Willing to Be for Her - Chapter 14

The distinctive aroma of steamed egg custard filled the air above the tablecloth adorned with a pattern of round-leaved vines. Ning Yiqing removed his glasses, his expression relaxed and his eyes half-closed.

“Xiao Xuan, I like you,” Ning Yiqing said, his porcelain-like collarbones faintly visible. His tone was as casual as ever, as if he were neither confessing his feelings nor discussing business. “But liking you won’t be the reason for my decisions.”

Luo Xuan nodded blankly, her eyes as clear and bewildered as a deer’s. “I understand.”

The woman said nothing more, graciously taking small spoonfuls of the steamed egg custard.

“Is it good?”

“Delicious,” Ning Yiqing nodded.

Luo Xuan watched Ning Yiqing finish the custard, a tiny spark of joy rising in her heart.

It felt like a special, romantic destiny. On the day they first met, she had photographed Ning Yiqing’s retreating figure, and ever since that moment, she had practiced the perfect smile for their eventual reunion.

On their wedding night, Luo Xuan finally believed that something called fate truly existed. It was as if all the bitterness she had endured over the years had transformed into a sweet prelude to this moment.

Yet she often worried that such a destined connection might be taken away by fate without warning.

*If only I could be healthier, if only I didn’t get sick…*

“Are you unhappy today?”

Luo Xuan was startled by Ning Yiqing’s sudden question. Not wanting to break the peaceful moment, she hesitated before shaking her head.

Seeing Luo Xuan’s reluctance to speak, Ning Yiqing didn’t press further. Her upbringing emphasized a measured respect for boundaries. If someone didn’t want to share, she would assume they preferred to keep their thoughts private and wouldn’t pry. It was like a cold, objective rule.

With this in mind, Luo Xuan took out her phone and found the videos she’d taken of the fireworks and rain earlier, wanting to show Ning Yiqing.

Neither fireworks nor rain were particularly remarkable on their own, but the brief moment when they combined was breathtakingly beautiful. She hoped Ning Yiqing could see it too.

The video was short. After watching it, Ning Yiqing was surprised to discover thousands of photos and videos on Luo Xuan’s phone, all capturing either evocative scenes or the simple beauty of everyday life.

“Do you enjoy photography?”

Luo Xuan nodded, then quickly shook her head. “I just record beautiful but fleeting moments, afraid I’ll forget them and regret it later.”

As she finished speaking, she noticed Ning Yiqing gently close her eyes, her lashes casting a delicate, fan-shaped shadow across her cheek.

The atmosphere grew silent as Ning Yiqing’s aura calmed, her breathing soft and languid, heavy with unspoken longing.

“You don’t need me to make it up to you?”

“But you’re wonderful.”

“You trust me that much?”

Outside the window, the night deepened, its distant lights flickering faintly, their glow mingling with Luo Xuan’s transparent, childlike innocence in the woman’s eyes.

“Why wouldn’t I trust you?” Luo Xuan didn’t understand the question. Liking someone was simple, even if it might lead to loss.

“Star, don’t think too highly of me,” Ning Yiqing’s gaze was gentle and lingering, yet as elusive as a dense fog. “Make a request. Let me make up for breaking our promise.”

“Make me a bowl of steamed egg custard.”

“That’s all?” Ning Yiqing lowered her head, her eyes downcast as she took Luo Xuan’s hand and began toying with it.

The girl’s fingers were long and cool, their pale skin so delicate that even the faint calluses on her fingertips held a unique charm that Ning Yiqing found herself drawn to.

“I’m very particular,” Luo Xuan said, her voice light and playful. “The egg custard has to be incredibly soft, with a touch of tomato juice, no scallions, and a drizzle of sesame oil. Oh, and add me on WeChat.”

“Anything else?”

“I want to see the ocean,” Luo Xuan smiled, her face radiant with youthful energy. “But I can’t travel far alone.”

Ning Yiqing’s lips curved into a faint smile. She removed her cashmere shawl, her satin-smooth skin shimmering with a hazy glow. “I’ll remember that.”

In the following weeks, Luo Xuan focused on preparing for graduation and attending regular hospital check-ups, though the results were less than encouraging.

The burning sensation in her bl00d continued to damage her glands, causing increasingly frequent coughing and nosebleeds.

Perhaps due to her approaching heat cycle, the lack of Omega pheromone to soothe her made everything even more unbearable.

However, Luo Xuan had long grown accustomed to this. The searing heat in her veins kept her awake at night, yet simultaneously sparked boundless inspiration.

Sometimes, unable to endure the physical pain, she would wander the deserted midnight streets, recording every fleeting idea.

Returning to her workshop, she would carve until her strength was utterly exhausted, then drift into a natural sleep.

“I heard that only the super powerful or art connoisseurs like you come to these auctions. Why didn’t you go with President Ning?” Chi Li asked, looking around the auction hall.

“She’s very busy,” Luo Xuan replied, glancing down at her phone. Ning Yiqing still hadn’t accepted her friend request on WeChat.

“Have you saved enough to bid on the huanghuali wood?”

“Almost.”

One by one, elegantly dressed attendees entered, presenting silver-black invitations as they escorted their partners, all dressed to impress.

Ironically, just as Chi Li went to the restroom, Luo Xuan ran into He Qiuyue—the woman who had smashed the White Sandalwood carving.

He Qiuyue stormed over, deliberately asking, “Why isn’t Yi Qing by your side?”

Luo Xuan smiled dismissively, her indifference only fueling He Qiuyue’s anger.

“Don’t think marrying Yi Qing will bind her to you. A C-Class Alpha like you doesn’t deserve her,” He Qiuyue sneered triumphantly. “Yi Qing still hasn’t marked you, has she? Do you know why?”

He Qiuyue’s words dredged up memories Luo Xuan had deliberately suppressed, causing her heart to race and a metallic, sweet taste to rise in her throat.

“Let me tell you…”

“Xuanxuanxuan, I’ve changed my suppression patch. Who’s this?” Chi Li asked, sensing the tense, territorial energy between the two Alphas.

He Qiuyue straightened her posture, her smile regaining its elegance. “It’s nothing. The auction is about to begin.”

“Xuanxuan, who is she?”

Luo Xuan shook her head.

Seeing Luo Xuan’s reluctance to speak, Chi Li didn’t press further.

She understood Luo Xuan well. Despite her usual aloofness and rebellious streak, once Luo Xuan genuinely cared for someone, she would offer them absolute, fervent trust and affection.

This held true for both friends and romantic interests.

Many disliked Luo Xuan, but that was because they failed to grasp her sincerity and passion.

The auction proceeded swiftly, and surprises followed quickly. The *huanghuali* wood was ultimately purchased by another bidder who repeatedly raised the price.

Luo Xuan and Chi Li had no choice but to leave early.

“Was that you bidding against me earlier, Sister?” Luo Wei stood before the auction hall’s grand entrance, her long, wavy hair appearing thick and jet-black in the sunlight.

Chi Li replied coldly, “Were you doing that on purpose?”

“These are all birthday gifts President Ning promised our young lady,” Luo Wei’s assistant chimed in with a timely smile.

A vintage black sedan glided to a stop before the entrance. Through the tinted windows, they could glimpse a woman in a long cashmere coat, leaning back with her eyes closed in rest.

The dimming light cast her refined, aloof features into shadow, making her seem like a distant deity, high above and only to be admired from afar.

Luo Xuan’s heart stirred slightly as she murmured the name “Ning Yiqing.”

Luo Wei, beaming, walked over to the car and returned to say:

“Sister, Yi Qing and I discussed it. She’s agreed to let you have the wood.”