Chapter 17
Then the two fell silent. Jiang Chaochao also became well-behaved, quietly holding his phone and leaning back.
He was also reminiscing about how Xiang Ye noticed his little scheme today.
Also reminiscing about Xiang Ye’s hat-tapping gesture.
Xiang Ye had used his index and middle fingers to tap Jiang Chaochao’s hat, but his palm was facing down when he tapped it, like a patting motion.
Jiang Chaochao took a light breath, feeling like he was doomed.
What was wrong with him? Just such a small gesture, and he thought Xiang Ye was so cool.
And so intimate.
Sigh…
Why did humans have this function of liking other people?
What was he doing, being so happy?
The place they were going to was in the mountains, a relatively cooler place compared to the city.
Xiang Ye also told him that the so-called relatives and friends, besides Shici, also included a younger cousin of his. Shici had a good relationship with this cousin, and the cousin’s husband would also be there.
Jiang Chaochao had somewhat figured out Xiang Ye’s relationships. Probably because they were all close in age, so relatives also became friends.
Finally, Xiang Ye also mentioned Fu Jing.
Perhaps Xiang Ye didn’t know that Jiang Chaochao already knew this friend through Weibo. When mentioning Xiao Jing, Xiang Ye briefly introduced him as a photographer.
“So will you mind being in photos later?” Xiang Ye asked.
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “It’s fine.”
Xiang Ye said: “He loves taking pictures.”
Jiang Chaochao continued nodding, and thought to himself, He loves taking pictures of you even more.
So, half an hour later, Jiang Chaochao met everyone Xiang Ye had mentioned, on a mountainside that resembled a resort.
He didn’t know how Xiang Ye had introduced him beforehand, or perhaps he didn’t introduce him at all. When they arrived, everyone, including Shici, seemed surprised, and their eyes clearly flickered with unspoken meaning.
“You’re here.” The first to speak was a man.
As Xiang Ye nodded in response, he leaned down and whispered to Jiang Chaochao: “My cousin’s husband.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Oh.”
Everyone seemed to have just arrived. Some were tying their hair, some were putting down their bags, and the restaurant staff were setting up the barbecue grills and tables.
Looking around, it was a very nice place, with good scenery and cool air.
“Have a sausage.”
Walking over a few steps, a man, biting into one sausage and holding two others, approached them.
Xiang Ye whispered in Jiang Chaochao’s ear: “Xiao Jing.”
After saying that, Xiang Ye took the sausages from Xiao Jing’s hand, one for each of them.
“I knew it,” Xiao Jing said while eating, “I wanted to ride with you, but you wouldn’t let me. Turns out you were picking someone up.”
His tone was a bit sarcastic. Xiang Ye retorted, “So what?”
“Nothing, what can I do? It’s fine, it’s fine,” Xiao Jing immediately changed to a polite tone and turned to Jiang Chaochao. “Hello, I’m Fu Jing.”
He extended his right hand.
Xiang Ye: “Your hands are oily.”
Xiao Jing withdrew his hand and muttered softly, “They’re not that oily.”
Jiang Chaochao retracted his almost-extended hand and replied, “Hello, I’m Jiang Chaochao.”
Xiao Jing was curious: “Which Zhao?”
Jiang Chaochao: “The Chao from ‘chao yang’ (morning sun).”
Xiao Jing nodded: “Nice, good name.”
It was clearly a polite remark, but Xiang Ye had to ask: “What’s good about this name?”
Xiao Jing choked: “Good because… morning sun is good, ‘The plan for a day lies in the morning,’ facing the sun every morning, hey!” Xiao Jing patted Xiang Ye on the shoulder. “Look, your last name is Xiang, the two of you are ‘xiang yang’ (facing the sun).”
Xiang Ye: “Oily.”
Xiao Jing gave an “oh” and moved his hand away.
Xiang Ye: “I’m talking about you.”
Xiao Jing: “…”
Jiang Chaochao couldn’t help but lower his head and laugh.
Xiao Jing finally gave a “heh”: “Fine, fine, fine,” he nodded at Xiang Ye. “You, fine, fine, fine.”
Xiang Ye also laughed and asked, “What’s so good?”
Xiao Jing gritted his teeth: “Do you think I’ll answer you?”
Xiao Jing took another bite of the sausage: “Xiang Ye, your friend is handsome.”
Xiang Ye: “Thank you.”
