Chapter 161

This was entirely logical.

Xie Shiqing repeatedly hypnotized herself—stay calm. Since Zhong Ning was still willing to come home with her and talk to her, it meant the matter could definitely be resolved peacefully.

“Whatever you say, Ning Ning,” she said. “I’ll listen to you.”

Zhong Ning smiled slightly and used her fingertip as a brush to gently trace her features, as if she wanted to imprint this face into her memory forever.

She didn’t speak the entire way. Xie Shiqing wanted to say something—anything—because the overly quiet atmosphere was terrifying.

But she was also scared. She didn’t dare speak.

Finding the perpetrator behind the car accident should have been something worth celebrating. And to have also taken down Le Xi and Zhong Zinuan in one swift move—it was practically a double victory.

Yet she didn’t dare share it.

How was she supposed to say it?

To talk about them meant she couldn’t avoid bringing up Zhong Lin, and even more so, she couldn’t avoid the Zhong family. Her courage would have to pierce the heavens to bring this up at a time like this.

The entire way, neither of them spoke. When they returned to the home near the park, they sat down together and had dinner.

“I want to sleep downstairs tonight,” Zhong Ning said after putting down her chopsticks. “I want a couple of days to calm down. Is that alright?”

How could Xie Shiqing possibly say no? She responded eagerly and obsequiously, “Of course, of course, Ning Ning, you can sleep wherever you want!”

Zhong Ning added, “I want to sleep with Pine Mushroom.”

Xie Shiqing immediately pushed the dog toward her with enthusiasm. “She’s overjoyed—has been dying to sleep with you!”

“Thank you, Shiqing.” Zhong Ning sighed and walked over to give her a hug. “I just need some time.”

“I understand, I understand!” Xie Shiqing said quickly, cautiously. “Whenever you feel like talking to me, I’ll come right away.”

“Mm.”

Zhong Ning left with the dog.

The door opened and then closed. After a long while, Xie Shiqing finally collapsed back onto the sofa. Her expression shifted endlessly, as if a palette had been overturned—every emotion imaginable was there.

“Hold back everyone else. Don’t let them come bother Zhong Ning. Got it?”

She would forgive her, right?

She had said she needed time to calm down—that meant she still wanted to talk.

She would forgive her, right?

Xie Shiqing gnawed anxiously at her fingernail, repeating the same sentence over and over, muttering to herself in a loop of psychological self-reassurance.

Pine Mushroom was a very smart little dog and also sensitive. She keenly picked up on her owner's emotions and had been very quiet the whole afternoon, silently accompanying Zhong Ning.

It was as though Zhong Ning had detached her spirit. Her seven emotions and six desires floated in mid-air, and only the cold, absolute rationality remained within her chest, directing her every move.

Since coming here, she wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing—but she had learned how to wear a false mask in front of others.

How could she not be upset? How could she possibly be calm?

She had endured suffering akin to having her heart gouged out—how could she act like nothing had happened?

There were no surveillance cameras in her home downstairs. Xie Shiqing respected her personal space. On matters like these, to maintain transparency, she wouldn’t lie or deliberately hide things.

Zhong Ning gave Fu Nanshuang a call.

News of the Zhong family changing hands spread quickly in certain circles, and Fu Nanshuang was naturally among those who caught wind of it early. So when she received Zhong Ning’s call, even describing her emotions as “complicated” felt too shallow.

After the call connected, she uttered a few hesitant hums, unable to figure out what to say.

It was Zhong Ning who broke the silence first. “Can you help me handle two formalities?”

Fu Nanshuang froze for a moment. “What kind of formalities? Tell me.”

Zhong Ning enunciated every word: “Withdrawal from school and a visa to go abroad, including a pet transport.”

“You’re going abroad?!” Fu Nanshuang shrieked in shock, immediately springing up from her bed. “Wait, what the hell is going on between you and Xie Shiqing? Do you even know what’s happening with the Zhong family?”

“...I only found out today, same as you.” Zhong Ning lowered her eyes, staring at the cat ornament sitting on her nightstand, and spoke softly, “You know I was never interested in the Zhong family, nor did I ever want it. Competing for the heir position was completely for her.”

“You really didn’t know anything about this?” Fu Nanshuang’s eyes widened, then she let out a cold laugh. “Of course. When you're taking something that doesn’t belong to you, how could you possibly let the real owner find out?”

“I thought she was just a bit ruthless in business, but turns out she’s rotten to the core. Not a single part of her is clean—not even a single strand of hair! How does she even have the face for this? Did a dog eat her conscience?”

“That’s enough… enough, stop,” Zhong Ning interrupted her tiredly. “Can you help me?”

“I’ll get it done within the day,” Fu Nanshuang replied. “But you’re not even going to finish your studies? How about taking a leave of absence instead… You got in with so much effort. That kind of person isn’t worth sacrificing your future for.”

“Just one year off, take some time to clear your mind. Alright? If it still doesn’t work out, you can transfer. Transfer to Winter City—there’s heavy snowfall in the winter, it’s beautiful.”

“Or you could go to Spring City University. Spring all year round, the environment’s amazing, flowers blooming nonstop.”

She listed several domestic universities in a row, then started naming international ones, going on and on. Zhong Ning pressed her fingers against her brow in helplessness. “Alright, you win. Leave of absence. Just apply for that.”

“...The rest can be figured out later.”

“Got it,” Fu Nanshuang patted her chest. “I’m always reliable when it comes to getting things done. Let me see… Are you going to class tomorrow? If you are, I’ll get the visa to you before your last class ends. If not, we can meet somewhere? Or I can bring it to your place.”

“I’m going to class,” Zhong Ning said softly.

She had to pretend everything was normal. Of course she’d attend class as usual—only then would Xie Shiqing let down her guard.

“Ah… this is really something.” Fu Nanshuang had a whole stomach full of curse words but held them back for the sake of Zhong Ning’s emotional state. “I’ll come pick you up tomorrow, okay? And after school, do you want to hang out with Zheng Xuan and the others?”

“No need to pick me up.” The smile at the corner of Zhong Ning’s lips finally carried a trace of genuine emotion. “I’m alright now, really. It’s kind of a relief.”

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