Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Why Should I Forgive You?
What An Ning handed over was, once again, an utterly ordinary notebook of plain white paper.
It was very thick, made from what looked like the paper of six or seven notebooks bound together with string.
The writing was pressed so forcefully into every page that it nearly tore through the paper.
Whenever a page was turned, the paper rustled loudly. The writing was pressed so deep that as your fingers brushed against the raised indentations, it felt as if you could read the words with your eyes closed.
"How long did it take you to write all this?"
Director Zhao took the notebook with both hands. Its significance was immense.
Although he hadn’t yet verified the authenticity of its contents, he subconsciously wanted to believe it.
"It was alright. I just wrote a little whenever I had a free moment and thought of something."
An Ning didn’t give a specific timeframe. Instead, she stared at Director Zhao and suddenly asked a question.
"Are you a good person? Are you truly one of us, from Huaxia?"
Director Zhao was caught completely off guard, but after a second, his firm reply made An Ning smile with satisfaction.
"I believe you."
Director Zhao didn’t know whether to be happy or worried about An Ning’s straightforward trust.
He advised her earnestly, "An Ning, you shouldn’t trust people so easily. Sometimes, it’s truly difficult to tell what they’re really up to."
"So you’re not a good person?"
An Ning’s clear, piercing eyes stared at Director Zhao, making his scalp tingle.
’Why do I feel like I’ve just jumped into the Yellow River and can never wash myself clean?’
"Of course not—no, that’s not what I meant. I mean, of course I’m a good person. I was just trying to tell you that you can’t be too careful with people."
"Oh— I’ll remember that."
An Ning’s tone was a bit perfunctory, which made Director Zhao even more worried.
’Such a naive, innocent genius. I can’t let someone trick her and lead her astray.’
An Ning, however, wasn’t worried at all. More than trusting others, she trusted her own spiritual power.
"Director Zhao, do you have any more questions? You can take these two notebooks back with you for now. Find me again after you’ve finished reading them."
"The matters in here aren’t something we can cover in a short time."
Clutching the two cheap, plain paper notebooks, Director Zhao nodded gravely.
"An Ning, I’ll buy you some proper notebooks in a bit."
"Huh?"
An Ning was so thrown by Director Zhao’s statement that she couldn’t follow his train of thought.
Director Zhao held up the plain paper notebook and said, "This paper is too flimsy. The ink bleeds through easily, and it’s not good for preservation. I’ll get you some better notebooks. That way, you can jot down your ideas whenever they come to you."
"Oh... Okay."
An Ning didn’t refuse.
The notebook really did have those problems.
Director Zhao carefully put away the two large notebooks and the blueprint, then led An Ning out of the conference room.
Outside the conference room, the hallway was still full of people. Not a single one had left.
When Director Zhao emerged, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the design blueprint in his hand.
"Comrade An Ning’s design is excellent. However, we still need to conduct a practical assessment of the specific proposal. We can’t start production immediately just because we have a blueprint. True knowledge comes from practice."
"Today’s meeting is over. Everyone can leave now. Thank you for your hard work."
Director Zhao was very approachable.
The people outside had no good reason to stay any longer and left in twos and threes.
An Ning found Li Chengze and was also about to leave, but someone blocked her way.
"Are you here to praise me again?"
An Ning looked at the trio in suits blocking her path, led by Ming Jun.
Ming Jun’s mouth opened and closed. Finally, he shut his eyes with the grim resolve of someone putting all thoughts of life and death aside.
"I’m sorry!"
Ming Jun had come to apologize.
"It is a great virtue to admit your faults and correct them. I accept your apology, but I cannot forgive you."
An Ning turned sideways, trying to get past Ming Jun.
But Ming Jun stuck out an arm, blocking her again.
An Ning’s counter was instinctive. With a single fluid motion, she flipped the six-foot-plus Ming Jun, who suddenly found himself staring level with the ceiling.
Just as he was about to hit the ground hard, An Ning extended a foot and caught his head.
Ming Jun felt a force on his head, and his entire body was pulled back to a standing position.
The whole process was smooth and fluid, happening in a flash.
The people standing there had no time to react before it was all over.
"Don’t raise a hand against me. You can’t beat me."
An Ning shook her head, as if looking at her own most troublesome child, and turned to leave with her hands behind her back.
Ming Jun wanted to reach out again, but this time he didn’t dare.
"Wait, why won’t you forgive me?"
An Ning turned her head and retorted, "Why should I forgive you?"
"You weren’t harmed in any way. Besides, you were being deliberate before, too. You saw through my moves and acted that way on purpose."
Having had time outside, Ming Jun had finally figured out what An Ning had been doing these past two days.
Thinking about it, he felt quite wronged.
An Ning turned around completely to face Ming Jun directly.
"Your little scheme wasn’t very clever to begin with. It was just an old trick our ancestors discarded long ago. Anyone who’s finished elementary school could see through it."
"Whether I acted deliberately or not, you were the one instigating things. I was simply responding."
"Furthermore, the fact that I wasn’t harmed is due to my own ability. What does that have to do with you?"
"You did something wrong. Just because I was capable enough to come out unscathed, does that mean you never did it in the first place?"
"So, why should I forgive you?"
"Forgive you for what? For being arrogant, petty, and looking down on everyone?"
An Ning didn’t speak quickly, but every word echoed clearly in the hallway.
Each word was like a sharp little knife, cutting into Ming Jun.
He was speechless.
’When did I become this kind of person?’
Ming Jun stood silently in the hallway. Behind him, Director Zhao finally understood.
For a moment, he could hardly believe it.
Just yesterday, the three of them had been praising her so sincerely.
’It seems I still have a lot to learn about the old saying, "You can know a person’s face, but not their heart."’
At the far end of the hallway, unnoticed by the others, a figure slipped past and headed down the stairs.
An Ning glanced in that direction, but unfortunately, she only caught sight of a corner of clothing.
"Director Zhao, Director Hu, we’ll be heading back now. If you need anything, you can come find me or give me a call."
"Alright, Comrade An Ning. Be sure to take care of yourself."
An Ning nodded to Director Zhao and prepared to leave.
"Wait, I haven’t paid you yet."
Director Hu caught up to An Ning and led her upstairs.
When An Ning came back down, she was holding a kraft paper bag.
An Ning, along with Li Chengze, walked out of the auto factory under Director Hu’s escort.
Next would be the auto factory’s testing period. When the product was actually manufactured, that would be An Ning’s moment of glory.
An Ning said her goodbyes and found the public bus to head to the train station.
At the same time, Jiang Xia emerged from a corner of the auto factory. Watching the bus drive away, he smiled a foolishly satisfied smile.
"Battling wits with me really does help one improve."
He had been worried about An Ning, so he had found a way to become one of the attendants at today’s meeting.
But from the way An Ning had performed, she didn’t need him to worry about her at all.
Jiang Xia looked up at the sky, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"Time to go home!"
