Because of Ning Junyan’s words, everyone at the round table in the dining area fell silent.
Yu Jie still maintained a smile on his face, he asked Ning Junyan, “Is there someone you like? Why are you not in a relationship with the person you like?”
When he heard the words, Ning Junyan turned his head and glanced at Chen Yuncheng, and then said, “The timing is not good.” He was referring to the fact that Chen Yuncheng would not allow him to disclose their relationship on such an occasion today, and since he had promised not to say anything, he really would not.
No one else understood.
Shu Rong couldn’t bear it anymore and come out to smooth things over. She said to Ning Junyan, “You worked the night shift yesterday, did you get a good rest?”
Ning Junyan said, “Fortunately, I wasn’t too busy last night.”
Yu Jie stretched out his hand and patted the back of his daughter’s hand reassuringly, then said to Ning Junyan, “Young man, if you like it, feel free to pursue it boldly, don’t care about whether the timing is good or not.” After Yu Jie said that, he looked at Shu Rong, ” Am I right?”
Shu Rong smiled and nodded.
Today was also supposed to be a day for Ning Junyan and Yu Mingli to meet, except for Shu Rong’s obvious desire to set them up, everyone else felt that love was free and it was up to fate if they could be together.
Now that Ning Junyan’s refusal attitude was obvious, Zhang Chong and the others hastened to change the subject to something else so as not to make the atmosphere even more awkward.
Chen Yuncheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was glad that Ning Junyan did not say anything more.
When they finished eating, Ning Zhang Hong and Shu Rong went to see off their guests, and Ning Junyan and Chen Yuncheng accompanied them to the parking area outside the lawn.
Chen Yuncheng saw Yu Jie and his daughter getting into the car, pressed the window and waved goodbye to the people outside, and then drove away in a natural manner.
When Zhang Chong and his wife also left, Ning Junyan said to Shu Rong, “Can I go?”
Shu Rong said, “Wait a moment, I have something to tell you.”
When they returned to the villa, Ning Zhanghong went upstairs alone without even saying anything. Chen Yuncheng stood downstairs and tilted his head to watch Ning Zhanghong’s back as he left, thinking to himself that Ning Zhanghong’s indifference was not entirely similar to Ning Junyan’s.
Shu Rong went to the kitchen and told the nanny to tidy up the living room. When she came back, she said to Chen Yuncheng, “Can we have a chat?” Her attitude was very gentle.
Chen Yuncheng originally thought that Shu Rong wanted to talk to Ning Junyan, and was a little surprised to hear her words.
At this time, Ning Junyan said coldly, “No.”
Shu Rong looked at Ning Junyan with a slightly angry look on her face but then forced herself to hold it back and still looked at Chen Yun Cheng gently.
Chen Yuncheng thought about Yu Jie’s matter, and felt that it was necessary for him to tell Shu Rong about Yu Jie’s situation, so he nodded and said, “Okay.”
Shu Rong took Chen Yuncheng to the small parlour on the second floor. She personally made a cup of tea for Chen Yuncheng and sat down opposite Chen Yuncheng.
Chen Yuncheng said, “Auntie—”
“Yuncheng,” Shu Rong interrupted him, “Where do you work now?”
Chen Yuncheng couldn’t say anything about Yu Jie, so he could only answer Shu Rong’s question first, “I don’t have a job for the time being, but I will go to a friend’s store to help out after the Chinese New Year.”
Shu Rong nodded, “I remember you’re two years younger than Jun Yan, aren’t you?”
Chen Yuncheng said, “Yes.”
Shu Rong picked up the teacup, took a shallow sip and said as she put it down, “So you’re about to be thirty, still don’t have a proper job, and are working for someone else?”
Chen Yuncheng looked at Shu Rong. Since he came back with Ning Junyan today, Shu Rong’s attitude has actually been unfriendly, but Chen Yuncheng was too distracted by Yu Jie, and only now when he heard Shu Rong’s words, he realised that Shu Rong probably was looking down on him.
