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Bonus chapter! Thank you to Chocco for the donation! ^^
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Hearing about Shi Tianzhu's situation, he decided to share his own memories with her—this was an angle Ning Su hadn't anticipated.
After listening to Ning Changfeng's words, Ning Su found them sincere and straightforward.
He just didn’t know what Shi Tianzhu was thinking.
In the early autumn courtyard, the fence was covered with pink and white roses, the scent of osmanthus filled the air, and the heads of black marsh flowers swayed gently, turning toward the dining table under the flower trellis.
Around the long elmwood table, Ling Xiao and Shi Tianzhu sat at either end. The two children sat opposite each other on either side of Shi Tianzhu, while Ning Su and Ning Changfeng sat facing each other on either side of Ling Xiao. No one spoke.
After about a minute, Shi Tianzhu asked, “You won’t lie to me?”
Ning Changfeng replied, “I won’t.”
“Good,” Shi Tianzhu said. “Then tell me, what is your relationship with Ning Su?”
“…”
Ning Su blinked, momentarily stunned.
Ning Changfeng also froze.
Even Ling Xiao paused mid-bite.
None of the three men had expected Shi Tianzhu to ask this so suddenly.
Shi Tianzhu began eating again. She hadn’t expected Ning Su’s cooking to be so delicious, and she was thoroughly enjoying the meal.
In truth, after emerging from the <Shared Memories> instance and considering Ning Su’s words before and after, she was starting to believe that Ning Changfeng might not be as despicable as she had thought.
Since their first encounter in that initial instance, every time they met, they had schemed against each other. Over the years, misunderstandings and conflicts had only piled up. But now, guided by Ning Su, she had gained a new perspective on Ning Changfeng.
With this new perspective, she saw Ning Changfeng more broadly and noticed more details.
For example, Ning Changfeng and Ning Su.
She knew Ning Changfeng was a solitary person, somewhat proud. He had been in the game for four or five years without making many friends. So why was he so close to Ning Su, who had just entered the game not long ago?
So close that he personally went to the exit to pick up Ning Su after he emerged from an instance—this wasn’t just ordinary friendship; it was almost clingy.
She also understood Ning Su. She still remembered their first instance together. Ning Su had seemed small and soft on the outside, but he carried a deep wariness toward others. Though that wariness had faded over time, he still had few deeply connected friends in the instances, mostly those he had entered with.
He was also exceptionally good to Ning Changfeng—so good that he, who usually avoided meddling in others’ affairs, would speak up for Ning Changfeng in front of her and even give him the key to his home. For someone naturally guarded around people, this was no simple gesture of kindness.
Since they both shared the surname Ning, Shi Tianzhu wondered if there might be some connection between them.
Ning Changfeng tightened his grip on the chopsticks in his hand. He knew this was Shi Tianzhu testing him.
If he didn’t lie to her this time, Shi Tianzhu would probably believe him. From then on, they would no longer be adversaries; their relationship would start anew.
Before, he didn’t understand why Ning Su kept this from Shi Tianzhu. In his view, Shi Tianzhu wasn’t the type to be with someone just because of a child.
Later, he understood.
If being with a woman meant Ning Su would cease to exist, he would hesitate too.
If Shi Tianzhu loved Ning Su as much as he did but didn’t love him, could he really use Ning Su to bind her to him?
Perhaps he could have before, but now, Ning Changfeng hesitated.
He couldn’t quite explain why.
If he revealed that he and Ning Su were father and son, it would inevitably steer Shi Tianzhu’s thoughts from “siblings” to “mother and son.”
Ning Changfeng said, "I can’t tell you."
What could it be that he couldn’t tell her, especially if he was willing to share all his memories?
Shi Tianzhu glanced at him and replied, "Alright."
Ning Su kicked Ning Changfeng under the table.
Ning Changfeng remained silent, just burying himself in drinking water.
Ning Su looked up at Shi Tianzhu. "President, what about you and Ning Changfeng, then? This…?"
Shi Tianzhu said to Ning Changfeng, "I’m sorry for everything over the years. And thank you for taking care of me in the instance."
Ning Changfeng rested his wrist on the wooden table, his long fingers gripping the glass tightly. After more than ten seconds, he finally said, "Likewise, President Shi. Let’s leave the past behind us and start over."
Ning Su exclaimed, "Great!"
He raised his glass cheerfully. "Congratulations to President and Ning Changfeng for clearing up the misunderstanding and starting anew."
Gui Sheng echoed, "Start anew!"
Following their lead, everyone clinked glasses briefly.
The purpose of this gathering had been achieved, and Ning Su was very happy. He continued to create opportunities for the two to get to know each other better.
He asked Ning Changfeng, "You said you haven’t done anything shameful and that sharing your memories with the president wouldn’t be a problem. Is it really true that there’s nothing embarrassing at all?"
Ning Changfeng replied, "Nothing shameful, but there are plenty of embarrassing moments."
"I’ve been an orphan since childhood, struggling to survive on my own. It’s impossible not to have done embarrassing things."
Shi Tianzhu looked at him in surprise. "I wouldn’t have guessed."
Ning Changfeng said, "Right? It’s hard to imagine someone with no parents or family, beaten down by society since childhood, still having so much pride, isn’t it?"
"It’s precisely because I had to deal with so many hypocritical relationships in the past, and it was exhausting, that I didn’t want to interact with people after entering the game."
Shi Tianzhu said, "I felt the same way at first."
Ning Changfeng smiled. "I know."
She had just turned ten when she entered the game, but navigating the complexities of her family wasn’t any easier than what he had faced.
When he first entered the instance, he heard others talk about Shi Tianzhu and felt her name suited her perfectly—a privileged daughter, cherished from birth.
It was only later, in the dungeon, that he realized the hidden sorrows of a young girl born into a prominent family.
Her struggles might not have been any easier than those of an orphan fighting to survive in the mud.
Shi Tianzhu was taken aback for a moment. She lowered her head and took a sip of water without saying a word.
Ning Su: "..."
For some reason, he suddenly felt that he and Ling Xiao, along with the two children, were a bit superfluous.
This gathering had gone even better than Ning Su had imagined.
After the meal, he and Ling Xiao went to the kitchen to check on the two children washing dishes. Quietly, he asked Ling Xiao, "Why did Ning Changfeng suddenly decide not to tell the president? He wasn’t like this before."
Ling Xiao thought for a moment. "Perhaps it’s because Ning Changfeng has fallen for Shi Tianzhu."
Ning Su: "?"
"If he likes the president, shouldn’t he want her to know even more? If he didn’t like her, he wouldn’t care if she knew, right?"
Ling Xiao looked at Ning Su for a long time before suddenly laughing softly. "When you truly like someone, they become like a treasure. How could you bear to bind or restrain them?"
"Moreover, when it comes to loving someone, the purity of the emotion is crucial. A person with self-respect and pride would mind if the other was with them for reasons other than genuine affection."
Ning Su suddenly understood, "So my dad wanted the president to be with him solely because she liked him!"
Ling Xiao: "Pretty much."
"Wait, that's not right." Ning Su looked at Ling Xiao with confusion. "How do you, with hardly any memories, understand this better than me, someone who's read tons of romance novels?"
Ling Xiao met his gaze and said, "I'm a man, of course I understand how he feels."
Ning Su: "And I'm not?"
Ling Xiao: "..."
