Chapter 4
Fu Zhi, who was closest to Ning Xi, looked as if he’d been entangled by something filthy. His expression collapsed as he asked:
“Are you crazy?!”
He was about to be disgusted to death by those words!
Ning Xi waved her hand. “Zhizi, don’t worry. I definitely won’t be deceived by love this time. Stop trying to persuade me, I have my own pace.”
Fu Zhi: “…Who’s persuading you?”
Ning Xi gave him a “Say no more, I get it” look, then turned to the somewhat frozen Ning Mingyue.
“Xiao Xi, were you joking with me just now? You almost scared me to death…” Ning Mingyue finally reacted and was the first to speak.
“Scared you? Come, come, let me see how you’re doing.” Ning Xi walked over in a few steps, putting on a show of concern and care.
Ning Mingyue’s smile vanished completely. When she looked at Ning Xi, there was now a barely noticeable hint of probing and wariness in her eyes.
She’d thought Ning Xi would target her, insult her, or ignore her, but she never expected Ning Xi would try to praise her to death!
What a dirty trick!
Meanwhile, the livestream comments had already exploded.
[…What a mind-blowing scene]
[Wait, has this world gone completely insane?]
[My dear phone, please don’t make me watch something this outrageous, okay? This is supposed to be a dating reality show!!!]
[I don’t know if I’m crazy or if the world is!]
“Your face is so pale, are you feeling cold?”
Ning Xi was about to take off her jacket, only to awkwardly realize-
Crap, she’d overdone it.
She hadn’t worn a jacket today.
But no problem, she still had a scapegoat.
“Fu Zhi, give me your jacket.” Ning Xi ordered with a straight face.
Then she buttered up Ning Mingyue: “He really can’t read the room. Not like me, I only ever feel sorry for my sister.”
Beside them, Fu Zhi’s silence was deafening.
It was thirty degrees outside today-why would Ning Mingyue need a jacket?
Seeing Fu Zhi still not moving, Ning Xi was genuinely a little angry:
“You’re a year older than Mingyue, can’t you be a bit more considerate? You’re strong and sturdy, you could eat a whole cow in one meal. What’s the big deal about not wearing a jacket? If Mingyue catches a cold because of you today, I’ll drag you to the grave with her!”
Fu Zhi: “Are you crazy or what…”
Ning Xi went straight for Fu Zhi’s jacket.
Just as she was about to touch him, an extremely cold voice suddenly rang out:
“Can we move on to the next segment?”
That simple sentence instantly froze the atmosphere on the spot.
Ning Xi looked toward Shen Yibai, who had spoken.
His expression was as cold as ever, but at this moment, there seemed to be an extra layer of obscure emotion. He was clearly just prompting the process, but with that frosty look, he was staring straight at her.
Ning Xi was baffled: She hadn’t provoked anyone…
Why was this jerk giving her the cold shoulder for no reason?
Could it be…
Ning Xi’s gaze landed on Ning Mingyue, who was pursing her lips tightly to the side.
Could it be that Shen Yibai couldn’t stand seeing her treat Ning Mingyue well? Was he jealous?
No way, man. They were all exes-why was Shen Yibai allowed to be nice to Ning Mingyue, but she wasn’t?
Men are terrifying when they get jealous!
With this possibility in mind, Ning Xi decided to say something to soothe the future official couple’s feelings:
“Um, don’t be nervous. I’m not here to break you two up, I’m here to join you.”
“From now on, the three of us living well together is more important than anything.”
She was already sucking up this much, just let her be!
But clearly, these words didn’t have the effect Ning Xi wanted.
Because after she finished, Shen Yibai’s face grew even colder.
“Ning Xi, you-”
“Yibai!” Ning Mingyue, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. “Xiao Xi is just joking with me, don’t be so serious, or you’ll scare everyone.”
She shook her head at Shen Yibai.
Shen Yibai glanced at her, paused, and said nothing more.
At that moment, Wei Xuan spoke up at just the right time, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere:
“Is anyone hungry? I saw there’s a Black Pearl restaurant nearby. Why don’t we go eat there first? We can chat and play some games while we’re at it.”
Ning Mingyue looked to Shen Yibai for his opinion, and he nodded lightly.
So the group headed toward the restaurant Wei Xuan had mentioned.
Ning Xi and Fu Zhi trailed behind the others.
“Did you get it now?” Fu Zhi lowered his voice as he spoke.
