The Long Road Ahead

Bitter Gourd Soup

This novel was posted on cntranslationss [dot] blogsp0t [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)

After work, Xiao Ning found himself inexplicably resistant to the idea of heading home immediately after work, so he went straight to the supermarket. While looking up ingredients online, he picked them up to buy them. He was planning on making a pot of lotus leaf and winter melon duck soup, but once he saw the bitter gourd, all of sudden, he changed his mind.

"Oh." Shan Haiming watched him walk a bit closer then walk a bit further away. "You're not going to ask?"

In the end, bitter gourd, spareribs, and some other ingredients were in the bag he carried back to his apartment.

Xiao Ning knitted his brows as he carefully tried to identify the source of that massive sense of loss he was feeling.

Surprisingly, Shan Haiming was still there in his apartment when he returned, still there and alone.

After letting out a brief "oh," Xiao Ning felt his stomach knot slightly, unable to resist the urge to turn and face Shan Haiming, and not knowing whether there was some underlying subtext in such a question. But, of course, there was more of a possibility that it was just something Shan Haiming was asking casually, and with the Labour Day holiday soon arriving, it was normal for everyone to have plans.

"It was nothing, really. She just refuses to believe anything." Shan Haiming gave a shrug. "Zixin grew up being spoiled a lot, so when she gets an idea in her head she's always been incredibly stubborn."

Xiao Ning knitted his brows as he carefully tried to identify the source of that massive sense of loss he was feeling.

He was lounging on the sofa, a hand petting Xiaohei on the head, and on the coffee table beside him, were drinks and food. He seemed to have made himself at home. Xiaohei tried to run away a few times but was held so firmly by him it could only nurse its grievances and stay on that detestable human's body wearing a face completely covered in displeasure.

"Don't forget to send it to me." With that, Shan Haiming was gone.

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

But after reading it over, it was changed to: We're all friends here, so there's really no need to pay.

His mind was flooded with him saying he'd take was the reason, but there was no way. Hs reaction to this matter was seriously not right, and it was far too big. Not knowing the reason for the matter was always linked to there being unclear and unknown feelings at play. Are there any had to explain feeling between me and Shan Haiming?

Shan Haiming hadn't done anything wrong, this matter was something he had agreed to earlier. He would pretend to be his boyfriend, and for that Shan Haiming would pay him. Yes, that was right. It was all to help him solve that problem from the beginning.

"It's to relieve internal heat," Xiao Ning answered simply.

"C-City, right?" Shan Haiming then added, "It's a nice place."

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

"You're going out now?" Xiao Ning finally found found something to do. "You still have to go entertaining clients this late?"

N/A

"You're going out now?" Xiao Ning finally found found something to do. "You still have to go entertaining clients this late?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ning stood in place for moment, but he then insisted, "No, you should have some."

"I found a locksmith to come open it." Shan Haiming picked up the remote control, he seemed bored. "I already fed Xiaohei, by the way."

"Did you not go anywhere else today?" Xiao Ning teased Xiaohei while glancing around the living room. Well, there doesn't seem to be anything broken, and it looks pretty clean. Maybe there wasn't any intense clashing.

Seeing this, Xiao Ning's mood had also improved considerably, and that earlier depressed feeling had left him for the most part.

Did Ye Zixin leave?

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

Bitter Gourd Soup

Xiao Ning lifted his head and smiled at him, not saying anything further as he entered the kitchen, spending a good bit of time in there before he came back out. While sitting in the living room, neither of the two spoke a word. Xiao Ning leaned back on the sofa uncomfortably before he went on to ask, "Have you fixed the locked door situation?"

"It's to relieve internal heat," Xiao Ning answered simply.

Bitter Gourd Soup

But Shan Haiming replied, "There's no need for that, Wang Hua will be here any minute."

Xiao Ning immediate got up. "You should have some soup. No matter what you you do this late, you should eat something first so you won't feel uncomfortable."

Xiao Ning obviously didn't ask this out loud. Living with Lu Yan and having spent his early years living in other people's homes had taught him from an early age what should and shouldn't said, it was the most basic skill in how to not make oneself a nuisance.

In the dark, the light of the phone screen was especially glaring, yet he stared at that screen for a long time before finally sending the message: There's no need to pay, it's not necessary.

Shan Haiming hadn't done anything wrong, this matter was something he had agreed to earlier. He would pretend to be his boyfriend, and for that Shan Haiming would pay him. Yes, that was right. It was all to help him solve that problem from the beginning.

Did Ye Zixin leave?

And it was a skill he had learned well.

Shan Haiming, not seeming to care, then asked, "Yes, what are they?"

"Yeah, it's not bad." Xiao Ning nodded then realised, "How do you know?"

"It was nothing, really. She just refuses to believe anything." Shan Haiming gave a shrug. "Zixin grew up being spoiled a lot, so when she gets an idea in her head she's always been incredibly stubborn."

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

"Did you forget?" Shan Haiming used his finger to tap Xiao Ning's forehead. "Your salary is paid by the hour so I should pay the bill."

"It's to relieve internal heat," Xiao Ning answered simply.

But after reading it over, it was changed to: We're all friends here, so there's really no need to pay.

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

Shan Haiming hadn't done anything wrong, this matter was something he had agreed to earlier. He would pretend to be his boyfriend, and for that Shan Haiming would pay him. Yes, that was right. It was all to help him solve that problem from the beginning.

