Afternoon shopping was already tiring, and being sad for so long afterward made it even more exhausting.
But it did achieve the goal of clearing her mind.
Before Shen Ningruo’s comfort, Qiu Yang would feel upset whenever she thought about her family issues, because she had grown up in an environment where she was pointed at and cursed. Her uncle and aunt also called her a jinx, and her cousin Qiu Wenyun did the same, telling many kids in the neighborhood these words.
It’s fair to say that Qiu Yang was unhappy as a child. No one affectionately called her “Yangyang”; most called her “jinx.” She liked to lock herself in her room, which was actually just a storage room, as her uncle and aunt wouldn’t give her a proper bedroom.
She stayed in the room reading and studying. The storage room didn’t smell very good, and the window wasn’t big, but after finishing her reading and homework, she could look up and see the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, and birds flying freely in the sky.
Qiu Yang envied that kind of life and thus detested her current one. When she was in school, teachers said to study hard and go to university to have a better future and more confidence in choosing her own life. So, after all these years, she became who she is now.
She is very satisfied with her current life.
Wanming’s salary and benefits are quite good. She has friends, a cat, and a lover. She lives the life she wanted. But some knots in her heart needed to be untied, even if it was just with comfort.
But she needed comfort; she needed someone to tell her she wasn’t a jinx.
She would believe it, because the person saying these words wasn’t just anyone, but Shen Ningruo, her lover who held her dear.
Qiu Yang couldn’t help but feel very lucky, yet she also felt a bit doubtful about the reality of her current happiness. Even when holding Shen Ningruo while sleeping at night, she couldn’t fall asleep quickly.
Listening to Shen Ningruo’s steady, even breathing, feeling the smooth and warm touch of Shen Ningruo’s skin on her palm, smelling the faint lemon scent on Shen Ningruo, everything felt real, yet also surreal.
After a long time, Qiu Yang’s eyes finally drooped with fatigue, and she fell into a deep sleep.
The weather in Xicheng was no different from yesterday, but last night the curtains were drawn, blocking out the sunlight completely. After a fierce battle with no success, the sun angrily turned its attention elsewhere.
If this place didn’t want its light, it wasn’t needed anyway.
Before coming, Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo had confidently said they would visit many places in Xicheng, but after yesterday’s shopping, both were a bit wilted. Fortunately, they hadn’t made many plans anyway, so after waking up, they simply decided to explore the surrounding area and not go to more distant places.
Worried about running into Guo Ming’an again, they simply ordered takeout. After eating, they took their umbrellas and bags and headed out.
Unexpectedly, they still ran into Guo Ming’an. He was still sitting on the sofa in the lobby, facing the direction of the elevators, where he could see tourists coming and going from the elevator entrance. When he saw Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang appear in his line of sight, Guo Ming’an raised an eyebrow and stood up.
Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang were both wearing sunglasses and naturally saw him waiting, but sunglasses allowed them to maintain a facade, so they planned to just walk past.
There was nothing good to say to this disgusting man.
But Guo Ming’an was thick-skinned. He was tall with long legs and reached them in a few steps. He still had that grinning look: “Ruoruo, where are you going today? Take me with you.”
Shen Ningruo was still impatient. She raised her hand and pushed his shoulder: “Get lost.”
She used force, pushing the unprepared Guo Ming’an aside and clearing the way, then pulled Qiu Yang to continue walking.
The lobby wasn’t as crowded as yesterday; there were far fewer people now, but a few still looked over. Perhaps they found the combination eye-catching, their gaze lingering on the three of them, naturally witnessing Guo Ming’an’s awkward situation.
Guo Ming’an always cared about appearances. Being pushed by Shen Ningruo like that made him less easygoing than yesterday. He followed them for a few steps, then blocked Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang’s path again. He looked at Shen Ningruo’s face, his lips pressed down: “Shen Ningruo, I’ve given you a lot of face. Yesterday you splashed water on me, today you pushed me. Do you think my patience is really that good?”
“A person’s tolerance is limited.”
Shen Ningruo took off her sunglasses, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery: “Did I ask you to tolerate me? Why didn’t you keep tolerating me when you were cursing me out two months ago?”
She was referring to the nasty words Guo Ming’an had used. They hadn’t truly hurt her, but they had definitely put her in a bad mood.
This man was shallow and arrogant, thinking the whole world revolved around him. She was determined to shatter his ego.
