Chapter 386: Chapter 369: How about a Nine Turns Intestine?_1
Standing in the parking lot of the Fu Xin Building, Zhou Ning still felt a little shaken.
Glancing beside him at Xia Momo, he then realized he now had a girlfriend, and he seemed unable to simply say he was going home, as such a statement could easily lead to misunderstandings.
Catching a glimpse of Xia Momo, whose cheeks were somewhat flushed, it was obvious she had been excited just now, and was now shy. Her hair was still damp, her face untouched by makeup, she was in a t-shirt and shorts, and wore slippers on her feet, presumably having rushed over after hearing the news while taking a shower at home. Zhou Ning couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Have you eaten yet?"
Xia Momo rolled her eyes at him and shook her head.
"After sorting out that stuff for you, Doctor Lu called me back to the center. I barely managed to get home and take a shower when I received a call about my dad looking for you. I didn’t even blow dry my hair before rushing out in a cab. Where could I go to eat?"
Zhou Ning reached out to comfort her but instead, his hand landed on Xia Momo’s head, fingers gently tidying up her tousled strands.
"Since we didn’t drive, then let’s get in the car. We’ll go grab something to eat. I was too caught up in my worries before, but I will try harder to adapt to my new role from now on. Please bear with me if I don’t do well sometimes."
Xia Momo smiled shyly, and when she lifted her eyes, the dimples on her cheeks flashed. Such a smile stirred something in Zhou Ning.
"That’s more like it. Let’s go, I want to eat something expensive."
Zhou Ning laughed as he held the car door open for Xia Momo, then he got into the car, feeling a bit bewildered.
"I seldom go out to eat, so I really don’t know what restaurants are around here. What do you feel like eating?"
Xia Momo thought for a moment and pointed in the direction of Qin University.
"I don’t feel like wandering around outside anymore. Let’s go to the Jia Jia Gourmet Restaurant, it’s closer to home."
Zhou Ning nodded and, as he withdrew his gaze, he caught sight of those fair, beautiful legs. He quickly averted his eyes; it was summer and many girls showed their legs, but few had legs as straight and fair as Xia Momo’s. Looking any longer, it felt like a warm tide might break through his resistance.
He started the car and hurried towards Jia Jia Gourmet Restaurant. They had passed the evening rush hour, and the road was quite smooth. Arriving at the restaurant, they found a booth by the window and perused the menu.
Zhou Ning tried to remember what Xia Momo liked to eat the first time they had been there.
"How about ’Nine Turn Intestines’? I remember you really enjoyed it last time we came here."
Xia Momo pouted without a second thought and shook her head.
"Forget it, it’s our first official dinner date, and I don’t want the memory to be a plate of ’Nine Turn Intestines’. Let’s just have something simple. You order."
With that, she tossed the menu to Zhou Ning, who was terrible at this. He stiffly ordered a few dishes, striving to remember the things his aunt had mentioned before—that girls like sweet and sour flavors.
The two chatted while they ate, and the awkwardness from meeting Mr. Xia just now had vanished.
Of course, they also discussed software issues; Zhou Ning knew that Doctor Lu had called Xia Momo over precisely to inquire about her thoughts on the later stages of design, especially after consulting with the archaeologists, where some expansions had been proposed.
Talking and consulting with each other, they finished their meal without realizing it. Zhou Ning then drove Xia Momo back to their neighborhood, thoughtfully dropping her off at building seven. As Zhou Ning was about to walk her upstairs, Xia Momo stopped him.
"That’s enough. Don’t come up. I rushed out in such a hurry that my bathroom and living room are all messy. Just go back and rest."
With that, she ran off without looking back. Watching those long legs disappear from sight, Zhou Ning felt an empty space inside him. The feeling was strange—before they had made their relationship official, he hadn’t paid much attention to these details, but now it felt like something was missing.
Shaking his head and cursing himself, he parked the car downstairs and walked towards the newly bought small building. Seeing the light in the window, Zhou Ning knocked and entered to find his aunt opening the door.
"Xiao Ning? Are you just getting off work? Come in quickly; I’ll make you something to eat. How about some dumplings? I can boil them for you?"
Zhou Ning stopped his aunt, a smile on his face as he shook his head.
"Auntie, don’t bother. I’ve just eaten. Now that I’ve wrapped up a few cases, I came to check on you and grandpa. Is Xiaoyu not around?"
The aunt shook her head.
"That girl left with Mr. He, taking all the wontons and some stewed meat we had prepared, just like the way bandits sweep through a village. Now that her morning sickness is getting better, she’s got a big appetite. I told Mr. He to advise her to eat less to not get too fat, but he just spoils her rotten. I don’t know what to do."
Zhou Ning laughed, Mr. He really treated Xiaoyu well, something he hadn’t noticed back when they were in Qidong.
"Let him spoil her then."
The aunt laughed as well.
"Your second uncle just went back to Qidong, and your grandpa is in the living room, working on chess puzzles."
"Don’t worry about me, auntie. I’ll go see grandpa."
Saying this, Zhou Ning headed to the living room, and sure enough, the old man was studying chess puzzles. Hearing footsteps, he peered over his reading glasses towards the doorway and, seeing Zhou Ning coming, quickly put the puzzle book aside.
"Xiao Ning, you’re here! Come and sit down. Just off work? Had dinner?"
Zhou Ning hurried over to sit down, and the aunt brought him a cup of barley tea.
