Shuyu could hardly believe her ears.
But reason told her there was nothing wrong with her hearing.
Shuyu: Ningning, what did you say?
Ye Ning held Shuyu's hand, My brother is coming to pick us up. The car is here.
Before Shuyu could react, she saw an understated yet luxurious Maybach drive into the garage, parking in the spot closest to them.
Shuyu was truly in despair; she wanted to pull her hand away and run.
But she found that Ye Ning had a surprisingly strong grip, and she couldn't pull her hand back at all.
Of course, even if she did pull her hand back, her injuries wouldn't allow her to turn around and run away.
Shuyu wore a bitter expression, her pale little face screaming that she was completely shattered.
Just then, the car door slowly opened, and a man stepped out.
Shuyu lowered her head, trying to minimize her presence. The man walked over to Shuyu and Ye Ning, Miss Ye Ning, please get in the car with your friend.
Just leave the luggage to me.
Hearing this, Shuyu abruptly raised her head, only to realize that the person standing across from them wasn't Si Yiheng.
Shuyu felt like her emotions this morning had been on a roller coaster, going up and down, then up and down again; her heart could hardly take it anymore.
Shuyu held Ye Ning's hand and asked in a low voice, I thought your brother was actually going to come.
Scared me to death.
Ye Ning pulled Shuyu into the car and replied, My brother is probably too busy and didn't have time to come, so he had the driver pick us up.
Shuyu clutched her chest over her little heart, Busy, everyone's busy. It's good to be busy.
But after the car started, Shuyu thought of something else. If she went home in the car driven by Si Yiheng's driver, wouldn't it easily expose where she lived?
Shuyu thought about it and, just to be safe, invited Ye Ning, Ningning, can we go to the mall? I haven't been out in a long, long time.
Iron Egg: [Baby Yu, you are really going all out, actually suggesting going to the mall.]
The little person in Shuyu's heart was crying tears; she had only ever gone to such desperate lengths in her life because of Si Yiheng.
Ye Ning agreed without a second thought, Sure, I'll go with you.
Ye Ning: Let's go to the mall near my brother's place, that way you can also pick up Little Orange along the way.
Shuyu nodded. That was a good place, making it easiest to get home.
Ye Ning asked the driver to drop them off at the nearest mall. Only after safely delivering the two did the driver call Si Yiheng again.
Si Yiheng: Did you drop them off at home?
Driver: No, the two ladies wanted to go shopping at the mall.
In his office, Si Yiheng signed a document and replied, Mhm.
Driver: Do you need me to wait for the two ladies to come out and take them home?
Si Yiheng's tone was calm: Wait for a moment.
Si Yiheng opened his chat with Shuyu.
ATM: When are you being discharged from the hospital?
When Shuyu received Si Yiheng's message, she was sitting off to the side waiting for Ye Ning to buy milk tea.
Shuyu's first reaction was to tell Si Yiheng that she was being discharged today.
But on second thought, Shuyu deleted the words she had typed.
The way to keep her secret identity safe was, of course, to make Si Yiheng feel that her movements and those of Ye Ning's friend did not overlap, creating the illusion for Si Yiheng that they were two different people.
It was also a good opportunity to test Si Yiheng and see if he had realized she was Ye Ning's friend.
So Shuyu typed a new reply to Si Yiheng.
LittleFishSwimming: Probably in a few more days.
ATM: Should I pick you up when you're discharged?
LittleFishSwimming: No need, I won't trouble you, brother. I can take good care of myself.
Si Yiheng understood that Shuyu was still not ready to meet him.
Going to the mall probably wasn't really about shopping; she simply didn't want just anyone finding out where she lived.
Very safety-conscious.
So Si Yiheng told the driver to head back, that there was no need to pick up Shuyu and Ye Ning.
ATM: Transfer 1,000,000.
ATM: Take good care of yourself.
While waiting for Si Yiheng to reply, Shuyu's heart was pounding wildly, terrified that she might have said something wrong that would make Si Yiheng notice something amiss.
Fortunately, it seemed her secret identity was still safe with Si Yiheng.
Iron Egg: [Baby Yu, with how fast your heart was beating just now, I almost thought you had fallen for Si Yiheng.]
