Read Novel Full Chapter 100 Part 1 – Can I Come Pick You Up? (I)
Chapter 100 Part 1 – Can I Come Pick You Up? (I)
On the other end of the line, Xia Mian asked with a sweet smile, “Dr. Ning, are the girls there beautiful?”
Ning Shaobai decided to let Rong Xin off for now. He waved a hand at the others, got up with his phone, and walked away. Hearing the background noise gradually fade, Xia Mian teased, “Don’t leave, Dr. Ning, have fun. I’ll keep it short.”
Ning Shaobai chuckled at her sarcastic tone. “What do you want to say?”
“Goodbye,” Xia Mian said. “Well? Short enough?”
He laughed, his voice carrying a coaxing note. “Come on, you actually believe what Rong Xin says?”
Xia Mian was about to say, “Why not?” when he hinted, “He also said I went to the trouble of researching ear piercing for his sake.”
Xia Mian: “…”
Rong Xin and his blabbermouth! Well, it was not that she expected him to keep the secret long, but this was too fast! And to think she’d even tried to fool him into not going to Ning Shaobai!
In truth, Xia Mian had a vague sense that Ning Shaobai might have already guessed something but had simply been humoring her. Still, guesses and solid proof were two different things. This Dr. Ning was far too cunning—speaking in a tone like sweet talk, but mercilessly exposing her crime of toying with him.
It made her feel guilty… a little.
As if he could picture her shrinking back, Ning Shaobai gave a soft laugh and went on, “He also said I’m researching a phone that can take photos and videos for him.”
Xia Mian was stunned for a moment. Who’d think her offhand remark would inspire a smartphone idea so early? She pressed her lips together, a sweetness she couldn’t suppress blooming in her chest.
Ning Shaobai’s voice softened. “Do you think that’s believable?”
Xia Mian kept a straight face, wanting to be contrary and say yes. But as if reading her mind, he gave a soft “Hmm?” and then sighed. “I thought you wanted to be my sister because you understood and trusted me. I didn’t expect you couldn’t even answer such a simple question…”
“You said you want to act spoiled with me, want me to clean up your messes, want me to manage your money, and even want to share my bed…”
Could you please not say “share my bed” in such an ambiguous way?! Xia Mian facepalmed. She never imagined karma would hit this quickly. It had been so fun teasing him back then—now it just made her want to bury herself in a hole.
Ning Shaobai sighed, like a heartbroken man deceived by a heartless woman. “So you just wanted to use me? I never thought you’d deceive my feelings like this…”
Xia Mian was ready to kneel and beg. “I don’t believe him, I don’t believe him—Brother Rong’s a walking trap, how could I trust his words?” Please stop it! I was wrong!
Ning Shaobai let out a long, relieved breath. “Thank you for trusting me.” Then his voice turned faintly disappointed. “But you’re not even curious what I came here to do? I guess you only wanted to be my sister to—”
Terrified he’d start again, Xia Mian quickly cut in with a nervous chuckle. “By the way, Dr. Ning, where are you now?”
He smiled. “I heard you like water slides and want to teach Xiao Feng to swim, so I came to check out the place.”
“It’s quite nice here, and there are kids’ sections. You’d definitely like it.”
Xia Mian’s interest was piqued. “There’s a place like that? Where is it?”
“A newly opened leisure hotel, right by the Ning River. Not far.”
“Oh, and…” His tone paused briefly. “Popsicles. They’ve got unlimited popsicles here. You’d definitely… like it.”
Not only did the word “like” come out languid and suggestive, but even “popsicle” was said in a way that sent her thoughts straight to that scene on the train. Her cheeks began to grow warm.
“Xia Mian,” Ning Shaobai said again, this time without teasing—his tone steeped in quiet affection.
The sudden change made her feel as if a spark had shot through her ears, her mind going blank. “Yes?”
Then came a voice, low and enticing, the tone was irresistibly smooth. “How about I come pick you up?”
Maybe it was the midday heat making her head fuzzy, but by the time she realized what she was saying, the word “Okay” had already left her lips.
Over the phone, Ning Shaobai chuckled—and strangely enough, that pleasure seemed to travel across the line and seep right into her heart, brewing a whole warmth of sweetness inside her.
Xia Mian couldn’t help laughing as well. “What about your work?”
“Take annual leave.”
“How many days will you take? When are you coming?”
Ning Shaobai laughed lightly. “That I don’t know. I’ll have to go back and ask my boss. I’ll need to clear my work schedule first.”
Xia Mian didn’t believe that for a second. He never spoke unless he was sure of something, so he was obviously just teasing her, deliberately keeping her in suspense.
She laughed and scolded, “You rascal!”
He was getting revenge, making her taste the same feeling of longing she’d given him.
Ning Shaobai sounded smug. “Right back at you.”
After hanging up, Xia Mian felt much better. Xiao Feng came in, lifting the curtain, his little hands holding up the hem of his shirt to carry a bundle of things. “Auntie, bowl!”
Xia Mian quickly fetched a fruit bowl, and the boy let go—out rolled a pile of fruit: apricots, sour jujubes, crisp jujubes, mulberries…
Seeing his shirt stained black, she didn’t say anything. He often got messy when painting anyway, and one more dirty shirt didn’t matter.
These were all picked by Xiao Feng while out with Qiangqiang. By late July, many fruits were ripe. Though the county didn’t have as many fruit trees as the villages, most households still had one or two in their yards. The Xia family had many members and plenty of relatives, so just one round with Qiangqiang was enough to bring back plenty. At present, fruit-picking is Xiao Feng’s favorite activity.
Xia Mian was a bit hungry herself. She washed the fruit and was about to eat when Li Fang and Hong Juan came in, each carrying a big bowl of dishes.
Hong Juan said, “You all didn’t get enough earlier, right? Eat some more.”
Li Fang told Xia Mian, “Don’t take it to heart—so long as Dad’s here, no one can mess with you.”
“If we become in-laws with the Ma, our peaceful days would be over,” Hong Juan said with scorn. “The engagement isn’t even set yet, and they’re already calculating every little thing.”
Just bringing it up made her fume. “Daring to scheme against Mianmian, of all people. They should take a good look in the mirror. And they even want her to take them to Yan City—such nerve!”
Xia Mian wasn’t angry; she just found it funny.