This wasn't the first time he had called her that tonight, but Su Er's heart still skipped a beat, and her eyelashes fluttered like butterflies.

Or perhaps, it's not just about the title.

She wanted to say that they hadn't gotten to know each other that well yet.

But it was just a form of address, and she couldn't very well take it seriously and correct him, lest it seem like she had misunderstood something, which would be petty.

In the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, the dishes on the table had all gone cold. Jiang Siyan, worried that she hadn't eaten enough, asked considerately, "Would you like to eat more? Shall we have someone make some more?"

She ate most of the dishes on the table, taking a few bites of each one, especially the vegetarian assortment, which she ate almost half of. She couldn't eat any more.

Su Er shook her head repeatedly, "I've already eaten."

The portions of food were small, and Jiang Siyan frowned. "Is that all you need?"

Su Er explained in detail: "I have a scene to film tomorrow, and eating too much will cause water retention."

Although she doesn't easily gain weight, she is extremely prone to water retention. Just thinking about the pain of having her face pressed with ice by a makeup artist early in the morning would scare away half of her appetite, no matter how good it was.

The meal was eaten very late, and Su Er hadn't rested all day. Although she was barely keeping herself awake with that cigarette, her unmade-up face couldn't hide her weariness.

Jiang Siyan wasn't one to be heartless towards women. He patted her shoulder and said, "Go put on your coat, I'll take you home."

Su Er nodded somewhat slowly, but halfway there, she suddenly felt something was wrong. Why had she agreed so readily?

Coming to her senses, she abruptly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and bumped straight into his chest.

Jiang Siyan reacted quickly and pulled her back, preventing her from falling and hitting her head.

Like scolding a child, Jiang Siyan clicked his tongue: "Clumsy and clumsy, have you lost your mind?"

She was so sleepy she was practically out of her mind.

How can that chest be so hard?

Her nose throbbed slightly, and she rubbed it, her thoughts drifting freely. She thought to herself, "Luckily, this nose is real; otherwise, it would cost a lot to fix."

Once Su Er regained her balance by supporting his arm and her head was clear, she decisively took a step back and looked at him seriously, saying, "You've been drinking. Let the driver take you home. I can just take a taxi back myself."

"Here? At this hour? Should we take a taxi?"

With each of the three questions, Su Er's previously high-spirited and determined confidence waned.

Even if she could hail a taxi, it probably wouldn't be able to get in, and she'd have to walk out in the dark.

But since the words have already been spoken, there's no reason to shamelessly ask if they can give you another ride.

She was about to wave her hand and say it was nothing when Jiang Siyan interrupted her with a half-smile: "Er'er, I'm afraid if word gets out, I'll get another reputation for being heartless. Are you deliberately pushing me into a fire pit?"

Jiang Siyan's words were so exaggerated that Su Er was not fooled.

She lowered her head and silently scoffed in her heart, "If you don't tell, who will?"

Jiang Siyan took the clothes, casually draped them over his arm, and asked her, "Where do you live?"

Su Er first gave the name of the hotel, then added, "It's quite far from here, and it's probably not on your way. You can take me to the main road, and I can go back by myself."

She believed this was the most appropriate solution, neither too impolite nor too difficult for herself.

Jiang Siyan seemed to have anticipated her words, and he said, "What a coincidence, isn't it? We're just on our way."

Is it on the way? She didn't remember any particularly famous residences in that area.

How much of it was true and how much was false, she couldn't figure out from the way this person was saying it.

Even in the years that followed, they spent many nights entwined in each other's arms, so intimate.

Even on the day they parted, Su Er always felt that understanding him was a journey she was destined never to reach, no matter how hard she tried.

He had already spoken, paving the way for her, so refusing would only make her seem pretentious. Su Er smiled at him, her eyes filled with the gratitude she should have, "Then thank you for your trouble."

After she put on her coat, the two walked towards the door one after the other, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far, just as they had come.

The door to the private room opened, and Zhang Xuchuan, just in time, came out from the side room to meet them. "Have you two finished eating? Did you enjoy it?"

The question was directed at Su Er.

Su Er gave a thumbs up and replied in the Nancheng dialect with lively expression, "Yes, Uncle Zhang, your dishes are absolutely delicious."

A soft, melodious Wu dialect voice is like a delicate flower blooming in spring, carrying the romantic tide of spring, making people's hearts soften.

Even the person beside her, who was usually aloof and refined, seemed to have acquired a more approachable demeanor.

Who doesn't love to hear kind words, especially in familiar hometown dialect? Zhang Xuchuan felt even more at ease with the girl in front of him, no longer just out of consideration for Jiang Siyan. He sincerely invited her, "Come again next time if you want to eat. You're always welcome here."

Su Er verbally agreed, but in her heart she knew there would be no next time; this place was not so easy to enter.

Uncle Zhang handed over an umbrella and smiled kindly, "Let's go, I'll see you out."

Under the eaves, the night was still and deep, with shimmering light. A cool, damp breeze brushed against her cheeks, dispelling some of her drowsiness. Only then did Su Er notice the fine rain falling in the lamplight.

This spring rain came at an inopportune time.

How do you open an umbrella?

Su Er reached out to take it, but was stopped by someone first.

Jiang Siyan naturally draped his coat over her shoulders, opened his umbrella, and turned to wait for her a step away. "Let's go."

Zhang Xuchuan was also taken aback for a moment, his gaze shifting between the two of them for a split second, before he opened his umbrella and stepped into the rain, saying, "This way."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!