Chapter 44
Jiang Chaochao didn’t expect to run into Lin Qixing as soon as he left the balcony.
In order to answer the call in peace, Jiang Chaochao had unknowingly walked quite far. There were no private rooms here, only a corridor, so it wasn’t noisy and there weren’t many lights.
Lin Qixing seemed to have had some alcohol. Jiang Chaochao recognized him from afar, but it wasn’t until he was right in front of him that Lin Qixing noticed Jiang Chaochao.
“What a coincidence,” Jiang Chaochao smiled at Lin Qixing.
Lin Qixing nodded and smiled, “It is.”
He then glanced at Xiang Ye.
Their eyes met for less than a second before Lin Qixing looked away, “Didn’t expect to see you here for dinner tonight too.”
Jiang Chaochao gave an “mm-hmm”: “His friend’s birthday.”
Lin Qixing nodded.
After exchanging a few words, they parted ways. After walking a few more steps, when they were far enough away, Jiang Chaochao started whispering to Xiang Ye about what his teacher had said, also telling Xiang Ye that he would start working at the studio after returning from Yunnan.
As they chatted, they returned to the private room.
It wasn’t as lively as before. With the freshly served seafood, everyone was busy eating.
His cousin had also finished her tasks and was sitting next to Shici. They were chatting and laughing while eating crabs.
“You’re back,” the cousin was the first to notice them, and she quickly waved, “Come sit, come sit.”
Shici also turned around, and her expression immediately became stiff.
Jiang Chaochao noticed it, and Xiang Ye also noticed it. Jiang Chaochao naturally pretended not to see it, but this uncle didn’t think so.
Jiang Chaochao heard Xiang Ye chuckle distinctly.
Jiang Chaochao turned to Xiang Ye and clicked his tongue at him.
Xiang Ye put his index finger to his lips and restrained himself a bit.
After sitting down, they saw the crabs on their plates, two for Xiang Ye, two for Jiang Chaochao.
“Shici got these for you,” the cousin explained enthusiastically. “Everyone was grabbing for them after they were served, so she quickly picked a few good ones for you.”
Shici blushed furiously and nudged her cousin, “It was nothing, stop talking about it.”
The cousin laughed, “I can’t even talk about it now?”
Just as the cousin stopped talking, Xiang Ye leaned closer and whispered, “Thanks to Teacher Bianbian.”
Jiang Chaochao wasn’t flustered at all, “Then you should thank me properly.”
Xiang Ye said “thank you” and reached out, taking the crab from Jiang Chaochao’s hand.
Jiang Chaochao’s hand was suddenly empty.
Xiang Ye: “I’ll do it.”
Everyone was busy eating crabs for a while. After eating and drinking a bit, the lively chatter, singing, and conversation returned.
The cousin also took her glass of wine and went to find her husband.
As soon as the cousin left, Shici leaned closer to Jiang Chaochao and said, “Laoshi, I didn’t tell anyone.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled, “Thank you.”
Shici continued, “Sorry, laoshi, I talked about you a lot in the group chat before.”
Jiang Chaochao then remembered that Shici had indeed stopped mentioning anything in the group chat after privately messaging him that night. In the past few days, other group members had asked her about her uncle and xuechang, but Shici hadn’t appeared.
At the time, Jiang Chaochao thought she was busy and hadn’t seen the messages, but now it seemed like she might have been pretending not to be there.
“Why aren’t you apologizing to me?” Xiang Ye, having heard Shici’s words, said, “You’ve talked about me quite a bit too.”
Shici gave an “ah” and smiled sheepishly, “Then sorry to you too.” Then she seemed to remember something and added, “I got crabs for you.”
Speaking of which, Jiang Chaochao was a bit curious: “How did you know I was Bianbian?”
Shici pointed to Jiang Chaochao’s hand, “This scar, I’ve also seen it on your Weibo.”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
You and your uncle…
“Very funny?” Jiang Chaochao turned to Xiang Ye.
Xiang Ye’s response was to place a plate of crab meat he had prepared in front of Jiang Chaochao.
Okay, he wouldn’t argue after being fed.
“Go ahead and laugh,” Jiang Chaochao said, scooping up a large spoonful of crab meat and putting it in his mouth.
So fragrant, this mouthful was so delicious.
“Laoshi.”
Shici leaned in again. She glanced at Xiang Ye and whispered, “That fourth question you asked me to ask, do you know the answer now?”
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Now it was Jiang Chaochao’s turn to feel embarrassed, how could Shici just blurt it out like that?
It was hard for Jiang Chaochao to imagine Shici, knowing that he was Bianbian, thinking back to Bianbian personally asking that question…
Shici, stop eating, you should also be laughing.
