"I've taken in every word you said just now," the girl said with a sly smile and a nonchalant air, as if teasing a kitten or a puppy.
It was like a thunderbolt striking Zhou Xiangmeng. She almost blacked out.
"J-Jiang Yuan?" Zhou Xiangmeng stared fixedly at the phone from which the voice came. Clenching her teeth, she uttered each word in disbelief.
She never expected that Jiang Yuan was also listening, and it was Chi Xu who had brought her in.
Shouldn't people listen to the dirt on someone they care about behind closed doors, to prevent the person from hiding something?
"Yes, it's me, Jiang Yuan, your classmate," Jiang Yuan said with a quirk of her lips and a teasing tone. "I hope this surprise didn't scare you."
"How did you get here!" Zhou Xiangmeng's shrill scream pierced the sky.
Chi Xu frowned and looked at her, taking the blame on himself. "Why else? You said it was dirt on Jiang Yuan. Of course I'd let the person involved hear if it's the same as what you said."
Jiang Yuan glanced at the Tencent Meeting interface on her phone in mild surprise.
Jiaojiao was lying on her lap. It rubbed against her arm and meowed, as if accusing her of not being attentive enough.
Jiang Yuan couldn't help but laugh. She stroked Jiaojiao's chin.
"Chi Xu, aren't you afraid that Jiang Yuan is deceiving you and making up some excuse to cover up?" Zhou Xiangmeng said through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at his phone. She wanted to snatch it and end the meeting to stop Jiang Yuan from eavesdropping.
She felt like a complete laughingstock now. Jiang Yuan must be laughing at her over the internet, laughing at her overconfidence and self - righteousness.
"Sorry, I've known Jiang Yuan for many years. Our friendship is much deeper than the few months I've known you," Chi Xu said with a faint smile. His dark eyes were emotionless, and his voice was flat.
"No, we have no relationship. I believe whatever Yuanyuan says. It's better than believing a stranger like you."
"Zhou Xiangmeng, don't worry. I won't tell others about how you've been secretly trying to pick on me. Your persona won't collapse~" Jiang Yuan deliberately elongated the last syllable. Her smiling voice came from the phone.
"Chi Xu, let's go. Leave Zhou Xiangmeng here to calm down. We shouldn't stimulate her anymore."
She'd already given Zhou Xiangmeng enough of a shock tonight. This was a rooftop. She was really afraid that the mentally unstable Zhou Xiangmeng might do something stupid.
Chi Xu nodded and turned to leave.
Zhou Xiangmeng stared fixedly at his departing back. Her whole body was trembling, and she was on the verge of collapse.
"I'll hang up. I'll be back later." In the stairwell, Chi Xu said goodbye to Jiang Yuan, hung up the Bluetooth, put it away, and went outside the school, to the place where Jiang Yuan had her ear pierced before.
Forty minutes later, Chi Xu touched his ear with only one earring and took the elevator back to the apartment. He took out his key nervously and opened the door, feeling a bit embarrassed.
The light from inside spilled out. Hearing the noise, Jiaojiao jumped off the sofa and ran to Chi Xu's feet, rubbing against him and meowing. It had missed him so much after just a few hours apart.
Chi Xu picked Jiaojiao up and let it lie comfortably on his arm. As he changed his slippers, he asked, "Where's your sister? Why are you the only little kitty here?"
"I'm here!" Jiang Yuan was brushing her teeth in the sink. Hearing the noise, she poked her head out and waved. "Wait for me."
She still wanted to talk about Zhou Xiangmeng. It was really hilarious. This was like trying to steal a chicken but ending up losing the rice. Zhou Xiangmeng should learn a lesson.
Jiang Yuan quickly finished brushing her teeth and washing her face. She rushed into the living room like a gust of wind and plopped down next to Chi Xu.
Turning her head, she saw the shiny earring on Chi Xu's ear. Her eyes lit up immediately. She grabbed his arm and shouted excitedly, forgetting what she originally wanted to say.
"Wow, Chi Xu, you really got your ear pierced! Isn't it so cool, handsome, and charming?"
"Listening to your Yuanyuan sister is always right. Hehe, you're super suitable for it."
Chi Xu felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to touch his ear. As soon as his hand reached out, "smack", Jiang Yuan slapped it away. She used quite a bit of force, and the back of his hand turned red.
Chi Xu was speechless and stared at her silently.
Jiang Yuan laughed awkwardly and quickly made an excuse for herself, saying righteously, "You just got your ear pierced. There are a lot of bacteria on your hands. It's easy to get infected."
Chi Xu didn't say a word. He looked down at her restless hand that was holding his arm.
Jiang Yuan followed his gaze and quickly withdrew her hand, making an excuse for herself.
"I'm just too excited that you got your ear pierced."
"So, in the end, you still took your Yuanyuan sister's advice?"
"I'm just curious to see the effect." Jiang Yuan stared directly at him and shouted loudly. Chi Xu blushed rarely and turned his head, not wanting her to keep staring at him. He felt quite embarrassed.
Jiang Yuan wasn't having it. She directly reached out and turned his face back, making the side with the earring face her. She looked at it again and again, stroking her chin and nodding. No one knew what was going on in her little head.
"Hey, how are you going to wash your hair later?" Remembering this crucial question, Jiang Yuan asked excitedly and even winked at him. "Do you want me to wash your hair?"
An image automatically popped up in Chi Xu's mind. He quickly shook his head. "No, I'll go to the barbershop to wash my hair. The price for men is much more affordable."
"I see." Jiang Yuan nodded, feeling a bit guilty. She had deliberately asked Chi Xu to wash her hair last time. Her real purpose was to strengthen their relationship.
She calmly changed the subject. "How was Zhou Xiangmeng when you left? Was her expression really colorful and interesting?"
Chi Xu nodded honestly. "Yes. I guess she won't dare to pick on you or play any tricks in the future."
"Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter. It's the first time I've done something like this. I've left a lifetime of psychological trauma on her. Every time she sees me in the future, she'll think of this moment tonight and be so angry that she'll spit blood."
"Genius," Chi Xu commented.
"In the future, I can swagger around when I see her. It's a pity, though. I didn't record it. Otherwise, it would be Zhou Xiangmeng's lifelong black mark."
"She was talking about my dirt? I don't even know what dirt I have. She doesn't even know that a few nights ago, you, Lu Zhen, Jia Fang, and I had dinner together, and we all know each other."
"Is it okay that you told me Lu Zhen's private matter directly? Won't he mind?" Chi Xu hesitated for a while and asked cautiously.
"No, he won't. Lu Zhen and I have a deep friendship. He won't mind. And that incident happened a few years ago. He said he's almost forgotten about it."
The girl said it nonchalantly.
Chi Xu lowered his eyes and stroked Jiaojiao.