With a faint feeling of discomfort in his heart, Chen Yuncheng replied in a very polite tone, “I opened a store by myself before, but it didn’t go well, so now I have to start all over again.”
Shu Rong smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter if young people fail in their careers, you just have to start all over again. Then how long do you plan to stay with Junyan?”
Chen Yuncheng didn’t answer immediately, some words twitched between his lips and teeth before he finally swallowed them down. He reminded himself that this was Ning Junyan’s mother, and he shouldn’t be rude, just as he had never been able to reject Ning Junyan with unpleasant words.
Seeing that he didn’t answer, Shu Rong continued by herself, “Junyan is more sentimental than I imagined. After all, you lived together when you were young. It’s understandable that he would be willing to give you a hand when he sees you in a bad situation. But Auntie thinks you still can’t rely on him too much, after all, you are an adult man, and you can’t rely on friends for a lifetime. It’s only real to plan for yourself early.
Chen Yuncheng put his hands on his knees, watching the tea leaves in the teacup in front of him floating on the light yellow water.
Shu Rong continued, “You all have to get married separately. You can’t have a girlfriend before you come to plan to find a place to live. It’s much less possible for you to take your girlfriend to live with him, right?”
Chen Yuncheng said slowly, “You are right.”
Shu Rong smiled, and only a few wrinkles could be seen at the corners of her eyes as she said, “There are some occasions in the future when it would be inappropriate for you to go with him. After all, you have been separated for so long and have your own different friends and different circles, there is no need to forcefully blend together, a moderate communication will do.”
As she spoke, Ning Jun Yan opened the door to the small parlour from outside and stood in the doorway saying, “Are you done talking?”
Shu Rong stood up and said to him, “We’ve almost finished chatting, I still have something I want to say to you.”
Ning Junyan walked in and stood in front of Shu Rong. From this angle, he just completely blocked Chen Yuncheng who was sitting opposite Shu Rong, “Go ahead.”
Shu Rong no longer had the gentle smile she had when facing Chen Yuncheng, she frowned slightly and said, “What’s your attitude towards the guests today?”
Ning Junyan said, “Which guest are you referring to? If it’s that lady, since I don’t have that intention, wouldn’t it be best to make my attitude clear before it’s too late?”
Shu Rong said, “You are already thirty years old! Don’t you know what to do at what age?”
Ning Junyan said, “I don’t need you to make arrangements for me.”
Shu Rong took a step forward, “That’s fine. Since you have someone you like, you can bring her back so I can take a look.”
When Ning Junyan heard the words, he turned his head and glanced at Chen Yuncheng.
At this moment, Chen Yuncheng’s mood calmed down, and he didn’t react when he saw Ning Junyan looking at him.
Ning Junyan turned his head and said, “There will be a day like that.” After he finished speaking, he turned and walked towards Chen Yuncheng, “Let’s go.”
Chen Yuncheng stood up from the sofa, and said to Shu Rong, “Auntie, we’ll leave first then.”
Shu Rong smiled, “Take care, I won’t see you off.”
Ning Junyan and Chen Yuncheng went downstairs, and the nanny sent them outside the door. The sun was still shining in the morning, but in the afternoon the sun was covered by clouds again, the tables and chairs on the lawn had been arranged to one side, and a cold breeze was blowing on them in the open environment.
Chen Yuncheng remained silent.
After they got into the car, Ning Junyan raised his hand to fasten the seat belt. He did not rush to start the car, but looked at Chen Yuncheng and asked, “What did my mother say to you?”
Chen Yuncheng just hummed and turned his head, “Nothing. We just chatted.”
“Couldn’t tell me?” Ning Junyan asked.
Chen Yuncheng said, “No, it’s just that you must have heard what she said from her as well, it doesn’t mean much.”
Ning Junyan looked at him without speaking.
Chen Yuncheng reached out and pressed his hand on the back of Ning Junyan’s hand, “Let’s go back.”
Only then did Ning Junyan start the car and go home.
