"Sister-in-law, I wasn't looking at you." Ning Nan caught Ning Dong's threatening glare shooting straight at him and immediately denied it. But less than five seconds after he said it, Lu Zhengting's sharp gaze flew toward him like hidden arrows. Seeing this, Ning Bei didn't make a move, treating it as entertainment as he slipped over to sit next to Ning Xi. If someone handed them a plate of sunflower seeds, they'd probably be munching away while gleefully watching the show.
The group caused a ruckus in the hospital room for a while before Ning Dong started shooing them out.
Ning Xi patted his clothes, stood up from the sofa, and stretched. Ning Nan glanced at him and sighed. Ning Bei, lost in thought, suddenly leaned close to Ning Nan with a sly grin. "Second brother, do you know why Xu Su didn't show up?"
"How would I know?"
"See, I told you you wouldn't know, but Third didn't believe me. If you ask me, Xu Su probably just doesn't want to see you!"
"Youngest, looks like your skin's itching again." Ning Nan said fiercely. Truth be told, he hadn't seen Xu Su in a long time either, and he had no idea what he'd been up to. But with something as important as Xu Xiao giving birth, there was no reason for Xu Su not to show up. Could he still be hung up on what happened that day? Ning Nan frowned, walking ahead alone, mulling over whether to call Xu Su. But what would he say? Ask why he didn't come?
Ning Bei hooked an arm around Ning Xi behind them, both of them laughing in a huddle. If you asked who was best at setting up their brothers, it was these two—Ning Xi and Ning Bei, partners in crime. Messing with Ning Nan wasn't a one-time thing; it happened whenever Ning Nan's IQ dropped when it came to anything involving Xu Su.
Lu Zhengting coldly glanced at the two behind him, recalling the gift Ning Bei gave Xia Yan and the way Ning Xi chatted so happily with her on the plane. Silently, he took Xia Yan's hand and led the way ahead. Lu Zhengting took Xia Yan straight back to the hotel—the same one she'd stayed at before. She watched as neatly dressed, uniformed staff lined up in two rows at the entrance, with the manager who'd helped her last time at the front. As they got out of the car, the manager's face lit up with a brilliant smile, and the two rows bowed in unison...
"Lu Zhengting, this..." Xia Yan was startled by the scene and turned to him, confused.
"Chairman Lu, Miss Xia, this way please."
Lu Zhengting calmly took Xia Yan's hand and led her inside. Xia Yan cleared her throat and lowered her voice, "Chairman Lu? This hotel is yours?"
"Mm."
Hearing this, Xia Yan's expression shifted instantly. She suddenly remembered the series of events from when Lu Zhengting was injured and she came to Beicheng to take care of him. Back then, he insisted on eating food she made herself, forcing her to ask the manager for help using the kitchen. She'd wondered why the manager was so accommodating without any fuss, and she recalled the meaningful looks the hotel staff gave her. She hadn't figured it out then, but now it all made sense.
Pausing, Xia Yan gave Lu Zhengting a fake smile and secretly pinched his palm with her fingers. When he looked over, she flashed a bright grin and said through gritted teeth, "We'll have a nice little chat about life later, okay?"
"Sure, as long as it makes you happy." Lu Zhengting's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile as he looked at her.
In that case, don't blame me. Xia Yan blinked, thinking to herself that she was going to give him a thorough interrogation—had he been scheming against her all along?
The room was the same presidential suite as before, with the decor unchanged. Now that Xia Yan knew the secret, she wasn't surprised at all. She stood obediently by Lu Zhengting's side, and after the manager smiled and left, she lounged on the sofa like a boss, resting her hands on the armrests and tapping them lightly. Raising an eyebrow at Lu Zhengting, she smiled and crooked her finger.
Lu Zhengting didn't need her summoning; he walked over and sat beside her. "Chat about life?"
"Yes! Lu Zhengting, fess up—have you been scheming behind my back all along? Did you fall for me way back?"
"..."
"Not admitting it?" Xia Yan snorted, narrowing her eyes. "Did you like me the first time you saw me? Otherwise, why would someone like you, who never touches flowers, suddenly save me? And I've noticed—you're totally jealous!"
Lu Zhengting absolutely refused to admit to being jealous. He dismissed Xia Yan's rambling today as her acting like a little girl, cute in her petulance.
Meanwhile, Ning Nan returned to his place and flopped onto the sofa, listless. Beicheng's winters always had short days and long nights; it was only four or five in the afternoon, but the sky was already darkening. He held his phone for a long time, Ning Bei's words—"Xu Su probably just doesn't want to see you"—echoing in his mind, chilling his mood like the cold weather.
