Chapter 37: Unintended Success
“Alright, it’s fine now. Can you… let go of me?”
Being held tightly around the waist like this in the middle of the street made even Su Ning, a fellow girl, feel embarrassed.
Her fair face showed none of the calm composure she had when angrily confronting the human trafficker just moments ago; her earlobes had quietly turned red.
“Thank you, thank you…”
Only now did Luo Shuangshuang dare to cry out loud, tears falling like beads off a broken string.
At the same time, she obediently released her hold on Su Ning’s waist and instead clung to her arm. “Can I…”
Knowing she had just gone through such a frightening ordeal and was feeling insecure.
Moreover, touching her hadn’t triggered her special ability, so at least she knew nothing bad would happen.
With her mind at ease, Su Ning no longer resisted and let her occupy her entire arm, almost dragging her toward the police station.
After cooperating with the two police officers to make a statement and recounting the whole incident, it was already half an hour later.
“Su Ning, can I call you Ning Ning?”
Luo Shuangshuang twisted her fingers nervously, looking up at her benefactor with delicate features and elegant demeanor, her voice still somewhat hoarse.
“You can also call me You You. Um… can we be friends?”
—Very, very, very good friends, the lifelong kind!
She silently added in her heart. This was the first time Luo Shuangshuang had ever been so eager; usually, others chased after her hoping to be friends.
This was the first time she actively wanted to become good friends with someone, and not just because she had saved her.
Perhaps it was the inexplicable good feeling that arose from the first glance upon meeting.
“Very happy to meet you, Xi You!”
“Me too!”
Looking at the slender, delicate hand extended toward her, Luo Shuangshuang excitedly gripped it back. “Very happy to meet you too. But, Xi You?”
“To commemorate it.”
Thinking of the name she had made up on the spot, Xi Yue, plus her own nickname You You…
Luo Shuangshuang couldn’t help but chuckle. “It really is Xi You. Alright, then I declare this is your exclusive nickname, Ning Bao Gai~”
What was Ning Bao Gai?
Ning character with a radical on top?
Immediately hit back with an equally cute nickname, Su Ning was amused and helpless: having a friend like this seemed pretty good; it would bring a lot more fun.
“You You!” “You You!”
“Mom, Dad!”
A man and a woman quickly ran toward them, their faces full of uncontrollable fear and worry.
Only when he saw his daughter standing perfectly intact in front of him did Luo Fussen exhale the breath he had been holding in his throat.
The sight of mother and daughter hugging tightly and sobbing uncontrollably also made this usually steadfast man gradually redden his eyes.
He wiped the corner of his eye before noticing the person quietly standing to the side, preparing to leave.
Having learned the full story, Luo Fussen immediately stepped forward. “This young comrade must be Su Ning, the Su classmate who saved my daughter, right?”
“Yes, Mom and Dad, she’s the one who saved your Ning… Ning.”
“Su Ning, thank you. If you hadn’t stepped forward at that moment, our You You might have…”
Yan Xin shuddered at the mere thought of that scene, her gratitude toward Su Ning growing even stronger.
She was just a young girl herself, yet she chose to help in such a dangerous situation.
This wasn’t just saving You You; it was saving their entire family!
“Come on, come home with Uncle and Auntie. Today, Auntie will definitely treat you well.”
“Yes, yes, Su Ning, young classmate, please give us a chance to thank you with hospitality.”
Luo Shuangshuang, who had been crying until her eyes were red since seeing her mom and still couldn’t stop her tears, hiccupped and couldn’t say a complete sentence. She could only anxiously nod repeatedly at her to echo her parents’ request.
Only when Su Ning embarrassedly agreed, unable to refuse, did the family of three happily take her home.
……
City Z Courtyard.
Both on Nanmen Street not far from the Su Family Small Courtyard, one adjacent to the Li River embankment, the other nestled at the foot of Qingmen Mountain.
What do they call it—planting willows casually leads to shade? That was it.
While registering at the courtyard gate, Su Ning had some guesses, but the reality exceeded her expectations.
“Xi You, Uncle Luo is really the city head?”
“Mm-hmm.”
To properly host her benefactor, the couple had just returned home and gone to the kitchen to get busy. Luo Shuangshuang led her into her own bedroom to whisper secrets.
After roughly introducing the family members, Luo Shuangshuang noticed her expression seemed off.
