Read Novel Full Chapter 88 – Now What?
Chapter 88 – Now What?
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After wasting some time in the water room, Xia Mian strolled back toward the dorm. By the time she arrived, Ning Shaobai had already finished eating and had washed and neatly arranged the lunchbox.
She protested, “Dr. Ning, why did you wash them? You should’ve left the chore to me.”
Ning Shaobai replied calmly, “It’s better to wash them here, so you wouldn’t have to do it when you get back.”
Xia Mian immediately smiled. “Dr. Ning, you’re so considerate.”
A faint smile touched Ning Shaobai’s lips. “You should rest a bit, too.” He pulled out the stool beside him. “I saved you some mung bean soup. Is it hot outside?”
Xia Mian sat down, picked up the mug, and took a sip, letting out a contented sigh. “So refreshing.”
Sensing his gaze, she sipped the rest in small mouthfuls, then licked her lips and turned to smile at him, looking thoroughly satisfied. “Thank you very much, Dr. Ning. I feel much better now.”
Ning Shaobai finally couldn’t stand it anymore. He reached out, giving her hair a rough ruffle. “Why so polite? I’m not used to seeing you like this. Just be like before, hmm?”
The last “hmm” carried a coaxing tone.
Xia Mian frowned slightly, pretending to be deep in thought. Under Ning Shaobai’s quietly expectant gaze, she gave a sly smile and said firmly, “No can do.”
“You know I always keep my word,” she went on seriously, giving him an innocent gaze. “Even though you’ve forgiven me, I can’t forgive myself. This is my self-punishment. I want to remember this lesson forever and never harm you again.”
Ning Shaobai tugged her tuft in exasperation. “Sounds more like you’re punishing me! I’m getting goosebumps all over. Go back to normal already!”
Xia Mian darted away, laughing. “Nope!”
Ning Shaobai gritted his teeth.
She glanced at the clock. “Not much time left—you should take your nap. I won’t bother you.”
Ning Shaobai paused for a moment before picking up the shirt from the bed and carrying it out to the balcony. The summer heat and his white lab coat meant the shirt and undershirt he wore to work were quickly soaked in sweat, so he changed every noon.
Before, they’d all been plain white, but today, for the first time, he’d chosen a light blue one. It was so unexpected that Xia Mian noticed it at once.
Seeing him head to the balcony with the clothes, she pressed her lips together in a suppressed smile, then straightened her expression and stepped forward to snatch them. “You should get your nap.”
“It’s fine, you don’t—”
He cut himself off as Xia Mian stuffed the clothes into her bag. “I won’t wash them here and disturb you. You rest well. You’ve got surgery this afternoon, right?”
Ning Shaobai hesitated. “No need. I’ll just wash them quickly—it’s five minutes. I can wear them after work.”
Xia Mian tilted her head. “The set I washed yesterday should be dry by now, right? Why not wear that one?” She grinned mischievously. “What, can’t bear to wear it?”
Ning Shaobai’s finger tapped lightly against the table, though his tone stayed calm. “I just don’t like it, alright?”
“That’s odd,” Xia Mian mused. “Don’t you go straight home after work? Why make a special trip back to the dorm to change?”
Ning Shaobai was momentarily speechless. Xia Mian didn’t press, just checked the clock. “It’s late, I should go. I’m heading out with Sister Ning for a haircut this afternoon.”
She dashed out with the empty lunchbox and his clothes. “Bye, Dr. Ning! Good luck at work!”
Lying on his dorm bed, out of luck Dr. Ning stared quietly at the ceiling. He’d expected some changes after clearing up the misunderstanding, but this kind of distance was far beyond what he’d anticipated…
What’s going on with this ‘older brother’ nonsense? Should I play along?
He immediately rejected the idea. If that damn girl ever said, “I only think of you as a brother” in the future, he’d probably spit out blood in frustration.
After thinking in circles with no solution, Ning Shaobai realized this was the first time he’d been so at a loss. Xia Mian was truly the most unpredictable person he’d ever met—just when he thought he might understand her, she would do something completely unexpected.
Recalling all their past moments, a smile tugged at his lips. There was probably no other girl in the world as adorable and interesting as she was.
But the reality of the current situation immediately hit him again, and he rubbed his temples in frustration.
Unfortunately, she’s also equally infuriating!
Now what? What should I do with her?
…
Let him stew! Hahaha.
Humming a tune all the way, Xia Mian couldn’t help grinning at the thought of the seemingly always-in-control Ning Shaobai looking utterly at a loss. Even when she met up with Ning Shaoyun after the lunch break, the smile was still on her face.
Holding Chenchen’s hand, Ning Shaoyun smiled at her. “What happened? You look so happy.”
Mao Huizhu said, “Sister Mian’s been in a good mood all day.”
Xiao Feng’s eyes crinkled into crescents as he swung Xia Mian’s hand—if his Auntie was happy, then he was happy.
Xia Mian ruffled his little tuft of hair and smiled at Ning Shaoyun. “Nothing, just thought of someone really funny.”
Ning Shaoyun had originally suspected it might have something to do with Ning Shaobai, who’d somehow managed to get Xia Mian to run over to the hospital every day after her eighteenth birthday.
But hearing it was “someone funny,” Ning Shaoyun didn’t press further. That adjective totally had nothing to do with her little brother!
Author’s Note:
Cheeky Xia: “The best hunters always appear in the guise of prey.”