Chapter 51

In an instant, Ning Yuxuan felt her heart rate spike to one hundred and ten.

At first, thinking she was just having a casual chat with Xie Zhiyan, Ning Yuxuan hadn't given any thought to soundproofing, leaving the door ajar.

Then, somehow, the conversation had shifted to the topic of a contract marriage.

Ning Yuxuan quickly retraced her steps in her mind, recalling everything she and Xie Zhiyan had just said.

Fortunately, the latter part of their discussion had revolved entirely around how to buy a house, without mentioning the contract again.

And judging by Ning Fei's expression, she didn't seem to have heard those parts.

Looking at her mother, Ning Yuxuan hesitated and said, "Mom, Xie Zhiyan and I were just chatting casually..."

Sensing her daughter's hesitation, Ning Fei offered a comforting smile. "How about this, let's go downstairs and have dinner first, and you can tell Mom the details later when you have time."

Even though Ning Fei was quite shocked inside, she still prioritized her daughter's feelings above all else.

When she had pulled her daughter aside earlier, it was a momentary lapse in self-control after the initial shock. Now, having calmed down a little, she felt she shouldn't rush or pressure her daughter.

Ning Yuxuan: "...... Mm."

Arriving at the dining room, the housekeeper had already prepared several homestyle dishes, all of them Ning Yuxuan's favorites.

Ning Fei seemed somewhat absent-minded.

In her mind, she kept replaying the conversation she had just overheard between her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend.

From the sound of it, it seemed Xie Zhiyan was more inclined toward buying a house sooner, while her daughter hadn't expressed any opposition, just not being quite as enthusiastic as Xie Zhiyan.

Ning Fei remembered that it was only last week when her daughter had confessed to being with Xie Zhiyan, and all things considered, the time they had spent together didn't even add up to a full month.

A month ago, her daughter was still with that ex-boyfriend.

Her daughter was not the kind of person to play the field, and furthermore, Ning Fei knew better than anyone how deeply her daughter had loved that young man from the Gu family.

How could her daughter be thinking about entering into marriage with Xie Zhiyan so quickly?

Or were the two of them simply planning to buy a house and cohabitate first?

Ning Fei found herself increasingly unable to keep up with her daughter's train of thought.

Lost in her thoughts, her movements slowed down accordingly.

Ning Fei picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks, placing it in her bowl, and didn't touch it for a long time.

Seeing Ning Fei like this, Ning Yuxuan raised her head and locked eyes with Xie Zhiyan.

Ning Yuxuan couldn't help glaring at Xie Zhiyan: It's all your fault, insisting on talking about buying a house; now Mom has definitely heard it.

The next moment, Xie Zhiyan gave a light cough.

Ning Fei snapped back to reality with a start, looking apologetically at her daughter's boyfriend. "I'm sorry, Zhiyan. Look at me, I suppose hosting the show has been so exhausting that I zoned out without realizing it. Come on, you and Xuanxuan eat more, don't let me affect your appetites."

Xie Zhiyan smiled and nodded.

"Aunt Ning," Xie Zhiyan said again.

Ning Fei: "Hmm? What is it?"

Xie Zhiyan set down his chopsticks and said earnestly, "I'm sorry, Auntie. The matter of buying a house was something I brought up with Xuanxuan unilaterally. Perhaps I was a bit too hasty."

Ning Fei was taken aback, not expecting Xie Zhiyan to bring this up at the dinner table.

Ning Yuxuan was also stunned, silently watching Xie Zhiyan.

Xie Zhiyan continued unhurriedly, "Auntie, I'm not sure if Xuanxuan has mentioned this to you, but when Xuanxuan and I got together, I was the one who pursued her actively."

For a moment, Ning Fei didn't know what Xie Zhiyan's intention was in bringing this up. After pondering for a moment, she answered truthfully, "...Yes, Xuanxuan told me."

