When Ning Yuxuan was choosing the location for her new home, she took the distance from Huayuan's headquarters into consideration.
After a ten - minute drive, the two of them returned to the villa area.
Xie Zhiyan parked the car in the garage, and they both got out.
Ning Yuxuan walked in front, and Xie Zhiyan followed behind, holding the large bunch of Ecuadorian roses for her.
She unlocked the door, changed her shoes at the entrance, and then walked to the living room to look for a place to put the roses.
"Here!" Ning Yuxuan pointed to the small round coffee table beside the sofa. "Put them here."
Xie Zhiyan placed the roses on the coffee table as she asked.
Ning Yuxuan bent down to take a look for a couple of seconds, then slightly turned the roses in another direction. Only then did she nod in satisfaction. "Well, it looks good."
She straightened up and glanced at Xie Zhiyan.
When the man saw her looking at him, he slightly raised his eyebrows, as if waiting for her instructions.
Ning Yuxuan looked at the time. There was still half an hour until dinner.
Ning Fei sent a message, saying that it had taken longer than expected, but she was now on her way back and would be home in about ten - odd minutes.
After thinking for a moment, Ning Yuxuan said to Xie Zhiyan, "I talked with the decoration team all day today and basically listed out the decoration plan. How about you help me take a look at it?"
Saying that, she tugged at Xie Zhiyan's arm, trying to lead him to the study.
The man took the opportunity to hold her wrist instead. "Xuanyuan."
Ning Yuxuan stopped in her tracks and looked back at him. "Huh?"
Xie Zhiyan exerted a little force on his hand, making her turn around involuntarily and face him completely.
"Xuanyuan," Xie Zhiyan said slowly, "even a free consultant should have some rest time."
Ning Yuxuan was momentarily at a loss for words. "Well... Then how long do you need to rest? Is ten minutes enough?"
Xie Zhiyan seemed to be answering off - topic. "I just landed in Beicheng at noon today and had two consecutive meetings this afternoon."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
Put like that, she seemed to be a bit too demanding.
This was Ning Yuxuan's first time "starting a business". Watching the plan for opening a new store gradually take shape, she was so excited that she didn't feel tired at all.
But she really shouldn't have dragged Xie Zhiyan along with her to be so absorbed in work and forget about eating and sleeping.
"Then..." Ning Yuxuan glanced at the man beside her. "Then you can take a rest on the sofa for a while. My mom sent me a message saying that she'll be home soon. We can have dinner when she arrives."
The two of them sat down on the sofa.
Ning Yuxuan had been in meetings with the decoration company and the management team all day, and her mind was full of those things.
Suddenly being told not to talk about work, she really didn't know what to say for a moment.
Ning Yuxuan tried to make small talk. "Do you still remember the alibis we came up with last time? There was an accident when you came to my home before, but we'll definitely need them this time."
Xie Zhiyan looked relaxed. "Which one are you referring to? Is it that I've been deeply in love with you at first sight, or that I was attracted by your beauty?"
Ning Yuxuan stared at him. "Didn't you say that being attracted by your beauty doesn't suit your character? Don't tell me you've forgotten all the alibis we made up after just over a week."
Xie Zhiyan smiled.
"I haven't forgotten," Xie Zhiyan said unhurriedly. "I fell in love with you without knowing why and have been deeply in love ever since. So I started to pursue you actively and confessed my love to you after you became single. Am I right?"
The man usually had a cold voice, but at this moment, it was especially gentle.
At first, Ning Yuxuan tried to hold his gaze, but later, her cheeks got so hot that she couldn't help but look away. "More or less."
Xie Zhiyan's slightly smiling voice came. "There's still some time before your mom comes back. Is there anything else you want to tell me? So far, you haven't told me anything except what kind of flowers you like."
Ning Yuxuan looked at him. "I like a lot of things. Can you remember them if I tell you now?"
Xie Zhiyan: "I can give it a try."
Ning Yuxuan thought for a few seconds and then began. "I like spicy and heavy - flavored dishes the most. My taste is completely different from my mom's and my younger brother's. I like my fish to be braised, preferably perch or Qingjiang fish. Other fish with few bones are also okay. I only eat apples after peeling them, and it's better if they're cut into small pieces. And..."
She listed a long string of her preferences, including what kind of dishes and fruits she liked and how they should be cooked.
In fact, Ning Yuxuan knew that being so detailed had far exceeded what a boyfriend - girlfriend relationship required.
