âArenât you afraid I might leave after you told me the truth?â Nian Xi struggled not to laugh while asking him, âAnyway, Uncle Han will be here once I leave.â
Jiang Yuning raised his head and said, âYou wouldnât be so cruel.â His black eyes focused on her face.
After saying that, he intentionally, or not, blinked his watery eyes. He looked so pure and kind, like an innocent boy.
Nian Xi gave a long sigh. He was so good at using his pitiful face. She always became defenseless.
âAlso... I got injured because of you,â Jiang Yuning added in a weak voice.
Raising her brows, Nian Xi said, âYouâre being sneaky now. Are you gonna ask me to be responsible for you next?â
Jiang Yuning paused briefly, then murmured, âIâm not that kind of person. Two people need to like each other to be together. I want you to like me. If you donât like me, it would be meaningless to force you to be with me by using what Iâve done for you. You wonât be happy. If youâre not happy, Iâm not happy. I want you to be happy. Iâm happy if youâre happy.â
Nian Xi was a little confused. Well, what a scientist, she thought. Heâs either silent or saying confusing things.
What he said did touch her soul, though.
Some people wanted to be with someone they liked selfishly, without caring if they would be happy or not.
âIf....I fell in love with someone else, would you set me free to make me happy?â she asked him.
Jiang Yuning frowned slightly. His eyes showed slight sadness. âDidnât I do that already?â he said.
Nian Xi suddenly recalled what happened in France. She was stunned.
âI thought... I thought you got back together with your ex-boyfriend,â Jiang Yuning said honestly in a sad voice. âYou said you couldnât forget him, so I gave up. But then I learned that you were lying to me. Since youâre single, I want to stay with you. Iâm good. Iâm quiet. If you met someone you like, I... Iâd leave...â
âStop it.â Nian Xiâs heart even ached. If she pretended as if nothing happened when hearing someone say something like that to her, she would be heartless.
âJiang Yuning, listen to me.â Nian Xi breathed deeply and said, âYou donât need to put yourself in such a low place. You are an outstanding scientist. You are wonderful. You are capable, and you have brought honor to your country. You easily got me out of the building when the fire broke out on the ninth floor. You are so much better than the others. You should be pursued by women. Do you know that?â
Jiang Yuning was astounded to hear that. Was he such a great guy in her eyes? After a long silence, he finally got his voice back.
âIt wasnât easy to bring you down from the ninth floor. It was exhausting.â
Nian Xi honestly didnât know what to say.
Was that the only thing that popped into his mind after she said so much to him?
âAnd... Are you... going to pursue me?â Jiang Yuning asked expectantly.
Nian Xi stuttered, âEh... thatâs not what I meant...â
How was she supposed to pursue him? She had never done that before.
âIf you pursued me, Iâd say yes right away.â Jiang Yuning dropped his head, smiling shyly.
Nian Xi considered herself a thick-skinned person, yet at the moment her face was bright red.
She was cold earlier, but why was she feeling so hot now?
She coughed slightly and hurriedly changed the topic. âLet me see your wounds.â