Chapter 96: You’re My Substitute

Ning Qing flashed a flirtatious smile at Lu Shaoming. “Shaoming, I told you long ago that I grew up with CEO Xu. He’s now my brother in law and we are family.”

Lu Shaoming understood from the girl’s eyes that she was trying to explain. He smiled and gave Ning Qing a comforting gaze.

Everyone had dinner in silence but no one knew that the two men who were sitting opposite one another met gazes. Suddenly, there were sparks all over.

…

After dinner, the few men were chatting in the living room while Ning Qing went upstairs to see her grandma.

She pushed the room door open and her grandma was playing piano at the side of the room. Her grandma didn’t know how to play; she was merely tapping on the keys playfully with her fingers as she randomly hummed a song.

“Grandma.” Ning Qing walked over and stood behind her grandma as she massaged her shoulders.

Ning Qing used to massage her grandma’s shoulders in the past. Hence, her grandma turned around delightedly and hugged Ning Qing’s waist like a child. She chuckled and said, “Qingqing, why haven’t you come to visit Grandma for so long? Grandma is so bored and I’ve missed baby Qingqing like crazy.”

Ning Qing looked down at Grandma’s white hair as her eyes welled up with tears. Actually, her grandma’s health had been well. If it weren’t for the tumble down the stairs a few years back, her grandma would likely live a long life.

Ning Qing held her grandma’s hand and squatted down slowly. “Grandma, we will leave this room tomorrow. Qingqing will bring you back to Qingqing’s for some time.”

“Leave? Why?”

“Hasn’t Grandma missed Qingqing? Grandma, come and stay with Qingqing. Then, Qingqing will keep Grandma company every day and play piano for you every day.”

“Play piano? Yes, that’s great!” Grandma clapped happily.

As Grandma had the awareness of a child, she was easily made happy. Ning Qing and her Grandma made a pinky promise that it would never change for a hundred years.

“Mom.” Li Meiling walked in as Ning Yao followed behind.

“Who’s your Mom?” Grandma wasn’t nice to Li Meiling, and rolled her eyes at her.

Li Meiling walked forward and smiled. “Mom, Qingqing will bring you away tomorrow. Can you not go? Qingqing doesn’t have anything nice to eat nor does she have a piano and there are many strangers. All of them are very fierce…”

“Li Meiling, shut up! Don’t try to scare my grandma. Does your husband know that you’ve been treating Grandma like this?” Ning Qing cut Li Meiling off coldly.

“Exactly! I want to be with my granddaughter. If you dare to break us apart, I’ll tell my son to divorce you!” With Ning Qing around, her grandma stood up and put her hands on her waist as she reprimanded Li Meiling.

Li Meiling gave Ning Yao a look. “Grandma, Qingqing is your granddaughter but Yaoyao is also your granddaughter. You can’t be biased.”

Ning Qing walked forward and held Grandma’s arm intimately, “Grandma, I’m Yaoyao and you’re also my grandma. Don’t you love me too?”

Grandma started to panic and wanted to bat Ning Yao’s hand away. “Who are you? Don’t call me “Grandma”. I only have one granddaughter, Qingqing. Whose illegitimate child are you? How dare you ruin my Ning family. Don’t blame me for being rude.”

Ning Qing saw that her grandma was starting to grow emotional and she suspected that Grandma may have already found out about Li Meiling before she had rolled down the stairs.

“Ning Yao, let go. You’re scaring Grandma!” Ning Qing pushed Ning Yao.

“No way, we are both Ning Zhenguo’s daughter! Why is Grandma so biased?” Ning Yao gripped Grandma’s arm tightly.

“Ah, it hurts…” The pain from her arm triggered Grandma’s nerves and her face grew pale as she wailed.

“Ning Yao, what are you doing? Let go!”

The situation in the room suddenly grew chaotic. Grandma was stomping her foot in pain as Ning Qing pushed Ning Yao. However, Ning Yao and her mom clenched their teeth as they held onto Grandma. They couldn’t live well and they wouldn’t let anyone else either.

In the chaos, a voice could be heard. “What are you doing?” Xu Junxi walked in.

“Junxi, you come just in time. Sister is fighting over Grandma with me but I loathe for Grandma to leave. I don’t want Grandma to leave,” Ning Yao said.

Ning Qing stared at Ning Yao in disdain. The wicked one looked pretty even when she was complaining.

“Ah!” Suddenly, there was a scream. It turned out that Grandma had lowered her head to bite Ning Yao when Xu Junxi walked in.

Ning Yao felt pain and she quickly let go.

