Chapter 623 Never Met Before
************
CHAPTER 623
Ning Xiaozhi was already planning to call Bai Renxiang to set up an outing for them both. It had been a long time since they had a bestie outing together.
Although going out with the other girls was not bad. They were all fun. But she wanted one for just herself and Bai Renxiang.
So knowing that her best friend will not be going to work today, she decided to call. And having Juang Meilin ask, she agreed immediately.
"Of course, mum. That is the reason I called in the first place."
"Oh, really?" Jiang Meiling was rather surprised.
"Yes, really."
"Then I shall thank you and put my baby in your care, okay?"
"No problem, mum. Consider Renxiang to be in the best of the best hands," Ning Xiaozhi boasted with pride.
"Hehehe. Alright. Let me put her back on the line. Thank you once again."
"Alright. You are welcome."
"Hello, Xiaozhi," Bai Renxiang took the phone from her mother.
"So you wanted to go out without your bestie, huh? Is our friendship coming to an end, girl?" Ning Xiaozhi asked in an offended tone.
"No, it is not like that, Xiaozhi. I just wanted to go to the mall and come back quickly," Bai Renxiang said and sat down.
"Come back quickly or stay out the whole day. I told you before that whenever you want to go anywhere or do anything to make you not feel lonely, call on me. Is it that hard to do?"
"Sigh. Okay fine. I am sorry for not calling you. I just did not want to bother you, you know," Bai Renxiang apologised.
"No, I do not know," Ning Xiaozhi retired.
"Sigh. Come on now. Xiaozhi, I have apologised."
"Not enough."
"Sigh. Alright then. Will my bestie please join me in shopping at the mall? I really need you right now?" Bai Renxiang asked.
"Now that is more like it," Ning Xiaozhi giggled. "Of course, I will. In fact, I'm already inside the compound. I'm coming in."
"Wait what?" Bai Renxiag's voice raised and she turned her head to the passage entrance of the mansion.
"Are you serious?"
"Baby girl, there is no need for me to joke around," Ning Xiaozhi said and laughed.
"But... So quick? How?"
"I was already coming to drag you out of the house anyway. So..." Ning Xiaozhi shrugged off the rest.
"Alright then. I will come and meet you outside," Bai Renxiang stood up with her bag in hand.
"Don't worry. The butler is letting me in already. Let me say hi to mum and your mother-in-law first. It will be rude to just come and go like that," Ning Xiaozhi stopped her.
"You have a point. I will hang up now."
"Cool."
Ning Xiaozhi came in and greeted both Mrs Li and Jiang Meilin. Hugs here and there as well as kisses too.
"Well, you look plain," Ning Xiaozho spoke with a slight frown as her eyes accessed her bestie.
"What is wrong with my outfit? It is the same as yours," Bai Renxiang looked down at her clothes.
"First of all, our outfits are literally not the same. My pants are fitted. Secondly, where are your earrings and bracelet and your watch? And do not even get me started on your no-make-up face," Ning Xiaozhi pointed out.
"And your hair... Sigh. Your hair will be great with the outfit when packed up."
"I don't want to wear any of those. It's useless going through all those redouble anyway," Bai Renxiang pouted.
Ning Xiaozhi and the two other women sighed. They understood the meaning behind the words Bai Renxiang said.
"Renxiang, your beauty is muah with those things. But you are a woman. You need to adorn yourself every day at most," Ning Xiaozhi held her shoulders.
"Let's get you upstairs and do a little touch-up, hmm?" She added upon Bai Renxiang's silence.
Taking her hand, Ning Xiaozhi took Bai Renxiang upstairs, to her room. She sat the latter down, in front of the mirror.
"Nothing much, okay?" Bai Renxiang reminded her.
"I got it. Just let your bestie do her thing," Ning Xiaozhi nodded.
In less than ten minutes, they were both walking back downstairs to the living room.
"How does she look now?" Ning Xiaozhi presented her to Jiang Meilin and Mrs Li.
