Chapter 148: You’re Really So Pitiful
Xie Jingyan’s eyes surged with anger.
He fumed inwardly that upon returning to Jin Cheng, he absolutely wouldn’t let Jiang Ning off.
No sooner had the thought formed than Jiang Ning’s clear voice came from behind: “Xie Jingyan? Why are you running so fast? I almost thought you were going to leave me behind and take the car first.”
Xie Jingyan’s back stiffened as he turned back in disbelief.
He saw her standing prettily behind him, her face showing dissatisfaction as she looked at him, and in her fair, clean hands, she held a dirty blue-and-white kitten.
The kitten was very thin, with rare yellow-and-blue heterochromatic eyes, now clinging dependently to Jiang Ning’s knitwear, as if absorbing warmth.
Jiang Ning lowered her head and gently rubbed the kitten’s head with her finger: “Don’t be afraid, no one will harm you.”
“You…” Xie Jingyan’s fingers tightened; it was too late to withdraw the message he’d sent. He pursed his lips and lowered his eyes: “I thought you had left first.”
Jiang Ning just looked at him and smiled: “Didn’t we come together? We should go back together too. I need to ensure your safety, or if we run into those people from yesterday again and they catch us alone, if something happens to you, I won’t know how to explain to Grandma Xie and Xiao He.”
Even though Jiang Ning’s initial motive for fearing something happening to him was just to avoid worrying Grandma Xie and Xiao He, a warm current still passed through Xie Jingyan’s heart.
He responded lightly: “Mm.” Then his gaze shifted to the cat: “What’s the deal with this cat?”
Jiang Ning then explained: “I got up early in the morning and heard meowing downstairs by the window, so I checked out of the room to look for it. I found it in some bushes. I thought the kitten was cute, so I petted it, and it rubbed against me meowing. Then I saw you running out of the hotel like crazy. I thought you were rushing for the car, so I hugged the kitten and chased after you.”
Having figured out the whole story.
Xie Jingyan felt a bit embarrassed.
He had thought… because he had confessed, Jiang Ning didn’t want to face him and had left first.
“Hey, you two really don’t care about me, huh? Jiang Ning, why didn’t you say anything when you left.”
Wei Jin’s accusing voice came from behind.
Jiang Ning blinked her eyes and cried out: “Wronged! I just went to pick up a cat, and saw him run off first. I thought something happened, so I chased after him.”
Wei Jin immediately chose to believe Jiang Ning and turned to ask Xie Jingyan: “And you?” He crossed his arms: “On purpose, right, kid.”
Xie Jingyan’s face was cold: “I have no need to explain to you.”
Wei Jin scoffed lightly: “We at least slept together one night, how can you be so heartless.”
Xie Jingyan gave him a cold look: “Saying it so ambiguously, if others hear it, they’ll think I have feelings for you. Don’t disgust me.”
Jiang Ning interjected at the right moment: “You two last night…”
Wei Jin then realized that his words could easily be misunderstood.
So he hurriedly cleared himself: “Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m a straight steel man, I like girls. Jiang Ning, my like for you, can’t you see it?”
Jiang Ning touched her nose, not knowing how to respond, and pretended not to hear.
She awkwardly changed the subject: “Since we’re all here, let’s head back to Jin Cheng.”
Wei Jin sighed: “I can’t go with you. I came on my motorcycle; you go ahead first.”
Jiang Ning saw the kitten shivering, so she took off her knitwear to wrap it up, then agreed: “Alright, I’ll head back first. There are guests waiting at home.”
Yesterday she had lied to Father Jiang, saying she was going to Xiao Ge Town with friends to gather inspiration. Since she was returning late, she stayed one night at a local hotel.
Father Jiang had told her to be careful with her safety and hadn’t restricted her further.
Meanwhile, Meng Xingcan had waited eagerly for her all day.
Jiang Ning did need to go back and keep her guest company.
She boarded the car, and Xie Jingyan followed her on. They sat in the last row by the window, and he asked: “Not looking for Su Wanyuan anymore?”
