The two in the room looked at each other.
The front door was wide open, and a cool night breeze blew into the corridor.
Ning Xin’s intention was to close the door. As she touched the doorknob, it, along with the broken fingerprint lock, fell off together. Seeing this scene, she couldn’t help but feel both amused and frustrated.
The landlord probably got news of her car accident from somewhere and was planning to break the lock and replace it with a new one to rent it to someone else.
Luckily, she came back in time. Otherwise, if she had been two days later, there might not have been anything left of her belongings.
Ning Xin bent down to pick up the doorknob, causing pain to her wound, making her cry out.
Nie Ran hurried over to help her pick it up. As he looked up, he glanced at her chest, his face turning slightly red.
She instinctively tightened her bath towel and said, “See if you can put it back on. I’ll put on my clothes first.”
“Okay.”
Nie Ran replied softly, not daring to look at her.
Ning Xin returned to the bathroom and came out a few minutes later, seeing him gritting his teeth as he twisted the doorknob onto the door panel.
“Stop, you’re twisting it in the wrong place.”
“Huh?”
She picked up the toolbox left by the landlord, took out a screwdriver, and twisted each loose screw back in place.
After the doorknob was secured, Nie Ran came over to take a look and applauded.
“Sister, you’re amazing!”
“Cut the crap, flatterer, go take a shower.”
He picked up the pyjamas he bought today and walked into the bathroom. Ning Xin closed the door, but she couldn’t help but feel uneasy no matter how she looked at it.
After all, she wasn’t a professional. She just did it casually. Would this lock still work?
And as for the landlord, if he had the guts to come back again, she had to figure out how to explain it to him.
Before she could decide, she heard a cry for help from the bathroom.
“Sister, why isn’t there any water in here?”
She shook her head, stopped worrying about the lock, put down the screwdriver, and went in to teach him how to use the shower.
After finishing their hygiene routines, the two lay in their respective beds.
One in the bedroom, one in the living room, with the door in between left open.
Nie Ran couldn’t sleep, thinking about all the new things he had witnessed today.
“Sister, are you asleep?”
“No.”
“Shall we go eat hot pot again tomorrow? Hot pot is just too delicious.”
He smacked his lips a couple of times, savouring the novel taste.
Ning Xin lay in bed and rolled her eyes. “Go to sleep, we have things to do tomorrow.”
The goods in the house, as well as those in the store, cost at least tens of thousands. She didn’t insist on returning the house, but she couldn’t bear to throw away these goods—they were all hard-earned money.
But how to sell them?
She had only six days left, selling them was not possible in time, and returning them to the manufacturer didn’t have enough time either. Perhaps she could consider selling them to her peers?
Thinking about her business, she fell asleep unknowingly.
In the middle of the night, a figure leaned against the door frame, softly calling out, “Sister? Sister?”
Seeing no response from her, he walked in confidently, barefoot, lifted the blanket, climbed into bed, and comfortably nestled into her embrace.
The next morning, the alarm on the phone rang on time.
Nie Ran was the first to open his eyes, looking around warily.
Surrounded by walls, there was no danger, but the noise was piercing, making him uncomfortable.
He tried to get up to check, but as soon as he moved a bit, he found someone lying in his arms.
The bed was small, and the two were pressed tightly against each other, shoulder to shoulder, leg against leg.
The alarm annoyed the person, who grumbled, “Hmm, I don’t want to get up…”
Stretching his arm, he grabbed the phone from the bedside table. Although he didn’t recognize it, after confirming that the sound was coming from it, he simply crushed it and threw it away.
Ning Xin instantly woke up.
Nie Ran taunted, “You climbed into my bed again.”
“You open your eyes wide and see whose bed this is! Damn it, where’s my phone?”
That was her only spare phone, and if it was broken, she’d have to buy a new one!
She hadn’t even put on her shoes yet, hastily climbed out of bed, and picked up the fragments of the phone to inspect.
Forget about the screen, even the battery was in pieces.
She was infuriated and heartbroken. “You bastard, do you know how expensive this is? It’s worth thousands!”
Adding to the money she spent on buying clothes for him yesterday, she’d already spent nearly ten thousand on him.