“Uh,” Jiang Chaochao awkwardly clenched his fist, but still asked, “What?”
Shici: “The one you asked me to ask, if my uncle fell for you at first…”
“Ah, ah,” Jiang Chaochao quickly interrupted, “I know what it is.”
Damn it, Xiang Ye chuckled again, quite loudly this time.
Shici seemed to only realize now that it was indeed a rather embarrassing question, and also chuckled, “Sorry.”
Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment, then finished the conversation, “Your uncle told me.”
Shici gave an “ah”: “He told you?”
Jiang Chaochao suddenly paused.
Wait, did Xiang Ye tell him?
Jiang Chaochao put the spoonful of crab meat in his mouth, carefully recalling their conversation at the time.
Xiang Ye seemed to have only said that he first saw Jiang Chaochao at the provincial competition.
And because the provincial competition wasn’t very memorable to Jiang Chaochao, his mind automatically dismissed the question as meaningless, automatically assuming that Xiang Ye’s love at first sight didn’t exist.
“You didn’t tell me.”
Jiang Chaochao, after figuring it out, turned to Xiang Ye.
Xiang Ye, who was cutting a crab leg, immediately laughed, his expression conveying a you-finally-remembered feeling.
Jiang Chaochao naturally asked Shici, “What did he say when you asked him?”
Shici, having something to do, became excited: “He told me he didn’t know. I didn’t believe him, how could he not know? If he didn’t pay attention, then it wasn’t love at first sight, but if there was even a little bit of affection, a single lingering glance, then it was love at first sight!”
Jiang Chaochao mentally exclaimed, Niece, you’re so good with words!
His niece continued, “He only told me that he saw you last year when he took me to the provincial competition.”
Jiang Chaochao didn’t think there was anything to analyze in this sentence. Shici suddenly lifted her chin, “Isn’t that love at first sight?”
Jiang Chaochao was stunned, “Huh? Why?”
Shici: “Laoshi, you can imagine how many people there were at the provincial competition, right? So many people, and you didn’t know him, and he didn’t know who you were. He only saw you once, and a year later, he could accurately recall seeing you at last year’s provincial competition. Think about the significance of that, laoshi.”
Jiang Chaochao mentally exclaimed again, So eloquent, so eloquent.
So logical, so logical.
“Uncle,” Shici suddenly thought of something, “You went out of your way to watch my performance last time, could it be because you knew laoshi was performing that day?”
Jiang Chaochao turned to look at Xiang Ye after hearing this.
Before Xiang Ye could say anything, Shici added more evidence, “You clearly told me you were busy, how could someone who’s busy arrive so early, listen in the audience, and even come backstage?”
Xiang Ye chuckled as he listened, he looked up at Jiang Chaochao: “Look at her.”
Before Jiang Chaochao could look, Shici suddenly exclaimed, “Holy shit.”
Holy shit.
Was she seeing things? Uncle, were you being coquettish?
What was going on!
So scary!
Just then, the cousin returned. She put down her glass and put her hand on Shici’s shoulder, “These people can really drink, I need a break.” She also asked Shici, “What are you talking about? So happy.”
Shici chuckled, “Nothing, nothing, the crabs are really good.”
Cousin: “Eat more if they’re good.”
The cousin’s husband’s birthday celebration lasted for a long time. He said it was because he turned 30, and it had been a long time since he properly celebrated his birthday.
After finishing the seafood, the group went to the beach to play games and set off fireworks, and finally had cake before dispersing.
On the way back, Jiang Chaochao naturally questioned Xiang Ye about this matter.
Almost as soon as he got into the car, Jiang Chaochao placed his hand on the box in the middle compartment and stared at Xiang Ye.
“Tell me,” Jiang Chaochao said.
Xiang Ye: “Tell you what?”
Jiang Chaochao: “You know.”
Xiang Ye: “Know what?”
Jiang Chaochao pointed at Xiang Ye: “Don’t you laugh.”
Xiang Ye said, “Damn,” he sighed softly, “Someone really understands me now.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Scared now?”
Xiang Ye: “Scared, no more secrets.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Tell me, explain everything.”
Xiang Ye: “Shici already said everything.”
Jiang Chaochao drew out a long “ah,” “Was everything she said correct?”
Xiang Ye, for once, seemed a bit shy, “Mostly correct, I guess.”
“‘I guess’?” Jiang Chaochao naturally wouldn’t let him off the hook, “Elaborate.”
Xiang Ye slowly turned the steering wheel, as if pondering something.
Jiang Chaochao waited obediently, he knew Xiang Ye would definitely tell him.
This person, being stared at for too long, chuckled helplessly, “That day…”
Jiang Chaochao: “Mm-hmm.”
