Xie Yuqi was the first to return home.
She had to go to the office today. There was a three billion dollar contract from the Ye family that she needed to review and understand.
After stepping out of the bath, she checked her phone and indeed found a message from Ning Che.
“Yuqi, I’ve arrived back at the apartment. You didn’t sleep well last night, so try to catch up on some rest today. I miss you.”
Xie Yuqi glanced at it and set the phone aside. As usual, she didn’t intend to reply. But then, she suddenly remembered the way Ning Che had looked at her expectantly when they parted, speaking in that soft, gentle voice: “Yuqi, when you’re free, could you reply to me sometimes? I want to receive your replies so badly. Every time, I check my phone over and over again, but I never get anything…”
She opened Ning Che’s chat box and typed a single word. “Okay.”
By eleven-thirty, after finishing her meeting, her phone had received several messages.
There were some from her best friend, some from Ning Che, and some from others.
She replied to her best friend first, then read Ning Che’s messages before setting her phone down again.
Close to noon, her phone rang. It was Ning Che.
Her car had just pulled up to her house, so she didn’t answer it.
After lunch, she took a short nap and then went for a forty-minute swim. When she came out, her thoughts inexplicably drifted back to that missed call.
In the past, this kind of situation was common.
From the very beginning, she had established her own rules, she would reply when she felt like it, and ignore it when she didn’t.
It was the same for her emotions. When she was in a good mood, she would bestow a little warmth; otherwise, she wouldn’t spare a single ounce of tenderness.
For four years, the two of them had coexisted in peace.
But today, she felt a bit uneasy.
It was as though she could no longer ignore Ning Che’s messages and calls with a perfectly clear conscience.
Xie Yuqi frowned, sinking into thought.
Their time together last night had made her feel very comfortable, dispelling the gloom in her heart. Moreover, she had slept very soundly in Ning Che’s arms.
So, is it because she came up the mountain to accompany me last night that I now feel a psychological burden?
She deliberately put her phone down, trying not to pay attention to it.
But after ten minutes, she couldn’t help but pick it up and dial the number.
“Yuqi!” Ning Che’s voice was full of pleasant surprise. A wave of pure joy from receiving her call overflowed unreservedly through her tone.
Xie Yuqi froze slightly. She hadn’t expected a simple phone call to make the other girl this happy. She had only called back to make herself feel better, but now, sensing Ning Che’s unreserved joy, her own calculated decision to call back for peace of mind suddenly felt much more comforting.
“Yes. Have you eaten?” she responded softly.
Ning Che: “I’ve eaten. Did you catch up on your sleep? Did you eat well? I miss you so much. I’ve been thinking about you ever since we parted. I’m so happy to hear your voice right now. Yuqi, I really wish I could hear your voice every single day.”
Xie Yuqi: “I took a nap at noon, and I’ve eaten.”
She deliberately avoided addressing Ning Che’s subsequent words, but it still made Ning Che exceptionally happy. Ning Che could hear that Xie Yuqi’s tone was relatively gentle today, unlike the usual faint impatience that laced their calls. This filled her heart with sweetness, making her feel as though their relationship had drawn a bit closer.
Unable to contain her joy, Ning Che chattered away excitedly over the phone. There wasn’t really anything substantial to talk about, but she just wanted to speak to her. Even the most boring topics seemed to gain meaning the moment she shared them with Xie Yuqi.
Xie Yuqi listened patiently for a while before she couldn’t help but remind her, “I’m about to arrive at the company.”
Only then did Ning Che stop her enthusiastic chatter, her voice carrying a reluctant yet tender tone. “Then go ahead and work. I’ll be thinking about you all the time. Goodbye, Yuqi.”
Xie Yuqi: “Goodbye.”
She put down her phone, sensing a subtle shift in her mood. Ning Che’s rambling words had, bizarrely enough, soothed the irritation she felt about heading to the office. She had grown calm.
As the car navigated through the bustling commercial district, she involuntarily recalled her mother’s words. If Ning Che remained this obedient and sensible without harboring any improper ambitions, she could indeed consider continuing their relationship.
To be honest, she did have some good feelings toward her.
The thought flashed across her mind, and she turned to ask her assistant about another matter.
“Have there been any movements from the Xia and Shen families over the past two days?”
The assistant briefly reported on the situations of both families, then added, “The eldest young lady of the Xia family, Xia Li, has been keeping a low profile lately. Aside from going to her company, she spends her time training horses at the polo club. The daughter of the Shen family hasn’t made any public appearances since returning to the country either.”
Xie Yuqi hummed in acknowledgment, tapping her fingers lightly against her desk as she pondered.
Xia Li had witnessed the conflict between herself and Ye Lingyi with her own eyes back then. And at the Xia family polo club, Xia Li had also watched her turn on Ye Lingyi on the spot.
After the Xia family broke off their engagement with the Shen family, Xia Li, as the eldest daughter of the Xia family, would naturally have to consider her marriage options.
