It was late-night snack time, and the barbecue restaurant was bustling with noise. The constantly ringing bells and her rapidly beating heartbeat were drowned out by bursts of laughter.

Lin Shuqin noticed her dazed expression, patted her arm, and asked suspiciously, "Xiao Er, who is it?"

Su Er pursed her lips slightly, not intending to hide anything, and held up her phone screen to show her, "That gentleman."

Lin Shuqin's expression darkened slightly, and her tone became somewhat grave: "Answer it, don't keep people waiting."

Su Er nodded and glanced outside the shop; it was relatively quiet.

She stood up with her phone in hand, pointed to the door, and said, "I'll go out and answer it."

"I'll go with you," Lin Shuqin said, getting up to go out with her.

Before she could even stand up, a head pounced on her, pinning Lin Shuqin down so she couldn't move.

"Waaaah... you scumbag, I used to like him so much!" Fang Li had drunk a few glasses of wine and got a little tipsy. She hugged the wine bottle and clung to Lin Shuqin, crying her heart out.

Su Er chuckled, "No need, it's just a phone call. Li Li can't be left alone in her current state, so you can watch over her. I'll answer it myself."

Lin Shuqin was caught in a dilemma. While frantically grabbing tissues to wipe Fang Li's face, she didn't forget to remind Su Er, "Be careful what you say."

Su Er waved her hand, "Okay."

The temperature difference between day and night is large in Beicheng now, so she wears simple short sleeves with a jacket on.

Having drunk too much earlier, Su Er had already taken off her coat and left it aside. As soon as she stepped outside, the wind blew, dissipating some of the alcohol fumes, and Su Er couldn't help but shiver.

She found a sheltered spot, hugged herself, and pressed the answer button a second before the call was about to end.

"Hello, Mr. Jiang." A clear voice, mixed with the sound of the wind, came through the receiver, like a refreshing carbonated drink on a summer day.

The fatigue from the past few days of work was somewhat dispelled, and Jiang Siyan's previously furrowed brows gradually relaxed as he asked, "Still outside?"

"Um."

"Filming?"

Su Er rubbed her arms, which were chilled by the wind, and replied, "No, I'm having a late-night snack with friends."

Some of the conversations were dry and uninforming, offering little nutritional value.

Su Er thought for a moment and naturally brought up a topic, "Have you eaten?"

Jiang Siyan chuckled as he recalled the messages she had sent him these past few days. It seemed the young girl was determined to avoid this meal.

He asked, "Are you going to treat me?"

Su Er leaned against the glass wall, idly scratching at the red "Barbecue" sticker with her fingernail: "Are you coming?"

The lazy, casual tone didn't sound like a genuine invitation.

It was just something I mentioned casually.

Perhaps it was because of the rejections she had received for a week in a row, and it carried a touch of girlish sullenness and reproach.

Jiang Siyan glanced at the time; he hadn't originally planned to do this.

But when he heard Su Er ask that question, he suddenly thought it wouldn't hurt to look at the little girl's face, which always seemed to be blushing.

He said half-jokingly, "If you invite me, I'll always come."

The saying "drinking leads to trouble" truly resonated with Su Er tonight.

Su Er had drunk some alcohol and became bolder. For some reason, she blurted out, "No, I invited you for a week and you didn't come."

Time seemed to stand still for a moment as a green leaf from the top of a roadside tree drifted down silently, carried by the wind to her feet.

The lush greenery jolted her awake. Su Er realized something was wrong, her back stiffened, and she pinched herself mercilessly, trying to find the right words to respond from her chaotic thoughts.

Before she could even apologize, Su Er heard him laughing on the phone, intermittently, sounding like he was in a good mood.

Su Er will probably never forget that tone of voice, an extremely gentle and doting tone, like coaxing a sulking girlfriend.

She imagined his eyes must be gentle and smiling at that moment.

He deliberately dragged out his words, saying, "Are you angry, Er'er?"

"Is it because I haven't had time lately?"

She should have retorted with a sneer, "What is my relationship with you, Mr. Jiang? What's the big deal?"

But he continued, explaining to her earnestly, "I really am busy, I'm not lying to you."

He has just been transferred back to Beicheng, where he has been promoted to a higher position.

The handover of various projects, the rectification required by the higher authorities, the turmoil on all sides, and the meetings that were held one after another are rare. It is rare to be able to leave the group before 10 o'clock like today.

Su Er sensed a hint of helplessness and exhaustion in his voice. She opened her mouth, but the prepared aloofness and indifference seemed to get stuck in her throat.

Her gentle voice left her with no room to maneuver her already erect spikes.

She clutched her phone, her words sparse, like a toddler just learning to speak, "I'm not angry."

He chuckled softly, teasing her in his distinctive Beicheng accent: "Yes, our Er'er is such a kind and understanding person."

The alcohol had a strong aftereffect; her eardrums vibrated, and her heartbeat quickened. She felt dizzy and disoriented, as if there were surging tides before her eyes, and she was just a lone boat drifting with the current.

Su Er squatted down, holding onto the glass and hugging her knees. She poked the green leaf with her fingertip, feeling somewhat annoyed.

How could we be completely defenseless against him?

The call ended, but Su Er remained squatting on the ground, her icy hands touching her cheeks, which were unusually hot.

Su Er only remembered that before hanging up, Jiang Siyan asked her where she was, and she honestly gave him the address of the barbecue restaurant.

He said casually, "I've come to find you."

After squatting down and letting the wind blow on her for a while, Su Er became more awake.

She laughed mockingly at her momentary lapse in concentration.

You see, some people are born with the right to do whatever they want.

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