Xi Siyuan walked away cleanly and decisively, without a moment's hesitation.
Ning An had no choice but to hug the fruit basket and chase after him.
Before Xi Siyuan said anything, she hadn't felt how heavy the fruit basket was. Prodded by his reminder and provoked by his incredible attitude, Ning An suddenly felt like a total sucker, willingly suffering for no reason.
With his unpredictable temperament, why was she asking for trouble and walking right into his bad mood?
Xi Siyuan stopped in front of a hospital room, rested his hand on the doorknob, and turned sideways, waiting patiently for her to catch up.
He just stood there and watched, showing no intention of helping carry anything at all.
Cradling the fruit basket, Ning An laboriously made her way over to him.
Xi Siyuan pushed the door open: "Grandpa, someone came to see you."
"Who?"
The old man's voice was deep and full of vigor.
In her mind, Ning An automatically conjured up the old man's personal background, and she inexplicably felt an aura of intimidation wash over her.
Reflexively straightening her back, she followed Xi Siyuan inside.
The old man had a head of white hair and eyes as sharp as an eagle's, staring straight ahead. Just like his booming, authoritative voice, he was full of spirit—you would never guess he was well into his eighties.
"Hello, Elder Xi, my name is Ning An."
Ning An stepped forward, holding the fruit basket. "I was keeping a family member company downstairs, and upon hearing that you were hospitalized, I came up to visit, though I know this is an abrupt intrusion."
Elder Xi glanced at Xi Siyuan and waved a hand dismissively: "Oh, I'm fine, just came in for a checkup."
Ning An: "..."
Judging by the way Xi Siyuan had acted earlier, she had thought it was something serious. Turns out he was just here for a routine checkup.
Good thing it was only a checkup.
Xi Siyuan pulled a chair over, took the fruit basket from her arms, and set it down properly: "Sit."
"Oh, right, thank you."
Ning An obediently sat down.
Elder Xi's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them a few times before returning to Ning An: "Your family member is in this hospital? Is it serious?"
"They accidentally fell from upstairs and suffered some minor scrapes and bruises," Ning An answered honestly. "After the checkup, they found some underlying conditions were a bit severe, so we decided to stay for observation for a while."
"That's fine, then." Elder Xi leaned back against the headboard. "If you need anything, just tell Siyuan. He's got plenty of free time these days."
Ning An: "..."
She wouldn't dare.
Nor did she think Xi Siyuan was the type to let himself get taken advantage of as a sucker.
However, given how guarded and prickly Xi Siyuan was, Ning An was genuinely curious about his reaction, and she couldn't help stealing a glance at him.
To her surprise, Xi Siyuan was calmly unpacking the fruit basket she had brought, picking out the cherries to wash in the kitchenette.
He acted as if they weren't talking about him at all.
"The cherries are very sweet, have some."
Xi Siyuan came out with the washed cherries and placed the fruit tray in front of them.
Thinking that she should take her leave now that the pleasantries were done, Ning An saw that the old man had already reached out and picked up a cherry: "Mhm, really not bad. The young lady has a good eye."
Since the elderly man had already started eating, refusing would seem overly coy, so Ning An had no choice but to take one as well.
"Is Miss Ning an employee at Shengshi?" Elder Xi looked at her curiously.
"No." Ning An quickly swallowed her cherry and shook her head. "Due to some circumstances, I don't have a formal job right now."
Elder Xi grew even more curious: "Then how do you and Siyuan know each other?"
Ning An: "We met for the first time last night at Gu Ximian's welcome banquet."
Elder Xi looked thoughtful: "Surname Ning? Are there still any Ning families left in Lincheng?"
"Grandpa, do you want any more?"
Xi Siyuan shoved the fruit tray into the old man's hands. "You go ahead and eat slowly, I'll see Miss Ning out."
Elder Xi: "..."
Fearing that Elder Xi would keep interrogating her like a census taker, Ning An stood up the moment Xi Siyuan spoke: "Goodbye, Elder Xi."
Following Xi Siyuan out of the hospital room, Ning An finally let out a breath.
