PSMD – Chapter 13

Shen Ningruo rarely tried to guess what others were thinking. Usually, others were the ones trying to read her expressions. Now, it was her turn to be a micro-expression expert, and she’d failed, which had left her sulking all afternoon.

Fortunately, the misunderstanding about Qiu Yang disappeared. Shen Ningruo’s thoughts also drifted: Qiu Yang said she didn’t like rice noodles this afternoon, but now she said she actually liked them very much. Could it be that it was Qiu Yang’s ex who didn’t like eating rice noodles?

Perhaps when they were together, her ex didn’t let Qiu Yang eat them, which made Qiu Yang briefly forget about it.

Because when two people are together, they influence each other, and based on what she currently knew about Qiu Yang’s personality, Qiu Yang would definitely accommodate the other person.

Shen Ningruo couldn’t remember Qiu Yang’s ex-girlfriend’s name. Yao Yao had told her back then, but she’d forgotten it immediately, though she had firmly remembered Qiu Yang, both her face and her name.

But that wasn’t important anymore. That ex was now irrelevant.

After dinner, they returned to the guesthouse.

They both showered, and it was still early, only around nine o’clock.

However, Shen Ningruo wanted Qiu Yang to rest early so her dark circles might improve. So, when they had nothing else to do, Shen Ningruo proactively lifted the blanket and patted the spot beside her.

The meaning was obvious.

She didn’t feel like she was being particularly forward, but if any of her colleagues were present and saw her expression, they would probably be very surprised.

Qiu Yang glanced at her but didn’t move over. “It’s still early.”

She looked back at her phone. Miao Yi had sent another video of Pingzi. In the video, Pingzi was playing with a cat wand, looking very energetic.

Pingzi was a British Shorthair Golden. His head was round, his eyes were round, and only when playing did his gaze become slightly sharp; the rest of the time, he looked lazy.

Shen Ningruo propped her head up. She had good eyesight, so she naturally caught a glimpse that Qiu Yang was looking at a cat.

“Is that your cat?” she asked.

Qiu Yang replied with a sound: “Mm.”

“Very cute,” Shen Ningruo praised.

Qiu Yang’s mouth opened slightly, her tone a little distant. “Thank you.”

As she spoke, she moved further towards the sofa, putting more distance between herself and Shen Ningruo.

Shen Ningruo chuckled. “Is that necessary? You’re acting like I’m a thief. Your screen was full of cats just now; I only saw it by accident.”

She let out a soft snort. “I don’t have a habit of peeking.”

Qiu Yang didn’t speak. She knew Shen Ningruo didn’t. She moved over because she hadn’t realized how close they were just now, with only a small space between them. Since she had decided to maintain a balance point with Shen Ningruo, the distance couldn’t be too close or too far.

Moving slightly to the side was just right.

What’s more…

That brief moment just now reminded Qiu Yang of when she was with Tao Sixian. The bedroom they shared had a single sofa near the bed. Sometimes she would sit there working, and Tao Sixian would come over and call her name with a smile.

Qiu Yang hid it well. Coupled with the fact that only one light was on in the room, Shen Ningruo couldn’t see her expression clearly. So, she just looked at her a couple more times before looking away and saying, “When I was helping Auntie Fen and Auntie Qiong film videos today, I learned that these few days are their twenty-fifth anniversary of knowing each other, which is why they decided to travel.”

“They used to be colleagues working in the same factory. Because they got along and clicked, they became friends.”

“Later, the factory closed down, and they each found their own way. They were separated for several years during that time. Auntie Fen went to Beijing, and Auntie Qiong went to Shanghai. Back then, they couldn’t afford mobile phones, so they would occasionally call a landline to chat about how they were doing. They also wrote letters frequently. This friendship continued until they both achieved some success, then they each returned to Yuncheng to get married and have children.”

Shen Ningruo’s voice was a little low, but her pronunciation was clear and precise, like a radio host.

