Chapter 31 (1/2)

A Nicer-Looking Toad

This was the real world and traps wouldn’t just fall from the sky for no reason. Even if they did, those upstairs probably threw them down on purpose.

If Ning Jing had not lied about Xia Lei being her boyfriend, would he still be given this opportunity by Ning Yuan-Shan? Even willing to let him try his hand at it without asking about his qualifications?

Xia Lei would not take Ning Jing’s words seriously, of course. He was sure that Ning Jing said he was her boyfriend to try and pay him back.

‘This is a rare opportunity – Big Sister Ning also told her uncle that sort of lie so I have to take on this job. Once I finish this, my reputation will surely grow and I won’t have to worry about not making money ever again’ Xia Lei thought quietly to himself, and a sort of energy seemed to flow in his body.

“Little Lei,” When others were around, Ning Yuan-Shan called him Master Xia but now that it was just them, he called him ‘Little Lei’ and smiled warmly, “So, how old are you this year?”

Xia Lei was embarrassed and started feeling nervous, “I…”

Ning Jing gave Xia Lei a small push on his back, then quickly flashed him hand gestures.

The message was simple – five fingers of her left hand and two fingers of her right. Xia Lei followed her lead and said, “Uncle Ning, I am 25 this year.”

“Hoho, so you two are the same age.” Ning Yuan-Shan did not seem entirely satisfied by this bit of information and asked another question, “Little Lei, who are the members of your family?”

Xia Lei had no other choice, “My mother passed away when I was still a child and my father… There is just my sister and myself in the family now. She has been accepted into Jing-Du University and will begin her studies in Jing-Du in a little over two weeks.”

“I see.” Ning Yuan-Shan’s warm smile became more pronounced. This boy has a car, a home and both his parents were gone – this was ideal for a spouse. To a man as wealthy as Ning Yuan-Shan, the car and flat were not even worth looking at but he was very satisfied with the fact that his parents were not around.

Ning Jing seemed to be even more embarrassed than Xia Lei. She did not leave Ning Yuan-Shan further room to ask questions and quickly interjected, “Uncle, this is Lei’s first time meeting you. Don’t ask so many questions – it’s embarrassing.”

“Hoho, speaking on his behalf so soon? Okay, okay… I won’t speak any more. You young people are getting out of hand. This is a big thing and here you are trying to hide this and that, even forbidding me from telling your father…”

“Shush!” Ning Jing covered her ears.

Ning Yuan-Shan held his tongue. He looked over at Xia Lei and gave him a ‘what can I do’ face. However, he was quite pleased by Xia Lei’s image and temperament. Xia Lei was bright and handsome, confident yet humble, respectful towards his elders and most importantly, his parents were not around. This gave him a high score in his book.

They arrived at the workshop with much cheer and chatter. Chi Jing-Qiu walked out of the workshop and spoke respectfully, “Chairman Ning, they’re ready.”

“Mm.” Ning Yuan-Shan nodded, then gestured at Xia Lei, “Let us proceed, Master Xia.”

“Aye-Aye, Chairman Ning,” replied Xia Lei. He found it funny how they were Little Lei and Uncle Ning when in private, and Master Xia and Chairman Ning in public.

When he brushed past Chi Jing-Qiu, she whispered, “Lei, let’s talk later.”

Xia Lei paused, not sure how he should respond.

Ning Jing drew close and held Xia Lei’s hand intimately, “Lei, do you two know each other?”

So he was ‘Lei’ again. Xia Lei didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. He started to worry that he would become someone’s daddy or something at the rate this farce was going.

“We… know each other, but not very well,” said Chi Jing-Qiu carefully.

“I see. Lei, let’s go in. I’d love to see you show off your workmanship,” urged Ning Jing.

“Yes, let’s enter.” Xia Lei did not speak to Chi Jing-Qiu and walked into the workshop with Ning Jing on his arm. He didn’t know what Chi Jing-Qiu wanted to talk to him about and he had nothing to say to her either. Ning Jing, on the other hand, was making him nervous. Her arm was soft and smooth and there was an even softer place pressing on him but it would be awkward if he asked her to let go. This was giving him a headache yet making him comfortable at the same time; it was complicated and strange.

Chi Jing-Qiu hesitated and watched Xia Lei and Ning Jing stick closely to each other from the back before she followed.

In the workshop and in the company of many, Ning Jing let go of Xia Lei’s arm. “Good luck.”

Xia Lei nodded and walked towards Ning Yuan-Shan. Next to Ning Yuan-Shan were engineers in work clothes and and a large, imported high precision CNC machine. It seemed the machine would be what he had to work with to show his workmanship.