Chen Jia was even more nervous today than yesterday. She had messed up her eyeliner three times, and as she wiped it off with a wet tissue, her irritation grew until she simply put the pen down and gave up.
The person she was about to meet was just Xu An’an’s roommate, after all. Didn’t people online say that college students all had that look of clear-eyed foolishness? She was someone who had already been through the grind of work, with eyes as numb as someone who had been gutting fish at a supermarket for three years. Why was she so nervous?
But then she deflated just as quickly.
She had always been a bit socially anxious, ever since she was little. She preferred staying home playing games over going out, which was the only reason she had ended up in an online relationship and met Xu An’an in the first place.
She glanced at the vanity mirror and saw Xu An’an waiting for her on the sofa.
He had arrived early—three o’clock—and waited in the lobby for half an hour before she told him to come up and wait in the room.
Xu An’an was scrolling through videos on his phone absentmindedly, the milk tea he had brought still sitting on the coffee table.
He patted his pocket. The necklace was still there. Yesterday he had been so nervous that he had even forgotten to give it to her.
Giving it in front of her roommate tonight wouldn’t be appropriate either…
He cleared his throat softly, walked up behind Chen Jia, who was applying lipstick, and took out the box, placing it on the table in front of her.
Chen Jia: ?
Chen Jia pressed her lips together, twisted the lipstick tube shut, and while checking herself in the mirror to make sure the lipstick hadn’t smudged outside her lips, she opened the box. “What’s this? Wow! Such a pretty necklace!”
The necklace was heavy, especially the pink diamond in the center—it looked expensive.
Chen Jia estimated it must have cost a few thousand yuan at least, and she started thinking about what gift she should give him in return.
To be honest, she wasn’t really into this kind of thing. She would have preferred cash.
But the thought behind Xu An’an’s gift was always sweet. Receiving a present, even if it wasn’t her beloved money, genuinely made her happy.
She took the necklace out and placed it in Xu An’an’s hand. “Can you help me put it on?”
“Of course.”
Through the mirror, Chen Jia watched his slender fingers brush her hair aside from her neck. His breath hit her skin, making it feel a little ticklish.
She shrank back slightly, then watched as Xu An’an fastened the necklace. She looked at herself in the mirror, and the two of them exchanged a silent gaze. The atmosphere in the room began to grow intimate, and Chen Jia couldn’t help but blush.
Without thinking, Chen Jia tilted her head up and accepted the affection of Xu An’an’s lips.
Their lips and tongues met, their breathing quickened, and gradually Chen Jia began to tremble slightly under his eager claiming. She wanted to push him away with her hands, but when she touched his broad chest, her heart surrendered to his lips once more.
She felt her mouth grow wet and sticky, and the heat made her eyes mist over.
They didn’t know how long they kissed before they parted. Chen Jia opened her mouth and gasped for air, her chest still heaving. Xu An’an buried his head against the back of her neck, kissing her gently.
Chen Jia was hot, but she wanted to cling to him even more. When she saw Xu An’an lift his head, his lips red, she took a wet tissue and wiped at them, only to find there was nothing to wipe off—the lip gloss she had applied had all been eaten by him and fed back into her mouth.
Xu An’an squeezed onto the same stool as her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, and reached out to touch the corner of her mouth. “It’s broken.”
Chen Jia looked in the mirror—there really was a tiny cut there. She touched it and found it didn’t hurt much. She complained, “If you’re going to kiss, just kiss. Why did you bite me? I didn’t even bite you.”
Xu An’an’s cheeks, which had just faded from red, flushed crimson once again. “I’m sorry… I didn’t know… I’ll be more careful next time.”
Chen Jia shot her a look, reapplied her lipstick, and pulled out her phone. “It’s already 4:30? I thought it was just 4 a moment ago…”
They’d actually been kissing for half an hour—how absurd! How could this happen? Xu An’an’s beauty was a dangerous distraction!
Chen Jia wanted to cover her face and hide, but seeing Xu An’an blink at her as if she hadn’t quite understood what she’d said, she held back.
Xu An’an picked up Chen Jia’s bag. “Are you ready? If you’re done, let’s head out!”
“Should we get them some gifts? Do you know what your roommates’ girlfriends like?”
Since it was their first meeting, Chen Jia still hoped to get along well with her roommates’ girlfriends. There was no harm in bringing extra courtesy.
Xu An’an said, “How would I know what they like? If you really want to buy something, just grab some snacks to bring along.”
So Chen Jia dragged Xu An’an to the supermarket and picked out some snacks—beef jerky, jelly, shrimp crackers, and the like—specifically choosing the low-calorie options. If they didn’t like them, she could always bring them back to the hotel and eat them herself.
By the time they arrived at the gathering spot, it was already five in the afternoon.
It was a restaurant tucked away in an alley. As soon as they stepped through the door, the space opened up wide, surrounded by greenery, as if they’d entered an ancient garden.
Following a qipao-clad waitress through a backyard that resembled a small bridge over flowing water, they arrived at a private room.
Pushing open the door, they found three men and two women inside. A bespectacled man with peach-blossom eyes and sharply defined features was strikingly handsome. Beside him sat a woman with straight bangs, her jet-black hair cascading past her shoulders, her face fair and delicate. Next to the dark-haired beauty was another pretty girl with Western-style makeup, her hair tied up neatly—even seated, you could tell she was tall and slender. The man to her right was slightly less striking than the bespectacled one, looking mild-mannered and unremarkable. Sitting alone beside him was a man with hair as dark as ink, wearing a white shirt, lifting a teacup to drink. Even such an ordinary gesture looked cinematic with his superior features.
As expected, handsome people hung out with other handsome people.