She had never dared to be so extravagant with herself.
Nie Ran had no concept of the numbers she mentioned, but he was more interested in the environment here. He got off the bed, barefoot, and walked around, finally stopping at the window, overlooking the greenery below on the ground floor.
“So, this is your world?”
Ning Xin was still lamenting over her phone, responding indifferently with a vague “Hmm.”
“My sword?”
“It’s left in the asylum.”
“Where’s your ruler?”
She was taken aback. “Why do you ask?”
Nie Ran lifted his chin. “Just curious to see.”
Not fixated on power, only considering governing a country as a job, starting from the bottom for decades.
Was there really such a person?
Ning Xin’s mouth twitched. “Well, he’s very busy. Ordinary people can’t see him.”
“You said you were also unique, but don’t you have any power?”
“… “
What do you call digging your own grave? This is it.
Ning Xin laughed awkwardly. “What I meant is different from what you understand. Anyway, it’s better not to disturb him. We have a lot to do today. Let’s finish our tasks first and then discuss this, alright?”
“What tasks?”
She pushed him out and showed him the goods in the room, sighing inwardly.
Switching personalities suddenly, this personality was stubborn and tough, like an immovable boulder. It seemed he wouldn’t be of any help today.
Nie Ran casually picked up a bag containing sets of black lace underwear.
“What’s this?”
“It’s my business. These are my goods. Our goal today is to sell these goods. The money we make from selling them can be used to buy things to take back.”
“These are clothes?”
He opened the bag, took out the underwear, and compared it to his body, expressing considerable doubt about her taste.
Ning Xin looked horrified and quickly grabbed the goods, pushing him towards the bathroom.
“Go wash your face and brush your teeth quickly. I’ll go downstairs to buy breakfast. After we eat, we’ll go to the store.”
With that, she put on her coat, grabbed her wallet, and walked out. However, as she waited for the elevator, she felt the pressure of what she might face next.
But as soon as she stepped out onto the street, her mood improved.
When she initially rented this apartment, one reason besides its proximity to the store was that there was an elementary school downstairs, and there were plenty of snack shops lined up outside the school gate.
Steamed buns, wontons, spicy hot pot, Chongqing noodles, Sha County snacks…
She could eat for a month without repeating a dish, and it was especially cheap.
During this period of being trapped in purgatory, she longed for these delicious foods. Today, she was going to indulge herself.
Ning Xin bought a portion of everything she wanted to eat and returned home with several large bags.
But as soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she felt something was wrong.
There was noise coming from the corridor, as if it was in front of her door.
She hurried over and saw the landlord with several burly men, holding yellow talismans in their hands, banging on her door.
“Open the door! Even if you’re a ghost, I’m not afraid of you! Open up!”
…
She wanted to step forward to explain, but the door suddenly opened. Nie Ran walked out, wearing only a pair of sleeping pants, bare-chested, with toothpaste foam at the corner of his mouth. Without hesitation, he grabbed the landlord’s neck and lifted him against the wall.
The people nearby were startled, wanting to help but seeing Nie Ran’s imposing presence, they dared not intervene. They could only persuade from the side, “Let him go, please don’t let this escalate.”
Ignoring their pleas, Nie Ran asked coldly, “Who are you looking for?”
The landlord couldn’t even catch his breath, let alone speak.
Ning Xin was afraid he would actually strangle the landlord to death, so she ran up and said, “Let him go, he’s the owner of this house.”
Seeing her approach, Nie Ran’s expression softened, and he released his grip.
The landlord slipped to the ground, helped up by the people nearby. Seeing Ning Xin, he was so frightened that he couldn’t speak coherently.
“How… how… how… how come you dare to come out during the day?” he stammered.
Ning Xin sighed. “I’m human, not a ghost.”
“Nonsense! You’re clearly dead, it was even announced in the newspaper!”
Ning Xin couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
Before she spoke, she already thought of an excuse.
“That was my younger sister you heard about. I’m her twin sister,” she said quickly.
“What?”
“I heard about her accident in our hometown and rushed over to clean up her belongings. This is my brother… oh, our brother.”
The landlord was half sceptical, staring at her intently.
“That’s impossible, this is too much like her.”