There was neither the panic of ordinary folks nor the fawning restraint of peers from the courtyard or school.
It was like surprise, or perhaps…
“Ning Bao Gai, do you need my dad to help with something? Tell me, I’ll definitely put in a good word for you!”
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you out?”
“You think I’m really that naive? I don’t believe it!”
Having grown up seeing all sorts of people approaching her for various reasons, Luo Shuangshuang had a very sharp sixth sense.
Especially for those with malice, ill intentions, or ulterior motives—she could sense them immediately.
That was why, when the middle-aged woman first approached her for help, she refused without thinking, making the woman hesitate and resort to force.
So, of course she trusted Su Ning.
“Tell me, I’ll gauge if it’s doable. Don’t think my dad is a pushover at home or a henpecked good man—at work, he’s iron-faced and ruthless!”
“You…”
Was it really okay to describe her own dad like that?
Pinching her palm, Su Ning could barely suppress her wildly upturned mouth. “Cough, there is indeed something.”
Hearing it was about transferring her brother from the Yong County transport team to the same factory as her, Luo Shuangshuang’s tension immediately eased.
This kind of transfer wasn’t as troublesome as finding a good job; it was just a small matter of greeting both sides—her dad would have no problem!
“Xi You, thank you.”
“Hey, that’s nothing compared to what you…”
“Stop, stop, I don’t want to hear any more of your quirky confessions to me.”
Thinking of how, after entering the house, Luo Shuangshuang seemed to return to her safe zone and immediately reverted to her true self.
She dragged her into a barrage of thanks, incoherently expressing her liking in all sorts of ways.
One “I like you” after another…
The two tacitly rubbed the goosebumps on their arms vigorously, then burst out laughing at each other’s expressions and actions.
The commotion upstairs could even be heard in the kitchen, showing how loudly the two girls were laughing and playing.
Luo Fussen and Yan Xin exchanged smiles, continuing to chat while busy with their tasks.
“That’s great!”
“Yeah, just this girl is so wild—don’t let her scare little Ning.”
“And it’s not you father and son who spoiled her!”
Luo Fussen good-naturedly smiled without retorting, as usual; he could never dote on his daughter enough.
“Old Luo, how should we thank little Ning?”
Judging by the young girl’s clothes and outfit, which must have cost dozens of yuan, not to mention the hairpin in her hair.
Real or fake, Yan Xin, from the same prestigious background, could tell—they definitely didn’t lack money.
“Little Ning looks about the same age as You You—not sure if she’s working or got into university?”
“We’ll find out when we ask later.”
Handing the washed vegetables to his wife, Luo Fussen was also pondering in his heart. “You You’s job is already set. If possible…”
The two girls together would be pretty good.
……
Nanmen First Street, Su Family Small Courtyard.
Zhang Ze and Mao Jinqian, quick and nimble workers, had no idea that in the time it took to tidy up, Su Ning had stirred up a thrilling city-wide sensation.
Besides clearing the weeds in the courtyard, they fumigated inside and out. Zhang Ze even bought quite a few things to decorate, based on Su Ning’s excited mutterings when she first saw the small courtyard.
Only when satisfied with the small courtyard did the two move to the larger one.
“Brother Ze, how about you go to Hongqi Commune and I stay here!”
“Hahaha, what’s wrong? Regretting it?”
Zhang Ze amusingly kicked him, closed the courtyard gate. “Wasn’t it you who said you like the fields in the village because they feel familiar?”
“I’m fine with going down to the fields to earn work points, but Ning Ning said it’s to do the eight great officers. I’m afraid I’ll mess it up!”
Whether in BD, transferred to Fu family, or back at the original unit after discharge, with Zhang Ze there, he didn’t have to think about anything—just follow orders.
If he went there alone without him, with his brain…
The more Mao Jinqian thought, the more improper it seemed. “Brother Ze, you should go. You’re so smart and quick-witted; you’ll definitely do better than me!”
“Cut the crap! How wouldn’t you do well? Where’s that momentum from managing those rookie bird eggs back then!”
“Don’t babble to me—make that wimpy face and say those cowardly words again, and see if I don’t beat you!”
Finally successfully launched! Thanks to all the big and small cuties who’ve supported these past days. Heart hearts~ Pear will continue to work hard and keep going! Bowing in thanks~
