"Hello, Sister Qing."
Seeing Lin Yuan standing by the door greeting her casually, Ning Qing was surprised, however she still replied naturally, "Hello, Lin Yuan."
He looked out of breath as he let her in, his sweater was off and his long sleeve shirt was rolled up to the elbows.
When she saw him curiously looking down at the large plastic bag she was holding, she held it out and explained.
"My grandma made some snacks for you, for walking me home. Here, I know it's a lot but if you refrigerate it should stay fresh for a while."
Lin Yuan took the bag and smiled.
"Thank you, Sister Qing."
Looking at his polite smile, Ning Qing felt strange. Walking into the living room, she didn't place her bag down but just glanced down at her clock.
"It's almost 6:30, should we go upstairs now?"
"Okay, I'll just put these away, Sister Qing."
Hearing this awkward address for the third time, Ning Qing scrutinised Lin Yuan's face carefully.
Is this kid trying to annoy me?
Then Ning Qing suddenly smiled and said, "Then I'll go upstairs first, okay? That's fine, right?"
This time Lin Yuan's face was unnatural but he still nodded mechanically.
"That's fine."
Ning Qing saw the stiff expression on his face and instantly felt a lot better. Leaving the living room she walked up the stairs briskly.
Entering his room, it seems that his earlier attempt at tidying up was a one off.
Walking over to his desk that was filled with scribbled papers and the ruler and pens that were laid out, she recalled his earlier state and guessed he had lost track of time while working on a problem. Seeing the lack of another chair in the room confirmed this thought.
"This doesn't look like highschool maths."
She picked up an exercise paper and looked at the sprawling numbers and equations. Lin Yuerong had told her that her brother was very good at maths and that he even had a chance to get into the national olympiad training camp. But considering the fact that he was still going to school this year, Ning Qing realised it probably hadn't worked out.
She put down the paper and placed her bag on the black office chair. She glanced at his bed. Last time she didn't really have a chance to look there very closely.
"I'll just take a quick look." She whispered.
She walked over to his bedside table before pausing when she was the Chinese language version of Damien laying closed on his bed.
She guesses he probably didn't understand the English version.
Hmmm…
She was thoughtful for a moment. She should've probably recommended something easier to read first so he can work his way up. Actually the best way would be to start with children's books, but Ning Qing didn't know whether Lin Yuan would feel too embarrassed.
Thinking she would talk about it with him later, she then turned to the large stack of romance novels with pink and flowery covers that were on the table and started slowly looking through them.
The Ghost Wedding…A Love So Beautiful…The Rebirth of the Imperial Consort…Married to the Tyrant General…
She didn't find any particularly embarrassing titles, but still, imagining Lin Yuan's serious face as he read laying in bed, engrossed in a book called 'Loathe at First Sight', she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing a voice suddenly, Ning Qing was embarrassed, but she put down the book naturally and turned around trying to maintain a calm expression.
Lin Yuan was standing by the door, his face red, and it was clear he had run up as quickly as he could.
"Hmmm, I was just looking around? By the way, are you okay? Your face looks a little red…" Ning Qing realised that offense was the best defense and spoke teasingly.
"Oh…I'm fine."
Unexpectedly, Lin Yuan didn't retort. He just glanced at her bag that was on his chair and quietly went out of the room.
"I'll get the other chair."
Ning Qing watched him leave and didn't know what was wrong but she felt something off.
Is he still feeling awkward? I thought we moved past that last time…
When Lin Yuan came back with his sister's bright pink chair, Ning Qing was absentmindedly clearing away the papers and stationary that was sprawled on his table.
"Wait, I'll do that!" Lin Yuan hurriedly walked over and started helping her. "I'm sorry about the mess, I got distracted and forgot you were coming so I didn't have time to clean up."
Looking at his embarrassed expression, Ning Qing felt a sense of deja vu.
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
"..."
Ning Qing was just teasing him again but she didn't seem to realise the bite in her tone until she caught sight of Lin Yuan's surprised expression.
"Oh…sorry." He said apologetically.
Ning Qing was embarrassed, "No, no, it's fine. That came out wrong, I was just joking."
"No, you're right I should've paid more attention."
She watched by the side as he cleared his desk with his head down and couldn't help but feel confused. She didn't understand what was going on.
