Chi Yang almost hung up the phone right then.
But then it occurred to her—with Xie Youci around, who knew what nonsense he might blab to everyone?
So she hesitated a little, “What are you all up to? Has Xie Youci… said anything to you guys?”
“Said what?”
Jiang Li blinked in confusion, “We’re just casually drinking and chatting, but Ji Fengting is definitely digging for gossip about Xie Youci right now.”
Chi Yang’s already anxious heart immediately tightened, “What gossip?”
“About that bite mark on his collarbone! Did you know? Xie Youci actually got bitten, and right on the collarbone of all places. I bet he’s secretly dating someone behind our backs!”
Chi Yang: “…”
The culprit couldn’t help but guiltily lick her little canine tooth, “Did he say who bit him?”
“Not yet, but Ji Fengting is asking. With how persistent he is, I’m sure we’ll get an answer tonight!”
Chi Yang: Σ(っ°Д°)っ!!!
How could she let you guys get an answer! If it really came out, how could she ever face anyone again!
Chi Yang felt she couldn’t keep hiding like a coward.
For the sake of her own innocence, she had to go over and keep an eye on Xie Youci to stop him from spouting nonsense.
“Where are you guys?”
“At Ji Fengting’s new bar on Ten-Mile Long Street, called—Tonight She’ll Be Here.”
“Okay.” Chi Yang quickly got out of bed to freshen up, “Keep an eye on things for me, alright? If Xie Youci starts gossiping, tell me right away. I’ll be there soon!”
With that, she hung up the phone.
Very decisively.
Jiang Li held her phone, hearing the dial tone, and blinked in confusion.
That was weird.
She said she was curious about the gossip, but it felt like she was actually nervous about this interrogation regarding the bite mark?
…
When Chi Yang arrived, the party was still lively.
Almost all the faces in the private room were familiar, but she still spotted Xie Youci at a glance.
He was sitting on a high-quality leather sofa, his long legs casually stretched out, his collar loosely open, clearly revealing the ambiguous bite mark on his collarbone.
Xie Youci’s posture wasn’t particularly elegant.
He looked almost boneless, nearly sinking into the sofa, exuding a lazy, unrestrained charm.
And yet.
This man had an exceptional aura, paired with his well-dressed black shirt, adding a touch of noble arrogance to his roguish demeanor.
Not exactly wicked, not exactly proper.
It was hard to tell if he was the unattainable finance prodigy or the playboy young master of the Xie family.
Ji Fengting was indeed scratching his head beside him.
Faced with the biggest gossip topic of the night, he racked his brains, asking whatever came to mind:
“Who? Who bit you?”
“Looking at this bite mark, it seems pretty wild. Probably not some refined lady, right? An outsider? The flight attendant from Beijing Airlines who asked for your WeChat? Or that Hollywood star who tried to hit on you the other day?”
Xie Youci hadn’t noticed Chi Yang entering yet.
He lazily lowered his eyelids, casually lighting a cigarette, growing impatient with the questioning:
“Don’t just drag anyone into this. I already said, a little dog bit me.”
Chi Yang had just walked into the private room. Before she could even greet everyone, she heard those words.
She had been worried that Xie Youci, this show-off, would go around blabbing and ruin her reputation, but in the blink of an eye, she had inexplicably become the “little dog” in his mouth.
The young lady was furious.
But she couldn’t just rush over and expose him.
So, in a fit of pique, she threw her handbag onto the sofa. The designer bag seemed to know exactly who to target, landing squarely on Xie Youci’s thigh.
Xie Youci: “…”
He paused, the cigarette between his teeth, slowly lowering his gaze to look at the exquisite, beautiful handbag.
Then his brow twitched slightly.
Oh, the Chi-family little dog who bit him had arrived.
The Chi little dog was wearing a dark green satin slip dress, arms crossed arrogantly over her chest, “A little dog bit you, huh? So, is the little dog pretty?”
