Xing Luo set her bag aside without looking at him. “When you said it was just for fun.”
The private room fell silent for a moment.
Sheng Huai’s raised wine glass froze mid-air. Xu Che glanced at Jiang Yichen but didn’t dare say a word.
Everyone knew that although Jiang Yichen treated Xing Luo with indifference, she was still his girlfriend in name.
Hearing those words was never going to sit well with her.
Sheng Huai and Xu Che both looked at Jiang Yichen.
But from what they knew of him, Jiang Yichen would never coax Xing Luo.
Even if those words had indeed come from his own mouth.
The room stayed quiet for a long while. Unexpectedly, Jiang Yichen pressed a kiss to Xing Luo’s cheek. “What, are you upset?”
Xing Luo blinked her big eyes, her tone laced with confusion. “Upset about what? Weren’t you guys saying we’d head over to Star Bar later?”
Star Bar was the bar run by Xing Luo’s best friend.
If Jiang Yichen wanted to make her unhappy, she could just as easily make money for her bestie.
Xing Luo turned to look at Jiang Yichen. “Honey, that’s what you all said, right?”
Jiang Yichen picked up the kettle and poured Xing Luo a glass of water. The sound of the stream was especially clear in the quiet room.
“Yes.” Jiang Yichen set the kettle down.
Sheng Huai and Xu Che exchanged a glance.
They both knew exactly what Xing Luo had overheard. But instead of making a scene, she had backed down.
That was the awareness expected of a kept bird.
“Good.” Xing Luo smiled and looked at the others. “Sorry I’m late—the show ran long.”
Sheng Huai and Xu Che quickly waved their hands. “No, no, not at all.”
Jiang Yichen smiled at Xing Luo, his tone rising. “Let’s eat, darling.”
“Okay.”
Everyone fell silent and buried themselves in their food, as if the little incident earlier had never happened.
During the meal, Xing Luo poured water for Jiang Yichen and peeled shrimp for him with practiced ease.
After dinner, the group headed to Star Bar.
Yu Yan had already received Xing Luo’s message and had opened the bar’s most expensive bottles for them.
Yu Yan: “Oh, look who’s here—all the young masters have arrived.”
She leaned against the bar’s doorframe, arms crossed, speaking with a sarcastic edge.
Yu Yan didn’t like Jiang Yichen, so she always found ways to clash with him. Even just winning a verbal spar was satisfying.
Jiang Yichen held Xing Luo’s hand and smiled at Yu Yan. “Why is Boss Yu coming out to greet us personally today?”
Yu Yan shot him a glance and said in a haughty tone, “Just for fun, right? Come on in, all of you.”
The moment those words—”just for fun”—left her mouth, Jiang Yichen’s expression visibly darkened.
Xing Luo and Yu Yan exchanged a knowing smile.
Yu Yan led everyone to their seats.
Once they were all settled, she personally poured Jiang Yichen a glass of wine and slammed it down in front of him. The force was so strong that the wine splashed out.
“Oh dear, how clumsy of me.” Yu Yan waved her hand. “You all have fun now.”
With that, she headed to the bar counter to mix drinks.
Xing Luo laughed softly as she watched Yu Yan’s retreating figure.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Everyone could tell—this best friend was standing up for Xing Luo. But so what?
Jiang Yichen wasn’t the kind of man to bow his head easily.
If Jiang Yichen was willing to play along with Xing Luo, that was a gift to her.
Jiang Yichen leaned back against the sofa, legs crossed, his left hand resting on Xing Luo’s waist. He gave the soft flesh there a pinch.
Xing Luo turned back with a smile.
Jiang Yichen tightened his grip, and Xing Luo fell directly into his arms.
“Really not upset?” Jiang Yichen asked.
Though he didn’t specify what he meant, Xing Luo knew he was referring to those words—”just for fun.”
Truthfully, she wasn’t upset at all. She didn’t even care.
Jiang Yichen was playing around, and wasn’t she doing the same?
“Nope.” Her tone rose, as if she couldn’t care less.
Jiang Yichen leaned close to her ear and let out a soft laugh. “You’re such a good girl.”
Xing Luo pretended to be shy and burrowed deeper into his embrace.
Sheng Huai and Xu Che had no idea what had gotten into Jiang Yichen today.
Yu Yan’s wine had nearly splashed onto him, and he hadn’t gotten angry at all.
Now he was even holding Xing Luo in his arms. Was he actually serious this time?
If that was the case, they’d give Xing Luo a little excitement.
Sheng Huai picked up his phone and sent a message to someone.