Ning Qing could only try to move forward. So when he finished putting everything away, she took out her exercise books from her bag and sat down again, but this time she sat on Lin Yuerong's pink office chair.
Seeing him also sit down, Ning Qing began speaking, "You've had a long weekend, so I hope you've finished all the homework I set. Was it difficult? How were the reading comprehension questions? This time it should be easier, these were mainly second year questions."
Lin Yuan took out his English textbook, before turning to answer her, "Well I've memorised all of the vocabulary, and I finished the reading comprehension…but I don't know how much is correct."
Lin Yuan handed her the exercise paper.
"Well, give me a few minutes to mark this and then I'll test you on the vocabulary, is that okay?" Ning Qing smiled gently.
"Okay, Sister Qing."
"..."
"Why are you calling me that?"
"Huh? Sister Qing-"
"Don't call me that." Her voice was a little harsh. She didn't know why was becoming so angry, but she just was.
"..."
"I'm sorry."
Looking at his stunned face, Ning Qing instantly calmed down. Today everything felt like it was going wrong.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. Actually you don't have to call me Sister Qing, what you said before makes sense, it does sound weird."
Lin Yuan nodded.
Ning Qing took a deep breath, "Then I'll mark this first." She put her head down and decided to focus, but her mind couldn't help but wander. His eyes… She felt they were very familiar. She was used to it but for some reason today she couldn't stand that look.
…
…
…
8pm.
Lin Yuan looked up at the cloudless night sky and the crescent moon shining brightly as he walked slowly. This time he was walking a step behind Ning Qing in front of him, so he couldn't see the expression on her face at all.
I messed up today.
He had been thinking about what he did wrong ever since she snapped at him. The lesson went mostly smoothly after that, but everything was awkward and he was absent minded. In fact, he really didn't know how to face Ning Qing.
Ever since he'd heard about what happened to her parents, especially seeing that photo.
He had told himself it was wrong to keep digging around, but he couldn't help thinking about it all weekend. Lin Yuan didn't know if he felt bad for her, or if he was just thinking about himself. But her cold face in that photograph was branded onto his mind. It would keep re-emerging over and over and it only became worse when he met her today.
I really messed up.
Lin Yuan sighed softly. She doesn't need my pity, she doesn't need me to feel sorry for her.
His sister had specifically warned him but he still made her uncomfortable. Actually, he was very familiar with that kind of behaviour. He really hated it back then.
Although he wasn't completely sure, Lin Yuan felt that Ning Qing could also sense it. Ever since they met she seemed to be able to see through his thoughts. He thought he should apologise but he didn't know where to start.
Lin Yuan and Ning Qing walked in silence for the whole journey until they reached the small road that led to her house, when Ning Qing suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Looking at Ning Qing who had turned to face him, Lin Yuan was confused.
"Actually, you don't have to walk me all the way today, it's just a little farther ahead so I'll be fine by myself. Thank you for walking me home, Lin Yuan."
"..."
Lin Yuan looked at her gentle but polite smile and pushed down his questions.
"Oh. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, I'll see you on Wednesday."
Ning Qing watched for a while as Lin Yuan's figure disappeared down the road. Actually, she was fairly certain her grandmother would be waiting by the door waiting for them, and if he brought her all the way to her house, she was sure it would make an already awkward day even worse.
She sighed deeply, before turning around and walking slowly to her house.
When Ning Qing reached the doorway she heard a surprised voice.
"Huh? Why are you alone?"
Looking at her grandma who, as expected, was standing by the door, Ning Qing ignored her question and chastised her seriously.
"Grandma, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be waiting outside. You'll get sick."
"It's fine, it's fine. It was only for a few minutes, I was just curious to see him."
"Oh."
Removing her shoes and putting on her slippers Ning Qing walked into the living room to see Ning Yao still sitting in the same spot watching tv. Seeing this, for some reason Ning Qing couldn't help but get annoyed.
"Ning Yao, why are you still watching tv, have you done your homework? And why did you let grandma wait outside in the cold? What if she got sick?"
Listening to her angry tone and the barrage of questions both Ning Yao and Grandma Ning were surprised. Looking at their faces, Ning realised that she had gotten too heated.
