Chapter 183

The private detective dutifully took photo after photo, narrowly avoiding being discovered by Michelle several times. In order to stay hidden more effectively, the frequency of the shots had decreased.

Xie Shiqing truly wanted to say, “Stop taking pictures.” She didn’t want to see Zhong Ning looking so happy while spending time with someone else. Even if they were just friends, it still made her jealous.

But if she didn’t look, the smoldering flames of longing would silently burn every inch of her skin. So, she had no choice but to look.

It was like self-inflicted torture.

Zhong Ning had spent the entire day enjoying herself. There were many places in Fengcheng she hadn’t been to before. The city was huge, with endless places to explore—one day wasn’t nearly enough.

The two of them managed fine, but the pine mushroom was exhausted after walking the whole day. As soon as they got home, it collapsed into sleep and wouldn’t wake up no matter how much they called.

The next day, Zhong Ning went to find Ms. Xue to finalize the donation project she had in mind, which focused on critically ill children. It also reminded her of Miaomiao.

For this initial donation, she decided to contribute five hundred thousand and wanted to personally go through the entire process.

Ms. Xue expressed her understanding.

In fact, she warmly welcomed Zhong Ning to observe everything with her own eyes—it was also a form of oversight and assurance.

Perhaps because she had previously told Xie Shiqing she didn’t need her help, this time when she visited the foundation, Xie Shiqing didn’t appear in front of her.

Zhong Ning paused slightly when transferring the money.

Why was she thinking of her again?

She pressed her lips together tightly, took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. She gave a smile to the staff member and asked, “Who will I be going with then?”

Staff: “I’ll send you her contact. You can reach out to her directly.”

“Thanks for the trouble.”

The contact sent over had a cartoon puppy as the profile picture. Zhong Ning sent a friend request, and the other party accepted it instantly.

Zhong Ning: [Hello, I’m Zhong Ning]

The reply came quickly: [Hello, Miss Zhong. You can just call me Jingjing. The president already informed me. There’s a donation that needs to be handled soon, and we’ll be going to a neighboring mountain city. Is taking the high-speed train okay for you?]

Zhong Ning had no objections. [Of course, that’s fine. Whatever is convenient for you.]

A moment later, the other party replied again: [If you don’t mind, could you send me your ID number? I’ll book two adjacent seats.]

Zhong Ning sent her ID number, and a few minutes later received a screenshot of the seat reservation. The trip was scheduled for next Wednesday.

After confirming the arrangements, Zhong Ning didn’t put her phone down. She continued scrolling through her Moments feed.

She didn’t have many friends. Though she seemed warm and kind, Zhong Ning was guarded and didn’t casually add lots of contacts.

So she didn’t have to scroll much before she saw something posted by Xie Shiqing.

[Woof.]

What the heck was that?

On impulse, she clicked into it and browsed Xie Shiqing’s feed. The previous post was from just two days ago.

[Today I’m the luckiest person.]

Further back, it was mostly meaningless posts. She glanced over them and exited—nothing worth looking at.

She was just suddenly curious. After picking up the equity transfer documents tonight, she was going to delete this person for good.

Xie Shiqing had chosen a private kitchen-style restaurant as their meeting spot—one they used to order from frequently. No need to spell out her intentions.

Zhong Ning arrived early, but Xie Shiqing had arrived even earlier. It was still the same private dining room. Only this time, Zhong Ning sat on the opposite side of the table.

Xie Shiqing attentively rinsed the bowls and chopsticks, taking over the server’s job to set the table herself. She looked at Zhong Ning pleadingly. “Let’s have a meal together, okay?”

“I’ve already ordered the dishes. It won’t take long—they’ll be out soon.”

Zhong Ning looked at her, her expression full of confusion. “You’re doing all this because you think I’ll forgive you again, and then get deceived by you one more time?”

Xie Shiqing’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She opened her mouth, like a fish stranded on land, trapped in a world that didn’t belong to it. She murmured, “No… Ning Ning, I never intended to hide anything from you again.”

Zhong Ning simply let out a cold laugh.

“The transfer agreement?”

Xie Corporation’s entertainment division was massive now, practically a monopolistic industry giant. The monthly dividends alone were likely astronomical.

Why wouldn’t she take the money? She had exchanged Zhong family’s shares for it. It was rightfully hers. Why should she give it up?

But Xie Shiqing clutched the bag by her side tightly, a single tear dropping onto the back of her hand. She choked up as she shook her head. “If I give it to you, will you leave right away?”

