Chapter 0024 Game
Ruyi took a bus for three stops and met up with Chen Yan, who was waiting by the roadside.
Chen Yan got his driver's license as soon as he turned 18. Today, he was driving a custom-made turquoise McLaren 720s, a gift from his mother, Xiao Qingshu, as a coming-of-age present. The striking color, the futuristic and sharp design, the arrogant license plate, and the handsome young owner attracted the attention of passersby, with many men unable to resist taking out their phones.
He ignored the admiring, envious, and jealous glances, focusing only on the large bus slowly pulling into the bus stop ahead, sensing that Ruyi would get off that bus.
First, a slender, fair leg emerged from the back door of the bus, wearing a pair of milky white strappy sandals. Her toes were carefully painted with blue and pink nail polish, the glitter sparkling in the sunlight.
Then comes the knee-length skirt, made of light gauze, white with red polka dots, layered in three layers. When a gentle breeze blows, it's like a blooming flower, exuding a delicate fragrance.
Above that is a white, form-fitting strapless top that hugs the waist and bust, with puff sleeves that match the style of the skirt. The neckline is adorned with delicate embroidery, making the collarbone appear even more straight and slender.
Half of her hair was tied up and secured with black clips, while the other half was loose, curled and draped over her waist, with a few strands occasionally fluttering up.
The girl seemed to have an innate creativity when it came to beauty. The girl, who usually appeared plain, became beautiful enough to touch Chen Yan's heart with just a little dressing up.
Upon closer inspection, it became clear that she was wearing light makeup today, with a honey-pink lip gloss that made her look even sweeter and more delectable.
Chen Yan stared at Ruyi, thinking that the first thing he would do after she got in the car was to eat the lip gloss off her lips.
As a result, Ruyi glared at him, as if she didn't know him, and ignored him.
He was exasperated and was about to back up and catch up when his phone rang.
With one hand clutching her small handbag and the other holding her phone, Ruyi whispered to Chen Yan, "Don't park this car on the main road!"
"What does it have to do with anything?" It wasn't stolen or robbed, so what's so shameful about it?
"I don't care, there are too many people here. Find a secluded place." Ruyi already regretted arranging to meet at a place only three stops away from her home. She was afraid of being seen by acquaintances. Even if there were no acquaintances, getting on the bus under the stares of passersby would be a huge test for her.
After more than ten minutes of struggling, Chen Yan finally turned into a narrow alley and picked up Ruyi.
As soon as Ruyi lowered her hand from covering her face, Chen Yan grabbed her and kissed her for a full three minutes.
After finally managing to push him away, Ruyi took out her lip gloss to touch up her makeup while urging him to drive away quickly.
Chen Yan was already annoyed that she wouldn't let him pick her up at her doorstep, and seeing this, he raised his eyebrows and feigned anger: "Am I that shameful?" He acted as if he was afraid of being seen with him.
After touching up her lip makeup, Ruyi looked at herself in the small mirror to make sure there were no problems. Then she turned to Chen Yan and said seriously, "Your car is too flashy. I don't like it."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yan immediately explained the car's many advantages from various angles, including its appearance, driving performance, and riding experience. Seeing that Ruyi wasn't interested, he changed his tune and said with a smile, "Then next time I'll drive a more low-key car, so I can pick you up downstairs at your place?"
Seeing that he seemed to be in a good mood, Ruyi said the truth: "...It's better not to."
“Xu Ruyi, how long are you going to keep hiding this from your aunt? I remember three years ago, she invited me to her home from the hospital, which shows she had a very good impression of me.”
Ruyi glanced at him and said, "Did you skip it?"
Since Ruyi was bullied by Shi Fu at the end of the first semester of high school, after Chen Yan came to her house, almost every monthly break, Chen Yan would travel across most of Lancheng to find Ruyi. While He Caiyu was in the shop, he would force Ruyi to accompany him in his debauchery. Ruyi was extremely annoyed, but dared not make a sound, and could only be devoured by him until not even bone fragments were left.
Chen Yan grinned shamelessly: "How can these be the same? One is a secret boyfriend, and the other is an open and aboveboard nephew-in-law. Seriously, Xu Ruyi, when are you going to introduce me to your parents?"
Ruyi ignored him. Chen Yan didn't understand the meaning of meeting the parents at all, and he said such things as if it were a joke. It only made her feel that he was frivolous and did not move her in the slightest.
Of course, she couldn't relay He Caiyu's thoughts to Chen Yan, as if she were forcing him to make a statement.
*
Ruyi boarded the large cruise ship hosting the party with Chen Yan. Although she had prepared herself mentally, the extravagance and debauchery at the scene still exceeded her expectations.