"She looks splendid and gorgeous," Mrs Li commented.
"I agree. And less dull too. Now you seem to have more life and energy in you," said Jiang Meilin.
"Ouch, mum," Bai Renxuang exclaimed in lazy sarcasm.
"Oh, I am speaking the truth. Don't give me that look," Jiang Meilun waved her hands at her.
Bai Renxiang sighed and hooked her eyes. "Let's go, Xiaozhi."
"Okay. We will see you both in the evening," Ning Xiaozhi smiled.
"In the evening? It's just a little shopping. We will be back in an hour or two," Bai Renxiang's brows furrowed.
"Not with me going with you, girl. First, we will grab brunch and then we will head to the movies. After that, we will go shopping, eat lunch and karaoke with a few drinks and barbecue," Ning Xiaozhi listed all she had planned for them for the day.
Bai Renxiang's shoulders slouched and she let out an exaggerate groaned.
"That tells me you at excited," Ning Xiaozhi laughed.
"I am not–"
"Let's hurry up now. The movie will be starting in thirty minutes. We can't waste time and let the tickets I purchased go to waste. Chop chop now, darling," Ning Xiaozhi pulled Bai Renxiang along.
When they were out, the two women in the living room could not help but chuckle.
"Xiaozhi is really good at handling Renxiang," Mrs Li said.
"I know right? I am happy they are best friends," Jiang Meilun agreed.
"Yeah. At least Renxiang will have something to take her mind off Li Fengjin's disappearance."
"That is the exact reason why I want someone to go with her. My daughter tends to think too much at times," Jiang Meilin said and sighed heavily.
"Don't worry. She has us to help her through this stage. Everything will be fine," Mrs Li said without knowing the danger that awaits them in the future.
A danger that will bring a fear upon all of them. A situation when decisions will be hard to make. Life-threatening decisions.
******
Just as Ning Xiaozhi had planned, they went to a cinema to see an action-plot movie. And Bai Renxiang was very thankful to her for that.
Normally, they would go for romance and comedy. But Bai Renxiang did not want to see couples being all lovey-dovey. It will only make her think more of Li Fengjin.
So after the movie, they did have brunch of nachos chips and juice. Now they were in a shopping mall.
They spent a whole lot of time picking clothes, shoes, lingerie and whatnot. At last, they were done and it was time to make payment.
"Oh, crap!" Bai Renxiang exclaimed.
"What? What's wrong?" Ning Xiaozhi asked looking at her.
"The sudden call of nature. It is urgent," Bai Renxiang whispered.
"The urgent emergency or the urgent one?"
"Urgent emergency," Bai Renxiang replied.
"Alright. Go and use the restroom. I will handle the payment."
"Thank you. I will be back as soon as I can," Bai Renxiang said before rushing off.
On her way, she asked a staff for the restroom and she was immediately given directions. It took a while before Bai Renxiang came out feeling relieved.
She sighed as she stepped out of the restroom. Just as she came out in the open, she bumped into something hard.
"Ouch!" Bai Renxiang exclaimed in pain- eyes closed and both hands on her nose.
"Oh my. Are you okay, Renxiang?" Someone asked.
A male in particular. It appears that they bumped into each other with Bai Renxiang receiving the painful impact.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I'm sorry I was not paying attention to where I was going," she apologised.
"It is no problem, Renxiang. It was my fault for walking carelessly," the man smiled at her.
"No, it's– hold on. How did you know my name? I'm very sure we have never met before," Bai Renxiang's brows furrowed as she asked.
She immediately had her guard up. None of her bodyguards came along with her. But that does not mean she can't defend herself without them.
She has been training in self-defence and how to use a gun for months back. So she knew more than just the basics. But that does not also mean she should relax.
The man before her was tall and broad. Just one look and she could tell he had enough bulging muscles underneath his clothes.
That and the fact that she was getting an off vibe about him. His dyed dark red hair and the tattoo peeking out of his collar on his neck were an addition.
She wondered if he belonged to a gang because he was giving that sort of energy.