Si Nian's heart fluttered even more at the question.
Although the two of them hadn't discussed any specific plan, that subtle telepathy between them tacitly made her come over first.
Not knowing how to reply, Si Nian simply rose with a shy blush, walked to Jiang Cheng's side, and voluntarily sat on his lap.
The moment she settled, Jiang Cheng naturally slipped an arm around her.
Mm… the words soft and fragrant really do suit a Girl perfectly.
Without the slightest hesitation, her agile little tongue went straight into action.
When Jiang Cheng's kiss descended with warm insistence, Si Nian's fingertips were still clutching a corner of her bathrobe, even her breathing tightening.
As their lips and tongues intertwined, she could catch the faint scent of alcohol on him, mingling with the lingering fragrance of shower gel in her damp hair.
Thinking of giving herself to him, she pressed her palms against his chest, flustered.
Only when her body began to melt did Si Nian gently push Jiang Cheng away.
"Then… do you know who I am?" Her voice carried the huskiness of their recent kiss; she kept her eyes lowered, not daring to look at him.
Watching her fingertips secretly grip the hem of her bathrobe, Jiang Cheng didn't answer right away.
On any ordinary day he might have brushed the question off.
But this time Si Nian was clearly serious.
If he gave another careless reply, the Girl would probably end up hurt.
After all, this was her first time.
Seeing the flush creeping to the tips of her ears, Jiang Cheng replied without revealing any emotion, "You know I can't tell the two of you apart."
At that, Si Nian let out a helpless sigh.
She bit her lower lip, lifted her gaze with a hint of grievance, and her voice softened. "Then who do you wish I were?"
The question sounded like a probe, yet also like a reluctant demand.
She didn't blame Jiang Cheng; she could only blame the fact that they were twins.
And not just any twins—identical ones.
So what could she do?
Seeing the shimmer gathering in her eyes, Jiang Cheng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
It was a freebie question; the answer most likely wouldn't change what happened next.
But if he answered wrong, the Girl would definitely feel a bit wronged.
Saying he hoped she was Si Nian would sound too deliberate.
Yet saying he thought she was Si Qing might truly sadden her.
After all, the way he'd just kissed and touched her made it obvious he adored her.
After a few seconds of silence Jiang Cheng reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing her cheek.
His tone gentler than ever, he said, "I really want to know who you are; this answer means a lot to me."
Those last three words—"means a lot"—made Si Nian's brows draw together slightly.
She didn't understand what Jiang Cheng meant.
Did he actually prefer one of them over the other?
Ever since they were children, whenever she didn't know how to cope she would pretend to be Si Qing.
But right now she desperately wanted to hear his answer.
Eyes lowered, she murmured, "I'm Nian Nian."
The instant her name left her lips, Si Nian felt her cheeks burn even hotter.
Her breathing turned cautious as she gazed up at him, anticipation shining in her eyes.
She needed to know what Jiang Cheng would say.
How could Jiang Cheng not grasp what Si Nian was thinking?
She had been the first to meet him; if he now claimed to prefer Si Qing, it would hurt.
Jiang Cheng was a decent man—he wouldn't stint on sweet words when the moment called for them.
The moment he heard "Nian Nian," a flicker of amusement flashed through Jiang Cheng's eyes,
quickly replaced by tenderness.
He drew her into his arms, rested his chin on her hair, and said with a smile,
"Nian Nian, hearing you say that makes me very happy."
Held against him, listening to his strong heartbeat and those words,
her lashes quivered violently.
The next second she lifted her gaze to him,
pressed her lips together, then couldn't stop them from curving into a soft, sweet smile.
That smile spread from her lips to her eyes.
The fine shimmer that had lingered in her eyes now sparkled like fallen stars.
Even the tips of her ears hidden in her hair flushed scarlet.
Although she hadn't meant to compete with Si Qing for favor, such things were unavoidable.
Like kisses—after all, there's only one set of lips.
So tell me, who should be kissed first?
Besides, this matter was far more sensitive than a mere kiss.
After actively pressing her lips to Jiang Cheng's, Si Nian even looped her arms around his neck.
Her panda clung tightly to him as well.
A few minutes later Jiang Cheng pulled back.
"Let's go take a bath."
Si Nian understood his meaning; her legs squeezed together.
The tips of her ears turned as red as if dipped in rouge.
That blush swept down her cheeks, even her neck taking on a faint rosy hue.
When she looked up at him, her gaze was soft with timidity.
Yet she didn't refuse; instead she gave a gentle, obedient nod and whispered, "Mm."
Jiang Cheng scooped Si Nian into his arms and carried her toward the bathroom.
Of course he didn't intend to do anything in there.
He was a decent man—bathing meant bathing,
nothing improper.
Especially those lascivious ideas some lechers have—soap circles and the like—Jiang Cheng would never do such things.
He had merely suggested a bath because he hadn't washed yet himself.
Today he'd gone out to buy a car, discuss a partnership, and drink; his body reeked of alcohol.
Jiang Cheng wasn't some loser who'd never tasted the good things in life; he naturally wouldn't touch the Girls while carrying such a smell.
It would be downright disrespectful to them.
So to leave her with the best possible first impression, paying attention to hygiene was necessary.
On any normal day he'd have finished in under five minutes.
But now that a Girl was present, he had to follow her pace.
Reluctantly, Jiang Cheng followed proper bathing order and took his time.
Just lathering shower gel over his body took quite a while.
Twenty minutes later he carried Si Nian—wrapped in a towel—out of the bathroom.
Apart from a bit of verbal sparring and some uneven surveying, nothing else had happened in there.
After all, Si Nian wasn't a seasoned veteran like Yu Xiaoxiao or Qiao Yinyin.
She didn't even possess Zhou Ying's fragility; aside from obediently closing her eyes to cooperate with Jiang Cheng, she knew nothing else.
She was innocence itself.
For such a good Girl Jiang Cheng felt considerable tenderness, so naturally he wanted to leave her with the gentlest, most pleasant impression.
After setting Si Nian on the bed, he saw her unexpectedly struggle to sit up.
"Wait…"
Jiang Cheng looked at her in puzzlement.
Could it be the game hadn't even started and she was already surrendering??
Though she had already surrendered once in the bathroom, the ceremony hadn't been completed; in Jiang Cheng's book that didn't count.
Fortunately Si Nian didn't head for the door; instead she walked to the spot where she'd first sat.
From the chair she picked up a neatly folded white towel.
Feeling Jiang Cheng's gaze on her, Si Nian's steps turned awkward.
Legs weak, she slowly approached the bedside.
Carefully she spread the towel along the edge of the bed.
While smoothing the corners of the towel, her eyes even held a solemn anticipation.