She had already said things to this extent. What else could Jiang Jiang do?
She turned on the speaker of her phone, then placed it to the side, making sure that while Ji Xu'an could hear her voice, she could also hear the sounds from Ji Xu'an's side.
Fu Xiaoyin, sitting nearby, was stunned by this operation. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then remembered that Ji Xu'an could hear her voice, and awkwardly shut her mouth again.
Looking at Jiang Jiang sitting properly with her legs together, Fu Xiaoyin suddenly felt a bit suspicious. Could it be that Jiang Jiang did this on purpose?
Was she worried that she might do something even more excessive later, so she deliberately placed a "Ji Xu'an" here to scare her??
But whether Jiang Jiang did it intentionally or not, at least the effect was obvious. Fu Xiaoyin gloomily picked up her wine glass and took a big gulp, not daring to say a single word for several minutes.
However, she was someone who could never sit still. After a brief moment of panic, Fu Xiaoyin suddenly came up with another idea.
Why had she brought Jiang Jiang to the bar?
Was it not precisely to stimulate Ji Xu'an!
Now Ji Xu'an was on the other end of the phone listening. This effect could not simply be described as doubled. It was a qualitative leap!
Fu Xiaoyin steadied herself and gave a look to the woman sitting beside Jiang Jiang. The woman immediately understood what she meant.
She picked up the wine glass on the table and leaned toward Jiang Jiang again. "Little sister, even if we can't add each other as friends, we can at least chat, right?"
"Don't worry, I don't mean anything else. This is my job, and you've paid." She looked at Jiang Jiang with a slight frown, her tone even carrying a hint of pitifulness. "If I don't do anything, the floor manager will definitely scold me."
She raised her glass toward Jiang Jiang. Jiang Jiang had no choice but to lift her own glass and clink it with hers.
On the other end of the phone, when Ji Xu'an heard her call Jiang Jiang "little sister," her already expressionless face became even more stern and tense. Yet she still remembered what she had just said. Even though she was so angry that her breathing was no longer smooth, she did not make a sound to interrupt Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang was not an easy guest to deal with. No matter how much the woman talked, she only occasionally responded with a sound or two.
In the end, the woman simply stopped chatting with her and instead suggested that everyone play a game together.
This time Jiang Jiang finally showed some interest. As they played, she seemed to forget that she was still on a call with Ji Xu'an. The surprise and excitement in her laughter were so clear that even through the phone screen, Ji Xu'an could hear them distinctly.
She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and stepped hard on the accelerator. The car immediately shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
—
When Ji Xu'an arrived, Jiang Jiang and the others were already in the third round. Jiang Jiang had not lost too much, but she had still drunk two glasses. Her little face was flushed red, and her eyes were misted with faint drunkenness.
Seeing this scene, Ji Xu'an quickened her steps and strode toward the booth. Fu Xiaoyin was the first to see her. The bright smile on her face suddenly froze.
"Ahem." She cleared her throat and even gave Jiang Jiang a look.
Jiang Jiang turned her head to look behind her. Before she could clearly see the expression on the newcomer's face, a shadow suddenly fell over her head. She tilted her neck back, her gaze meeting Ji Xu'an's pair of dark eyes, whose emotions were difficult to discern.
Ji Xu'an stared steadily at Jiang Jiang, looking her up and down from head to toe. After confirming that Jiang Jiang had not been bullied, she finally let out a heavy sigh of relief in her heart.
She placed her hand on the back of the chair Jiang Jiang was leaning against. Her fingertips were only a short inch away from Jiang Jiang's shoulder. A cool scent mixed with faint sweetness rushed forward, enveloping Jiang Jiang within it.
Jiang Jiang, who had been playing the game with great interest just moments ago, suddenly became well-behaved. She withdrew her gaze and lowered her eyes to stare at her own fingertips. Out of the corner of her eye, she could glimpse the gemstone cufflinks pinned at Ji Xu'an's sleeve. They were the gift she had given Ji Xu'an.
The space within the booth suddenly became extremely quiet. Around them echoed a lazy English female voice. It was not a very famous tune. The slightly cheerful rhythm paired with the dim environment of the bar could quickly make people relax.
But at this moment, listening to the singer's humming, everyone only felt it difficult to breathe.
Fu Xiaoyin felt it most strongly.
Because most of Ji Xu'an's anger was directed at her. Although Ji Xu'an had not said a single word, that fixed stare alone was enough to make one feel a chill down the spine.
