Chapter 10, Dating

He Ning and I were sitting in a Western restaurant, and I was quite curious as to why he chose this place. I have always found Western cuisine to be merely filling at the moment, only to leave me hungry afterward. I cannot eat salad, nor can I enjoy raw oysters or snails. The only dishes I find appealing are roasted meat and desserts

I shot him a glance: "I fell asleep."

At this moment, it is still embarrassing to speak, yet I refuse to relent: "You should be grateful that I am not grinding my teeth."

I cannot believe it is that simple. I called Juanzi. Juanzi is my childhood friend, someone I have played with since we were young. She knows me and Yizhi inside out, and just hearing her voice calms my emotions. I said to Juanzi: "I always feel that the calmness is terrifying."

I was the one who woke Ning Qing up. When I opened my eyes, we had already arrived at the doorstep. I felt embarrassed and said, "Um, sorry, I fell asleep." Ning Qing smiled and said, "You should head back now." I got out of the car and said goodbye to him, when he suddenly remarked, "You were snoring," and then he drove away.

The next day, the Sea God mysteriously asked me: "How was your date yesterday? I heard from Xiao Ruo that you took a route full of charm."

Commute to and from work, occasionally dining with Ning Qing and Xiao Ruo by the sea, and exploring various places. After work, I return to my rented small apartment, go online to play games, and draw.

Ning Qing's unchanging smile: "When work gets tiring, I take a look at books or browse the internet, but I don't have much time for either."

The sea laughs heartily. The stars, the music, and the man who loves you are deeply accompanying you, just about to express his innermost feelings, while the other party is sound asleep, snoring, with teeth chattering. In this situation, there is neither a chilling sensation nor any emotion left. Thinking of this, I also began to laugh.

But Juanzi, that night he called, thick-skinned and shameless

Juanzi sighed: "You are too afraid of him, reacting to every little thing. Is there really such an unreasonable person? Zhan Yunyi is able to survive and hold significant power within a large family; he is not irrational."

I have finally settled my mind. Yi and I are not suitable for each other. In this way, it is perhaps for the best

Juanzi comforted me: "Ziqi, you know you have been away from him for four years. You have changed a lot in these four years, and he must have changed quite a bit as well. You are overthinking it."

I have started to date Ning Qing more frequently. However, we no longer go to Western restaurants; instead, we enjoy various places that I love to eat. I suddenly realized that Ning Qing is very knowledgeable, and conversing with him is actually quite engaging. It feels as if Yi has vanished. I feel as though I have not seen him for four years, returning to my original life trajectory

The company's year-end gathering invites friendly units and requires employees to bring their families. Ning Qing took the initiative to approach me: "Zi Qi, your company sent me an invitation. May I ask you to be my companion?" How could I say no? One does not refuse a smiling face, especially when it is Ning Qing. With such a request, I could only express my gratitude. I thanked him for understanding my situation and sparing me the awkwardness of attending alone. At twenty-seven, one can already be labeled as an old maid. In such occasions, having a companion would reduce the topics of discussion about me. Moreover, the people in the company are already familiar with Ning Qing.

I cannot help but chime in: "I enjoy going to street stalls and small restaurants with colleagues and friends, chatting and laughing in a lively atmosphere, where we must control the volume of our conversations."

The sea often obeys the commands of Xiao Ruo to probe my thoughts. I do not know how to respond. I seem to vaguely anticipate the appearance of Yi, yet it also seems that I could continue to coexist with Ning Qing like this indefinitely. The boss has not mentioned Yun Tian again. Everything feels like a dream; once awakened, it is gone.

I am eager to verify: "Are you saying that Yi is just teasing me? He is threatening me with his words"

I lay down and gazed at the sky. Tonight, the night sky is clear. The stars are brilliant, densely scattered across the sky. There are too many to count. A sentimental song is playing in the car, an English song, which I do not understand well, but I can hear the gentle melody. Is this considered quite romantic? First a Western restaurant, then stargazing. Will there be flowers next? And then a kiss? Eyes locked, sparks flying? As I pondered these thoughts, I unknowingly fell asleep. First a Western restaurant, then stargazing. Will there be flowers next? And then a kiss? Eyes locked, sparks flying? As I pondered these thoughts, I unknowingly fell asleep.

Ning Qingwei smiled gently and said, "Yes, it is quiet here"

I promptly interrupted his daydreaming and said, "Then I started to snore."

I immediately conjured up a scene in my mind. When Ning Qing returned home, I greeted him: "Back already?" He replied with a simple "Mm" and then fell silent, engrossed in his book and the internet. I felt extremely bored. The thought of it was terrifying. Suddenly, I found it utterly uninteresting. Thus, I silently finished my meal.

Ning Qing still smiled: "Is that so? You are so careless about hygiene"

Watching Ning Qing enjoy Western cuisine is indeed a pleasure; his elegant movements align perfectly with his persona. Perhaps Ning Qing believes that dining on Western food, with only the sound of cutlery clinking, allows for less conversation when chewing with his mouth closed. However, I find it rather dull to have a meal in such silence. Even if the environment is comfortable, with romantic candlelight and piano accompaniment, I would appreciate this place more if Ning Qing were not sitting across from me. What a wonderful dining location. I attempted to communicate with Ning Qing: "Do you usually enjoy dining like this?" Even if the environment is comfortable, with romantic candlelight and piano accompaniment, I would appreciate this place more if Ning Qing were not sitting across from me. What a wonderful dining location. I attempted to communicate with Ning Qing: "Do you usually enjoy dining like this?"

Ning Qing said: "As long as you like it, I will come to pick you up then"

Ziqi, you are particularly adorable when I tease you, though you may not realize it yourself. I especially love watching your flustered expressions, with your eyes wide open, just like when you were a child, not at all resembling a woman approaching thirty

I do not possess the ability to foresee. I am unaware that this banquet will bring an end to all my tranquil life

Stealing a glance, is it hygienic? Is what he said the same topic as what I said? I continued to find something to say: "Ning Qing, how do you usually play?"

Before the banquet, I received flowers and a package from the courier company. The flowers are dancing orchids. The blossoms tremble gently in the breeze, so light that they seem ready to take flight. I opened the package to find a beautiful silver evening gown. Ning Qing's thoughtfulness moved me. I called him: "Ning Qing, thank you for your flowers"

The vast ocean is about to unfold the imagination: "Wow, Ning Qing saw the woman he admired lying beside him like a sleeping beauty, illuminated by the starry sky. Unable to resist, he gently kissed her lovely face. At that moment, the sleeping beauty awoke, a hint of shyness appearing in her eyes. She slowly closed her eyes, and then ... "

I nodded and said, "Of course it is romantic, the atmosphere of a Western restaurant, lying in the car on the top of Tenglong Mountain watching the stars." The more the sea listened, the more excited he became: "And then what?"

I am blushing and want to find a hole to burrow into

Is that so? Yi is just teasing me? He is surrounded by various women, how could he still care about me? I feel sad inside. Empty. Does Yi not love me anymore? Is he just playing with me, like one would with a child? Then I remind myself, isn't this what you wanted? Aren't you afraid of going back to him, afraid of losing yourself?

Ning Qing drove, and I did not ask him about the upcoming program arrangements; let him be, as I had little interest in knowing. Ning Qing drove the car all the way up to Tenglong Mountain, and upon reaching the summit, he opened the sunroof. He reclined the seat and said to me: "Ziqi, look at the stars in the sky"

The sea took a deep breath and choked, laughing: "I said, Ziqi, how could you fall asleep and even snore in such a romantic setting? You are truly disappointing Xiaoruo's design and Ningqing's intentions"