She shrugged. “If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. Anyway, we’ll be leaving in a couple of days. As far as I know, my sister’s rent is paid until August next year, with ten more months left, and there’s a deposit of five thousand yuan. You have to refund it to me.”
As soon as the landlord heard this, he immediately stopped being afraid or suspicious, his face turning stern.
“That’s impossible. Once the rent is paid, there’s no refund. Besides, with the news of someone dying in my house, it might be difficult to rent out afterward. I haven’t even asked you for compensation yet.”
Nie Ran’s face darkened as he grabbed the landlord’s shoulder.
“Are you going to refund or not?”
The landlord panicked, seeking help from the people nearby while also threatening them.
“Try anything funny again, and I’ll call the police, I really will!” the landlord threatened.
Nie Ran’s expression darkened even more, and Ning Xin had to step in front of him to block him. She smiled and said to the landlord, “Let’s not resort to violence, it’s not good for anyone. But my sister mentioned that you also work for a reputable organization. If this matter escalates and reaches your workplace, it wouldn’t look good, would it? Here’s what I propose: we’ll let go of the deposit, but you must refund the rent. If that’s not acceptable, then I’ll have to call the police to mediate. After all, someone broke into the house last night.”
She couldn’t afford to call the police; if they asked for her ID, where would she get a new one?
However, her words were effective. After some consideration, the landlord reluctantly agreed.
“Fine, but you have to move out by the end of this week. Don’t affect my ability to rent to someone else.”
“No problem.”
As the landlord and his men left, the hallway returned to peace.
Ning Xin picked up the breakfast and returned to the living room, followed closely by Nie Ran. He closed the door and mocked, “You’re too weak.”
“Weak?”
“People like him should be dealt with harshly.”
“…Violence doesn’t solve everything. If you kill everyone in the world, would there be no more conflicts? This is about using intelligence, you understand nothing.”
Nie Ran glanced at her sideways as she pretended to focus on getting breakfast ready.
“Here, try some of our local delicacies. I bet you won’t want to leave after tasting it.”
She pushed a bowl of Chongqing noodles in front of him and slipped into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Nie Ran sat on the sofa, opened the lid, and saw it was covered in red oil, looking disgusted.
The unique aroma of the noodles lingered around, and coincidentally, his stomach growled. Nie Ran, without any guidance, skilfully wielded the chopsticks, furrowing his brows as he took a bite.
Following that was the second bite… the third bite…
By the time Ning Xin came out, the bowl was empty, not a drop of soup left.
Nie Ran, unaware of the red oil around his mouth, sat up straight, looking serious, and said, “There’s too little. Go buy another serving.”
Ning Xin: “…”
She wasn’t willing to make another trip downstairs; there was still plenty of food on the table, enough to fill both of them to the brim.
Ning Xin enthusiastically introduced other snacks to Nie Ran, but he seemed addicted to the Chongqing noodles, insisting on another bowl and refusing to try anything else.
She couldn’t help but lose her temper. “I didn’t expect you to be so stubborn even when it comes to food.”
Nie Ran displeased said, “This is called being focused.”
“Suit yourself. I’m too lazy to go downstairs. If you want more, buy it yourself.”
He glanced at the unfamiliar world outside and the unfamiliar banknotes in his hand. Silently, he reached out and picked up a bowl of something translucent and thin as a cicada’s wings from the table, taking a couple of bites.
Nie Ran: “What’s this called?”
“Rice noodle rolls.”
He tilted his head, as if trying to remember the name, and then swiftly devoured everything, emptying the bowl into his stomach.
Ning Xin, who had been watching him with amusement, suddenly remembered that she hadn’t eaten yet. She quickly picked up a portion and started eating.
The two of them fought over the food, and soon the table was cleared, leaving them both sprawled on the couch, unwilling to move, surrounded by a mess.
“Hey,” Ning Xin kicked his knee with her socked foot, having removed her slippers. “Take out the trash.”
Nie Ran lazily glanced at her, clueless. “You do it.”
“I bought breakfast, so it’s your turn to take out the trash.”
“We’ll do it when we leave later.”
Ning Xin’s eyes gleamed mischievously as she slyly asked, “Are you afraid to go out alone?”
