Chapter 235
Chapter 235
No need to truly understand—it was fine. That was normal. Even people growing up in the same environment could turn out completely different, let alone someone like her who hadn’t experienced any of it.
Accept it. Accept Xie Shiqing’s differences.
Don’t try to change her.
So after a brief silence, she spoke up. “That’s impressive too. High standards and strict demands—that shows you’re a very disciplined person.”
Xie Shiqing avoided her gaze, paused, then asked, “What are we having for dinner? Ning Ning, is there anything you want to eat?”
“Don’t you have anything in mind?” Zhong Ning followed along with her question and didn’t probe further.
She seemed like someone quite proud, and indeed she was—believing herself to be superior to most, leaving them far behind. Yet when praised, she became awkward and reluctant to accept it, not thinking herself to be outstanding.
Simple verbal compliments might even strike her as a little fake.
Zhong Ning had discussed this issue with Dr. Feng before. Since their therapy sessions also covered relationship counseling, they’d talked about how two people should properly interact.
Her own issues were relatively minor, so their conversations had been deeper and more specific, unlike with Xie Shiqing, who needed to take things step by step.
This wasn’t something to rush. Fortunately, patience was something Zhong Ning never lacked.
She naturally continued, “Lately, it’s always been me deciding what to eat. Is there nothing you’re craving? Or maybe a place you think is good that I haven’t been to yet?”
Xie Shiqing gave it serious thought. “There’s a Hong Kong-style restaurant. It’s decent.”
She nodded. “If you like the food, we could even buy some shares in the place.”
Zhong Ning: “...Alright, then let’s go with that one. Let’s get changed and head out.”
To avoid dampening Xie Shiqing’s enthusiasm—sorry, cha chaan teng—she’d have to reluctantly become a shareholder once again.
In the dressing room, Zhong Ning opened the wardrobe and suddenly noticed a lot of new clothes. “Huh? These all look like couple’s outfits.”
“Shiqing, did you buy these recently?”
“I picked out a few,” Xie Shiqing answered, eyes fixed on her. “Do you like this one?”
“I do!” Zhong Ning didn’t hold back her praise. “It’s really beautiful. Shiqing, your taste is way better than mine. I honestly don’t know how to match clothes—I just throw something on when I go out.”
“It looks great. How about we wear this white and green set today?”
“Okay.”
With a faint smile, the unease in Xie Shiqing’s eyes faded away with Zhong Ning’s words. She took the clothes and, without the slightest hint of avoiding intimacy, lifted her hair to the front, reaching behind to hook the zipper.
“I’ll help you.” Zhong Ning raised her hand to gently press over hers, slowly pulling the zipper down.
Delicate, smooth skin was revealed, and the two elegant shoulder blades slightly protruded. Zhong Ning gently brushed her hand over them, unable to resist leaning in to kiss them.
“Oh my, miss, stealing a kiss—won’t that be a problem?”
Xie Shiqing turned to face her, hair slightly swept aside. “Just one kiss won’t do. It’s only fair—you kissed the back, now you have to kiss the front too.”
Zhong Ning’s voice turned a little hoarse. “If you keep this up, we won’t be going out at all.”
The overly dazzling woman bit her lip and wrapped her snow-white, lotus-like arms around her neck, leaning her subtly fragrant body into her embrace. “Going tomorrow would be the same.”
Zhong Ning held her by the waist, her palm gliding across her back.
“Ning Ning, don’t you want to give me a kiss?”
Zhong Ning took a deep breath and bit down hard on her lips. “There, kissed. Now hurry up and get dressed so we can go.”
“Even after last night, it still wasn’t enough?”
She pinched the other woman’s cheek. “It’s already swollen and you’re still thinking about it? We’ll talk when you’ve recovered. Don’t seduce me.”
Xie Shiqing pointed to her lips. “You bit too hard. It hurts.”
Zhong Ning sighed and softened, leaning in to press her lips against hers, gently soothing them with tender movements. As she pulled away, she carefully licked away the moisture left behind.
“Still hurt?”
Xie Shiqing’s eyes curved into a smile, a natural flush spreading across her cheeks. “Not anymore. Dr. Zhong’s cure is truly instant.”
“Hurry up and get dressed, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Her outfit was a short dress—more accurately, a high-low hemline with a sheer layer at the back. Her long, straight legs were exposed, making her look especially alluring.
Zhong Ning’s outfit leaned more toward a casual suit style. She ran her fingers through her hair in front of the mirror. “After we eat, I want to go dye my hair. I’m thinking pink.”
“Sure.”
The two of them finally dawdled their way out the door and spent some time on the road before arriving at the cha chaan teng.
The ambiance was quite nice, but that was to be expected. If it was something Xie Shiqing liked, then the price point was likely already high enough that good ambiance was just the baseline—the real test was the food.
But Zhong Ning had a feeling it would be excellent too. After all, Xie Shiqing was a picky eater—not about ingredients, but about flavor and taste.
If something managed to earn her praise, then it was definitely something delicious.
And sure enough, the moment it entered her mouth, the taste was fresh, fragrant, and delicious.
Xie Shiqing held a spoon in one hand and propped her chin with the other, tilting her head to look at her. “Does Ning Ning like it?”
Zhong Ning couldn’t bring herself to lie and say she didn’t or that it wasn’t good. She had to nod and admit, “I do. It’s surprisingly delicious.”
“Glad you like it.” Xie Shiqing looked very pleased, then took out her phone and tapped a few times on the screen.
Zhong Ning silently offered a half-minute of mourning for the hard-working Assistant Fang.
Then she cheerfully scooped a spoonful of steamed egg custard into her mouth.
Mm, tasty.
The place they went to dye hair was a club Xie Shiqing frequented.
Although “frequented” wasn’t exactly accurate—she hadn’t gone out often before. The membership was a lifetime one, and most of the time, she had beauticians come to her instead.
She had also arranged a lifetime membership for Zhong Ning. The two of them went to the private suite Xie Shiqing usually used here—Xie Shiqing got a facial on one side, while Zhong Ning had her hair done on the other.
She dyed it a very fresh peach-pink, like the petals of a peach blossom—soft and light. If not for Zhong Ning’s rather refined and mature features, it would’ve been easy to mistake her for a high school student.