Xiao Jing laughed: “You’re thanking me on his behalf.”
Xiao Jing’s purpose wasn’t just to compliment his looks, of course, so he quickly said, “Handsome, should I take some pictures of you later?”
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “Sure.”
Xiao Jing then said: “I’ll take a few pictures of you two together too.”
Xiang Ye: “Make sure they look good.”
Xiao Jing: “Guaranteed, how can pictures of you two not look good?”
After the staff set up the tables, everyone took their seats. Shici and Xiang Ye’s cousin sat together, smiling at Jiang Chaochao while eating sausages, as a greeting.
And the cousin next to her said: “Shici said you’re her xuechang.”
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “Yes.”
The cousin was curious: “How did you and my cousin meet?”
Jiang Chaochao turned to look at Xiang Ye.
But Xiang Ye said: “Why are you so curious?”
Cousin: “So what! Can’t I even ask?”
Xiang Ye: “Don’t pry into the handsome guy’s business.”
Both the cousin and Shici laughed.
Cousin: “Fine, fine, fine, okay, okay, okay.”
It wasn’t like he couldn’t say it.
So Jiang Chaochao didn’t know why Xiang Ye wouldn’t say it.
Then, fine, don’t pry into the handsome guy’s business.
Then, the cousin said again, “Cousin, your friend is so fair-skinned, his knuckles are pink.”
Such a sudden remark, especially in such a quiet setting.
The cousin also realized something, weakly grabbing Shici’s arm and whispering, “Oh no, was I allowed to say that?”
Then she continued: “Shici, your phone case is pretty, where did you buy it?”
Then again: “I remember we ordered mushrooms, right?”
Then again and again: “I’m so hungry, Shici, I only had bread for lunch, when can we eat?”
Then again and again and again: “Shici, say something, hubby, say something.”
Shici lowered her head, pursed her lips, and hid her face behind her phone.
Just then, the cousin’s husband put down his phone: “Say what? What’s wrong?”
Cousin: “…Nothing, wasn’t talking to you.”
The small interlude quickly passed. And Jiang Chaochao felt that the color of his knuckles was largely due to the sunlight shining on his hands through the leaves at the moment, and he had also accidentally scraped the back of his hand against the car door when getting out of the car, making it a bit red.
Not important.
On the large grill, the staff had started the fire and were now adding the barbecue seasoning.
Jiang Chaochao only realized at this moment that they weren’t barbecuing themselves, they were just here to eat.
“Want to play?”
He didn’t know if he had been staring at the grill for too long, but when he came back to his senses, he heard Xiang Ye ask him this.
“Can I?” Jiang Chaochao thought for a moment. “But I’m not very good at barbecuing.”
Xiang Ye, however, didn’t respond to this: “If you want to play, we can go over there.”
Jiang Chaochao was eager to try: “Sure.”
There was a small grill next to the large one, how interesting, they could eat if they wanted to eat, play if they wanted to play.
Xiang Ye and Jiang Chaochao sat down next to the small grill.
“Start the fire yourself, or let them do it?” Xiang Ye asked.
Jiang Chaochao was full of confidence: “I’ll do it!”
Do…
Do what?
Five minutes passed, and Jiang Chaochao’s charcoal was still completely black.
Jiang Chaochao was frustrated, he extended his hand and threw the lighter into the grill.
With a clang, the world fell silent.
Two seconds later, laughter came from beside him.
“What else can I do,” Jiang Chaochao laughed himself.
Xiang Ye nodded: “This fire is too disobedient.”
But this person, while saying the fire was disobedient, quickly lit the fire in a few swift moves.
Then lit the charcoal.
Then the charcoal started burning.
Jiang Chaochao: “…”
Jiang Chaochao held it in for a while, then tilted his head: “Something’s not right.”
Xiang Ye pursed his lips, trying not to laugh.
Jiang Chaochao continued, “It has something against me.”
Xiang Ye added more charcoal: “Exactly, too outrageous, burn it to death.”
Jiang Chaochao couldn’t help but laugh: “Gege, I suspect you’re making fun of me.”
Yes, his mouth had run faster than his brain again.
Jiang Chaochao could clearly feel his neck getting hot.
He immediately lowered his head.
Xiang Ye was still fiddling with the charcoal at this moment, and the sound of the fire crackling came from the grill.
Amidst the crackling, Jiang Chaochao heard Xiang Ye say: “How could I?”
He also said: “How would I dare?”
