The Long Road Ahead - Chapter 33

When Xiao Ning woke up the next morning, Shan Haiming hadn’t gotten up as yet. Opening the bedroom door as quietly as possible, he peeked inside to see Shan Haiming curled up into a cat-like mound under the covers while the other little sleeping mound, that was Xiaohei, had also curled up as it lay in the hollow formed by the blanket.

Ye Zixin’s looks really were the sweet type, but the expression she wore as she looked at Xiao Ning truly made him nervous, and he couldn’t help but recall Xia Li for some reason. This girl couldn’t want to slap me to feel satisfied, too, right?

Therefore, it’s not that he abandoned you out of concern, it was just that you weren’t a goal of his to begin with.

◈◇◈

After much difficulty he managed to seriously focus on work. Just before it was lunch, Xiao Ning’s mind suddenly wandered to Shan Himing. He should be up by now, right? Has he met with Ye Zixin? What are the two of them going to talk about?

Alright then. Xiao Ning figured since Shan Haiming didn’t need to punch in at work, it was fine to just let him sleep. But he still couldn’t resist from adding, “Haiming, there’s still bread and milk in the fridge so you can warm them up yourself, okay? The take-out menus are on the shoe cabinet.”

“Nope, I’m not.” Wang Hua then wore a wide grin as he added, “Oh yeah, did you happen to see Director Shan before you came out this morning? I can’t find him anywhere, and his phone might be off.”

While Xiao Ning hesitated on whether or not he should wake him, the head buried within those covers moved. Poking his head out, Shan Haiming stared at the door. In that instant, Xiao Ning didn’t know if he should say “It’s time to get up” or “Sorry for disturbing you.” But this inner conflict of his didn’t last for more than five seconds because Shan Haiming again pulled the blanket over his head and returned to sleep with no hesitation, making his sleeping posture quite apparent.

Inside, Xiao Ning handed her a glass of water while saying politely, “I need to get to work so I’ll be leaving first. There isn’t anything to eat here either, so please accept my apologies, Miss Ye.”

Xiao Ning: “…”

“No, I’m fine. But you can bring me back some on your way back, if it’s not too much trouble. Thank you.” After sending the team off, Xiao Ning sat at his desk in a daze. It took the sound of the air-conditioner switching out to wake him, after which, he took up his phone to give Wang Hua a call.

“I live here.” Xiao Ning leaned his body slightly to let Ye Zixin see the apartment number on the door before hesitantly asking, “Are you looking for Shan Haiming? Why don’t you give him a call?”

It was strange question, quite strange in fact, but Xiao Ning went on to explain, “No, that’s my apartment hat I’m renting from a friend. I only found out Haiming was saying in the opposite apartment after I moved in.”

There are times when Xiao Ning just couldn’t understand how that guy’s biological clock was even set. hen they had first met, Shan Haiming had drunk until he almost passed out, but when the next day came, he still woke up and went for a morning jog as if nothing had happened, yet at other times he’d usually have to be waken up.

These words were also something Xiao Ning had thought, and he had the feeling it was something Ye Zixin more or less understood this to some degree. She was no fool. It was just that her being on that mountain of shattered feelings and unwillingness to let go had left her blinded to it. But, then again, won’t people believe whatever they want to believe?

Even she knew it clearly.

The was obvious hesitation on Wang Hua’s end, then after a long time he asked promisingly, “Did he tell you?”

I’m really not acting like myself, huh?

Such a thought made him feel depressed for some reason, and that made Xiao Ning experience a burst of vigilance which gave him a sense of an animal under threat. That prickly head of the cactus sitting on his desk then caught his eye.

From under the bundled blankets a hand bore its way out, resembling a dog’s paw as it waved.

Ye Zixin wasn’t in the mood to pay him any mind.

That move of his managed to wake the sleeping Xiaohei. So from the bed, after giving its body a good stretch, the little cat hopped down silently and made its way over to Xiao Ning to wind between his feet. Unable to help being touched by the gesture, Xiao Ning bent over to take the little one into his arms. Then after gently closing the bedroom door, he took the little guy to go get it something to eat.

Xiao Ning sighed greatly in his heart. When looking at Ye Zixin, he always say a bit of himself. Liking someone one-sidedly for so many years was indeed no small feat, and only those who have also liked someone for so long would be able to understand how great a task doing so was.

N/A

After getting Xiaohei and himself all settled, Xiao Ning walked out the door at the usual time, but as soon as he had walked out, he was met by the huddled form of someone sitting in front of Shan Haiming’s apartment—a form that belonged to a young woman.

When all is said and done, the way a person lives their life can only be on account of their own choices.

Urged on by a strange feeling, Xiao Ning neared the person by a few steps to get a closer look. Hearing him approach, that person lifted their head, and when the two’s eyes met, both were left stunned.

