingyuan wouldn’t eat people, she would just devour her heart whole.
Leaving her to live day after day in emptiness.
Living in endless longing and pain.
She didn’t have a second heart to give away.
Seeing Shi Ning continue to dodge, Mo Lingyuan moved closer, unwilling to give up. “Is there nothing you want to ask me?”
Shi Ning sighed softly. “Do we have to talk in this position?”
It was too intimate.
So intimate that there was almost no space or distance between them.
Did Mo Lingyuan have no sense of propriety about this?
Or was she doing it on purpose?
Mo Lingyuan tilted her head slightly. “Is there something wrong with talking like this?”
Shi Ning forced out a few words: “It’s too close.”
Mo Lingyuan: “So you want me to stay away from you, right?”
Now Shi Ning didn’t know how to answer.
She felt that her mind was in a mess.
To be precise, from the moment Mo Lingyuan appeared in her life, she felt that everything had descended into chaos.
A good ex should be as good as dead.
But Mo Lingyuan’s move was equivalent to rising from the grave.
And the worst part was, she couldn’t refuse her.
The worst part was, she actually felt a moment of happiness.
It wasn’t about getting back what was lost.
It just felt like the person who was supposed to disappear completely from her life had returned. Appeared before her eyes, in a place she could see, could touch. This was actually good enough, or rather, this situation was probably the safest distance for Shi Ning.
Not too far, so far that it felt like they would never meet again in this lifetime.
And not too close, so close that she worried she would fall in and stumble again.
The way things were now, it was too close.
So, faced with Mo Lingyuan’s question, she nodded.
Mo Lingyuan froze for a moment, then took a step back, letting Shi Ning go.
She smiled. “I was just kidding.”
But Shi Ning could see, and knew, that Mo Lingyuan was probably a little hurt at that moment.
Although the woman was smiling, the corners of her eyes drooped, showing no trace of happiness.
Mo Lingyuan turned to leave.
Shi Ning had probably seen this action many times in the past.
She was all too familiar with the sight of her back.
Because she had always walked behind her, watching her chase after someone else, she was so familiar with the image of her turning and leaving her behind that she could accurately picture that very moment in her mind just by closing her eyes.
Subconsciously, she reached out and grabbed Mo Lingyuan.
Clasping her wrist.
It was fair and white.
Mo Lingyuan didn’t turn back.
After hesitating for a moment about whether to let go, Shi Ning tightened her grip on Mo Lingyuan’s hand instead.
A serious force was transmitted from her wrist.
Shi Ning said in a hoarse voice, “I don’t know.”
With her back to her, Mo Lingyuan asked, “What don’t you know?”
Shi Ning felt a dryness in her throat, as if someone had stuffed a handful of small stones in it. When she tried to speak a little of her true feelings, those small stones rolled around in her throat, making it impossible for her to finish her words smoothly.
With every word she spoke, it felt like a knife was carving into her throat.
And so her mouth filled with the taste of blood.
Only through pain could she finish what she had to say.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“You suddenly appear, then suddenly get close, Mo Lingyuan, I don’t know what to do.”
With her back to Shi Ning, the corners of Mo Lingyuan’s mouth curved up slightly. When she turned around again, she was perfectly calm.
“Do whatever you want to do.”
“Easy for you to say.” Shi Ning’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “If only it were that simple.”
Mo Lingyuan: “Isn’t it a very simple matter?”
Shi Ning: “For you, maybe.”
She had never said a harsh word to Mo Lingyuan. This woman, who seemed incredibly arrogant, listened to no one, and was difficult to get along with, had never heard a single harsh word from her.
But now, Shi Ning’s tone grew heavy.
“Because I like you, you can come and go as you please.”
“Right?”
Mo Lingyuan really wanted to say no.
But she also felt that, while Shi Ning’s words were blunt, she couldn’t deny them.
She had to admit, she was well aware of her influence over Shi Ning, which was why she was so certain in her heart that the other woman would indulge her.
To be loved is to be fearless.
Seeing Mo Lingyuan’s silence, Shi Ning let out a sarcastic laugh.
“A-Yuan, I like you.”
“But right now, I want to protect myself more.”
“So, from now on, I hope you won’t do anything else that might make me misunderstand.”
The name of the studio, the two characters placed together.
The sudden closeness.
The vague ambiguity.
All of it was making Shi Ning’s sanity hover on the edge.
