For the first two attempts, Jiang Cheng happily enjoyed the Girl's playful tickling, but by the third attempt, Jiang Cheng made his move.
He tilted his head, and his other hand swiftly reached out and grasped her wrist.
Jiang Cheng thought Xu Yan would surrender after being caught, but unexpectedly, seeing her hand restrained, Xu Yan immediately gritted her teeth and extended her other hand.
Finding her flailing attempts amusing, Jiang Cheng quickly grabbed her other arm as well.
"You... let go..." With her hands suddenly restrained, a blush instantly rose on Xu Yan's face.
"If I let go, won't you hit me? I'm not stupid..."
She struggled twice but couldn't break free. Instead, Jiang Cheng pulled her forward with the momentum, causing her nose to nearly touch the back of his hand resting on the steering wheel.
With such close proximity, Xu Yan's heart instantly began beating faster.
Although the car windows were closed, the bugatti nights sound was simply too high-profile.
Many passing students peered into the front window.
Seeing some people cover their mouths and laugh, Xu Yan immediately grew more flustered.
Her tone softened slightly: "You... aren't you afraid I'll tell Chu Ran if you bully me like this??"
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng remained silent, merely turning his gaze toward her.
The smile in his eyes slowly faded, leaving only a deep, settling light focused on her flushed ear tip.
The cedar scent, enveloped by the car's warmth, made the distance between them feel especially close.
The sound of their playful struggle seemed to have been cut off, leaving only the faint sound of air from the vent, mixing flirtation with awkwardness, making her heart race.
The intensity in Jiang Cheng's eyes was simply too strong.
The less he spoke, the more Xu Yan overthought things.
The moment she froze, even her fingertips tensed, and her heart pounded like a drum.
She could only silently repeat: This is Jiang Churan's boyfriend, this is Jiang Churan's boyfriend.
Seeing Jiang Churan admit defeat, Jiang Cheng finally spoke a few seconds later, sounding a little smug: "Let's see if you dare to do that again."
Jiang Cheng clearly hadn't answered her question.
But Xu Yan didn't dare to ask further.
Her earlier counter-question involving Jiang Churan was indeed a test, but asking any further would be too obvious.
Furthermore, if Jiang Cheng truly said he wasn't afraid, how would she react?
Unless she was truly ready to break off her friendship with Jiang Churan, what good would it do to actually seduce Jiang Cheng?
Under the clash of these two thoughts, Xu Yan's mind started to feel conflicted.
The expression on her face became a mixture of confusion and grievance.
Perhaps afraid she might cry, she stared wide-eyed at Jiang Cheng.
Seeing her pitiful appearance, Jiang Cheng reluctantly released her hand.
However, the moment he released her, his finger gently rubbed the spot where his grip had left a red mark.
Outside, pedestrians hurried past, but this action caused the car interior to fall silent once more.
Xu Yan didn't dare look at him again and gently pulled her hand away.
She quickly turned her face away, staring out the window, her voice slightly shaky: "Y-you drive forward. There's a Morning Market past that intersection ahead, let's go eat breakfast there."
Jiang Cheng looked at her and chuckled softly.
He released the hand gripping the steering wheel and restarted the car.
His tone carried the ease of someone pretending nothing had happened: "A Morning Market? That sounds authentic. I've actually never visited a Morning Market in The Capital to eat breakfast. That suits me perfectly."
After the car started, Xu Yan also turned her head, pretending to help Jiang Cheng watch the road.
But her eyes couldn't help but peek toward Jiang Cheng.
At this moment, Jiang Cheng's expression was completely natural.
His gaze was fixed on the road ahead, as if the person who had just gripped her wrist and stared silently wasn't her.
Seeing this, Xu Yan could only sigh helplessly.
Although Jiang Cheng's behavior would certainly fail a best friend test.
But somehow, she just couldn't help but feel her heart flutter.
This is probably what people say online: you know the scumbag is bad.
But you still want to be played by him.
Otherwise, you feel uncomfortable and restless, unable to give up.
Soon, after turning the corner ahead, they entered a narrow alley.
After slowing down, Jiang Cheng found a corner spot and parked.
The sound of the supercar caused the elderly men setting up stalls and the aunties carrying vegetable baskets at the alley entrance to pause.
The bugatti's iconic horseshoe grille was highly recognizable. Even the long-time Old Beijing Locals, who were familiar with the Morning Market, couldn't help but exchange glances.
The matte black paint gave off a cool sheen in the morning light.
In The Capital, everyone was accustomed to seeing all kinds of luxury cars and supercars.
But after all, this car's license plate was too conspicuous, coupled with its highly iconic design.
The eyes of the group uniformly fell upon the car.
"Whoa, isn't that a bugatti?" asked the Tofu Pudding vendor while wiping a bowl.
The uncle next to him holding Fried Dough Sticks leaned over, squinted at the car logo, and clicked his tongue, his voice low but unable to hide his astonishment: "Isn't that the 'dark nights sound'? The only one in the world!"
"Which family's Young Master is this down-to-earth? Driving this car to the Morning Market for breakfast, that's something new."
Just as he finished speaking, the Fried Dough Sticks vendor smiled and greeted the person standing in front of the stall: "CEO Lei, you're early today too? With your status, why are you walking? You should get a supercar and drive it, just like these young people."
Lei Jun held the plastic bag containing his recently purchased items, smiled upon hearing this, and waved his hand.
He replied casually: "How could I drive a car like that? My back is bad, my back is bad. I prefer walking here to eat something warm."
As he spoke, he followed their gaze toward the end of the alley.
Looking at the silhouette of the bugatti, he muttered internally.
If Rice could make a car like this, they'd strike it rich.
If they copied the model and sold one for tens of millions, he wouldn't be worrying so much right now.
But he instantly dismissed the thought.
They hadn't even topped the phone market yet; how could he think about manufacturing cars?
He withdrew his gaze and told the Tofu Pudding vendor: "Please add a bit more Chili Oil, thank you."
Before the vendor could scoop the Tofu Pudding into the container, the gentle sound of a car door closing suddenly came from the end of the alley.
Lei Jun subconsciously looked up again, just in time to see a young man in a gray hoodie stepping out of the driver's seat.
He had a tall, straight figure and sharp profile lines.
At first, he didn't pay attention, assuming it was just some Gao Fu Shuai experiencing life.
But when his gaze swept across the young man's features, the movement of the plastic bag in his hand suddenly froze.
This face... why did it look familiar?
He frowned, trying to recall.
Had he met him at a previous Industry Summit? Or perhaps a Venture Capital Forum?