"Grandpa, I’ve already eaten, thank you Auntie," Zhou Ning said. "Please sit down, I have something to tell you all."
Hearing this, Mr. He quickly took off his bifocals and looked at Zhou Ning with a serious face. Seeing the smile on Ning’s face, he instinctively felt that there was good news, and his eyes were full of anticipation.
"Tell us, is there good news? It’s not the end of the year yet; did you receive some kind of award again?"
The second aunt watched Zhou Ning smiling and grew more anxious the more she looked at him.
"Hurry up and tell us, don’t keep us in suspense."
Zhou Ning cleared his throat and slowly recounted what Mr. Xia had talked to him about today, not leaving out his own stance, and Xia Momo’s support, repeating everything in detail.
"So, that’s the situation. I’m thinking of paying a visit to the Xia family this weekend, as a formal visit. In this way, our relationship will be established regardless of the outcome. I will treat Xia Momo sincerely," he said.
Mr. He slapped his thigh, happily saying ’good’ three times.
"Good, good, good! I really like that girl; she’s sensible, knows when to advance or retreat, and is also beautiful. She’s perfect for you. With your wooden personality, finding Mr. Xia is indeed your good fortune. But since you’re going to visit the Xia family, you need to prepare."
Without saying anything, the aunt wiped at the corner of her eye, her emotion spilling over into tears.
"You scamp, you should have realized this long ago. Otherwise, I would have had to call your uncle. Visiting their home is a big deal. We’ll prepare the gifts for the visit, and also a gift for meeting Momo since she’ll come to visit our home afterward. I’ll go check the dates," she said.
As she spoke, the aunt stood up and hurried towards the staircase, her slipper coming off in her haste. With one hand holding her phone, probably having dialed her husband’s number, she spoke frantically and dashed upstairs.
Mr. He patted Zhou Ning’s hand, gripping it tightly, unable to hide his excitement.
"You... you had to wait until her father stepped in to show your feelings, which seems quite passive. But Xia Momo’s dad is really good. At his position, he could have arranged a better marriage for his daughter. But he still approves of his daughter’s choice, which shows great open-mindedness. Don’t be arrogant; it’s only because you’re better looking that you get this treatment. You must be sincere with Xia Momo."
Zhou Ning nodded.
"Don’t worry, grandpa, I wasn’t coerced by Mr. Xia; it’s just that with him bringing it up so clearly, I realized that I have indeed been neglecting these matters. You’ve mentioned it before too. My thoughts back then and now have changed a lot.
I don’t dislike Xia Momo, I just rejected marriage and didn’t know how two people were supposed to interact or how to handle a relationship, so I just wanted to avoid it all. Now, I’ve changed my mind. It’s both our first time, and I will try my best to learn how to be together," he continued.
Mr. He smiled, then sighed.
"Don’t worry about the things that can’t be fixed. We must look forward. Moreover, our family’s days are getting better and better; what else should we be dissatisfied with? The only thing I’m not worried about is that if you always consider Momo, treat her as the most important person, including Mr. and Mrs. Xia, got it?"
Zhou Ning nodded vigorously, smiling at his grandfather.
"Don’t worry, grandpa, we’ll get along fine. I think you understand what kind of person Momo is. She was really anxious today; her hair was dripping wet when she ran to protect me.
She told her dad not to interfere in our matters. Seeing her like that, it’s as if everything became clear to me. Such a fragile person, showing such determination, moved me deeply," he said.
Mr. He patted Zhou Ning again in understanding.
"I knew the moment I saw that girl that she would be my granddaughter-in-law. My judgment is never wrong. Okay, you should also go rest early. Your auntie will probably be busy for a while before she can rest; let her have her moment of joy too. She’s the most concerned about your lifelong matter," he counselled.
Zhou Ning stood up.
"Grandpa, you work on your chess moves; I’ll go have a look at Auntie. Actually, there’s no need to prepare anything special. The proper etiquette won’t be lacking; I can buy whatever is needed on the way," he offered.
Mr. He waved his hand.
"Go check on her then."
Zhou Ning went upstairs and heard rustling noises coming from the storage room, along with the incessant muttering of his aunt, who appeared to be on speakerphone with Xiaoyu.
Xiaoyu was even more boisterous than the aunt, laughing excitedly.
"I knew it; they’re a great match. I approve of this sister-in-law. Mom, the gifts you prepare must be appropriate; they don’t need to be too expensive. A show of sincerity is enough. The Xia family is an intellectual one, full of highly educated teachers, and my brother is certainly not lacking. He’s a PhD candidate under a well-known mentor. And key of all, my brother is handsome!"
"Enough, enough. You just go on praising without end. Do you think I don’t know how handsome our Xiao Ning is? Go to sleep early," the aunt interjected.
After hanging up the phone, the aunt finally noticed Zhou Ning at the door and gestured for him to stay quiet.
"Don’t give me any of that nonsense. This is something for the elders to worry about, not you. Go on, get home and sleep, or just stay in your room here. Let me be busy; it makes me happy," she insisted.
Zhou Ning approached and gave his aunt a hug.
"Thank you, Auntie. I’ve always seen you as a mother. Do what you need to do; I’m heading back!" he said.
After Zhou Ning left, the aunt wiped away a tear from behind him.
"You little rascal, tricking tears out of me, huh? But haven’t I always raised you as my own son?" she murmured.