Everyone looked up.
But Xie Youci was the slowest to raise his head.
He looked very nonchalant, casually exhaling a shallow puff of smoke before leisurely leaning forward to stub out the half-smoked cigarette.
“Tap tap—”
Xie Youci knocked on the nearby coffee table with his knuckles. He didn’t speak, but it seemed like a reminder of some sort.
Xue Rang was momentarily stunned. Upon seeing Chi Yang, he quickly put out his cigarette and gestured for everyone else to do the same.
The atmosphere in the entire private room shifted instantly.
Everyone knew the young lady disliked the smell of smoke. The frantic scene of extinguishing cigarettes resembled a drug bust.
“Chi Xiaoyang?”
Ji Fengting was also distracted, “Hey! You’re one tough guest to invite. We almost had to send Brother Ci with a grand sedan chair to fetch you. Finally decided to show up tonight, huh?”
Jiang Li also jumped up excitedly, rushing over to hug her neck, “Baby, you’re finally back!”
Chi Yang naturally reached out to embrace her.
Facing her best friend, the haughtiness in her expression instantly vanished, softening as she snuggled close:
“Wah… Xiao Tianli, I missed you so much!”
“Bb, me too!”
The party atmosphere warmed up again, though no one paid much attention to the remark Chi Yang made when she entered.
At most, Ji Fengting curiously asked, “After all these years apart, why do you two still bicker the moment you meet?”
Chi Yang didn’t join the men’s conversation.
Jiang Li pulled her over to taste the cake, playfully urging her to share fun stories from her studies in Italy.
Xie Youci naturally picked up the handbag Chi Yang had thrown over and set it aside, “Were we bickering?”
“Wasn’t that bickering? When she mocked you about that bite mark on your collarbone just now, wasn’t that sarcastic enough?”
Xie Youci let out a meaningful chuckle.
He tilted his head to look at Chi Yang, “She wasn’t mocking the bite mark. She was mocking the nickname.”
Ji Fengting: ?
“I knew it wasn’t a little dog! It must be a woman! You two are just playing around, and you call her ‘little dog’!”
The private room suddenly fell quiet again.
Everyone turned to look.
The cake Chi Yang had just put in her mouth got stuck, nearly choking her on Ji Fengting’s words.
“Not to be rude,” Xue Rang said, puzzled, “But what’s there to hide, Brother Ci? If you’re dating, just admit it. Is it really an outsider? Or is it someone we all know, so you’re embarrassed to say?”
“If it’s someone we all know, why can’t you say?”
Ji Fengting held a different opinion, “Unless… it’s Chi Yang?”
“Pfft—cough, cough, cough—”
The cake Chi Yang had just swallowed nearly made her choke again. Her face turned red from the coughing, and Jiang Li patted her back beside her.
Xie Youci lifted his eyelids to look at her.
He leisurely got up, pushing a bowl of tea toward her, “Don’t get so worked up.”
Chi Yang instinctively reached for the tea.
But unexpectedly, her fingertips accidentally brushed against Xie Youci’s. The burning sensation made her heart skip a beat.
She raised her eyes.
And met Xie Youci’s dark gaze.
The man’s expression was lazy and indifferent. He looked down at her, a faint, ambiguous smile curling at the corner of his lips, carrying a teasing, provocative air.
The private room was noisy and chaotic, but only they shared this secret glance.
Chi Yang suddenly felt a sense of shameful, clandestine intimacy.
She hurriedly gripped the teacup and withdrew her hand, pulling her gaze away as well. She turned to glare wide-eyed at Ji Fengting, “Me and Xie Youci? Are you crazy?”
“Then why are you so worked up?”
Ji Fengting was utterly baffled, “And it’s not me who’s crazy. It’s because the media started rumors a few days ago, saying you two were like dry wood meeting fire in a hotel, spending the night together!”
“Cough—”
Chi Yang choked on another mouthful of tea.