[Jiang Zhe: Sis Wan, why did you leave?]
[Jiang Zhe: Sis Wan, do you really not like Xie Shiyuan anymore?]
[Jiang Zhe: You’re joking, right? Are you playing hard to get?]
[Jiang Zhe: Sis Wan: Answer me, answer me.]
Yu Wan’s phone kept buzzing with notifications, completely bombarded by Jiang Zhe’s WeChat messages.
Reading those messages, Yu Wan gritted her teeth in anger: [Playing hard to get my ass!]
If Jiang Zhe were in front of her right now, she’d give him two solid punches!
He was doubting her!
[Yu Wan: Really! Don’t! Like! Him!]
Her fingers flew across the screen, tapping so hard the screen made loud clicking sounds.
Just how deep an impression had her previous behavior left on these people for them to distrust her so much?
Looking at the string of exclamation marks, Jiang Zhe could easily imagine how furious his Sis Wan must have been while typing.
Jiang Zhe rubbed his nose.
It really wasn’t his fault for thinking this way. After all, everyone in their circle knew Yu Wan liked Xie Shiyuan.
This impression was deeply ingrained.
When others described Yu Wan, they summarized it in one phrase: Xie Shiyuan’s ultimate simp.
Wherever Xie Shiyuan was, there you’d find Yu Wan.
Even after getting married, she still followed Xie Shiyuan around, embarrassing the Yu family.
Of course, Jiang Zhe didn’t agree with any of these assessments at all.
For Xie Shiyuan to catch his Sis Wan’s eye was an honor, a blessing accumulated over eight lifetimes!
His Sis Wan had money, looks, was straightforward and generous, loyal to her friends.
Not good enough for him? She was way too good for him!
In Jiang Zhe’s heart, his Sis Wan was perfect in every way. If Xie Shiyuan couldn’t see Yu Wan’s worth, that was purely because he was blind.
Although Yu Wan had claimed several times before that she didn’t like him anymore, only to go running back within a couple of days.
But Jiang Zhe believed!
This time it must be real!
If not, just consider it unsaid. For now, he believed his Sis Wan.
If Yu Wan knew what he was thinking, the corner of her mouth would probably twitch—you don’t seem that convinced either.
[Jiang Zhe: Right! We really don’t like him this time!]
Remembering something, Jiang Zhe directly called Yu Wan. Text alone couldn’t convey his emotions adequately.
Jiang Zhe: “Sis Wan, you have no idea, after you left, Xie Shiyuan’s face was so dark, it could drip ink.”
Xie Shiyuan had never been snubbed like that by Yu Wan before, especially not in front of so many people, and particularly in front of Xie Mingyan.
Before leaving, thinking about what Yu Wan said about not liking him anymore.
Xie Shiyuan gritted his teeth: “Yu Wan, you’d better mean what you say.”
Jiang Zhe meticulously, repeatedly, and vividly recounted everything that happened afterward to Yu Wan.
Yu Wan snorted lightly upon hearing this: “If I go back on my word, I’m a dog.”
Jiang Zhe: “…”
Sis Wan, there’s no need to say that about yourself. What if…
But he didn’t dare say that out loud—that would just be asking for a scolding.
After finishing about Xie Shiyuan, Jiang Zhe remembered something else and tentatively asked.
“Um, Sis Wan, why did you bring that guy today? Don’t you hate him the most?”
Just like her liking for Xie Shiyuan, Yu Wan’s hatred for Xie Mingyan was common knowledge to everyone.
Today, Yu Wan had broken both conventions at once.
Jiang Zhe’s voice wasn’t quiet at all, and Yu Wan was standing very close to Xie Mingyan, not to mention she had her phone on speaker.
Jiang Zhe’s voice came through the phone, landing clearly in Xie Mingyan’s ears.
Yu Wan paused, tilting her head to glance at Xie Mingyan. The man’s face showed no expression, as if Jiang Zhe wasn’t talking about him at all.