It was about to drive her mad.
She lowered her head. “Don’t give me hope that doesn’t exist.”
Only with hope can there be despair.
Only by having something can the pain of losing it be even greater.
Faced with a Shi Ning like this, Mo Lingyuan felt a sharp pain in her heart.
She knew this was all her fault; her past had created this current impasse.
Mo Lingyuan said softly, “This isn’t meant to make you misunderstand.”
“Shi Ning, it’s not.”
“I’m doing all this just to prove to you that I really do like you.”
Even Mo Lingyuan felt at a loss for a moment, not knowing what to do.
She had no experience in pursuing people.
The princess was always held high, adored by others.
Even when she liked Mo Qi back then, she had never done anything like this.
Only for Shi Ning was Mo Lingyuan learning how to express her love for someone, how to be good to her.
She had no experience.
She was never a child who grew up surrounded by love. If she had to pinpoint a moment of being loved, it was the moments when Shi Ning loved her.
She could only learn how to love from Shi Ning.
And now, it seemed she was failing miserably.
When you love someone, you should give them what they want, right?
So, perhaps Shi Ning didn’t want her anymore.
At this thought, Mo Lingyuan felt a hand grip her heart tightly, squeezing and not letting go, almost to the point where it would stop beating and her blood would flow backward.
That’s right.
Mo Lingyuan told herself this was normal.
No one ever said that someone who loved you ten years ago would still love you now.
During those ten years, she had also witnessed Shi Ning’s pain and torment.
How could she demand or expect Shi Ning to let all of that go and give her another chance?
Mo Lingyuan wasn’t that unreasonable.
After thinking this through, Mo Lingyuan consciously took a step back.
She apologized in a low voice, “I’m sorry.”
Mo Lingyuan: “Before doing this, I really didn’t consider whether you needed it or wanted it.”
When a kitten admits its mistake, it will also lower its proud head.
“It won’t happen again.”
“If you mind, I can change the studio’s name. It just might take some time to go through the procedures.”
Shi Ning sighed in frustration, pressing her forehead. “I, that’s not what I meant either.”
Mo Lingyuan was truly confused now.
“Then what do you mean?”
This was wrong, and that was wrong.
She didn’t know what to do anymore.
The two of them stared at each other.
After a long moment, Shi Ning said, “You don’t have to change the name.”
Mo Lingyuan: “Huh?”
Shi Ning: “It’s fine as it is.”
Mo Lingyuan didn’t understand. “But didn’t you.......”
Shi Ning looked at Mo Lingyuan. “A-Yuan, this time, let’s take it slow. Let’s start over, okay?”
Hearing Shi Ning’s words, Mo Lingyuan suddenly froze.
Her breathing became lighter.
She was afraid that if her tone became even slightly heavier, the words would dissipate into the air.
Seeing Mo Lingyuan’s dazed expression, Shi Ning, for some reason, suddenly found it a little cute, and all her other frustrations vanished. She said to Mo Lingyuan earnestly, “A-Yuan, let’s start over.”
She gave in.
Even if it meant being a fool again.
She accepted it all.
She just couldn’t bear to see the girl she had held in the palm of her hand look so dejected.
Nor could she bear to see her so lost and helpless, like a child who couldn’t find her way home amidst a bustling crowd.
She couldn’t restrain the urge to rush forward, reach out, and take her hand.
She still wanted to give her a home.
Just like all those years ago, at first sight, in that very first moment.
After hearing Shi Ning’s words, Mo Lingyuan stood frozen for a long time. She didn’t even notice when the tears started to fall. She just carefully moved closer, tugged on the corner of Shi Ning’s clothes, nodded, and repeated her words, “Okay, Ning Ning, let’s start over.”
This time, she would love her properly.
Shi Ning cleared her throat. “So, are you done with work for today?”
Mo Lingyuan shook her head. “Still a little more.”
Shi Ning: “I’ll wait for you.”
Mo Lingyuan smiled. “Okay.”
She busied herself with giving out some instructions.
Watching her busy figure, Shi Ning thought that she should also find some proper work for herself. It was about time for her, the president in name only, to go back to work at the Shi Group.
She couldn’t rely on Mo Lingyuan to support her, could she?
After Mo Lingyuan finished her work, Shi Ning extended a hand toward her.
Mo Lingyuan: “Hmm?”