Amid her nervousness, Fu Xiaoyin even had the leisure to think about whether she would be fired by Ji Xu'an when they got back.
The heavy atmosphere gradually spread. In the end, it was Jiang Jiang who first spoke and broke the silence.
"Sister, would you like to sit for a while too?"
As soon as she said this, even Fu Xiaoyin secretly gave Jiang Jiang a thumbs-up in her heart.
This was a true warrior!
Daring to invite Ji Xu'an to sit down and drink together when she had such a cold expression. At least she herself absolutely did not have that courage.
Ji Xu'an lowered her head to look at Jiang Jiang. The expression on her face was still indifferent, but her gaze had softened considerably. "Do you like this kind of occasion?"
"It's alright." Jiang Jiang thought for a moment and curved her lips at Ji Xu'an. "It's very interesting and lively."
She liked liveliness.
Ji Xu'an: "Alright."
She raised her hand to adjust her sleeve and cast an indifferent glance at the woman beside Jiang Jiang. The other party gave an awkward smile, then immediately stood up and gave up her seat.
The scent of perfume that had made Jiang Jiang uncomfortable was finally replaced by a familiar presence. Jiang Jiang's previously tense body also relaxed.
She looked carefully and realized that at some point Ji Xu'an had put away her cufflinks. She had rolled up her sleeves, revealing her forearms. Under the wash of the lights, the wrists exposed to the air were slender yet powerful, a kind of beauty difficult to describe with words.
Jiang Jiang thought that although saying so might be exaggerated, some people truly were born carrying their own light, existing on a level far beyond the reach of others.
She glanced at the others. The woman who had dared to retort to Ji Xu'an through the receiver earlier was now silent. Even Fu Xiaoyin did not dare to speak lightly, afraid of being resented again by Ji Xu'an.
She admitted that she had deliberately asked for a woman who bore one or two points of resemblance to Ji Xu'an to come over. She had intended to stimulate Ji Xu'an. But after the real person arrived, Fu Xiaoyin felt that her behavior was somewhat ridiculous.
No one could be like Ji Xu'an. The reason she had liked Ji Xu'an for several years was precisely because Ji Xu'an possessed a unique charm that no one else had.
What she had done was impolite to both Ji Xu'an and the woman beside her.
Fu Xiaoyin felt restless. She only hoped that Ji Xu'an had not noticed this detail.
But in fact, Ji Xu'an had noticed it the moment she walked in.
When she saw the woman's brows and eyes clearly, the surging flames of anger and jealousy in her heart had almost drowned her reason, nearly forcing her to do something even more out of control in front of Jiang Jiang.
Fortunately, Ji Xu'an quickly calmed down. She knew exactly whom she should settle the score with.
Jiang Jiang must have been deceived by Fu Xiaoyin. As for that woman, she was only here to work. She listened to whoever paid her. Ji Xu'an would not let her jealousy cause her to vent her anger on her.
The origin of this entire incident was Fu..Xiao..Yin!
Fu Xiaoyin suddenly shivered. She thought that since she had already angered Ji Xu'an, it did not matter if there was one more offense. She might as well go all out.
"If President Ji wants to join, then let's start a new round. But Jiang Jiang lost just now, so she still has to drink one glass."
She pushed a full glass of brandy in front of Jiang Jiang. Jiang Jiang was very obedient and reached out to pick it up, but her wrist was blocked by Ji Xu'an.
Within her line of sight, a distinct, slender hand picked up the glass that should have been hers to drink. Jiang Jiang turned to look. Ji Xu'an said nothing. She pressed the rim of the glass to her lips and tilted her head back, drinking the entire glass in one gulp.
Jiang Jiang silently watched Ji Xu'an. Her light-colored lips moved slightly, and the smile in her eyes slowly faded.
What she did not say was that before Ji Xu'an came, she had not been drinking this.
Fu Xiaoyin had clearly done it on purpose.
Jiang Jiang cast a sideways glance at Fu Xiaoyin. The latter subtly shook her head at her.
Jiang Jiang turned back to Ji Xu'an. She had already set the empty glass back on the table. Her cold, heavy gaze fixed directly on Fu Xiaoyin. "Continue."
Fu Xiaoyin suddenly had a bad premonition.
What happened next confirmed her guess.
Who would have thought that Ji Xu'an, who appeared rigid and boring, was actually an expert at the drinking table!
She was very skilled at playing the game. Fu Xiaoyin and the others were completely no match for her.