Zhong Ning stayed silent.

That silence was already an answer.

“I just want to have one more meal with you. I really don’t mean anything else,” Xie Shiqing said, tearful eyes brimming with sorrow.

Zhong Ning’s expression remained calm. “One meal now, and there’ll be more after. Xie Shiqing, I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore.”

She let out a sigh. “I’m really tired. Let me go, and let yourself go too.”

“No.” Xie Shiqing wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand and spoke softly, “I really want to agree with what you’re saying, to lie and lower your guard. But I can’t.”

“I can’t lie to you anymore, and I can’t give up.”

“Jingjing, the one who spoke with you today, was me too.” Her voice still had a trace of congestion, her eyes were still red, but her expression was so serious it was frightening. “I could say ten thousand apologies, I could kneel down and beg you—I could do anything, except completely leave you.”

Zhong Ning was momentarily speechless.

She could tell—the person in front of her was serious.

Zhong Ning never would have imagined that Jingjing was also played by Xie Shiqing. Their ways of speaking were entirely different. If the woman hadn’t confessed, she might not have realized until she got to the train station.

Pressing her fingers to her temple, Zhong Ning almost laughed out of sheer disbelief. “I really don’t understand you anymore. What exactly do you like about me? You keep saying you want to apologize—but do you even know why I broke up with you?”

These two questions seemed to be ones Xie Shiqing had pondered countless times. She didn’t even pause. As soon as Zhong Ning finished speaking, she immediately responded.

“I like you because you possess so many beautiful qualities that I don’t. You’re always gentle and patient with vulnerable people, always understanding. You treat everything in the world according to your own principles. You stick to what you believe in and aren’t swayed by material things. Even someone like me could be saved by you.”

Xie Shiqing attentively rinsed the bowls and chopsticks, taking over the server’s job to set the table herself. She looked at Zhong Ning pleadingly. “Let’s have a meal together, okay?”

“I’ve already ordered the dishes. It won’t take long—they’ll be out soon.”

Zhong Ning looked at her, her expression full of confusion. “You’re doing all this because you think I’ll forgive you again, and then get deceived by you one more time?”

Xie Shiqing’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She opened her mouth, like a fish stranded on land, trapped in a world that didn’t belong to it. She murmured, “No… Ning Ning, I never intended to hide anything from you again.”

Zhong Ning simply let out a cold laugh.

“The transfer agreement?”

Xie Corporation’s entertainment division was massive now, practically a monopolistic industry giant. The monthly dividends alone were likely astronomical.

Why wouldn’t she take the money? She had exchanged Zhong family’s shares for it. It was rightfully hers. Why should she give it up?

But Xie Shiqing clutched the bag by her side tightly, a single tear dropping onto the back of her hand. She choked up as she shook her head. “If I give it to you, will you leave right away?”

Zhong Ning stayed silent.

That silence was already an answer.

“I just want to have one more meal with you. I really don’t mean anything else,” Xie Shiqing said, tearful eyes brimming with sorrow.

Zhong Ning’s expression remained calm. “One meal now, and there’ll be more after. Xie Shiqing, I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore.”

She let out a sigh. “I’m really tired. Let me go, and let yourself go too.”

“No.” Xie Shiqing wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand and spoke softly, “I really want to agree with what you’re saying, to lie and lower your guard. But I can’t.”

“I can’t lie to you anymore, and I can’t give up.”

“Jingjing, the one who spoke with you today, was me too.” Her voice still had a trace of congestion, her eyes were still red, but her expression was so serious it was frightening. “I could say ten thousand apologies, I could kneel down and beg you—I could do anything, except completely leave you.”

Zhong Ning was momentarily speechless.

She could tell—the person in front of her was serious.

Zhong Ning never would have imagined that Jingjing was also played by Xie Shiqing. Their ways of speaking were entirely different. If the woman hadn’t confessed, she might not have realized until she got to the train station.

Pressing her fingers to her temple, Zhong Ning almost laughed out of sheer disbelief. “I really don’t understand you anymore. What exactly do you like about me? You keep saying you want to apologize—but do you even know why I broke up with you?”

These two questions seemed to be ones Xie Shiqing had pondered countless times. She didn’t even pause. As soon as Zhong Ning finished speaking, she immediately responded.

“I like you because you possess so many beautiful qualities that I don’t. You’re always gentle and patient with vulnerable people, always understanding. You treat everything in the world according to your own principles. You stick to what you believe in and aren’t swayed by material things. Even someone like me could be saved by you.”