Chapter 5 Evil and Childish Thoughts
It was evening.
Chen Yaoan walked to Yinye Bar, which was only two streets away from her shop, not far away.
The owner of Yinye Bar is Shi Xinyu, who is her best friend since childhood.
A while ago, Shi Xinyu ordered a new dress from her.
She has already drawn up the design and shown it to her, but there are some parts she is not satisfied with. She wants to go over today to discuss the details of the clothes and make modifications later.
Like Gao Hou, the three of them grew up together. After graduating from university, they all stayed in their hometown for various reasons and had a very good relationship.
Shi Xinyu often orders clothes from her. She says that freshly made clothes fit well, are comfortable to wear, and won't make you look like someone else wearing the same clothes, which is a win-win situation. Chen Yaoan knows that she is just patronizing her business in a roundabout way.
When Chen Yaoan arrived at Yinye Bar, the bar had just opened for business.
There were only a few scattered customers inside, making it somewhat empty. Soft music was playing in the store at that moment.
The overhead lights flickered, and as Chen Yaoan entered, she glanced unconsciously into the lobby and saw Xu Jialan hidden in the shadows of the booth.
At this moment, a faint smile played on his face, but his gaze did not fall on any particular place. It seemed to be floating in the air, as if he was listening to the people around him, or perhaps he was immersed in his own world.
The girl sitting next to him was the one he had taken to her shop to buy clothes last time.
Shi Xinyu waved to her from behind the bar: "Here."
Chen Yaoan withdrew her gaze and walked over.
Before Chen Yao'an could even sit down, Shi Xinyu asked her, "Would you like to drink?"
She shook her head and said she wouldn't drink; she had never been interested in alcohol.
Shi Xinyu pursed her lips, it was always the same, and then placed a drink in front of her.
Chen Yao'an took her tablet out of her bag and handed it to her, "Take a look and see if there's anything you're not satisfied with?"
Shi Xinyu took it, looked at it for a while, and then pointed to the neckline. "I'm not satisfied with this part. How about you make the neckline a little wider? I want it to be half-revealed, alluring yet unattainable."
Chen Yao'an didn't hold back and rolled her eyes at her.
Shi Xinyu continued, "And the hem of the skirt, I want it to be the kind that, if a gust of wind blows, it might lift up but not quite..."
Chen Yaoan couldn't help but roll her eyes again, "Your request is really difficult."
Her request really puts a designer to the test.
"I trust you!"
Shi Xinyu knew about Chen Yao'an's abilities.
As the two were talking, a commotion suddenly broke out in the booth behind them, which seemed rather abrupt in the otherwise quiet bar.
The two of them turned to look at each other at the same time.
Xu Jialan was drinking with everyone peacefully when Xi Xi, who had been sitting quietly next to him, suddenly took his arm.
He turned to look at her.
Then, without making a sound, he withdrew his arm.
Xi Xi felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't give up.
She then looked at the fruit plate on the table. "Could you get me some fruit?"
He glanced at the fruit plate placed in front of her and said, "Help yourself."
Xi Xi became willful and said, "Can't you help me carry it?"
Xu Jialan frowned, somewhat impatiently, and unconsciously raised her voice, "I told you to take it yourself."
Xi Xi had come on her own initiative today. After spending time together twice, she found that Xu Jialan was very tolerant of her, which made her act recklessly.
Therefore, she didn't notice his tone at all.
"No, you have to help me."
She went even further, grabbing Xu Jialan's sleeve.
The next second, Xu Jialan put down her wine glass.
Xi Xi thought she had succeeded.
But then Xu Jialan turned to look at her, her face full of impatience.
Xi Xi only realized what was happening after a while.
He spoke without leaving any room for negotiation, "Xi Xi, that's enough."
He thought Xi Xi was naive and innocent, but after spending time with her several times, he found that she could be quite dramatic at times, like tonight.
Xu Jialan is a person who is attentive and considerate when he is willing to indulge you, but when he is not, even the slightest coercion from others will make him resentful.
Clearly, Xi Xi was unaware of this.
Xi Xi's bright face quickly fell, and she bit her lip lightly, "I just... I just like you."
Her sudden confession was like a thunderclap out of nowhere, waking everyone around her up.
Xu Jialan frowned.
Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Xu Jialan stood up and said, "Let's talk outside."
After saying that, he left first without waiting for her, and Xi Xi hurriedly followed.
Only after the two figures disappeared did Chen Yaoan and Shi Xinyu turn their gazes away.
Chen Yao'an wanted to continue the previous topic: "Do you have any other requests?"
"It's gone."
Shi Xinyu's mind was no longer on the clothes, and she couldn't wait to speak: "That man is obviously from out of town. He hasn't been here long, and he's already had several different women with him."
"They've definitely changed several times."
"Hmm? You know him?"