Xiao Ning lifted his head and smiled at him, not saying anything further as he entered the kitchen, spending a good bit of time in there before he came back out. While sitting in the living room, neither of the two spoke a word. Xiao Ning leaned back on the sofa uncomfortably before he went on to ask, "Have you fixed the locked door situation?"

"You're going out now?" Xiao Ning finally found found something to do. "You still have to go entertaining clients this late?"

"Oh." Shan Haiming watched him walk a bit closer then walk a bit further away. "You're not going to ask?"

"Yeah, it's not bad." Xiao Ning nodded then realised, "How do you know?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ning stood in place for moment, but he then insisted, "No, you should have some."

"Plans?" Xiao Ning's scattered thoughts were brought back by this question.

Xiao Ning froze, stopping dead in his tracks while walking towards the kitchen. "Ask what?"

This sudden change in topic was too abrupt, causing a blank expression to form on Xiao Ning's face and him having no idea what to say.

After saying this, he did not wait for Shan Haiming to refuse and went straight to the kitchen to open the electric cooker. The soup had been cooking for ninety percent of its total time, so the scent of the bitter gourd melded with the flavour of the spareribs was delectably rich, enough to fill someone with satisfaction and reinvigorate their soul. Taking a bowl, he scooped out a serving then placed it before Shan Haiming.

For some unknown reason, Shan Haiming let out a sigh, but nevertheless, picked up the bowl and drank the soup. Regardless of what he said, before heading out in the middle of the night, drinking some just made soup to completion was still extremely beneficial. After Shan Haiming was done, his complexion really did improve by a lot.

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

"Oh." Shan Haiming watched him walk a bit closer then walk a bit further away. "You're not going to ask?"

Xiao Ning looked at looked at his pet, baffled, then returned his gaze to Shan Haiming, obviously oblivious to what the other meant.

Xiao Ning's mouth closed in disappointment. At times like these, he truly did detest that character of his his which could never be straightforward. Even with such a trivial matter he had to overcautiously think about everything into oblivion only to be indecisive in the end. So, forget about others, even he couldn't stand the sight of himself.

"Because it looks like you're having a hard time holding yourself back." Shan Haiming pointed to Xiaohei. "Looks like a pet really does take after their master, hm?"

"Did you not go anywhere else today?" Xiao Ning teased Xiaohei while glancing around the living room. Well, there doesn't seem to be anything broken, and it looks pretty clean. Maybe there wasn't any intense clashing.

But even when facing Lu Yan, or when he was slapped by Xia Li, Xiao Ning never felt as though he was wronged in the end, because feeling wronged required not getting the treatment you deserved. Xiao Ning never held hopes of himself being treated above average, he weighed and calculated his place in others' heart and deduced the level of treatment from the onset. Like this, the actions of others will never go over what he had budgeted, so how could he ever feel aggrieved?

Hearing this, Xiao Ning stood in place for moment, but he then insisted, "No, you should have some."

Xiao Ning knitted his brows as he carefully tried to identify the source of that massive sense of loss he was feeling.

But Shan Haiming replied, "There's no need for that, Wang Hua will be here any minute."

Xiao Ning felt a his body erupt in a cold sweat. He had just jumped out of Lu Yan's pit, so how could he go jumping into another one so quickly? Could it be that having spent all those years around Lu Yan had made that guy's habits rub off on him? Did he now have the ability to fall for a person one after another on sight? Or is he only going to like the other, and so long as he can occasional fantasise about them, will live a contently peaceful life?

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

Xiao Ning looked at looked at his pet, baffled, then returned his gaze to Shan Haiming, obviously oblivious to what the other meant.

Did Ye Zixin leave?

Shan Haiming propped himself up. "So... did you run into Zixin?"

Xiao Ning felt a his body erupt in a cold sweat. He had just jumped out of Lu Yan's pit, so how could he go jumping into another one so quickly? Could it be that having spent all those years around Lu Yan had made that guy's habits rub off on him? Did he now have the ability to fall for a person one after another on sight? Or is he only going to like the other, and so long as he can occasional fantasise about them, will live a contently peaceful life?

And it was a skill he had learned well.

Surprisingly, Shan Haiming was still there in his apartment when he returned, still there and alone.

Xiao Ning immediately offered an explanation while keeping his words neutral. "Ye Zixin was waiting for you at your door and I thought it would be terrible to just let a young woman stay squatting in front of the door."

Xiao Ning froze, stopping dead in his tracks while walking towards the kitchen. "Ask what?"

N/A

'Forget it. Forget it...'

Xiao Ning immediately offered an explanation while keeping his words neutral. "Ye Zixin was waiting for you at your door and I thought it would be terrible to just let a young woman stay squatting in front of the door."

"Oh, okay..." Xiao Ning couldn't come up with anything to say.

"Plans?" Xiao Ning's scattered thoughts were brought back by this question.

Xiao Ning immediate got up. "You should have some soup. No matter what you you do this late, you should eat something first so you won't feel uncomfortable."

"Because it looks like you're having a hard time holding yourself back." Shan Haiming pointed to Xiaohei. "Looks like a pet really does take after their master, hm?"

But even when facing Lu Yan, or when he was slapped by Xia Li, Xiao Ning never felt as though he was wronged in the end, because feeling wronged required not getting the treatment you deserved. Xiao Ning never held hopes of himself being treated above average, he weighed and calculated his place in others' heart and deduced the level of treatment from the onset. Like this, the actions of others will never go over what he had budgeted, so how could he ever feel aggrieved?

