Chapter 43

After hearing the "click" of the door closing, Jin Xi slowly opened her eyes. Her pupils were dark, and her expression was clear, without a trace of drunkenness. Jin Xi was indeed in a bad mood tonight, so after a few drinks, she felt dizzy. Gao Yu and Tang Mu were the only two people present tonight, and Jin Xi was too lazy to pretend. She was drunk and simply lay down on the table and took a nap. She had only intended to rest for a while, but unexpectedly fell asleep. When Jin Xi regained consciousness, she heard Ren Qiao'an's voice. Jin Xi didn't know how to face Ren Qiao'an for a moment, just as she had no idea what to do about the weekend appointment, so she pretended to be drunk in a daze.

Pretending to be drunk is fun for a while, and it’s fun all the time if you keep pretending to be drunk.

It was Jin Xi's impulsive decision to pester Ren Qiao'an on the stairs. It was Ren Qiao'an who had forced her to meet him, to take off her vest. Couldn't Ren Qiao'an just pretend she didn't know and continue playing her...couple role as usual? Jin Xi admitted that her thoughts were selfish, but who isn't selfish?

Jin Xi was so used to treating relationships like a game, just like every one of her romantic relationships that didn't live up to her name, that she couldn't face true emotions head-on. So when she finally found love, someone she truly loved, she couldn't help but push them away, because subconsciously, she felt no one could ever love her, no one could ever truly love her.

Therefore, she shouldn't fall in love with anyone else.

Jin Xi held her forehead and rubbed her eyebrows. The situation seemed to be getting more and more out of control. She needed to think seriously and soberly.

Warm steam seeped into her body, opening every pore and gradually relaxing her nerves, which had been tense all night. Jinxi savored her bath time, standing under the showerhead, letting the water wet every part of her body, washing away every trace of disguise, leaving her with a clean body. She continued to shower until her skin wrinkled, and then she emerged from the bathroom.

Jin Xi tilted her head, wiping her long hair with a dry towel as she walked barefoot into the living room, hoping for a glass of water. However, before she could even reach the table, she was met with a pair of amber eyes. Ren Qiao'an sat at the table, chopsticks in hand, slowly stirring the cup. When Jin Xi appeared, Ren Qiao'an's movements paused.

Jin Xi paused in her wiping motion. How could Ren Qiaoyuan appear here? ! ! !

Compared to Jin Xi's stunned expression, Ren Qiao'an was much calmer. She looked the freshly bathed beauty up and down with great interest. "Hmm... even without her makeup, she was still fair-skinned, beautiful, and with long legs. What a beauty!"

"...What's wrong with you?" Jin Xi looked embarrassed. Should she be glad that she came out wearing a bathrobe?

It was quite embarrassing, Ren Qiao'an's expression was indifferent, "Awake?" But his heart was beating wildly, beauty can be misleading, Ren Qiao'an no longer looked at Jin Xi.

Jin Xi was silent. What did she mean by "wake up"? How long had Ren Qiao'an been back?!

If there was a hole, Jin Xi could crawl into it right there and then.

"I just bought you some hangover medicine and some honey." Ren Qiao'an picked up the cup with honey water in it. She was worried that Jin Xi would feel uncomfortable when she woke up the next day. She remembered the common saying online that drinking some honey can make the stomach feel better, so she went to the supermarket downstairs to buy some. Ren Qiao'an handed the prepared honey water to Jin Xi, "Drink it."

Jin Xi took it blankly, "Thank you."

"Blow your hair after drinking, we'll talk later." After saying that, Ren Qiao'an sat back at the table. Since Jin Xi was awake and could take a bath by herself, it seemed that she sobered up quickly from the alcohol.

Ren Qiao'an sat quietly at the table, occasionally glancing towards the bathroom where Jin Xi was blow-drying her hair, the intermittent hum of the hairdryer emanating from her. Ren Qiao'an had originally planned to buy some medicine for Jin Xi, have her take the hangover remedy, and then send her to her room to settle down before leaving. Unexpectedly, Jin Xi woke up during the time she was gone, making Ren Qiao'an wonder if her previous drunken state was genuine.

Ren Qiaoan waited for a long time. Perhaps time passed too slowly. Fifteen minutes later, Jinxi emerged from the bathroom. The tips of her hair were still slightly hot, clearly not completely dried. Perhaps it was from the alcohol or the steam from the shower, but Jinxi's face was still rosy and looked incredibly alluring.

"What do you want to say?" Jin Xi sat opposite Ren Qiaoyuan, but she didn't look at Ren Qiaoyuan. Instead, she stared at her fingers playing with the ends of her hair.

"..." Ren Qiao'an felt Jin Xi's rejection. Not only rejection, but also... a hint of fear? Why did Ren Qiao'an feel that Jin Xi was a little afraid of her? Otherwise, why would she put on such a pitiful look? Ren Qiao'an sorted out his thoughts and said, "You don't plan to see me tomorrow."

Jin Xi knew what Ren Qiao'an was talking about, "No." She didn't want to go to the appointment.

"So why are you so drunk today?" He was just looking for an excuse to skip the date. Ren Qiao'an didn't say the rest of the sentence; it was just his guess. Who knows, Jin Xi might have been drinking for something else? "Did you know I was going to meet Nanshan You Ran?" Ren Qiao'an asked again.

