Chapter 43 Heart Racing

  The sky darkened, and the Du family hung countless lanterns in the garden. Everyone gathered to toast Mr. Du, but he had heart disease and didn't dare drink much. He just smiled and let his son, Du Huo, take his place in toasting a few elderly relatives.

  "I'm just sorry my daughter got married too early, otherwise I would have definitely made Du Hujia my son-in-law. Just look at him, his eyebrows are so handsome, his eyes are so charming, it makes people drool." A lady who had a drink with Du Hujia said to another lady sitting next to her with a smile: "Even the name is great, Hujia, women would feel safe marrying him."

  "It's true, even I, an old lady, can't help but stare! Another lady chuckled and said: "I heard that the female employees in his company dress up every day, just waiting for him to notice them!"

  Ning Qingmin sat beside them, listening to the two ladies' exaggerated talk, and couldn't help but glance at Du Hujia. The lamp light from the flower shed was shining on him, his lips were tightly closed, with a firm and refreshing outline, his figure was tall and outstanding, indeed spirited and elegant.

  It seemed that Du Hua felt Ning Qing's gaze, and he glanced over here, his deep eyes slightly rippling, a faint smile on his face. In an instant, the light seemed to dim, and all the people at the table were automatically blocked out, leaving only this faint smile. Ning Qing's heart suddenly moved, and something in her heart seemed to have awakened, with an unprecedented emotion stuck in her throat.

  She bowed her head and took a sip of juice, Ning Qingmin covering up the emotions that suddenly surged in her heart, not daring to lift her head again for a while. When she finally lifted her head again, she met another gaze from across the way, taking a casual glance, it was Fang Chao Liu, who quietly turned his head away. Just now, she had just learned from Du Huahua's mouth that this person was a notorious playboy, with girlfriends coming and going in all directions, and yet these girlfriends could still get along peacefully, which was truly a miracle.

  Because she had class the next day, Ning Qingmin didn't dare to stay too late. She looked around and saw that Du Huahua was nowhere to be found. Hurriedly, she bid farewell to Old Master Du and Du Huahua, saying she wanted to leave. Old Master Du smiled and said: "The driver just sent someone out, wait a bit longer and let the driver send you."

  "I'll send you off!" came Fang Chao Liu's voice from behind, Ning Qingming secretly cursed, this person was clearly bored with the beauty and wanted to change his taste, refusing his offer would make herself look too much, not refusing him would make her afraid of not being able to handle him.

  "No need, I'll send her!" Du Huajia's voice rang out in time. Ning Qing took a deep breath and felt relieved. It was all right now; she didn't have to worry anymore. With someone as powerful as Du Huajia, Fang Chao Liu couldn't compete with him.

  "Second Master, you're so busy, let me take care of sending Little Min back. I guarantee her safe arrival." Fang Chao Liu put away his usual joking face and looked at Du Huo Jia with a serious expression, rubbing his hands together and saying: "Don't worry, my driving skills are top-notch."

  Everyone calls me Xiao Ning, and you still call me Xiao Min! Ning Qing felt a chill on her back and quickly said: "No need to trouble everyone, I can take the bus back myself."

  "No way!" Du Hua and Fang Chao Liu said in unison.

  "Qīng mǐn. Yīqǐ zǒu ba!" Lǐ Míngnà zǒu guò lái. Xiào zhe shuō: "Wǒ táng gē sòng wǒ huí qù. Nǐ gēn wǒ yīqǐ huí qù hǎo le."

  Translation:

  "Qingmin, let's go!" Mingna walked over and said with a smile: "My elder brother is sending me back. Why don't you come back with me?"

  "Wow, great!" Ning Qing felt relieved. She said a word to Grandpa Du and then followed Li Mingna in a hurry.

  As soon as she got on the car, Li Mingna's mobile phone rang. Li Mingna took a look at the caller ID and answered it sweetly. "Hello. Shang Liang. No need. My brother is sending me!" Then she lowered her voice and said a few words of endearment in English before hanging up.