Chen Jia suddenly felt a bit out of place, and her hand clasped with Xu An’an’s grew stiff.
“Sorry everyone, we’re late.”
Knowing Chen Jia was shy and introverted in real life, Xu An’an took the initiative to introduce her. “This is my girlfriend, Chen Jia. These are my roommates and their partners.”
Chen Jia could feel their gazes landing on her.
Some were surprised, some kept their expressions unchanged, and others quietly sized her up.
Everyone stood up, exchanged polite greetings, introduced themselves, and took their seats.
Chen Jia carried the plastic bag of snacks, setting it on the table as she sat down, nervously tugging at the tablecloth in front of her.
Xu An’an said, “Jiajia said she wanted to buy you all gifts when we came, and I told her we don’t do that kind of thing—just grab some snacks. But she still spent half an hour picking them out.”
It sounded like a playful, teasing remark, but it made the plain bag Chen Jia had casually brought feel full of thoughtfulness.
The dark-haired beauty, named Wang Yan, was Yan Qinggong’s girlfriend. She looked aloof and hard to approach, yet she was the first to reach out, take the bag, and start rummaging through it. “I want this beef jerky. Xiaoxue? What do you want?”
Wang Yan handed the bag to Qi Luoxue, a woman dressed in simple yet elegant style.
Qi Luoxue had striking, refined features but carried a poetic name. She took the bag and said, “We’re about to eat soon, and I’m saving room for a big meal, so don’t tempt me.”
Wang Yan smiled and exchanged a glance with Qi Luoxue, then turned her attention to Xu An’an and Chen Jia.
They hadn’t expected Xu An’an’s girlfriend to look so ordinary, but what did that have to do with them?
Noticing Chen Jia’s discomfort, Wang Yan handed her the menu and said, “Take a look and see what you’d like to order. They said this meal is on single Qin Yiming, so don’t be shy with him.”
With that, she covered her mouth with a light giggle, looking especially charming and lovely.
Wang Yan came from an equally distinguished family and had a passing acquaintance with Qin Yiming. Following the lead of the troublemaker Yan Qinggong, she was adept at teasing Qin Yiming.
Chen Jia glanced at the menu, then at Qin Yiming, who seemed to speak very little. He sat alone, ignoring everyone, appearing aloof and hard to approach. Even at Wang Yan’s words, he showed no reaction.
Chen Jia silently grumbled to herself and casually ordered a few dishes. The waiter behind her nodded with a smile and took down the order.
Xu An’an lowered his head slightly and whispered very softly in her ear, “Brother Qin is just like that—he rarely talks.”
Chen Jia looked at Xu An’an, watching him blink at her a few times, and the unease in her heart gradually faded.
Meanwhile, Zhang Zhian across from them had his mouth slightly open, looking as if he’d seen a ghost. Before Xu An’an’s gaze turned his way, he quickly masked his surprise and whispered to Qi Luoxue, “Chen Jia is way too plain…”
Qi Luoxue gave him a silent look and poured him a cup of tea, placing it in front of him.
“Do you remember Brother An’s ex? The one he broke up with last semester—what was her name, something like Yu? She was the beauty queen of the finance department. How thick is the lover’s filter he’s wearing? Is Brother An out of his mind?”
Qi Luoxue furrowed her brows slightly, ignoring Zhang Zhian, and suddenly said, “Chen Jia is looking at you.”
Startled, Zhang Zhian straightened up and sat properly. He glanced at Chen Jia and realized she was just reaching for her cup—she hadn’t been looking at him at all.
He pouted at Qi Luoxue, then saw Yan Qinggong pour a cup of tea and hand it to Chen Jia, asking with a smile, “How many days are you here this time?”
Chen Jia: “Three days. I need to head back tomorrow afternoon.”
“So short? Why not stay a few more days? Anzi just finished his exams, so he has time to show you around.”
Chen Jia didn’t dare look directly at this man with his warm smile and handsome features. She loved looking at attractive people, but when one was right in front of her, she only felt his radiance was too dazzling, making her uncomfortable.
Chen Jia said, “It’s hard to get more time off.”
With that, she picked up her cup and pretended to be very thirsty, sipping her tea to avoid the conversation.
Seeing her down it in one go, Yan Qinggong was a bit surprised. The water wasn’t boiling, but it was still quite hot. It seemed she was nervous and needed to drink more.
So he considerately gestured for Xu An’an to refill her cup, then turned to talk to Xu An’an. “Where are you planning to go during the break?”
“Me? I’ll see.” Xu An’an glanced at Chen Jia.
Yan Qinggong nodded—so it depended on Chen Jia’s plans.
Though Chen Jia met Xu An’an’s gaze, she didn’t catch his meaning. She felt like the tablecloth beneath her hands was about to be warmed by her grip.
She suddenly stood up, told Xu An’an she was going to the restroom, and fled into the bathroom.
After using the toilet, she washed her hands and stared blankly at the mirror.
The woman in the mirror was passable enough on her own, but compared to the beauties she’d just met in the private room, she fell far short. She knew her looks were nothing more than average—she didn’t dwell on it or compare herself to others, but when a real beauty stood before her, she couldn’t help feeling a pang of inferiority.
By the end of the meal, Chen Jia’s stomach was full, but she felt more and more tense with every bite.
Although Xu An’an’s roommates all seemed easy to get along with, the air of wealth that radiated from them still made Chen Jia feel out of place.
Especially Yan Qinggong. He had a face that was exactly Chen Jia’s type—his features so finely sculpted they looked AI-generated, with even dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth when he smiled. He was handsome without being greasy, but he made Chen Jia’s heart race while simultaneously filling her with a hint of fear.