Lu Zhengting was the most likely to know Xu Su's whereabouts. Ning Nan hesitated briefly, lacking the courage to call Xu Su, but he had enough guts to call Lu Zhengting. Lu Zhengting wasn't surprised to get his call and, being loyal, didn't tell him where Xu Su was.
His blunt refusal only made Ning Nan's mood worse.
Xia Yan saw him hang up and half-lay across his lap, looking up at him. "Xu Su is in Beicheng right now, isn't he? Why didn't you tell Ning Nan?"
"Ning Nan needs a lesson. This is a good chance for him to sort out his feelings."
Xia Yan nodded sympathetically. She'd heard a bit about Ning Nan and Xu Su's situation, so she always hoped they'd end up together.
At that moment, Ning Nan couldn't sit still or stand still. Hoping against hope, he called Xu Xiao, but Ning Dong answered.
"Sister-in-law, is he—"
"It's me. Xiao Xiao's asleep."
"Brother, I, uh, suddenly remembered something, so I'll hang up—"
"Get back here. Want to know if Xu Su came to the hospital?" Ning Dong noticed Xu Xiao seemed to frown, quickly covered the receiver, and tiptoed to the balcony.
"Brother, it's nothing like that, I was just asking—"
"Don't want to know?"
"Did he come?"
"He's been in Beicheng all along." Ning Dong rubbed his temples, a headache forming. A brief gasp came through the receiver. Remembering Old Master Ning, he added, "Second, if you really like him, don't hide it. If you don't, end it cleanly. You know Xiao Xiao dotes on her brother most. If you make her sad or angry, I'll skin you alive."
"Brother, I'm your own flesh and blood."
"Even my own flesh and blood—no exceptions."
"Xu Su's exact location?"
"Find it yourself. Here's your chance to show your feelings."
With that, Ning Dong hung up. Ning Nan's face darkened in frustration. All he knew was that Xu Su was in Beicheng, but Beicheng was huge. If Xu Su truly didn't want to be found, Ning Nan would never track him down no matter how hard he tried. Fuming, he tossed his phone aside.
In a private villa in Beicheng, it was as gloomy as the sky, with no light in sight. Xu Su stood in the dimness, a lonely silhouette barely visible. The cigarette burning between his fingers was nearly spent, the scorching pain not enough to make him drop it.
Who said pain makes you let go?
Xu Su thought back to that scene again, his expression darkening. In the silent room, a melodious ringtone suddenly broke the quiet—it was his private phone. Seeing the number on the screen, one he had memorized, he hesitated, lost in thought, and let it ring.
This was the first time Xu Su hadn't answered his call. Ning Nan's mood wasn't just rock-bottom—a fear rose from deep within him, an inexplicable dread he'd never felt before. He paced back and forth, clutching his phone as he called Xu Su again, but it still went unanswered. Ning Nan racked his brain for every place Xu Su might be in Beicheng, then grabbed his car keys and set out to search one by one.
As his car sped down the road, Ning Nan couldn't help but seriously examine his feelings for Xu Su. All his worries seemed to vanish in front of Xu Su; what he valued didn't matter to Xu Su, and in Xu Su's eyes, nothing and no one was more important than him. Realizing this, Ning Nan slammed on the brakes. The cars behind him screeched to a halt in a cacophony of noise. Ning Nan stared intently at the wide road ahead. If he took one step forward, he wouldn't be scouring the city for Xu Su now.
After causing a traffic jam, Ning Nan started the car again and drove off, leaving a bunch of bewildered people behind.
Ning Nan sat in his car, looking at the dark villa before him—no lights on, the last place he could think of. He turned off the engine, got out, and stood at the gate, hesitating to go in. He stood there foolishly for a long time until the streetlights flickered on and night crept in. His pupils darkened, and with a sigh, he walked to the door, entered his birthday as the code, and watched it slowly open.
Seeing this, Ning Nan didn't know how to describe his feelings anymore.
The vast house was pitch black. Outside, the cold wind rustled the leaves with a mournful sound. The pale moonlight appeared in the night sky for less than an hour before vanishing behind thick clouds. Ning Nan stood at the entrance, hearing a click as the living room lights blazed on. He scanned the area but didn't see Xu Su, his heart uneasy. Slowly, he headed upstairs, straight for Xu Su's bedroom.
The empty upstairs rooms made the place feel even more desolate. Ning Nan entered his birthday again, and the door opened. He could see straight through—the room seemed to merge with the darkness outside. Xu Su was hidden in the shadows, silent as he sensed the movement behind him. In the gloom, he thought he caught a hint of sadness on Ning Nan's face. Xu Su crossed his arms over his chest. Beicheng's winters were bitterly cold, and the room had no heating. Ning Nan sighed, about to turn away, when he suddenly spotted the figure he'd been searching for.