As expected of someone who fought his way through the business world of that era and revitalized his family, no matter how approachable he seemed, his overwhelming presence was no joke. If she had stayed any longer, she probably would have suffocated.
"Don't be too nervous, Grandpa doesn't mean any harm."
Xi Siyuan deliberately slowed his pace, waiting for Ning An to catch up so they could walk side by side. "It's my first time bringing a friend to meet my family, so he was just curious."
"Who wouldn't be nervous?"
Ning An conveniently ignored his last remark. "I only came to return a favor, yet you dragged me in to meet someone as formidable as Elder Xi. Anyone would be scared half to death, wouldn't they?"
Xi Siyuan looked at her and smiled: "You'll get used to it after meeting him a few more times."
"..."
She'd rather not.
"Meeting him again might actually shave years off my life," Ning An muttered under her breath.
As soon as she finished speaking, she distinctly felt the air pressure around her drop sharply, and Xi Siyuan suddenly stopped walking.
Ning An turned around in confusion: "What's wrong?"
Xi Siyuan stood quietly, watching her. His deep gaze was restrained, yet a turbulent, intense emotion churned within his eyes, threatening to break through.
"An'an."
He spoke her name with intimate familiarity, his tone heavy and his expression solemn. "Don't say unlucky things."
Perhaps infected by his emotion, or perhaps intimidated by his sudden, commanding aura, Ning An momentarily failed to notice the intimate way he addressed her, and she instinctively replied: "Oh, oh, okay."
At that exact moment, Ning An abruptly realized that the contrast between Xi Siyuan and his rumored persona wasn't because he was different—he simply hadn't shown her his true self until now.
Having secured her promise, the taut tension in Xi Siyuan finally eased.
He stepped closer to Ning An, lifting his hands as if to pull her into an embrace, only to freeze mid-air. In the end, his hands could only rest gently on her shoulders.
"Never, ever say words that curse yourself."
With his large hands gripping her shoulders tightly, his heavy, commanding tone carried a trace of pleading. "Not even as a joke."
Standing this close, Ning An could clearly see that what lay hidden in the depths of his eyes wasn't anger, but the sheer terror of losing someone.
And a fragility that he struggled, yet failed, to conceal.
She couldn't help wondering: Just how many important people had he lost in the past to make him this terrified of even hearing words related to death?
"Alright, I know."
Ning An felt an inexplicable tug at her heartstrings and averted her gaze first. "Let go of me first."
Xi Siyuan paused, then reluctantly released his grip: "Sorry."
Ning An turned and walked toward the elevators, and Xi Siyuan followed her.
Seeing that he intended to get into the elevator with her as well, Ning An couldn't help asking: "Are you going down too?"
"I'm seeing you out."
"No need, it's just downstairs."
"You had the kindness to come up and see my grandfather, it's only right that I see you off."
"..."
Ning An let go of the button, the elevator doors closed automatically, and they headed down.
"Mr. Xi."
Ning An turned to face him. "My visit to Elder Xi was to return the favor for the gift you sent me. This interaction should have ended the moment I met Elder Xi."
"If you insist on seeing me downstairs, and then in return for that, I have to walk you back up? Back and forth, when does it ever end?"
Ning An saw right through his intentions and called him out without hesitation. Her meaning was crystal clear: I don't want to be entangled with you anymore, let's put an end to this right here.
Xi Siyuan cupped his chin, pondered seriously for a moment, and then dawned on him with sudden realization: "So that's what you were thinking?"
Ning An: ?
Xi Siyuan looked at her and smiled, his smile cunning, as if the panic and anxiety from a moment ago had never existed: "I had no idea you wanted so badly not to be apart from me."
Ning An: "..."
What kind of twisted train of thought could possibly lead him to that conclusion?
"No, you misunderstood—"
"Don't overthink it."
Xi Siyuan interrupted her and pressed the elevator button again. "I just genuinely want to walk you out."
I just want to spend a little more time with you, to stay by your side a little longer.
"..."
Ning An looked at him with skepticism.
Xi Siyuan's smile faded slightly, and his deep eyes stared at her unblinkingly: "Besides, things between us are far from over."