Shi Ning said, “Let’s go. Home.”
Start over.
Start by going home.
Mo Lingyuan had returned to the country.
Mo Qi learned of this when Mo Lingyuan’s studio was being promoted after its establishment.
In addition, she also learned from her mother that Shi Ning and Mo Lingyuan were probably back together.
This matter troubled Mo Qi quite a bit.
She knew that Mo Lingyuan and Shi Ning had dated.
Many years ago.
She hadn’t expected Mo Lingyuan to still be in love with Shi Ning.
.......
This shouldn’t be happening.
Mo Qi knew that Mo Lingyuan liked her.
It was less that she knew and more that she had guessed, then looked for evidence, and easily obtained a positive answer.
She had become Mo Lingyuan’s private tutor back then because of her mother’s recommendation.
She happened to be short on money, so she went.
At first, Mo Qi didn’t like the little girl very much.
She found her a bit arrogant and difficult to get along with, possessing a host of bad habits common among rich kids.
But gradually, she discovered something interesting.
This princess, who seemed unapproachable, was actually just a little girl on the inside.
So innocent she was almost transparent.
Just a little bit of gentleness could earn her sparkling eyes in return.
Mo Qi considered this a very worthwhile exchange.
She was already accustomed to facing others with a gentle demeanor, so using this method to win Mo Lingyuan’s response and affection was an easy task for her.
Mo Qi didn’t know why she did it.
Perhaps it was due to humanity’s innate depravity.
Or perhaps she wanted to show this child of the castle the world outside.
Or maybe... she just wanted Mo Lingyuan’s affection.
In any case, she did it.
With a gentle smile and a patient attitude.
In the manner of an older sister.
And she succeeded.
It was just that later developments went far beyond Mo Qi’s expectations.
It turned out her mother was playing a game of chess, and she was merely a piece on the board.
Before being brought back to the Mo family, Mo Qi had imagined countless times in her mind how she should face Mo Lingyuan.
However, she quickly found the answer.
—Just act as usual.
Be a good older sister.
As for Mo Lingyuan’s little crush, it wasn’t enough for Mo Qi to give up the opportunity to enter the Mo family.
In fact, this little crush might even become her asset.
Before this, her mother had told her many times.
How to win the favor of the Mo family’s father.
How to become the final heir and take back everything that should have been theirs.
In her mother’s stories, Mo Lingyuan’s mother was the one who had stolen her lover, and Mo Lingyuan was nothing more than the daughter of a mistress.
But Mo Qi knew that all of this was only because she had a weak and incompetent father.
Because he wanted to climb the social ladder, he abandoned his pregnant first love to be with a wealthy young lady.
After getting together, he found his new partner’s personality to be strong-willed and difficult, so he secretly contacted his gentle and obedient first love again.
He wanted his cake and to eat it too.
Wishing he could have all the advantages in the world.
Mo Qi actually quite disliked this man.
But she did want money.
She wanted the Mo family.
When she was young, she didn’t think much of it, but as she grew up, she realized that talent and genius were worthless in the face of power.
As long as she took over the Mo family, those who had looked down on her before would have to see her in a new light.
Mo Lingyuan, in a sense, was her competitor.
However, Mo Lingyuan’s crush and affection made her automatically withdraw from the competition.
Although, Father Mo had always been considering leaving the Mo family to Mo Lingyuan.
Mo Qi didn’t want to hurt her either.
So she casually leaked some information to her girlfriend at the time.
Everything that happened afterward was within Mo Qi’s expectations.
Mo Lingyuan was hurt and left. Seeing her like this, Father Mo also knew she had no use value.
An Omega whose pheromone gland was injured was worse than a Beta.
This way, not only would Mo Lingyuan have to leave, but she would also have to break up with Shi Ning.
Mo Qi had played her hand well.
She felt she had done her duty. For so many years, she had also sent Mo Lingyuan money every month.
Although she always refused it, being stubborn.
But she had given it; it was Mo Lingyuan who didn’t want it.
Now, Mo Lingyuan had returned.
She was no longer a threat to Mo Qi; the Mo family had long been in the hands of Mo Qi and her mother.
Mo Qi suddenly felt a little nostalgic for the child whose eyes used to be filled with only her, who used to follow her around calling her “Jiejie.”
The only thing that was a bit of an eyesore was that Mo Lingyuan had Shi Ning by her side.
