After a brief introduction, Jiang Cheng turned to the Waitress and picked several low-proof cocktails in different flavors.
After all, he wasn't that desperate for Si Nian's body; there was no need to ply her with alcohol.
No, that came out wrong—he was absolutely desperate for Si Nian's body.
But even so, he still wouldn't stoop to getting her drunk.
The upbringing Jiang Cheng had received since childhood made it impossible for him to take advantage of someone in a weak moment.
In his view, a man could be a scumbag, but he must never be a villain.
Precisely because of this value system, when Jiang Cheng chose the lowest-proof drink for himself, Si Nian at his side couldn't help but curve her lips upward.
Though she didn't speak, her favorability value toward Jiang Cheng quietly rose a few points.
For Jiang Cheng, the cost here was a drop in the ocean.
Still, following the principle of not wasting, he didn't order too much.
After all, there were no food-card discounts to exploit.
Even if there were, cocktails probably wouldn't yield much satisfaction.
While waiting for the drinks, Jiang Cheng even took the initiative to snap a few photos of Si Nian.
A gentle breeze stirred, sending her silky black hair drifting across her fair skin like a beautiful scroll.
Seeing Jiang Cheng aim his phone at her, Si Nian's heart surged like a turbulent sea.
Her gaze accidentally met his; instantly her heartbeat quickened and her cheeks flushed.
She instinctively lowered her head to hide her fluster.
Her exquisite profile, paired with the faint upward tilt of her lips, revealed a touch of shy charm.
Looking at the gorgeous face framed on his screen, Jiang Cheng felt his heart skip a beat.
Damn it—this cursed feeling of falling in love.
When Si Nian took the phone he handed over, she gasped and covered her mouth. "Wow, you take great photos—way better than my sister…"
Hearing that, Jiang Cheng seized the chance to play completely ignorant.
It would give him plausible deniability later.
As the old saying goes: if two people trust each other, then all three people stay safe.
After all, he genuinely didn't know anything; grabbing the wrong hand or hugging the wrong waist would be understandable mistakes.
So he deliberately asked with curiosity, "You have a sister?"
Seeing he really didn't seem to know, Si Nian answered honestly, "Yes, but her photography skills are hopeless—every shot of me is a disaster, especially those tourist photos where we take turns…"
Right now Si Nian wasn't ready to tell Jiang Cheng everything.
She quickly changed the subject: "Unlike the pictures you took—each one is perfect, ready to post, no editing needed."
Last time at the amusement park with Huang Yuqi he'd acquired professional photography skills.
A photography fail was absolutely impossible for him.
When Jiang Cheng said she was so pretty she needed no retouching, Si Nian grew shy and shot him a playful eye-roll.
Soon the snacks and cocktails arrived.
Seeing the two heaping plates, Si Nian said, "That's a lot—I just ate and I'm stuffed."
"We can pack it up for your roommate later."
Si Nian liked the idea; she could already picture Si Qing grilling her back at the dorm.
Bringing back so many goodies might keep Si Qing's mouth busy.
A gentle evening breeze brushed Si Nian's cheeks as soft music played; she lifted her glass and downed it in one.
The cocktail, a Cuba Libre of rum and cola, tasted sweet and sat at about twelve percent alcohol.
At first she felt nothing, but as the riverside wind hit her, her cheeks suddenly warmed.
She gazed quietly at the prosperity of the Bund's glittering nightscape, the distant singing carrying a faint sorrow.
A sigh welled up inside her.
"How much further to reach your heart, how much further to draw near to you…"
The melancholy melody seemed to pluck a string deep inside her; her eyes dimmed and a bitter smile touched her lips.
Jiang Cheng had been quietly watching Si Nian's every move; when he saw the bitter look that surfaced on her face, his brows drew tightly together.
"What's wrong?"
Si Nian gave a slight shake of her head, a complicated expression flashing across her face. "It's nothing. It's just… this song feels so sad. You can like someone yet never say it out loud, want to love yet not dare to, so all you can do is repress and restrain every desire…"
Her words only deepened the puzzlement in Jiang Cheng's heart.
According to the Mind Perception Skill, Si Nian had no sorrowful past to speak of.
So the idea that she was pining for someone she liked should be impossible.
Yet when he noticed the way her gaze flickered away from his, Jiang Cheng instantly caught a whiff of something unusual.
No way… no way, right??
With that question surging inside him, Jiang Cheng quickly checked Si Nian's favorability value.
Sure enough, it had already soared to 85 points.
For ordinary people, 80 points meant genuine affection.
But right now it was 85.
In terms of male-female relations, that had long since crossed the line between friends and stepped straight into the zone of liking someone!
So what she meant was… there was some reason stopping her from getting close to Jiang Cheng??
Could some special circumstance be keeping her away from him??
Was it because of Si Qing?
The more Jiang Cheng thought, the more confused he grew; he couldn't help frowning.
Following that train of thought, he waved toward a Waitress not far away.
The Waitress promptly hurried over, smiling brightly. "Good evening, sir. What can I do for you?"
Jiang Cheng glanced at the resident singer in the corner, then turned back. "Can I request a song?"
The Waitress nodded at once. "Of course, sir. We offer that service—three hundred yuan per song."
"Fine. I'll take a few."
Jiang Cheng listed the titles; the Waitress jotted them down, took his card, and immediately headed inside.
Across the table Si Nian asked curiously, "What did you pick?"
Jiang Cheng looked straight at her, the corner of his mouth lifting. "You'll know in a moment."
The melancholy number soon reached its final notes.
Then a low, magnetic voice drifted over the speakers.
"Suddenly I realize… I've already fallen deeply in love with you…"
The instant the intro sounded, Si Nian's heart began to thump wildly.
Her cheeks burned even redder.
She knew this song—it was practically a confession anthem.
She couldn't tell whether Jiang Cheng had chosen it on purpose or by chance.
If it was deliberate, why wasn't he seizing the moment to confess??
Yet if it was random, that look in his eyes seemed to be hinting at something.
Truthfully, when she'd heard "Mercury Records" earlier, Si Nian had indeed thought of Si Qing.
She'd realized the worst possibility: both sisters had fallen for Jiang Cheng at the same time.
And worse still—they were biological sisters.
When they were little, they'd discussed this very scenario.
After all, news about twins liking the same person wasn't rare.
Back then she'd sworn boldly: "If that day ever comes, I'll give him to you. He's just one man—what's there to fight over?"
But now that the situation was real, she wasn't as carefree as she'd imagined.
After all, she was the one who'd met Jiang Cheng first.
Seeing her stare at him, Jiang Cheng curved his lips. "Don't like this song?"
Si Nian didn't answer; she merely gave a shy nod, then turned her gaze toward the Bund's nightscape in the distance.
She had no idea how to handle the situation in front of her.
As for Jiang Cheng, he naturally wouldn't take the initiative to spell out his intentions.
If he wanted all three of them to stay safe, he had to cling even tighter to the code of the "good man."
Don't take the lead, don't refuse.
A little flirting was fine, but confess?? Impossible.
But as soon as that song ended, the resident singer launched into another track by the same artist— "Just Loving You."