Xiao Ning felt regretful. “I’m sorry, but are you busy right now?”

Wearing a scowl, Ye Zixin gave a hum in reply then followed him into the apartment.

“Miss Ye, what are you doing here?” Xiao Ning couldn’t help from asking in disbelief.

“I’ve known Haiming for over twenty years, we were really close when we were little. We went to the same kindergarten, the same primary school, the same junior and senior high school.” Ye Zixin’s expression as she frowned contained arrogance as well as heartache. “We knew everything about one another. We understood one another without having to say anything. Even when he was a at his worst I never abandoned him, because I knew his reason for doing so. But this time he can’t, he can’t just hastily decide our future like this because of his brother.”

Ye Zixin used the wall for support as she stood herself up. She must’ve been sitting there for quite some time, because her legs gave a slight tremble, but Ye Zixin still maintained an elegant posture as she stood. She didn’t reply to Xiao Ning’s question, however, and instead knitted those delicate brows of hers as she asked, “What are you doing here?”

Xiao Ning let out a sigh. Is this any of my business?

The was obvious hesitation on Wang Hua’s end, then after a long time he asked promisingly, “Did he tell you?”

Therefore, it’s not that he abandoned you out of concern, it was just that you weren’t a goal of his to begin with.

Fortunately, Ye Zixin displayed a lot more maturity than Xia Li in this respect, and at the very least, seemed like she hadn’t lost control of her temper when she lifted her chin and asked, “You’re living here with Shan Haiming?”

And to make themselves believe it, they would continually make excuses for the other person, then continually try to convince themselves.

Xiao Ning rarely arrived to work late, the time he spent talking with Ye Zixin had gone a bit over what had budgeted. It was his own fault, though. Because he moved so close to company, he had gotten relaxed and left his window of time so tight it didn’t allow for any mistakes.

Xiao Ning: “…”

N/A

Her expression and demeanour were a perfect match to that of a princess, and the look in her eyes as she stared at Xiao Ning was no different than one being cast upon filth. “Even if he was worried about Haihong and wanted to push me away, he could’ve chosen someone better to be with.”

Xiao Ning was taken aback for a moment before he asking doubtfully, “Are you… are you saying that both apartments belong to Shan Haiming?”

What even was this? How did I end up taking turns being someone else’s love rival, huh?

Xiao Ning was taken aback for a moment before he asking doubtfully, “Are you… are you saying that both apartments belong to Shan Haiming?”

Hearing him say this, Wang Hua chuckled and replied, “It was Director Shan’s idea. He said you’d think that the two of you weren’t that familiar with one another, and that you’re always overthinking things and have a fondness for worrying about things, so with the rent that low, he didn’t know if you would feel burdened in some way. He’s got pretty accurate read on you in my opinion. In fact, it seems as though you two are actually pretty close.”

After ending the call with Wang Hua, Xiao Ning again found his gaze falling on that cactus. It really wasn’t on purpose, but he couldn’t shake the thought. That cool, cheeky, and easygoing look of that cactus in front of him seriously did remind him of its giver.

“Don’t act like you know everything.” Ye Zixin took a large step towards Xiao Ning. Despite her height being much shorter than his, her imposing manner wasn’t the least bit lessened. “You don’t truly understand anything about Haiming at all, and you can’t do anything to help him. A homosеxual? All you’re going to do is hold him back.”

Thinking this, Xiao Ning then added dryly, “It must’ve been fate.”

Xiao Ning: “…”

Ye Zixin wasn’t in the mood to pay him any mind.

A large group of his team members walked over right then and asked, “Xiao-ge, do you want to come eat with us?

As soon as he finished speaking he felt he had done something bad. Did explaining all that too clearly violate the mission?

Thinking this, Xiao Ning then added dryly, “It must’ve been fate.”

“You don’t need to tell such a shoddy lie.” Ye Zixin revealed a smile dripping with disdain. “I’ve known that Shan Haiming owns both of these apartments for a long time now. You’ve already went to see Uncle and Aunty yet you’re still afraid to admit this?”

And to make themselves believe it, they would continually make excuses for the other person, then continually try to convince themselves.

Xiao Ning was taken aback for a moment before he asking doubtfully, “Are you… are you saying that both apartments belong to Shan Haiming?”

“Hey, Xiao Ning, what’s up?” Wang Hua sounded like he was in a crowded place, and upon answering the call had made his way to a place with less people.

Ye Zixin saw no point to it and gave him no answer.

Even she knew it clearly.

For a while, neither of the two in that hallway spoke a word. Xiao Ning was still shocked from hearing about the apartments and was trying to avoid feeling embarrassed. So it was Ye Zixin who broke the silence in the end. “I just don’t understand why?”

