Well... in this regard, Zhu Yan didn't feel any sense of discrimination toward them at all.
She opened the saved web pages featuring Da Qiao, Xiao Ze, and Teacher Cang Jingkong... and ended up'studying' for over half an hour.
By the end, she finally couldn't take it anymore and sent a message to Jiang Cheng.
"Young Master Jiang, are you asleep??"
After waiting for a while, she saw that Jiang Cheng hadn't replied to her.
Zhu Yan could only quickly take a change of undergarments from the wardrobe and head toward the bathroom.
Actually, she had already showered when she arrived.
As for why she was showering again now...
Well, let's just say, don't ask about a beautiful woman's business.
If you must ask, it's because she was too diligent in her'studies' just now.
Being so diligent made her face flush and her whole body break out in a sweat.
Naturally, it also dampened her undergarments... That night, Jiang Cheng slept very soundly.
In contrast, Zhu Yan had been far too diligent; her mind was filled with various 'exam material' positions.
She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
The next day at noon, sunlight spilled through the window onto the dining table.
Zhu Yan was already dressed neatly, quietly waiting for Jiang Cheng's arrival.
Compared to Jiang Cheng's high spirits, Zhu Yan looked a bit haggard.
Although her exquisite makeup hid her fatigue, those faint dark circles couldn't be completely concealed.
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng understood perfectly, but he still asked on purpose, "What's wrong? Didn't sleep well last night?"
Zhu Yan replied somewhat aggrievedly, "No... it's just that I'm not used to the bed yet..."
Jiang Cheng had actually seen the message Zhu Yan sent him last night.
However, he acted as if he hadn't seen it at all, tossed his phone aside, and went to sleep on his own.
Although he knew exactly what Zhu Yan's intention was in sending that message, he wasn't in any hurry at all.
If this had happened when he first obtained the System...
He probably would have been moved by Zhu Yan's message without hesitation and might even have gotten up immediately to knock on her door.
However, times had changed. Today's Jiang Cheng was no longer that impulsive, loser virgin from the beginning.
Having experienced countless romantic encounters and tasted all kinds of 'flavors,' he had developed enough immunity to such things.
In other words, the current Jiang Cheng was no longer the type to rush forward the moment he caught a whiff of 'meat.'
After having more options, the substitutability of such things had become higher and higher for him.
So, he didn't lack this one opportunity at all, so why be so eager?
I know you want it, but just because you call, I have to fall for it?
That would be a bit too easy.
In last night's situation, if he had let lust go to his head,
He was afraid this Girl wouldn't know her place.
Although he had intentionally let Zhou Ying interact with her yesterday,
By the end, it was clear that Zhu Yan's temper had flared up.
If he had gone in then, wouldn't it have been to coax her? Coaxing was out of the question.
If he slept with her and then acted cold, he really would be a scumbag.
If this kind of thing wasn't handled well, their future interactions would become very awkward.
What Jiang Cheng wanted was for it to be like with the other Girls—a mutual understanding where things happen naturally.
So, Jiang Cheng wouldn't do something like being forced into taking the initiative; on the contrary, Girl, you have to be 'fully automatic.'
At this point, Jiang Cheng didn't even look Zhu Yan in the eye. His voice was icy, as if he didn't care about her feelings at all.
"If you're not used to it, then go back early. The matters here aren't that hard to handle; for now, they're all doing very well."
When she heard Jiang Cheng say, "If you're not used to it, then go back early," Zhu Yan's body trembled violently.
The bone china spoon she was clutching tightly fell into the bowl with a clatter.
The edge of the spoon made a light clinking sound against the porcelain bowl.
Her gaze slowly shifted away from Jiang Cheng and landed on the celadon dishes in front of her.
She stared down at the swaying Meiling Porridge in her bowl, her eyelashes casting butterfly-wing-like shadows under her eyes.
A faint sob rolled through Zhu Yan's throat. Although she tried her best to hide it, that hint of a sob still reached Jiang Cheng's ears clearly.
"It's not the bed..." Zhu Yan's voice was as light as a falling feather, carrying a hint of indescribable sadness and grievance.
Her fingertips unconsciously twisted the corner of the tablecloth, the silk fabric embroidered with twin lotuses bunching under her friction.
"It's... I heard movement in the hallway last night and was worried about you..." The latter half of her sentence was drowned out by the gurgling sound of the spoon stirring the porridge, like a dew-kissed rose at the end of spring bent by wind and rain.
Jiang Cheng's movement of setting down the bone china bowl paused for half a beat.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her earlobes were so red they almost looked like they were bleeding.
The bottom of the white porcelain bowl reflected Zhu Yan's lowered brow; with stray hairs clinging to her temples, she looked more fragile and delicate than usual.
Tossing the spoon down, Jiang Cheng stood up abruptly.
The crisp sound of the silver spoon hitting the porcelain plate startled the stagnant air.
"I'm going out to handle some things. I'll be back later. You can arrange your own time."
Before he had even finished speaking, Jiang Cheng headed straight for the threshold.
It wasn't until Jiang Cheng's figure disappeared around the corner of the Second Courtyard that Zhu Yan realized her clenched palms were covered in sweat.
Does this mean he's kicking me out??
Is Jiang Cheng angry because of what happened last night??
As Jiang Cheng walked, he muttered helplessly.
Damn it, when a beautiful woman acts fragile, I find it a bit hard to be heartless.
Sigh, as expected, playing the tough guy doesn't feel good.