After saying that, Jiang Cheng stared at Bai Xiaoxiao for several seconds.
Being watched by such handsome eyes, Bai Xiaoxiao's heartbeat quickened beyond her control.
Her cheeks, like ripe apples, flushed a faint red.
Just as her heart felt ready to leap from her throat,
the corner of Jiang Cheng's mouth curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
He then said softly, "I think you've misunderstood me. I only told you to drink more water because I was afraid you'd lag while playing pubg."
Hearing this, Bai Xiaoxiao's face instantly burned crimson.
Was he hinting at something??
Although she'd roughly guessed what tonight might entail,
she usually talked big, but when it came to actually doing it, she still felt nervous.
Seeing Bai Xiaoxiao finally quiet,
Jiang Cheng asked Zhong Chuxi, "Shall I have my driver take you two home later?"
Zhong Chuxi glanced at Bai Xiaoxiao, who was slowly sipping water.
She nodded. "Sure, we're on the way anyway."
Jiang Cheng shook his head. "Don't worry about her. I'll have the driver take you home first, then take her."
Hearing this, Zhong Chuxi couldn't help but smile again.
Such is the power of favoritism.
He hadn't offered to drive her himself—only to have the driver do it—
yet she still felt a sweet comfort inside.
Because after a previous dinner,
though Jiang Cheng had also arranged a driver, he'd asked Zhong Chuxi to help deliver three drunk men home.
At the time she hadn't thought much of it,
but compared with now,
his words "don't trouble yourself" made her feel singled out for better treatment.
She even felt… a little cherished.
Zhong Chuxi obediently nodded. "Okay."
Bai Xiaoxiao had only suspected something between Zhong Chuxi and Jiang Cheng, but seeing Zhong Chuxi's shy look now,
she was one-hundred-percent sure there was something.
Even so, she wouldn't show it.
A smart woman doesn't corner herself on such matters.
Besides, this was their first meeting—no room for jealousy.
Ten-odd minutes later, Zhou Zhiyun, slumped on the table, twitched slightly.
He lifted his head, rubbed his groggy temples, shook away the fog, and opened his eyes.
When his vision cleared, he was stunned to find
not only Zhong Chuxi present,
but also an unfamiliar cute Girl sitting opposite him.
Zhou Zhiyun's eyes went wide, disbelief all over his face.
The Girl wore twin-tails fastened with black-silk ribbons,
and a black uniform.
Though the collar wasn't low,
the front buttons looked ready to pop at any second.
Her adorable face paired with her bombshell figure left Zhou Zhiyun dazed for several seconds.
Seeing his drooling expression, Zhong Chuxi rolled her eyes.
She told Jiang Cheng, "I take back what I said about him being deep—he's just a big jerk."
Zhou Zhiyun turned, dazed, and looked at her.
Slurring, he pointed. "Huh? Why are you here?"
Zhong Chuxi gave another silent eye-roll and decided to ignore him.
Bai Xiaoxiao couldn't help covering her mouth.
She told Jiang Cheng, "Onii-chan, your classmate is hilarious."
"He's heartbroken and can't move on—though it looks like all he's missing is a new distraction."
Zhou Zhiyun found her voice familiar;
he scratched his head, thinking hard.
"Isn't that Little Crispy?"
"Bro Cheng, am I hallucinating?" he muttered.
When he called her name, Bai Xiaoxiao's expression shifted.
Surprised, she asked, "You've watched my stream?"
Meeting a real-life Internet Celebrity at such close range—and one so pretty—
Zhou Zhiyun grew visibly flustered.
His cheeks reddened; he gave an embarrassed grin and struggled upright.
He grinned dopily at Bai Xiaoxiao. "I catch you sometimes. Your driving's fun."
Zhou Zhiyun's looks weren't her type;
after a moment's surprise she politely replied, "Thanks for the follow."
Zhong Chuxi chimed in, "You've watched her too? You must be good. What's your stream handle? I'll watch and learn."
Zhou Zhiyun burst out laughing. "You can't learn it. Little Crispy drifts round corners without even slowing down!"
"Hah, how do you know I can't?"
"I tried forever and still can't. Oh—didn't I drive in front of you once? You didn't get it…"
"What are you talking about? When did I ever see you drive? Never happened…"
"That time I texted you—you even scolded me."
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng reached over and clamped a hand on Zhou Zhiyun's shoulder.
