Read Novel Full Chapter 92.2 – Can’t Date Yet (II)
Chapter 92.2 – Can’t Date Yet (II)
In the end, Xia Mian still followed Ning Shaobai to his study. She couldn’t act too out of character. Besides, with her leaving tomorrow, she felt a little reluctant to part so soon.
Ning Shaobai’s study was large. Being a bachelor, the entire house was used by him alone, so he converted the east wing into one big space of about fifty square meters. Three walls were lined to the ceiling with cabinets filled with books and medical models, packed to the brim. Aside from the shelf of literary classics, everything else made Xia Mian’s head spin.
The computer desk was right beside the writing desk. Xia Mian eyed the computer curiously—it was beige, bulky like a television, though much smaller. The screen was about the size of the tablet she’d had in her past life.
Overall, it didn’t look very easy to use.
Ning Shaobai pulled out the chair in front of the computer and gestured to her. “Sit.”
Xia Mian sat down, and only then did he lean forward to press the power button on the computer’s main unit.
She watched the computer start flickering, then… zoned out. She had heard her parents say that computers in the old days were slow, but she hadn’t expected them to be this slow. Nearly two minutes had passed, and it still hadn’t finished starting up.
Ning Shaobai stood behind her, eyes fixed on the screen, appearing entirely proper—if not for the hand resting on the back of her chair.
Xia Mian’s eyes darted. She leaned back, tilting her head up at him as she muttered, “Dr. Ning, is the computer always this slow to start?”
Ning Shaobai lowered his head. Her shoulder seemed to rest naturally against his arm, and from this angle, with her looking up at him, it was as if he were holding her in his arms…
His gaze drifted from her forehead to her eyes, then to her nose, and finally to her lips…
If he lowered his head just a little, he could touch them…
Xia Mian blinked, realizing the posture wasn’t quite right. She was about to sit up straight when Ning Shaobai suddenly leaned forward over her.
!!!
Xia Mian shot upright in an instant.
Ning Shaobai looked almost startled, glancing at her in puzzlement. “What’s wrong?”
Then, accompanied by a burst of music, she saw his hand on the keyboard and realized—he’d only been reaching to touch it.
It turned out that the computer had finished starting.
She quickly let out a couple of awkward laughs. “Nothing. I was just a little surprised when I saw the screen light up.”
Quick on your feet as always, huh? A flicker of amusement passed through Ning Shaobai’s eyes. Not pressing the matter, he proceeded to operate the computer. His one hand kept working the keyboard, while the other reached around her from behind to take the mouse, practically enclosing her within his arms.
Xia Mian: “…”
Hey, hey, hey, Dr. Ning, you’re making this way too obvious! You’re going to give yourself away!
But a certain Dr. Ning’s expression was perfectly natural, and in his low, deep voice right by her ear, he explained:
“These are the two spreadsheet files—click here.”
“This one’s from the bank… scroll down here… zoom in here… if you want the total, it’s here…”
The rich bass of his voice, paired with the heavy sense of his presence, made Xia Mian’s head spin. She couldn’t even hear a word he was saying—all she could feel was the restless thumping of her heart, threatening to leap out of her chest at any moment.
Ning Shaobai lowered his gaze to her now flushed cheeks, his eyes full of indulgent amusement. Seeing her too nervous even to breathe, he reached out and tugged her tuft. “Got it?”
“Ah?” Xia Mian flinched slightly at the pull and turned her head a bit. Even with the space between them, she could still feel his breath. Under the gaze of those affectionate eyes, her mouth went dry, and she instinctively licked her lips…
Ning Shaobai’s eyes flicked to the tip of her tongue peeking out, his throat bobbing slightly. Then he straightened and said, “If you understand, you can look at it yourself.”
And with that, he left in a hurry.
Xia Mian sank back into the chair with a long exhale, only then realizing she’d been holding her breath the whole time. Damn it! Who could resist when such a perfect specimen flirted like that?
She quickly straightened and fixed her gaze on the spreadsheet; this was getting too dangerous—she had to get out of here real quick!
Having no interest in the detailed entries, she scrolled straight to the last line. The moment she saw the total, she broke into a wide smile. As expected of the big boss—Dr. Ning truly is an investment genius!
This feeling was incredible. Now she was a rich woman with enough assets to buy several pre-demolition properties, at least.
Turning off the computer, she went out and saw Ning Shaobai lying on a rocking chair at the main room’s doorway, drinking ice water. Only then did she realize she was a bit thirsty.
As she headed toward the fridge, Ning Shaobai stopped her. “Didn’t you already have a popsicle today? No more ice for you.”
“This one’s been cooled enough.”
Xia Mian scrunched her nose in reluctance and walked over, spotting a glass of cool boiled water already sitting on the small table beside him.