The cruise ship is like a small palace standing on the sea. Inside, the decor is even more luxurious, with dedicated dining areas, dance floors, e-sports rooms, music rooms, lounges, and more. The culinary team in the dining area is said to come from five-star hotels. Dressed in pristine white chef uniforms, they are constantly busy in the dining area, where a variety of exquisite dishes and drinks are laid out on the tables. Every now and then, charmingly dressed waitresses serve the wealthy young men and women with great attentiveness.
Opposite the Ruyi is a wine cabinet that occupies an entire wall. It looks like an antique from Europe a few centuries ago. The dark brown decorative carvings have a patina of age, and the wines behind the glass are in various shapes and sizes, each one of considerable value.
Compared to them, the 500 yuan that He Caiyu gave her lay quietly in the lining of her small handbag, looking so meager. As she imagined, she probably wouldn't even have a chance to use it today.
She followed Chen Yan to a seat, and then a constant stream of young men and women, both acquaintances and strangers, came to chat with her. They were almost all children from wealthy families, well-dressed, cheerful, confident, and poised. Because they were well-traveled and knowledgeable, they could easily strike up a lively conversation about any topic.
As Ruyi listened to Chen Yan talking to others about helicopter skiing and freediving fishing, not to mention financial terms like trusts, private equity, and hedge funds, she was completely confused and drowsy.
Fortunately, Cheng Jue, the host, arrived late. He was dressed as if he were going to participate in a talent show. He went up to the stage on the side of the dance floor, where there were several musical instruments such as a piano, cello, drum set, and guitar. He walked to the drum set and casually played a rhythmic drumbeat, attracting everyone to the edge of the dance floor.
"Alright, I'm extremely grateful to everyone for coming to support me today. Considering there are over fifty people here, and apart from Ah Yan, who's a dazzling social butterfly, not everyone knows each other, how about we have an icebreaker game before we start? The loser can come up on stage and perform a talent show to showcase their skills and let everyone get to know them, how about that?"
The crowd responded enthusiastically, cheering loudly.
Ruyi jolted awake, all sleepiness gone. Oh dear, she was most afraid of playing games, and couldn't help but grab Chen Yan's hand tightly.
Chen Yan chuckled inwardly and reassured him, "It's alright. There are so many people, how could it possibly be your turn? Cheng Jue just wants to liven things up; he loves doing things like that."
The so-called icebreaker game is the most familiar game of musical chairs. Cheng Jue plays the drum set with his back to the audience. After the percussion is played for a long or short time, whoever gets the yellow rose has to go on stage to perform.
After three rounds, the person whose turn it was first yelled "Bad luck!" and then, amidst applause, walked confidently onto the stage, showcasing their virtuosity with a dazzling violin solo or a magnificent Italian operatic aria. The third boy, however, launched into a stand-up comedy routine in Spanish, babbling on and on, barely understood by the audience. A chorus of boos erupted, and he shrugged, "You're all just ignorant and can't understand, don't blame me!"
These people come from extraordinary backgrounds and have been nurtured with real money since childhood. Even if their academic performance is not good, most of them have one or two talents that can hold their own, and they are also good at speaking, making the atmosphere at the scene very lively.
Ruyi is the complete opposite; all she knows is studying, and she has no other skills besides studying. If she were to go up there, she would only embarrass herself.
Cheng Jue's drumbeats pounded incessantly in her ears. She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her palms sweating, praying that it wouldn't be her turn.
Just as she feared, the fragrant yellow rose fell into her arms. She was about to throw it away when the drumbeats cruelly stopped.
She felt the world go silent. She forced herself to remain calm as she went on stage. After hesitating for a moment, she began, "Let me tell you a joke."
Even without protests from the audience, with the outstanding performances of the previous speakers, she herself felt that her statement at this moment was a joke.
As expected, the audience burst into laughter, and someone shouted, "No, no, what kind of talent is a joke? It's too perfunctory."
"Exactly! If all else fails, a stand-up comedy show in a local dialect will do!"
"Hey, how about we ask Chen Yan for help? Chen Yan, you can sing, right? It's time to test your boyfriend skills..."
"Let's have a scene of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress! Let's have one!"
...
Amidst the commotion and cheers, Chen Yan lazily took a step forward.
"Alright, let you guys benefit from her fame today."
He gestured to a male acquaintance to accompany him on the piano, then took the microphone off the stand, pulled Ruyi aside as she tried to move, smiled, leaned closer to her, and whispered, "Stay with me..."
His eyes were filled with a shimmering starry sky. As Ruyi was gazed upon like that, the noise from the audience faded away, and she forgot her embarrassment and awkwardness. In her eyes and heart, she could only see him.
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