Ten minutes later, a figure walked in through the bar’s main entrance.
She wore a short green dress, her hair loose and flowing, swaying gracefully as she approached.
Sheng Huai spotted her first. “Ji Yan.”
Sheng Huai’s voice carried well, and Xing Luo heard it. She looked into the distance.
Ji Yan was walking over with a smile.
Jiang Yichen looked at Sheng Huai, his brows furrowed. “Why is she here?”
Sheng Huai: “I called her. More people, more fun.”
Jiang Yichen’s tone was displeased. “Who told you to act on your own?”
Xu Che tried to smooth things over. “Come on, we’re all just here to have fun. Don’t get angry, Yichen. Besides, it’s Ji Yan—it’s not like she’s a stranger.”
Those words reached Xing Luo’s ears as well.
She knew that everyone around Jiang Yichen thought Ji Yan was a better match for him.
It didn’t matter. Once she secured her lifeline, she’d return Jiang Yichen to Ji Yan.
Ji Yan walked to the center of the group, and Sheng Huai shifted aside, leaving a spot for her right next to Jiang Yichen.
Ji Yan sat down directly.
Jiang Yichen’s gaze landed on Ji Yan, then slowly traveled downward, sweeping over the stretch of pale, snow-white thigh she had deliberately exposed.
In just one second, a piece of clothing was draped over her leg.
Ji Yan and Jiang Yichen both looked up.
“The clothes are mine. Remember to wash them clean before returning them.” Xing Luo glanced at Ji Yan.
In the summer, Xing Luo always carried a thin jacket in her bag, worried that the air conditioning in public places might be turned up too high.
Ji Yan placed her hand on Xing Luo’s jacket, about to take it off, when Xing Luo spoke again: “Showing that much skin in front of someone else’s boyfriend is quite rude.”
Xing Luo slowly turned her head, a slight curve forming on her lips: “Or are you saying you dressed like that on purpose?”
With Xing Luo’s words already laid out so plainly, Ji Yan naturally couldn’t take the jacket off anymore.
She let out a light laugh: “You’re so thoughtful. I didn’t even notice it was a bit cold in here.”
Xing Luo: “Good to know for next time. Remember to wash the clothes clean before returning them.”
Jiang Yichen turned sideways to look at Xing Luo, his voice low and slightly husky, with a hint of explanation: “I didn’t see anything.”
But he was actually quite pleased that Xing Luo was jealous.
Xing Luo blinked her eyes and asked in return: “See what?”
Jiang Yichen’s body shook with a chuckle. He placed his hand under Xing Luo’s chin. “Jealous?”
Xing Luo shrugged. “How would I dare?”
The tone carried a hint of self-mockery.
Who was she, after all? How would she dare to be jealous? She was just someone playing along with Jiang Yichen.
Jiang Yichen left a kiss on Xing Luo’s chin and teased softly: “Who would believe you if you said you’re not jealous?”
The tone seemed to tell Xing Luo that being jealous wasn’t something to be ashamed of.
Xing Luo stared into Jiang Yichen’s deep eyes and asked: “If I said I was jealous, would you comfort me?”
The moment the words left her mouth, Jiang Yichen couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
His brows arched upward, a slight smile curling at his lips, as if he had just heard a very amusing joke.
“Haven’t I comforted you enough times already?”
Xing Luo blinked her eyes and slowly lowered her head.
Xing Luo sometimes played the little jealousy games that couples play with Jiang Yichen.
Xing Luo would act coy, get jealous, and even block Jiang Yichen.
She knew that a man like Jiang Yichen was never short of women around him. If Xing Luo stayed the same and never changed, she wouldn’t be able to maintain this romantic relationship with Jiang Yichen for long.
Men need novelty, and Jiang Yichen was no different.
Jiang Yichen would sometimes get angry at Xing Luo’s little antics, but after his anger passed, Xing Luo would immediately cling to him with her coquettish ways.
Xing Luo’s voice was very pleasant to the ear, and every time she acted coy, Jiang Yichen would “surrender.”
“Drinking alone is so boring. Let’s play Truth or Dare.” Ji Yan suggested.
She picked up the bottle and poured a glass of wine into everyone’s cup.
Truth or Dare was Ji Yan’s favorite game. Last time, she had taken the opportunity to kiss Jiang Yichen’s cheek.
Xing Luo hadn’t been there that time; she had heard about it from Sheng Huai unintentionally.
“Yichen, are you playing?” Ji Yan leaned closer to Jiang Yichen, turning sideways to ask him.