She picked it up, eyeing Ning Shaobai’s ice water with envy. He glanced back at her. “Don’t even think about it. Drink yours. Aren’t you afraid of getting a stomachache?”
Xia Mian pouted, her gaze starting to wander again. When Ning Shaobai was at home, he always left the top two buttons of his shirt undone. She could see the elegant lines of his collarbones and chest muscles from her angle, slightly glistening with a faint sheen of sweat. It was so damnably sexy.
She licked her lips and quickly looked away, raising her glass for a gulp of water. But she drank too fast and immediately choked.
“Cough, cough…”
Ning Shaobai hurriedly got up to pat her back. “What’s the rush—”
Halfway through, his voice suddenly cut off. Xia Mian, now breathing normally, was puzzled.
Then he turned her around without meeting her eyes and pushed her toward the house. “The towel’s on the rack next to you. Go get it yourself.”
Only then did Xia Mian realize her front was soaked through, faintly revealing the camisole underneath.
She stuck out her tongue, feeling embarrassed for once, and quickly wiped herself with the towel. Standing in front of the electric fan for a while, she soon dried her clothes.
When she came out again, Ning Shaobai was lying back in the rocking chair, eyes closed, leisurely swaying.
She called to him, “Dr. Ning, I’m heading back now.”
Without opening his eyes, he simply waved a hand. “Bye.”
Something about his nonchalant attitude irked her. She waved a hand in front of his face until he finally opened his eyes. “Weren’t you leaving?”
Xia Mian tilted her head at him. “Dr. Ning, you really won’t consider letting me be your little sister? You’re just too good—I’d love to have a proper excuse to let you manage my money.”
Ning Shaobai looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled. Sitting up, he leaned toward her. “You want to be my sister?”
A sudden sense of danger crept over Xia Mian, but there was nowhere to retreat. All she could do was bite the bullet and nod.
Ning Shaobai reached out his long arm, tugging at the hem of her T-shirt to pull her closer. His voice was slow and soft. “What you actually want is to act spoiled with me, have me clean up your messes, freeload my food, my drinks, and… my bed?”
“???”
Somehow, she felt the “bed” he meant wasn’t the same one she had in mind.
He went on, “And you want me to manage your money?”
Xia Mian hesitated. But she had said it herself, so now all she could do was nod.
Ning Shaobai’s eyes curved, deep with an infatuation that seemed ready to spill over and engulf her. His voice remained soft. “You don’t need to be my little sister for that. There’s another role that would let you do it openly… for the rest of your life.”
Xia Mian’s heart skipped. Deciding to cut her losses, she let out an awkward laugh to break the moment. “You know, I thought about it—my requests are a bit much. Aren’t you already managing my affairs for me?”
Ning Shaobai said, “No, I think what you said yesterday made sense. Having a title makes it more proper. Letting a neighbor share my bed and manage her money is still a bit inappropriate.”
Can you not bring up the bed again?! Just what is your game here?! Xia Mian was screaming inside, but her pride forced her to keep up the banter. “It’s fine—as long as my skin’s thick enough, I can get over the whole title thing.”
Ning Shaobai replied, “No need to get over it. Besides a sister, there’s another, better identity that suits you—and only you could fill it…”
“Ah!” Xia Mian suddenly made a shushing gesture, tilting her head as if listening. “Xiao Feng! Was that Xiao Feng’s voice?”
“Are the kids fighting again?!” She turned around, ready to make a mad dash out.
But Ning Shaobai was quicker. Fast as lightning, he caught her wrist and pulled her back. “Relax. It’s their usual martial arts showdown with the kids at the end of the alley. Nothing to interfere.”
Seeing the determined look on his face, Xia Mian began to panic.
This kind of impatience isn’t Dr. Ning’s style…
Is this it? Is he about to confess? How am I supposed to respond? How would we get along afterward?!
Her mind raced, not noticing the amused glint in his eyes. He lowered his head, gently prying apart her tightly clenched fingers. Chuckling, he said, “Being Chenchen’s lifesaver and benefactor is enough of an identity.”
“Ah?” Her racing heart stuttered.
Ning Shaobai continued, full of sincerity, “Even if you don’t expect repayment, I’ll remember this debt for life.”
Xia Mian bit the inside of her cheek, forcing a fake laugh. “Right, how could I forget that! With this identity, I can do whatever I want!”
“So I’ll be counting on you to take care of me, Dr. Ning!”
Watching her storm off in anger, Ning Shaobai slumped back into his rocking chair and laughed silently.
< | >
Author’s Note:
Ning Shaobai: “Now I know the joy Xia Mian felt last night.”
Author: “What happened to Cheeky Xia? Who’s playing whom here?”
Translator’s Note:
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