After Breaking the Ice-Beauty's Heart - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: But She’s A Little Too Clingy, What Should I Do?

After the busiest time at the store had passed, Zhou Nianzhi took a few days off during a quieter period and went back home with Sheng Ning.

At first, Song Yuli wanted to go with them, but Zhou Nianzhi thought her work was more important, so she didn’t let her come back.

On the way home, Zhou Nianzhi transferred some money to Song Yuli: “I got my salary. Here’s a little bit back.”

Song Yuli: “You don’t have to.”

Zhou Nianzhi: “Don’t be a stranger with money, or I’ll laugh at you for being silly.”

Three seconds later, she saw that Song Yuli had accepted the money, and she finally felt at ease.

After a long train ride, Zhou Nianzhi was a little worried about Sheng Ning’s health, but Sheng Ning just smiled, looked out the window, and said, “I can go back and see Cheng Gang now.”

The scenery kept changing, but the love that had been there for years never stopped for a moment.

When they arrived at their hometown, Zhou Nianzhi and Sheng Ning first went to Zhou Chenggang’s grave together again.

Sheng Ning held their wedding photo and kept gently caressing the person in the picture with her fingertips.

“Cheng Gang, it’s been a while since I’ve come to see you. Did you think I found someone else and forgot about you?”

“I didn’t. I still only want to live my life with you. After you left, I didn’t want to find anyone else because I miss you too much.”

“Cheng Gang, when you’re reborn in your next life, don’t suffer so much. I still remember a few years ago when you were still with me, you lost a lot of weight, and you had scars all over your face, hands, and legs. Even then, you didn’t want me to suffer. You bought me new clothes and good skincare products, but you wore those same few clothes year after year. Every time I sewed them for you, I would tell you to go buy some new ones, and you would always say next time, but…”

“I never got to see you wear new clothes…”

As Sheng Ning spoke, tears fell onto the photo, blurring Zhou Chenggang’s face.

“Sometimes I blame you… I blame you for being so good to me… I blame you for leaving so early…” Sheng Ning cried as she spoke. “We never got to have a big meal, go on a trip with Zhi Zhi, or see how happy Zhi Zhi is…”

“Why did you leave…”

Zhou Nianzhi also felt terrible watching them. The two people who loved each other were separated by fate.

But people always have to look forward.

The person who left first would also want the person who was still alive to be well.

Zhou Chenggang probably never left.

He just found another way to be by their side.

Fate took away his life, but it left behind love.

Before Zhou Chenggang got into the car accident, he bought a small cake for Sheng Ning.

The note that was left in the car and covered in cream was written by Zhou Chenggang, who had only been to school for a few days, and every stroke was written with care—

“My wedding anniversary with Ningning.”

After a long time, they left the grave, wanting to walk around the familiar city again and find a hotel to stay in for the night.

It was at this moment that they ran into Zhou Chengqi.

The face from the depths of her nightmares.

Zhou Nianzhi bit her lower lip, temporarily suppressing the fear in her heart. She stood in front of Sheng Ning and watched Zhou Chengqi, remaining calm.

The strange thing was that Zhou Chengqi, who used to be so arrogant, didn’t say anything and walked away first.

Zhou Nianzhi stood there, stunned. She never expected Zhou Chengqi to just walk past them like that.

In fact, he looked as if he didn’t dare to look up at either of them.

She was confused all the way, but she soon found out why on the street.

This might be one of the good things about a small town.

Everyone knew what happened in the morning by the afternoon.

It might even have evolved into a different version.

For example, the matter of Zhou Chengqi.

“Did you hear? It’s about the oldest son of the Zhou family.” Gossip Monger #1 sat on the street corner, put a cup of tea and some sunflower seeds in front of her, and immediately got into character, speaking in a vivid manner: “The oldest son of the Zhou family looks so gentle, but he’s actually a ruthless person behind the scenes!”

“What? What do you know? Tell us,” Gossip Monger #2 very skillfully sat down, bringing her own tea and ears.