Xiao Ning immediate got up. "You should have some soup. No matter what you you do this late, you should eat something first so you won't feel uncomfortable."

Xiao Ning still stood there, his eyes fixed on that now empty hallway. The sensation overwhelming him was not at all like having a bucket of cold water poured over him, but of having a lump of ice travelling over his tongue all the way down to his gut. It was a sensation that left even his heart feeling frozen cold.

"It was nothing, really. She just refuses to believe anything." Shan Haiming gave a shrug. "Zixin grew up being spoiled a lot, so when she gets an idea in her head she's always been incredibly stubborn."

For some unknown reason, Shan Haiming let out a sigh, but nevertheless, picked up the bowl and drank the soup. Regardless of what he said, before heading out in the middle of the night, drinking some just made soup to completion was still extremely beneficial. After Shan Haiming was done, his complexion really did improve by a lot.

Xiao Ning's gaze now fell on the floor boards, but fortunately, Xiaohei was still a feet, allowing his actions to not appear too strange. "Oh, okay. But you really don't have to explain it to me."

Shan Haiming head shook, whether it was a nod or nod was uncertain. "So you're going back to visit the family that sponsored you? C-City is pretty nice, I can buy a couple tickets and go see it with you."

That version wasn't sent either.

'Forget it. Forget it...'

"I guess so." Shan Haiming's voice was blank, making it impossible to detect his emotions. "But I thought you wanted to know."

"Wang Hua is the one driving so you should tell that to him," Shan Haiming replied lazily before turning to leave, but he suddenly stopped and added, "Oh right, send me the account number."

Xiao Ning lifted his head and smiled at him, not saying anything further as he entered the kitchen, spending a good bit of time in there before he came back out. While sitting in the living room, neither of the two spoke a word. Xiao Ning leaned back on the sofa uncomfortably before he went on to ask, "Have you fixed the locked door situation?"

Shan Haiming and I were friends, right? So it was quite natural for me to not want him to pay me, right? Shan Haiming had never mentioned it for a good while now, so why would he suddenly bring it up? Is he... is he just someone who keeps his word? Even if it's friends, it's normal to want to settle accounts clearly, isn't it?

"I found a locksmith to come open it." Shan Haiming picked up the remote control, he seemed bored. "I already fed Xiaohei, by the way."

Xiao Ning froze, stopping dead in his tracks while walking towards the kitchen. "Ask what?"

N/A

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

People with an O blood type like following the rules and love getting to the bottom of things. So, while in bed, Xiao Ning tossed and turned while his chest felt all stuffy, unable to sleep a wink. It was the first time he found himself conflicted to such a terrible degree.

Xiao Ning knitted his brows as he carefully tried to identify the source of that massive sense of loss he was feeling.

"Oh, okay..." Xiao Ning couldn't come up with anything to say.

There was a very simple explanation for this, however, his inner conflict was imply caused by a struggle of what he wanted to do versus what he didn't dare do. And when it came to things he wanted to do, in the past, the frequency of such things was not often at all.

Shan Haiming changed the channel. "Labour Day plans."

Shan Haiming changed the channel. "Labour Day plans."

A wave of dejection and self-loathing flooded him, and in an instant, he found everything was uninteresting. From that moment onwards, he did not again mutter a word. Like this, he sat on the sofa idling away until it was almost midnight. The basketball game was finished by then, and Shan Haiming put down the remote and took out his phone. "I'm not driving, come pick me up."

Xiao Ning instantly froze.

"Plans?" Xiao Ning's scattered thoughts were brought back by this question.

Xiao Ning still stood there, his eyes fixed on that now empty hallway. The sensation overwhelming him was not at all like having a bucket of cold water poured over him, but of having a lump of ice travelling over his tongue all the way down to his gut. It was a sensation that left even his heart feeling frozen cold.

A wave of dejection and self-loathing flooded him, and in an instant, he found everything was uninteresting. From that moment onwards, he did not again mutter a word. Like this, he sat on the sofa idling away until it was almost midnight. The basketball game was finished by then, and Shan Haiming put down the remote and took out his phone. "I'm not driving, come pick me up."

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

Shan Haiming, not seeming to care, then asked, "Yes, what are they?"

'Forget it. Forget it...'

Shan Haiming and I were friends, right? So it was quite natural for me to not want him to pay me, right? Shan Haiming had never mentioned it for a good while now, so why would he suddenly bring it up? Is he... is he just someone who keeps his word? Even if it's friends, it's normal to want to settle accounts clearly, isn't it?

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

Xiao Ning's mouth closed in disappointment. At times like these, he truly did detest that character of his his which could never be straightforward. Even with such a trivial matter he had to overcautiously think about everything into oblivion only to be indecisive in the end. So, forget about others, even he couldn't stand the sight of himself.

In the end, bitter gourd, spareribs, and some other ingredients were in the bag he carried back to his apartment.

After letting out a brief "oh," Xiao Ning felt his stomach knot slightly, unable to resist the urge to turn and face Shan Haiming, and not knowing whether there was some underlying subtext in such a question. But, of course, there was more of a possibility that it was just something Shan Haiming was asking casually, and with the Labour Day holiday soon arriving, it was normal for everyone to have plans.