Shuyu's little face looked helpless, like a wilting kitten, If this keeps up, I really might end up liking Si Yiheng. Experiencing the suspension bridge effect every day, who could handle that?
Lying to Si Yiheng really wasn't very friendly to her heart.
Shuyu replied to Si Yiheng with one more message, and Ye Ning came back with the milk tea.
They each had a cup. Ye Ning didn't dare make Shuyu walk too much, so after strolling around for a short while, they got ready to head home.
Thinking about parting ways with Shuyu, Ye Ning felt a bit melancholic, I really don't want to go home. I want to go home with you.
Shuyu's eyes immediately lit up. Having Ye Ning come home with her wasn't a bad idea at all.
Not only could they hang out together, but it would also lower the chances of Ye Ning accidentally spilling the beans in front of Si Yiheng.
Given how smart Si Yiheng was, Shuyu felt that if Ye Ning revealed even a little bit more information, Si Yiheng might just figure out who she was.
Would you... would you like to come live with me? Shuyu carefully hooked her pinky finger around Ye Ning's pinky, mustering her courage. Because she was a bit nervous, Shuyu's ears turned red; this was her first time inviting someone to live with her.
Shuyu was nervous, afraid Ye Ning would reject her.
But she was also afraid that if Ye Ning agreed, could she really live with Ye Ning? Would her personality make living together unpleasant for them?
It seemed she had lost her head a bit, just doing whatever came to mind.
For a moment, Shuyu felt somewhat discouraged again.
Ye Ning listened to Shuyu's soft voice asking her, and looking down, she saw Shuyu hanging her head in a somewhat disappointed manner.
Ye Ning was completely smitten. She cupped Shuyu's cheeks in her hands, I'd love to! Baby Yu, don't be sad, I really want to live with you.
Ye Ning's joy gave Shuyu a little more confidence. Shuyu fluttered her eyelashes gently, her clear, glass-like eyes shimmering with fragmented light.
Shuyu nodded emphatically into Ye Ning's palms, Mhm!
Ye Ning's heart was about to explode; she was dizzy from the cuteness.
She almost wanted to take out her phone to snap a picture of Shuyu. What kind of adorable kitten was this, acting coquettishly in the palms of her hands?
Shuyu: Let's go home.
Ye Ning followed Shuyu home. The further they walked, the more familiar the route felt to Ye Ning, until she followed Shuyu to the floor where Shuyu lived.
Ye Ning: You actually live upstairs from my brother's place.
I'm going to go bring my things up right now. When my brother gets home, he'll find out I ran away, but I'm not going to tell him where I ran away to.
Let my brother stumble around in the dark looking for me.
Shuyu: (ⓛωⓛ*)
Ye Ning's idea was really great, she liked it.
Before the afternoon was even over, Ye Ning had moved her things and brought Little Orange back home for Shuyu along the way.
Then Ye Ning called to provoke Si Yiheng, Brother, I'm never going back to your crappy place again! Your home doesn't feel like a home at all! Nobody wants to live in your crappy place!
Standing nearby listening to Ye Ning battle it out with Si Yiheng, Shuyu couldn't help but feel that Ye Ning was truly a warrior.
Holding Little Orange, Shuyu leaned in close to Ye Ning to hear Si Yiheng's reply.
Si Yiheng said in a cold voice, Ye Ning, come back.
Ye Ning instantly caved. "Brother, I was wrong. I'm begging you, please just turn a blind eye to this."
Si Yiheng sneered. "Turn a blind eye? What, am I aiming a sniper rifle at you?"
Ye Ning & Shu Yu: "..."
Ye Ning: "I just mean, please don't tell my mom that I'm staying at my friend's house. My friend just got out of the hospital, and she needs me to take care of her!"
Si Yiheng tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest of his chair. His deep, steady voice suddenly grew gentle. "Is your friend right there next to you?"
Ye Ning: "?"
What was with the sudden sweet voice?
What a hypocrite.
Ye Ning turned her head to look at Shu Yu, only to see her staring back adorably, looking a little nervous.
Ye Ning: "Yeah, so don't scare her."
Si Yiheng: "Put your friend on the phone."