One could say they both faced the same structural demands.
Thus, Xia Li’s immediate message inquiring about the situation after yesterday’s trending topic was highly worth analyzing.
Before this, there hadn’t been much contact between them. Yet after returning to the country, Xia Li had taken the initiative to reach out and establish connection. Clearly, this was an intentional “approach.”
Was it merely a senior’s concern for a junior, or did she have other designs?
Or perhaps, just like herself, Xia Li needed to find a suitable partner for a strategic marriage, and she, Xie Yuqi, was the “candidate” or backup option currently being evaluated?
Regardless, she could maintain contact.
At least for now, Xia Li’s various actions didn’t displease her.
Ning Che arrived at the Xiang family residence.
Xiang Chen opened the door for her, scanning her up and down.
Ning Che held up her hands: “Your sister wouldn’t let me bring you snacks. She’s afraid you’ll only gain weight without growing taller.”
Xiang Chen’s eyes darted around mischievously before she suddenly held out her hand. “Teacher Ning, you look absolutely radiant today. You must have struck it rich. As the saying goes, shares for those who see, how about a cut?”
Ning Che patted her hand away in amusement. “I give you free tutoring sessions every single day. How could I strike it rich?”
“Maybe she didn’t strike it rich, but struck gold in love instead?” Xiang Wan pushed open her bedroom door and glanced at her.
Ning Che’s face flushed instantly. Feeling a bit self-conscious, she said, “Sister Xiang, don’t talk nonsense.”
Xiang Wan let out a cold snort.
Left with no choice, Ning Che admitted, “Alright, I went on a date with my girlfriend last night, and we just spoke on the phone earlier.”
Xiang Wan remained silent.
Xiang Chen muttered softly under her breath, “Teacher Ning, you spend all your time wrapped up in romance. You don’t even have time to spend your money. You might as well let your prize student handle it for you.”
Ning Che replied with a serious expression, “I need to save up money to marry my girlfriend. Not a single cent can be wasted.”
Xiang Chen wrinkled her nose at her. “Hmph, stingy!”
Xiang Wan glared at her, and the younger girl quickly and obediently retreated into the second bedroom.
Ning Che was amused by the interaction. Being in a good mood, she couldn’t help but say, “Sister Xiang, I finally understand the meaning behind what you asked me yesterday.”
Xiang Wan: “Oh? How so?”
Ning Che: “My girlfriend told me all about the trending search incident.”
Xiang Wan was actually a bit surprised. “What did she say?”
Ning Che immediately relayed the explanation Xie Yuqi had given her. Xiang Wan fell silent. Xie Yuqi clearly hadn’t mentioned a single thing about her impending strategic marriage.
So, did she feel Ning Che wasn’t worthy of knowing, or was she deliberately avoiding the topic?
Ning Che continued, “I can’t enter my girlfriend’s social circle, and I feel a lot of pressure because I can’t help ease her burdens. But I’ve come to terms with it. I will love her and treat her twice as well within my own capabilities. She deserves the absolute best love.”
Looking at Ning Che’s youthful, earnest, and resolute appearance, Xiang Wan felt as though she were looking at her own high-spirited self from over a decade ago.
Back then, she was also barely in her early twenties, deeply in love with the daughter of the Li family. Many of her friends had dropped hints, both subtly and overtly.
“Xiang Wan, Miss Li has high standards. She might look down on someone from a lower-status household.”
“Xiang Wan, just date for fun. Don’t go throwing your entire family fortune into this.”
“Tell me, if you ran out of money, would Miss Li still love you?”
But at that time, she had been completely blinded by love. Not only could she not process those words, but she even felt her friends were just jealous of her.
Later on, reality slapped her hard. The Xiang family went bankrupt overnight, and everyone deserted them.
At this very moment, watching Ning Che, who was an exact mirror image of her past self, Xiang Wan felt a wave of bitterness and complexity wash over her.
Unnerved by the intense stare, Ning Che couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Xiang, why are you looking at me like that?”
Xiang Wan waved her hand. “It’s nothing. Go start the tutoring session.”
She chose to say nothing more.
Some people simply wouldn’t turn back until they crashed into the wall. Wasn’t her own past self the perfect proof?
The Xiang family had once been considered a mid-tier wealthy family, yet the Li family had still disdained them for their lower background. As for Ning Che, she didn’t even qualify as middle-class, she was a text-book commoner from the bottom rung of society. What did she have to compete with the children of other wealthy houses? How could Xie Yuqi possibly marry down for her?
Everything was already predestined. In the end, the only one who would get hurt was the one who took it seriously.
After the tutoring session that day, Xiang Wan invited Ning Che to stay for dinner as usual.
Ning Che smiled a bit sheepishly. “Sister Xiang, my girlfriend might come back tonight. I need to go back and wait for her.”
Xiang Wan didn’t push and simply nodded.
Ning Che didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she stood in place rather awkwardly, looking at her with wide, expectant eyes.