Yu Xiaoxiao was the first to lose her composure; she cradled Jiang Cheng's face and brushed a soft kiss across the corner of his lips, her voice so tender it could melt: "Honey, I'll stay with you forever and give you the love you want."
After Xiaoxiao took the initiative, the corners of Jiang Cheng's mouth slowly curved upward.
He simply pulled her over and kissed her back.
Seeing this, Su Wan seized the chance to scoop up her clothes and scamper toward the bathroom.
Just as Jiang Cheng reached to stop Su Wan, Xiaoxiao's fingers stealthily pinched his back.
The pinch made a fresh batch of question marks float above Jiang Cheng's head.
Wait—hadn't she been wearing a heartbroken look for him moments ago?
Why was she suddenly throwing a tantrum??
He let go of Su Wan and allowed her to walk into the bathroom.
The moment Su Wan was inside, Xiaoxiao pushed Jiang Cheng away.
She gave a soft hum and put on an expression that said she didn't want to deal with him.
"Hmm? What's wrong??"
Xiaoxiao wasn't truly angry; when Jiang Cheng asked, she turned back around.
Her pale forefinger tapped his chest. "You scoundrel, always scheming against us..."
It was true—seeing Su Wan lose herself on Jiang Cheng had made Xiaoxiao ache for him.
But once she realized Jiang Cheng was about to pull both of them into another round, Xiaoxiao sensed a scheme.
Caught, Jiang Cheng looked embarrassed and rubbed his nose. "Uh, how is that a scheme? Schemes are fake; loving you is real..."
At that, Xiaoxiao scolded again: "Tsk..."
Still, when he moved to hug her she squirmed twice for show, then let him draw her into his arms.
"Not willing??"
Xiaoxiao noticed Jiang Cheng had asked if she was unwilling, not if she was angry.
Although Jiang Cheng had bought her a mansion, a luxury car, even tens-of-millions jewelry at auction—her entire status today came from him.
From those facts alone, she'd never doubted his affection.
But the higher you climb and the closer you get to the top, the more you realize: the rich mostly follow their whims.
Many succeed because they possess enough ambition.
They have the desire to dig deeper and rise higher.
Just like her: if Jiang Cheng had been an ordinary guy—or hadn't stepped up when Zhang Yu harassed her—she probably wouldn't have vowed to stay with him forever.
So at bottom, she'd chosen Jiang Cheng for upward mobility.
Once you have ambition and desire, certain moral baselines drop.
And with ambition comes magnified conquest.
From the day she'd joined Jiang Cheng, she'd known such a man was fated to have more than one woman.
She herself was that sort of person; therefore she wouldn't grow arrogant and throw tantrums.
"It's not unwillingness; I just worry you'll tire yourself out..." Xiaoxiao said, looking faintly plaintive.
She wasn't angry or unwilling.
But after everything had been seen by Su Wan, surely she was entitled to protest a little??
If Jiang Cheng minded, she could simply stop pouting.
Flexibility and sensibility were her trademarks.
Seeing Xiaoxiao's coquettish look, Jiang Cheng couldn't resist patting her pert bottom.
Grinning, he gave a firm squeeze. "So, sticking your butt out like this—is that you testing whether I'm tired?? If you want it, just strip; no need to be coy. I'm in great shape..."
At that, Xiaoxiao's alluring eyes lit up.
Usually with Jiang Cheng it was twice minimum, sometimes a third round.
Later, for comfort's sake, they mostly kept it at two.
Now, accustomed to that, she felt something was missing.
She drew little circles on his chest with her finger and said, "I just wonder... if I nod, can you manage??"
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng placed her hand on the switch.
As her hand pressed down, the switch sprang up nimbly.
The electric tingle made Xiaoxiao squeal.
"Daring to doubt me? Looks like I've been too lenient. Rest assured, however many times you want, I'll satisfy you—and Su Wan won't be short-changed either..."
To Jiang Cheng, things had already progressed this far.
Beating around the bush was pointless; straightforward was best.
Xiaoxiao understood: Jiang Cheng meant to make these threesomes a regular affair.
While toying with the switch she pouted, "You greedy devil, I don't mind. Just satisfy me. As for Su Wan..."
Before she could finish, Su Wan—fully dressed—stepped out of the bathroom.
Though Su Wan tried to control her expression, her face flamed anew when she saw Xiaoxiao's handiwork.
Without waiting for Jiang Cheng to speak, Xiaoxiao released him, stood up, and walked over to Su Wan.
Seeing Su Wan lower her head, Xiaoxiao smiled and clasped both her wrists.
She soothed her: "We're all family here; no need to be shy."
Hearing this, Su Wan still shyly lifted her head.
After all, she was only nineteen, and though her job was unusual—she'd heard of actresses pulling overnight shifts or piling into one room—those were only rumors.
She'd had only Jiang Cheng.
To have mustered the courage to walk out already felt like a triumph.
Seeing Su Wan still tense, Xiaoxiao turned to Jiang Cheng. "Honey, go wash up; you're sticky and smelly."
Jiang Cheng instantly caught her drift: Xiaoxiao wanted a private chat with Su Wan.
He had to admit, the Girl who'd shared nine years of compulsory education with him had real class.
She hadn't wasted the hundreds of Happy Beans he'd just gifted her.
Actually, he hadn't planned another round tonight.
This wasn't a one-off deal; he preferred to take things step by step.
Now that both women had no secrets left in front of each other, giving them time to digest would let nature take its course next time.
Without a word he nodded, picked up his phone, and stood.
He also grabbed his clothes, but unlike the Girls he didn't bother hiding; he simply strode openly toward the bathroom.
As he passed them he noticed not only Xiaoxiao watching him closely, but even the downcast Su Wan's eyes tracking him.
Being watched didn't faze him.
With enough capital, you fear nothing.
He opened wechat and saw Zhou Ying had tried a video call ten minutes earlier.
Surprised, he realized the constant buzzing and foreign voices must have masked the ring.
He set the phone on the bath rack, returned the call, and turned on the shower.
Water gushed; within ten seconds Zhou Ying answered.
From her background she was walking along Chengdu's old street, clearly heading out to eat.
Seeing Jiang Cheng in the shower, whatever she'd meant to say caught in her throat.
Her sparkling eyes widened.
With a playful grin she teased, "Planning to seduce me with a bathing beauty shot?"
Her voice held a note of banter that made him want to smile.
Jiang Cheng had timed the call deliberately.
Tonight he might be very busy; this short break was his only private window.
Besides, what decent guy video-chats a Girl while showering after sex?
After this call, Zhou Ying definitely wouldn't overthink tonight—problem solved in one go.