Chapter 674 : Ling Ning, Please Keep Me!
"Alright, I’ve sorted everything out!"
Ling Ning nodded in satisfaction at the neatly organized stack of documents on the desk. Although the task wasn’t difficult, it had taken quite a bit of time.
"Thank you, and I’m sorry for troubling you so often," Bai Jie said as she placed a cup of coffee beside Ling Ning.
"It’s nothing, just a small favor," Ling Ning replied with a light laugh, taking a sip of the hot coffee. The warmth spread through her, perfect for the current weather.
As if a thought suddenly occurred to her, Ling Ning asked, "By the way, Sister, is Xiao Bai staying at home most of the time now?"
"Yes, she’s quite bored at home. If you have time, feel free to visit us," Bai Jie said, her gaze flickering as if she had something more on her mind.
"I’ll be sure to."
After leisurely finishing her coffee, Ling Ning stood up, stretched lazily, and smiled. "The documents are all sorted, so I’ll head out now."
"Alright."
Just as Ling Ning was about to leave Bai Jie’s office, Bai Jie called out, "Ling... Ling Ning."
Ling Ning turned back, puzzled, waiting for Bai Jie to continue.
"Never mind, it’s nothing."
Ling Ning tilted her head, noting the strange look on Bai Jie’s face. Earlier, while sorting the documents, Ling Ning had noticed Bai Jie occasionally glancing at her with a complicated expression.
What exactly was on Bai Jie’s mind?
Shaking her head lightly, Ling Ning chuckled to herself. Perhaps she was overthinking things. For now, her main priority was heading to the clubroom for a much-needed nap.
On her way, a familiar figure appeared in her line of sight. That mask-like smile could only belong to Zhao Rui.
Their eyes met, and Zhao Rui approached with light steps, her smile widening. "Ah, if it isn’t Junior Ling Ning! Running into you like this must be fate~"
"Huh, more like you were waiting for me to show up."
"Of course not. By the way, are you heading to the clubroom?"
"Yes, and judging by where you’re coming from, I’d guess you just left the clubroom."
Zhao Rui casually fell in step beside Ling Ning. "Yeah, it felt boring in there, so I stepped out for some air. Say, Ling Ning, care to join me for a walk?"
Although phrased as a question, Zhao Rui’s tone left no room for refusal.
Ling Ning blinked and asked, "And if I say I don’t have time?"
"No problem. I’ll just let your classmates know that you’re actually Bai Yiyue’s secret girlfriend. Speaking of which, didn’t Bai Yiyue stop by this morning?" Zhao Rui said, her tone cheerful.
"Is this a threat?"
"It’s merely an invitation."
Ling Ning sighed, resigned. "Alright, where does Senior want to go for a walk?"
"Just around the area."
Following Zhao Rui, Ling Ning studied her with a blank expression, wondering what her true intentions were. Was she planning to lead Ling Ning somewhere secluded to do who-knows-what?
Sensing Ling Ning’s gaze, Zhao Rui turned around and said, "Don’t look at me like that. I won’t do anything to you—at least not until you agree to it. Besides, as I said earlier, even if you decline my invitation, I won’t spread rumors about you."
Ling Ning’s skeptical expression remained, prompting Zhao Rui to continue, "If this were before the break, you could’ve taken my words as a genuine threat. Back then, I was willing to do anything to achieve my goals. But now, I won’t resort to such methods."
"Believe it or not, that’s the truth~"
Ling Ning frowned but sighed and kept walking. "I take it Senior didn’t ask me to walk with you just for the sake of walking?"
"As expected of Junior Ling Ning, so perceptive. Yes, I did have something to discuss."
"I’m listening."
"I’ve cut ties with my family," Zhao Rui said nonchalantly.
Ling Ning froze, caught off guard by the revelation. She looked at Zhao Rui, noticing a trace of relief in her expression.
"Why?"
"My parents arranged a marriage for me—to some disgusting slob. If nothing changed, I’d be marrying him right after graduation. No way in hell was I going along with that," Zhao Rui said, her usual smile replaced with a rare display of anger.
"Wait, arranged marriages still happen these days?"
"If marrying that pig could benefit the family business, my parents didn’t care about my feelings. Honestly, if it were you, Junior Ling Ning, I’d agree in a heartbeat," Zhao Rui said wistfully.
"Not happening. I don’t have a big company to offer."
"Well, now my bank accounts are frozen. Other than a place to live, I’ve got nothing. My parents said they’ll only unfreeze my accounts if I go back. So, Junior Ling Ning, please keep me!"
"No way."
Ling Ning rolled her eyes. Zhao Rui was relentless, always asking to either keep her or be kept. Couldn’t she think of something else?
"Come on! Keeping me is a great deal. All I need is a place to stay and three meals a day. Don’t let my looks fool you—I’m actually good at housework! Trust me, this is a bargain you won’t regret," Zhao Rui insisted.
Ignoring her, Ling Ning asked, "So, what’s your plan now?"
"I still have some savings tucked away, enough to get by for a while. But savings run out eventually. That’s why I wanted to ask—are there any openings where you work?"