Jin Xi mumbled vaguely, "No."

But the room was very quiet at the moment, so Ren Qiao'an heard it clearly, "Tell the truth." Ren Qiao'an tapped the table with his fingers a few times, making a "dong dong" sound.

Ren Qiao'an's face was chubby, but his hands had distinct joints and looked very thin. Jin Xi's eyes followed Ren Qiao'an's fingertips up and down, as if Ren Qiao'an was not knocking on the table, but on her heart. Jin Xi's throat moved slightly, "Just a little earlier than you." Ren Qiao'an's focused scrutiny left her nowhere to hide.

"So... you've been lying to me." Ren Qiao'an realized that until now, Jin Xi had never even looked at her. Was she really that hateful? "Why?" Ren Qiao'an didn't understand. She could feel Gui Qu Lai Xi's love for her, but Jin Xi treated her...

After playing with her hair, Jin Xi continued to play with the corners of her clothes, but she refused to answer Ren Qiao'an's questions. She herself didn't understand why. She couldn't say that she found it fun at first, and then gradually became attracted to Ren Qiao'an online. In the end...

"..." Ren Qiao'an kept looking at Jin Xi. Did this guy think he could avoid the question by being cute? Suddenly, Ren Qiao'an changed the question, "What is your relationship with Gao Yu?"

Jin Xi paused, not even considering Ren Qiao'an's intention in asking this question, "...friend." After all, Gao Yu had sold her out completely at that time, and had said it clearly, so how else could Jin Xi answer.

"Not in a relationship?"

Jin Xi curled her lips, "No."

Hearing the answer he liked, Ren Qiao'an lowered his head with a slight smile on his lips. It must be said that Jin Xi looked like this very unusual. She didn't have any of her usual sharpness and indifference. Instead, she looked soft and cute, just like the Guiqulaixie that Ren Qiao'an had imagined.

"What about me?"

Hearing the three clear words, Jin Xi looked up blankly. She didn't know what Ren Qiao'an was asking.

"do you like me."

Jin Xi really wanted to be bullied like this. "Or did Gui Qu Lai Xi like You Ran Jian Nan Shan?" Ren Qiao'an asked deliberately, wanting to force Jin Xi to see if she could get the answer she wanted.

"I..." Jin Xi hesitated as she looked at Ren Qiao'an's face. She couldn't say that she didn't like him, but she couldn't say that she liked him either.

Before Jin Xi could answer, Ren Qiao'an suddenly smiled and said, "I like you very much. Let's try to be together."

“???”

Jin Xi stared at the man in front of her in disbelief. "What did you say?" Had she just been confessed to? By Ren Qiao'an?

Ren Qiao'an is a cautious and stubborn person.

Ren Qiao'an understood her own heart. She had been attracted to Gui Qu Lai Xi for a long time. Since Jin Xi was Gui Qu Lai Xi, Ren Qiao'an had decided on Jin Xi.

She likes Jinxi and there is no need to deny it.

"I don't care. You deceived an ignorant girl's heart. As punishment, you have to be my offline partner for seven days." Ren Qiao'an was trying to buy herself a chance. She needed to get to know Jin Xi better, not just online. "Zha Zha, do you agree or not?"

"Offline CP, Ren Qiao'an, are you serious?" Jin Xi was still confused. What is offline CP?

"Since you didn't refuse, I'll take it as your consent." After saying that, Ren Qiao'an stood up and walked towards the door. "It's late. I have to go back."

"Wait..." Jin Xi called out to Ren Qiao'an. She was still confused and didn't know anything, so how could Ren Qiao'an run away?

Ren Qiaoan: "What's wrong? It's only the first night and you want me to stay overnight. That's not a good idea."

"..." Jin Xi frowned, wondering what Ren Qiao'an was talking about.

Seeing that Jin Xi didn't say anything, Ren Qiao'an walked over quickly, stood on tiptoe, and kissed Jin Xi on the cheek, "See you tomorrow, my dear couple." Ren Qiao'an finally did what she wanted to do all night.

Jin Xi took a full half minute to come to her senses, but when she did, Ren Qiao'an was no longer there. Jin Xi gently caressed her cheek, her fingertips still lingering the warmth of Ren Qiao'an's lips, so hot it was frightening.

"Ah!" Jin Xi squatted down and hugged her head. She realized belatedly that she was feeling shy. She didn't hate Ren Qiao'an being close to her. She was even moved and looked forward to tomorrow.

But...why is Ren Qiaoyuan suddenly so domineering!

Behind the door, Ren Qiao'an pressed his chest tightly, his heart beating so hard that it seemed like it would jump out of his chest in the next second.

Ren Qiao'an thought that it might not be Jin Xi who was drunk tonight, but her. Otherwise, how could she do such a thing? Not only did she openly express her feelings to Jin Xi, but she also forced Jin Xi to agree to be her offline partner, and even shamelessly kissed her.

Ah! Ah!!! Ren Qiao'an, what the hell are you doing!

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The author has something to say:

Jinxi: Haha, I’m drunk, I’m just pretending

Ren Qiaoan: Haha, I'm not drunk, I was just pretending