After Breaking the Ice-Beauty's Heart - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Even Every Strand of Hair Was Embracing Each Other.

The next morning, Zhou Nianzhi’s alarm went off. She sat up groggily and turned her head to find the spot next to her empty.

Her heart fluttered, and she was instantly wide awake.

Could all the wonderful moments with Sheng Ning yesterday have been a dream?

Before the feelings of fear and powerlessness could surge, Sheng Ning’s voice swept them all away.

“Zhi Zhi, you’re awake?” Sheng Ning said from outside. “You set your alarm so early. I wanted to make you some breakfast.”

Zhou Nianzhi let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, that’s great.

She quickly got out of bed, put on her slippers, turned off the fan, and left the room. When she quickly reached Sheng Ning, Zhou Nianzhi saw that her mom was propping herself up against the dining table. Although she looked relaxed and happy, if you looked closely, you could see that she was a little breathless from the effort.

“Why are you up so early?” Zhou Nianzhi asked worriedly. “You’re still recovering. You should rest more.”

Sheng Ning explained, “I’ve been lying in a hospital bed for so many days. I wanted to get up and walk around.”

Zhou Nianzhi swallowed all her worried words. Seeing her mom trying to stand in front of her made her feel more happy than anything.

“I’ll make breakfast,” Zhou Nianzhi said. “You definitely have to see my cooking skills.”

Sheng Ning smiled and said, “Didn’t I see them yesterday?”

“You have to see them in the morning, noon, and night,” Zhou Nianzhi said, changing out of her pajamas, tying her hair up casually, and walking toward the kitchen. “You’re a food critic now, tasting my creations.”

“Okay,” Sheng Ning smiled faintly and sat down, waiting patiently at the dining table. “Then I’ll have to give them a good try.”

After breakfast, Zhou Nianzhi started editing videos. Sheng Ning sat next to her, not watching TV or saying anything. She just quietly kept her company.

They had a silent understanding. They didn’t mention why there were things for a street stall at home or why, on this day after the Dragon Boat Festival holiday had ended, Zhou Nianzhi wasn’t going to her nine-to-five job like she used to.

After finishing a few more videos, Zhou Nianzhi looked at the time before closing her laptop. It went by so fast. The whole morning was gone just like that.

She stood up and stretched her muscles. She then noticed that Sheng Ning had quietly poured her a cup of water and turned on the fan for her.

Sheng Ning, who had been quiet for a long time, now asked, “Are you done?”

Zhou Nianzhi nodded and replied, “It’s time for lunch again.”

“Remember to drink more water. Look at you, you haven’t had a single drop of water all morning,” Sheng Ning handed the cup to Zhou Nianzhi.

Zhou Nianzhi took it and drank several big gulps. “Isn’t that because I was so focused?”

“Okay, okay, whatever you say is right,” Sheng Ning laughed a few times, then pretended to scold her.

After lunch, Sheng Ning took her medicine at the dining table while Zhou Nianzhi washed the dishes in the kitchen. The sound of water splashing filled the air.

“Mom,” Zhou Nianzhi turned to look at Sheng Ning. She wanted to tell her about the milk tea shop directly, but the moment she saw Sheng Ning, something that she couldn’t tell if it was her pride or not, covered her heart, making it difficult for her to continue.

So, she had to turn back and continue looking at the bowl in her hand. “I have to go out for a bit, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With that, Zhou Nianzhi was already thinking about how to explain if Sheng Ning asked.

But Sheng Ning didn’t say anything. She just swallowed her pill and softly replied, “Okay.”

After drying her hands, Zhou Nianzhi quickly grabbed her keys, wanting to leave as soon as possible so she wouldn’t feel more reluctant to go if she looked at Sheng Ning.

“Zhi Zhi,” Sheng Ning called out to her.

Zhou Nianzhi turned around, confused. “What is it, Mom?”

“Let me comb your hair. Look at how messy it is,” Sheng Ning said, holding a comb and standing next to a stool, seemingly wanting Zhou Nianzhi to sit on it.

“I’m so old now…” Zhou Nianzhi grumbled under her breath, but her legs were already moving toward Sheng Ning. She sat directly on the stool. “A ponytail is fine. Those cute, good-girl hairstyles are no longer for me.”

Sheng Ning combed Zhou Nianzhi’s hair and said, “Then I can put your hair in two ponytails, so they can bounce and make others think you’re only twelve.”

Zhou Nianzhi was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. “I’m already twelve times two years old.”

“In that case…” Sheng Ning said with a playful laugh. “If you had two ponytails at twelve, you should have four ponytails at twenty-four.”

Zhou Nianzhi laughed so hard that she was shaking. It was only when Sheng Ning gently patted her that she sat up a little straighter. “What kind of twisted logic is that? Then at forty-eight, I’d have eight ponytails? Am I an octopus?”

“Yes, you’ll squirt ink,” Sheng Ning said. “Our Zhi Zhi might be a great poet or writer in the future.”

“You can praise me for that?” Zhou Nianzhi started to laugh again. “You really love to praise me.”

“Then can I praise you until you’re confident?” Sheng Ning finished tying up Zhou Nianzhi’s hair. “Just like the old Zhi Zhi.”

Zhou Nianzhi pursed her lips, then smiled softly and said, “I’m Zhou Nianzhi. How could I not be confident?”

“Good,” Sheng Ning nodded. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, “Do you have any paper and a pen? I’m either watching TV or sleeping at home, and I want to write something to pass the time.”

Zhou Nianzhi replied, “It’s on the table. You can go look.”

Sheng Ning said, “I don’t want to go through your things.”