Not to mention that Xie Zhiyan was just her newly - together boyfriend, even a couple who had lived together for many years might not remember each other's tastes so clearly.
But Ning Yuxuan just deliberately wanted to make things difficult for Xie Zhiyan. Who asked him to talk to her in such an extremely gentle tone just now, which made her heart race.
She talked so much that she felt a bit parched after finishing the long list of what she liked.
Ning Yuxuan cleared her throat.
Xie Zhiyan glanced at her and stood up. "I'll go and get you a glass of water."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
That slightly smiling look just now was definitely mocking her!
Ning Yuxuan watched the man's tall back and raised her voice. "I don't want plain water. I want a drink. Get me my favorite one!"
A moment later, Xie Zhiyan came over with a glass of tomato juice.
Ning Yuxuan stared at the glass in the man's hand without saying a word.
"What's wrong?" Xie Zhiyan said calmly. "Didn't you say that you like to drink tomato juice or carrot juice before a meal? I saw that the bottle of carrot juice in the fridge was still unopened, so I poured you a glass of tomato juice first."
Ning Yuxuan stared at Xie Zhiyan.
She had the intention of deliberately making things difficult for him. She had spoken so fast and in a disorganized way, jumping from drinks to fruits.
As a result, he actually remembered everything clearly and knew what she liked to drink before a meal.
Was this man really a genius with a photographic memory?
Seeing that Ning Yuxuan kept staring at him, Xie Zhiyan's lips curved up slightly. "What?"
Ning Yuxuan stared at Xie Zhiyan for a few more seconds and then said seriously, "Xie Zhiyan, did you not have to spend any effort on studying when you were in school? Did you just remember everything after seeing or hearing it once, and then get full marks in exams with your eyes closed? After starting work, do you keep all the data and plans in your head and remember all the documents at a glance?"
Xie Zhiyan couldn't help but laugh at what she said. "According to what you're saying, my life seems incredibly easy."
Ning Yuxuan retorted, "Isn't it? I can't even think of anything you can't do."
Xie Zhiyan's eyes flickered, and he looked at her intently. "This sounds like you're flattering me."
Ning Yuxuan affirmed, "I am complimenting you."
Although that wasn't really her original intention.
Xie Zhiyan slightly lowered his eyes. After a long while, he said, "Yes."
Ning Yuxuan didn't react at once. "Huh?"
Xie Zhiyan's tone was calm, but she couldn't understand the emotions in his eyes at all. "You just said that there's nothing I can't do. Actually, there is."
Ning Yuxuan blinked her eyes.
She wanted to ask Xie Zhiyan what it was, but she felt it was a bit too early for such a deep - seated conversation.
The relationship between the two of them was quite strange. Although they had gotten married, it seemed they hadn't reached the stage where they could talk about such topics in depth.
Ning Yuxuan was still hesitating when Xie Zhiyan slightly curled his lips.
He calmly changed the topic. "Anything else? Besides what you've just said, is there anything else you want me to know?"
So Ning Yuxuan didn't dwell on the previous topic anymore. After thinking for a while, she said, "I've pretty much covered my taste preferences. I'll add more if I think of anything. As for other hobbies, I like watching movies and TV shows. I like science - fiction and post - apocalyptic movies. Occasionally, I also watch romance movies. But if it's a movie of my mom's, I'll watch it for sure. And about TV shows..."
While sipping the tomato juice that Xie Zhiyan had poured for her, she rattled on non - stop.
When she was done, she asked Xie Zhiyan, "Do you remember it all?"
Xie Zhiyan said nonchalantly, "More or less."
Ning Yuxuan had a sudden idea. "How about I quiz you?"
She wanted to know if Xie Zhiyan really had such a good memory or if it was just a coincidence.
Seeing that Xie Zhiyan didn't object, Ning Yuxuan started the impromptu test. "Which science - fiction movie did I say was my favorite just now?"
Looking at her enthusiastic look, Xie Zhiyan slowly named two movies and finally said, "You said you liked these two the most and had watched them more than three times."
Ning Yuxuan was speechless.
The answer was completely correct.
Ning Yuxuan didn't say a word for a long time. The man slightly raised his eyebrows, showing his doubt.
"It's nothing," Ning Yuxuan said deliberately in a fierce tone. "I'm just really envious and jealous of you!"
Xie Zhiyan let out a low laugh.
Ning Yuxuan gave him a discontented glance.
Xie Zhiyan explained gently, "My memory is good, but it's not as miraculous as you think. I already knew a lot of what you told me. I'm just reviewing it now."