  Ning Qing's words were clear and distinct, but they were just sweet nothings between lovers. Coupled with her sugary and cloying tone, as well as her drawn-out intonation, it made the listener involuntarily feel a thrill run down half of their body. Although their heart felt a bit stifled, it didn't hurt as much as it used to.

  Li Mingbiao, who was driving in front, looked at Li Mingna through the rearview mirror and suddenly said: "Mingna, your parents have already applied for immigration. You will also go abroad in the future. What about now that you're dating a boy?"

  "We'll talk about it later." Li Mingna lowered her head, put away her phone, and seemed a bit distracted.

  Ning Qingmin sighed quietly in her heart, and later, Li Mingna delayed going abroad for Guo Shangliang. She became a music teacher at a middle school. Due to the difficulties in her career, she often quarreled with Guo Shangliang, and they broke up several times. During this period, they each had new relationships, but their pain outweighed their happiness. Li Mingna eventually left the country, but for some reason, she returned.

  "We're here!" Looking out the window, the car had already arrived at the school gate. Ning Qing quickly opened the door and got out of the car, watching as Li Ming also got out, before running to the front of the car to thank Li Ming.

  Li Mingbiao smiled and waved his hand, turned the car around and drove away.

  "Ming Na, Qing Min." Guo Shangliang's voice came over, and it turned out he was standing beside the security booth at the gate.

  "What's wrong, are you afraid I'll get lost?" Li Mingna said with a pout, walking over to punch and kick Guo Shangliang, "Or are you worried that some other boy will send me home, so you came to spy on me?"

  "With Qingmin by her side, how can I not feel at ease!" Guo Shangliang smiled and dodged Li Mingna's fist, saying to Ning Qingmin: "Qingmin, thank you for protecting my family's Mingna and bringing her back safely."

  "No need to thank me, I'll go learn some martial arts later and improve my skills in protecting beautiful women." Ning Qing felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart, did only Li Mingna need protection? But on the surface, she didn't show any emotion, seeing that Li Mingna's hand was now holding onto Guo Shangliang's arm, she smiled lightly and said: "I don't have anything to do here, I'll head back to my dorm first."

  "Let's send you back!" Guo Shangliang said with a somewhat perfunctory tone.

  "It's just nine o'clock, what are you sending?" Ning Qingming smiled and waved his hand, saying "Bye!" and walked away without looking back.

  "Ringing..." On the way, the mobile phone rang. Ning Qingming picked it up and heard Zhang Yu's voice on the other end, "Boss, today I received over a hundred short-sleeved shirts and tank tops from the factory. There are round collars, peach-shaped collars, V-necks, square collars, one-word collars, gourd-shaped collars, and monk collars. A total of seven colors. I've sent them to the factory in Chaozhou as per your instructions."

  "Have you put the sample I gave you in?" Ning Qingming's spirit was lifted, the Saudi order he received last time, the blank and nail beads were all packaged by factories on the Chaozhou side, the cost was 5 yuan more expensive. If we change to make blanks in Dongguan and process nail beads in Chaozhou, although it's a bit more troublesome, we can better control costs and increase profit margins.

  "I've sent it!" Zhang Yu laughed, "I'll send you a text as soon as I mail it, but your phone is off. I had dinner and came out for a stroll, found a phone booth by the road and called, that's when I finally got through."

  "Cough, I rushed out today and forgot to turn it on, just thought of it now." Ning Qing said softly: "Earned money, also bought you a mobile phone, so convenient to contact."

  "Wow, boss is great!" Zhang Yuxi couldn't help but shout: "Zheng Jingchun told me that her aunt doesn't give salary, only pocket money, and she has to report it. If she spends more, she'll get scolded. She's envying me now. If I had a mobile phone, wouldn't I be the envy of everyone? Haha!"

  Ning Qing smiled slightly and said, "The day after tomorrow is Saturday, I'll go over there again then."