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

There was a very simple explanation for this, however, his inner conflict was imply caused by a struggle of what he wanted to do versus what he didn't dare do. And when it came to things he wanted to do, in the past, the frequency of such things was not often at all.

And it was a skill he had learned well.

"Did you not go anywhere else today?" Xiao Ning teased Xiaohei while glancing around the living room. Well, there doesn't seem to be anything broken, and it looks pretty clean. Maybe there wasn't any intense clashing.

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

And it was a skill he had learned well.

Xiao Ning's gaze now fell on the floor boards, but fortunately, Xiaohei was still a feet, allowing his actions to not appear too strange. "Oh, okay. But you really don't have to explain it to me."

"I'm planning to go back to my home town for a visit," he replied.

People with an O blood type like following the rules and love getting to the bottom of things. So, while in bed, Xiao Ning tossed and turned while his chest felt all stuffy, unable to sleep a wink. It was the first time he found himself conflicted to such a terrible degree.

N/A

Xiao Ning looked at looked at his pet, baffled, then returned his gaze to Shan Haiming, obviously oblivious to what the other meant.

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

But Shan Haiming replied, "There's no need for that, Wang Hua will be here any minute."

"C-City, right?" Shan Haiming then added, "It's a nice place."

But Shan Haiming replied, "There's no need for that, Wang Hua will be here any minute."

"C-City, right?" Shan Haiming then added, "It's a nice place."

Xiao Ning's mouth fell open as he almost agreed to Shan Haiming without thinking. But he was going back with Lu Yan. Even if hm going there with Lu Yan as just incidental, how could he bring along Shan Haiming?

Bitter Gourd Soup

In the end, bitter gourd, spareribs, and some other ingredients were in the bag he carried back to his apartment.

Xiao Ning lifted his head and smiled at him, not saying anything further as he entered the kitchen, spending a good bit of time in there before he came back out. While sitting in the living room, neither of the two spoke a word. Xiao Ning leaned back on the sofa uncomfortably before he went on to ask, "Have you fixed the locked door situation?"

"Plans?" Xiao Ning's scattered thoughts were brought back by this question.

"Yeah, it's not bad." Xiao Ning nodded then realised, "How do you know?"

Xiao Ning instantly froze.

Shan Haiming head shook, whether it was a nod or nod was uncertain. "So you're going back to visit the family that sponsored you? C-City is pretty nice, I can buy a couple tickets and go see it with you."

"Plans?" Xiao Ning's scattered thoughts were brought back by this question.

Shan Haiming hadn't done anything wrong, this matter was something he had agreed to earlier. He would pretend to be his boyfriend, and for that Shan Haiming would pay him. Yes, that was right. It was all to help him solve that problem from the beginning.

He was lounging on the sofa, a hand petting Xiaohei on the head, and on the coffee table beside him, were drinks and food. He seemed to have made himself at home. Xiaohei tried to run away a few times but was held so firmly by him it could only nurse its grievances and stay on that detestable human's body wearing a face completely covered in displeasure.

After letting out a brief "oh," Xiao Ning felt his stomach knot slightly, unable to resist the urge to turn and face Shan Haiming, and not knowing whether there was some underlying subtext in such a question. But, of course, there was more of a possibility that it was just something Shan Haiming was asking casually, and with the Labour Day holiday soon arriving, it was normal for everyone to have plans.

After letting out a brief "oh," Xiao Ning felt his stomach knot slightly, unable to resist the urge to turn and face Shan Haiming, and not knowing whether there was some underlying subtext in such a question. But, of course, there was more of a possibility that it was just something Shan Haiming was asking casually, and with the Labour Day holiday soon arriving, it was normal for everyone to have plans.

Xiao Ning's mouth fell open as he almost agreed to Shan Haiming without thinking. But he was going back with Lu Yan. Even if hm going there with Lu Yan as just incidental, how could he bring along Shan Haiming?

Xiao Ning obviously didn't ask this out loud. Living with Lu Yan and having spent his early years living in other people's homes had taught him from an early age what should and shouldn't said, it was the most basic skill in how to not make oneself a nuisance.

After work, Xiao Ning found himself inexplicably resistant to the idea of heading home immediately after work, so he went straight to the supermarket. While looking up ingredients online, he picked them up to buy them. He was planning on making a pot of lotus leaf and winter melon duck soup, but once he saw the bitter gourd, all of sudden, he changed his mind.

"Oh." Shan Haiming watched him walk a bit closer then walk a bit further away. "You're not going to ask?"

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

In the dark, the light of the phone screen was especially glaring, yet he stared at that screen for a long time before finally sending the message: There's no need to pay, it's not necessary.

Xiao Ning lifted his head and smiled at him, not saying anything further as he entered the kitchen, spending a good bit of time in there before he came back out. While sitting in the living room, neither of the two spoke a word. Xiao Ning leaned back on the sofa uncomfortably before he went on to ask, "Have you fixed the locked door situation?"

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

He was lounging on the sofa, a hand petting Xiaohei on the head, and on the coffee table beside him, were drinks and food. He seemed to have made himself at home. Xiaohei tried to run away a few times but was held so firmly by him it could only nurse its grievances and stay on that detestable human's body wearing a face completely covered in displeasure.

Bitter Gourd Soup

"Did you forget?" Shan Haiming used his finger to tap Xiao Ning's forehead. "Your salary is paid by the hour so I should pay the bill."