Nie Ran rolled his eyes, clearly mocking her for overthinking.
Ning Xin shrugged, poured herself a glass of water, and rubbed her stomach while drinking, contemplating how to bring back some food.
Half an hour later, she set down her glass and stood up.
“Nah, let’s not take a break. It’s time to get to work,” Ning Xin said.
Nie Ran groaned inwardly upon hearing this but pretended not to notice.
Ning Xin, having been accustomed to self-reliance for the past seven or eight years, didn’t push it any further. She changed into a set of convenient sportswear and got busy.
She brought several large bags and began sorting the underwear by style and size, packing them into the bags. Each bag could hold over a hundred sets, making them almost as heavy as she was when lifted.
She managed to pack seven or eight bags, finally organizing all the merchandise in the house. Then, she brought out a small cart for moving goods and maneuvered the bags onto it.
The bags were too heavy for her to lift off the ground, so she had to drag them inch by inch.
Once near the cart, she exerted all her strength to hoist them onto it, a task that was incredibly strenuous. Beads of sweat quickly formed on her fair forehead.
The sweat gathered and rolled down her brow, dripping into her eyes, stinging and causing tears to well up. She had to stop and wipe her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Here,” came a cold voice, and a tissue was handed to her.
Ning Xin wiped away her tears and saw that Nie Ran had walked over at some point, throwing the bags onto the cart one by one.
“Huh… I thought you didn’t want to work?” she remarked.
He gave her a disdainful look. “If I wait for you to finish, we’ll never leave.”
“Ha, don’t underestimate me. I’ve always done things on my own,” Ning Xin retorted.
“Never thought about asking for help?” Nie Ran inquired.
Ning Xin fell silent.
Who could she ask for help?
Hiring someone would be costly, and she didn’t have any friends to rely on. Making friends required time, effort, and money, and besides a relatively healthy body, those were the only things she had left, and she was hesitant to give them away easily.
Ironically, Nie Ran seemed to be her first real friend.
She chuckled self-deprecatingly and went over to help.
With both of them working together, most of the bags were loaded onto the cart, leaving only two bags that couldn’t fit.
“Let’s leave them here for now. We’ll unload the cart and then come back for them,” Ning Xin suggested.
“No need,” Nie Ran replied, effortlessly tossing the bags over his shoulders. With one bag on his left shoulder, another on his right, he still had free hands to push the cart.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Ning Xin stared in astonishment.
What kind of strength was this? It was almost terrifying.
“W-Wait… hold on!” she exclaimed.
Nie Ran turned back.
She pointed to the clothes on him. “Yesterday I bought you a bunch of new clothes. Don’t wear pyjamas anymore. Change into something nicer.”
Nie Ran found it troublesome and was reluctant.
She forcefully put the bags down, grabbed two pieces of clothing, and pushed him into the bathroom, then turned around to tidy up the garbage on the table.
As she disposed of the trash and threw it into the garbage bag on the cart, Nie Ran emerged.
A white cotton shirt, dark grey woollen twill trousers, and a light grey wool and silk blended jacquard coat.
The tailored fit made him look slender but not gaunt, his lines impeccable, and the black crystal buttons on the cuffs gleamed with subtle lustre.
He clearly wasn’t comfortable in this attire, furrowing his brows and tugging at the collar.
“What’s this rubbish clothes?” he grumbled.
“Stop complaining. If you tear it, what will you wear? Let’s go quickly.”
Ning Xin lowered her head to push the cart, but couldn’t help stealing another glance at him when they left. She regretted that her phone was broken; otherwise, she would definitely take a picture of him now.
Just photos, no videos.
After all, him being silent was much more likable than when he spoke.
Taking the elevator down and reaching outside the complex, they hailed a cab.
All along the way, people kept turning to look at Nie Ran, their eyes filled with delight, probably mistaking him for some celebrity.
Nie Ran wasn’t used to being surrounded by so many living people; he didn’t even look at them, just kept his head down as he walked.
Ning Xin nudged him with her elbow and whispered, “When you were in Xia Country, you must have been very popular, right?”
“What?”
“Have any girls ever chased after you?”
“You’re insane.”