Jiang Jiang did not even have a chance to participate. She sat obediently beside Ji Xu'an, watching her flexibly rotate her wrist and shake the dice inside the dice cup.
Each time the dice cup was opened, Fu Xiaoyin's expression turned one degree more bitter.
Until this round of the game ended, Ji Xu'an lifted her chin, signaling the girl beside Fu Xiaoyin to pour the drinks. After several glasses had been filled, she said indifferently, "Manager Fu, please."
Fu Xiaoyin ground her teeth. Damn it. She had actually let Ji Xu'an show off!
She swallowed and looked at the row of brandy placed in front of her, thinking that if she drank all of this, would she even be able to get out of bed tomorrow?
Ji Xu'an, this narrow-minded woman!
But since she had made the rules herself, Fu Xiaoyin could not say that she could not handle it. She took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll drink!"
Although Jiang Jiang did not know how good Fu Xiaoyin's alcohol tolerance was, she could tell from her expression that these drinks would probably be quite difficult for her.
Jiang Jiang could not help reaching out to tug at Ji Xu'an's sleeve, hesitating softly, "Sister, isn't this not very good?"
"It's fine." Ji Xu'an's tone was calm, even carrying a certain inexplicable certainty. "Manager Fu has a very good alcohol tolerance. This amount is nothing to her."
Hearing this, Fu Xiaoyin could not help defending herself. "Actually, my alcohol tolerance isn't that good…"
"Is that so?" Ji Xu'an let out a scoff. "I thought that since Manager Fu dared to play this kind of game with others, she must be very confident in herself…"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Jiang looking at her in surprise. Ji Xu'an swallowed back the unfinished "so it turns out you're only this much."
She admitted that she was deliberately targeting Fu Xiaoyin. Who told Fu Xiaoyin to repeatedly test the limits of her tolerance?
Fu Xiaoyin hated being provoked the most in her life. Hearing this, she immediately slapped the table. "Who says I can't? I'll drink right now!"
When she said those harsh words, she looked fearless. But after struggling to swallow several glasses of alcohol, Fu Xiaoyin endured and endured, yet still covered her mouth in discomfort.
Not working anymore!
Really can't take it!
I really want to throw up!
She looked as if she would collapse to the ground in the next second, appearing especially pitiful, yet Ji Xu'an's expression remained calm, without the slightest hint of being moved.
She knew that part of Fu Xiaoyin's discomfort was an act. However, since the other party had already shown weakness first, if she continued to press aggressively, it might ruin the upright and glorious image she had in Jiang Jiang's heart.
Ji Xu'an had no choice but to let Fu Xiaoyin off for the moment. She turned her head to look at Jiang Jiang and asked in a low voice, "Manager Fu seems unable to drink anymore. Jiang Jiang, do you still want to play for a while longer?"
Jiang Jiang felt a bit stuffy in her chest. In addition, she had walked for a long time today and was indeed somewhat tired.
She shook her head, her head lightly leaning against Ji Xu'an's shoulder. She brought her lips close to Ji Xu'an's ear and softly replied, "Let's go back."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xu'an's clenched fist relaxed imperceptibly. Her brows eased, and there was a smile in her eyes. "Then let's go."
Jiang Jiang followed closely behind Ji Xu'an, led out by her hand. Fu Xiaoyin, who had looked half-dead just moments ago, watched the two of them leave hand in hand and could not help revealing an aunt-like smile.
—
Before coming, Ji Xu'an had guessed that she might drink, so she had called for a designated driver in advance.
After getting into the car and seeing that Jiang Jiang's complexion was not very good, Ji Xu'an reached out and opened the car window a crack, letting the cold air from outside blow in.
Neither of them spoke. They leaned against each other, drawing warmth from one another.
After resting for a while, Jiang Jiang felt much better in her chest. Only then did she realize that Ji Xu'an had not spoken since earlier.
Could she still be angry?
Jiang Jiang raised her eyes to look at Ji Xu'an, only to discover that the woman who had looked normal just now was now half-closing her eyes, with an abnormal flush added to her cheeks.
"Sister?" Jiang Jiang frowned. "Are you feeling unwell?"
After several seconds, Ji Xu'an responded sluggishly with a nasal sound. "Mm?"
She shook her head and raised her hand, pressing her forehead with her fingertips. Her brows were almost twisted together, yet she still emphasized to Jiang Jiang, "I'm not drunk."
Jiang Jiang: …
Jiang Jiang felt that something was not right. Ji Xu'an's alcohol tolerance had always been good. Even Fu Xiaoyin could drink several glasses of that alcohol. There was no reason that Ji Xu'an would be drunk after just one glass.
