Chapter 571: Chapter 571

Ning Wan sat directly opposite of Song Qiao, also cross-legged on the carpet, her slender, fair fingers began to pack some items that hadn’t been properly put away next to an unsealed suitcase, her face carrying a look of relief as she leisurely looked up at the opposite Song Qiao and spoke, "Qiaoqiao, in the blink of an eye you’ve found your partner, that’s great!"

Although their relationship had always been very close, after all, both being girls, there were still many things they couldn’t do for each other, even... when Song Qiao’s grandfather needed five hundred thousand for surgery fees, she couldn’t help either.

Song Qiao paused, quietly looking at Ning Wan in front of her, who had been her sole companion in life for many years. Perhaps because both of their experiences were similarly pitiful, they initially found solace in each other’s company, and later became each other’s support. Over the past few years, they went to classes together, finished classes together, worked part-time jobs to scrape by, played together, cried and laughed together, and even went crazy together.

She was always easy to talk to, but it was truly difficult for her to accept someone else so fully into her world. Before meeting Ning Wan, she had never even imagined she would have a ’Chinese best girlfriend’ in her lifetime.

After composing her emotions, Song Qiao put the item in her hand aside, and looked down slightly at the suitcase in front of her, which had already been packed, "Wanwan, I suddenly don’t want to move anymore. How about we just keep living together?"

If she moved away, Wanwan would be living all by herself. How could she possibly feel at ease with that?

Ning Wan was momentarily stunned, but then a light smile returned to her face, "Qiaoqiao, you don’t need to worry about me. If that man, Lu Jingchen, wants you to move in with him, then move in with him. Or are you saying his house isn’t even as good as ours? That shouldn’t be the case..."

Lu Jingchen’s status in An City was unmatched by anyone after all. A man with status, background, and good looks like his is something other men could hardly compete with, let alone surpass Lu Jingchen.

At first, Ning Wan really didn’t want Song Qiao and Lu Jingchen to be together, perhaps because she knew him personally too. Moreover, Xi Mohan and Lu Jingchen used to be good brothers, and she had developed a kind of anger towards Lu Jingchen because of her hatred for Xi Mohan.

Now, she thought that if Song Qiao got together with Lu Jingchen, it would be impossible for her not to encounter Xi Mohan— and the chances of that were anything but small.

Lu Jingchen had Zuo Yuqing before, but in the end, Zuo Yuqing didn’t end up with him; it was unclear who was to blame. Ning Wan initially heard rumors that Zuo Yuqing had been with another man, and that other man... Ning Wan guessed, might very well be Xi Mohan. But now, Xi Mohan was engaged to Ning Yan’er, and had always claimed that Ning Yan’er was the one he loved, it was unclear what the truth was behind the rumor that he was with Zuo Yuqing initially.

However, this love quadrangle didn’t cause a fallout between the good brothers, Lu Jingchen and Xi Mohan. One couldn’t tell if it was because their friendship was too strong, or if there was another reason behind it.

Thinking of that man, Ning Wan’s eyes flashed with a tumult of emotions, and she squinted slightly, but then seemed to see nothing at all.

Song Qiao watched Ning Wan across from her, not sure if it was her imagination, but she thought she saw an unfamiliar coldness in Ning Wan, as if pushing people thousands of miles away, but it flashed by so quickly she couldn’t be sure.

Today, Song Qiao’s hair was tied up, but after returning to the room earlier, she had let it down completely. Her long, soft, and jet-black hair was now draped over her shoulders. She moved the hair that had fallen in front of her face behind her ears before speaking to Ning Wan across from her, with genuine emotion, "Wanwan... I don’t want to leave you!"

"So you’re not planning to move in with that guy, Lu Jingchen, and stay here to keep me company?" Ning Wan finished packing the things in front of her into the suitcase and then propped her chin on her hands resting on her thighs, her face breaking into a sly smile, "But I reckon even if you wanted to stay and live with me, that man, Lu Jingchen, wouldn’t allow it. Just look at him, he’s obviously a domineering guy, so you might as well obediently move in with him and live the good life in his villa, what’s the harm in enjoying life a bit?"

Song Qiao, "..." Why did she feel like Ning Wan was somewhat dismissing her?

Ning Wan continued, "You staying here wouldn’t make a difference anyway, I’ll be going to Lin City with the professor for a survey in a few days, it might take half a month. I won’t be at ease with you living here alone!"

"When did you decide to go on a survey trip?"