In the past, Ning Xin would have been angry at being scolded. But now she understood very well that he was just shy and pretending.
“If you don’t answer, it means you’re admitting it, you know? How many people have chased after you? Are they pretty? Who’s your favourite?”
Nie Ran looked at her overly clever little mouth, almost wanting to tear off a strip of tape from the bags and seal it shut.
Fortunately, before he could carry out his plan, the car arrived, taking them and the goods to the bustling street.
Ning Xin found her storefront and took out the keys to open the door.
Nie Ran didn’t notice at first, but when he followed her inside and looked up, he had the urge to turn around and run for the first time in his life.
Naked female mannequins! Sexy lingerie! Pink balloons and white lace!
The visual impact brought by Ning Xin’s shop was enough to rival a scene of carnage and blood.
He froze at the door, forgetting to put down the bags on his shoulders.
Ning Xin walked to the counter and turned back to see him standing there, unsure of what to do. She pointed at a mannequin and said, “You can start by helping take off her underwear and pack it in a box.”
She needed to contact colleagues and manufacturers to see if anyone was willing to take over this batch of goods. She didn’t have much time to waste here, so it was likely she would end up selling at a loss. So be it, she would take whatever she could get.
Ning Xin took a deep breath, picked up the phone from the cashier, and started dialling the number of someone she knew.
Nie Ran had originally wanted to refuse her order, but before he could say anything, she had already turned away, leaving him no choice but to put down the things and try to remove the clothes.
The mannequin had an excellent figure, with perfect curves that normal humans could never achieve.
It was wearing a set of black lace lingerie, extremely sheer and thin, so thin that Nie Ran was worried he might accidentally tear it.
He carefully tried to take it off, but the fabric clung so tightly to the mannequin’s body that he couldn’t find any room to maneuver.
One minute… two minutes…
Nie Ran lost patience and picked up a pair of scissors, thinking he might as well just cut it. But when he glanced back at Ning Xin, who was still on the phone, he hesitated.
These were her things. If he ruined them, she would probably nag at him for ages.
Realizing it wasn’t worth the risk, Nie Ran took a deep breath, put down the scissors, and continued unbuttoning the lingerie. But not long after, Ning Xin walked over with a dejected look on her face.
“Don’t bother,” she said, her voice heavy with disappointment. “It’s all for nothing.”
“What happened?” Nie Ran asked.
No one was willing to take this batch of goods that had been gathering dust for months. The styles were all from last season and were outdated. With such a large quantity, it was easy to end up with unsold inventory.
She even offered to sell them at cost price, but still, no one was interested.
The manufacturers also said it was past the deadline for returns.
It had been three days. Today was the third day.
Even if she kept the store open 24/7 for the remaining four days, it would be impossible to sell all these bras.
This time, she was going to take a big loss.
Looking at the room full of merchandise, Ning Xin couldn’t lift her head in frustration.
Even though she didn’t explain, Nie Ran could tell from her expression that something was wrong.
“These goods can’t be sold?” he asked, sensing her reluctance to speak.
“Let’s try something else,” Nie Ran suggested.
“What else can we do? Lower prices? The foot traffic here is about the same every day. It’s impossible to sell everything in just a few days,” Ning Xin replied despondently.
“Do you know where there’s enough foot traffic to sell everything?” Nie Ran inquired.
“Where… probably the train station and People’s Square,” she mused.
“Then let’s go there,” he proposed.
“No, we can’t. Setting up stalls outside the train station is not allowed; the urban management officers would catch us. While we could set up at People’s Square by paying for a spot, I’ve tried it before. There are too many vendors, and the sales are just average. Plus, it’s exhausting,” Ning Xin explained.
“So, you’ve decided to give up and throw all this away?” Nie Ran asked.
Throw away.
The thought of those two words made Ning Xin’s heart ache.
All these goods were brought in with such passion and enthusiasm at the beginning. If they were thrown away, who knows how much waste it would add to the world.
She couldn’t give up.
Biting her lip hard, Ning Xin lifted her head and declared, “Let’s try it now.”
She taught Nie Ran how to unhook a bra, and after a bit of practice, he finally understood the structure of the garment and became proficient at it.
