Because Xu Tingsheng did not mention Zhou Yuandai’s matter, Mr Xu interpreted Xu Tingsheng as wishing to postpone the engagement because Xiang Ning was still young. He was afraid that Xiang Ning did not really understand her own feelings and might regret it one day...thus, he was giving her time.
This was actually a responsible attitude, at least in Mr Xu’s eyes. Thus, he agreed.
Father and son returned home and lied to Mrs Xu...they said that while Xu Tingsheng was mostly fine, he was still slightly unwell. Thus, they could only postpone the engagement ceremony for now. Otherwise, if Xu Tingsheng had dared to bring up postponing their engagement, Mrs Xu would surely have rendered him dead.
It was naturally left to Mrs Xu to inform their relatives and friends about this. Anyway, it was she who had circulated the matter in the first place.
The Land Rover whose front was somewhat wrecked was parked out in the courtyard. Thus, Mrs Xu believed it, as did everyone else.
Mr Xu called the Xiang family, explaining the situation and apologising.
The Xiang family did not get upset about it. They were clear on what lengths Xu Tingsheng would go to for Xiang Ning, and their relatives had seen it too. So, no one would find this dubious. Mr and Mrs Xiang were purely worried, being quite shaken about it. Thus, Xu Tingsheng hurriedly took the phone and explained that he was basically okay, only a little injured. He would be fine after resting for a few days.
A few days later, Xiang Ning’s school term would have started too.
“That’s a relief. It’s good that you’re okay. Have you been examined then? What did the doctor say? Why were you so careless when driving? Where did you crash into? You said you had to hurry back, you…” Mrs Xiang said.
“I’ve been examined. I…” Xu Tingsheng thought to console her.
“Wa…”
Xiang Ning could be heard crying on the other end. She had heard what Mrs Xiang had said.
Xu Tingsheng heard a bit of a din before Xiang Ning’s crying voice could be heard, “How are you? You…sob...”
“Relax, I’m okay. I just ran into the side of the road,” Xu Tingsheng hurriedly said.
“You say you’re okay? You’re even injured. Sob…”
Hearing how sad Xiang Ning was, Xu Tingsheng very much wanted to say: I’m actually totally fine. Let’s get engaged.
Still, he couldn’t.
After trying hard to adjust his emotions, Xu Tingsheng said, “I’m just a little bit injured. I’ll be fine after resting for a few days. It’s just that our engagement ceremony will have to be delayed. Will you be unhappy?”
“How would I?! You’re even injured,” Xiang Ning choked back on some sobs and said, “No need to worry. A little earlier or a little later, I’ll be yours all the same.”
These words inadvertently consoled and encouraged Xu Tingsheng greatly. Right, Zhou Yuandai? So what? It was merely a matter of later rather than sooner: Having been reborn, he did not believe that she could prevent him and Xiang Ning from being together.
“Slowly now. If she forces me again, I’ll definitely render her dead,” Xu Tingsheng thought.
Because Zhou Yuandai had threatened him with Xiang Ning, Xu Tingsheng had no choice but to accede to her wishes for the moment. Still, it was precisely because of this that his killing intent was ignited.
“You must be in a lot of pain right now. I won’t disturb you. I’ll come see you early tomorrow morning,” Xiang Ning said.
Xu Tingsheng hurriedly said, “There’s no need for you to come! It’s really just a minor matter. I’ve been to the hospital and gotten examined. The doctor said I’m okay. See, I’m even home already. There wasn’t even a need to stay at the hospital for observation.”
“Liar. You’re just afraid of me worrying.”
“It’s true! Can’t you see how easily I’m talking to you right now?”
“...So you’re really okay then?”
“Of course. I just need to rest for a couple of days.”
“Right.”
“So, don’t you worry. There’s also no need to come see me. I’ll be back in Yanzhou in a few days.”
“Okay. Have a good rest then.”
“Yeah, don’t worry about me. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
…...
Xu Tingsheng feigned injury and lay down the entire night and morning, and nearly that entire afternoon too. He ate several pots of replenishing food cooked by his mother...and received countless calls from people asking after him, including from Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng.
It was a long and gruelling wait before his mother went out.
Sis Jia was very busy at Happy Shoppers and had no time. Zhong Wusheng brought his twin daughters Zhong Lin and Zhong Li over to look in on him. Finding that there was really no problem with him, he was then called over by Mr Xu to discuss Happy Shoppers’ affairs.
Only Xu Tingsheng as well as the tender Zhong Lin and Zhong Li were left in the room. Both of the little girls were very obedient as they lay by the bed and told Xu Tingsheng stories.
Some time later, Zhong Wusheng was still not back yet. Xu Tingsheng was afraid that they might be bored. Also, there happened to be nobody nearby. Thus, he secretly crept off the bed and brought the two little girls out to the backyard.
He played catch ball with them.
The laughter of the two girls was clear and like the tinkling of bells as Xu Tingsheng’s mood improved greatly.
……
The taxi stopped, the driver pointing to the villa not far away as he said, “That’s the Xu family home. Hey, do you really know people from the Xu family?”
“Yes,” Xiang Ning got out of the taxi and carried her bag.
While Xu Tingsheng had told her not to come, she had still done so. How would she be able to rest easy otherwise? Because she was afraid of Uncle stopping her, she had not even called him before coming.
“Let me tell you, when that Xu Tingsheng was studying, he sat in my taxi before. Our city is small, you see. Besides over by the station, other places all rely on phone calls for our services...so, he may still have my phone number now. Speaking of Xu Tingsheng…”
“Thank you, Mister. I’ll be leaving first!” Xiang Ning waved and hurriedly fled.
In truth, ever since she had said at the station that she was looking for the Xu family, the taxi driver had already been telling her about his history with the Xu family throughout the entire journey. It was not that Xiang Ning was unwilling to listen. It was just that she truly was worried. Also, having gone from Yanzhou to Jiannan and then Libei, next looking for the Xu family, she was a bit tired.
“Right, young lady, what relative are you of the Xu family’s?” The driver was still yelling enthusiastically behind her.
“Daughter-in-law,” Xiang Ning responded as she walked.
“Huh?”
The driver was dazed for a bit, then grew excited...there was more history with the Xu family for him to speak of now. It was even a big scoop.
“Let me tell you, the first time the Xu family’s daughter-in-law came to Libei, she took my taxi. The young lady really was beautiful. It’s no wonder that she caught the eyes of the Xu family…” He had even thought of what he would say already.
Standing in front of the Xu family home, Xiang Ning pressed the doorbell twice.
There was no response.
Frantic to see Xu Tingsheng, Xiang Ning heard the laughter of young children behind the house. She went around the walls of the place…
Standing at a high place, she looked down and saw Xu Tingsheng.
Raising her arms, Xiang Ning was just about to call out to him.
Then, she saw Xu Tingsheng raising two young girls up, one in each arm, and whirling about the backyard...
The clear laughter of little children could be heard.
“Wasn’t he...injured?” Xiang Ning was taken aback.
She watched Xu Tingsheng who was playing crazily with Zhong Lin and Zhong Li for a bit more. It was evident that he did not appear injured in the least.
“In that case, why?”
Xiang Ning did not know what she should do anymore.
Afraid that Xu Tingsheng would see her, she retreated from that high ground, going a bit further away and finding a rock which she promptly sat down on.
It was very difficult for her thoughts not to run wild in such a situation.
“He fooled me...is it because he regrets it?”
Her arms on her knees, her face buried between them...Xiang Ning cried.
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