Chapter 20
Jiang Chaochao naturally couldn’t let Xiang Ye bring the double-skin milk upstairs, so he went downstairs.
While going downstairs, Jiang Chaochao’s mind raced. On one hand, it was the ambiguous conversation between Xiang Ye and his cousin, on the other hand, it was Xiang Ye’s few Weibo followers, and then there were Shici’s whispered words to her cousin about Teacher Bianbian…
If Xiang Ye knew…
He would go crazy.
Should he ask later?
He would ask!
Jiang Chaochao arrived at the entrance of the complex full of confidence, and then walked towards Xiang Ye’s car, equally full of confidence.
But soon, his confidence deflated, because there was someone in the passenger seat.
Jiang Chaochao, who was prepared to meet Xiang Ye’s eyes and ask him directly, wilted instantly because of this person’s presence.
Jiang Chaochao remembered this person. It was Mr. Chen, the one who was chatting with Xu Hengzhi at the party that day.
Jiang Chaochao dejectedly changed his route and went towards the driver’s side.
Xiang Ye also saw him. As Jiang Chaochao approached, Xiang Ye lowered the car window.
“Hello!” Before Xiang Ye could speak, Mr. Chen put down his phone and leaned over. “Good evening.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled: “Good evening.”
Mr. Chen: “Do you remember me?”
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “Mr. Chen.”
Mr. Chen thought for a moment: “Mr. Chen is too formal, call me Chen Ke.”
Jiang Chaochao chuckled nervously.
Mr. Chen seemed to sense his awkwardness and added, “If you can’t bring yourself to call me Chen Ke, you can call me Chen Ke gege.”
After he said this, Jiang Chaochao froze, and at the same time, Xiang Ye slowly turned to look at Chen Ke.
“Just kidding, just kidding,” Chen Ke suddenly laughed heartily. “Mr. Chen is fine too, we can use names after we get closer.”
Jiang Chaochao continued to chuckle nervously.
For some reason, Chen Ke became even more amused. He said to Xiang Ye, “Didn’t you buy double-skin milk for someone?”
The double-skin milk was in the compartment next to the driver’s seat; Jiang Chaochao had seen it earlier.
But Xiang Ye’s next action was to reach into the back seat and bring out two small bags.
It was at this moment that Jiang Chaochao remembered what had been connecting him and Xiang Ye during their recent encounters.
How could he forget this important link?
Xiang Ye first gave the ugly Poupou figurine to Jiang Chaochao, then handed him another small bag.
The moment Jiang Chaochao took the small bag, Xiang Ye spoke.
“Do you know what this is?” Xiang Ye asked deliberately.
Jiang Chaochao: “My brooch.”
Xiang Ye: “You didn’t ask for it back, I thought you were giving it to me.”
Jiang Chaochao: “You can have it if you want.”
Xiang Ye surprisingly said “Okay” and took the brooch.
Jiang Chaochao didn’t react in time: “Huh?”
Xiang Ye: “Tricking me?”
Jiang Chaochao was amused by this: “No, it’s for you.”
Xiang Ye: “Thank you.”
Jiang Chaochao still found it funny, so he chuckled again.
Then he said, “Didn’t you want to @#%&*!”
Xiang Ye: “Hmm? What did you say?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Nothing,” his voice gradually lowered, “Forget it if you didn’t hear.”
Xiang Ye gave an “ah”: “Didn’t you want to wear a little duck brooch like you next time? Just wear this one.”
Jiang Chaochao glared at Xiang Ye: “Pretending you didn’t hear.”
After saying that, he saw Chen Ke in the passenger seat, leaning back in his seat. Although his gaze wasn’t on them, his mouth was smiling.
Jiang Chaochao felt a flush of heat.
A thought struck Jiang Chaochao, and he suddenly understood: “You could have put the figurine and the brooch in the same bag, but you separated them, you clearly…”
Xiang Ye divinely didn’t let Jiang Chaochao finish: “I did.”
