Chapter 160

But soon, that trace of burning warmth was blown cold by the sea breeze, frozen into two icy, sticky streaks, solidifying on her cheeks.

Zhong Ning no longer wanted to walk. She sat straight down on the sand, and Pine Mushroom nestled into her arms. Before long, it nudged her palm with its nose, trying to grab the leash.

She had walked far enough to reach a secluded spot, with no one around. Zhong Ning unfastened Pine Mushroom’s restraint. “Do you want to play?”

She spoke softly: “Go on.”

Its gray-and-light-brown fur looked like a tiny star. It ran to the water’s edge, then returned, carrying something with it.

A smooth white shell was clutched in its mouth as it trotted back. Pine Mushroom gave two soft whines, rubbing its nose against Zhong Ning’s hand, and placed the little shell into her open palm.

Dusk deepened, and a trace of cold blue spread across the horizon.

The clouds would never think blue was a sorrowful color. They drifted in the sky, tinted by sunlight, dyed by moonlight, yet always free.

Zhong Ning stared blankly at the last glow of sunset sinking into the sea, watching it dissolve into the waves, slowly turning gray-blue.

Suddenly, several chaotic footsteps sounded behind her. She did not turn back, but the sound drew closer and closer.

A figure suddenly fell at her feet. The hem of a red dress spread out like a fallen camellia.

“Ning Ning!” The camellia spoke. Anxiety and panic climbed across her face, tears mingling with the sweat at her temples.

“How could you… Ning Ning, you…”

Xie Shiqing, lost and frantic, reached for her, touching her ankle, but dared not say anything more.

She did not dare ask why Ning Ning had blocked her phone number, did not dare ask why she had come alone to the seaside, did not dare ask what she was thinking at all.

“Shiqing, you came.” Zhong Ning smiled faintly, like a ghost drifting above the sea, murmuring in a weightless voice.

“I’m so cold, Shiqing,” she said. “I didn’t know spring could be this cold.”

Xie Shiqing was terrified, nearly scared out of her wits.

What was this, how had it come to this…

“Ning Ning, don’t scare me!” she stammered. “It’s my fault, I was wrong, I know I was wrong, I shouldn’t have hidden it from you, I was just afraid, I was wrong, I really was wrong, please don’t be like this!”

“Scold me, will you? Ning Ning…” In a panic, she tore off her own coat, fumbling to wrap it around Zhong Ning’s shoulders. “Wear it, wear something thick, then you won’t be cold.”

“Let’s go home, alright?” Xie Shiqing pleaded desperately. “At home, there’s roast duck, from Wufu Garden. Didn’t you want to eat it too? I asked someone to buy it. Ning Ning, come home with me, please?”

Her words were soaked with grief, her sobbing louder than the crashing of the waves.

Zhong Ning slowly shifted her gaze, landing on Xie Shiqing’s disheveled face, her silky black hair clinging with sand and sweat.

She looked like a fallen princess, a swan with broken wings, yet still held an enchanting allure—like a whirlpool, dazzling on the surface, making one forget the danger beneath.

“Do you know? You are really beautiful. I never thought I was someone who only cared about appearances, but the first time I saw you, I liked you.”

Zhong Ning raised her hand, gently brushing along Xie Shiqing’s cheek. She smoothed the messy strands of hair behind her ear, her fingertip wiping away the cold tear on her face. “I really like you, Shiqing.”

“You are the first person I’ve ever loved.”

“Let’s go home,” Zhong Ning said. “Come on, it’s getting dark.”

Xie Shiqing was completely stunned, frozen in place, but instinct made her quickly follow Zhong Ning’s words. “Yes, yes, yes, let’s go, Ning Ning, let’s go right now.”

Zhong Ning stood up, pulling her up along with her. She bent down to pat the sand off Xie Shiqing’s clothes, then removed the coat draped on her own shoulders and put it back on Xie Shiqing.

As if… as if nothing had happened today, and they were still getting along just like before.

But this kind of “normalcy” only made Xie Shiqing even more panicked.

Had Zhong Ning changed? Of course not. Her personality was always forthright and transparent, never hiding anything, always moving forward. Since she had not changed, her softness still had its limits—how could she possibly turn a blind eye to the deceit Xie Shiqing had committed?

Those words just now were more like the fleeting brilliance of a final farewell before death.

Xie Shiqing shivered uncontrollably, gripping Zhong Ning’s hand tightly, feeling like a prisoner bound to the guillotine, the blade suspended above her head but invisible. Her senses stretched taut, every tiny sound ringing like the herald of death.

She held her breath, her spirit tortured like slow slicing.

“Are you cold?” Zhong Ning’s concerned voice sounded. “We’ll be in the car soon.”

“…Don’t be like this,” Xie Shiqing pleaded almost desperately. “Ning Ning, don’t be like this, I’m so scared.”

“I’m not angry,” Zhong Ning said. “What’s there to be afraid of?”

Xie Shiqing bit her lower lip in agitation, her teeth digging hard into the crimson flesh, nearly drawing blood.

“I’ll explain, Ning Ning. I’ll tell you everything.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Zhong Ning kissed her forehead. “Don’t panic, it’s alright.”

Such a miraculous kiss, like an injection of a stimulant into Xie Shiqing’s heart, which had been beating on the verge of collapse.

Maybe Zhong Ning really forgave her?

She could not stop herself from thinking, maybe, maybe Zhong Ning truly did not blame her anymore? After all, she had been behaving well recently, hadn’t she? They had already built a foundation of trust. As long as she explained clearly, everything would be fine.

People always needed to think of something favorable to themselves, in order to snatch a breath of relief from crushing despair.

But just when she wanted to explain, Zhong Ning pressed a finger against her lips. “I don’t really want to talk about this right now. Let’s discuss it later, alright?”

Her words were so calm, her tone so gentle, that Xie Shiqing did not detect anything unusual. She naturally found an excuse for Zhong Ning—she was in a bad mood and needed time to calm down.

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