Xie Zhiyan said warmly, "Between Xuanxuan and me, I'm the more proactive one, and I'm the one who loves her more. Sometimes, it's inevitable that I get a bit too impatient. If there's anything inappropriate on my part, Auntie, you don't need to hold back—just tell me directly, and I'll be mindful of it."

Ning Fei was startled for two seconds.

Since the other person had already put it that way, Ning Fei thought for a moment and simply stopped beating around the bush.

"Zhiyan," Ning Fei began, "I am entirely supportive of you and Xuanxuan being together. Two days ago, Xinmei and I also spoke on the phone. We are both very happy that you two kids can be together. As for when to take the next step, it depends entirely on your personal wishes. I fully respect my daughter's decision; as long as she agrees, I won't object."

She had made herself very clear: as long as Ning Yuxuan agreed, she, as a mother, would support it.

Conversely, if her daughter was unwilling, she would undoubtedly stand firmly by her daughter's side.

Xie Zhiyan: "Auntie, I understand what you mean. Xuanxuan and I will discuss things and come to a mutual decision; I will never force her into anything."

Ning Fei smiled faintly: "Good."

Hearing this, Ning Yuxuan felt a slight sting in her nose: "Mom..."

Ning Fei patted her daughter's hand soothingly: "Xuanxuan, as long as it's a choice you've thought through and made yourself, Mom will support you one hundred percent."

Ning Yuxuan bit the corner of her lip: "I know, Mom."

Ning Fei chuckled softly: "All right, let's eat first, hmm?"

Ning Yuxuan nodded.

With everything brought out into the open, Ning Fei had sorted her own thoughts out as well.

If it were in the past, had her daughter told her she had thoughts of getting married, Ning Fei would have disagreed one hundred percent.

On the one hand, that unreliable young man from the Gu family was part of it; on the other hand, Ning Fei was worried her daughter was still too naive and might make an impulsive decision she would later regret.

However, ever since her daughter's breakup last time and her subsequent help in managing the hotel, Ning Fei could sense the changes in her.

Her daughter had matured a lot compared to before, no longer that impulsive little girl who acted on whims, and now possessed her own thoughts and opinions.

Furthermore, although her daughter and Xie Zhiyan hadn't been together for long, they had known each other long enough. It looked like Xie Zhiyan was wholeheartedly devoted to her daughter, so settling down a bit earlier wasn't a bad thing.

Of course, it was also because both the Xie and Ning families knew each other inside and out, and Ning Fei and Zheng Xinmei were decades-long friends who had practically watched Xie Zhiyan grow up.

If it were anyone else, Ning Fei wouldn't feel so at ease.

The atmosphere at the table was slightly heavy, so Ning Fei smiled and changed the subject: "Xiaoyue just sent me a message saying he'll be wrapping up work soon and will call home in a bit."

Ning Yuxuan remembered: "Oh right, didn't he also say his crew is changing filming locations to another city next week and asked us to visit him on set?"

Ning Fei let out a hum: "Yes, but with all the traveling back and forth, by the time we get back from visiting the set, the next recording of your show will be starting right away. Do you want to go, Xuanxuan? If you don't want to run back and forth, I can go see Xiaoyue by myself."

In the past, whenever Ning Xiyue went out of town to film, Ning Fei would occasionally visit his set.

However, Ning Yuxuan hadn't liked going previously, saying that going only meant watching Ning Xiyue film on set, which was quite boring.

Ning Yuxuan: "I'll go. Why wouldn't I?"

Ning Fei teased: "Zhiyan should be staying in Beicheng recently, right? If you're coming with me to visit Xiaoyue's set, it will take at least three days round trip. If you stay at the crew's location for another two days, it'll be almost a week."

Catching her mother's implication, Ning Yuxuan glanced at Xie Zhiyan: "He'll be fine on his own, he doesn't need me to accompany him."

Xie Zhiyan said with a calm smile: "When are you leaving? I'll drive you to the airport."