Ning Xin selected all the attractive styles, grabbed hangers and shelves, and called for another vehicle. They went straight to People’s Square.
This was the most central location in the entire city, surrounded by countless commercial and residential areas. The foot traffic here was at least tens of times greater than outside her small shop.
Upon arrival, many stalls were still vacant as it was early. Prices varied depending on the location.
In order to sell off the goods quickly, Ning Xin reluctantly paid a high price for the best spot.
Once the goods were displayed, a crowd quickly gathered to observe. However, they were not interested in her merchandise but rather in Nie Ran, who was squatting beside the boxes and organizing the bras.
Noticing this, Ning Xin began to scheme. She pulled him aside and whispered, “Could you help attract customers?”
Nie Ran immediately refused without hesitation. “No.”
“What if we split the money from the sales?”
“Not interested.”
“After we finish selling, I’ll agree to any request you make. How about that?”
He looked sceptical. “Really?”
“Would I lie to you? But you’re only allowed to make one request.”
He thought about it seriously, then picked up a bra and walked to the front of the crowd, asking stiffly, “Does anyone want to buy this?”
Ning Xin watched with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
一 woman who looked to be in her forties or fifties asked, “How much?”
Nie Ran turned to look at her, and her eyes lit up as she dashed over.
“The shop is closing down, everything is on clearance! All branded bras for just 50 yuan!”
The small stall was instantly swarmed by the crowd.
“Sixty-six thousand, sixty-seven thousand, sixty-eight thousand… Seventy-five thousand three hundred and fifty yuan!”
Finding an empty corner, Ning Xin had Nie Ran help watch over the stall while she squatted down to count today’s earnings.
All the goods were sold at discounted prices, earning a total of seventy-five thousand three hundred and fifty yuan!
Strictly speaking, it was a loss since it didn’t even cover the cost price. However, Ning Xin had thought she would end up with nothing, so getting back half of the cost was already very lucky.
She hugged Nie Ran excitedly. “Thank goodness for you!”
Almost half of the people who came to buy bras were attracted by him!
Even the usually thrifty middle-aged ladies didn’t bother to haggle with him; they were very generous.
Nie Ran was taken aback by her sudden embrace, his cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment.
Fortunately, it was already late at night, and no one seemed to notice.
He reached out to push her away, but halfway through, he changed his mind and cleared his throat.
“We agreed to split the money we made. Give me my share.”
The joy on Ning Xin’s face disappeared instantly, leaving no trace.
“Seriously? Are you being serious? You don’t live here, so what use do you have for this money?”
Nie Ran had no intention of explaining, he just extended his hand to her.
“Promises should be kept.”
She sighed resignedly, picked up the money, and handed him half of it.
“Here, take it. Spend it however you want.”
“You also promised me that you would fulfil one request of mine unconditionally.”
Nie Ran pointed to the money, speaking slowly and deliberately.
Ning Xin’s heart skipped a beat.
“What request do you want to make? Just so you know, if it’s too unreasonable, I won’t hesitate to refuse.”
“Is this your idea of unconditional fulfilment?” Nie Ran’s tone was mocking.
She held the bag of money firmly, feeling justified.
“It depends on the situation. I can’t just agree if you ask me to sleep with you, can I?”
Nie Ran remained silent.
A sense of dread crept into her heart. “Wait a minute, you can’t be serious… You’re not actually thinking… Oh my god, what you’re suggesting is illegal.”
“…You’re overthinking it.”
Nie Ran shot her a displeased look and walked ahead briskly.
Ning Xin followed closely behind, speaking as she ran.
“Come on, you’re not exactly young anymore. It’s normal to have such needs. How about, since you still have three days and money, I’ll help you find a place for some adult fun?”
He stopped in his tracks, turning to her. “Adult fun?”
Caught off guard, she collided with his chest, nearly breaking her nose.
“I mean… um… you know what I’m talking about, right? Surely, you have places like that in your country too.”
“…” Nie Ran understood her meaning. He took a deep breath repeatedly, but couldn’t hold back any longer. He raised his hand and gave her a light tap on the head.
Ouch—
Ning Xin’s cries of misery echoed through the empty streets in the dead of night.
