I Revealed My True Identity After Confessing My Love - Chapter 36

Du Xiran was the one who settled the bill. Carrying two large plastic bags, she turned back to look at Ye Nanning and asked, “Have you inhaled enough?”

As soon as she said this, the cashier suddenly looked at her with suspicion, hands twitching with the urge to call the police.

Du Xiran’s expression stiffened, and she quickly clarified, “I meant, have you inhaled enough low-altitude air?”

Cashier: “?”

“Enough.” Ye Nanning calmed her excited heart, stood up, and took the bags from her. “President Du, let me carry them.”

Du Xiran didn’t argue. Each of them carried a bag as they walked out the main entrance. It happened that someone was selling flowers outside. Du Xiran walked over to the stall, turned her head, and asked Ye Nanning, “What kind of flowers do you like?”

Ye Nanning: !!!

The surprise came so suddenly!

Ye Nanning pointed a finger. Du Xiran followed her gaze and saw her pointing at the bright, dripping-wet roses. “You like these?”

Ye Nanning nodded.

Du Xiran couldn’t help but smile. “Boss, I’ll take a bouquet of roses.”

After paying, Du Xiran held the flowers in one arm. Just as she turned around, she snapped, “Don’t you dare squat on the ground.”

Ye Nanning was halfway into a squat, but hearing this, she used the last shred of her reason to stand up. Her eyes remained fixed on the roses in Du Xiran’s arms as she asked tentatively, “President Du, are these… for me?”

“Yeah. Moving into a new home needs some atmosphere, doesn’t it?” Du Xiran asked.

So that’s why… But she was still so happy!

Regardless of the reason, she was about to receive roses personally gifted by President Du.

“Here.” Du Xiran held the flowers out to her.

“Thank you, President Du.” Ye Nanning held the bouquet carefully, terrified of damaging even a single petal, protecting them all the way to the parking lot.

As soon as Du Xiran put her bags in the trunk, Ye Nanning handed her own bags over. “President Du, please help me put these away.”

“…”

Du Xiran shot her a look. Seeing her clutching the roses like a baby, completely indifferent to everything else, Du Xiran had no choice but to take the bags and stow them.

In the car, while Du Xiran was driving and waiting at a red light, she saw Ye Nanning staring at the roses incessantly. One of Ye Nanning’s hands kept trying to touch the petals, but she didn’t quite dare to, hovering and testing at the edges.

She looked exactly like an old father who had just brought home his newborn from the delivery room.

“Why don’t you just give them names?” Du Xiran said, speechless.

“Can I?” Ye Nanning looked at her in surprise, as if struck by a brilliant idea. “How about you name them, President Du? You bought them.”

How did that sound so much like “You gave birth to them, you name them”?

Amidst her complex emotions, Du Xiran found a sliver of amusement and said, “Then let’s call this one Wo Xiang Fang Jia fsky. How’s that?”

Ye Nanning froze for a good while before critiquing, “It’s a good name, but let’s leave off the ‘fsky’ next time.”

Du Xiran: “…”

“Any other names?” Ye Nanning looked at her with starry eyes.

“What for? Didn’t I just give it a name?”

“That was only for one. There are ten others left unnamed.”

“…Then let’s call them Little Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Purple.”

“Still three short.”

“Xiao Ming, Zhang Wei, Maria,” Du Xiran blurted out nonsense.

“Okay, the names you gave are wonderful, President Du.”

“…”

Du Xiran found it funny. She hadn’t expected Ye Nanning to be so childish at her age, but then she realized she was being just as immature by playing along.

After arriving home, Du Xiran carried the things straight to Ye Nanning’s place. “I’ll go back for a moment and come right back to help.”

“Okay.” Ye Nanning watched her leave, then happily found a vase, arranged the flowers, and took many photos with her phone, only putting it away when she heard footsteps.

