Not Interested

The side hall in the back courtyard of the Yanlu Merchant Association.

Ning Xiang sat primly on a chair that wasn't too tall. The table before her was laden with all sorts of snacks from nearby street vendors.

Beside her, Granny and Uncle Zhang ate in silence, their expressions peculiar as they tried to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

Looking at the spread of delicacies, Ning Xiang felt not the slightest bit happy. Instead, she was exceptionally helpless.

She discreetly drew in a breath, doing her best to maintain her smile as she gave Zhao Yuanba a stiff nod.

"Thank you, Big Brother Zhao. Sorry for the trouble."

Before Zhao Yuanba could respond, she went on, "But please don't do this again. I have a position at the association and earn a monthly salary. I can support myself."

The smile that had just begun to appear on Zhao Yuanba's face froze. He felt that his sincere affection had been misplaced: he had earnestly offered something to the woman he loved, only to be coldly rejected.

However, he wasn't truly discouraged. He simply felt he hadn't tried hard enough or been sincere enough.

Zhao Yuanba forced a smile and quickly replied, "All right, all right. I won't put you in a difficult position, Miss Ning."

As soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his head and began pondering what he could do, how he could show his devotion, to make the woman before him accept him—or at the very least, not dislike him and allow him to approach her.

"Heh..."

At that moment, Xu Shaonian's lips curved almost imperceptibly, and he let out a quiet laugh, inwardly looking down on Zhao Yuanba.

How vulgar. Did he think he could win Miss Ning's heart so easily by bringing her snacks and