“If you say something like that again, don’t blame me for being heartless.”
“You… you heartless brute!”
Trying to do him a favour, only to be violently struck by him. Is he even human?
Fuming, Ning Xin held her throbbing forehead and stormed off, leaving him far behind.
As she passed by an alley, a tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, accompanied by the sizzling sound of stir-frying.
Curious, she glanced over and saw a late-night snack stall in the alley. A few scattered tables were occupied, and the owner was sweating profusely as he stir-fried a wok full of crayfish.
Slurp…
Ning Xin suppressed her saliva, debating whether to approach.
A plate of crayfish would cost at least seventy to eighty yuan. Adding a few more dishes would amount to the same as selling two bras for nothing. Just the thought made her heart ache. Maybe it’s better to forget it.
She turned to leave but was grabbed by the shoulder and forcibly pulled in.
“Hey, let go!”
“My name is not ‘hey.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I’ll treat you.”
Upon hearing those three words, Ning Xin immediately stopped struggling and asked obsequiously, “Are you serious? No backing out, okay?”
Ignoring her, Nie Ran found a table and sat down confidently, displaying an air of authority as if he owned the place. There was no hint of him being a newcomer; it was as if this was his own kitchen.
“What dishes do you have?” he asked.
The server came over to serve them attentively, listing off the names of each dish.
Seeing there weren’t many options, he simply ordered a bit of everything.
“I didn’t expect you to be so generous,” Ning Xin remarked.
Nie Ran chuckled and then his gaze fell on the crayfish at the neighbouring table, unable to look away.
Standing by the drinks counter, the server asked, “Would you like some beer, handsome and beautiful?”
“No,” he said.
“Yes,” Ning Xin chimed in.
She nudged him with her elbow. “Having late-night snacks without beer is like brushing your teeth without toothpaste. It’s pointless. Try a little, you’ll like it.”
He didn’t know what beer was, and it didn’t sound appealing to him. But after a moment of consideration, he accepted her recommendation and signalled for two bottles to the server.
“We don’t sell them individually here. Shall I bring you two crates?” she suggested.
“Yes,” they both replied.
The food hadn’t arrived yet, but the beer was already stacked next to them, accompanied by several disposable plastic cups.
Ning Xin demonstrated how to open the bottle cap and poured two full glasses, handing one to him.
“Try it, it’s nice and cold, perfect for a night like this,” she said.
Nie Ran frowned, looking at the liquid that resembled urine, but the smell wasn’t bad.
Carefully, he took a sip and then downed the whole glass in a few seconds.
Just as Ning Xin lifted her cup, she said, “…Bro, take it easy. If you get drunk, I won’t be able to carry you back.”
Nie Ran poured himself another glass and finished it in one go.
It was refreshing, slightly bitter, with a hint of malt. Quite addictive.
“Do you like this?” he asked, holding the empty cup and looking at her.
Ning Xin pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t say I like it too much. Sometimes when I’m feeling down, I buy a few bottles and drink alone at home.”
“Not here?” he inquired.
“Definitely not. What if I get tipsy and run into robbers?” she whispered, lowering her voice. “Make sure to tie up your bags and don’t let others see what’s inside, or it could be dangerous.”
Nie Ran reassured her that her worries were unnecessary. Anyone who dared to rob him would regret it dearly.
However…
Raising an eyebrow, he said, “Didn’t you say that the people in this world live in peace and prosperity, with national security and happiness for all? Yet, such incidents still occur?”
Ning Xin patted his chest. “You touch your conscience and answer me, based on what you’ve witnessed today. Did I lie?”
“Today’s events are just a part of it. There might be people suffering from hunger and poverty in other places,” he replied.
“Alright, I’ll take you to see how the poorest people in this city live tomorrow. You’ll have nothing to say then,” she challenged.
The first dish arrived, a plate of salt and pepper spare ribs. Both of them were drawn to it and didn’t have time for conversation as they ate and drank beer.
Ning Xin had never gotten drunk before; she usually stopped after a couple of bottles. But today, with the joy of selling out her goods and Nie Ran’s presence making her feel secure, she unintentionally drank three bottles and began to feel dizzy.
