Chapter 216: Could It Be That She’s Just Average?
At seven o’clock the next morning, at the train station.
The train that Ning’s parents were taking was scheduled to depart half an hour earlier than the one Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan would be on.
At this moment, their parents’ train was about to enter the station.
Everything that needed to be said had already been said the night before. Everything that needed to be given had already been given. All the reminders had already been made.
So there wasn’t too much reluctance or sentimentality — only refreshing, warm hugs.
The last person Yun Xiulan hugged was Ning Xiyue. After letting go, she waved briskly.
“Alright then, the train’s coming. We’ll go first. Don’t forget to call home to say you’ve arrived safely.”
“We won’t forget. Goodbye, Mom and Dad.”
“Goodbye, Uncle and Auntie.”
Ning Xiyue, her two brothers, her sister-in-law Song Jiayin, and Ji Yanming — who had driven them all to the station — watched as the Ning parents entered the boarding gate.
Only when their figures disappeared did Ning Xiyue sit down in the waiting hall.
The train to Da’an County wouldn’t arrive for another half hour, so Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan could only wait patiently.
Her eldest brother, his wife, and Comrade Ji also stayed. They refused to leave until they saw the siblings board their train.
After seeing their parents off, there was still a faint trace of sadness in the air, and for a moment, everyone fell silent.
Ji Yanming, sitting on Ning Xiyue’s right, took a few pieces of chocolate from his pocket and handed them to her.
“The Friendship Store just got new stock — it’s called chocolate. I heard it’s delicious. A friend of mine brought me some.”
“Thank you, Comrade Ji. One piece is enough for me.”
Ning Xiyue looked up at him and smiled faintly, taking one piece from his hand. She peeled off the wrapper and ate it slowly, letting the sweet yet slightly bitter taste melt in her mouth. Eating something sweet lifted her mood immediately.
After not seeing Comrade Ji for a few days, Ning Xiyue had completely forgotten the awkwardness from that day. She treated it as something in the past. Now, seeing him again, she felt calm and natural, talking to him as usual.
“How is it? Tastes good?” Ji Yanming handed out one piece to each of the others, leaving only two pieces for himself. He looked at Ning Xiyue curiously as he asked.
Ning Qingzhi took a bite and frowned as the candy stuck to his teeth. “Old Ji, this tastes good, but it’s kinda sticky.”
“Big Brother, you have to eat it in small bites,” Ning Xiyue reminded him, then turned to Ji Yanming with a nod and urged him, “It’s really good. You should try one too.”
“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”
Ji Yanming casually handed the other remaining piece to Ning Xiyue and unwrapped one for himself. After taking a bite, he nodded approvingly. “Mm, not bad.”
Then he took the last two pieces from his pocket and shoved them into Ning Xiyue’s hand. His tone was dry but earnest.
“These two are for you too. I’m not really into sweets — they’d just go to waste with me.”
“Thank you, Comrade Ji. Then I’ll gladly accept them.” Ning Xiyue smiled as she looked at the three pieces of chocolate in her hand.
Of course she knew — these were specially for her. She and her mother had seen them at the Friendship Store the other day.
That thought made her recall what her mother had told her last night.
Could it be… Comrade Ji liked her?
Just thinking about that made her cheeks quietly turn red.
After her mother pointed it out, she suddenly started to notice it too — maybe Comrade Ji did have some feelings for her.
Could it be that she was overestimating herself?
As Ning Xiyue was secretly stealing glances at him, Ji Yanming pulled two aluminum lunch boxes from his military satchel and handed them over.
“Take these with you. When I was out training, I came across some wild rabbits, so I borrowed the cafeteria kitchen and made some spicy diced rabbit. You and your brother can eat it on the train.”
So maybe… he really did like her?
Even during field training, he thought to bring her wild rabbit and have it made into spicy rabbit cubes? Surely she wasn’t imagining things.
Aah, it was all her mother’s fault for saying those things last night! Now her mind was full of random, messy thoughts.
“Yueyue?” Ji Yanming called her again and pushed the lunch boxes closer to her.
“Oh — thank you, Comrade Ji, I got it.”
Ning Xiyue snapped back to her senses and quickly took the boxes from him.
But in her mind, she was thinking — Since when did Comrade Ji start calling her Yueyue?
Why couldn’t she remember?
Oh heavens, it felt like she’d missed so many little things!
