"What? You don't remember the Wen family? Back then, I heard the Wen family was favored. But the Wen family isn't some second-generation rich family; their family isn't even fit to carry An Family's shoes. The An Family should also choose a family inferior to theirs."
Seeing a few people getting carried away with their speculation,
a seemingly steady rich young master immediately lowered his voice and scolded, "Don't guess wildly, and don't speak carelessly! If we really offend the An Family, none of us will have a good outcome. We won't even know how we died, and there'll be no place to seek justice!"
The person who had just questioned Jiang Cheng about being a kept man instantly shut his mouth.
Someone else, still unconvinced, muttered softly, "I was just saying... Besides, he can hold Miss An's hand, and I'm not bad-looking either, so maybe I can try?"
The steady rich young master glared at him, his voice even lower.
His tone was full of warning: "Shut your dog mouth! How dare you say such things? Are you afraid people will hear and implicate all of us? Never mind if you're as handsome or as tall as him, just with your family's meager fortune, you're not even fit to carry the An Family's shoes, yet you dare to dream? Quickly shut up and just watch!"
The few of them immediately composed themselves, not daring to discuss wildly anymore, but their eyes remained fixed on Jiang Cheng and An Xin, full of curiosity and reverence.
As soon as these words fell, Wang Congcong came over and gently tapped Jiang Cheng's arm twice.
His tone carried a hint of playful teasing: "Brother Cheng, what do you think? In Chengdu, if you hold Sister An's hand like this, will people think you're a kept man, living off Sister Xin?"
Seeing Qin Fen and Wang Zheng couldn't help but chuckle, An Xin turned her head to look at him, a hint of apology in her eyes.
Her voice was very low, only audible to the two of them: "Sorry, I didn't expect such a big fuss, it disturbed your fun."
Jiang Cheng looked down at her upon hearing this, his fingertip gently squeezing her palm.
He gave the three of them the middle finger.
"It's fine, you really don't encounter scenes like this normally, it's quite fresh. Besides, my teeth aren't great, so occasionally eating something soft seems pretty good too."
"Brother Cheng, eat heartily, us younger brothers will be relying on you for the rest of our lives..."
"Exactly, exactly, I probably can't eat, so I can only rely on Brother Cheng..."
At this moment, everyone's gaze was focused on An Xin.
On the surface, Miss An's prestige overshadowed everyone, even the bar owner treated her as an honored guest.
But even when Wang Congcong and the others joked, they always centered on Jiang Cheng from beginning to end.
They stayed half a step behind Jiang Cheng, their posture perfectly measured.
Jiang Cheng laughed and cursed, "Your calculations are really clanging loudly..."
After speaking, Jiang Cheng leaned in slightly, his tone playful: "Rich Woman An, did you hear that? The brothers are all waiting to eat, so my lower half depends on you now."
An Xin's cheeks flushed slightly, a fleeting trace of imperceptible panic in her eyes.
She gently glared at Jiang Cheng, that hint of coldness completely dissipating, replaced by a maiden's charming playfulness.
"What lower half? Don't say such things, it's unlucky..."
"How is it unlucky? Then how about the whole body? Rich Woman An, go easy on the spending..."
An Xin evidently didn't catch Jiang Cheng's rich woman steel wool joke.
Instead, she looked at Jiang Cheng with some confusion: "You called me a rich woman, how could I spend your money? Shouldn't mine be for you to spend?"
"Uh, if you want me to spend yours, that works too..."
The three people following behind were already stifling their laughter, not daring to make a sound.
They naturally wouldn't be so tactless as to join in the teasing on such a deep topic.
They could only secretly give Jiang Cheng a thumbs-up.
"Brother Cheng's martial arts are still superior."
While everyone was joking, the group had already reached the innermost booth.
Wang Congcong had already reserved the best booth.
This spot faced the DJ booth, offering an excellent view.
The sofa was a huge circular one, more than enough for a dozen people.
Seven or eight atmosphere girls were already seated on the sofa, dressed more provocatively than the last, with exquisite makeup.
Seeing their boss personally lead them up, the few atmosphere girls became even more excited.
They immediately stood up with smiles to make room.
Wang Congcong quickly stepped forward, turning sideways to yield the main seat in the middle.
"Brother Cheng, Sister Xin, please sit in the middle."
He also added, "Sister Xin, these young ladies are here to liven things up, they're not for Brother Cheng..."
After speaking, Wang Congcong even raised his eyebrows at Jiang Cheng twice, as if seeking credit.
Clearly, he was accustomed to explaining such situations.
These were arranged in advance.
Normally, when Jiang Cheng went out, his female companions changed constantly.
However, most of the time he had a female companion.
But whether he brought one or not, the few of them would always have the atmosphere girls ready.
It wasn't for anything else, just one thing.
Everyone wanted to drink and have fun, so these women were needed to liven things up.
As for whether to use them, that was Jiang Cheng's business.
But whether to prepare them was their sincerity.
Looking at today, these people would most likely not be used again.
But even if they weren't used, they still had to be prepared; this was a matter of attitude.
An Xin glanced at him, the coldness on her face softening a bit, and she nodded gently: "Mm, I know."
After she finished speaking and took her seat, Jiang Cheng also released An Xin's hand.
Jiang Cheng let go naturally, but An Xin's heart was not as calm as his.
Although there was no expression on her face, her gaze couldn't help but fall on Jiang Cheng's hand, her eyes lowered.
That hand that had just been holding hers.
Now it rested casually on the sofa armrest, fingers long and knuckles distinct, as if nothing had happened.
She knew she shouldn't overthink it.
She knew better than anyone what kind of person Jiang Cheng was.
Women around him changed constantly, today an internet celebrity, tomorrow a model.
He changed female companions more frequently than he changed cars.
Yet, he was very good to her.
Not that ambiguous kind of good.
It was the kind of good... that you couldn't find fault with.
Just like that moment earlier, holding her hand when there were many people.
Making her heart feel this touch.
But then letting go of her hand directly after they reached their seats.
This gesture was ambiguous yet left no room for fault.
As if those touches were merely out of politeness.
Gentlemanly.
Appropriate.
An Xin pursed her lips.
That indescribable something in her heart was stuck there.
Unable to rise, unable to sink.