Chen Xueer's breath hitched.
She'd seen luxury before, but this was from Jiang Cheng.
She sneaked a glance at him and found him watching her; her cheeks burned again, yet it felt as though something soft had just settled inside her.
Zhao Linger was also taken aback.
She'd always thought Jiang Cheng's flirtations were casual and half-hearted.
Yet these two necklaces had obviously been chosen with care, not some off-hand afterthought.
Recalling the feel of being held against him moments ago and then looking at the necklace before her, the inexplicable knot in her heart suddenly loosened.
The awkwardness vanished.
"Try it on?" Jiang Cheng picked up the lighter-toned necklace and looked at Chen Xueer,
motioning to fasten it for her.
Chen Xueer said nothing; she only lowered her head slightly, her long hair sliding over her shoulder to reveal her slender neck.
Jiang Cheng's fingertips brushed her skin with a cool touch, and she instinctively shrank her neck but didn't pull away.
When the icy snake-shaped pendant landed against her collarbone,
she felt her heartbeat quicken—not because of the necklace's value,
but because of the tingle that shot through her when his fingers grazed the side of her neck.
Chen Xueer could feel how gentle, almost cautious, his movements were,
a world away from the "rake" who'd pinned her to the sofa moments earlier.
Zhao Linger, watching from the side, curled her lip. "President Jiang sure treats Sister Xueer differently—he has to put the necklace on her himself."
Seeing Zhao Linger's jealous pout, Chen Xueer couldn't help a soft laugh, then gave Jiang Cheng a half-teasing glance.
"Little Sister Linger's upset now, President Jiang. Go coax her—help her put hers on." Chen Xueer's tone was playfully coquettish.
Jiang Cheng walked over and "casually" draped the necklace around Zhao Linger's neck,
as fast as hanging up a coat,
not at all like fastening a precious necklace on a Girl.
Zhao Linger hadn't expected him to treat her so "off-handedly" and couldn't help pouting in dissatisfaction.
Yet the instant he clasped the necklace, he seemed to change—he gently pinched her cheek.
"There—happy now?"
Startled by the sudden intimacy, Zhao Linger's face flushed crimson; she slapped his hand away with a shy scold: "You're doing it yourself—how would I dare be unhappy? President Jiang, are you sealing our lips in advance because you're afraid we'll accuse you of molesting us?"
Though she spoke like that, she couldn't help touching the necklace at her throat, secretly curling her lips upward.
Jiang Cheng arched a brow. "Looks like you've never really been disciplined. That's not how you seal someone's lips—want me to demonstrate?"
At his words, both women instantly understood what he meant, remembering the feel of moments ago.
Sensing their dangerous glares, Jiang Cheng gave an awkward cough and stepped back.
His gaze swept over the necklaces at their throats, the smile in his eyes deepening. "Nice—just as I expected, quite enticing."
Chen Xueer lowered her head to look at the pendant, unable to stop the small smile tugging at her lips.
The earlier awkwardness that had left them at a loss had been gently smoothed away by two necklaces,
leaving only an unspoken understanding quietly flowing among the three of them.
Zhao Linger raised an eyebrow. "What scheme are you hatching now?"
"Scheming about the two of you." Jiang Cheng was blunt, giving each of them a light pat on the leg. "Free tonight? Let's have dinner, then the three of us can have a nice long talk…"
"No time!" Chen Xueer and Zhao Linger answered in perfect unison, though both were smiling.
Jiang Cheng didn't press; he straightened and stretched lazily. "All right, I'll head off first. When you're 'free,' we'll continue."
Seeing him about to leave so readily,
both women rolled their eyes.
Chen Xueer cooed, "So decisive—couldn't you at least pretend to be polite?"
"If I'm polite, what if you take it seriously?"
With that line, the expressions on both women's faces turned wonderfully colorful.
??? What the—what did that even mean?
So the guy who'd pinned them beneath him moments ago wasn't him?
scumbag!!!
Sticking to the principle of flirt-and-run,
and quitting while ahead, Jiang Cheng swiftly turned and slipped out of the office under their gnashing stares… some things need to stop while they're still fun.
As the saying goes, too much is worse than too little.
Any more flirting and he'd be greasy; better to leave now.
At least today had opened a new chapter—he'd managed to tumble both Girls onto the sofa together,
and even got them wearing matching best friend necklaces.
One step closer to a blissful life of love.
Go for it, Xiao Kui!!
Once outside the office, Jiang Cheng finally took out his phone and opened the small group chat with the Twin Sisters.
The Girls had created the group during the New Year.
Since then they'd occasionally post photos of the two of them together or solo shots, playing a game where Jiang Cheng had to guess who was who.
Most of the time he guessed wrong.
Occasionally he got it right.
Jiang Cheng: "What should we eat tonight?"
Seeing he'd finally replied,
the two Girls, heads together in the school library, beamed.
Si Qing shot Si Nian a look, signaling her to answer first.
Si Nian: "Let's have Chuanchuanxiang, or maybe Boboji Hotpot?"
Si Qing: "Or a Sichuan Restaurant—there are a couple off campus we loved last time."
As far as Jiang Cheng knew, the Girls had grown up in Pengcheng,
where the palate tends toward light flavors.
The cuisines they listed clearly catered to Jiang Cheng's taste.
Night spread like ink-dyed velvet across the Modu skyline,
towering high-rises lighting up with ten thousand households,
neon signs casting mottled reflections on the wet pavement.
The evening breeze carried the damp breath of the Huangpu River,
outlining the city's unique blend of bustle and tenderness.
Soon the rolls-royce pulled up at the gate of the Modu Academy of Drama,
its black body gleaming low-keyly under the streetlights,
the iconic Flying Lady mascot standing proud at the front,
radiating an aura impossible to ignore even from a distance.
Many passing students couldn't help turning their heads for a second look.
A luxury car is a luxury car; the guards weren't exactly lax, merely exceptionally perceptive—
they let the car through without a word.
In this cold, of course the Girls wouldn't be asked to walk out.
The car rolled straight to the entrance of the Girls' Dormitory.
Jiang Cheng had told Si Nian and Si Qing to wait upstairs until he arrived, then come down,
but the sisters seemed afraid of keeping him waiting,
and were already standing downstairs.
They wore matching long coats in different colors,
their long hair cascading like waterfalls over their shoulders, gently lifted by the evening breeze.
The two stood quietly, chatting in low voices,
occasionally letting out silvery laughs,
drawing frequent admiring glances from passing students.
The twins had always been the center of attention on campus,
their striking looks and perfectly synchronized moves long a celebrated sight.
Si Nian lightly pulled the collar of her Cream Coat closer.