As they were pulling and pushing vigorously, Ning Yao’s sudden release of her grip made Ning Qing and her grandma fall backwards. As Grandma was going to fall, Ning Qing pushed her and her grandma fell towards the soft mattress by the side.

Ning Qing felt a sharp pain at her waist. She reckoned that she hit on the sharp corner of the piano. She tripped and fell back heavily.

The expected pain didn’t come. “Ning Qing!” Suddenly, someone managed to catch her by her waist. As she was about to fall on the ground, there was someone under her who became a human mattress.

It was Xu Junxi.

Then, there was a bunch of noise. The table lamp on the side bed table fell on the carpet.

Ning Qing’s tears flowed down immediately. Her waist hurt really badly and there must be a bruise.

The man under her let out a deep groan while Ning Qing felt warmth and moist in her hand but she didn’t know where she had touched.

She picked herself up with her hand and someone shouted, “Ah, blood!”

Ning Qing’s eyes contracted and she quickly got off of Xu Junxi. Both of her hands held Xu Junxi’s head. He hit the side bed table and the back of his head started bleeding.

“Hey, Xu Junxi, are you okay?” Ning Qing carefully put him into her arms and patted his face gently.

Xu Junxi’s eyes finally had focus as his handsome eyebrows knitted tightly. Until the pain went away, he looked at the familiar and delicate face.

She cried.

There were two rows of tears that flowed down her smooth porcelain cheeks. The last drop dripped on his dry lips. The tear was bitter; it was for him.

Xu Junxi was deeply moved.

Ning Qing saw that Xu Junxi was conscious and she knew that he was fine. Although he had done many ridiculous things to her, she didn’t want him to die.

She didn’t know why he saved her. In fact, she really didn’t need him to save her.

“Junxi, are you okay?” Ning Yao came back to reality and ran forward. She squatted down and wanted to grab Xu Junxi back from Ning Qing’s arms.

However, Ning Yao saw that Xu Junxi moved and extended his hand slowly. He touched Ning Qing face and spoke in his hoarse and quivering voice. There was also pity, “Qingqing, don’t cry.”

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That caught Ning Yao off guard.

She wasn’t even a shadow in Xu Junxi’s eyes. He looked up at Ning Qing with a passionate and gentle gaze. Qingqing, now that hadn’t been heard in a long time. They said that one sees love when there’s life and death. He hit his head and he couldn’t think straight. He only had the one woman in his eyes, Ning Qing!

Ning Qing then realized that she had cried. It was too painful when she hit her waist. Her tears flowed down in an instant but they had already dried up then.

But wait, would Xu Junxi think that she was shedding tears for him?

It was a great misunderstanding.

Li Meiling saw the scene and there was viciousness in her eyes. But then, there was a figure in the corner of her eyes. She turned around and smiled, “Young Master Lu, you are here?”

Lu Shaoming had been standing by the door, no one knew how long he had been watching.

Ning Qing looked towards the door and met Lu Shaoming’s deep gaze. There was a series of complicated emotions in his eyes. It was as though they were very far apart. She couldn’t see clearly.

“Shaoming…” Ning Qing called and instinctively wanted to walk to him.

However, Xu Junxi’s hand was on her face while her hands were carrying his head and Xu Junxi was in her arms.

Ning Qing was stunned. It was such an ambiguous position, he probably misunderstood.

Ning Qing quickly let go of Xu Junxi.

Then, Ning Zhenguo called the family doctor and the doctor came to wrap Xu Junxi’s head. Ning Qing stood up and walked out the door.

But as she walked, her grandma pulled her hand. She turned around and saw that her grandma’s face was as pale as a bedsheet and she was distressed.

“Qingqing.” Grandma lost her childish and playfulness. Her face was covered with wrinkles. She pulled Ning Qing to the side of the bed.

Ning Qing was worried about her grandma. Then, she sat down and looked at Lu Shaoming. The man didn’t leave but stood by the door handsomely as he watched her in silence.

Ning Qing felt at ease temporarily.

“Junxi, come here and sit.” Her grandma extended her hand and called Xu Junxi over.

Xu Junxi had his head bandaged. He walked over and sat on the other side of her grandma.

Her grandma sighed and put Ning Qing’s hand into Xu Junxi’s. She said calmly, “Junxi, Grandma can tell that you love Qingqing. You really didn’t disappoint Grandma. I can’t live for long. In the future, if anyone were to bully Qingqing, you have to protect her. I passed Qingqing to you long ago.”

Ning Qing’s hand touched Xu Junxi and she quickly withdrew it.

Actually, she wanted to explain her relationship with Lu Shaoming to her grandma but she was worried that her grandma couldn’t accept it as she was stubborn. She thought it was definitely not the best time to explain it.