Honestly, even without any expression, his face was rather pleasing to look at.
Yu Wan admired his features for a moment, not caring that the person in question was right in front of her. She curled her lips and said, “Just average, really. Can’t say he’s the most detestable.”
Jiang Zhe: “…”
Fine, whatever his Wan-jie said went.
“Wan-jie, where are you now? How about I come find you, and we can go out together?”
“It’s all Xie Shiyuan’s fault—you’re not even happy anymore.”
Jiang Zhe spoke with utter frankness. Even though they were the ones who had probed into Xie Shiyuan’s whereabouts, he still shifted the blame onto him without a hint of guilt.
Jiang Zhe: What’s the problem?
He had always sided with family over reason, after all.
Hearing his invitation, Yu Wan decisively refused.
“Not going. I’m heading home,” Yu Wan said as she walked.
Her good mood for the day had been ruined. What was there to play for? Better to go home and lie down.
“Alright then.” Jiang Zhe didn’t press further. After saying, “Take care,” he hung up.
“Young Miss, please get in the car.” The driver appeared at just the right moment, respectfully opening the car door.
Yu Wan stepped in and sat down, playing on her phone while directing the driver to start driving.
Suddenly.
“Wait!” Yu Wan exclaimed urgently!
The driver slammed on the brakes, asking in confusion, “What is it, Young Miss?”
Yu Wan rolled down the window, glaring at the figure standing in the distance, already quite far from them. She gritted her teeth and said, “Xie Mingyan, come here!”
If it weren’t for that damned countdown starting to ring again, she wouldn’t have even noticed that Xie Mingyan hadn’t gotten in the car.
“Someone didn’t get in the car. Why didn’t you remind me?” Yu Wan frowned at the driver.
The driver: “…But Young Miss, you were the one who said before that he wasn’t allowed in your car.”
Another driver had been on duty when they came, and this driver had just started his shift. He wasn’t clear about the situation and assumed it was still like before—that Xie Mingyan wasn’t worthy of riding in the Young Miss’s car and had to walk back.
Yu Wan: “…”
That was indeed something she had done before.
“Walk faster,” Yu Wan declared, unapologetic and bold. The Young Miss would never admit her own mistakes.
At most, she could let him drive any car in the garage from now on.
Inside the car.
“Are you mute? If you didn’t get in the car, why didn’t you say something?”
Xie Mingyan looked at her unreasonable yet scolding demeanor—just as domineering as before.
But somehow… it felt more vivid now.
Like a cat with puffed fur, clearly in the wrong but too proud to admit it, instead turning to blame others.
“If you play mute next time, walk back on your own,” Yu Wan said fiercely.
“Did you hear me!” Seeing Xie Mingyan silently watching her without a word, Miss Yu’s temper flared up again.
Deaf and mute!
“Heard you, Young Miss.” Xie Mingyan lowered his eyes, speaking as if respectfully.
Yu Wan was satisfied. This future great villain seemed quite obedient for now—who knew when he would turn dark?
Whatever. As long as he didn’t turn dark around her.
Then she glanced at the person sitting beside her. Even though they were in the same row, it felt like there was a boundary between them—enough space to fit two more people.
Yu Wan: “…”
No, is she some kind of monster in muddy waters? Staying so far away—is she going to eat him or what?
Forget it. After all, they’ve already touched today, and the time has increased. As long as the countdown doesn’t drop, sitting farther away is fine.
After all, you can’t become fat in one bite—she understands the principle of playing the long game to catch the big fish.
And she was completely unaware of the dark, shimmering light in the lowered eyes of the person beside her.
Xie Mingyan had quite a bit of contact with her today, but it was far from enough to alleviate his symptoms.
His body seemed to remember her; every inch of his skin was intensely craving her touch.
If he didn’t keep his distance, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself.
A name rolled in the man’s throat: Yu Wan!
He trembled with excitement as if spotting prey, yet he restrained himself, feigning gentleness and compliance to avoid alerting the prey and letting it escape prematurely.