Hearing this, Ning Yuxuan looked at Xie Zhiyan thoughtfully.
She remembered that she had never summarized her preferences in such detail with anyone like she did today.
If Xie Zhiyan already knew these things, it was only possible that he had observed and remembered them when she went to the Xie family's place to play in the past.
Xie Zhiyan met her gaze. "What's wrong?"
Ning Yuxuan pursed her lips. "Xie Zhiyan, don't tell me you..."
She held back for a moment but finally blurted out, "Don't tell me you've really been secretly in love with me all this time?"
...
Suddenly, the air went quiet. Ning Yuxuan could even hear her own and the other person's breathing.
After she said it, she felt a bit regretful.
She had asked so bluntly. What if Xie Zhiyan said he hadn't? Wouldn't she lose face?
To be honest, she just had a sudden inspiration after hearing what Xie Zhiyan said.
Thinking carefully about her past interactions with Xie Zhiyan, she really couldn't convince herself that this man had been secretly in love with her all this time.
Otherwise, why hadn't he contacted her for several years?
Ning Yuxuan coughed. "Just take it as me..."
Before she could finish, there came the sound of the doorknob turning at the entrance.
Ning Fei, with delicate makeup and a cross - body bag on her back, opened the door of the villa.
"Xuanyuan?" The woman's gentle voice rang out. "I'm back. Are you at home?"
Ning Yuxuan suddenly came to her senses. She glanced at the man beside her and quickly stood up.
"Mom!" Ning Yuxuan quickly walked to the entrance to greet Ning Fei. "It's almost six o'clock. You're late!"
Ning Fei hung up her cross - body bag and smiled. "I had a great time chatting with Qin Man and Ji Huai today. We talked about a lot of things from the old days when I was filming. Before I knew it, I forgot the time. But I did come back before six, right?"
"By the way," Ning Fei asked again. "Is Zhiyan here too?"
Ning Yuxuan pointed to the living room. "Over there."
Xie Zhiyan walked over to say hello. "Auntie Ning."
Ning Fei beamed and looked at the things in Xie Zhiyan's hand. "Oh, Zhiyan, you've come. You sent gifts last time. Why did you bring more this time?"
Xie Zhiyan smiled. "Last time was to make up for the gifts I didn't give when we hadn't seen each other for a long time. This time, as Yuxuan's boyfriend coming to visit you, I've prepared some novel little things. They're not expensive."
Ning Fei was already in a good mood today. Hearing this, she laughed from ear to ear. "You're so polite, Zhiyan."
Xie Zhiyan said, "It's the right thing to do."
Ning Yuxuan watched silently from the side. Finally, she couldn't help but interrupt. "Mom."
Ning Fei turned her head. "Yes?"
Ning Yuxuan showed a dissatisfied look. "Didn't you say you were going to test him? Why are you already full of praise?"
She deliberately didn't lower her voice so that Xie Zhiyan could hear.
Ning Fei tapped her daughter's forehead. "You silly child."
Ning Yuxuan covered her forehead and made a face at Xie Zhiyan behind Ning Fei's back.
Ning Fei's eyes swept across the living room and landed on the bunch of roses on the small coffee table.
As she walked over, she asked her daughter, "Did Zhiyan give you these?"
Ning Yuxuan replied with a "hmm". She didn't know much about flowers. Her liking for red roses was just because they were beautiful and bright.
Her mother, on the other hand, was quite knowledgeable about different flower varieties and liked arranging flowers in her free time.
Ning Fei stepped closer to examine the bunch of roses. "These are Explorer red roses? Later, I'll find a vase, add some water, and separate the flowers and put them in. Maybe they can last a few more days."
Ning Yuxuan said, "There's no need to go to so much trouble. Anyway, cut flowers will wither sooner or later. We can just buy new ones then."
Ning Fei shook her head helplessly. Her daughter always had different ideas from hers.
Xie Zhiyan smoothed things over. "Auntie, if you like flowers, I'll buy some other kinds and send them to your home later."
Ning Fei quickly waved her hand. "No, no."
Dinner was ready, and the three of them went to the dining room to eat.
Ning Shiyue wasn't there. Ning Fei specifically asked the maid to cook all the dishes that her daughter liked.
Since they were going to entertain Xie Zhiyan today, the dishes were much more sumptuous than usual.
Ning Fei wasn't going out the next day, so the leftovers could be put in the fridge and reheated for lunch the next day.
