Saturday morning.
“Wear this.”
“Match it with these shoes.”
“Put on some light makeup.”
“Give me a smile.”
Under the careful guidance of two “seasoned veterans,” Jiang Chi quickly transformed into a fresh new look—a sunny, cheerful young man.
He glanced at his phone, the screen reflecting a face with a slight smile at the corner of his lips, bright and handsome, giving off the vibe of a reliable big brother.
At that moment, Chen Mengrou noticed Jiang Chi secretly playing with his phone. Frowning, she snatched it away.
Jiang Chi was about to say something when a wallet stuffed with hundred-yuan bills was shoved into his hands.
Chen Mengrou patted his shoulder and earnestly said, “Give me your phone for now. I’ll give it back when you come back. When you’re on a date, pay more attention to the other person. Be proactive, be strong-willed, be a little domineering. Learn from the strategy we showed you—girls like that kind of vibe.”
“Although electronic payments are all the rage now, a man still needs to show his financial strength appropriately. Material conditions are also a foundation of love. There’s 5,000 yuan in here. The credit card is my supplementary card; the password is your birthday.”
“Xiao Rourou is right. Dates must be taken seriously. Remember back then, hand in hand, going to the riverside to watch the stars and moon, finally kissing on the grass—it was so romantic~~”
“Now look at you young kids—sitting in a milk tea shop, playing on your phones all afternoon and calling that a date? That’s sacrilege!” Huang Qingchuan chimed in.
Finally, dressed in a white shirt, gray jeans, and white canvas shoes, Jiang Chi set off, encouraged by the two “veterans.”
Only after the boy’s back disappeared from view did Chen Mengrou come back to her senses.
She gently hugged her close best friend, resting her chin on her shoulder.
“Xiao Huanghuang, my Jiang Chi finally knows how to ‘court a girl,’ so I should be happy, right? But why do I feel a little lost, like there’s an empty space inside?”
“Come here, Xiao Rourou.” Huang Qingchuan hugged her softly and whispered, “We parents only guide, not hold them up. Eventually, they have to fly out of our nest like fledgling eagles to truly grow.”
“Mm.” Chen Mengrou lowered her head and quietly responded, her eyes still tinged with sadness.
“Oh, alright, don’t be sad.” Huang Qingchuan pinched her cheek. “If things really work out, I’ll have Yueyue be Jiang Chi’s best man, just like we promised to be each other’s bridesmaids back then.”
Talking about the past, the gloom in Chen Mengrou’s heart dissipated a lot.
She looked at her best friend and puffed her cheeks, “Hmph! Why not have my Jiang Chi be Yueyue’s best man? His progress is way faster than your Yueyue’s!!”
“Mine is definitely faster!”
“No way, mine’s faster!”
They bickered for a while, then exchanged glances and laughed quietly together.
*****
Qingchan’s truest self~
Every time he thought of this, Jiang Chi’s already quick steps quickened even more.
Curiosity, anticipation, and a pounding heart—the wonderful feeling of love surged like a tidal wave throughout the blue-eyed boy’s entire heart, as if countless sweet chocolates were melting inside him, smooth and delightful.
When he turned into that familiar alley, his gaze suddenly locked onto a figure.
There stood Ji Qingchan quietly.
She wore fishnet stockings; the black mesh shimmered in the sunlight, exuding a mysterious allure.
Her exquisite thigh-high boots perfectly hugged her long, straight legs, giving her youthful figure a certain poise and height.
A cropped jacket clung tightly to her body, highlighting her slender waist and milky-white skin like beautiful jade.
Her long leather shorts showcased her wild and unrestrained spirit vividly.
Her dreadlocks fluttered slightly, and on her pure and cute face was a hint of mischievousness—an intoxicating blend of innocence and desire, perfectly embodying the “pure desire” style that held his eyes captive.
Jiang Chi quickened his pace and reached Ji Qingchan’s side.
“Jiang Xue…” Ji Qingchan tilted her head slightly and was about to greet him, but suddenly the boy hugged her tightly.
“I suddenly don’t want to go on this date anymore.” He softly inhaled the faint scent of gardenia on her, his voice full of affection and reluctance. “I don’t want anyone else to see the real you like this.”
