At night...
The villa's gate was quietly opened, revealing a face cautiously peering out from the darkness. The flawless skin emitted a faint white glow in the darkness. Ning An, crouching low, gently closed the door behind her. Luckily, everyone was already asleep. Hopefully, no one would notice her returning home so late.
"Click—"
The living room lights suddenly switched on, causing Ning An to blink in discomfort as she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sudden brightness. She heard a voice, half teasing and half serious.
"Sister, coming back so late? Where were you..."
Ning An startled, her body tensing up for a moment, feeling somewhat guilty.
"I haven't seen Ya Ya for a while, she invited me out for dinner. Lost track of time," she quickly replied.
The person behind her had unknowingly approached, his tall figure lightly pressing against Ning An without actually making contact, giving off a sense of proximity and distance.
"Ya... Ya?" The young man deliberately lowered his voice, his lips forming the two words slowly, with a hint of a smile. Deceiving him? It didn't matter... he didn't feel like exposing her now.
"Sister, I got hurt for you. Are you just going to ignore me like this?" The young man's tone carried a hint of grievance, as if she were an irresponsible woman.
"Who said I'm ignoring you?" Ning An looked at the bandaged arm of the young man. "You're fine now, aren't you?"
"I want sister to agree to a request of mine..."
Ning An's internal alarm bells rang, and she eyed the somewhat aggrieved young man with suspicion, her expression strange.
"What? Don't ask for anything unreasonable!" she warned.
Ning Xuan smiled, his gaze gentle and hopeful, his attractive lips moving.
"Sister, would you accompany me to the amusement park... please?"
Just this? Ning An wondered if she had misheard him...
Meeting his earnest gaze, she couldn't help but wonder if she had misjudged him. Was going to the amusement park really so childish? She felt a bit disdainful.
"You're still going to the amusement park at your age..."
Really?
Ning Xuan lowered his eyes, his expression tinged with confusion and disappointment. He didn't know why he had suggested this, it was just a passing thought, yet he had blurted it out without thinking.
"I... haven't been there yet... Sister, just accompany me, okay?" Ning Xuan looked up, his gaze focused and intense.
His upright posture revealed a sense of loneliness and desolation. At this moment, he seemed to shed a layer of tough exterior, revealing his vulnerability and loneliness, a side Ning An had never seen before. Confronted with this side of Ning Xuan, refusing him was on the tip of her tongue, but she found it hard to speak...
He had never been to the amusement park?
Suddenly, Ning An felt a sense of confusion in her heart. A scene flashed in her mind, her heartbeat accelerating, as if something was about to burst out, yet she couldn't grasp the key.
"Sister?"
Ning Xuan noticed her distraction and, feeling a bit distressed, approached her, catching her hand. When she came to her senses, she found herself facing a magnified handsome face, an instinctive rejection lurking inside her, making her hastily pull away from his grasp.
Ning Xuan's gaze turned dangerous, a few degrees more threatening. Dare to resist his touch, did sister want to be locked up again...
"Go if you want, but you can't go like this. We'll go when you're better," she said impatiently.
Ning An lay on the bed, unable to sleep. Why did she always unintentionally agree to Ning Xuan's requests? It's as if she owed him something, allowing him to lead her by the nose...
Well, there were things to do tomorrow, no need to dwell on these things. Just take it one step at a time...
At a magnificent European-style building entrance, golden letters spelled out—West Wing Private High School.
Ning An looked at this place that held her memories, feeling nostalgic...
Then she walked into the school. When she and Ning Xuan appeared together in the auditorium, the lively atmosphere suddenly quieted down.
Following behind her, Ning Xuan ignored all the surprised gazes, his eyes only on that slender and proud figure.
After he put down his stuff, Ning Xuan placed a bottle of milk and bread in front of Ning An, speaking affectionately.
"Don't forget to eat breakfast. Sister was in a hurry this morning and didn't eat anything."
Ning An shook her head weakly, waving her hand dismissively. "I know, hurry up and go."
The young man smiled, a bit helpless but unable to do anything about it, turned and went to the boys' auditorium, not giving anyone around him a second glance.
Ning An lay down, feeling a bit lethargic. She had stayed up too late last night with her thoughts wandering. Now she really wanted to go back to sleep...
Suddenly, she felt something poking her. Ning An turned her head.
"Ya Ya, what's up?"
The one poking her was Nan Gong's twin sister. Although they were twins, their faces didn't resemble each other at all.
The only thing that proved they were twins was their rare amber eyes, like clear and clean glass.
Nan Gong Ya Ya's eyes sparkled with gossip, her round cheeks flushing with excitement, she leaned closer and said in a low voice,
"An An, were you enchanted while recuperating at home? How come you're attending the graduation ceremony with Ning Xuan after just a few days? You haven't seen each other for a few days and you're already so in love?"
Ning An pushed her away as she continued to approach, feeling speechless. How could she still be so nonsensical? Was this what being in love looked like? How could she possibly have any feelings for Ning Xuan? She was only using him for her own purposes.
"Just coming to school together, what's the big deal? Can't I say that in a few days we're going to the amusement park together with him..."
"What! Go to the... Uh... Uh!"
Ning An hurriedly covered her mouth, stopping her from saying anything more.
This girl was still so jumpy. Seeing the gazes of the people around her, she warned with a hush before releasing her. Nan Gong Ya Ya nodded, speaking softly,
"You're going to the amusement park? When did you two get along so well?"
"Just owe him a favor, don't tell Nan Gong about this," Ning An said, feeling
conflicted.
Seeing Ning An's hesitation, Nan Gong Ya Ya used her hand to pull her closer, leaning in with a playful tone,
"Unless you take me with you!"
Seeing the mischievous face of the girl, Ning An sighed, realizing she had been foolish not to see Ya Ya's feelings for Ning Xuan.
Taking her with them would surely upset Ning Xuan, making her hesitate.
Seeing Ning An's hesitation, Nan Gong Ya Ya hooked her arm around Ning An's, pouting,
"Take me with you... Last time I didn't get to go."
Ning An was taken aback, her mind finally clearing up.
"Last time?"
"Yeah, it was last year, remember when you and brother had a fight? Ning Xuan actually invited me to the amusement park! But he was so scary when we went! I was sad for a long time. You didn't know how scary he was at that time..."
While she continued to talk endlessly, Ning An's mind finally cleared up. She sighed, realizing how foolish she had been not to notice Nan Gong Ya Ya's feelings for Ning Xuan.
But taking her along would surely upset Ning Xuan. She felt conflicted.