Chapter 21
A little while later, Jiang Sheshe and Wei Xuan returned from buying groceries.
The outdoor barbecue officially began.
Although Ning Xi’s cooking skills were so bad that even a dog wouldn’t touch her food, she knew a thing or two about barbecuing.
As she was flipping the chicken wings, she noticed Wei Xuan proactively taking off his jacket to give to Jiang Sheshe.
“Put more on, don’t catch a cold.”
Shen Yibai also glanced at Ning Mingyue and asked her in a low voice if she was cold.
Noticing the actions of these two pairs of Guests, Fu Zhi’s gaze became restless.
He looked at Ning Xi, his voice drifting: “Ahem, it seems a bit cold tonight, you…”
Hearing this, Ning Xi tightened her own jacket around herself.
“Is it? Good thing I’m wearing a lot.”
Then she quickly added, “A big, strapping man like you can just tough it out. Don’t even think about wearing my clothes.”
Fu Zhi: …
Fu Zhi closed his eyes. “Get lost!”
Seeing Fu Zhi’s look of utter despair, Ning Xi comforted him, “Don’t overthink it. I just have a sharp tongue, but my heart is still rotten.”
Fu Zhi: ?
Watching Fu Zhi tremble with rage as he pointed at her, Ning Xi murmured in self-reflection, “I’m truly the worst.”
But she’d definitely do it again next time.
Hee hee.
Ning Xi continued to happily munch on chicken wings, not forgetting to suck up to Ning Mingyue.
“Mingyue, I specifically saved these chicken wings for you!”
Ahem. Although Wei Xuan paid for them and Fu Zhi grilled them, she was the one who brought them to Ning Mingyue. How could that not count as her being thoughtful?
Ning Mingyue looked at the pair of chicken wings on the skewer, wondering if Ning Xi would say something about “flying wing to wing” if she took them.
But if she didn’t take them, her persona would crumble in front of the netizens.
“Thank you, Xiao Xi.”
Ning Mingyue took the chicken wings.
To her shock, Ning Xi didn’t say anything at all.
Mindful that they were still live-streaming, Ning Mingyue proactively handed a skewer of cherry tomatoes to Ning Xi, her tone gentle: “Use these to cut through the grease.”
Ning Xi took a bite and immediately started with the exaggerated flattery: “These cherry tomatoes are so delicious. They taste just like tomatoes!”
Ning Mingyue: …
[She’s really forcing the praise, hahahahahaha!]
[But regardless, our Ning Xi provides top-tier emotional value.]
Jiang Sheshe was in a bad mood again for some unknown reason. During the meal, she didn’t sit next to Ning Mingyue and Wei Xuan, but instead crowded toward Ning Xi and Fu Zhi.
She looked at Ning Xi, who had picked up another starch sausage to eat, and found it inexplicably an eyesore. She started looking for trouble:
“I usually feed those kinds of sausages to dogs.”
Fu Zhi let out a laugh from the side.
Ning Xi didn’t care what these two little brats were saying.
She finished it in one bite and said, “Even if you say that, I’m not going to feed it to you.”
Jiang Sheshe: “Who would want it?!”
There was only one starch sausage left. Just as Ning Xi was about to grab it, Fu Zhi beat her to it.
Ning Xi kindly reminded him, “Jiang Sheshe said these sausages are for dogs. Are you sure you still want to eat it?”
Fu Zhi gave Ning Xi a look of disdain. What did Jiang Sheshe’s intentional belittling of Ning Xi have to do with him?
But looking at the sausage, he suddenly found it hard to swallow, so he threw it back onto the plate.
Ning Xi snatched it up with lightning speed, pointed at Fu Zhi, and said to Jiang Sheshe:
“See? Even the dog won’t eat it.”
Fu Zhi was furious. “Jiang Sheshe! Why did you have to go and provoke her?”
Jiang Sheshe: ?
She wasn’t the one who started this conflict this time!
Why was Fu Zhi scolding her instead of Ning Xi?
