Zhang Ni didn’t exaggerate at all. Chen Ling really had the figure she was supposed to have—she was thin where she should be thin, and her posture and bearing were impeccable because they were part of her university curriculum back then. So she always held her head high, with a straight back, and looked very elegant.
Just these, usually concealed by her ordinary clothes or formal attire, were now revealed to be her true self.
Chen Ling blushed at the praise, especially with Song Jingye present. So she said, “I’m going to change my clothes.”
“Wait, let’s take a picture first,” Zhang Ni suggested.
Then the four of them stood side by side for a photo, and under normal circumstances, Song Jingye would definitely stand next to Zheng Ke, Chen Linghui next to Zhang Ni, one on each side would be more appropriate.
But she didn’t know where to stand. On one side, Zhang Ni was standing, and on the other, inexplicably, Song Jingye. Zheng Ke and Zhang Ni were close together, while she and Song Jingye seemed a bit stiff.
The photographer might have mistaken them for a couple with Song Jingye, so he shouted: “You two get closer, yes, the man come closer to the woman.”
Her shoulder brushed against his arm, the whole atmosphere was so good it was dizzying. When the photographer shouted three, she raised a smile and silently leaned towards Song Jingye, just pretending, just pretending to use Zheng Ke and Zhang Ni as an excuse to fulfill her own dream, because it really looked like two newlyweds taking wedding photos.
It’s just a dream, I don’t dare to have any other extravagant desires.
Song Jingye remained calm throughout, only drawing a sharp breath when Chen Ning leaned back towards him. The young girl hadn’t styled her hair today, and the scent wafting from her loose tresses made him feel uncomfortable.
After taking the picture, the four of them changed their clothes just in time.
By noon, they ate at a nearby restaurant. Chen Ling returned to being as naturally vivacious as before in front of Song Jingye. Perhaps it was because she had returned the card to him, making them equals in her eyes, or maybe it was because she had started working, giving her more confidence and allowing her to be herself around him.
Speaking about the wedding, Zhang Ni said: “We actually prefer something simple. We just invited some relatives and colleagues from my hospital. Zheng Ke’s side is the same. Besides relatives, he only invited a few comrades.
“But we have quite a few single doctors at our hospital, and they’re all good catches. When Xiaoning comes back, maybe she can see if there’s anyone she likes. Sister-in-law will introduce you.”
Zheng Ke: “Xiaoning is still young, no need to rush.”
Only you and Captain Song think she’s young. Her age is perfect for dating.
Because he mentioned Song Jingye, Song Jingye also looked up at Chen Ninghui. He didn’t dare to underestimate her anymore; the fact that he didn’t have to give her monthly allowance meant she was truly an adult now.
He also didn’t say that his mother nagged him to invite Chen Ling back home for dinner every other day. The three words “Chen Ling” appeared strangely frequently in his life, making it hard to ignore them.
Chen Ning smiled back, “I hope I can get my sister-in-law’s good fortune then.”
Of course, I give you the bouquet.
After dinner, Zheng Ke and his wife drove away, Song Jingye sent Chen Ling back.
Having ridden in his car many times, she had grown accustomed to it. Besides, she enjoyed her own company and could easily hide when they weren’t meeting. But at such close proximity, how could she possibly conceal her feelings? Her gaze involuntarily drifted towards him.
Song Jingye suddenly turned his head: “What are you looking at?”
arrested <<<
He was so flustered, he simply blurted out: “Uncle, you’re handsome!”
After she said that, her heart raced for a while.
Song Jingye tightened his grip on the steering wheel and glanced at her again: “You’re getting bolder, aren’t you?”
He wasn’t angry!
Chen Ning realized this, and her heart felt like a stone thrown into still water, causing ripples to spread outward.
Be bolder, even bolder. “I’m telling the truth,”
Song Jingye said coldly, “Is that all your work teaches you?”
He still remembered that diplomatic event before, when she was translating for his subordinates, her expression was serious and focused, without any personal emotions at all. She was very professional. Her subordinate even came back to tell him that the translation was good, with strong improvisation skills.
Before this, he had seen her speak at other events, always very serious and formal. So in his mind, she should have been strict and traditional.
After being reprimanded, Chen Ling wanted to say that work was work and private life was private, but she thought better of it and just said, “I’m sorry.”
Perhaps an apology is best. Given his personality, the more she explains, the more likely he is to become annoyed.
She apologized, and Song Jingye fell silent. He was usually quiet, and being used to giving orders, sometimes his tone sounded harsh even when he wasn’t reprimanding someone.
Seeing Chen Ling’s silence after her reply, he also felt awkward. He sighed inwardly, thinking that being with a young girl was always troublesome and required coaxing.
When the red light was on, it was bustling in the city center. A young boy and girl, holding hands, walked past on the sidewalk in front. The boy held a cup of milk tea in his other hand, and the girl sipped from it occasionally.
Song Jingye asked, seemingly out of nowhere, “Do you want to drink bubble tea?”
This was for himself just now coldly.
I apologize.
Chen Ning sat back in the passenger seat, also seeing the couple who had passed by. Suddenly hearing his words, she thought it was just her auditory hallucination.
So she turned to look at him, and seeing that he was looking at her too, she simply nodded. “I’ll have one.”
Then another silence fell, but when the green light came on, Song Jingye steered his car into the side road and drove into the parking lot from a side entrance of the shopping mall.
Both of them rarely went shopping in malls. When they took the elevator up from the parking lot, they were both a little dazed because it was the weekend and the mall was crowded. They didn’t know which floor the bubble tea shop was on.
“Forget it, let’s have drinks another day.”
It’s a bit strange, especially Song Jingye’s aura doesn’t quite fit in with the business world.
“Don’t you want to have some?” he said, lightly putting his arm around her shoulders and guiding her to look at the address of a bubble tea shop on the nearby shopping mall display.
A few children rode past on skateboards. After the children had passed, Song Jingye let go of his hand.
His embrace on her shoulders seemed burning hot, trembling slightly, just like her heart at this moment.
They quickly found the milk tea shop. Song Jingye only ordered one cup for her, not getting one for himself. Chen Ning took the milk tea, holding onto the straw but didn’t drink it. She didn’t need to, her heart was already sweet enough.
When they got back into the parking garage elevator, Song Jingye glanced down at her. She was sipping her milk tea in small sips, and probably because it was sweet, she was secretly smiling to herself, a sweet smile.
“Aren’t you angry anymore?” he asked.
“I wasn’t angry in the first place,” she said.
Song Jingye couldn’t help but smile. The little girl was really easy to please; a cup of milk tea made her so happy.
She took that cup of milk tea back home, and she drank it all afternoon. Every sip …
Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t dared to have any expectations for him before, just silently liking him was enough, but because of these encounters and interactions, her heart became restless, filled with fantasies.