Chapter 11 Her Hand Injury Was Not Fully Healed
After dinner, both ladies left, leaving Tan Zheng and Song Ni alone. Before leaving, Mrs. Tan specifically instructed Tan Zheng. "Get along well with Nini, take her out to play, and cultivate your relationship." Then she took Song Ni's hand. "Nini, Tan Zheng is a rough person, feel free to order him around if anything comes up." Upon hearing this, Song Ni raised an eyebrow, looking at Tan Zheng standing beside her. It was rare to see a hint of helplessness on his face. It seemed he was also being pressured by his family. Song Ni replied sweetly, "Aunt Tan, don't worry, I won't be reluctant." Hearing this, Mrs. Tan couldn't help but laugh, and even Mrs. Song smiled as she playfully tapped Song Ni's nose. "Don't be naughty. You're allowed to come back a little late tonight. You haven't been home for days, your dad misses you." Song Ni wrinkled her nose, knowing that her father must be missing her terribly since she hadn't been home for days, but she had done it on purpose. She was still bothered by her family suddenly arranging a blind date for her.
After seeing off the two ladies, the smile on Song Ni's lips disappeared. She was no longer the obedient girl from before. Tan Zheng was not surprised. "You're quite good at pretending." At least at the dinner table, the words 'obedient and sensible' applied to her perfectly. Song Ni suddenly understood why Tan Zheng spoke so little. With a mouth like that, talking more would only be annoying. "You can talk less." It was as if she was about to shove "If you can't talk, shut your mouth" in Tan Zheng's face. Tan Zheng, however, found this version of Song Ni to be more lively. While obedient was good, it lacked the sparkle and fun she had now. "Where do you want to go?" Tan Zheng had cleared his schedule for the day. There was still an afternoon left, and he couldn't send Song Ni back immediately, or he wouldn't be able to explain it to his family. Song Ni's eyes flickered, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "I want to go to your bar." Hearing this, Tan Zheng lowered his gaze to meet Song Ni's eyes. She neither dodged nor hid her thoughts. Tan Zheng chuckled softly. It was probably because he hadn't appeared downstairs that night, and this young lady was holding a grudge. "The bar doesn't open until night. Let's go somewhere else." Song Ni shrugged. "Then you pick." The restaurant was in a mall, making it convenient to leave. Song Ni saw that the new arrivals of the brands she usually wore were already on display. Without paying attention to the man beside her, she walked straight in. It was clear that Song Ni was a VIP here, as the service staff immediately treated her with utmost respect. Tan Zheng did not follow her in. He stood outside, unable to figure out Song Ni's current mood. This was the first time he had accompanied someone shopping for clothes. Men are worst at waiting. After standing for just a minute, a restlessness began to stir within him. He felt a craving for a cigarette. Tan Zheng subconsciously reached into his pocket, but only to find that he couldn't smoke here. His brow furrowed.
Song Ni had already changed her clothes. A black casual shirt paired with brown wide-leg shorts and a pair of shiny black lace-up boots. Song Ni unbuttoned two buttons, revealing her delicate collarbone, and put on a simple silver necklace. She casually tucked the hem of her shirt into her pants and rolled up her sleeves. The pearl hair accessories on her head were removed, and her slightly curled hair was all swept behind her shoulders, revealing her slender neck. The entire outfit was neat and stylish. Tan Zheng had initially glanced at her with impatience, but upon seeing Song Ni's new attire, his gaze lingered. While her previous obedient attire was beautiful, it always felt like something was missing. This current sharp and clean look, combined with the bright red lipstick, was simply elegant and cool. Tan Zheng felt that this was the real Song Ni. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes, now deliberately cold, added a touch of aloofness, yet her expressive eyes still held a captivating charm. The conflicting emotions intertwined, exuding an indescribable allure. Tan Zheng couldn't help but stare into Song Ni's eyes for a while longer.
After shedding the long dress, Song Ni felt much more relaxed. She felt more at ease in this outfit. She walked up to Tan Zheng and met his scrutinizing gaze. "How is it?" she asked, her eyebrows raised, bold and direct. Tan Zheng's gaze moved down to Song Ni's knees, which were still bandaged. However, Song Ni's confident and flamboyant display of them seemed to add a fashionable element to her look. Tan Zheng didn't understand these things; he only knew that Song Ni looked truly beautiful like this. However, seeing the upturned corners of Song Ni's eyes, Tan Zheng did not indulge her confidence and simply offered a perfunctory, "Not bad." Hearing this evaluation, Song Ni's confidence remained undeterred. She believed in her own taste and could only conclude that Tan Zheng lacked appreciation. Song Ni was very obedient. When Mrs. Tan told her to order him around, she did just that, handing the bag containing her original dress to Tan Zheng. The man glanced down at her. Song Ni's eyes curved into a smile. "It shouldn't be difficult to carry a bag, right?" It was indeed not difficult, but for some reason, Tan Zheng felt that if he indulged her this time, the young lady would become even more presumptuous in the future. Thinking this, Tan Zheng unconsciously squeezed his left wrist with his right hand. Seeing his action, Song Ni took a step back. "If you're not carrying it, then don't. Don't think about laying a hand on me." Tan Zheng blinked, looked down at himself, put his right hand in his pocket, and then looked up at Song Ni. Song Ni wasn't genuinely scared; she was simply giving Tan Zheng and herself a way out. Her pride was real, and her occasional indulgence was also real, but it depended on who she was with. She had just been feeling whimsical earlier. Tan Zheng watched as the young lady walked forward with her back straight, a smile creeping onto his lips as he leisurely followed behind. This time, Tan Zheng opened the car door for Song Ni. Song Ni looked at him with some surprise. Tan Zheng thought she was dawdling, snatched the bag from her hand, and threw it into the back seat, urging her to get in quickly with his eyes. Suddenly, Song Ni's mood became cheerful. She ducked into the car and efficiently fastened her seatbelt. When Tan Zheng got in, she asked with great interest, "Where are we going to play?" She had specifically changed her clothes for convenience in the afternoon. She believed that Tan Zheng's form of entertainment would be more interesting. Tan Zheng stared at the smile on Song Ni's face and drove off without explaining. The car finally stopped at a shooting club. Song Ni had only gone shooting once when she was a child with Song Jing. That time, she had injured her hand due to improper handling, which led to Song Jing being severely reprimanded by her father. Song Ni was also forbidden from playing such games again. Song Ni couldn't remember what shooting felt like anymore, but looking at the club's decor rekindled her interest. Besides professional archery, this club also offered various competitive firearms and world-renowned guns. Tan Zheng came here often, and the manager personally came out to greet him. "Brother Tan, you're here. What do you plan to do today?" Tan Zheng acknowledged him and turned around. Song Ni was already dazzled, her eyes sparkling. Seeing this, Tan Zheng suddenly chuckled. The manager was sharp and immediately approached Song Ni. "Miss, what would you like to play?" After speaking, he began to introduce the options to Song Ni. Tan Zheng sat down and offered Song Ni a bottle of water. "Her hand injury is not fully healed yet, so pick something relatively relaxing." (End of this chapter)