Chapter 226
Chapter 226
Xie Shiqing nodded in agreement and said, “Matsutake is very smart.”
Still a bilingual puppy.
Being smarter also meant greater emotional needs and a higher demand for attention. After all, maybe other dogs would just sulk quietly or whimper a little to try and let their owners know they were upset.
But Matsutake was too aware of its place in Zhong Ning’s heart. It knew it was being spoiled, so it would bounce around and press buttons nonstop, determined to make a fuss until it was coaxed and comforted.
These past two days, they had promised it a chance to go out and play to its heart’s content. It finally found the opportunity—it was practically turning the world upside down.
Thankfully, there were other Border Collies to help out, using up some of Matsutake’s energy. Otherwise, Zhong Ning truly felt like her arm was going to dislocate from throwing the frisbee so much.
Xie Shiqing also threw it many times. Getting the frisbee to fly high and far required both skill and strength.
Clearly, it wasn’t something suited to her.
After throwing it a few times and not satisfying Matsutake, Zhong Ning still had to take over.
After fulfilling their promise to Matsutake, Zhong Ning moved back into the Xie Family Villa.
Since they had gotten back together, there was no need to keep living separately. The place she had been staying in was small, and Xie Shiqing wasn’t used to it.
Zhong Ning wasn’t the kind of person to fuss about such things. She brought Michelle along too. Michelle lived next door, but didn’t need to cook for herself—she could come over and eat with them.
It wasn’t that Zhong Ning was unwilling to have people over; in fact, the others living in the villa, besides the butler, all stayed in neighboring villas.
At night, Zhong Ning returned to the room—Xie Shiqing’s room—and commented with some emotion, “This place is exactly the same as before. You never thought about adding anything?”
It was still so empty, like a fully renovated shell of a house.
Xie Shiqing shook her head. “I don’t care much about things like that, and I haven’t been in the mood to make changes.”
“But if Ning Ning wants to renovate, just tell the butler tomorrow. You can change it however you like.”
Zhong Ning said, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll make it look ugly?”
“Anything Ning Ning wants will look good.”
“Such a smooth talker. Come on, time for a bath.”
Zhong Ning was young, with a fast metabolism. The red marks on her face faded quickly and were barely visible now. The patch on her lower abdomen had changed from a deep purple to a bluish-yellow, healing rapidly.
It still stung a little to the touch, but compared to the stabbing pain from before, it was much milder—no longer affecting her daily life.
After rubbing in the medicine as usual, Xie Shiqing washed her hands and came back to see Zhong Ning lying on the bed—on her bed, in her home—and finally felt a sense of “so this is how it should be,” a settled calmness.
When she had brought up the idea of moving back to the villa, she had been quite anxious.
But Zhong Ning hadn’t hesitated. She agreed immediately, packed a few clothes simply, and came back with her.
How long had it been? How long since the last time Zhong Ning lay on this bed?
Back then, she hadn’t wanted Zhong Ning to sleep at her place. She hadn’t been willing to let her stay the night, hadn’t wanted to fall asleep holding her.
Now, Zhong Ning was leaning against the pillow, her eyes filled with a warm smile, looking at her with a gaze full of affection.
Xie Shiqing quickly walked over and threw herself on top of her, demanding a deep kiss without giving her a chance to refuse.
"Ning Ning..."
Their lips and tongues intertwined like vines coiling around one another. The sweetness of absinthe instantly overpowered the faint bitterness, as if she had fallen into a vat of sweet wine, heady and intoxicating.
Zhong Ning’s breath hitched. "Didn’t you say, we’d do nothing until I’m healed?"
"Shiqing, what are you doing?"
Xie Shiqing’s fingertips rested on her shoulder, slightly pressing down as they moved lower. "Don’t you want me? Ning Ning, don’t you want me?"
She leaned down and exhaled softly against Zhong Ning’s ear. "I miss you so much."
"The tranquilizer’s pheromones are cold and fake. Ning Ning, I want the real thing."
"But I don’t really feel anything right now." Zhong Ning controlled her breathing, trying to keep it steady. "Why don’t you... try a little harder?"
She raised her hand and grasped Xie Shiqing’s waist, making her immediately soften. "It’s been so long I think I’ve forgotten which parts of me you’re not supposed to touch. Shiqing, will you teach me again?"
Xie Shiqing looked over with a glimmer in her eyes, her moist red lips caught between her teeth. She raised her hand and teasingly lifted the hem of her top with her fingertips.
Zhong Ning remained half-leaning against the headboard, calmly watching the performance before her.
"During the time we were apart, did you take care of things yourself, Shiqing?"
Xie Shiqing looked at her with a touch of grievance. Zhong Ning seemed unmoved and asked again, "Did you?"
"I did." Realizing that approach wasn’t working, Xie Shiqing pressed her lips together and decided to change tactics. "Many times, Ning Ning. I missed you so much."
"I still have lots of videos—bedroom recordings. When I miss you, I watch them and listen to them, and I touch myself the way you do."
Zhong Ning silently sat up a little straighter. "How?"
Xie Shiqing shifted to face her directly, sitting with her knees apart, one hand propped behind her, the other placed in front.
She deliberately sat very close, her thigh brushing against Zhong Ning’s hand.
"Just like this."
Her sweet, soft voice wound around them like the most melodious nightingale’s song, yet it rose with unrestrained boldness, as if in a place where no one could hear, brazenly calling Zhong Ning’s name again and again.
She even picked up Zhong Ning’s hand and used it like a tool.
Zhong Ning could no longer keep up the act. She suddenly pushed her down and silenced her chattering lips with a kiss.
...
The next day, not even Zhong Ning’s internal clock managed to wake her on time.
They didn’t wake until lunchtime, and the whole afternoon was spent tangled up together, doing nothing else—just lazing around, even watching a movie.
This kind of life lasted for two days. Zhong Ning knew she couldn’t afford to keep slipping into this indulgence. She forced Xie Shiqing to get up. "Time to see the therapist. Have you found the right doctor?"
Xie Shiqing’s response was to pick up her phone and send a message to Assistant Fang:
[Have you found a suitable therapist?]
Assistant Fang was indeed worthy of her multimillion annual salary. Just one minute after Xie Shiqing sent the message, she replied with a detailed chart—followed by evaluation notes from her research.