Nie Ran, on the other hand, seemed unaffected by the alcohol, drinking more than her but remaining perfectly sober.
Before the eagerly awaited crayfish arrived, she couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep on the table.
Nie Ran couldn’t help but smile at her and instructed the waiter to pack up the remaining food and beer. He then went to settle the bill.
As he walked away, two men from the adjacent table sneaked over, reaching for the bag next to Ning Xin.
Bang—
一 bottle of beer flew over and landed at their feet, shattering into pieces. The two men looked up in shock, meeting Nie Ran’s cold gaze, and promptly turned and ran away.
The owner put down his ladle and chased after them. “Come back! You haven’t paid yet!”
Nie Ran handed the counted cash to the owner and picked up the packed items from the table. He then lifted Ning Xin onto his back and carried her, with their money in hand, in the direction he remembered.
After walking a short distance, Ning Xin started to make sounds of discomfort. Nie Ran thought to put her down, but before he could, she suddenly exclaimed and vomited all over his back.
“…”
Ning Xin let out a long sigh of relief. “Phew, feels good.”
Nie Ran’s face turned pale. “You want to feel even better?”
Still not fully awake, Ning Xin didn’t seem to care about the vomit. She continued to hug his neck and muttered, “Why is this bed shaking so much…”
Nie Ran had no choice but to continue walking, hoping to get home soon and take a shower.
Ning Xin, on the other hand, became excited. She patted his head, pulled his ears, and even planted a big kiss on the back of his head.
“Good doggy, don’t eat poop. I’ll buy you something delicious later.”
“…”
Nie Ran picked up the pace, fearing he might not be able to resist the urge to leave her on the street.
In the late night’s stroll, they finally arrived at the residential area. Relying on his memory from earlier that morning, Nie Ran found the door to his home and called for Ning Xin to open it.
Ning Xin lazily stretched her finger to poke the door lock, then didn’t move again.
Nie Ran planned to give her a pinch, but before he could, the door clicked and opened automatically.
The living room was empty, making it look very spacious.
He tossed her onto the floor, placed the money and the late-night snacks on the coffee table, closed the door, stripped naked, and walked into the bathroom.
After almost scrubbing off a layer of skin, he came out.
While drying himself with a towel, he looked at the person on the floor.
Ning Xin was sound asleep, covered in stains, and emitting a foul odour.
Nie Ran threw the towel away, stepped over her, and headed towards the bedroom to sleep.
A soft hum came from behind him, causing him to pause. He turned around and lifted her up in his arms.
“I’m not taking advantage of you,” he said as he walked into the bathroom without closing the door. The sound of running water intermittently echoed for more than half an hour.
At nine in the morning, Ning Xin woke up.
Not only did she have a splitting headache, but every joint in her body was sore, as if she had been trampled by a herd of cattle all night.
She took a deep breath, rubbing her forehead, trying hard to recall the events before falling asleep last night.
The blanket slipped off her body, leaving her completely exposed.
She paused, still trying to understand, when a tall figure walked to the door and casually asked, “Awake?”
He wasn’t wearing any clothes, just wrapped in a towel around his waist. There were some strange red marks on his abdomen, chest, shoulders, and back.
Combined with his masculine physique, it was simply exhilarating.
Ning Xin was dumbfounded, pointing at him stuttering, “You… I… we…”
“That’s right.”
“Ah?”
“Are you trying to deny it?”
“Deny what?”
Nie Ran’s expression suddenly darkened as he walked to the living room.
Ning Xin hurriedly jumped out of bed, took a few steps, and remembered she wasn’t wearing clothes. She grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around herself, running to him like a bear.
“Explain clearly, did we… do it?”
Her voice trembled as she spoke, and when she saw the expression on his face, her heart sank even further.
“It’s impossible, I clearly…”
“You were drunk,” he interrupted.
“So you took advantage of me?”
Ning Xin’s face twisted in disbelief, “Are you saying that… you took advantage of me while I was drunk?”
He didn’t respond, but his eyes said it all.
In that moment, it felt like thunder had exploded overhead. Ning Xin felt dizzy and disoriented, her mind reeling. All she wanted to do was find a tree to hang herself from.
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