Shan Haiming, not seeming to care, then asked, "Yes, what are they?"

Shan Haiming and I were friends, right? So it was quite natural for me to not want him to pay me, right? Shan Haiming had never mentioned it for a good while now, so why would he suddenly bring it up? Is he... is he just someone who keeps his word? Even if it's friends, it's normal to want to settle accounts clearly, isn't it?

People with an O blood type like following the rules and love getting to the bottom of things. So, while in bed, Xiao Ning tossed and turned while his chest felt all stuffy, unable to sleep a wink. It was the first time he found himself conflicted to such a terrible degree.

"It was nothing, really. She just refuses to believe anything." Shan Haiming gave a shrug. "Zixin grew up being spoiled a lot, so when she gets an idea in her head she's always been incredibly stubborn."

Xiao Ning's mouth closed in disappointment. At times like these, he truly did detest that character of his his which could never be straightforward. Even with such a trivial matter he had to overcautiously think about everything into oblivion only to be indecisive in the end. So, forget about others, even he couldn't stand the sight of himself.

Xiao Ning's mouth closed in disappointment. At times like these, he truly did detest that character of his his which could never be straightforward. Even with such a trivial matter he had to overcautiously think about everything into oblivion only to be indecisive in the end. So, forget about others, even he couldn't stand the sight of himself.

'Forget it. Forget it...'

"I'm planning to go back to my home town for a visit," he replied.

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

Xiao Ning looked at looked at his pet, baffled, then returned his gaze to Shan Haiming, obviously oblivious to what the other meant.

A wave of dejection and self-loathing flooded him, and in an instant, he found everything was uninteresting. From that moment onwards, he did not again mutter a word. Like this, he sat on the sofa idling away until it was almost midnight. The basketball game was finished by then, and Shan Haiming put down the remote and took out his phone. "I'm not driving, come pick me up."

Xiao Ning's mouth fell open as he almost agreed to Shan Haiming without thinking. But he was going back with Lu Yan. Even if hm going there with Lu Yan as just incidental, how could he bring along Shan Haiming?

But even when facing Lu Yan, or when he was slapped by Xia Li, Xiao Ning never felt as though he was wronged in the end, because feeling wronged required not getting the treatment you deserved. Xiao Ning never held hopes of himself being treated above average, he weighed and calculated his place in others' heart and deduced the level of treatment from the onset. Like this, the actions of others will never go over what he had budgeted, so how could he ever feel aggrieved?

Xiao Ning obviously didn't ask this out loud. Living with Lu Yan and having spent his early years living in other people's homes had taught him from an early age what should and shouldn't said, it was the most basic skill in how to not make oneself a nuisance.

But even when facing Lu Yan, or when he was slapped by Xia Li, Xiao Ning never felt as though he was wronged in the end, because feeling wronged required not getting the treatment you deserved. Xiao Ning never held hopes of himself being treated above average, he weighed and calculated his place in others' heart and deduced the level of treatment from the onset. Like this, the actions of others will never go over what he had budgeted, so how could he ever feel aggrieved?

"Oh." Shan Haiming watched him walk a bit closer then walk a bit further away. "You're not going to ask?"

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

"Because it looks like you're having a hard time holding yourself back." Shan Haiming pointed to Xiaohei. "Looks like a pet really does take after their master, hm?"

"You're going out now?" Xiao Ning finally found found something to do. "You still have to go entertaining clients this late?"

Xiao Ning couldn't sleep. Sitting up, he began typing a message: Just forget about the money, okay? There's no need.

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

But Shan Haiming replied, "There's no need for that, Wang Hua will be here any minute."

Shan Haiming propped himself up. "So... did you run into Zixin?"

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

Shan Haiming leaned back on the sofa, lowering his head in a nod he gave an impatient hum and said nothing more.

Xiao Ning looked at looked at his pet, baffled, then returned his gaze to Shan Haiming, obviously oblivious to what the other meant.

Shan Haiming and I were friends, right? So it was quite natural for me to not want him to pay me, right? Shan Haiming had never mentioned it for a good while now, so why would he suddenly bring it up? Is he... is he just someone who keeps his word? Even if it's friends, it's normal to want to settle accounts clearly, isn't it?

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

Xiao Ning immediate got up. "You should have some soup. No matter what you you do this late, you should eat something first so you won't feel uncomfortable."

"Did you forget?" Shan Haiming used his finger to tap Xiao Ning's forehead. "Your salary is paid by the hour so I should pay the bill."

"Wang Hua is the one driving so you should tell that to him," Shan Haiming replied lazily before turning to leave, but he suddenly stopped and added, "Oh right, send me the account number."

Xiao Ning still stood there, his eyes fixed on that now empty hallway. The sensation overwhelming him was not at all like having a bucket of cold water poured over him, but of having a lump of ice travelling over his tongue all the way down to his gut. It was a sensation that left even his heart feeling frozen cold.

But even when facing Lu Yan, or when he was slapped by Xia Li, Xiao Ning never felt as though he was wronged in the end, because feeling wronged required not getting the treatment you deserved. Xiao Ning never held hopes of himself being treated above average, he weighed and calculated his place in others' heart and deduced the level of treatment from the onset. Like this, the actions of others will never go over what he had budgeted, so how could he ever feel aggrieved?