Ning Fei looked at her daughter's boyfriend and said gently, "Zhiyan, these are all the dishes that Yuxuan likes. I wonder if they suit your taste?"
Xie Zhiyan said, "I'm not picky. I can eat whatever Yuxuan likes."
Ning Fei said, "That's good. Come, Zhiyan, have more fish."
The two of them exchanged pleasantries. Ning Fei thanked Xie Zhiyan for sending a car to pick her up last time.
They were speaking so politely that Ning Yuxuan felt uncomfortable and couldn't find a chance to chime in.
She simply took out her phone and snapped a photo of the table full of dishes, then sent it to Ning Shiyue.
Ning Yuxuan: [Sometimes I think it's quite nice that you're not at home. Look, all these dishes on the table are my favorites.]
Ning Shiyue had just finished work and quickly replied: [Why is it so sumptuous? Besides you and mom, is there anyone else having dinner with you?]
Ning Yuxuan: [Yes.]
Ning Shiyue: [Who?]
Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but tease him: [Guess?]
Before Ning Shiyue replied again, Ning Fei's voice came.
"Xuanyuan," Ning Fei called to her daughter. "You're having dinner. Why are you always on your phone?"
Ning Yuxuan put away her phone and gave an obedient smile. "Got it. I won't play with it anymore."
Ning Fei said, "Zhiqian and I were just talking about you. Zhiqian is usually busy with work, so it's not easy for you two to meet. Xuanyuan, you don't have to be too anxious about the Huayuan matter. Take a rest when you should."
Ning Yuxuan pouted. "But opening a new store is also very important. He's busy and so am I."
Ning Fei sighed.
She didn't want her daughter to be too tired. This was the age to fall in love and have fun.
When she was as young as her daughter, she had plunged into the trivialities of marriage and wasted her best years.
Therefore, Ning Fei hoped that her daughter could enjoy life at this age.
Xie Zhiyan said, "It doesn't matter, Auntie. I'll come to see Xuanyuan more often."
Ning Fei smiled. "Well, but you two should accommodate each other. Right, Xuanyuan?"
Ning Yuxuan was struggling with the braised chicken wings in her bowl. Hearing this, she nodded randomly. "Yeah, yeah."
Ning Fei looked at her daughter helplessly.
Previously, she and her friends had thought that Xie Zhiyan and her daughter had very different personalities and were unlikely to get together.
Now it seemed that they were a good match.
Xie Zhiyan was calm - tempered, which complemented her daughter's lively personality.
After the meal, while Xie Zhiyan went to get the gifts, Ning Yuxuan stopped Ning Fei.
"Mom!" Ning Yuxuan coquettishly said. "You said you'd side with your own daughter. But I don't feel that way just now! It's not his first time coming to our home. Why are you still so polite to him?"
Ning Fei tapped her daughter's forehead. "You, this time is different from before. This is his first time visiting me as your boyfriend. Of course, I have to be polite on the surface."
Ning Yuxuan blinked her eyes. "So you still side with me in your heart, right?"
Ning Fei was amused by her daughter. "Of course. You silly girl, why are you suddenly jealous?"
As they were talking, Xie Zhiyan brought the gifts for Ning Fei. Besides some delicate handicrafts, there were also some pastries and tea.
Ning Fei asked Xie Zhiyan to go to the living room to introduce the gifts to her and have a chat.
Ning Yuxuan realized that her mother wanted to talk to Xie Zhiyan alone, so she didn't follow.
She had put her phone on silent during the meal. When she took it out now, there were several unread messages.
Ning Shiyue: [I won't guess! Tell me directly quickly.]
Ning Shiyue: [Where are you?]
Ning Shiyue: [Is it Xie Zhiyan?]
Ning Shiyue: [I knew it was him! Why is he coming to our home again, especially when I'm not here? What if you two are discovered by mom?]
Ning Shiyue: [No, have you already told mom?]
The intervals between these messages were from one minute to several minutes. It was obvious that the person sending the messages was getting more and more emotional.
Ning Yuxuan read them one by one and couldn't help laughing out loud.
Without her reply, Ning Shiyue could send so many messages on his own. He was so different from the former Ning Shiyue who only liked to send a few words at a time.
Ning Yuxuan: [Shouldn't you be very busy filming on the set? Why are you suddenly so free?]
Half a minute after sending the message, Ning Shiyue directly called her on voice.
Ning Yuxuan's eyebrows twitched slightly, and she answered the call. "Hello?"
