Chapter 111

Xie Shiqing knew all too well that she hadn’t yet been freed from the gallows—only the noose around her neck had loosened slightly, giving her a moment to breathe. But the pardon degree had not been granted.

The one racking her brain to find something to say had now become Xie Shiqing.

But no matter how she scratched her heart and wracked her mind, she couldn’t think of a single thing worth saying.

Zhong Ning had a pair of romantic eyes, capable of discovering every tiny glimmer in life. But she didn’t.

She only divided everything and everyone into two rough categories: useful or useless. When one viewed the world with eyes full of exploit and judgment, they would never perceive the beauty inherently in natural things.

Even if she wanted to make something up, she couldn’t.

Xie Shiqing could fabricate suffering, could conjure pain, but she couldn’t invent anything beautiful.

It was Zhong Ning who broke the frozen silence. “You have to remember to play with Pine Mushroom every day. She likes to play fetch with a frisbee.”

As if she still remembered anything about the dog! She had thrown it to the back of her mind long ago.

This was definitely not the time to speak the truth. Xie Shiqing nodded and said, “I remember. It’s just that Pine Mushroom didn’t seem very happy today. When I left, she looked listless too.”

Zhong Ning pursed her lips in quiet melancholy.

She really loved cats and dogs—let alone Pine Mushroom, who was a smart and affectionate little dog. If one were to ask what she was most reluctant to leave behind when moving out of the Xie family, it would undoubtedly be Pine Mushroom.

But the dog had been bought by Xie Shiqing. It was Shiqing’s dog. Zhong Ning couldn’t take it with her.

“Just spend more time with her,” Zhong Ning said.

Her tone was even more listless than Pine Mushroom’s.

Xie Shiqing noticed the change immediately, and a thought rose in her mind.

“I miss her too. Now that you’re not at home, if I don’t keep an eye on her often, she’ll definitely feel lonely.” Xie Shiqing sighed quietly. “I remember the trainer said Border Collies are very sensitive dogs and need lots of time with their owners.”

“It’s already quite late. I should head back now. I don’t even know if Pine Mushroom has eaten dinner properly.”

Zhong Ning didn’t say a single word to make her stay. In fact, she very enthusiastically walked her to the door, watched the bodyguard drive the car away, and even earnestly reminded her, “Send me a few photos of Pine Mushroom.”

Xie Shiqing agreed to everything with a smile, but the moment the car drove off, her expression collapsed.

She wasn’t even as important as a dog!

Angry and indignant, she called the butler. “Buy the floor next to Zhong Ning’s apartment for me.”

If the mountain wouldn’t come to her, she would go to the mountain.

Compared to being separated from Zhong Ning, the inconvenience of a new place wasn’t worth mentioning.

After she left, Zhong Ning dragged out her suitcase and began unpacking and putting everything in place.

But many of the clothes had creases just from being folded, so it was best to buy a garment steamer to iron them. No matter what, she’d have to go to the mall tomorrow.

The apartment was cleaned regularly by a part-time cleaner, saving her the trouble of doing it herself—otherwise Zhong Ning really would’ve collapsed from exhaustion.

The moment her classes ended the next day, she headed straight to the mall to begin shopping for the things she needed—mostly small items like indoor aromatherapy diffusers and a hairdryer. Not things she absolutely needed, but ones that would certainly make life better.

For these smaller items, she carried them herself. The larger appliances she arranged to have delivered to her apartment.

The supermarket was also a must-visit—her fridge was completely empty and desperately needed snacks and fruits to fill it up.

Zhong Ning spent the entire afternoon this way, returning to her neighborhood just as the sun was setting. With her arms full of bags, she stepped into the elevator, only to unexpectedly run into a familiar face.

Xie Shiqing—and she had brought Pine Mushroom with her!

The little Border Collie was at that awkward growing phase. No matter how much meat it ate every day, it didn’t seem to gain much weight, looking rather scrawny and long, with a sharp face and lean limbs.

The puppy wasn’t self-conscious about being in an awkward phase. When it saw its beloved owner, it thought of nothing else. The moment it spotted Zhong Ning, it whimpered excitedly and rushed toward her, circling her and barking energetically.

Zhong Ning set down her bags and reached out to pet it, but Pine Mushroom tilted its head away, continuing to bark at her.

Well, that was a tantrum—clearly mad at her.

“Ning Ning, what a coincidence. I was just about to take Pine Mushroom out for a walk,” Xie Shiqing said from her wheelchair. Behind her stood a bodyguard—the same familiar one as before.

Zhong Ning stared in disbelief. “You walked your dog from the Xie family home all the way here?!”

Xie Shiqing gave an innocent smile. “Ning Ning, I live upstairs from you now. I just moved in today.”

Zhong Ning was dumbfounded. For a moment, she felt like the woman was speaking an alien language. She could only parrot back the words, trying to help her brain absorb the information. “You said… you moved in… upstairs from me…”

A pleased curve appeared at the corners of Xie Shiqing’s lips, her voice as sweet as honey. “That’s right. From now on, we’re neighbors.”

This world was truly surreal...

While Zhong Ning was still frozen in place, Xie Shiqing added, “I know you’re usually really busy, Ning Ning. You barely have time during the day—between your studies and learning how to handle company matters. So, in the evenings, after dinner, would it be okay if I invited you to walk the dog with me?”

“Pine Mushroom is our shared treasure. Besides, you’ve probably noticed—she likes you way more than she likes me. When you’re not at home, she throws tantrums, whimpers nonstop. I really can’t handle it.”

She pleaded softly, “If you’re not too busy, spend more time with her. Pine Mushroom really misses you.”

Had Xie Shiqing said all this for herself, Zhong Ning might have felt a bit soft-hearted, but the chances of her actually giving in were slim.

But when the subject became Pine Mushroom, Zhong Ning’s defenses crumbled instantly.

Without even thinking it through, she immediately agreed. “Sure, sure.”

“You wait here—I’ll take all this upstairs first and be right back.”

Xie Shiqing, who knew perfectly how to press the advantage, smiled with her red lips curled. “Then let us go up with you. It won’t take long anyway.”

“Pine Mushroom finally gets to see you. There’s no way she’ll let go now.”

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