"You're rambling—you've had too much. Put the glass down and head home."
On any other night Zhou Zhiyuan would have caught Jiang Cheng's silent cue.
Right now, though, he was still muddled.
He nodded that he was ready to leave,
but couldn't resist asking, "What about you two—going home as well?"
Jiang Cheng answered without batting an eye. "Obviously. I'll walk you to the door."
When Jiang Cheng stood, Bai Xiaoxiao said she needed the restroom.
Watching Little Crispy walk away, Zhong Chuxi opened her mouth. "How's Zhou Ying been these past two days?"
"Doing great—she advanced in the tournament."
Zhong Chuxi nodded, reaching for the coat on her chair; the back of her hand brushed Jiang Cheng's phone.
She jerked her hand back at the contact.
Moments later Jiang Cheng was supporting Zhou Zhiyun to the entrance.
While they waited for the car Zhou Zhiyun wobbled and crouched on the ground.
It gave the two of them a brief moment alone.
Zhong Chuxi stared at the back of Zhou Zhiyun's head, then at her own shoe tips.
"Is she really going to be your Designated Driver? She looks so young."
"Jealous?"
The question made her feel like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Who's jealous!"
"If you're not, why the third degree?"
Jiang Cheng's hands were in his pockets; street-lamp shadows slid across his chiseled face.
His good looks held her gaze.
She forced a final jab: "Zhou Ying isn't here, so I'm keeping an eye on you for her. The way she looks at you... it's off."
He gave a playful smile and leaned to her ear.
"The way you look at me seems a bit off too."
His warm breath brushed her earlobe; the tip of her ear turned scarlet.
The brief hush shattered when a rolls-royce pulled up and the driver nodded to Jiang Cheng.
Zhou Zhiyun slurred, "Whoa, another rolls-royce!"
Zhong Chuxi patted his arm. "Let's go."
After the car started she couldn't stop glancing back.
"What is it?" Zhou Zhiyun mumbled.
The night scenery swept past, Jiang Cheng's silhouette shrinking in the distance.
Zhong Chuxi gave a small shake of her head.
"Nothing."
She pulled out her phone and opened Jiang Cheng's chat.
She half-listened to Zhou Zhiyun's drunken chatter.
Her finger hovered over the keyboard, then she locked the screen.
She slipped the phone back into her pocket,
but the name Bai Xiaoxiao stayed in her mind.
She resolved to look into this so-called Streamer.
Once the car was gone Bai Xiaoxiao finally stepped out.
Grinning, she teased, "So, Onii-chan, wasn't I considerate?"
Jiang Cheng shook his head. "Considerate—unnecessarily so."
Bai Xiaoxiao gave a soft huff and glanced aside,
then her eyes widened.
A man and woman were kissing beside the doorway.
Ordinary affection would have been fine,
but these two were lost in the moment.
The Girl's hand was firmly on the guy's backside,
while his hands clutched her chest.
Bai Xiaoxiao, unaccustomed to such scenes, flushed crimson.
She quickly turned her face toward Jiang Cheng.
Following her gaze, Jiang Cheng murmured, "Didn't expect you to be so innocent."
Before she could digest that remark,
Wang Sheng's rolls-royce glided from around the corner.
It stopped smoothly in front of Jiang Cheng and Little Crispy.
Jiang Cheng tossed his bentley key to Wang Sheng and walked toward the rolls-royce.
Bai Xiaoxiao touched her burning cheeks
and couldn't help exclaiming,
"Another rolls-royce? Are luxury cars free these days?"
Once inside with Jiang Cheng,
she asked, "Onii-chan, weren't you going to let me be the Designated Driver?"
Jiang Cheng gave her a once-over, faintly scornful.
"Ever driven on a real road?"
After so many rides she couldn't tell whether his words carried a double meaning.
Either way, he was right: Bai Xiaoxiao had never been on a road—
seeing the couple groping had even made her shy.
Once the car moved she became reserved,
eyeing the rear seats.
"Onii-chan, aren't rolls-royce back seats separate? Why is yours one long bench?"
"Custom job."
Curious, she asked, "Why? Was the original uncomfortable?"
She leaned back experimentally.
Jiang Cheng, replying to Chloe on wechat, curled his lips.
"Not really; this layout just makes duo-queue gaming easier."
His words made Bai Xiaoxiao freeze.