25 – Heartache is a Sign of Falling
Tang Qianluo let out a silent cold laugh. Tilting her head and lowering her gaze, she stared coldly at Luo Ying and questioned in a faint voice, “You think we look very similar, and many people think we look very similar, right?”
Luo Ying was taken aback, not expecting Tang Qianluo to ask her this. She smiled and said, “Yeah! Don’t you think so?”
Tang Qianluo raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak. She picked up her phone, fiddled with it for a moment, and held it to her ear, saying calmly, “Ning Dai, someone said I’m her replacement. What do you think?”
Luo Ying froze in place. A few seconds later, she rushed over like the wind and snatched the phone, only realizing she had been tricked when she saw the phone’s home screen!
“Wake up, kid. I’ve seen this trick since I was a child. If you want to drive a wedge between us, could you at least come up with something more creative?” Tang Qianluo took back her phone and walked slowly toward the sofa. She crossed her legs and leaned back comfortably.
“Let’s not even discuss whether we actually look alike. Even if Ning Dai married me because I’m some kind of replacement, as you claim, at least the current CEO’s wife is me, not you. Do you still have the nerve to bring it up? What ‘white moonlight’ or ‘cinnabar mole’—have you been reading too many novels?”
Luo Ying bit her lower lip tightly, standing motionless in front of the desk as if she had suffered an immense injustice. Anyone seeing this would think Tang Qianluo was bullying Luo Ying.
Tang Qianluo shook her head, sighing in frustration.
“Tsk, I said you were foolish, and you really are. Besides me, there’s only you here. Who are you crying for?”
Luo Ying still didn’t speak, but her sobs gradually grew louder. Tang Qianluo turned around and realized Ning Dai was standing at the door, though she didn’t know when he had arrived. His expression was unreadable, betraying no emotion.
“Brother Ning Dai,” Luo Ying whimpered softly.
Tang Qianluo curled her lips, lamenting that a villainess was truly a villainess. When would she ever learn to act so delicate and vulnerable?
A flicker of anger crossed Ning Dai’s handsome face as he strode toward the two. Seeing this, Luo Ying couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill.
However, her joy didn’t last long. She watched as Ning Dai brushed past her and walked straight toward Tang Qianluo.
“I told you not to go barefoot!”
Tang Qianluo glanced at her exposed feet and sighed. How did he always catch her when she wasn’t wearing shoes?
Ning Dai reached under Tang Qianluo’s arms and lifted her up with one swift motion. Startled, Tang Qianluo instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, afraid of falling.
This clearly pleased Ning Dai. He patted her and said, “Hold onto me.”
Tang Qianluo was genuinely afraid of falling. The floor was made of solid tiles—how much would it hurt!
Without a second thought, she clung to Ning Dai like a koala.
Ning Dai walked slowly into the room. As he passed Luo Ying, he said coldly,
“Ji Xianyang has always been in charge of the CEO’s office affairs. If you take it upon yourself to come in again next time, get out on your own!”
If Luo Ying’s tears earlier were three parts real and seven parts fake, her tears now were more genuine than pure gold.
In the past, Ning Dai never smiled at her, but he also never spoke harshly to her. Now, every word he uttered was filled with disdain and disgust.
“Ning Dai, you’re still blaming me, aren’t you?” You blame me for not staying with you and choosing to study abroad instead, especially since I went abroad with Ning Yun, right?”
Ning Dai didn’t change his pace but held the woman in his arms even tighter.
“Why would I blame you? What does your choice have to do with me?”The moment the door closed, Tang Qianluo happened to catch Luo Ying’s vicious glare directed at her, as if she wanted to kill someone.
Sitting on the bed, she watched as Ning Dai took a pair of socks from nearby and walked toward her. She couldn’t help but say, “I don’t like wearing socks.”
“It’s too cold. You’ll get sick.”
“Your dear Luo Ying seems quite upset, huh?” Tang Qianluo raised an eyebrow, unable to resist teasing him.
Ning Dai paused his movements, looked up with a wicked smile, and asked, “Are you jealous?”
Jealous? No, I’m not! You’re talking nonsense! I won’t admit it!
Tang Qianluo turned her head away, too lazy to engage with him.
After putting the socks on Tang Qianluo, Ning Dai sat beside her, gently tucking the stray hairs behind her ear before saying,
“Her mother used to be my tutor. She passed away when Luo Ying was very young. It had something to do with the Ning Family, so she grew up in the Ning Family until she turned eighteen.”
“She’s not some family’s heiress?” Tang Qianluo asked in shock. Given Luo Ying’s demeanor, she had assumed Luo Ying was the heiress of some prominent family.
“No, her father is the Ning Family’s chauffeur and still drives for the old master.”
Tang Qianluo nodded, about to say something else when her stomach rumbled loudly. Oh heavens, she hadn’t eaten all day!
Ning Dai couldn’t help but chuckle. He ruffled her hair and walked to the bedside to press the intercom button.
In no time, luxurious dishes were brought in one after another. Tang Qianluo stared at the tempting food, unable to resist swallowing her saliva.
Her eyes scanned the table and landed on the pork ribs. She froze for a moment before hurriedly pushing the plate aside and demanding sternly, “Who allowed you to bring ribs?”
The servant stood awkwardly to the side, casting a pleading glance at Ning Dai.
Ning Dai waved them away and brought the ribs back to the table, saying, “I ordered them. You eat. I just won’t have any.”
“Ning Dai.” Tang Qianluo frowned slightly, concerned.
“Weren’t you craving ribs last night? You even muttered about them in your dreams. Go ahead, it’s fine.”
As he spoke, Ning Dai picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and brought it to Tang Qianluo’s lips. She took a bite, and it was so delicious she felt her taste buds might explode!
Free from worry, she ate heartily, as if trying to make up for all the meat she had missed during this period.
So good! The ribs are amazing, and the Pockmarked Grandma’s Tofu is incredible too!
She ate happily, unaware of Ning Dai’s increasingly pale complexion. It wasn’t until he rushed to the bathroom that Tang Qianluo realized something was wrong.
“Ning Dai?” Tang Qianluo knocked on the door anxiously.
Only the sound of retching came from inside the bathroom. Unable to wait for his response, she turned the doorknob and opened the door. What she saw was Ning Dai hunched over, supporting himself with both hands against the sink as he dry-heaved.
Tang Qianluo’s heart sank. She stepped forward and patted his back.
“Ning Dai, are you okay?”
He rinsed his mouth, wiped the water stains with a handkerchief, and shook his head.
Tang Qianluo looked at Ning Dai. At this moment, his eyes were red-rimmed, and his face was devoid of color. Even she couldn’t believe he was fine.
“Should we call Zuo Ye over?”
Ning Dai shook his head again. Without a word, he walked out of the bathroom with a grim expression.
Tang Qianluo followed closely behind and saw Ning Dai sitting dejectedly on the sofa, lost in thought.
“Ning Dai,” she said, resting a hand on his shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort.
“I’m fine.” Ning Dai reached out and gently covered Tang Qianluo’s hand with his own.If he had said he was feeling unwell or uncomfortable at this moment, Tang Qianluo might have felt slightly better. But he didn’t—despite being in such obvious pain, he was the one comforting her.
Her heart aching, she embraced Ning Dai, offering warmth through her hold.
In places Tang Qianluo couldn’t see, Ning Dai’s lips curved slightly upward, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes.
Mo Qi’s words echoed in his ears: Heartache is the prelude to falling…