Chapter 53: Waiting

Su Ning looked through the peephole and sure enough, it was Ding’s mother, accompanied by Ding Guangyu. Along with the knocking, there was Ding’s mother’s strong, clear voice.

“Su Ning, open the door! It’s me—I’m your Aunt Ding!”

Su Ning couldn’t help rolling her eyes. How did they manage to come here in person?

Outside, Ding’s mother continued calling warmly.

“Su Ning, are you home? Open the door! Auntie brought Xiaoyu to talk with you.”

There was also Ding Guangyu’s faint voice, trying to protest.

“Mom, let’s go back!”

“What do you know? When you see Su Ning, behave properly.”

Through the peephole, Su Ning looked at the one-meter-eighty Ding Guangyu, who in front of his mother looked like a cat unable to lift its head. She felt helpless.

Such a grown man, at his age, still restricted by his parents like a primary school student in terms of friendships.

Of course, Su Ning had no intention of opening the door. She knew all too well how relentless Ding’s mother could be. If she let them in tonight, by tomorrow the whole apartment building would know that she and the Ding family mother and son were closely associated.

It was truly a headache, so Su Ning ignored them, letting them continue knocking.

She organized her cards and began making her summer clothes: mostly short-sleeve shirts and shorts, along with one set of long pants and jacket, two simple dresses—enough for early summer.

She started drafting patterns immediately.

So focused on her work, Su Ning didn’t notice that the knocking outside had stopped.

After a long while, when she finished cutting, she realized that the Ding mother and son had already left.

Still, there was a message left by Ding’s mother.

Ding’s Mother: “Su Ning, where did you go? Auntie knocked on your door just now; you must not have been home. When you return, send me a message.”

Su Ning looked at the message and felt both amused and exasperated. On one hand, she was a little touched, but on the other, Ding’s mother’s persistence was so annoying. She didn’t completely ignore it, but it left her with a mixed feeling.

After thinking it over, Su Ning decided not to reply immediately. She feared that if Ding’s mother returned with Ding Guangyu, she might be caught off guard and embarrassed.

Soon, Qiao Duoduo and Huo Yang came back. As they exited the elevator, they encountered Ding’s mother’s smiling face.

Qiao Duoduo internally panicked but couldn’t show it. She had to greet the elder politely.

“Auntie, hello!”

Then she turned and walked toward home.

Ding’s mother hurriedly stopped her. “Duoduo, have you seen Su Ning?”

This time, Qiao Duoduo dared not say much, replying vaguely, “Auntie, I’m not sure. We always need time alone for our own plans, right?”

Ding’s mother stayed silent, but Ding Guangyu noticed Duoduo’s displeasure and quickly tried to intervene, “Duoduo—”

Before he could finish, Huo Yang immediately stepped behind Duoduo protectively. “Call her full name: Qiao Duoduo.”

Hearing the jealousy in Huo Yang’s tone, Qiao Duoduo couldn’t help smiling, and she quickly sent a secret message to Su Ning.

Qiao Duoduo: “Bro Su, we ran into Ding’s mother at the elevator. What should we do?”

Su Ning, busy sewing, immediately set aside her needlework and replied hurriedly:

“Can you reason with her?”

“Too hard! The mother and son are like chewing gum stuck to you!”

“Duoduo, just stall them, stall them some more. I really don’t want them entering my home!”

Su Ning felt like crying but couldn’t, thinking: What did I do to deserve this? Is it because my talent is too good, my skills learned too quickly, and life after the apocalypse has been too smooth—so the heavens sent this mother and son to punish me?

While Su Ning was lost in thought, Qiao Duoduo’s composure was nearing collapse.

“Duoduo, why are you letting Auntie wait like this? Auntie likes Su Ning, but Su Ning doesn’t want it. She could just say so! Why make things so difficult? Sigh~”

Ding’s mother lightly pursed her eyes, her face full of sorrow. Qiao Duoduo felt a pang of sympathy.

“Auntie, I really don’t know where Su Ning went. She did come back with us, but we soon went out for our own plans. Why don’t you go home first, and when she returns, I’ll contact you?”

Even though she felt bad, Qiao Duoduo was loyal to her friend’s wishes. Ding Guangyu also spoke up appropriately:

“Mom, let’s go back and wait for Duoduo to give us news, okay?”

“No. If I can’t see Su Ning, I won’t feel at ease.” Ding’s mother was always stern with Ding Guangyu, but with Qiao Duoduo, her expression softened.

“Duoduo, I really like Su Ning. Say a word for me—I’ll wait here at the elevator a little longer.”

Qiao Duoduo, awkward, couldn’t say much and continued sending messages to Su Ning:

“Bro Su, what should we do? The old lady insists on waiting at the elevator. I can’t stop her.”

Receiving the message, Su Ning was speechless. Why was this little old lady so stubborn!

“Can you make her meet at your place? My house…”

“No problem.”

Su Ning’s reply was full of apology. Qiao Duoduo understood it clearly. With Huo Yang there, she wasn’t afraid that Ding’s mother and son would do anything.

Feeling supported, Qiao Duoduo turned to Ding’s mother: “Auntie, why don’t you wait at my house? It’s more convenient. When Su Ning returns, I’ll bring her to meet you. Isn’t that better than waiting at the elevator?”

Ding’s mother readily agreed, and even Ding Guangyu squinted in satisfaction.

Leading the Ding mother and son inside, Qiao Duoduo left Su Ning to think: How should she make her entrance? How could she explain why she wasn’t home just now?

Saying she was asleep and missed the knocking was a little silly, but had some logic.

Pretending she had just returned? Then Ding’s mother would surely ask, “Where did you go? Why were you gone so long? You must be careful!”

Should she say she was on the terrace contemplating life? That wasn’t impossible, but even imagining it seemed absurd. Would Ding’s mother believe it?

No matter what, Ding’s mother should understand that she was just stalling and didn’t like it—a small victory in itself.

Deciding on this, Su Ning went to the terrace and stood outside for five minutes, letting her clothes cool to the outside temperature.

She then opened Qiao Duoduo’s terrace door, taking the initiative: “I figured you’d be back by now. Why are you so late today?”

Before Qiao Duoduo could respond, Ding’s mother interrupted, “Su Ning, where did you go? I looked for you several times. You weren’t home, and I was worried.”

“It’s fine, Auntie. I was just on the balcony getting some fresh air. I almost fell asleep, but luckily the alarm went off.”