In the private room, Jiang Xia pressed his lips together, the sweet taste of her still on his tongue.
He squinted and leaned back gently against the sofa, savoring the recent passion. It made him recall their past life—that first time in the hotel, the nervousness he’d felt as he held his breath and peeled off her clothes.
Her eighteen-year-old body was endlessly tender and alluring. Even in the dark, it was enough to drive him wild with desire.
Jiang Xia was already looking forward to their wedding night. ’If only it could be when she’s eighteen...’
His thoughts inexplicably drifted to a scene of her in a wedding dress, lying beneath him. But at that exact moment, the door to the private room was pushed quietly open.
Lin Yanwan looked at the faint smile on Jiang Xia’s face. She didn’t need to be a genius to know he was thinking about something naughty again.
After all, he’d just spent a long time taking liberties with her in the dark. And even though she’d given him permission, the memory of the wet heat of his lips still made her body flush.
Lin Yanwan raised her hand and poked Jiang Xia firmly on the forehead. "Wake up," she said, annoyed. "Stop dreaming."
He opened his eyes, pulled her into his arms, and whispered close to her ear, "With my eyes closed, it’s a dream. With them open, it’s you. I was just picturing you in a wedding dress."
Her face flushed. "Before we took our wedding photos last time," she huffed, "the owner talked it up so much, but it ended up being ridiculously expensive, and the pictures weren’t even good!"
"We have experience this time around," Jiang Xia said, squeezing her hand. "We won’t fall for that again. If the photos are bad, we just won’t pay."
"I don’t want a Western-style wedding this time!" she declared, her tone proud and willful.
"Whatever you say," he said with a smile. "A traditional wedding with a sedan chair, stepping over a basin of fire, bowing to Heaven and Earth, and then me lifting your red veil in the bridal chamber... that sounds good too."
Blushing, she murmured a soft sound of assent. It came out as a sweet, nasal hum that he found delightful.
"So, when do you plan on marrying me?" Jiang Xia asked, smiling at her.
"In your dreams! As if I’d marry you~"
She tossed her head back. ’After all, people always want what they can’t have. I’ll make him keep yearning for me.’
Jiang Xia chuckled softly. ’One second she agrees to a traditional wedding, and the next she’s taking it all back. What a little tsundere.’
"Fine, I’ll just go find someone else."
"You dare!?"
She grabbed a handful of flesh on his side and twisted. Jiang Xia sucked in a sharp breath.
Lin Yanwan’s face was burning. She quickly let go, afraid he’d use it as an excuse to pin her to the sofa again with ill intentions, just like before.
But just then, the door to the room was suddenly thrown open.
"Old Jiang! Ol— uh..."
Wang Ming’s voice died in his throat as he took in the scene before him.
The two were cuddled up together, and not one of the four computers in the private room was on. Even if he were dense as a rock, he could guess what they had been up to.
’It’s just kissing, hugging, cuddling, and a bit of touching, right? I’m not jealous. Really, I’m not. WAHHH.’
"Ahem, don’t mind me. You two carry on. I’m just going to step outside for some air."
Wang Ming shut the door with practiced ease. Standing outside, his heart leaped into his throat.
’Did I just stumble upon the boss and the lady boss’s scandalous private life? Am I going to be secretly "dealt with"? They’ll probably just find some excuse to fire me.’
He shook his head to clear it of those wild thoughts and let out a long, internal sigh.
’Old Jiang is all lovey-dovey with his girlfriend every day, his cartoon is on TV now, and even my own mom sings his praises. He’s so young and he’s already a winner in life.’
’And me? I’m a nobody with nothing.’
Inside the private room, a flustered, red-faced Lin Yanwan scrambled out of Jiang Xia’s arms and shot him a fierce glare.
"This is all your fault!"
Jiang Xia chuckled. "Compared to getting caught by her dad and taking two punches for it, this is nothing. Besides, all he feels is envy and a little saltiness~"
"..."
Lin Yanwan was speechless for a moment. On second thought, he was probably right. It’s only awkward if you make it awkward.
With how thick-skinned he was, he wouldn’t blush in the slightest, but she couldn’t be that shameless.
"Hmph! Well, you can be the one to explain it to them!"
Lin Yanwan huffed, retreated to the farthest corner, and turned on her computer, deciding to play the part of an ostrich burying its head in the sand—with its butt still sticking out.
◇
Shen Ying looked up at the flashing neon sign. It read "Ionia Internet Cafe." ’Yep, this must be the place.’
She pushed open the door and walked in. Just as she was about to ask the attendant for directions to private rooms 61-64, she saw Chen Yao making instant noodles for a customer.
"Straight down this hall, then turn right. It’s the first room," Chen Yao said flatly.
Shen Ying paused for a second. ’It’s like she knew I was here for Jiang Xia.’
But since they were only acquaintances, she just nodded, said thank you, and hurried on.
When she got to the room, she saw Wang Ming standing guard by the door like a statue and couldn’t help but ask.
"Why aren’t you going in? Has the happy couple not arrived yet?"
Her tone was as casual as ever. Although they hadn’t seen each other since the last party or even chatted privately, they still worked at the same company. They couldn’t avoid running into each other, and if they couldn’t be a couple, they could at least be friends.
"Uh... they’re here. They’re... they’re inside."
Wang Ming scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward as he looked at her.
’In this unrequited love story, I’m the loser who got rejected.’
"Then what are you doing standing out here?" Shen Ying asked with a smile.
Seeing her smile, Wang Ming’s breath inexplicably softened.
’She’s wearing a white dress today, with what looks like light makeup. There’s a subtle charm in her eyes. Her soft hair hangs naturally, and I can smell the fresh scent of her shampoo from here. She must have just washed it.’
’I’d already decided to get over her, so why does my heart still flutter when I see her?’
"Hello?"
Shen Ying waved a hand in front of his face. "Zoning out?" she laughed.
"No... no..."
Wang Ming’s face flushed red. He looked away, not daring to meet her eyes, and stammered, "The two of them... they’re..."
"What about them?"
Shen Ying shot him a curious look. Without waiting for him to answer, she reached for the door, but Wang Ming quickly blocked her.
"Wait, don’t!" he said urgently. "They’re..."
"We’re what?" Jiang Xia suddenly pulled the door open, a wide grin on his face as he looked at the two of them. "Well, look who’s here! I thought you’d arrive right on the dot."
Shen Ying peeked into the private room. All four computers were on, and her good friend was sitting by the far wall, using one of them. She looked up and greeted Shen Ying calmly.
"What were you two doing in here all secretively?" Shen Ying asked, confused.
"What else? Just cuddling," Jiang Xia said with a perfectly composed shrug.
Uh...
Wang Ming stared in disbelief. ’He’s not even blushing. How can anyone be so shameless?’
"Oh, is that it," Shen Ying said, suddenly disappointed. Seeing how flustered Wang Ming was, she’d thought they were in here making a baby or something.
...
*(Sorry, everyone. I was taking my wife for the traditional post-wedding visit to her parents’ home today. We were in the car all day and just got here. I’ll post our wedding photos in a bonus Chapter later to make it up to you!)*