Zhou Nianzhi smiled. “I even dared to tell you that I was with Song Yuli. What else is there to hide?”

“Really?” Sheng Ning mumbled softly.

Zhou Nianzhi heard her clearly and lowered her head. She did have things to hide, and she was afraid to mention the word “hardship.”

“Then I’ll get them for you,” Zhou Nianzhi walked into the room, took out a few sheets of paper and a pen, and placed them on the table in the living room.

“Okay, then you can go to work. It’s so hot. Don’t get heatstroke,” Sheng Ning sat down and looked at Zhou Nianzhi, her eyes full of concern.

“Okay, don’t worry,” Zhou Nianzhi nodded, then opened the door and walked out.

The whole way, she was thinking about “praise.”

Both Sheng Ning’s and Song Yuli’s praise had indeed pulled her out of the ocean of low self-esteem.

Perhaps a simple compliment could become her confidence, allowing her to open her eyes in the darkness and see herself clearly in the light.

I’m not so bad after all.

When she arrived at the milk tea shop, Zhou Nianzhi still took the initiative to greet her colleagues. Although their attitude was still cold, she didn’t seem to care much anymore.

Although she was alone in facing life at this moment, she knew that the words of praise were in her heart, slowly shattering her self-doubt and disappointment.

Once a person has confidence, they dare to say “no.”

She wasn’t weak and incompetent. She was just bent over by the pain of reality, afraid to raise her head. But now, she had a backup who could catch her when she fell.

So, this time, she wouldn’t be bullied again.

She could be knocked down, but she could also stand up and stand up for herself.

Zhou Nianzhi walked home with groceries, her steps a little lighter. Memories of “standing up for herself” came to mind.

This memory itself was not a good one. But if she looked at it from a different perspective, it was the first time she and Song Yuli had hugged, so it was a very happy and beautiful memory.

Before, when they were walking side by side, Song Yuli would often bring up what happened that day and say, “Thank you.”

Zhou Nianzhi would proudly lift her chin and say, “I’m Zhou Nianzhi. No one will ever dare to bully you again.”

Song Yuli just chuckled and didn’t say anything more.

Although Zhou Nianzhi didn’t show any emotion when she talked about it, she was still a little scared when she recalled the day it happened.

Zhou Chengqi wasn’t the only bastard who turned love into hatred.

There was also a boy in high school named He Ling who went crazy because he liked Song Yuli too much.

Zhou Nianzhi still remembered his face.

Every time she thought of his face, she felt a sense of fear.

In the second half of her second year of high school, after the evening study session, Song Yuli was walking home.

In the winding alley, the streetlights didn’t illuminate every spot. For example, at a corner where not many pedestrians passed, before she entered the darkness and ran into a ghost, she ran into something more terrifying than a ghost.

“Student Song,” He Ling rushed toward Song Yuli. “Why did you give me back my love letter?”

Song Yuli kept backing away.

“I really, really like you,” He Ling pursued relentlessly. “You’ll never find another person in this world who likes you this much.”

There was no way out.

Song Yuli’s feet hit the wall, and she narrowed her eyes.

“Student Song, just say yes to me…” He Ling kept walking forward. “Only I like you. Everyone knows about your family’s situation. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely treat you well. I won’t abandon you like your parents did…”

Song Yuli didn’t say anything. She silently gripped the strap of her backpack.

She was staring intently at He Ling, ready to swing the backpack at him at any moment.

He Ling opened his arms. “Say yes to me. I really love you. I…”

“Love you, my ass—”

Through the shoulder of the beast, Song Yuli saw a small figure in the distance, carrying a light, and running toward them quickly.

He Ling felt his fun was being interrupted and turned his head irritably. The bright light hurt his eyes, and he squinted at the person running toward them. “Who are you?”

“I’m a warrior for justice,” Zhou Nianzhi ran over, grabbed Song Yuli’s hand, and kept shining the flashlight on He Ling. “Is that how you chase people? You’re harassing her!”

“Mind your own business,” He Ling spat, and reached out to push Zhou Nianzhi.

Zhou Nianzhi was caught off guard and stumbled backward, falling into Song Yuli’s embrace.

Although she had mustered up the courage to run over, now that she was facing He Ling directly, she was still a little scared.

Song Yuli reached out one arm and wrapped it around Zhou Nianzhi’s waist. In a place where Zhou Nianzhi couldn’t see, she gave He Ling a completely cold face. “Get lost.”

He Ling was dazed. He probably didn’t expect the goddess to say such vulgar words to him, so he stood there confused and let out an “ah.”

“What ‘ah’? Are you deaf? My desk-mate told you to get lost!” Zhou Nianzhi was a coward, but she wouldn’t admit defeat. Besides, Song Yuli, who was holding her from behind, gave her a strong sense of security.

He Ling refused to give up and wanted to get closer, but when he saw the fierceness in Song Yuli’s eyes, he felt a strong sense of fear. He then backed away quickly and fled in a panic.

After He Ling left, Zhou Nianzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned around, looked up at Song Yuli, and asked with concern, “Are you okay?”

“No,” Song Yuli showed her vulnerable side to an outsider for the first time. It wasn’t because of the beast who was shorter than her, but because of the few words he had said. Whenever her parents were mentioned, it would stab her in the heart.

But Song Yuli didn’t know how to express her feelings, so in the end, she could only say two words: “I’m scared.”

Without thinking, Zhou Nianzhi hugged Song Yuli. She gently patted the person’s back, wanting to comfort her. “Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

The evening breeze swept through their loose hair.

Even every strand of hair was embracing each other.

Song Yuli rested her chin on Zhou Nianzhi’s shoulder, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.