Diamond Ring (26)

Ning Moqing’s clothes were oversized on An Xiaowei, making her look petite and adorably soft. Watching An Xiaowei fumble clumsily with the buttons, Ning Moqing raised a hand to her lips, letting out a faint chuckle.

Now that she’d become a girl, she looked much cuter than before.

“Heading straight home? Or should I take you out somewhere?” Ning Moqing checked the time—there wasn’t much else to do at this hour.

“No need.” An Xiaowei honestly didn’t have the energy for fun.

“Let’s go see the night view. The scenery at West Suburb is nice—plenty of barbecue stalls, open grass, and people picnicking there.” Without waiting for a reply, Ning Moqing ushered An Xiaowei into the car.

She rarely had time to take Xiaowei out, usually leaving that to Xu Ya. That was her own fault, but later, she’d definitely make sure Xiaowei cleaned whatever was on her face.

Ning Moqing was dressed warmly enough that losing an outer layer didn’t matter.

Meanwhile, An Xiaowei only had to lower her head slightly to catch the faint floral scent lingering on the clothes, and suddenly, she felt… off.

Memories of yesterday flooded back, and her cheeks burned uncontrollably.

She even bit down on her hand.

No naughty thoughts.

An Xiaowei patted her cheeks, trying to banish those images from her mind—but it was no use. They stubbornly refused to leave.

“Oh, by the way, that thing on the back seat—I bought it for you.” Ning Moqing gestured behind her.

An Xiaowei, sitting in the back, spotted a small box and pulled it onto her lap. Inside were several items, but the most eye-catching was a tiny black velvet box, no bigger than a palm.

Was this it?

Puzzled, she carefully opened it—and there, nestled inside, was a ring with a dazzling, crystal-clear soul gem.

This was…

A diamond ring!

No way. She wasn’t ready to get married—this was way too fast.

An Xiaowei snapped the box shut.

“No, no, this is too sudden.” Her fair cheeks flushed pink as she hastily returned the box to the larger container.

“What’s too sudden?” Ning Moqing, focused on driving, blinked in confusion.

“I can’t accept this. I still plan to marry a girl someday.” An Xiaowei placed the box back where it belonged, patted her startled heart, and spoke with exaggerated confidence.

Ning Moqing smirked. “Oh? Finding someone shorter and cuter than you might be a challenge.”

An Xiaowei: ?

What did that mean?

Was that a compliment or an insult?

“Anyway, I can’t take your gift.” An Xiaowei wasn’t ready to settle down with anyone.

“It’s just a keychain. Didn’t you see it? Dig deeper.” Ning Moqing remembered the trinket wasn’t expensive.

“Huh?”

A keychain?

After rummaging, An Xiaowei found another box at the bottom. Inside was a fluffy white rabbit—definitely a keychain.

She’d almost misunderstood Ning Moqing.

But wait—if the ring wasn’t meant for her, then…

It probably belonged to someone else.

Player.

An Xiaowei nearly teared up.

But she was just venting—she wouldn’t actually hold it against her.

Still, once they arrived, she couldn’t resist asking.

“That ring in the box—where’d it come from?”

Ning Moqing, having just parked, froze at the question.

“The ring? I bought it a while ago. Why?”

She studied An Xiaowei’s face.

“Did you think… I was giving it to you?”

An Xiaowei: …

“Pfft. No way. I’m not into diamond rings for girls.” She waved a hand dismissively. “That’s ridiculous—why would I assume you’d propose to me?”

She forced out an awkward laugh.

But Ning Moqing didn’t move. She stood there, her cool, penetrating gaze fixed on An Xiaowei’s burning cheeks.

“If I did give it to you… would you be touched?”

For a second, An Xiaowei thought she’d misheard.

“Nope, nope, not touching that topic.” She waved both hands frantically.

Ning Moqing chuckled but said nothing more. The scenery here was lovely—by the time they’d arrived, night had fallen, and stars dotted the sky, their faint glow spilling over the soft grass.

An Xiaowei flopped onto the artificial turf—clean, thick, and comfortable.

She rarely got to enjoy the sky like this. Now, it felt peaceful.

Like her hardships had ended the moment she met A-Si.

“System, thank you,” she whispered to A-Si.

“For what?” A-Si sounded puzzled.

“For freeing me from my backbreaking days. Now I can enjoy skies like this, eat good food… I really don’t want to die yet.”

She wanted to live a long, long time.

A-Si stayed silent, but Ning Moqing handed her an apple.

“Washed it earlier. Only one in the car—try it.”

Ning Moqing lay beside her. An Xiaowei noticed their hair tangling together and blushed, scooting away slightly.

“Thanks,” she mumbled.

“About Yan Chen… An Wan told me. She needs time, but I agree with her decision.” Ning Moqing’s lips curved faintly.

“But after graduation, will you leave for work? I remember you saying you wanted to live in a quiet, remote southern town.”

Ning Moqing spoke leisurely, but her words only made An Xiaowei drowsy.

When Ning Moqing glanced over, Xiaowei was already asleep—eyes shut, looking sweet and serene.

“Gu Wei…” She sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

But sleeping here was a bad idea—she’d catch a cold. After a moment’s thought, Ning Moqing reached out and gathered the petite Xiaowei into her arms.

The second she did, An Xiaowei’s eyes flew open.

“What are you doing?!” She clutched her chest, shrieking in alarm.

The outburst drew stares—but seeing it was just two girls, the onlookers lost interest.

Well… mostly. A few exchanged knowing, suggestive glances.

Startled, Ning Moqing loosened her grip, and An Xiaowei tumbled onto the grass. Thankfully, it was soft—but she still nearly cried.

“You can’t just try to kill me because you can’t have me!”

Rubbing her sore backside (thick-skinned or not, this was unfair), she glared up—only to find Ning Moqing crouching before her.

Staring.

An Xiaowei gulped.

“You—”

“I already had you. Remember? You kept whimpering and squirming toward the headboard… but then you clung to me, refusing to let go.”

An Xiaowei: …

No naughty business!

Not allowed!