Xiao Ning obviously didn't ask this out loud. Living with Lu Yan and having spent his early years living in other people's homes had taught him from an early age what should and shouldn't said, it was the most basic skill in how to not make oneself a nuisance.

After work, Xiao Ning found himself inexplicably resistant to the idea of heading home immediately after work, so he went straight to the supermarket. While looking up ingredients online, he picked them up to buy them. He was planning on making a pot of lotus leaf and winter melon duck soup, but once he saw the bitter gourd, all of sudden, he changed his mind.

And it was a skill he had learned well.

But Shan Haiming replied, "There's no need for that, Wang Hua will be here any minute."

Shan Haiming propped himself up. "So... did you run into Zixin?"

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

"Yeah, it's not bad." Xiao Ning nodded then realised, "How do you know?"

Xiao Ning instantly froze.

That version wasn't sent either.

Hearing this, Xiao Ning stood in place for moment, but he then insisted, "No, you should have some."

A wave of dejection and self-loathing flooded him, and in an instant, he found everything was uninteresting. From that moment onwards, he did not again mutter a word. Like this, he sat on the sofa idling away until it was almost midnight. The basketball game was finished by then, and Shan Haiming put down the remote and took out his phone. "I'm not driving, come pick me up."

Shan Haiming head shook, whether it was a nod or nod was uncertain. "So you're going back to visit the family that sponsored you? C-City is pretty nice, I can buy a couple tickets and go see it with you."

Shan Haiming changed the channel. "Labour Day plans."

Shan Haiming and I were friends, right? So it was quite natural for me to not want him to pay me, right? Shan Haiming had never mentioned it for a good while now, so why would he suddenly bring it up? Is he... is he just someone who keeps his word? Even if it's friends, it's normal to want to settle accounts clearly, isn't it?

Xiao Ning still stood there, his eyes fixed on that now empty hallway. The sensation overwhelming him was not at all like having a bucket of cold water poured over him, but of having a lump of ice travelling over his tongue all the way down to his gut. It was a sensation that left even his heart feeling frozen cold.

After saying this, he did not wait for Shan Haiming to refuse and went straight to the kitchen to open the electric cooker. The soup had been cooking for ninety percent of its total time, so the scent of the bitter gourd melded with the flavour of the spareribs was delectably rich, enough to fill someone with satisfaction and reinvigorate their soul. Taking a bowl, he scooped out a serving then placed it before Shan Haiming.

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

For some unknown reason, Shan Haiming let out a sigh, but nevertheless, picked up the bowl and drank the soup. Regardless of what he said, before heading out in the middle of the night, drinking some just made soup to completion was still extremely beneficial. After Shan Haiming was done, his complexion really did improve by a lot.

And it was a skill he had learned well.

'Forget it. Forget it...'

When he took back the bowl, Wang Hua had arrived and was downstairs waiting for Shan Haiming, so Xiao Ning then walked him to the door. "Be careful on the road."

Seeing this, Xiao Ning's mood had also improved considerably, and that earlier depressed feeling had left him for the most part.

Xiao Ning's gaze now fell on the floor boards, but fortunately, Xiaohei was still a feet, allowing his actions to not appear too strange. "Oh, okay. But you really don't have to explain it to me."

Xiao Ning immediately offered an explanation while keeping his words neutral. "Ye Zixin was waiting for you at your door and I thought it would be terrible to just let a young woman stay squatting in front of the door."

There was a very simple explanation for this, however, his inner conflict was imply caused by a struggle of what he wanted to do versus what he didn't dare do. And when it came to things he wanted to do, in the past, the frequency of such things was not often at all.

When he took back the bowl, Wang Hua had arrived and was downstairs waiting for Shan Haiming, so Xiao Ning then walked him to the door. "Be careful on the road."

Xiao Ning instantly froze.

When he took back the bowl, Wang Hua had arrived and was downstairs waiting for Shan Haiming, so Xiao Ning then walked him to the door. "Be careful on the road."

Bitter Gourd Soup

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

Shan Haiming propped himself up. "So... did you run into Zixin?"

He was lounging on the sofa, a hand petting Xiaohei on the head, and on the coffee table beside him, were drinks and food. He seemed to have made himself at home. Xiaohei tried to run away a few times but was held so firmly by him it could only nurse its grievances and stay on that detestable human's body wearing a face completely covered in displeasure.

His mind was flooded with him saying he'd take was the reason, but there was no way. Hs reaction to this matter was seriously not right, and it was far too big. Not knowing the reason for the matter was always linked to there being unclear and unknown feelings at play. Are there any had to explain feeling between me and Shan Haiming?

"I'm planning to go back to my home town for a visit," he replied.

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

"Wang Hua is the one driving so you should tell that to him," Shan Haiming replied lazily before turning to leave, but he suddenly stopped and added, "Oh right, send me the account number."

In the end, bitter gourd, spareribs, and some other ingredients were in the bag he carried back to his apartment.

This sudden change in topic was too abrupt, causing a blank expression to form on Xiao Ning's face and him having no idea what to say.

N/A

"Did you forget?" Shan Haiming used his finger to tap Xiao Ning's forehead. "Your salary is paid by the hour so I should pay the bill."

Xiao Ning immediately offered an explanation while keeping his words neutral. "Ye Zixin was waiting for you at your door and I thought it would be terrible to just let a young woman stay squatting in front of the door."

Shan Haiming, not seeming to care, then asked, "Yes, what are they?"

N/A

Xiao Ning instantly froze.