She just sighed, "Okay, nevermind. I'm going to take a shower. By the way you can have dinner without me, I have a lot of course work due for tomorrow, so I'll be busy."
Looking at Ning Qing who was walking to her room absentmindedly, both grandmother and little sister were confused.
When she was sure Ning Qing was in her room, Grandma Ning turned to Ning Yao who had turned off the tv at some point and had come to the dining room table.
"She seems angry…"
"Yes." Ning Yao nodded very seriously. She hadn't seen her sister become angry in a long time. But she didn't know what was wrong.
Grandma Ning was also confused. She seemed fine in the afternoon. Grandma Ning thought about it for a while and her face became serious.
"You don't think something happened at Yuerong's house…"
Ning Yao thought about her sister and then Lin Yuan and shook her head vigorously.
"Definitely not."
Grandma Ning also thought it was unlikely that Lin Yuerong's little brother could make her angry.
So what could it be?
"Maybe he's really bad at English and she's annoyed at him for being too stupid." Ning Yao suggested, very seriously.
Hearing this, Grandma Ning had a blank expression. She realised it was fruitless to speculate with this little girl. Still, she couldn't help but worry.
She turned to Ning Yao and spoke softly, "Okay, you go to your room first. I'll try talking to her after her shower and find out what happened."
So after a while, when she was sure Ning Qing had already finished showering, she knocked on her door.
Ning Qing opened the door slowly. She was wearing a long white t-shirt and comfortable cotton pants, and her hair was tied up in a bun.
Seeing her grandmother standing outside her door looking timid, Ning Qing sighed. She turned toward Ning Yao's room that was down the hallway and sure enough the door was slightly open. She was embarrassed.
I've made everyone worried.
"Grandma…let's have dinner." Ning Qing held her grandmother's hand and lovingly rubbed her head that was full of gray hairs. She leaned slightly and hugged her from the side, hanging on her like a koala.
Looking at Ning Qing's gentle expression, Grandma Ning patted her arms, smiled and nodded, "Well I already ate, but Xiaoyao was waiting for you to come to eat together."
Hearing this Ning Qing walked toward Ning Yao's room, stopping outside the door before saying, "You can come out now, Xiaoyao."
Seeing Ning Yao walk out of the room with an expressionless face, Ning Qing couldn't help but tease, "Were you eavesdropping on us Xiaoyao?"
"No. I was studying."
Ning Qing was stunned. This little girl is not so cute anymore.
Later. They were all sitting around the dinner table eating quietly until Grandma Ning spoke.
"About today, did something happen?...Was it that boy, Lin Yuan, did he do something? -"
"- No, it's not him."
Ning Qing interrupted quickly, putting down her chopsticks. Seeing that her grandmother still looked skeptical she had to insist again.
"It's really not him. Really not."
"Then what happened?"
This time Ning Qing paused for a long time. Today, somehow, she couldn't help but miss her parents.
Glancing at Ning Yao who was seriously focused on removing all the vegetables from her meal, she spoke softly.
"It's just school. Graduate school is more difficult than I thought. I was stressed before when I realised how much I had due tomorrow. It's fine now."
"Really?"
"Really."
Grandma Ning looked at Ning Qing's calm expression and was sure that she wasn't telling the whole truth, but she also realised that if Ning Qing didn't want to do something no one could persuade her.
"Okay, but if something happens, you shouldn't bottle it up and try to deal with it yourself. You always have me to help you alright?"
"Thank you grandma, I know." Ning Qing smiled and said assuredly.
"Sister, I can also help." Feeling that she was redundant, Ning Yao couldn't help but speak up.
Ning Qing laughed seeing her serious expression and couldn't help but tease the little girl, "Oh, Xiaoyao, thank you very much…but how can you help me when you can't even eat your vegetables?"
"..."
"This is this and that is that." Ning Yao retorted without any shame.
"Really? But if you want to help me you have to become a strong young woman. How can you grow strong if you don't eat your vegetables?"
Hearing these heartbreaking words, Ning Yao's face twisted in hesitation. She knew Ning Qing was trying to trick her but she finally couldn't help it. Looking at the vegetables she had carefully placed at the corner of her plate, she picked them up and slowly began eating with a sad face.