Qiu Yang listened to it all. She wasn’t distracted. Finally, she fluttered her eyelashes and asked, “Is this a late-night emotional radio show now?”

Shen Ningruo chuckled softly. “If you say so. I’ve forgotten when I last listened to the radio.”

“I said all that just because I think they are very lucky. Not everyone can make a lifelong best friend at the age of twenty-something.”

Friendship also has an expiration date. If contact decreases, feelings will fade, except in rare cases.

“Love is the same,” Shen Ningruo added. “What do you think?”

Qiu Yang responded with a sound, her voice neither light nor heavy: “Yes.”

The probability of having a love where you can confide in and entrust each other isn’t that high. Qiu Yang once thought she had found it, until reality slapped her hard, and she woke up.

What she had was just a cardboard box wrapped in a beautiful exterior, filled with foam made of deceit, concealment, and selfishness.

Foam doesn’t weigh much, and one punch can cover you in it, but it’s precisely because it flies onto you and sticks that it makes you feel uncomfortable, requiring a long time to pick it off one by one.

Qiu Yang lowered her gaze, and at the same time, placed her phone on the coffee table. “I’m going to wash my hands.”

Shen Ningruo looked at her. “Didn’t you say it was still early?”

“You’re too boring,” Qiu Yang said without looking back, finding an excuse. She didn’t want to think about Tao Sixian anymore.

Shen Ningruo watched her back, a smug smile appearing on her face. She realized that she and Qiu Yang actually had a good understanding. Saying so much just now wasn’t because she wanted to talk, but to convey that she was bored.

Qiu Yang got the hint and even acted on it.

Shen Ningruo looked at the ceiling, let out a sigh of relief, and her lips curved upwards.

Fortunately, Shen Ningruo’s method seemed to work. When she woke up again, Qiu Yang’s dark circles looked a little lighter than yesterday.

She woke up a little earlier today. After getting up and dressed, she returned to her own room.

However, when opening the door, she was still wary of the hallway, afraid of being seen by Zhao Mingfen and the others. For about two seconds, Shen Ningruo felt like she and Qiu Yang were having a secret affair.

It was a little exciting.

She had a meeting to attend in the morning. After washing up, she turned on her computer. As soon as the camera was on, she immediately became serious and professional, listening to her subordinates report on the project progress.

The meeting lasted for an hour. When it was almost over, Shen Ningruo glanced at the time in the upper right corner.

It was almost ten o’clock. She wondered if Qiu Yang was awake yet.

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the desk. Finally, she said a few more words, then turned off the camera and opened her email, preparing to look at documents.

Yao Yao’s call came in at this moment. Shen Ningruo quickly answered, “What is it?”

“I suddenly remembered something,” Yao Yao said with a hint of mockery. “You’ve never kissed anyone before. Do you know how?”

“Get lost,” Shen Ningruo couldn’t manage a pleasant tone.

“Do you want me to SF Express you a bucket of Xingqiu?”

Shen Ningruo was a little confused. “What do I need Xingqiu for?”

“Don’t use the spoon, just finish it with your tongue.”

“They say online that you can use this to practice your oral skills.”

“I’m really worrying myself sick.”

Shen Ningruo: “…”

Shen Ningruo took a deep breath. “I don’t need practice, thank you.”

“I get it,” Yao Yao’s laughter grew louder.

“You’re the one lying underneath.”

“What’s wrong with lying underneath?” Shen Ningruo chuckled. “I lie down and I’m proud, I lie down and I’m confident. You don’t even get to lie down yet.”

“Are you serious? Shen Ningruo, I’ve only gone without sex for a month, and you’ve only had it for two days, and you’re already this arrogant!”

“Don’t get too smug. You’ll be back in a few days. Are you really going to keep in touch with this girl when you return to Yuncheng?”

Shen Ningruo’s fingertips, holding the mouse, paused. Yao Yao sighed lengthily and said earnestly, “Indulge for a few days, then get back on track, Ruoruo.”

“I have things to do, I’ll hang up now.” Shen Ningruo’s brows furrowed.