She looked back and saw Du Heruo running in alone. Du Heruo was drinking a carton of milk and holding an extra one. She ran gleefully to Ye Nanning. “Sister Xiao Ye, have some milk.”

“Thanks, I’m not thirsty. You drink it,” Ye Nanning said, adjusting the vase.

“Ah, but my sister told me to give this to you. If you don’t drink it, she’ll think I kept it for myself again.”

“President Du told you to give it to me?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Ye Nanning quickly snatched it and inserted the straw. “It’s delicious.”

“Right? She said you like milk and told me to bring you a carton,” Du Heruo said, looking down at the vase. “Wow, Sister Xiao Ye, who gave you these flowers? Is it an admirer?”

Ye Nanning’s face flushed. She bit the straw and murmured vaguely, “President Du gave them.”

“Yo, she knows how to give roses? A housewarming gift?” Du Heruo asked.

One had to admit the sisters had a certain rapport. Ye Nanning nodded. “Yeah.”

“That’s classic. Of all things to give, she gives roses. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think something was going on,” Du Heruo joked.

Ye Nanning looked down guiltily, not daring to admit she was the one who picked the roses.

“What are you two doing?” Du Xiran walked in holding her phone to find them huddled around the table, each with a carton of milk, circling the vase and whispering. She took a few steps back, stepped out the door, and looked up. “It doesn’t say ‘Kindergarten’ out here.”

Du Heruo burst out laughing, and Ye Nanning smiled shyly.

“Du Heruo, go help your Sister Xiao Ye wash the vegetables.” Du Xiran walked straight to the sofa and sat down like the lady of the house, opening her phone to reply to messages while assigning her two “minions” to work.

“Hmph.” Du Heruo shook her fist at her sister’s back, then asked Ye Nanning, “Sister Xiao Ye, should we start preparing dinner now?”

“Yeah, let’s get the food ready. When Sister Shuangshuang and the others arrive, we can eat immediately.” Ye Nanning went to the kitchen, took out the ingredients, and gave some to Du Heruo. The two began washing and chopping.

After a while, a phone suddenly rang on the table.

Du Xiran and Ye Nanning both looked toward the sound. Du Heruo glanced at the phone, immediately shook her wet hands, and ran toward the other unit without even drying them. “I’ll take this call! Sis, you go help wash the vegetables!”

Du Xiran watched her retreating back with annoyance, then went to the kitchen to take over Du Heruo’s unfinished task.

“President Du, you go be busy, I can do this myself,” Ye Nanning said.

“How long would it take you to do all this alone?” Du Xiran put her hands in the basin, her sleeves sliding down. “Help me with these.”

Ye Nanning nervously pulled up Du Xiran’s sleeves, rolling them a few times to secure them.

“Let me ask you…” Du Xiran suddenly spoke. Ye Nanning looked up, and as they faced each other at such close range, Ye Nanning felt her legs go weak again.

“Do you think Du Heruo is in a ‘puppy love’ relationship?” Du Xiran asked seriously.

Ye Nanning: Be confident, she’s not just ‘in’ one, she’s practically living it!

If she hadn’t seen wrong, although the caller had no contact name, that string of numbers was way too familiar, it belonged to that brat, Ye Tingyuan.

But she didn’t dare tell Du Xiran. If Du Xiran got angry at Ye Tingyuan, she might be found guilty by association.

“I don’t know…” Ye Nanning said guiltily.

“She seems to get along with you. Has she never mentioned anything like that?” Du Xiran asked curiously.

Ye Nanning shook her head. “That’s private. She hasn’t told me.”

Du Xiran nodded thoughtfully, but her head bumped into Ye Nanning’s. Both of them clutched their foreheads at the same time. Seeing Ye Nanning’s stunned expression, Du Xiran reflexively laughed.

Seeing her smile, Ye Nanning also curled her lips. “President Du, if Heruo really is in a relationship, what would you do?”