Ji Qingchan struggled and lifted her head from his embrace, cheeks flushed. “Jiang Xue… you…”
“Call me by my name. I want to know the truest you.” Jiang Chi looked straight into her eyes, his serious tone making Ji Yuenian’s heart tremble.
+++++++++++!!!
Why did it feel like he had turned the tables?!
Isn’t Jiang Chi supposed to be an innocent, inexperienced boy with zero romantic experience? How did he learn to interrupt like that?
She felt like her initiative was slipping away; it was only a matter of time before she would be on the receiving end of a counterattack.
Ji Yuenian muttered quietly to herself.
“Jiang Chi,” Ji Qingchan—or rather, Ji Yuenian—spoke up, her heart fluttering.
If “Jiang Xue” was a special way the created virtual character Ji Qingchan addressed Jiang Chi,
then now, calling him “Jiang Chi” made Ji Yuenian feel as if her own bare, youthful body was completely exposed before him, as though he had seen through the innocent girl’s shell to the lecherous soul beneath.
“Continue.” Jiang Chi raised an eyebrow, adopting a slightly domineering tone learned from books. “I want to hear you say it a hundred times!”
Ji Yuenian immediately rolled her eyes without hesitation, teasingly saying, “Can you let go first? If you keep hugging me like this, there’s no need to go on a date. Also, your ‘thing’ is pressing against me, which isn’t what our morally upright campus heartthrob should be doing.”
Blushing, the domineering Jiang immediately lost his composure, stepping back and letting go.
Ji Yuenian rubbed her rosy cheeks. For some reason, her heartbeat accelerated by a few beats, as if…
she was a little shy???
Not shy as “Ji Qingchan,” but shy as Ji Yuenian.
“Let’s go. We’re going on a date.” Jiang Chi struggled to regain his dominant tone and held out his hand, clearly signaling for Ji Yuenian to take it.
But she refused.
Instead, she suddenly jumped up and, in a dominant gesture, forcibly threw her arm over his shoulder, linking arms like close buddies.
The girl giggled playfully, “You want to see the real me, right? Now you’re getting a good look—that’s the real me!”
Because of their height difference, with Ji Yuenian at 163 cm, Jiang Chi had to bend slightly to match her gesture.
But it was precisely this half-bent posture, combined with Ji Yuenian’s generous embrace, that made the scene quite amusing.
The handsome boy’s face was almost touching her two white mounds, and the scent of gardenia filled his nostrils, so close he was about to bury his face in them.
“Little Jiang, after the date, how about coming back to my place? My bed is big and comfy~~”
“You wanted me to call you ‘Jiang Chi,’ right? Then I’ll call you not just a hundred times, but a thousand times~~”
“Do you like the big, juicy buns? Smells good, soft and squishy—do you want a bite~~”
After teasing him a bit, Ji Yuenian glanced at Jiang Chi, who was flushed and looking a little dazed, as if he’d just come out of a hot bath.
Confirming the level of awkwardness, the little newbie was still very much a newbie—with no self-control at all.
The initiative was still in her hands.
*****
“How’s Jiang Chi’s date going?” On the sofa, Chen Mengrou held a freshly brewed cup of oolong tea and took a delicate sip.
“Should be going smoothly. According to the gold card I slipped into Jiang Chi’s pocket, they should already be picking out clothes at the specialty store.” She muttered to herself.
“Xiao Rourou, have you seen that Darlik gold card in my bag?” Suddenly, Huang Qingchuan walked out of the bedroom with a facial mask on, holding a gold card and handing it to Chen Mengrou as she spoke.
“Also, why is your Fifty Moon Specialty Store gold card in my bag? I told you to keep your stuff in order.”
As she spoke, Huang Qingchuan noticed her best friend’s expression stiffen.
Then, looking at the gold card in her hand, she forced a smile worse than crying.
She looked at her, tears unshed: “Xiao Huanghuang, we’re doomed. I gave the wrong card—I gave your card to Jiang Chi.”
“Then call him quickly. There’s still time to fix this.”
“Jiang Chi’s phone is with me.”
The two fell into silence for a moment.
They exchanged a glance, and both clearly understood what the other was thinking.
Taking a girl on a first date to buy lingerie—especially the sexy kind—had they just ruined this date?