But, many years ago, Shi Ning had lost to her.
Now, the outcome would probably be the same.
With this confidence, Mo Qi sought out Mo Lingyuan.
Mo Lingyuan didn’t answer her calls, didn’t reply to her messages, and even directly blocked and deleted her.
Mo Qi found her at her studio based on information provided by a friend.
Because she said she was Mo Lingyuan’s older sister, a studio employee opened the door and showed her the way.
Mo Lingyuan was out on business and wasn’t there.
Mo Qi walked into her office unimpeded.
Twenty minutes later, Mo Lingyuan returned with Shi Ning.
They walked in, chatting and laughing, carrying bubble tea. The moment they saw Mo Qi, the expressions on both Mo Lingyuan’s and Shi Ning’s faces froze.
Mo Qi stood up, her face wearing the same gentle smile as always, and called Mo Lingyuan’s name.
Mo Lingyuan’s face was cold.
She had long known Mo Qi’s true colors.
During the ten years she had spent by Shi Ning’s side, she had seen the moment Shi Ning and Mo Qi met, and she had seen the moment Shi Ning begged Mo Qi not to send her abroad.
—These were all things she hadn’t known before.
At that time, the Mo Qi who faced Shi Ning was perhaps the real Mo Qi.
Her face was a mask of arrogance and selfishness.
Thinking back, Mo Lingyuan couldn’t imagine how she could have fallen for such a person back then.
Before, she thought that Shi Ning had fallen in love with her for her surface appearance.
Now, it seemed that her falling for Mo Qi was no different.
She had only seen Mo Qi’s surface, completely unaware of the venomous snake hidden within her heart.
Shi Ning subconsciously said, “You two talk, I’ll leave first.”
Mo Lingyuan immediately grabbed her wrist. “No need, you stay right here.”
Mo Qi was taken aback but maintained her smile. “Xiao Yuan, I have some private matters to discuss with you. I don’t think it’s convenient for Shi Ning to be here.”
“There’s nothing inconvenient about it,” Mo Lingyuan said impatiently. “Say what you have to say.”
Her attitude was far beyond what Shi Ning and Mo Qi had expected.
Neither of them had thought Mo Lingyuan would have this kind of attitude.
The sentences Mo Qi had smoothly drafted in her mind were now impossible to say.
Mo Lingyuan’s attitude was cold. “If you have nothing to say, you can leave. And don’t come looking for me again in the future. I have nothing to do with you or the Mo family.”
Mo Qi: “.......”
Mo Qi: “How can we have nothing to do with each other? Xiao Yuan, the Mo family is your home, and I’m your sister. As long as you want to come back, the Mo family will always be here for you.”
Mo Lingyuan sneered.
She didn’t know at first, and when she found out later, she was too lazy to fight, too lazy to calculate.
What was there for a ghost to calculate?
Now that she was back, her mind was set on one thing: finding Shi Ning first.
But Mo Qi had the nerve to come looking for her on her own.
Mo Lingyuan’s annoyance was written all over her face.
Her tone was sharp.
“Mo Qi, can you stop treating me like an idiot? Can you have some basic respect for my intelligence?”
Although, it seemed she had been an idiot before.
But now, questioning Mo Qi, Mo Lingyuan felt not the slightest bit of guilt.
“The Mo family is yours now. I didn’t take a single cent. Can you get out of my sight from now on?”
“Can you not act all innocent after taking advantage of the situation?”
All the words Mo Qi had prepared became useless drafts.
Under Mo Lingyuan’s machine-gun-like barrage, she couldn’t utter a single word.
After she left in disgrace, Shi Ning also felt quite emotional.
It turned out that when Mo Lingyuan no longer liked someone, she never held back when she spoke or cursed.
Mo Qi’s treatment didn’t seem much different from her own when she was broken up with back then.
As soon as Mo Qi left, Mo Lingyuan immediately looked at Shi Ning, wanting to explain that she truly had not a single shred of feeling for Mo Qi anymore.
But seeing Shi Ning’s strange expression, the words on the tip of her tongue turned into a question: “What are you thinking?”
Shi Ning shook her head.
She didn’t tell Mo Lingyuan what was on her mind.
But there was one thing she was very concerned about.
“What did you mean by what you just said?”
Mo Lingyuan told Shi Ning about the things she had seen as a ghost in her past life, things that living people couldn’t see.