Ning Fei hurriedly and politely declined: "No, no, there's no need to trouble you."

...

After dinner, Ning Xiyue happened to call.

Ning Fei chatted with Ning Xiyue for a bit before handing the phone to her daughter.

As soon as Ning Yuxuan took the phone, Ning Xiyue's raised voice blasted through the speaker.

"You're sneaking behind my back to bring your boyfriend home for dinner again!"

Ning Yuxuan burst out laughing: "What do you mean by sneaking? If we really want to talk about it, this is Mom's house, not yours. Whoever I want to bring home for dinner, as long as Mom agrees, isn't that enough?"

Ning Xiyue said in exasperation: "Ning Yuxuan!"

Ning Yuxuan asked with a smile: "Then should I send you a message and give you a heads-up next time Xie Zhiyan wants to come over for dinner?"

Ning Xiyue: "That's more li—"

Ning Yuxuan: "However, whether you agree or not won't affect the final outcome."

Ning Xiyue: "......"

Ning Yuxuan suppressed a smile: "Alright, did you call just to accuse me? Is there anything else you want to say?"

There was silence on the phone for a few seconds.

Ning Xiyue: "...Last night, why did you suddenly think of logging onto the game?"

Ning Yuxuan found it amusing: "Why are you still hung up on that? It was just playing two matches of a game, is it really worth holding onto until now and specifically asking me over the phone?"

Ning Xiyue argued righteously: "Whenever you saw me playing games at home before, you never once said you wanted to join me! But the moment someone else invited you, you immediately logged into that game account you hadn't touched for months. Why shouldn't I be hung up on it?!"

Ning Yuxuan blinked: "Someone else? Who?"

Ning Xiyue: "Who else could it be? Naturally... that Duan whatever-his-name guy."

Ning Yuxuan seemed to understand Ning Xiyue's train of thought: "You thought I logged onto the game because Duan Ziyao invited me to play together?"

Ning Xiyue: "Wasn't it?"

Ning Yuxuan showed rare patience in explaining: "No, it was Ning'an who asked me to play, so I agreed, and then Ning'an suggested calling Duan Ziyao along."

Ning Xiyue: "...Really?"

Ning Yuxuan: "Why would I lie to you? Besides, you've seen Jiang Ning'an's account; she plays that game all the time and has a very high rank."

Ning Xiyue: "..."

A few seconds later, Ning Xiyue said reluctantly: "Fine, I'll temporarily believe your explanation."

Ning Yuxuan: "Ning Xiyue, don't tell me you're jealous just because I played a game with someone else and didn't invite you first?"

Ning Xiyue's voice raised an octave again: "Who's jealous?! It's just some punk who hasn't even grown up properly and is thinner than a bamboo pole, and he played two games with you—what's there to be jealous of?"

Ning Yuxuan raised an eyebrow: "How do you know he's thinner than a bamboo pole? Aren't you busy filming all day? You still have time to watch the show?"

Ning Xiyue: "...I heard it from someone else, is that not allowed? Besides, isn't he some genius pro player? You can find his profile with a simple search, takes less than two minutes."

Ning Yuxuan smiled, too lazy to expose him: "Alright."

Sensing she didn't believe him, Ning Xiyue added: "And even if I were to be jealous, it wouldn't be my turn!"

Pondering Ning Xiyue's words, Ning Yuxuan felt something was a bit off.

She suddenly asked: "Ning Xiyue, did you say something to Xie Zhiyan?"

Ning Yuxuan remembered that the previous idea of checking Xie Zhiyan's phone had stemmed from her suspicion that he must have gone to the recording site to show his face for some specific reason.

Later, the topic shifted to buying a house, and the matter was sidelined.

Now that Ning Xiyue brought it up, Ning Yuxuan recalled it all over again.

Hearing this, the phone fell silent for two seconds.

Ning Xiyue: "...No, I didn't."