“What I said was the actual situation, what was wrong with it?” Guo Ming’an was still wearing a suit today. As he spoke, he tugged at his tie, looking somewhat angry.
Shen Ningruo lifted her eyelids and scoffed: “Then can I respectfully call you ‘impotent man’? I heard long ago that you couldn’t perform. That’s also a real situation, Guo Ming’an.”
In front of everyone, Shen Ningruo raised her voice significantly, making sure the surrounding tourists heard clearly.
Oh wow, talking about this? That’s exciting! Everyone quietly pricked up their ears.
Guo Ming’an was also easily provoked. All the women around him before had catered to him. In all these years, only Shen Ningruo had made him look so foolish.
“You can’t,” Qiu Yang commented lightly from the side, giving Guo Ming’an an evaluation. “You can’t in every way.”
Guo Ming’an’s brows furrowed deeper: “What’s it to you?”
“Mind your own mouth.”
“I advise you to mind your own dick.” Shen Ningruo rarely swore, but Guo Ming’an talking to Qiu Yang like that in front of her truly angered her. “You’re already useless, be careful you don’t break it.”
Shen Ningruo’s gaze was fixed on Guo Ming’an’s face. She was only two years older than Guo Ming’an, but her aura was almost crushing, something Guo Ming’an couldn’t match.
This last sentence sounded even more like a threat. Guo Ming’an nervously swallowed.
He knew Shen Ningruo was ruthless, which was why he could never handle her. He believed Shen Ningruo could do what she just said.
Guo Ming’an pursed his lips tightly, finally saying nothing and turning to leave first, his back looking somewhat dejected.
The onlookers dispersed. Shen Ningruo tilted her head and smiled at Qiu Yang: “Let’s go.”
Her tone was confident: “He won’t bother us for a while.”
Qiu Yang: “Okay.”
She had no good feelings for Guo Ming’an and preferred not to see him. But Shen Ningruo just now was a bit unexpected. She could have retorted herself, but Shen Ningruo had protected her.
Qiu Yang had seen Shen Ningruo’s serious demeanor at work, but honestly, this was the first time she had seen Shen Ningruo angry like that, and it made her feel very secure.
At least as the one being protected, she felt very safe.
Guo Ming’an left the lobby and got into a taxi. He gave the driver a bar address, then scrolled through his contacts and called the person saved as “Tao Sixian.”
“Something wrong?” Tao Sixian’s tone was clearly impatient when she answered.
Guo Ming’an looked out the car window. His tone wasn’t good either: “Where are you?”
“Where I am is none of your business.”
“Spit it out, don’t waste my time.”
Guo Ming’an licked his back teeth: “I saw Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang yesterday.”
“Oh.”
“And?”
“What’s that got to do with me.”
“Are you still not over it? My dear husband.”
Guo Ming’an: “…Don’t call me husband.”
“I’m not not over it either.”
“Then I’m busy, bye.”
Tao Sixian hung up without hesitation after saying that. Their conversation was completely devoid of emotion.
Guo Ming’an gripped his phone, becoming even more annoyed.
He and Tao Sixian were only satisfied with each other’s backgrounds. Before marriage, they occasionally met up for sex, but after marriage, they were even more distant than before. Wasn’t this relationship just “not close”?
Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang getting together was unexpected for Guo Ming’an, but he wasn’t completely shocked. He just found the feeling very strange.
Had Shen Ningruo always been gay?
Then why did she accept his pursuit back then? Wasn’t she just using him?
Maybe behind their “relationship,” Shen Ningruo had other lovers. Just thinking about this, Guo Ming’an couldn’t help but curse: “Fuck your mother!”
“No wonder she wouldn’t let me touch her.”
The taxi driver looked at him strangely in the rearview mirror, but Guo Ming’an glared back: “What are you looking at?”
“Idiot,” the driver cursed inwardly.
Without Guo Ming’an hovering around, Shen Ningruo felt the air was much fresher. On the way to the surrounding area by car, she received a call from Auntie Wu Xiaoqiong.
“Xiao Shen.”
“Auntie met a very nice young man on this trip, 1.85 meters tall, well-built, Master’s degree…”
“Auntie Xiaoqiong,” Shen Ningruo glanced at Qiu Yang and said with a smile, “No need.”
“I’ll bring my partner to visit you next time.”
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