Giving it some thought, Xiao Ning had somewhat forgotten whether he was also like this with Lu Yan. After that period where his feels were akin to a long march through an endless mountain range, he found himself unable to remember the details clearly.

N/A

Unexpected Guest

Wearing a scowl, Ye Zixin gave a hum in reply then followed him into the apartment.

Even she knew it clearly.

The was obvious hesitation on Wang Hua’s end, then after a long time he asked promisingly, “Did he tell you?”

Xiao Ning sighed. The person before him really was no fool, but the words she used was honestly too much, yet, despite this, he wasn’t the least bit angry. “Maybe it’s like apples and oranges, everyone has their own preference?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” His words almost sounded interrogative, but Xiao Ning’s tone was always even and gentle, so it never made others feel unpleasant. “When I found out I was shocked.”

When all is said and done, the way a person lives their life can only be on account of their own choices.

Thinking this, Xiao Ning then added dryly, “It must’ve been fate.”

Unexpected Guest

No, there’s no reason to think they’d wait until this time. Ye Zixin could’ve gone inside the bedroom to wake him up, so in that bedroom, was a single man and a single woman talking and…

The was obvious hesitation on Wang Hua’s end, then after a long time he asked promisingly, “Did he tell you?”

Even she knew it clearly.

Wearing a scowl, Ye Zixin gave a hum in reply then followed him into the apartment.

So, to Ye Zixin, he could never say any harsh words. The thought of breaking any little princess’ glass slippers was too much to bear. “Miss Ye, maybe to you all I’m nothing but an outsider, but since you do understand Haiming so well, you must also know that despite his concern for certain people and issues, he would never go against his own interests. He is a man with his own opinions, and his own plans, and he will use the best method to achieve his goals.”

“After I left there was someone who came looking for him so… he probably has something important to take care of.” Xiao Ning pinched the bridge of his nose. “Wang-ge, does the apartment I’m renting from you below to Haiming?”

Therefore, it’s not that he abandoned you out of concern, it was just that you weren’t a goal of his to begin with.

◈◇◈

Xiao Ning was taken aback for a moment before he asking doubtfully, “Are you… are you saying that both apartments belong to Shan Haiming?”

Truthfully, you can’t even regard such a thing as ‘abandonment’ either. You can’t fault a person who never chose you with abandoning you.

Xiao Ning: “…”

As soon as he finished speaking he felt he had done something bad. Did explaining all that too clearly violate the mission?

And to make themselves believe it, they would continually make excuses for the other person, then continually try to convince themselves.

Therefore, it’s not that he abandoned you out of concern, it was just that you weren’t a goal of his to begin with.

When all is said and done, the way a person lives their life can only be on account of their own choices.

Xiao Ning frowned, his hand moving to rub his forehead. Why does it feel as though this featureless cactus resembles Shan Haiming? What am I even thinking?

N/A

How on earth could I be so open-minded as to leave two people at my apartment to have some kind of showdown… Xiao Ning really had no idea what kind of situation the friendship between Ye Zixin and Shan Haiming was, but since they were childhood friends, the relationship between them must still be pretty good.

And to make themselves believe it, they would continually make excuses for the other person, then continually try to convince themselves.

N/A

“Hey, Xiao Ning, what’s up?” Wang Hua sounded like he was in a crowded place, and upon answering the call had made his way to a place with less people.

Xiao Ning didn’t dare say he truly understood Shan Haiming, but that didn’t seem true either. He and that person always had this slightly strange tiny bit of understanding between them. It hadn’t been long since they had met one another, and their relationship couldn’t be considered as anything more than friends. But, to Xiao Ning, Shan Haiming’s existence was already taken up a place of great significance in his heart. Through Shan Haiming he got to understand some important natters, and ever since he had met him, he had gotten to see a lot of things from a different perspective and they were especially interesting. What’s more, he had appeared at the exact time Xiao Ning’s feelings had undergone a great change. So even if he was just an unwitting witness, his importance to Xiao Ning was incredibly special.

So after doing his best to show her some courtesy, and no longer wanting to have himself rebuked, Xiao Ning closed the door and made his way to work.

Perhaps this was the reason for the slight fluctuations in Xiao Ning’s emotions.

Shaking his head, he threw away his current train of confused thoughts and turned his mind on whether Shan Haiming really did want him to act as a hindrance. Looking at Ye Zixin’s stiffened shoulders, he thought it best for him to not say much any longer. “Haiming is actually in this apartment, so would you like to go sit inside? Then after he wakes up, you can just speak with him directly.”

Xiao Ning felt regretful. “I’m sorry, but are you busy right now?”

Xiao Ning then recalled the words Ye Zixin said to him and a twinge of uncertainty pricked at him. Could Shan Haiming really be involved in some cliched, melodramatic dog-blood-like romance with Ye Zixin and he only stepped aside because of his relationship with Shan Haihong?