“I… suppose I can’t do much.” Du Xiran turned back to continue washing vegetables, the water splashing. “Who am I to talk? I was in a relationship back then too; I have no standing to criticize her. I’m just worried, will it affect her college entrance exams?”

“President Du, it didn’t affect your grades back then, so Heruo won’t be affected either.” Ye Nanning remembered what Ye Tingyuan had said and felt compelled to say a good word for him. “Maybe the person she likes is quite reliable.”

“Who knows.” Du Xiran sighed. “And who said my exams weren’t affected?”

Ye Nanning paused, looking at her in surprise.

“I was supposed to get into C University, but unfortunately, I over performed and got straight into A University,” Du Xiran said with a smirk of satisfaction.

Ye Nanning smiled. “President Du, you’re amazing.”

“Of course.” Du Xiran beamed at the praise. She tilted her head back and leaned close to Ye Nanning’s ear. “I’m telling you, it was quite a scene back then. The Education Bureau went straight to my house with a banner. My grandmother was so happy her dentures almost fell out from laughing.”

Ye Nanning lowered her head to suppress a laugh. As she turned her head, her gaze fell upon those close-at-hand red lips, which looked just like roses.

Ye Nanning instinctively swallowed.

After finishing her tale of past glory, Du Xiran’s smile deepened. She paused, reaching out to wipe Ye Nanning’s nose. “You got a drop of water here.”

Ye Nanning touched her nose, then looked at her, hesitating before asking, “Then, President Du… what you said to that guy in the supermarket… was it true?”

Du Xiran froze. She turned her head to look at her, her eyelashes fluttering. Then, she smiled, turned off the faucet, and put the vegetables in the basket to drain. “Ye Nanning, you really are…”

“We’re here!” Zhang Mingshuang’s voice suddenly rang out from the door. “We’re not late, are we?”

“A few minutes later and you could have just joined the funeral feast,” Du Xiran joked.

“No way, aren’t you guys still washing vegetables? Need help?” Zhang Mingshuang walked in, her boyfriend following behind carrying some drinks and fruit.

“That would be more than welcome. Come and chop,” Du Xiran said without a hint of politeness.

Three ladies squeezed into the kitchen. Zhang Mingshuang began enthusiastically talking about her dealings with real estate agents, drawing Du Xiran’s attention away.

Ye Nanning hadn’t gotten her answer and had to wait for the next opportunity to probe.

With many hands, the work went fast. With Du Xiran helping and Zhang Mingshuang being a kitchen pro herself, they finished several dishes with Ye Nanning. In about half an hour, a table full of food was ready.

Du Xiran went home to grab two bottles of red wine and brought Du Heruo back with her.

“Cheers! Welcome, Xiao Ye!” Zhang Mingshuang raised her glass.

“Yay! Sister Xiao Ye is the best!” Du Heruo raised her Coke.

“Welcome,” Du Xiran also clinked glasses with a smile.

Ye Nanning clinked glasses with them, feeling a bit overwhelmed. This was a rare experience of gathering with friends for a meal. It felt almost unbelievable, yet she had integrated into this small circle so naturally.

“Ye Nanning, please look after me from now on,” Du Xiran said to her individually, tilting her glass toward her.

“Thank you, President Du. Please look after me too.” Ye Nanning held her glass and clinked it against hers. The crisp sound, accompanied by laughter, made her heart feel incredibly content.

Ye Nanning tilted her head to drink, her gaze passing through the glass to fall directly on Du Xiran’s face.

Yes, all of this is because of Du Xiran.

She had met Du Xiran’s warm and hospitable friends and her mischievous yet lovable family, and they had accepted her so harmoniously.

How happy.

If only it could stay like this forever, Ye Nanning thought.

The atmosphere at the table was harmonious, the conversation flowing from Zhang Mingshuang’s house-buying to Du Heruo’s studies. Then, Du Heruo used various school gossips to distract everyone, making them roar with laughter.

