Lin Tianshi smiled and said: “Come on, let’s see who has the King.”
He turned over his card – King of Spades. Xu Si looked at Jiang Qiao’s cards, but before he could move, she turned her cards over. Everyone looked around and saw the King was in Jiang Qiao’s hand.
“So it’s with Sister Jiang.”
“Why don’t… we let Sister Jiang kiss someone of her choice?”
At these words, everyone got excited. Xu Si’s “no” was drowned out.
“Pick me, pick me!” “Look here, look here!” “Haha, it’s just one kiss, won’t hurt!”
Amidst their teasing, Jiang Qiao picked up her wine glass: “I choose to drink.”
Lin Tianshi warned her: “Sister Jiang, think carefully. This isn’t ordinary wine. Even three glasses would be too much for us.”
Though he was warning her, his gaze lingered on her lips. They looked so soft – he wondered what they’d feel like to kiss. He hadn’t kissed a girl like her before.
Li Chengjun added: “Oh, sister, drinking is so unpleasant. Why not just pick someone to kiss? It’s just one kiss after all.”
Jiang Qiao gripped the cold glass tightly, condensation making her fingertips white: “No need.”
Just as the glass reached her lips, Xu Si snatched it away and drank it all in one go.
Everyone was stunned by his action.
Li Chengjun couldn’t help saying: “Young Master Xu, don’t break the rules. We just started playing – there’s no drinking for others.”
Xu Si gave him a cold look. Li Chengjun felt chills down his spine. Though the young man was two years younger, his expression was intimidating, too pressuring. He licked his lips, but couldn’t take back his words. He seemed to have angered Xu Si. Yet Xu Si hadn’t spoken up for the girl earlier – he’d thought they were just ordinary classmates who didn’t care much about each other. Now it seemed otherwise.
Lin Tianshi saw the atmosphere growing tense and tried to smooth things over, but before he could speak, he saw Xu Si grab Jiang Qiao’s wrist.
Xu Si cornered Jiang Qiao and slowly leaned down. He stared at her rosy lips, watching her expression. He really felt the urge to kiss her.
Holding her face, he whispered so only she could hear: “I won’t actually kiss you, don’t worry.”
Their noses almost touched before Xu Si stopped. Jiang Qiao’s face burned hot, her heart racing uncontrollably.
The private room was dimly lit. No one could see clearly, but from Xu Si’s movements, they all thought he really kissed her.
Xu Si’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times before he sat up straight. If the room wasn’t so dark, they would have seen his reddened ears.
Everyone was still teasing them.
Xu Si announced to the group: “Game’s over. I’m taking her home.”
Lin Tianshi stood up: “Will you come back, Young Master Xu?”
Xu Si looked back: “You all keep playing. I’ll return later.”
The evening wind was cool. Jiang Qiao walked in front, Xu Si behind. He took off his jacket and put it on her shoulders.
Jiang Qiao looked at the jacket, then at his sweatshirt: “I’m not cold.”
Xu Si glanced at her dress: “Keep it on. It’s cool at night.”
He stood beside her silently after that, just taking out his phone to call a car.
“The car’s not here yet. Wait a few minutes.”
Jiang Qiao watched him walk to a nearby convenience store. Xu Si came back quickly and pulled out a bottle of milk, placing it in her hands without a word.
Jiang Qiao stared at the familiar brand and flavor, still warm. She felt dazed, as if back in the past. Xu Si used to buy her warm milk to warm her hands, then walk her home. But now he called her “Jiang Qiao” and said “thank you.” He didn’t smile anymore either.
The car arrived quickly. Jiang Qiao tried to return his jacket.
“Keep it.” His voice was cold, emotionless. They sat in the back in silence.
Jiang Qiao felt they’d truly become strangers. She glanced at Xu Si and saw him with his head down, eyes closed. He’d apparently drunk quite a bit before she arrived.
Xu Si wasn’t actually asleep. He just didn’t know how to face Jiang Qiao.
They arrived soon. Xu Si got out and helped her exit, then they walked side by side for a while.
Jiang Qiao thought of his stomach and asked: “Did you eat dinner?”
“No.”
Jiang Qiao hesitated before adding: “Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach. Drink less.”
In the past, Xu Si would have teased: “What? Is little teacher worried about me? This bit of alcohol won’t get me drunk.”
But now, his fingers just curled slightly and he said: “Thank you.”
Under the influence of alcohol, Xu Si felt an urge to hug her. He wasn’t drunk – the cold wind had sobered him up. He just wanted one hug, just one would be enough. Before, only Jiang Qiao would ask if he was hurting. He wanted to say he was in pain now. His heart was in pain. But he couldn’t.
He walked her to her building. Jiang Qiao took off his jacket and handed it back: “Here’s your jacket. Thank you for walking me home.”
“You’re welcome.”
That place wasn’t safe. If someone targeted Jiang Qiao, she was so innocent she might be taken advantage of completely. That’s why Xu Si had to escort her out and take her home.
Before leaving, Xu Si told her: “Don’t come to places like this anymore. This isn’t somewhere you should be. And don’t come looking for me.”
Before Jiang Qiao could respond, Xu Si left. She watched him walk away, feeling indescribable emotions.
“Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Such normal phrases, yet they made her heart incredibly complex.
She remembered how when she first arrived, Xu Si sat alone in the corner, expressionless, somehow looking lonely. He didn’t seem happy now either.
Just as Jiang Qiao opened her door, she heard arguing inside. Tian Ling and Jiang Zhien quieted down when they saw her return.
Tian Ling asked: “Qiao Qiao, have you eaten dinner? If not, mom can make you something.”
Jiang Qiao shook her head: “No need, I’m not hungry.”
Back in her room, Jiang Qiao took out the still-warm bottle of milk and stared at it for a long while.
Where Jiang Qiao couldn’t see, Xu Si watched her building until her room light came on before finally leaving.
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