Gossip Monger #1: “I heard he hit that girl from the Song family. What’s her name again? Song Yuli, I think that’s her name. Her face was full of scars and bl00d. Her grandma was so angry she almost caused a commotion.”

Zhou Nianzhi blended into the crowd and listened quietly. Although she already knew, when she heard the words “full of scars” and “covered in bl00d,” a feeling of sadness rose in her heart.

Gossip Monger #2: “What? He actually did something like that!”

Gossip Monger #1: “Yeah, but the oldest son of the Zhou family wouldn’t admit it. He insisted that the young girl hit him. Who would believe that? How could a young girl like Song Yuli beat the oldest son of the Zhou family up like that?”

Gossip Monger #3 joined the conversation: “Oh, my! I remember that day Zhou Chengqi seemed to be really angry. He kept saying that everyone believed him when he used to say things, so why didn’t they believe him now.”

Gossip Monger #1: “Didn’t he say before that his sister-in-law seduced him? Now that I think about it, I really didn’t see that person clearly back then. Why would his sister-in-law be into him? The second son of the Zhou family is much better. He was the one who really worked hard without asking for anything in return.”

Gossip Monger #2: “I also saw the oldest son of the Zhou family walking with another woman that day. I thought he was so devoted.”

Zhou Nianzhi didn’t listen any further.

She helped her mom continue walking on the street, and she kept thinking that although these people were exaggerating, what they said made sense. Maybe Zhou Chengqi didn’t love Sheng Ning at all. He was just jealous of his brother, which was why he had the idea of marrying his sister-in-law, Sheng Ning.

So after everything was exposed, he didn’t dare to get close to Sheng Ning again.

No wonder Zhou Nianzhi hadn’t received a call from Zhou Chengqi recently.

Because Sheng Ning’s phone was on silent or turned off all year round, Zhou Chengqi couldn’t contact Sheng Ning and had to look for Zhou Nianzhi.

That’s why no matter how many times Zhou Nianzhi changed her number, Zhou Chengqi could always find a way to contact her, and even if she blocked one number, he would just use another.

A few times, Zhou Nianzhi saw that it was a call from her hometown and answered without thinking, only to hear Zhou Chengqi’s disgusting voice on the other end.

When Zhou Nianzhi and Sheng Ning lived in a shared apartment, the public security was not very good, so Zhou Nianzhi lived in constant fear, afraid that Zhou Chengqi would pop up out of nowhere and take away the temporary peace she had found.

The despicable Zhou Chengqi always existed in Zhou Nianzhi’s mind.

This made her endlessly fearful, often startled, and plagued by nightmares every night.

But now that Zhou Nianzhi thought about it, Zhou Chengqi was actually just a coward who wouldn’t dare to say another word after being drowned in spit.

All of his past audacity was because others trusted him.

But once all the trust was gone, and accusations from all directions came rushing at him, he immediately became isolated and helpless.

Zhou Nianzhi understood how he was feeling now, but she didn’t feel sorry for him. She still hated him.

“It seems like life has become much more peaceful,” Sheng Ning said with a sigh.

“Yeah,” Zhou Nianzhi nodded. “We should go find a hotel.”

“You don’t have to. Just stay at my place.”

Song Yuli’s voice came from behind them.

Zhou Nianzhi stopped walking. She turned around in disbelief, and then she smiled as if she had already guessed it, and said, “You came after all.”

The sunlight shone on Song Yuli.

With the light behind her, Zhou Nianzhi couldn’t quite see her expression, but she could clearly hear her say, “I missed you so much.”

Sheng Ning fanned herself with her hand and consciously looked away, mumbling, “Maybe I should go sit down somewhere. You two chat first. Come and get me later.”

“No, no, Mom,” Zhou Nianzhi still held onto Sheng Ning and didn’t let go. She turned to Song Yuli and said with a smile, “What are you talking about? I’ve only been gone for a day or two?”

“It’s already been many, many hours,” Song Yuli also reached out and helped Sheng Ning. “Let’s go home together.”

“Okay,” Sheng Ning agreed. “It’s a good chance to go see your grandma. Zhi Zhi said she liked her very much, but she never had time to visit. Today is a good opportunity, so let’s go now.”