"Ning Yuxuan!" The young man's eager voice came. "Did you hide it from me and tell mom about your relationship with Brother Zhiyan?"
Ning Yuxuan curved her eyes. "What do you mean by hiding it from you? It's my relationship, not yours."
Ning Shiyue's voice rose several octaves. "You really told her?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Yes."
There was a few - second silence on the phone.
Then came Ning Shiyue's incredulous voice. "Good for you, Ning Yuxuan. I should have known better than to help you keep it a secret! It's okay that you told mom, but you even did it when I wasn't at home! And the three of you had a meal at home alone when I was away!"
Ning Yuxuan couldn't stop laughing.
Ning Shiyue rambled on for quite a while. In general, he blamed Ning Yuxuan for choosing a time when he was not at home to announce such an important thing as her relationship.
He had thought carefully about many things he wanted to say to Xie Zhiyan these days, but now he couldn't say them at all.
Ning Yuxuan didn't expect this matter to have such a big impact on Ning Shiyue, turning him into a chatterbox.
After Ning Shiyue finally finished complaining, Ning Yuxuan comforted him. "Okay, okay. After you finish filming and come home, I'll ask Xie Zhiyan to come to visit you, the 'little brother - in - law', specially. How about that?"
Ning Shiyue, who had almost calmed down, suddenly raised his voice. "What little brother - in - law? You're not even married yet!"
Ning Yuxuan thought to herself that they were not only married, but she had locked the marriage certificate in the drawer at home.
She replied to Ning Shiyue, suppressing her laughter. "Alright, alright. Anyway, I'll let him come to visit you. You can say whatever you want then. I won't stop you."
Ning Shiyue snorted. "That's more like it."
Ning Yuxuan looked at the call duration. "You're supposed to be busy filming on the set. Aren't they urging you?"
"I've been off work for half an hour," Ning Shiyue said. "The crew has been shooting outdoor scenes these days and has to take advantage of the best lighting. I started makeup at 4:30 this morning and finished work at 6 p.m."
Ning Yuxuan calculated the time. "Then you should go back and rest quickly, or you won't get enough sleep. I'll hang up first."
"Wait!" Ning Shiyue stopped her. "That... "
He stammered for two seconds and then said, "The carpet you and mom made on the show, is it for my birthday gift?"
Although they didn't say it was for him on the show, the pattern on the carpet was his Chinese zodiac sign, and his birthday was coming up soon. He could easily guess it.
Ning Yuxuan admitted. "Yes."
The show could be watched by anyone, and she and Ning Fei never intended to make it a birthday surprise.
Ning Shiyue: "The crew will move to Jiangcheng next week and will have a one - day holiday when we get there."
Ning Yuxuan: "And then?"
"And then..." Ning Shiyue coughed twice. "It's nothing much. It was just that I was alone in the hotel on the day of the holiday with nothing to do, and it happened to be my birthday the next day..."
Ning Yuxuan pretended to be stupid with him: "That's just right. You can sleep in the hotel all day long and have a good relaxation."
Ning Shiyue could tell that she was doing it on purpose: "... Ning Yuxuan!"
Ning Yuxuan laughed: "Okay, okay, I know what you mean. I should be free that day. I'll ask Mom. If it's okay, we'll go to the filming set to visit you together."
After finishing the call with Ning Shiyue, Xie Zhiyan and Ning Fei also finished their conversation.
Ning Yuxuan looked at Xie Zhiyan walking towards her and asked curiously, "What did my mom talk to you about?"
Xie Zhiyan: "Auntie said that you have quite a few bad habits and asked me to tolerate you more."
Ning Yuxuan pouted: "I knew it."
But she also understood in her heart that her mother said so actually hoped that Xie Zhiyan would treat her well.
"And then?" Ning Yuxuan asked again.
"And then...," Xie Zhiyan looked at Ning Yuxuan. "Auntie said that since I've come to visit her, when we have time, we can also go to my place to visit my mother."
Ning Yuxuan was stunned.
The development of her relationship with Xie Zhiyan was so chaotic that it was completely different from the normal process.
So much so that she had forgotten that normally, after Xie Zhiyan had met Ning Fei, she should also go to the Xie family to visit Auntie Zheng.
Ning Yuxuan hesitated and asked, "When is 'when we have time'?"
Xie Zhiyan replied calmly: "My mother is basically at home every day. If you're free, you can go tomorrow."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
Isn't this progress a bit too fast?