"I've met him, but we're not close. He brought his girlfriend to my store to buy clothes."
Shi Xinyu remarked, "Looks like she's a master of romance."
Chen Yaoan had no interest in Xu Jialan's matter. "Then I'll be leaving now."
"Leaving so soon?"
Chen Yao'an packed her things and left.
Outside the Ginno Bar is a slightly cramped corridor.
She hadn't expected that Xu Jialan and Xi Xi would be standing there.
Xu Jialan leaned against the wall, looking languid, and didn't look at Xi Xi.
Xi Xi was holding his sleeve, her eyes filled with tears, "I really like you."
"I don't like pretentious girls." His voice was somewhat cold, devoid of any emotion.
Xi Xi was stunned for a moment, then as if she had grasped a lifeline, "I'll change it, I'll change everything."
Xu Jialan didn't say anything, and shook off her hand, clearly not wanting to give her a chance.
Xi Xi was stunned, not understanding why things had suddenly changed. Everything was fine before, and Xu Jialan hadn't treated her like this.
Xi Xi cried even harder.
Xu Jialan frowned deeply, clearly having run out of patience.
"Can you please stop crying?"
Xi Xi choked on her sob, wanting to cry but not daring to, only able to sob and choke, her hand stubbornly gripping his sleeve even tighter.
Xu Jialan's brows furrowed even deeper, a hint of sarcasm playing on her lips as she looked at her hand. "I've had so many girlfriends I can't even count them all, but there's one thing they're all far better than you."
"What?" Xi Xi asked, dumbfounded.
Chen Yao'an had long since lost patience with the conversation. Before Xu Jialan could answer, she stomped her foot and then pretended to look up at the light above her head.
The noise she made successfully startled the two of them.
The two of them turned to look at her at the same time.
She calmly walked up to the two of them and said, "Excuse me."
Xu Jialan leaned against the wall, tilting her head to look at her, as steady as a mountain.
Xi Xi made way for her.
As they reached the exit, Chen Yaoan heard Xu Jialan say, "I'll have someone take you back."
This person's affection comes and goes very quickly.
After leaving the Silver Field Bar and walking a short distance, Chen Yaoan realized she had forgotten her bag and had to turn back.
Back at the entrance of Yinye Bar, they ran into Ma Qi pulling Xi Xi out, seemingly to take her home.
Chen Yao'an didn't linger and continued walking inside, only to bump into Xu Jialan.
Seeing that it was her, Xu Jialan took the initiative to step forward and asked, "Why are you back again?"
"I forgot something."
"Oh, I was probably too busy just now."
Chen Yaoan glanced at him a few times, wondering if he was implying something.
Xu Jialan quickly changed the subject, saying, "I haven't properly thanked you for what happened last time. It's rare that we've run into each other, so let me treat you to dinner."
"No need," Chen Yao'an refused.
Xu Jialan, hands in her pockets, adopted a casual posture and spoke with a teasing tone: "Miss Chen, are you being so disrespectful?"
"There's no need." She wasn't used to eating with people she wasn't very familiar with, especially him.
"I think it's very necessary."
"..."
Just as the two were at an impasse, Shi Xinyu came out from Yinye and asked, "What are you two doing standing here?"
Without waiting for their reply, he tossed Chen Yao'an's bag to him, saying, "You left your bag with me."
Xu Jialan replied to Shi Xinyu's earlier words, "Miss Chen helped me before, and I wanted to treat her to a meal, but she refused."
"So you two are quite close?"
Who's familiar with him!
Shi Xinyu didn't delve into these matters. She was warm, outgoing, and loved making friends, so she immediately said, "Don't refuse, just consider it making a friend."
Xu Jialan chimed in, “Yes, why not leave it to a friend, or do it together?” he asked Shi Xinyu.
"OK."
Just as Chen Yaoan was about to refuse, Shi Xinyu pulled her along, "Come on, let's go together."
"Aren't you going to watch the shop?" Chen Yao'an tried to find an excuse.
"The shop is being looked after, so I don't need to worry about it."
Helpless, Chen Yaoan eventually went to a Western restaurant with them.
Chen Yaoan spoke very little; during the meal, it was mostly Shi Xinyu and Xu Jialan who did the talking.
Xu Jialan spoke fluently and confidently, showing no signs of having just broken up with his girlfriend.
She felt a chill in her heart; he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his meal, while she felt sorry for the young girl from earlier.
Midway through the meal, Xu Jialan went to the restroom, and Shi Xinyu followed suit, leaving Chen Yaoan alone at the table.
Xu Jialan sat opposite Chen Yaoan, her gaze fixed on his half-finished coffee.
She was indignant.
A wicked thought suddenly popped into my head.
She grabbed a few sugar packets from the basket, tore them open, and dumped them all into the coffee cup opposite her.
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