Ning Xi looked puzzled. “What?”
“You made Shen Yibai so angry, but just one word from Ning Mingyue calms him down. If that’s not love, what is?”
Ning Xi was suddenly shaken, her eyes flickering as if she had been struck by a huge revelation.
Fu Zhi looked rather smug, thinking Ning Xi had finally seen the truth-
“Mingyue was defending me just now! She didn’t want Shen Yibai to say anything about me! She cares about me!”
Ning Xi was moved to tears.
Fu Zhi: …
Is there a law against being this delusional?
This girl is truly incorrigible.
*
“Careful.” Ning Mingyue, walking ahead, suddenly missed a step, but Shen Yibai quickly steadied her.
“Thanks, otherwise I’d have embarrassed myself on the livestream today.” Ning Mingyue smiled, her eyes curved.
Shen Yibai tugged at the corner of his lips, quickly let go of Ning Mingyue, and looked coldly at the two behind them, who were chatting about something. He reminded them emotionlessly:
“You’re too far away, the cameraman won’t be able to film you.”
“Okay.”
Ning Xi was always cooperative when it came to work. She might be a bit annoyed with Shen Yibai at the moment, but she’d never take it out on innocent staff.
Fu Zhi watched Ning Xi’s back and muttered under his breath, “Never learns her lesson.”
His voice was so low that no one noticed.
Ning Mingyue watched Ning Xi getting closer, her smile fading a little, and couldn’t help but recall the scene in the villa’s living room.
When Ning Xi was rambling at her, she had looked to Shen Yibai for help. But why hadn’t Shen Yibai immediately scolded Ning Xi, only speaking up when Ning Xi tried to pull at Fu Zhi’s clothes?
Could it be that Shen Yibai still had feelings for Ning Xi?
“Watch the steps,” Shen Yibai reminded coolly.
Ning Mingyue glanced at the steps beneath her feet, feeling a warmth in her heart.
At the same time, that strange suspicion she had just now faded away.
Just a foster daughter, after all.
If she hadn’t been abroad all these years, Ning Xi wouldn’t even have had the chance to get close to Shen Yibai.
Now that she’s back, Shen Yibai really hasn’t paid Ning Xi any attention.
She shouldn’t doubt Shen Yibai’s feelings for her.
*
The group soon arrived at the restaurant.
The Program Team had already notified the restaurant in advance, and everyone was led to a spacious private room.
Ning Xi was delighted, planning to sit next to Ning Mingyue to bask in the Female Lead’s lucky aura.
But as soon as she entered the room, she witnessed what it meant for a smile to vanish in a second:
To Ning Mingyue’s left sat Shen Yibai, to her right sat Jiang Sheshe.
Even Wei Xuan was seated directly across from her.
Not a single empty seat.
These people were really giving her chills.
Wei Xuan smiled, “I’m sitting close to the door. If you need anything, just let me know and I’ll talk to the restaurant.”
That was his explanation for not sitting with Jiang Sheshe.
No one else thought much of it, but Ning Xi, who saw through everything, was furiously complaining in her heart:
Strong, huh? Saying it’s convenient to talk to the restaurant, but isn’t it just because from that spot he can look up and see Ning Mingyue?
Such a scheming man!
“Ning Xi, come sit over here,” Jiang Sheshe said, unusually smiling at Ning Xi.
Ning Xi raised her eyebrows, but quickly figured out Jiang Sheshe’s intention.
Right now, only the seats next to Shen Yibai and Jiang Sheshe were available.
As Ning Mingyue’s best friend, Jiang Sheshe definitely didn’t want her sitting next to Shen Yibai, so she had no choice but to invite her over.
Ning Xi blinked. “No need, no need. Didn’t you say back at the villa that I couldn’t sit next to you?”
With that, she lifted her foot and headed straight for the seat next to Shen Yibai.
Jiang Sheshe instinctively stood up to stop her. “I was just joking before, why are you so petty?”
But the next second, Ning Xi darted over and sat right in Jiang Sheshe’s original seat:
“Alright, alright, I’ll pretend it never happened. Just don’t do it again next time!”
Then she gave Ning Mingyue a sincere smile. “Mingyue, I’ve already decided what to eat today: one serving of taro paste, one serving of fragrant taro. Do you know why? Because ‘taro paste fragrant taro’ sounds like ‘meeting you’-how lucky~”
Ning Mingyue: …
Everyone else: …