She recalled the strange anticipation and excitement on Fu Xiaoyin's face when she had pushed the drink over and vaguely understood something.
Jiang Jiang held the hand Ji Xu'an had resting on her leg. "You're drunk. I'll take you to the hospital."
Ji Xu'an usually listened to Jiang Jiang. But at this moment, she was extremely stubborn. She clasped Jiang Jiang's fingertips in return, her voice slightly hoarse from being soaked in alcohol. "I'm not going."
Jiang Jiang observed carefully for a while. Ji Xu'an was drunk, but her consciousness was not completely blurred. Her reactions were just slower than usual.
Jiang Jiang wanted to persuade her again. She had just parted her lips to say two words when the person in front of her suddenly raised her hand and wrapped it around her shoulders.
The pleasant scent completely enveloped Jiang Jiang. She was forced to tilt her head back, her chin resting against Ji Xu'an's shoulder. The gentle voice in front of her pressed close to her ear and sounded softly.
"I don't want to go to the hospital."
As Ji Xu'an spoke, her voice grew lighter, very much like indistinct coquettishness. "I want you to hold me."
It was Jiang Jiang's first time seeing Ji Xu'an like this. Like a child acting spoiled for candy. Her usually cool voice, softened by several degrees, carried a slightly sticky nasal tone, making the listener's heart itch.
"Sister." Jiang Jiang coaxed her. "There are still people here."
Ji Xu'an loosened her hold slightly. She lowered her eyes to look at Jiang Jiang. At some point, a circle of damp redness had appeared around her eyes. Paired with her flushed cheeks, she looked as if she had been bullied.
"Then when we get back, can you hold me?" Ji Xu'an asked cautiously.
Jiang Jiang hesitated for several seconds. Ji Xu'an did not speak, stubbornly waiting for her answer.
Jiang Jiang had no choice but to let out a soft breath. "We'll talk about it when we get back."
Ji Xu'an truly became obedient. However, she never released Jiang Jiang's hand and even occasionally pinched her fingertips, playing with them fondly.
Not only that, Ji Xu'an's gaze remained fixed on Jiang Jiang's face, so scorching that Jiang Jiang could not ignore it.
And Jiang Jiang always felt that Ji Xu'an was not looking at her eyes, but somewhere lower.
She pursed her lips uncomfortably and turned her head to look out the car window, avoiding her gaze, not noticing that Ji Xu'an swallowed subtly.
They arrived quietly at the hotel. After getting out of the car, Ji Xu'an did not ask Jiang Jiang to support her while walking.
If not for her abnormally flushed face and the very different tone in which she spoke, Jiang Jiang might truly have thought that Ji Xu'an was completely fine.
The two returned to their room smoothly. As soon as Jiang Jiang closed the door behind her, in the very next second her waist was immediately wrapped in an embrace.
Ji Xu'an was taller than her to begin with, with long arms and legs. She tightened her arms and confined Jiang Jiang within her embrace. Jiang Jiang felt as though her whole body could not move.
She stepped back twice. Ji Xu'an followed her two steps, until Jiang Jiang's back hit the wall. Only then did they stop.
Jiang Jiang struggled to lift her head from Ji Xu'an's embrace. "Sister, can you loosen up a little first?"
Ji Xu'an rested her head in the hollow of Jiang Jiang's neck. As she spoke, her scorching breath spilled entirely over Jiang Jiang's earlobe. "No."
She even sounded aggrieved. "You promised me. When we came back, you would let me hold you."
Jiang Jiang's head hurt a little. "We can sit on the sofa."
When she agreed, she had not expected Ji Xu'an to be this impatient.
Ji Xu'an inhaled the sweet fragrance on Jiang Jiang's body. Her already unclear mind grew even more muddled. She was acting entirely on instinct now, not even knowing what she herself was saying.
"I don't want to go to the sofa." As she spoke, Ji Xu'an withdrew her hand from Jiang Jiang's waist and instead placed it at the back of Jiang Jiang's neck.
The sensitive spot was grasped. Jiang Jiang instinctively shrank her neck, trying to avoid Ji Xu'an's hand.
She pushed against Ji Xu'an's shoulder, her voice somewhat unsteady. "Don't pinch…"
The trembling tail of her words carried a trace of breathlessness.
Ji Xu'an was unmoved. Her fingertips even pressed and rubbed more firmly against the side of Jiang Jiang's neck, as if trying to force more murmurs from her.