"I guess so." Shan Haiming's voice was blank, making it impossible to detect his emotions. "But I thought you wanted to know."

"You're back?" Shan Haiming moved his long legs and relaxed his arms, giving Xiaohei just the chance it needed to launch a hurried escape to its master. "How can your cat seem so much like a dog?"

His mind was flooded with him saying he'd take was the reason, but there was no way. Hs reaction to this matter was seriously not right, and it was far too big. Not knowing the reason for the matter was always linked to there being unclear and unknown feelings at play. Are there any had to explain feeling between me and Shan Haiming?

"Don't forget to send it to me." With that, Shan Haiming was gone.

After work, Xiao Ning found himself inexplicably resistant to the idea of heading home immediately after work, so he went straight to the supermarket. While looking up ingredients online, he picked them up to buy them. He was planning on making a pot of lotus leaf and winter melon duck soup, but once he saw the bitter gourd, all of sudden, he changed his mind.

"I'm planning to go back to my home town for a visit," he replied.

Xiao Ning looked at looked at his pet, baffled, then returned his gaze to Shan Haiming, obviously oblivious to what the other meant.

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

Xiao Ning lifted his head and smiled at him, not saying anything further as he entered the kitchen, spending a good bit of time in there before he came back out. While sitting in the living room, neither of the two spoke a word. Xiao Ning leaned back on the sofa uncomfortably before he went on to ask, "Have you fixed the locked door situation?"

Bitter Gourd Soup

"C-City, right?" Shan Haiming then added, "It's a nice place."

Xiao Ning still stood there, his eyes fixed on that now empty hallway. The sensation overwhelming him was not at all like having a bucket of cold water poured over him, but of having a lump of ice travelling over his tongue all the way down to his gut. It was a sensation that left even his heart feeling frozen cold.

After saying this, he did not wait for Shan Haiming to refuse and went straight to the kitchen to open the electric cooker. The soup had been cooking for ninety percent of its total time, so the scent of the bitter gourd melded with the flavour of the spareribs was delectably rich, enough to fill someone with satisfaction and reinvigorate their soul. Taking a bowl, he scooped out a serving then placed it before Shan Haiming.

Xiao Ning obviously didn't ask this out loud. Living with Lu Yan and having spent his early years living in other people's homes had taught him from an early age what should and shouldn't said, it was the most basic skill in how to not make oneself a nuisance.

In the end, bitter gourd, spareribs, and some other ingredients were in the bag he carried back to his apartment.

There was a very simple explanation for this, however, his inner conflict was imply caused by a struggle of what he wanted to do versus what he didn't dare do. And when it came to things he wanted to do, in the past, the frequency of such things was not often at all.

"Wang Hua is the one driving so you should tell that to him," Shan Haiming replied lazily before turning to leave, but he suddenly stopped and added, "Oh right, send me the account number."

For some unknown reason, Shan Haiming let out a sigh, but nevertheless, picked up the bowl and drank the soup. Regardless of what he said, before heading out in the middle of the night, drinking some just made soup to completion was still extremely beneficial. After Shan Haiming was done, his complexion really did improve by a lot.

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

But even when facing Lu Yan, or when he was slapped by Xia Li, Xiao Ning never felt as though he was wronged in the end, because feeling wronged required not getting the treatment you deserved. Xiao Ning never held hopes of himself being treated above average, he weighed and calculated his place in others' heart and deduced the level of treatment from the onset. Like this, the actions of others will never go over what he had budgeted, so how could he ever feel aggrieved?

Shan Haiming leaned back on the sofa, lowering his head in a nod he gave an impatient hum and said nothing more.

"It was nothing, really. She just refuses to believe anything." Shan Haiming gave a shrug. "Zixin grew up being spoiled a lot, so when she gets an idea in her head she's always been incredibly stubborn."

"C-City, right?" Shan Haiming then added, "It's a nice place."

Shan Haiming, not seeming to care, then asked, "Yes, what are they?"

'Forget it. Forget it...'

But Xiao Ning couldn't understand why he currently felt as though he was wronged.

Surprisingly, Shan Haiming was still there in his apartment when he returned, still there and alone.

Shan Haiming hadn't done anything wrong, this matter was something he had agreed to earlier. He would pretend to be his boyfriend, and for that Shan Haiming would pay him. Yes, that was right. It was all to help him solve that problem from the beginning.

Xiao Ning lifted his head and smiled at him, not saying anything further as he entered the kitchen, spending a good bit of time in there before he came back out. While sitting in the living room, neither of the two spoke a word. Xiao Ning leaned back on the sofa uncomfortably before he went on to ask, "Have you fixed the locked door situation?"

Xiao Ning knitted his brows as he carefully tried to identify the source of that massive sense of loss he was feeling.

Xiao Ning immediate got up. "You should have some soup. No matter what you you do this late, you should eat something first so you won't feel uncomfortable."

Xiao Ning obviously didn't ask this out loud. Living with Lu Yan and having spent his early years living in other people's homes had taught him from an early age what should and shouldn't said, it was the most basic skill in how to not make oneself a nuisance.

Xiao Ning's mouth fell open as he almost agreed to Shan Haiming without thinking. But he was going back with Lu Yan. Even if hm going there with Lu Yan as just incidental, how could he bring along Shan Haiming?

"You're going out now?" Xiao Ning finally found found something to do. "You still have to go entertaining clients this late?"