But, she wouldn’t put on a show with Xu Junxi anymore. She had Lu Shaoming and he had Ning Yao. She didn’t want to become entangled in an ambiguous relationship with him.

She felt her grandma stiffen and Ning Qing quickly hugged her grandma’s shoulder affectionately as she leaned her head against her grandma’s shoulder. She acted bashfully and called, “Grandma!”

Xu Junxi was wide awake. He saw that she’d shed two drops of tears earlier but she quickly put him down the moment she saw Lu Shaoming by the door. She then kept her distance from him. In her heart, Lu Shaoming was important.

It seemed like he had misinterpreted the situation when he wiped away her tears.

Xu Junxi didn’t stop her when she retrieved her hand. He told Grandma, “Grandma, Qingqing likes another man now. She doesn’t need me, you pass her to someone else.”

Ning Qing never thought Xu Junxi would be so shameless. Grandma was frightened earlier and he still wanted to provoke her.

“What?” Grandma was shocked. The old lady’s drip lips were moving confusedly. “Qingqing, is what Junxi said true?”

Ning Qing looked normal and continued to play coy. “Grandma, Qingqing doesn’t like anyone, only Grandma.”

She loathed to provoke her Grandma but she could only redirect the topic.

Her Grandma chuckled and quickly relaxed. She touched Ning Qing’s face and exhorted solemnly, “Grandma knew Qingqing liked Grandma but Qingqing likes Junxi too. There are many bad men outside. Don’t be cheated. You and Junxi have known each other for twenty years. No one could affect your relationship.”

Ning Qing heard this and felt unhappy. She lifted her gaze and looked to the door. What she saw was only a parting shadow. It was Lu Shaoming, showing only coldness and sorrow.

Lu Shaoming left.

Ning Qing’s smile suddenly became forceful because she knew that he was definitely angry.

But then, she didn’t have any better choice.

She could only comfort him later.

…

Lu Shaoming put both of his hands in his pockets as he overlooked the scenery outside the window. Then, “Young Master Lu.” Xu Junxi walked to him from behind. “Let’s chat.”

Lu Shaoming turned around to look at him. He smirked. “Sure.”

Xu Junxi stood by his head and said slowly, “I’ve known Ning Qing for twenty years. Ever since we were born, we’ve both existed in one another’s lives.”

“Ning Qing has been beautiful since her youth. She was a beautiful girl, sweet and kind. Everyone likes her. I’ve liked her since the first time I laid eyes on her. During summer nights when we were eight, she especially liked to read in the green field. I’d catch fireflies and keep them in the lantern. She would laugh very happily when she saw them.”

“When she was twelve, she already knew how to take care of others. There was this one time that I cut my hand. She cried for a very long time. She hugged me and said, ‘Brother Junxi, Qingqing helps you to blow your wound and the pain will go away…’ Phew.”

“When she was fourteen, she had her period and she was so badly frightened. It was me who bought her a sanitary pad and underwear. She left the bathroom with tears hanging on her face. I hugged her and kissed her cheek for the first time…”

Lu Shaoming heard and lifted the corners of his thin lips higher. He cut him off and said, “CEO Xu, if you are recalling the past? Did you recall the wrong person? To me, I’m more curious of why you share so many memories with Ning Qing, but you’re with Ning Yao now?”

Xu Junxi was taking a stroll down the memory lane happily but Lu Shaoming broke his little daydream when he mentioned Ning Yao’s name. He then came back to reality.

He looked towards Lu Shaoming and his eyes were cold, but there was no taunting gaze. Actually, he’d only said that to make him jealous but Lu Shaoming was unaffected.

Looking at a guy like this, maybe he couldn’t match up.

Such feelings were provoking. Xu Junxi got angry but he laughed. “Yes, it’s my fault that I loved Ning Yao after all that. But the more one loves, the more one hates, which was the reason why Ning Qing was so cruel to me. However, she shed tears for me because I saved her and I got injured. A woman sheds tears for a man uncontrollably. Young Master Lu, you understand what it meant, right?”

“Plus, before her grandma, Ning Qing’s point of view was definite. You’re only an outsider while I am her fiance forever!”

Lu Shaoming stood straight and frowned. He smiled faintly and said, “CEO Xu, don’t beat around the bush; be straightforward.”

“What I want to say is that Ning Qing loves me. Young Master Lu only got between us at our weakest point. You appeared beside her when she was at her loneliest, when she needed a companion. She accepted you naturally and it had nothing to do with love. You are Ning Qing’s means of fighting loneliness, but you’re only my substitute!”