Chapter 195

Zhong Ning hesitated to speak, but in the end, she let it go and followed her.

If it really came down to a lack of strength, she would just carry her back. Consider it… consider it compensation for last night.

Xie Shiqing was indeed in high spirits and no longer clung to Zhong Ning. Instead, she began rummaging through the suitcase, picking out clothes and shoes to wear.

A light pink short skirt, bright red strawberry-shaped earrings, paired with a collarbone necklace—only the watch hadn’t been changed.

Zhong Ning couldn’t help but ask, “Why not change the watch to match the same style?”

This one was obviously too mature, more of a minimalist, cool-toned style.

Xie Shiqing lowered her head for a glance, then looked up at her. “This was the watch I wore on our first day of living together. I had the store engrave the date inside the dial. I don’t want to change it.”

Zhong Ning’s hand, which had been adjusting the cuff of her shirt, paused slightly. She looked back at her evenly and said in a calm voice, “Time can’t be held onto.”

But Xie Shiqing didn’t flinch. “How would you know if you don’t even try?”

She pulled out a wide-brimmed light blue hat from the suitcase and placed it on her head. “Ning-jiejie, do you think this hat looks better, or the little yellow one from yesterday?”

Zhong Ning sighed inwardly, let the topic pass, and followed Xie Shiqing’s lead, studying her seriously for a moment. “The blue one looks a bit better.”

It was also larger and provided more shade.

Xie Shiqing didn’t know how to tie her hair, and her hairstyle was the same as yesterday—two low pigtails, one on each side.

But with that face of hers, even if she kept the same hairstyle for a lifetime, people wouldn’t get tired of looking at her.

She wasn’t wearing glasses or makeup, her face completely bare. Her lashes were so long they looked like she had eyeliner on. The faint pink on her face, a remnant of her allergies not fully healed, gave her a rosy glow.

A face that could use beauty as a weapon.

When Zhong Ning went downstairs, she asked the front desk for a small handheld fan and put it in her bag.

It wasn’t for herself. It was for Xie Shiqing.

The weather today wasn’t bad. There were plenty of clouds, so the temperature wasn’t too high. They took a taxi straight there. Zhong Ning bought two bottles of water, a pack of tissues, and a bag of milk candies from a nearby convenience store and put them in her bag.

Xie Shiqing followed her in, glancing around, her gaze drawn to the oden simmering beside the cashier counter.

Zhong Ning asked, “You want some?”

Xie Shiqing gave a small nod. “A little curious.”

Zhong Ning said, “You can’t eat that. You need to watch your diet.”

The curious look instantly turned into one of grievance at those words.

Zhong Ning’s lips curved slightly as she settled the bill with the cashier.

“Let’s go, to the museum you’ve been thinking about nonstop.”

Chapter 69

The tickets had been purchased online in advance. At the entrance, scanning the QR code was all it took to get through.

Xie Shiqing followed closely by her side, so near that with just a slight movement, she could have hooked her finger around Zhong Ning’s knuckles.

She wasn’t wearing perfume or applying any skincare products, yet Zhong Ning could still catch a faint, indescribable scent coming from her. A light, elusive fragrance—impossible to define.

It dangled under her nose like a tiny hook, swaying restlessly.

Was this scent something she had imagined?

In her peripheral vision, all she could see was the small red strawberry earring swaying under the other’s soft, fair earlobe.

Zhong Ning closed her eyes briefly.

The museum had central air conditioning, with a comfortable temperature—neither cold nor warm. The exhibits were arranged by dynasty.

The first area was dedicated to the Zhou Dynasty.

The same era as the Zhou King Temple.

There were bronze wares, stone carvings, various ritual vessels, musical instruments, and so on. Each item had detailed descriptions below it. The atmosphere was quiet, with only low, hushed voices echoing faintly.

This part of history was entirely new to Zhong Ning. At first, she had been keeping an eye on Xie Shiqing, but after looking through a few exhibits, her attention shifted.

It was Xie Shiqing who, although initially full of excitement, gradually turned her focus back to Zhong Ning.

She didn’t actually have much interest in museums.

The things she liked as a child didn’t necessarily carry into the present—people changed. And many of her desires weren’t truly born of interest, but more often from a kind of unwillingness to accept what she couldn’t have.

Like a plate of bitter melon and scrambled eggs she’d never even tasted—she simply wanted to try it, but someone took the entire plate away and told her, “You don’t like it,” or “You don’t need it.”

Why?

Whether she liked it or not, whether she needed it or not—shouldn’t that be for her to decide?

The entries in the memo weren’t fabricated. They weren’t made up to deceive Zhong Ning.

It was after watching a psychology analysis video one day—a discussion about how childhood trauma could deeply impact a person—that Xie Shiqing began to have such thoughts.

She knew she had psychological problems. It was too obvious; she wasn’t stupid. How could she not realize it?

She didn’t go to see a doctor because she didn’t care. She thought, if the problem existed, then it existed. It didn’t really affect her. Most of the suffering would probably fall on others.

But now, the desire to change was real—because the consequences had finally fallen on her.

Xie Shiqing started making lists, writing down many things in her memo app, and whenever she felt like it, she would randomly pick one to complete.

But she didn’t feel happy.

There was no sense of long-overdue fulfillment or relief.

What she felt was emptiness.

Even if she did all these things now, so what? She was no longer who she used to be—her mindset and thoughts had already changed. These were not the things she wanted.

Xie Shiqing gazed at the side profile of the person beside her, watching her lowered face, the graceful curve of her nose, and those straight lashes like a fan.

What she wanted was Zhong Ning.

“I want some water, I’m a bit thirsty.”

Zhong Ning shifted her gaze away from the small bowl carved with lotus petals at the bottom of the display, lowered her head, and opened her shoulder bag. “Wait a moment.”

She was carrying a large square shoulder bag today—roomy enough to hold many things, including Xie Shiqing’s oral capsules.

After rummaging through the contents, she pulled out a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and handed it over.

Xie Shiqing took small sips. “Ning-jiejie, do you like this place? Coming here with me—are you bored?”

“Not at all.” Zhong Ning had already taken quite a few photos on her phone. She twisted open another bottle for herself and drank. “I think it’s pretty interesting.”

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