“Who told you to laugh just now? Would she have targeted you if you hadn’t laughed?” Jiang Sheshe’s voice was even louder than Fu Zhi’s.
Sitting between the two of them, Ning Xi advised them earnestly, “Alright, alright! Stop fighting over me!! It’s not like anyone’s going to die!!!”
Jiang Sheshe and Fu Zhi paused for a second, then began arguing even more fiercely.
“Why aren’t you scolding her?”
“Do you think you can even out-scold her? Are you better at it or more unhinged than she is?”
“…”
As the instigator of this storm, Ning Xi continued to eat away without a single shred of psychological burden.
You only live once, after all. Eat and drink as you please, be true to yourself, and leave the rest to karma.
[Our Puppy Ning’s obliviousness is top-tier; nothing stops her from eating.]
[Fu Zhi scolds the whole world but won’t scold his wife. If you can’t ship them, you’re missing out.]
[You’ve completely forgotten about the time Fu Zhi and Ning Xi were at each other’s throats, haven’t you?]
[I’m starting to like this brainless trio, haha. They’re three pure elementary schoolers.]
To the side, Wei Xuan, Shen Yibai, and Ning Mingyue watched the three of them argue in a heap.
Ning Mingyue smiled faintly. “Xiao Xi is always so energetic. Everyone’s eyes are always drawn to her.”
Fu Zhi’s were, and Shen Yibai’s used to be.
Even Jiang Sheshe, who had clearly hated Ning Xi at first sight, was now unconsciously revolving around her.
[High EQ: Energetic; Low EQ: Endless brute strength every day, hahahaha.]
Wei Xuan: “Is that so? Some people are like the blazing sun-intense, but blinding if you look too long. I prefer the gentle, clear moon.”
These blunt words made Ning Mingyue freeze for a moment.
Then, she subconsciously glanced at Shen Yibai.
Wei Xuan followed Ning Mingyue’s gaze, the warmth in his eyes cooling by several degrees.
But as he looked, he noticed something slightly off on the lawn where Shen Yibai’s gaze was fixed.
Wei Xuan raised an eyebrow with interest.
Just then, everyone’s phones received a message from the Program Team:
“Youai Butler: A wonderful dinner has ended. Now begins tonight’s Truth segment. All Guests must answer others’ questions and cannot lie, or they will be punished.”
“Whoa, things are getting spicy,” Jiang Sheshe exclaimed.
Fu Zhi was the first to speak. “Ning Xi, how was your date today?”
Except for Shen Yibai, everyone else looked at Ning Xi.
Thinking of the freedom of surfing earlier that day, Ning Xi said without hesitation, “Hmm… I really like surfing.”
Hearing this answer, Wei Xuan asked with a smile, “Just surfing? What about the person you were on the date with?”
This question instantly stirred the atmosphere.
Fu Zhi’s face tightened, looking at Ning Xi with a look of deep resentment.
Ning Mingyue kept a smile on her face, but she clenched her palms in private.
Ning Xi was speechless: Brother, if you want to pursue Ning Mingyue, that’s fine, but is it really necessary to drag me into it just to eliminate your rival, Shen Yibai?
She was really going to save up money to hire a van-load of guys to jump him!
“I didn’t know my ideal type before, but after this date, I understand. Someone who doesn’t talk much is the way to go.”
Ning Xi spoke with a serious face.
Hearing this answer, Shen Yibai lowered his eyes, his long lashes covering the faint gloom within them.
The corners of Fu Zhi’s mouth curled up visibly before he quickly flattened them.
But the smile still leaked from his eyes.
[Princess, just laugh if you want to. Holding it in like that really makes you look like that Longtu meme.]
[Once you…]
[Apply…]
[This setting…]
“I’m curious about that photo of Yibai and Ning Xi on their date. Yibai, you had your head down-what were you thinking about?” Wei Xuan suddenly looked at Shen Yibai.
Shen Yibai remained silent for a long while before saying, “Shadows.”
Everyone was confused. What did that mean?
“I was looking at the shadows on the deck,” Shen Yibai explained softly.
It was Ning Xi’s shadow.