"Um... Just yesterday. I was going to tell you, but you didn’t come back last night, did you? Made me worry all night! Hurry up and pack. After you’ve packed, you and him owe me a big meal!"

Song Qiao watched as Ning Wan closed her suitcase and even helped her zip it up, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears, "Why do I feel like you can’t wait to pack me up and send me off?"

"No, that’s just your imagination!" Ning Wan stood up, with a flirtatious laugh, a playful smile on her face as she began to banter with Song Qiao, "I’ve decided to pack you and your luggage together and sell you to Lu Jingchen, not just sending you off. Sending you would be too cheap for that guy. After all, I’ve taken care of you for so many years!"

"I’ve also taken care of you for so many years. Should I find a man and sell you off too?"

"It’s just what I needed. I’ve been feeling like my IQ is dropping lately because I’ve never had a real romance before. Hurry up and introduce a man to me, but he has to be someone who can take on your Lu Jingchen. Otherwise, how could I help you if you were bullied?"

Song Qiao, "..." Really, enough is enough. It feels like we can’t even be proper besties anymore!

"Let’s go. I was so worried about you last night that I didn’t eat properly, and I didn’t have breakfast today either!" Ning Wan maintained a smile on her face, clearly in a good mood.

Song Qiao resignedly took her luggage from Ning Wan’s hand and just hummed in acknowledgment.

Lu Jingchen saw the two girls coming out together. His eyes lingered on Song Qiao’s suitcase, realizing she hadn’t packed much and therefore didn’t say anything but walked over to take the suitcase. His gaze then shifted to Ning Wan as he spoke in a neutral tone, "Let’s have lunch together at noon as a thank you for taking care of Qiaoqiao over these years!"

Song Qiao’s suitcase wasn’t large; it contained only a few sets of ordinary clothes and some necessities. Lu Jingchen thought it wasn’t necessary to bring luggage at all. It was just a gesture to show that Song Qiao was truly moving in to live with him.

After all, he could always prepare whatever was needed on the other side. Moreover, he had instructed the servants to start preparing some daily necessities Song Qiao might need before he returned.

Hearing Lu Jingchen’s words, Ning Wan was anything but polite, her lips curving into a slight smirk, "Of course, you should treat me to a meal. But thinking a single meal can get rid of me is too simplistic. Qiaoqiao, don’t you think?"

Ning Wan didn’t forget to drag Song Qiao into it as she spoke.

Song Qiao looked silently up at the sky but still nodded and said approvingly, "Exactly!"

As for exactly what, she preferred not to say.

Ning Wan didn’t leave with Song Qiao right away. After all, she hadn’t rested well last night and was starting to feel sleepy. She decided to take a nap first and then meet up with the two of them at noon for a meal.

Song Qiao had no objections, and after giving Ning Wan a few instructions, she left with Lu Jingchen.

Watching Lu Jingchen thoughtfully helping Song Qiao with her luggage, and holding her hand tightly all the way except when pressing the elevator button, Ning Wan’s feelings were somewhat mixed.

Lu Jingchen was too enigmatic. She had met him in her teens through Xi Mohan, but her relationship with Xi Mohan wasn’t great then, mostly her chasing after him, and she didn’t know much about Lu Jingchen. Orıginal content can be found at 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲·𝗻𝗲𝘁

She knew one thing: Lu Jingchen was no simple man.

Having lived with Song Qiao for so many years, although they often took care of each other, Song Qiao was much more mature, and many times, it was Song Qiao who took care of her.

Watching the elevator doors close with Lu Jingchen and Song Qiao out of sight, Ning Wan closed her door, then suddenly felt at ease and laughed, yawned, and headed back to her room to continue sleeping.

What Song Qiao didn’t expect was that today’s meal would be her last encounter with Ning Wan for the years to come.

Lu Jingchen had the driver take him to the company first. The handsome man stepped out of the car at the company entrance and drew Song Qiao into his arms for a deep kiss. He only released her from the kiss when she nearly ran out of breath, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "I’m going to deal with some documents upstairs. Have the driver take you back to the villa first. Settle in, then come find me at the company. We’ll have lunch with Ning Wan at noon, okay?"

Song Qiao’s breath was unsteady after the kiss, and she was still not used to being suddenly ambushed by this man.

It took her a while to recover, and she didn’t respond to his words. Instead, she looked up at his handsome face, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and contemplation. Her lips moved as she asked the question that had been on her mind, "Did you and Wanwan know each other before...?"