“I forgot which day it was,” Xiang Ye said slowly, “I suddenly realized that you might also be at Shici’s performance, so I asked someone to find out.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled, “You actually went to ask?”
Xiang Ye nodded: “I did. I got the program booklet and learned that your name was Jiang Chaochao.”
Jiang Chaochao’s lips curved into a smile: “And then? Weren’t you busy?”
Xiang Ye was silent for a moment, “Enjoying hearing this?”
Jiang Chaochao burst out laughing, shaking his head, “Very much.”
“Okay, okay~” Xiang Ye naturally continued, “I did have a dinner appointment that night. I had to compensate them with two bottles of alcohol for standing them up,” he added, “Also stolen from my dad.”
Jiang Chaochao laughed: “Poor Dad.”
“And then,” Xiang Ye said, “I saw the legendary Jiang xuechang.”
Jiang Chaochao naturally recalled the scene of him meeting Xiang Ye backstage.
So it wasn’t just him who was pretending at the time, Xiang Ye must have noticed him as soon as he entered the lounge.
Jiang Chaochao chuckled happily.
Xiang Ye: “Satisfied?”
Jiang Chaochao shook his head, “Satisfied.”
Jiang Chaochao let Xiang Ye off the hook and sat back down in his seat, very satisfied.
As soon as he sat down, another incident flashed through Jiang Chaochao’s mind.
So, back to the topic.
Less than ten seconds later, Jiang Chaochao placed his hand on the box in the middle compartment again.
“What’s wrong again, Jiang xuechang?” Xiang Ye was very perceptive.
Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment, then asked tentatively, “Xu Hengzhi said that at the party that night, he wanted to add you on WeChat, but you disabled adding from group chats.”
Jiang Chaochao was very uncertain when he said this. When Xu Hengzhi told him this before, he thought it was impossible and didn’t take it seriously. Now, although Shici had given him some courage, it wasn’t much.
If it wasn’t what Xu Hengzhi said, it would be too embarrassing, too narcissistic.
But after he said this, he subtly noticed that Xiang Ye smiled again.
Jiang Chaochao’s courage increased by 20%, and he continued, “But soon you enabled it again, and that was when Xu Hengzhi added you.”
Xiang Ye said: “I know.”
Jiang Chaochao was still unsure, so he continued testing the waters: “And then?”
Xiang Ye let out a slow breath, “And then, after he added me, I disabled adding from group chats again.”
Jiang Chaochao chuckled happily.
This exchange seemed to be about Xu Hengzhi.
But the unspoken meaning, both of them understood tacitly, and tacitly didn’t mention.
“Happy now?”
After a while, Xiang Ye asked.
Jiang Chaochao laughed, “Very.”
Before Jiang Chaochao could finish laughing, Xiang Ye suddenly asked, “Why did Xu Hengzhi tell you all this?”
Jiang Chaochao’s laughter abruptly stopped: “He…”
Xiang Ye: “Hmm?”
Damn it, someone was fighting back.
Jiang Chaochao: “Just chatting, he and I often chat.”
Xiang Ye slowly drew out an “ah”: “Xu Hengzhi’s work must require him to add many people on WeChat, I can understand casual chatting, but to mention such details like me enabling and disabling adding from group chats, what was he trying to tell you?”
Tell him what?
The sound of Xu Hengzhi shouting “You like him!” in his ear, Jiang Chaochao could still remember it clearly.
“Ha,” Jiang Chaochao said, “We’re just close enough to talk about anything, what’s wrong with that?”
Xiang Ye nodded: “Okay”
Jiang Chaochao: “So?”
Xiang Ye, however, asked: “Is little duck’s beak also very hard?”
Jiang Chaochao: “What do you mean, what do you mean?”
Xiang Ye chuckled: “A ruffled little duck.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Who?”
Xiang Ye: “Me.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Whatever.”
Jiang Chaochao sat back down properly.
He was also thinking, thinking, thinking about how to retaliate.
But unexpectedly, Xiang Ye’s next sentence was: “I’m very happy being with you.”
All the chaotic thoughts in Jiang Chaochao’s head suddenly stopped, then disappeared completely.
Jiang Chaochao instantly felt guilty and disarmed.
You, you, you, look at you.
Fine then.
“If you’re happy, then spend more time with me,” Jiang Chaochao whispered.
Love confessions were difficult, but Xiang Ye didn’t show any particular reaction. He replied to Jiang Chaochao, “I will.”
Jiang Chaochao readily accepted this version of himself.
If it was hard to say, then he’d say it more, just like Xiang Ye.
After all, he was also very happy saying it.
Great, he learned another useful skill.
