She realized she had never once visited Jiang Cheng's home.
The thought made Zhou Ying's heart flutter, as if a kitten had gently scratched it, stirring up ripples of anticipation.
When she heard that, Zhou Ying remembered the moments post Zhou Zhiyun had shared at noon.
'Would he invite Zhong Chuxi along?'
Jiang Cheng shrugged. 'No idea. They were just talking about dinner—probably Huang Cheng and Wang Xiaochui…'
Zhou Ying thought for a moment. 'Then I won't go. I don't want to disturb your boys-only meal.'
'What disturbance? If you can line up a few girls from our class, those three will kneel and call me Dad.'
With that, Jiang Cheng opened the small wechat group chat.
Jiang Cheng: 'Hurry up and call me Dad. I've got good news.'
Zhou Zhiyun: 'You mutt, spit it out and make me laugh.'
Huang Cheng: 'The mutt's taking advantage of me again.'
Wang Xiaochui: 'Thousand-Year Kill~'
Seeing this familiar routine
Jiang Cheng smiled in satisfaction.
Honestly, he'd been showered with praise lately.
The fact that these guys still treated him the same way made him genuinely happy.
Whether or not his rise had changed them inside
they at least kept up the old camaraderie on the surface.
That was enough.
As the saying goes: 'Stay rich yet keep a child's heart; in success don't forget old friends.'
Jiang Cheng wanted to be that kind of person—not ruled by money, but using it to stay true to himself and enjoy life.
Jiang Cheng: 'Bringing any girls tonight?'
Zhou Zhiyun: 'Ugh, did you drag me here just to flaunt your love life?'
Wang Xiaochui: '??? Do I look like a guy who has women?'
Zhou Zhiyun: 'Hold up—are you staying out all night again?'
Zhou Zhiyun: 'Tell your mom you're crashing at Huang Cheng's. His place is far enough; the moms won't bump into each other.'
Huang Cheng: 'So now I'm the scapegoat.'
Jiang Cheng: '@Zhou Zhiyun, my parents aren't in Chengdu this year.'
Jiang Cheng: 'What about the girl in that moments photo?'
Zhou Zhiyun: 'Are you blind?? Just showing off—she's my cousin! You want my mom to break my legs?'
Huang Cheng: '(dog-head) Even better. I'm into incest dramas.'
Wang Xiaochui: '(shocked) Damn, Huang Cheng, something's wrong with you!'
Zhou Zhiyun: '@Jiang Cheng, you bastard, are you flexing on us?'
Wang Xiaochui: 'Bros, let's get him drunk tonight and show him the wrath of single dogs!'
Huang Cheng: '(rolling sleeves) Wait, I'll hit the supermarket for hangover meds—gotta train first!'
Wang Xiaochui: 'You forgot how you hugged that auntie last time you were wasted…'
Zhou Zhiyun: 'Hahaha~'
Jiang Cheng: 'Hahaha~'
Huang Cheng: '…'
Jiang Cheng: 'I'll ask Zhou Ying to invite some girls, or we keep it just us four.'
Zhou Zhiyun: 'Dad, four guys is kinda lame.'
Huang Cheng: 'Dad, I agree—co-ed is better.'
Wang Xiaochui: 'Yes, Dad. As the saying goes, guys and girls together, work won't feel like a chore…'
…Jiang Cheng screenshotted the chat and sent it to Zhou Ying.
After a short discussion they settled on dinner at his villa by Deer Lake.
Deer Lake actually isn't very close to Taikoo Li—
at least an hour's drive in normal traffic.
Just as Jiang Cheng was about to leave to pick her up
Zhou Ying's call came through.
She said she'd taken a cab to the market beside Deer Lake Waterfront Park.
Hearing that, Jiang Cheng couldn't help smiling with fond exasperation.
That was Zhou Ying—before and after dating him—
she never kept him waiting.
She even avoided bothering him whenever possible.
When Jiang Cheng reached Waterfront Park, the sunset was gilding the lake.
He spotted her from afar under a ginkgo tree
wearing their high-school winter uniform, surrounded by bulging shopping bags.
Clearly she'd just come from the wet market.
He paused.
On the first day of sophomore year, Zhou Ying, as the new-student representative, had worn that uniform.
Sunlight through the auditorium windows had painted her like a portrait.
Seeing his car approach, her smile brightened.
A pure aura shimmered around her
like a mountain spring so clear you couldn't bear to disturb its surface.
What is a first love?
She was the white moonlight every teenage boy yearns for.
Once parked, Jiang Cheng hopped out and strode over
taking the bags from her hands.
'Why so many groceries? There's a premium supermarket right by the villa—much easier.'
Zhou Ying grinned. 'Nope. I can buy expensive things, but I won't be overcharged. Potatoes in the Deer Lake villa store are 8.8 yuan a jin! Three kilometers south the market is fresher and you can haggle.'
Her logic hit home.
Right—paying for quality is fine; being ripped off is not.
Lesson learned.
After loading the bags into the bentley continental
she opened her phone's memo and
handed it to him with a giggle.
It listed optimal shopping times by category:
'Leafy greens freshest before 7 a.m.; seafood clearance at 3 p.m.; meat—watch the butcher slice it live…'
'I figured all this out back when I was saving money.'
Jiang Cheng's heart ached at the memory.
He stroked her hair. 'Very thorough. By the way, why the uniform?'
She beamed. 'Zhong Chuxi's idea—wear them while we still fit.'
Noticing him staring silently
she asked, 'What's wrong? Does it look bad?'
The fabric now stretched tighter than in high school
her chest gently straining the buttons
curves enticingly outlined
as if ready to burst free.
The loose hem cinched her slender waist
flashing with each move, contrasting with the soft curve of her hips.
Jiang Cheng shook his head. 'Looks great. Since we've got everything, classmate, how about we head to my place?'
'I only bought vegetables and some beef; I haven't gotten seafood yet.'
He waved it off. 'No need—Zhou Zhiyun and the guys said they'll bring stuff; told me not to bother.'
'Then maybe some drinks?'
By now Jiang Cheng's mind was full of one thing only: solving problems.
He couldn't think about drinks.
'I'll have someone buy them. Don't you want to see how big my bedroom is?'
Her heart skipped.
'Yes! I've never been to your room—wonder what it looks like.'
Lovers always feel a fierce curiosity about each other's pasts.
Zhou Ying was no exception.
As she slid into the car
his sidelong glance caught her skirt folding over her thighs
snowy skin peeking from the hem like the first thaw of spring.
When she bent to fasten her seatbelt, her back arched in a graceful curve
collar drooping just enough to reveal the delicate hollow of her collarbones.
Jiang Cheng swallowed.
'Let's go. I still have old high-school math papers in my room—I can tutor you…'
After Jiang Cheng's 'training', Zhou Ying was no longer the naïve Little Girl.
'Solve problems?? Can you beat me?'
'Even if I can't, we're one team—who solves them doesn't matter.'
She didn't believe him for a second.
With a shy punch at his arm
she clicked in her seatbelt…