That night, Chen Yuncheng sat on the sofa as he stared at the television in a daze, and Ning Junyan was beside him, reading literature with his laptop on his lap.
The sound of the TV was turned on very low, the fluorescent screen kept flickering, and the images reflected in Chen Yuncheng’s eyes were constantly changing, but his mind was not on what was playing on the television at all.
Shu Rong’s words today are meaningless, her attitude and purpose could not be more simple; she just didn’t like Chen Yuncheng, and she wanted Chen Yuncheng to stay away from Ning Jun.
Chen Yuncheng had grown up as an orphan, and he grew up alone. He had never met anyone and had never suffered any grievances. He could easily understand the meaning of Shu Rong’s words, but he would not belittle himself because Shu Rong looked down on him, but he still cared.
Something Shu Rong had said had struck a chord in his heart. What was his relationship with Ning Junyan now? Even if they were in a relationship, Ning Junyan was the one who provided him with a peaceful environment and let him sleep in his warm embrace every night. He had too few days of being loved and favoured by others, and if he was not careful, he would Indulge in it.
He knew that Ning Junyan had deep feelings for him, and he was not willing to hurt Ning Junyan, otherwise he would have already considered moving out. Shu Rong’s words now were just another reminder for him to think carefully about whether it was okay for him to enjoy everything Ning Junyan had paid for him with his feelings, just like the clothes he was wearing now, or even the underwear inside were bought for him by Ning Junyan.
He wanted a more reciprocal and grounded relationship.
Chen Yuncheng’s mobile phone was sitting on the coffee table in front of him, and the screen lit up without warning, and the caller ID showed a call from Guan Anlin.
He sent a message to Guan Anlin in the afternoon, asking when Guan Anlin would come back, but the other party never replied, so he did not expect to make a phone call right now.
Ning Junyan raised his head and glanced at his mobile phone screen, his slender legs resting on the coffee table shifted a little, and then looked at Chen Yuncheng.
Chen Yuncheng picked up the phone and went to the balcony next to the bathroom to answer the phone under Ning Junyan’s gaze.
As soon as the phone was connected, Guan Anlin asked, “What’s the matter? Are you going to get ready for work now?”
Chen Yuncheng leaned against the balcony guardrail, and looked in the direction of the living room, “No, I want to ask if the house you rented before. Is it convenient for me to move in now?”
Guan Anlin was taken aback by his question, and said, “I have returned the house.”
“Returned?” Chen Yuncheng was a little surprised.
Guan Anlin said, “Didn’t you ask me to do business with you? Anyway, I have very few things anyway, so I give up my house and quit my job before I go home for the New Year, waiting for you to inform me when to start work.”
Chen Yuncheng said, “It may take a while.”
“It doesn’t matter, then I’ll stay at home for a while longer,” Guan Anlin said, who hadn’t been back to his hometown for a long time.
Chen Yuncheng replied, “En”.
Guan Anlin asked him, “Did you get kicked out by that rich friend of yours?”
Chen Yuncheng’s tone was a little frustrated, “No.”
Guan Anlin said, “So what house to look for now?”
Chen Yuncheng said, “It’s nothing, I’m just asking.”
Guan Anlin said to him, “Then wait a little longer, let your rich friend accommodate you and stay for a few more days, and we will find a house to live in when I come back.”
“I understand.”
With that said, Chen Yuncheng ended the call.
He was a little distressed and squatted down on the balcony, tucking his fingers into his short hair. He felt that he was being a bit pretentious, obviously, he would be more straightforward with other people and things. However, he would think a lot about Ning Junyan’s matter, and sometimes he would even get involved in it.
He lowered his head, bumped his head against the wall, and suddenly heard Ning Junyan’s voice, “What are you doing?”
Chen Yuncheng jerked his head up and saw Ning Junyan standing in the doorway of the balcony looking at him.
The author has something to say:
I know Ning Junyan’s mother is very annoying, please repeat after me: Let’s just read the article, I’m not angry
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