It was already dark outside when Xu Ningqing took Shi Niannian out of the house.
But after taking her out, he realized that the entertainment venues he usually frequented were not suitable for Shi Niannian, and a minor wouldn’t be allowed in anyway.
He didn’t know where he could take her.
He stood under a streetlight, looking back at Shi Niannian behind him, and asked: “Where do you want to go for fun?”
She shook her head very slightly.
“An amusement park?” As soon as he said it, he rejected the idea. “No, that’s too childish and boring.”
“I don’t have… anywhere I want to go,” Shi Niannian said, also yawning.
“Do you want to go back then?”
She shook her head, adding: “Not right now.”
Xu Ningqing brought Shi Niannian to his apartment, buying a bunch of snacks and drinks along the way.
“You can stay here for a while. At least it’s quiet. You can watch TV or whatever. Help yourself to the food and drinks.”
“Mm.”
Shi Niannian was used to being alone, so Xu Ningqing didn’t bother her further. He lazily lay on the other sofa, wearing headphones and watching a sports match.
Suddenly, the door was knocked hard twice, and a male voice came from outside: “Brother Xu! Let me in! Brother Xu!”
Xu Ningqing took off his headphones, listened for a moment more, then cursed “Fuck” before getting up to open the door.
Fan Mengming was holding a bag of barbecue and beer, standing outside, sweating profusely and panting.
Xu Ningqing: “Did you take the stairs up?”
Fan Mengming: “Yeah, isn’t that healthy! Life is about exercise!”
Xu Ningqing: “If you drip sweat on my floor, I’ll make you lick it clean.”
Fan Mengming: “…”
Fan Mengming directly stepped one foot across the threshold, squeezing through the gap between Xu Ningqing and the door by sucking in his belly. He made eye contact with Shi Niannian sitting on the sofa.
“…Sister?”
Shi Niannian opened her mouth.
Before she could say anything, Xu Ningqing had already slapped the back of Fan Mengming’s head: “Is she your sister that you’re calling her sister?”
“Brother Xu’s sister is my sister,” Fan Mengming said, placing the bag on the coffee table and patting his chest.
Xu Ningqing raised his eyebrows, smiling ambiguously: “Fine, then Fan Shuai’s girlfriend is everyone’s girlfriend.”
“Get lost.”
Fan Mengming took out the barbecue and invited Shi Niannian: “Sister, want some?”
Shi Niannian said softly, “Not hungry.”
“I heard you’re desk mates with Brother Wang. You both talk so little, do you even say one sentence to each other all day? He must be boring, right?”
Fan Mengming hadn’t noticed Shi Niannian’s stutter and just thought she was quiet.
Jiang Wang…
He indeed didn’t talk much, but whenever he opened his mouth, he would say things like that.
Roguish and mischievous, Shi Niannian didn’t like to hear it.
Xu Ningqing kicked Fan Mengming’s butt: “Why did you bring all this stuff to my place?”
“To watch the livestream together! Isn’t the match about to start?” Fan Mengming wiped his hands. “Where’s Brother Wang? I’ll go call him over too.”
“Why don’t you just take all this barbecue to his place?”
“He’s a severe clean freak. If I take it in there, he’ll kill me.”
As he spoke, he walked out the door again.
“How are you getting along with your deskmate?” Xu Ningqing handed a skewer to Shi Niannian, casually asking.
With Jiang Wang’s temperament, he didn’t think they would have any other kind of relationship.
“Is he… coming too?” Shi Niannian looked up and asked.
“Yeah, he lives right across from me, but I’m guessing he won’t bother to come over.”
Just as he finished speaking, Fan Mengming’s shout came through: “—Brother Wang!!! I’ve bought all the food!!! It’s just a few steps away! What’s wrong with walking a couple of steps? Walking a bit won’t hurt you!”
Xu Ningqing laughed: “I think Fan Mengming is asking for trouble.”
“Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m a bit… sleepy.”
“Now?” Xu Ningqing looked at the time; it was only a little past eight. “Why don’t you go sleep in the guest room for a while, and I’ll take you home a bit later?”
Fan Mengming returned to Xu Ningqing’s apartment alone.