Zhou Nianzhi had no choice but to follow along, and she couldn’t help but say, “Is this too much trouble for you?”

Song Yuli looked at the road and asked, “Why are you using the word ‘trouble’ with me?”

Zhou Nianzhi let out an “oh” and said in a muffled voice, “You’re right.”

She didn’t dare to say anything more because she really couldn’t win against Song Yuli anymore. Besides, it was obvious that the person in front of her would say some very mushy things regardless of the time or place.

They walked forward.

Long shadows followed behind them.

Even the shadows got their wish and were able to get close to the one they loved by the light.

When they arrived at Song Yuli’s door, it was already close to evening.

It was time for dinner again.

As soon as she pushed the door open, Zhou Nianzhi smelled the familiar scent of buns.

“Wow—” Zhou Nianzhi stood at the entrance and kept sniffing the delicious smell of the buns. “Grandma, you made steamed buns again!”

Grandma poked her head out of the kitchen, squinted her eyes, and said with a smile, “Yuli said you were coming, so I made a lot of steamed buns.”

Zhou Nianzhi nodded and said to Sheng Ning, “This is Song Yuli’s grandma.”

A few minutes later, Zhou Nianzhi felt that she didn’t even need to introduce them.

The moment Grandma and Sheng Ning met, it was like two old friends seeing each other again. They had so much to talk about.

So, the important task of cooking was once again left to Zhou Nianzhi and Song Yuli.

But this time, Zhou Nianzhi was especially busy.

Because she had a distracted teammate.

“Don’t look at me anymore. Look at the vegetables,” Zhou Nianzhi said this for the third time.

Song Yuli didn’t hide it and admitted, “I really missed you so much. I just want to look at you.”

“My little Song, my dear Song,” Zhou Nianzhi said with a helpless smile. “We haven’t been apart for that long, and you miss me this much.”

There was a hint of hurt in Song Yuli’s words: “So now you know how much I missed you during the two years we were apart.”

Zhou Nianzhi lowered her eyes. A hint of sadness appeared in them, and her smile became a little stiff. Although the atmosphere was good now and everyone was happy, people who had experienced separation were still a little different.

When a mirror breaks, even if it’s put back together perfectly, there will still be cracks.

But Zhou Nianzhi thought about it and decided that since the cracks were there, she would let them have a purpose.

She would let them remind them of the pain of separation, to cherish the present even more, to be more reluctant to let time pass, and to be more afraid of the next separation.

“My dear Song, that was my fault. What kind of compensation do you want?” Zhou Nianzhi said, cupping Song Yuli’s face with a smile. “As for money, I’ll transfer all the money I owe you back to you, but I probably can’t give you any more for now.”

Song Yuli answered seriously, “I want to be with you forever and never be separated again.”

“That’s it?” Zhou Nianzhi put her hands down, turned around, and continued to work on the task in her hands. “How is that your compensation? That’s also fulfilling my own wish.”

As soon as she said that, Song Yuli became happy, regained her energy, laughed a few times, and also started to get busy.

But throughout the entire dinner, Zhou Nianzhi still felt Song Yuli’s gaze on her.

And, every time Zhou Nianzhi took a step, Song Yuli would follow.

After dinner, Zhou Nianzhi poured a glass of water, turned around, pinched Song Yuli’s cheek, and then handed the water to Song Yuli, saying, “I’m not going to disappear.”

When Song Yuli reached for the water glass, she covered her face with her hand and said, “I’m scared.”

Zhou Nianzhi looked at the person in front of her holding the water glass, and she remembered the day they reunited. She chuckled and said, “I really want to post a request for help.”

Song Yuli was confused. “Request for help with what?”

“I’ll show you in a minute.”

Zhou Nianzhi took a sip of water, typed on her phone, and after clicking send, she showed it to Song Yuli.

Song Yuli took the phone, put the water glass down, placed it next to Zhou Nianzhi’s, and then carefully read every word on the phone—

[Help: After I was a jerk to an ice queen, we got back together. But now she’s too clingy. What should I do?]

—The End—