Since she's delivered herself to my door, why would I let her leave?
"Wait…" Qiu Yihe's voice began to tremble, yet she stubbornly stayed put.
"What are you doing? I'm… I'm conducting an official inspection. Don't move—let me handle this."
Jiang Cheng's self-control was superb; even halfway through a sentence he could still listen.
"Oh?" Jiang Cheng's hand had already slid to the small of her back. "Didn't expect you to like taking the lead. Then start the inspection—wherever you want to check, I'll cooperate fully."
Qiu Yihe's entire body stiffened.
She could feel the heat of Jiang Cheng's palm through the thin fabric.
Worse, she couldn't ignore the unmistakable presence… and recalled all those "experience posts" she'd read.
In a fit of pique Qiu Yihe grabbed Jiang Cheng's pecs with both hands.
Jiang Cheng's expression instantly changed.
I'm seriously done for!!
If it weren't for these pecs, Jiang Cheng would've started doubting whether she was even a woman.
"Damn, Qiu Yihe, that milk-grabbing dragon-claw of yours—are you trying to kill me?"
The perfectly good atmosphere was crushed in a single squeeze.
Seeing Jiang Cheng hiss in pain, Qiu Yihe let go in embarrassment.
That's not right—doesn't TV always show it like this?
Everyone else looks like they're enjoying it.
How come when it's my turn it ends up like this?
Remembering what Qiao Yinyin had just said—about having made a move and still failing to win Jiang Cheng—
Qiu Yihe grew even more flustered.
Could it really be my technique?
Otherwise why didn't Jiang Cheng show even a flicker of pleasure no matter where she touched?
Ahhh!!! So annoying!
"I-I'm done inspecting!" She suddenly bounced up, fumbling to fasten her buttons.
"Insufficient evidence—case adjourned to another day!"
Objectively speaking, Qiu Yihe's approach had been stiff.
But stiff wasn't necessarily bad.
Jiang Cheng caught her wrist. "Trying to run already?"
He lowered his voice and leaned close to her ear.
Thinking of how confident she'd sounded moments ago,
yet how badly the process had gone,
Qiu Yihe's earlobes turned crimson. "I-it was just a tactical scare, don't take it to heart."
Seeing Qiu Yihe about to leave, Jiang Cheng swiftly caught her long leg.
"Walking out just like that? Not so easy."
A tug and a pull, and Qiu Yihe lost her balance.
Once again Jiang Cheng pinned her to the sofa.
Mortified by her own posture, Qiu Yihe shrieked.
"Jiang Cheng!!"
"Well? My control is a lot better than yours, isn't it?"
…One minute later, Qiu Yihe jack-knifed up and bolted back to the guest room.
Watching her storm off, Jiang Cheng didn't stop her.
Things had to proceed step by step.
They'd already advanced quite a bit today.
No need to rush.
He shook his head ruefully.
Good thing the system had rewarded him with professional fighting skills;
with Qiu Yihe's combat skills plus her habit of mouthing off,
he might really have come off worse.
He picked up the phone beside him.
The screen lit; Jiang Cheng smoothly video-called Qiao Yinyin again.
"So, what did you do to her? She looked furious."
On the screen Qiao Yinyin's teasing voice came through.
"I didn't do anything—just said a few words and she suddenly lost her temper."
She shot Jiang Cheng a flirtatious glare, lips curling, "Feeling sorry for her?"
"I do feel sorry—her phone just smashed right into my chest." He rubbed the spot, the ache still lingering.
Qiao Yinyin burst out laughing. "I only told her to grab the chance and hold onto you tonight. Who knew she'd get mad? Sigh, she doesn't realize how rare opportunities like this are."
Jiang Cheng's smile turned smug. "Well, looks like you rate me pretty highly."
Earlier, when Jiang Cheng asked Qiao Yinyin to strike a pose, she'd been shy.
But now, knowing Qiu Yihe was right beside him, Qiao Yinyin felt a prick of jealousy.
Seeing Jiang Cheng watching her,
she lowered the phone.
"I've learned two new yoga positions—want to head back to your room so I can show you?"
Her eyes dropped to her bare, pale legs.
Jiang Cheng's mouth curved; he stood up at once.
"On my way…"
The next morning when he woke, Qiu Yihe was already gone.
Just as Jiang Cheng was thinking of grabbing something to eat,
Zhou Ying's wechat call came through.
To his surprise, the face on the video wasn't Zhou Ying but Fang Yuan.
Seeing Jiang Cheng obviously just out of bed,
Zhou Ying, standing behind Fang Yuan, laughed: "Jiang Cheng, just woke up?"
"Yep."
After he answered, Fang Yuan spoke.
"Thank you, Jiang Cheng. I thought for a long time last night—about how good you are to Ying-er and me. I can't think of how to repay you, so… why don't you come over for dinner? I'll cook personally and make you something delicious."
At that, Zhou Ying's expression turned odd; she even shook her head in silent dismay.
Jiang Cheng had long heard about Fang Yuan's culinary skills—
reportedly on par with his own mother's.
Catching Zhou Ying's reaction, Fang Yuan shot her a look.
Jiang Cheng politely declined: "No need to trouble yourself, Auntie. I've already arranged for classmates to come eat at my place today."
Zhou Ying seized the chance to take the phone: "Eating at home—who did you invite?"
"Zhou Zhiyun and the others. Want to join us?"