She actually wanted to walk over too.
She wanted to say a few words to Jiang Cheng, to let him know she could also act coquettishly, that she could also cling to him like this.
But she had only just shifted her foot slightly before stopping.
Afraid that going over would make her seem immature, as if she was deliberately fighting for attention out of jealousy.
The two girls standing beside Jiang Cheng right now, dressed as Flight Attendants, had statuses similar to her own—young women who clearly had no significant background.
Were they younger than her? Not necessarily.
Prettier than her? Certainly not.
No, she couldn't just lose like this.
Even if she were to... compete with them on their own terms, let Jiang Cheng see, that would still be better than being left out here.
However, those few seconds of inner turmoil had clearly caused her to miss her chance.
Jiang Cheng wasn't the least bit concerned with guessing what the three women were thinking at this moment.
His entire mind was focused on this 'advance by retreating' card.
At this stage, while money was still very important to Jiang Cheng...
Nevertheless, this kind of somewhat high-difficulty challenge held a greater allure for him.
Jiang Cheng, with his arms around Chen Jiaxue and Zhao Yihan, was just about to head towards the master bedroom.
His footstep had just landed when, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a golden figure by the floor-to-ceiling window.
Chloe was still standing there.
With the nightscape behind her, the warm yellow light from behind cast a soft halo around her figure.
She was looking at him, her blue-grey eyes holding something indescribable.
Was it hesitation, anticipation, or something else?
Jiang Cheng paused in his step.
Then he released the two women and walked towards Chloe.
"What's wrong?" he asked in English, his tone gentle.
Jiang Cheng raised his hand and gently smoothed a strand of her hair tousled by the night breeze.
He spoke softly, "You must be tired from the flight earlier. Go rest first, pick a room you like. We're going to the bar later, so get some energy back. Tonight, when we return, I'll take good care of you..."
If he had said this under normal circumstances, Chloe would definitely have laughed and teased him in return.
But at this moment, she just felt somewhat confused. Jiang Cheng's gaze was very gentle, his tone very considerate; it sounded entirely like he was concerned for her.
But...
But why was he telling her to go rest, yet taking those two girls into the room?
Her heart gave a slight lurch.
That's not right.
On the plane, she had clearly agreed with Jiang Cheng that she was okay with "playing together."
Why wasn't Jiang Cheng taking her along now?
Had she misunderstood?
Or... had she done something wrong?
The smile on Chloe's face didn't change, but the light in her eyes dimmed for an instant.
She opened her mouth: "I..."
"Hmm?" Jiang Cheng tilted his head slightly. "Be good, go rest for now..."
Seeing Jiang Cheng speak up again, urging her with no apparent intention of including her in the fun...
Chloe swallowed the words that had reached her lips.
Mainly, she was a bit unsure of Jiang Cheng's meaning.
Although she had agreed they could play, Jiang Cheng clearly didn't want to now; he only wanted to be with those two.
If she forced her way in, Jiang Cheng might get upset.
She could only force a smile, trying hard to make her voice sound normal. "Then I'll go pick a room first."
"Okay." Jiang Cheng nodded, leaned down, and gently kissed her forehead. "Have a good rest."
With that, he turned and walked back to Chen Jiaxue and Zhao Yihan, wrapping his arms around them again, one on each side.
"Let's go."
The three of them walked towards the master bedroom, chatting and laughing.
"We still have two hours before going to the bar. Shall I help you two relax first?"
"That sounds great, Young Master Jiang. You have no idea how tense I've been during this time without you by my side..."
"Jiaxue, is this tension psychological or physiological..."
"I'm not telling you..."
"Oh, hiding it from me is useless. I'll find out once we hit the road later anyway..."
"Hah, what do you know? You're not the one driving... right, Young Master Jiang..."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng stroked Chen Jiaxue's cheek and asked tentatively, "Does driving the same route every time get a bit boring?"
"Hmm? Not really... Do you find it boring?" Chen Jiaxue replied.
Zhao Yihan, blushing, chimed in, "I don't think so either. As long as I'm in the car you're driving, how could it ever be boring..."
Soon, the three of them arrived at the master bedroom door.
Jiang Cheng pushed the door open and stepped aside to let the two women enter first.
Before entering, Chen Jiaxue glanced back at Chloe.
It was a very brief glance, so short it was almost negligible.
But Chloe saw it.
In that gaze was the triumph of a victor.
The master bedroom door closed before her, left slightly ajar.
Chloe stood where she was, motionless.
Behind her were the myriad lights of Taikoo Li, the warm yellow glow casting a soft halo on her golden hair.
If someone were looking at her now, they might think this scene was as beautiful as a painting.
But at this moment, no one was looking at her.
Only the night view of Taikoo Li outside the window remained, and the sound of Chloe's own breathing.
She walked over to the sofa and slowly sat down.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened on her skirt.
Right now, her mind was filled with nothing but regret.
When Jiang Cheng came over and asked her what was wrong, she should have said, "I want to be with you too."
She should have been like those two girls, actively clinging to him, acting coquettish, being willful, using every method to keep him.
But she hadn't.
She suddenly remembered the conversation on the plane.
Could it be that when Jiang Cheng said "play together" back then, he didn't mean playing *this*?
At the time, she had thought he meant the four of them together.
She had even mentally prepared herself for it.
Sharing a man with two Chinese girls.
But now...
So Jiang Cheng's "play together" might have just meant literally going to the bar together to have fun.
She had overthought it.
She had... misunderstood.
But why, at this moment, did she feel not the slightest bit relieved, and instead carried a vague, inexplicable sense of loss?