Jiang Ning shook her head: “No need.”
Even if she asked and got clarity on whether Su Wanyuan had deliberately tried to harm Jiang Yan, thereby guessing her Awakener identity, or whether Su Wanyuan was also bound to some unknown system that could control Jiang Yan.
It wouldn’t help even if she got answers.
If Su Wanyuan wanted to reverse the plot, she would just follow the original plot’s events and go straight down the dark path.
And who knows, Jiang Yan’s life, which had been barely saved, might be sacrificed again by Su Wanyuan as cannon fodder.
Jiang Ning touched the kitten’s body, feeling it tremble, and couldn’t help saying: “Are you cold? Meat Bun.”
“Meat Bun?” Xie Jingyan beside her spoke up: “Its name?”
Jiang Ning nodded: “I’ve decided to adopt it, so this is its temporary name?”
Jiang Ning coughed lightly: “Because I suddenly wanted to eat a meat bun just now.”
Xie Jingyan stared at her for two seconds, then walked straight off the car.
Jiang Ning hurriedly called after him: “Where are you going?”
But Xie Jingyan didn’t answer. No one knew what he said to the driver who was preparing to depart, but he jogged away.
About five minutes later.
Xie Jingyan reappeared.
He was carrying a bag with five buns inside and two bags of soy milk.
He handed the hot meat bun to Jiang Ning: “Sorry, we left in a rush and I forgot you hadn’t had breakfast. This bun shop is famous in Xiao Ge Town; the filling is generous and it tastes great. Try it.”
Xie Jingyan handed the warm soy milk to Jiang Ning: “Eat up.”
Jiang Ning looked at Xie Jingyan with complex emotions.
Whether in looks, personality, or thoughtfulness.
He was truly the perfect boyfriend, always noticing your situation, understanding your needs, and acting promptly.
A guy like that was hard not to be moved by.
Jiang Ning took the bun and soy milk: “Thanks.”
Xie Jingyan furrowed his brow, feeling something was off, but in the end said nothing.
He took the dirty kitten from Jiang Ning’s arms: “You eat first; I’ll hold it for you.”
Jiang Ning nodded lightly.
Her mobile phone beeped once.
She opened her mobile phone while eating and tapped into the chat page. The first message was from Wei Jin.
He had sent a selfie of himself wearing a helmet and sunglasses, leaning against his motorcycle making a peace sign.
Telling Jiang Ning he was heading off first.
The second was from Xie Jingyan.
She looked at the string of questioning messages he had sent.
Asking why she was avoiding him, was she afraid of him?
Perhaps originally, Jiang Ning would indeed avoid him and be afraid.
Because Xie Jingyan, this uncertain factor, would affect her mission. Her rush to shake him off only tied them closer.
She bit into the bun and said slowly: “Xie Jingyan, I won’t avoid you, nor am I afraid of you. I know that long ago, you already knew Ning Zhaozhao was just a name I used to deceive people.”
Xie Jingyan’s eyelashes trembled lightly. He lowered his eyes, not letting Jiang Ning glimpse any of his emotion.
But his fingers subconsciously curled, still betraying him.
No matter how he avoided it, he would eventually face Jiang Ning’s judgment.
It was what he feared most, a weapon that struck straight at his heart.
“Is it because you know my other side that you can wear down your hatred for me? Even forgetting how I bullied you for a whole year because of Gu Lanli.” Jiang Ning’s lips curved in a smile, her eyes crinkling as she looked at him: “You forgot how back then, you were beaten by people I sent until you vomited blood, and for the five hundred yuan full attendance bonus each semester, you endured the pain of stomach bleeding to come to school.”
Xie Jingyan’s fist suddenly clenched tight.
Jiang Ning’s red lips parted lightly, her voice very soft yet exceptionally clear: “You were really so pitiful.”
Uniform reply: No breaks in updates, don’t worry babies~ I’m just occasionally stuck and using drafts to pad, will revise in ten minutes, forgive me~
