A Heart Begins to Soften

Bing Rong stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Xiao Ning, his revelations.... the way he had opened up to her, even if only partially. She still couldn’t believe he was the owner of Ni Magic, a group of companies so successful and well-known in the city. It was almost too much to process.

For so long, she had seen Xiao Ning as a simple man, a good man but not someone who could truly match her in intelligence or strength. He was kind, humble, and dependable, but she had always felt there was a missing spark, something that made her hesitate when it came to fully committing to their relationship.

But now… now everything had changed.

She thought about the way he had confessed to her, the weight of his secrets etched into his face. There was something different in the way he carried himself—a quiet strength, a sense of responsibility far greater than she had ever realized. It stirred something inside her, something she hadn’t expected.

Maybe I was wrong about him…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a knock at the door. She turned, her heart skipping a beat, knowing it was Xiao Ning. They had agreed to meet tonight, to talk more openly now that some of the truth had come to light.

Taking a deep breath, Bing Rong crossed the room and opened the door. There he stood, his posture slightly tense but his expression soft. He was still recovering from his encounter with Dong Fenro, and though his physical wounds had healed, she could tell he was carrying the weight of something much deeper.

“Bing Rong,” Xiao Ning said softly, his voice laced with uncertainty. “I wasn’t sure if you’d still want to see me after everything I told you.”

She gave him a small smile, stepping aside to let him in. “We’ve been through too much for me to walk away now.”

He nodded, relief washing over his features as he stepped into her apartment. The tension between them had shifted—it wasn’t the same awkwardness as before. Now, there was a deeper understanding, a mutual recognition of the struggles they both faced.

They sat down in the living room, the silence comfortable for the first time in what felt like weeks. Bing Rong could feel her heart beating faster as she glanced at Xiao Ning, taking in the details she hadn’t fully noticed before. There was a quiet intensity in his eyes, a determination that made him seem stronger than she had ever given him credit for.

After a moment, Xiao Ning broke the silence. “I know things have been… complicated between us. I haven’t made it easy for you. But I want you to know that I never wanted to lie to you. I just didn’t know how to balance everything.”

Bing Rong sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I understand that now. But it’s still a lot to take in. I spent so long thinking I knew everything about you, and then, out of nowhere, you’re not just some office worker—you’re the owner of a massive company, and you’re caught up in this dangerous situation with Dong Fenro.”

“I should’ve told you sooner,” Xiao Ning said, his voice filled with regret. “I thought I could keep my two lives separate, but it’s all falling apart now. And I don’t want to lose you because of it.”

Bing Rong felt a flutter in her chest at his words. She had always known Xiao Ning cared for her deeply, but hearing him say it so plainly made her heart ache in a way she hadn’t expected. For the first time, she allowed herself to consider the possibility that maybe—just maybe—there was more to their relationship than she had let herself believe.

She turned to face him fully, her eyes searching his face. “You know,” she began slowly, “I always thought you were too simple for me. Not in a bad way, but… I thought you weren’t ambitious enough, or strong enough to match me. But now, after everything that’s happened, I’m starting to see that maybe I didn’t give you enough credit.”

Xiao Ning’s brow furrowed slightly, confusion flickering in his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Bing Rong smiled softly, her voice growing warmer. “You’re more than I thought you were, Xiao Ning. More than just a regular guy working a 9-to-5 job. You’ve been carrying this huge burden, running a company, dealing with threats like Dong Fenro… And you’ve done it all while keeping it hidden from the world. That takes strength. More strength than I realized.”

Xiao Ning looked at her, surprise and hope flickering in his expression. “Does that mean…?”

“It means I’m ready to give us a real chance,” Bing Rong interrupted, her heart racing as the words left her lips. “I won’t lie—I’ve been holding back because I thought you weren’t the right match for me. But now, I see that I was wrong. You’ve been strong in ways I didn’t see before, and I want to see where this goes.”

Xiao Ning’s eyes softened, relief and happiness flooding his expression. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. “I never stopped hoping that you’d give me a chance. I know I’m not perfect, but I’ll do everything I can to prove to you that I’m worthy.”

Bing Rong squeezed his hand, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “You don’t have to prove anything. Just be honest with me from now on. No more hiding.”

Xiao Ning nodded, his eyes full of sincerity. “I promise. No more secrets.”

They sat there in comfortable silence for a while, their hands still intertwined, as the warmth between them grew. For the first time in months, Bing Rong felt herself relaxing, allowing the walls she had built around her heart to soften. She had always been so focused on finding someone who could match her in every way, someone who was her equal in strength and intelligence. But now, she was starting to realize that maybe what she had been looking for had been right in front of her all along.

Later that evening, Xiao Ning and Bing Rong walked side by side through the quiet streets of the city, the tension between them easing with every step. There was a sense of newness in the air, as if they were starting fresh, but with a deeper understanding of each other than ever before.

As they walked, Bing Rong stole a glance at Xiao Ning, watching the way he moved with quiet confidence. She couldn’t deny the way her heart fluttered when she was around him now, the way his presence made her feel safe but also intrigued. There was still so much she didn’t know about him, but for the first time, she was willing to take the risk.

When they reached the corner of her street, they paused, turning to face each other. The night air was cool, and the city lights cast a soft glow around them. Bing Rong felt a surge of warmth as Xiao Ning looked at her with those deep, earnest eyes.

“I know there’s still a lot we need to work through,” Xiao Ning said quietly. “But I’m willing to take it one step at a time, as long as you are.”

Bing Rong smiled, feeling her heart swell with emotion. “I’m with you, Xiao Ning. One step at a time.”

And for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was truly ready to let him in.

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