After dinner, Du Xiran took out her phone to show everyone the video of Ye Nanning buying groceries.

Ye Nanning realized with a shock that Du Xiran saying her phone was dead was just a prank, she had filmed it all along!

She leaned over from behind to look at the screen. Seeing that her image looked okay and she hadn’t embarrassed herself, she felt relieved.

Zhang Mingshuang and Du Heruo watched with great interest, occasionally complimenting how good she looked even buying groceries looked like a photoshoot!

Zhang Mingshuang’s boyfriend, Qiu Ye, who didn’t talk much and hadn’t been drinking, finished eating and walked around the living room. He suddenly pointed to the vase on the coffee table and smiled. “These flowers are nice. Where did you get them?”

“What, Brother Qiu Ye, are you going to buy some for Sister Shuangshuang?” Du Heruo asked playfully.

Qiu Ye didn’t say yes or no, just smiled at Zhang Mingshuang. She said, “We’re an old couple now, don’t bother with that. 11 roses are too few, it has to be at least 999.”

Qiu Ye and Du Heruo laughed.

Ye Nanning also smiled sillily at the roses.

Seeing this, Zhang Mingshuang asked with a smile, “Xiao Ye, who gave you these flowers?”

Ye Nanning looked up at Du Xiran. Du Xiran calmly took a sip of wine. “Me.”

“Pffft.” Zhang Mingshuang covered her mouth and coughed a few times before looking at Du Xiran speechlessly. “Why are you giving her roses?”

“What’s wrong? Can’t I give some flowers for a housewarming?” Du Xiran argued righteously.

“There are so many beautiful flowers. Why roses? Do you even know what roses represent?”

“Don’t be brainwashed by marketing, okay? It doesn’t matter what they mean she chose them herself. As long as she likes them, she can have whatever flower she wants,” Du Xiran said.

The air went still for a moment. Zhang Mingshuang slowly gave a thumbs-up. “Fine, you’ve convinced me.”

Du Xiran arched an eyebrow. “It’s just common sense. She just likes roses. Why wait for a specific day or a specific person to give them?”

A wave of emotion rose in Ye Nanning’s heart, her eyes shimmering with a smile. “Yes. Thank you for the roses, President Du. I like them very much and will cherish them.”

Du Heruo raised her hand. “I want roses too.”

Du Xiran: “Go earn money and buy them yourself.”

Du Heruo: “Ugh, you’re so double-standard.”

Zhang Mingshuang laughed heartily. “Don’t cry, Heruo. Big sister will buy them for you next time. They’re just roses, what’s the big deal?”

“Actually, they are a big deal.” Du Xiran raised her chin and pointed at Ye Nanning. “This girl even gave these flowers names.”

The other three looked at Ye Nanning in astonishment. Ye Nanning: “…”

“No way. What are their names?” Zhang Mingshuang asked, incredulous.

“You should ask what this one is called. I’ll declare first: I named the most beautiful one. It’s called Wo Xiang Fang Jia fsky. Impressive, right?”

The group: “…”

Du Heruo pointed to a random one. “Sister Xiao Ye, what’s this one called?”

Ye Nanning: “Xiao Ming.”

The group: “…”

Zhang Mingshuang: “And this one?”

Ye Nanning: “Maria.”

Qiu Ye: “This one?”

Ye Nanning stood up to identify it carefully. “Oh, that one is Zhang Wei.”

The group: “…” This is beyond ridiculous.

Zhang Mingshuang clapped a few times in awe. “I’ve truly seen it all today. Every single flower has a name.”

“Yeah, a family should be complete and orderly,” Ye Nanning said casually.

“What do you mean?”

Thinking of how Ye Nanning had protected the “flower babies” in the car, Du Xiran made a shocking statement: “It means she and I are the parents of these children. The parents have names, so why shouldn’t they?”

Ye Nanning: !!!

The group: “…”

This is absolutely insane. Du Xiran has been completely corrupted!