Ning's mother lightly flicked Ning's father's newspaper, teasing him.
Ning's father chuckled awkwardly and put aside the newspaper in his hand.
Dinner was soon ready. Ning's father, Ning's mother, Ning Chen, and Ning Jing sat opposite each other. What was usually a very ordinary arrangement felt different at this particular time.
"Dad, Ning Jing and I want to finish our wedding this month," Ning Chen said, sitting up straight, his tone particularly serious.
"Cough, cough." Ning Jing, who had been distracted, suddenly choked on her porridge upon hearing Ning Chen's words.
Ning Chen got up, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Ning Jing, then patted her back.
"As long as you say so, but have you discussed it with Ning Jing beforehand?" Ning's father, seeing how nervous Ning Chen was around Ning Jing, softened his tone from that morning.
"Yes, we are discussing it now." Ning Chen, seeing that Ning Jing had calmed down, took out his handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth.
Ning Chen was too close, and his unique scent became more potent, making Ning Jing nervous and flustered.
"Can we finish the wedding within this month?" Ning Chen knelt on one knee beside Ning Jing, tilting his head up to look at her, his voice laced with coaxing.
Ning Jing merely glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her heart pounding more severely.
"Yes." Ning Jing's voice was barely audible, but with her slight nod, everyone present understood her intention.
Ning Chen twisted his handkerchief, his face beaming with a joy that was captivating.
Ning Chen had always been steady since childhood; this was the first time everyone had seen him so unreservedly delighted.
For a moment, all eyes were on Ning Chen, except for Ning Jing's.
Normally, Ning Jing would have secretly gazed at Ning Chen's smile for a while.
But now, she was nervous and a bit shy, not daring to let her gaze wander, staring only at the food in her bowl.
Ning's father and Ning's mother exchanged glances, seeing a hint of relief in each other's eyes.
They had already been unable to do anything about the two of them.
If Ning Jing truly couldn't stand this boy, and Ning Chen refused to let go, the Ning family would never know peace.
"Eat your vegetables."
Despite his elation, Ning Chen remained focused on Ning Jing.
Seeing Ning Jing only poking at the rice in her bowl, Ning Chen expertly deboned her favorite sweet and sour fish and placed it in her bowl. He then added a few of Ning Jing's usual vegetable dishes.
Ning Jing ate the food Ning Chen served her silently but obediently.
Ning's father and Ning's mother remained quiet, feeling somewhat superfluous.
After dinner, Ning's mother pulled Ning Jing to watch television, while Ning's father went to his study. Ning Chen sat beside Ning Jing.
The distance between them was not impassable, but it was closer than before.
Even though Ning Jing was watching her favorite variety show, she frequently lost her focus due to every slight "stir" from Ning Chen beside her.
Ning's mother, on the other hand, didn't really have the heart to watch TV. She just thought that if she didn't keep Ning Jing by her side, Ning Jing would surely go to sleep.
If she kept Ning Jing there, it would give Ning Jing and Ning Chen more time to interact, and she could be at the forefront of witnessing their sweet moments.
Seeing that the two of them weren't saying a word and dared not do anything, Ning's mother realized she was worrying needlessly.
With her right there, the two children likely wouldn't be able to relax. It would be better to let them go back and get a good night's sleep; there was plenty of time in the future.
No, it was probably only Ning Chen who couldn't relax.
With this thought, Ning's mother feigned a yawn, said goodnight to Ning Jing, and went upstairs.
As expected, less than a minute after Ning's mother went upstairs, Ning Jing silently walked towards the stairs.
"Ge, do you need something?"
As Ning Jing reached the stairs, Ning Chen blocked her path. Ning Jing tried to sidestep him, but Ning Chen followed, blocking her again.
Ning Jing stopped moving and stood still.
As time ticked by and Ning Chen remained silent, Ning Jing finally couldn't help but speak first.
"Ning Jing, I thought you never wanted to talk to me again," Ning Chen's voice held a hint of inexplicable grievance.
Hearing Ning Jing's more cautious tone than usual, Ning Chen felt a sense of finality.
It was good that she was still talking to him.
Ning Jing's scalp tingled, unsure how to respond. Fortunately, Ning Chen didn't press her to speak.
"Goodnight." Ning Chen exhaled, his gaze towards Ning Jing filled with lingering affection.
"Goodnight," Ning Jing replied softly before quickly going upstairs.
That night, Ning Jing, having slept enough during the day, curled up in her blanket, unable to stop replaying Ning Chen's closeness from earlier.
Ning Jing's feelings about Ning Chen's intimacy were complex.
There was shyness, surprise, but most of all, there was apprehension about the sudden change in their relationship.
Ning Jing had always known Ning Chen to be a very responsible person. Therefore, she believed that no matter how much sadness he felt, he would force himself to switch roles in front of her as quickly as possible.
While Ning Jing couldn't help but feel a little secret joy about this, she also felt a greater sense of reluctance and guilt.
Reluctance that the person she liked so much, and dared not covet, would lose the right to pursue true love because of one night of recklessness.
Ning Jing felt she should do something.
-------------------------------------
As Yun Shuniàn finished speaking, Mu Qi's eyes welled up with tears again, and he buried himself in Yun Shuniàn's embrace.
"Mhmm, I understand."
Yun Shuniàn gently stroked Mu Qi's head. Mu Qi, who had been tense all along, finally relaxed.
...
A few days later, Yun Shuniàn, through the surveillance footage she had found, learned why Mu Qi had suddenly left that day.
So, while Mu Qi was out to discuss a contract in the afternoon, Yun Shuniàn found the man in the moon-white robe and intended to ask him to leave the imperial capital.
However, to Yun Shuniàn's surprise, the man said something unexpected: "That person, Mu Qi, he has no feelings for you at all. Don't you remember at all?"
He said Mu Qi had no feelings for her?
How could this be possible?
Yun Shuniàn's expression became dazed: "This is impossible..."