What a masterful move of turning the tables!
Originally, it was Lu Zhen who wanted to invite Jiang Yuan, but now it had become Chi Xu inviting all four of them. And his reason was quite sound.
Lu Zhen stared at Chi Xu and twitched the corner of his mouth. "This meal was supposed to be my treat for Jiang Yuan. How could I trouble you?"
After a brief pause, he continued, "Since you've said so, should I also invite you sometime? After all, you're Jiang Yuan's neighbor, and Jiang Yuan and I are good friends."
Chi Xu fixed his deep, unfathomable eyes on Lu Zhen. Finally, he remembered where he had seen this guy before.
It was during his freshman year in college, when Jiang Yuan was a senior in high school. He had bought a ticket to Haining City and had gone to Haining No. 1 High School in the hope of seeing Jiang Yuan.
It was evening, right after school. There were numerous stalls at the school gate, and the place was teeming with people.
He had stood nearby and, looking from afar, had seen Jiang Yuan walking out of the school hand in hand with a boy. That boy had even bought dinner for Jiang Yuan.
Now that Lu Zhen claimed to be Jiang Yuan's high - school classmate, it dawned on Chi Xu that it must be him.
Both being guys, they could see through each other's intentions. Under the surface, there were turbulent tides.
"It's okay. I've already paid. If you want, you can treat next time," Chi Xu said, as if suppressing something. His tone was calm and gentle.
Lu Zhen was frustrated. He had thought Chi Xu would refuse and wouldn't give him a chance to have dinner with Jiang Yuan.
Although it was a group of four, including Chi Xu and Jia Fang.
Since the words were already out, Lu Zhen reluctantly agreed. He had only wanted to treat Jiang Yuan...
After a satisfying meal, there were still many people waiting in line outside. The group got up and left the Northeast cuisine restaurant.
It was just the beginning of winter. The evening breeze still carried a touch of warmth, caressing their faces comfortably, without a hint of winter's chill.
Lu Zhen thought that would be the end of it. Meeting Chi Xu and Jia Fang was an accident, and he had expected them to leave on their own.
But as it turned out, he had underestimated the nerve of Chi Xu and Jia Fang. Well, actually, Jia Fang was just being dragged along and couldn't leave even if he wanted to.
"Lu Zhen, where shall we go for a stroll later?" Jiang Yuan asked Lu Zhen and then turned to Chi Xu and Jia Fang. "What about you guys? Are you going back?"
"It's still early. Let's go for a stroll together," Chi Xu said.
No way would he leave so easily and give Lu Zhen a chance to be alone with Jiang Yuan. Chi Xu was so jealous that he could barely contain himself.
Suppressing the churning jealousy in his heart, with a stiff smile on his face, he accompanied Jiang Yuan on her left. Lu Zhen was on her right.
Jiang Yuan felt like the filling in a sandwich, being squeezed from both sides. A strange atmosphere surrounded her.
Jiang Yuan let out a sigh. Pointing casually at a nearby boutique, she said listlessly, "Since we're all free, let's go to the boutique and take a look."
Lu Zhen and Chi Xu readily agreed. Jia Fang, who had just finished typing a message to Lin Suye, quickly followed them in.
[Jia Fang: The battle has escalated. We've now moved to a boutique.]
The boutique was quite large, stocking all kinds of accessories, clothes, hats, shoes, and bags.
Winter was approaching, and Jiang Yuan wanted to buy some winter stuff for herself.
Just in time, she had gotten her ear pierced about a week ago. It was time to change to a new pair of earrings to avoid rusting, allergies, or inflammation.
Jiang Yuan took a fancy to a small and delicate freshwater pearl earring with a 925 - silver needle.
"Yuanyuan, does it hurt to get your ears pierced?" Chi Xu suddenly asked.
"It's okay. It only hurts for a second. It's very quick," Jiang Yuan said, smiling slyly as if she had thought of something. She leaned closer and stared directly into his eyes.
"Why? Are you thinking about getting your ears pierced?"
Just a few days ago, he had been completely against it.
She pointed at the various earrings and continued, "Is it because you've seen so many beautiful earrings that you're tempted? Since you're tempted, you might as well just do it."
Chi Xu looked speechlessly at the women's accessories she was pointing at, with an indescribable expression on his face. "I was just asking. I'm not going to get my ears pierced."
Yeah, right. He already had his own plan in mind.
"Jiang Yuan, what about this earring? It's very small and cute. It's in the shape of a cat," Lu Zhen, who had been left out, tried hard to join their conversation.
The real left - out person, Jia Fang: "..."
He regretted it. He really regretted it.
"Hey, you're right! Chi Xu, look. Doesn't it look like Jiao..." Suddenly, Jiang Yuan stopped short. She remembered that the others didn't know she was living with Chi Xu. She quietly glanced at Jia Fang.
He was concentrating on playing with his phone, typing away furiously. He didn't seem to be chatting with anyone in particular. His mouth was curled up in a big smile.
Among them, only Jia Fang didn't know.
"It looks a bit like the cat that jumped on my lap on Monday night during class," Jiang Yuan said.
Chi Xu glanced provocatively at Lu Zhen and then lowered his head to examine the cat - shaped earring carefully. He nodded seriously. "You're right."
"Then I'll buy it too."
Jiang Yuan picked out two pairs of earrings and also bought a very beautiful bracelet. She went to the counter to pay by herself.
Earlier, Chi Xu and Lu Zhen had offered to help pay, but Jiang Yuan didn't allow it. She ordered them to wait for her at the exit.
Chi Xu, Jia Fang, and Lu Zhen obediently stood at the exit waiting for her.
"See? Yuanyuan and I have something in common," Chi Xu said provocatively, looking at Lu Zhen with pride in his eyes.
"I said it looked like the cat, and she bought it."
He used this to provoke Lu Zhen and kept calling her Yuanyuan. He was so excited that he felt like he was floating on air.
Lu Zhen: "..."
Lu Zhen let out a cold laugh. He sized Chi Xu up and down and then finally averted his gaze.
"Don't be too smug. This means nothing."
Jiang Yuan was just with him out of revenge. In the end, she would dump him unceremoniously. Chi Xu probably didn't know this yet.
"I was by Jiang Yuan's side during high school. Where were you?"
This question stumped Chi Xu. He was silent for a few seconds and then changed the topic to attack Lu Zhen.
"Anyway, Jiang Yuan and I have known each other since childhood. Our friendship is much deeper than yours."
Just wait until you're dumped and then say that.
Lu Zhen didn't want to expose Jiang Yuan's true feelings for Chi Xu. He continued to mock him.
Jia Fang, who had been caught in the cross - fire, couldn't stand it anymore. He jumped out and roared, "Can you two stop arguing? How childish!"
"If I were Jiang Yuan, I'd run away first."
He just wanted to run away now.
Suddenly, two cold, knife - like glares landed on him. Jia Fang was sweating profusely.
Over there, Jiang Yuan finally finished paying and came back. Noticing the strange atmosphere, she slowed down and asked in confusion, "What's going on?"
"Nothing," the three of them answered in unison.
After that, the group continued to stroll around other places.
Jiang Yuan felt that the atmosphere was really strange. She couldn't stand it anymore. She just wanted to finish strolling quickly and go back to play with her Jiaojiao.
Chi Jiaojiao is not fun at all.