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Novel Catalog
Chapter 43
Lin Yuzhen’s face turned bright red, and she quickly adjusted her clothes, flustered by Jiang Ning’s teasing. “Well… you could have knocked, just in case!”
Jiang Ning chuckled, stepping further into the room. “You’re the one keeping track of expenses now?” He glanced at the notebook filled with meticulous numbers and calculations. “Are you really going to track every penny after today?”
She sighed, brushing her hair away from her face in mild embarrassment. “I just don’t want you to feel like I’m spending frivolously. You’ve already spent so much… It feels wrong to not at least keep track.”
Jiang Ning’s expression softened as he sat down beside her. “You don’t need to worry about that. I told you already—today is about you both enjoying yourselves, not about the cost. You don’t have to keep track of anything.”
Lin Yuzhen hesitated for a moment, her fingers nervously tapping the pen. “I know, but it’s hard to just forget about it. I can’t just let you spend without thinking.”
Jiang Ning smiled and gently took the notebook from her hand, setting it aside on the desk. “I understand, but you can stop worrying about that. I’m not going to let either of you feel uncomfortable about it anymore.”
She looked at him, still feeling conflicted but grateful. “You’ve done so much for us already. I just don’t want to be a burden.”
Jiang Ning reached over and gently took her hand, his voice calm and reassuring. “You’re not a burden, Yuzhen. If I can give you peace of mind and see you and your mother happy, that’s all that matters.”
Lin Yuzhen felt her heart flutter at his words. There was something about Jiang Ning that made her feel safe and cared for, something that no one else had ever made her feel before. And even though she wasn’t ready to admit it yet, she knew that she was starting to rely on him more than she ever expected.
Before she could respond, the sound of Su Mei calling from the kitchen interrupted them. “Dinner’s ready, you two! Come help me set the table.”
Jiang Ning stood up, smiling as he stretched. “I’ll get the bags for dinner. You go help your mum.”
Lin Yuzhen followed him out of the room, feeling a warmth in her chest as they moved together through the house. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but in that moment, she couldn’t deny that things were changing between them—slowly, but undeniably.
As they set the table together, Su Mei glanced over at them with a soft smile. “Thank you both for today. It’s been a while since we’ve had such a nice time.”
Jiang Ning looked at her with a smile. “You deserve it, Su Mei.”
Lin Yuzhen caught the look between them and felt a twinge of something unfamiliar—a warmth, but also a knot in her stomach. She couldn’t help but wonder if things between her and Jiang Ning were moving in a direction she wasn’t quite prepared for.
But for now, as they sat down for dinner, she pushed those thoughts aside. Tonight was for family, for enjoying the moment. And for once, she let herself relax and enjoy the simple happiness that Jiang Ning had brought into their lives.