"Did you forget?" Shan Haiming used his finger to tap Xiao Ning's forehead. "Your salary is paid by the hour so I should pay the bill."

Shan Haiming and I were friends, right? So it was quite natural for me to not want him to pay me, right? Shan Haiming had never mentioned it for a good while now, so why would he suddenly bring it up? Is he... is he just someone who keeps his word? Even if it's friends, it's normal to want to settle accounts clearly, isn't it?

Hearing this, Xiao Ning stood in place for moment, but he then insisted, "No, you should have some."

Xiao Ning looked at looked at his pet, baffled, then returned his gaze to Shan Haiming, obviously oblivious to what the other meant.

Shan Haiming hadn't done anything wrong, this matter was something he had agreed to earlier. He would pretend to be his boyfriend, and for that Shan Haiming would pay him. Yes, that was right. It was all to help him solve that problem from the beginning.

His mind was flooded with him saying he'd take was the reason, but there was no way. Hs reaction to this matter was seriously not right, and it was far too big. Not knowing the reason for the matter was always linked to there being unclear and unknown feelings at play. Are there any had to explain feeling between me and Shan Haiming?

When he took back the bowl, Wang Hua had arrived and was downstairs waiting for Shan Haiming, so Xiao Ning then walked him to the door. "Be careful on the road."

Xiao Ning felt a his body erupt in a cold sweat. He had just jumped out of Lu Yan's pit, so how could he go jumping into another one so quickly? Could it be that having spent all those years around Lu Yan had made that guy's habits rub off on him? Did he now have the ability to fall for a person one after another on sight? Or is he only going to like the other, and so long as he can occasional fantasise about them, will live a contently peaceful life?

"It was nothing, really. She just refuses to believe anything." Shan Haiming gave a shrug. "Zixin grew up being spoiled a lot, so when she gets an idea in her head she's always been incredibly stubborn."

People with an O blood type like following the rules and love getting to the bottom of things. So, while in bed, Xiao Ning tossed and turned while his chest felt all stuffy, unable to sleep a wink. It was the first time he found himself conflicted to such a terrible degree.

But even when facing Lu Yan, or when he was slapped by Xia Li, Xiao Ning never felt as though he was wronged in the end, because feeling wronged required not getting the treatment you deserved. Xiao Ning never held hopes of himself being treated above average, he weighed and calculated his place in others' heart and deduced the level of treatment from the onset. Like this, the actions of others will never go over what he had budgeted, so how could he ever feel aggrieved?

"Yeah, it's not bad." Xiao Ning nodded then realised, "How do you know?"

Seeing him take so long to reply, Shan Haiming then added simply, "Never mind. Forget it."

There was a very simple explanation for this, however, his inner conflict was imply caused by a struggle of what he wanted to do versus what he didn't dare do. And when it came to things he wanted to do, in the past, the frequency of such things was not often at all.

Did Ye Zixin leave?

There was a very simple explanation for this, however, his inner conflict was imply caused by a struggle of what he wanted to do versus what he didn't dare do. And when it came to things he wanted to do, in the past, the frequency of such things was not often at all.

His mind was flooded with him saying he'd take was the reason, but there was no way. Hs reaction to this matter was seriously not right, and it was far too big. Not knowing the reason for the matter was always linked to there being unclear and unknown feelings at play. Are there any had to explain feeling between me and Shan Haiming?

People with an O blood type like following the rules and love getting to the bottom of things. So, while in bed, Xiao Ning tossed and turned while his chest felt all stuffy, unable to sleep a wink. It was the first time he found himself conflicted to such a terrible degree.

"I guess so." Shan Haiming's voice was blank, making it impossible to detect his emotions. "But I thought you wanted to know."

Xiao Ning couldn't sleep. Sitting up, he began typing a message: Just forget about the money, okay? There's no need.

"I found a locksmith to come open it." Shan Haiming picked up the remote control, he seemed bored. "I already fed Xiaohei, by the way."

But after reading it over, it was changed to: We're all friends here, so there's really no need to pay.

That version wasn't sent either.

"Did you forget?" Shan Haiming used his finger to tap Xiao Ning's forehead. "Your salary is paid by the hour so I should pay the bill."

"I'm planning to go back to my home town for a visit," he replied.

There was a very simple explanation for this, however, his inner conflict was imply caused by a struggle of what he wanted to do versus what he didn't dare do. And when it came to things he wanted to do, in the past, the frequency of such things was not often at all.

Did Ye Zixin leave?

"Did you forget?" Shan Haiming used his finger to tap Xiao Ning's forehead. "Your salary is paid by the hour so I should pay the bill."

"Are you making soup?" Shan Haiming rested his chin on his hand. "Bitter gourd?"

That version wasn't sent either.

"It's to relieve internal heat," Xiao Ning answered simply.

In the dark, the light of the phone screen was especially glaring, yet he stared at that screen for a long time before finally sending the message: There's no need to pay, it's not necessary.

"C-City, right?" Shan Haiming then added, "It's a nice place."

Xiao Ning instantly froze.

Shan Haiming head shook, whether it was a nod or nod was uncertain. "So you're going back to visit the family that sponsored you? C-City is pretty nice, I can buy a couple tickets and go see it with you."

Xiao Ning couldn't sleep. Sitting up, he began typing a message: Just forget about the money, okay? There's no need.

And it was a skill he had learned well.