Shi Ning couldn’t hide her anger. “So, they just picked up the Mo family’s fortune like that?”
Mo Lingyuan said nonchalantly, “I didn’t want that stuff anyway.”
She found it dirty.
Shi Ning disagreed. “If you don’t want it, she shouldn’t have it either.”
At first, Mo Lingyuan didn’t take this sentence to heart.
Later, when news of the Mo family’s bankruptcy spread, she realized that Shi Ning had been serious.
She had really destroyed the Mo family.
Mercilessly, the entire edifice crumbled and vanished overnight.
When she saw the news on Weibo, Mo Lingyuan forwarded it to Shi Ning.
Mo Lingyuan: You did this?
Shi Ning: I’ve been learning some business tactics recently.
Mo Lingyuan: v
Mo Lingyuan: Nice work.
Mm, bad to the bone together.
Mo Lingyuan: [Hug]
Shi Ning: Hug me when you get home.
Shi Ning had always known that since Mo Lingyuan returned to the country, she seemed to be carrying many secrets.
For example, why she suddenly knew her so well.
And for example, why she knew things she couldn’t possibly have known with such clarity.
Even those changes were all unusual.
But she never asked.
She wasn’t the type to ask why.
If something came her way, she accepted it.
Just like many years ago, when Mo Lingyuan suddenly asked her if she wanted to be in a relationship.
She thought, everyone has their own secrets.
And Shi Ning’s secret was that, recently, she had been dreaming a lot.
The same dream.
In the dream, she became a third-person observer.
She could see herself, and she could also see Mo Lingyuan.
But strangely, Mo Lingyuan was translucent, always indistinct.
Shi Ning didn’t know why this was happening.
After having the dream many times, she gradually became a little worried.
Worried that this was some kind of ominous sign.
After all, in her logic, only the dead became ghosts.
Would something happen to Mo Lingyuan?
One day, while Mo Lingyuan was busy with her drawings, Shi Ning went alone to find the abbot of a temple she had visited before, wanting him to help interpret her dream and tell her fortune, to see what was going on.
But the abbot didn’t seem to be there.
She had no choice but to kneel before the Buddha and shake the fortune stick container.
With a clatter.
A bamboo stick fell out.
A line of words was written on it.
Fate is only what one encounters; the cycle cannot be sought.
Shi Ning vaguely understood.
As she was leaving, a monk sweeping the temple entrance suddenly called out to her.
“Patron, what is seen in a dream may not be a dream. The twists of reincarnation are only because of fate.”
Shi Ning looked up at the monk, feeling that she looked somewhat familiar.
She would never know that when the other “Shi Ning” transmigrated into her world, she had been trapped inside the wooden fish before the Buddha, unable to escape.
Every time, her soul prayed.
Even if she were to die like this, she wanted to see Mo Lingyuan one more time.
The Buddha gave her a chance, that one glance.
It was when her car was crashing into the tree that she suddenly heard Mo Lingyuan’s voice, the one glance she gave when she suddenly turned her head.
All cycles have their own destiny.
Later, Shi Ning told Mo Lingyuan about this.
She said she had gone to the temple to pray to the Buddha and had received enlightenment.
After hearing this, Mo Lingyuan thought she should donate more money to this temple in the future.
The two of them made plans to go together again.
It was spring, and the peach blossoms on the mountain were in full bloom. A crabapple tree stood tall in the temple, adorned with countless red ribbons.
According to the monks, this tree was a thousand-year-old marriage tree, possessing spiritual energy, so visiting pilgrims all liked to hang their wishes and blessings on it.
Since they were there, Shi Ning and Mo Lingyuan also planned to hang up the words they wanted to say.
Unexpectedly, when the wind blew, a red ribbon came loose from the tree and fell into Mo Lingyuan’s hand.
She opened it to look, and the handwriting was familiar.
It was Shi Ning’s from high school.
It read: May she be with the one she loves.
Mo Lingyuan didn’t know what kind of mood Shi Ning was in when she wrote this sentence back then, but now... the person she loved was her.
Mo Lingyuan secretly took a pen and added a few words to the ribbon, then tied the red ribbon she had written together with this one and hung it up.
As the two of them left, the ribbons swayed in the wind.
—May she be with the one she loves.
—Mm, we are together, and we will always be together.
May you pass through all regrets, and in the end, still be able to embrace the one you love most.
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