Jiang Jiang tilted her head back to look at the light above. Moisture was stirred in her almond-shaped eyes.
"Sister…" She bit her lip, her tone light and winding.
That soft call sounded to Ji Xu'an's ears as though it carried other meanings.
Gorgeous, ambiguous images began replaying repeatedly in Ji Xu'an's mind.
Ji Xu'an was stimulated by her own fantasies. She closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath. Because they were so close, the sound rang directly against Jiang Jiang's ear.
Jiang Jiang suddenly felt her legs grow weak. It was as if she had lost all her strength in an instant. The fingers that had been braced against Ji Xu'an's shoulder turned into a powerless rest against her.
"Sister…" Jiang Jiang called again.
Ji Xu'an's throat bobbed. "Mm."
The air was so heated it seemed ready to ignite. Wordless ambiguity flowed between them.
From Jiang Jiang's neck to her earlobes, everything was red. Not to mention her cheeks. The extent of her blush was almost equal to Ji Xu'an's.
Even when the two of them had once embraced with only a layer of sleepwear between them, it had never been this unbearable.
Jiang Jiang did not know whether it was because she had also drunk alcohol. The intoxication made her more irrational than usual. Even though she knew they should not be hugging like this at the door, she had no strength to push Ji Xu'an away.
As for Ji Xu'an, there was no need to mention it. At this moment, she could not think of such matters at all.
Someone seemed to pass by outside the door. Jiang Jiang heard very faint footsteps. She bit her lip again and turned her head to avoid Ji Xu'an's gaze. "Sister, don't be like this…"
Jiang Jiang took a deep breath. "Can you let go first?"
But Ji Xu'an was not listening to what she was saying at all. Her gaze was fixed directly on Jiang Jiang's lips. The soft lower lip had been bitten by Jiang Jiang until it glistened with moisture, its color becoming even more vividly red.
Ji Xu'an seemed to hear the sound of reason collapsing and breaking.
One hand wrapped around Jiang Jiang's waist. The other clasped the back of Jiang Jiang's head, imprisoning her completely within her embrace, leaving her not the slightest chance to escape.
"Baby." Ji Xu'an murmured, calling out a form of address she had never used before.
Jiang Jiang's struggling movements instantly stopped. She froze for several full seconds before asking uncertainly, "Are you… calling me?"
The first thing that surfaced in Jiang Jiang's mind was not shyness, but… was Ji Xu'an really calling her that?
Ji Xu'an did not answer her. She continued rubbing her cheek against Jiang Jiang and pleaded in a very small voice, "Can I kiss you?"
Jiang Jiang lowered her eyelashes. "No…"
Before she could finish speaking, Ji Xu'an suddenly covered Jiang Jiang's mouth with her hand.
Jiang Jiang's long lashes trembled lightly. She lifted her head and met Ji Xu'an's gaze. The temperature in Ji Xu'an's eyes was so scorching that it could melt her completely.
Jiang Jiang made two muffled sounds with reddened eyes, unable to speak.
Ji Xu'an seemed to laugh softly. Jiang Jiang did not hear clearly. She only heard Ji Xu'an declare in advance, "If you don't speak, I'll take it as you agreeing."
Jiang Jiang's heart tightened abruptly. Her mind went blank, unable to react at all.
In the next moment, the hand on her lips moved away, replaced by something softer and warmer, pressing tightly against her lips.
All refusals were sealed within her throat. Jiang Jiang gripped Ji Xu'an's clothes tightly. Her eyelids fluttered twice, and a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.
Her breathing, along with her lips and tongue, were completely filled with Ji Xu'an's presence, leaving not the slightest gap.
Ji Xu'an kissed very deeply, biting a mark into Jiang Jiang's lower lip. Before Jiang Jiang could cry out in pain, she turned gentle again, soothing Jiang Jiang carefully with her lips and tongue.
Sticky sounds of moisture, accompanied by breathing that grew light and heavy by turns, echoed in the quiet room.
This kiss far exceeded Jiang Jiang's imagination. She was so bewildered that she did not know how to respond. Before her consciousness could fully return, she was drawn by Ji Xu'an into an even deeper whirlpool, able only to submit to everything Ji Xu'an gave her.
Amid their rubbing and entanglement, someone pressed a switch. The room suddenly went dark.
The light from outside the window filtered in through the half-open curtains, casting a faint sheen on the floor. Occasionally, one or two faint chirps of insects could be heard.
The night gradually deepened.
—
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