Jiang Chaochao was momentarily speechless, deflated: “Okay.”
But not completely deflated. Jiang Chaochao couldn’t resist adding, “I suspect you’ve been planning this for a while.”
Xiang Ye didn’t deny it: “What if I have?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Just say it directly, I would have given it to you.”
Xiang Ye laughed: “I will in the future.”
Only then did Xiang Ye pick up the double-skin milk from the middle compartment.
Taking it, Jiang Chaochao immediately noticed the toppings on the double-skin milk.
He pursed his lips and looked at Xiang Ye.
“What’s wrong?” Xiang Ye asked.
Jiang Chaochao shook his head: “Nothing, thank you.”
Xiang Ye: “Thank who?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Thank you.”
Xiang Ye: “Who am I?”
Jiang Chaochao secretly glanced at Chen Ke, who had picked up his phone, and quickly said, “Thank you, gege.”
“Cough, cough, cough.”
Chen Ke, who seemed to be minding his own business, suddenly touched his neck.
Jiang Chaochao felt even hotter.
“Well, this double-skin milk is really good,” Chen Ke probably felt like he should say something. “Thanks for the recommendation.”
Xiang Ye asked: “Did he recommend it to you?”
Chen Ke: “The way you talk, I was just…”
Xiang Ye didn’t let him finish, and said to Jiang Chaochao, as if he hadn’t heard, “Go back.”
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “Okay, tell me when you get home.”
Xiang Ye: “Mm-hmm.”
It wasn’t convenient to park for long at the entrance of the complex, so after Xiang Ye finished speaking, he rolled up the window and drove away.
Unlike the previous times, this time Jiang Chaochao watched them leave until the car merged into the traffic and he could no longer distinguish it before turning back into the complex.
At the same time, four words suddenly popped into his head: Straight guy flirting, struck by lightning.
Yes, he learned it from that app he just uninstalled.
He had been craving it since Xiang Ye mentioned buying him double-skin milk, and on his way back, Jiang Chaochao couldn’t wait, and started eating immediately.
So delicious.
It had blackcurrants and macadamia nuts.
Jiang Chaochao’s two favorite toppings.
So as he ate, Jiang Chaochao opened Weibo again and found his Weibo post from a year ago by searching keywords.
It was also summer vacation last year, and Jiang Chaochao, after having his first bite of double-skin milk back home, was so happy he posted about it on Weibo.
This Weibo post not only mentioned that he had loved this double-skin milk since he was a child, but also mentioned that his must-have toppings were blackcurrants and macadamia nuts.
It really wasn’t Jiang Chaochao overthinking, the truth was right in front of him.
He felt like it was just one step away.
This step might be called, Xiang Ye telling him personally.
So Jiang Chaochao, back at home…
Jiang Chaochao, after finishing the double-skin milk, sat and waited.
Waiting for the person named Xiang Ye on his phone to message him that he was home.
Waited for five minutes, no movement.
Jiang Chaochao was still relatively calm.
Waited for ten minutes, still no movement.
Jiang Chaochao became a little clearer-headed.
Waited for fifteen minutes.
Jiang Chaochao thought, Forget it.
Waited for thirty minutes.
Jiang Chaochao’s heart sank, and he started to suspect that Xiang Ye had already arrived home but forgot to message him.
Indeed, who were they to each other?
Jiang Chaochao, who were you?
Jiang Chaochao didn’t care anymore, whatever, he’d go brush his teeth.
So after a few more minutes, his WeChat finally notified him of a new message.
He was already lying in bed, ready to sleep. The main light was off, the bedside lamp on.
He saw XY’s message: “I’m home.”
He replied: “Oh.”
Unexpectedly, as soon as the message was sent, his phone rang.
Yes, it was Xiang Ye.
“What’s wrong?” He asked as soon as the call connected.
Jiang Chaochao: “What’s wrong with what?”
Xiang Ye: “I just dropped Chen Ke off. He’s having problems with his girlfriend, so we talked for a bit.”
The words “What does that have to do with me?” almost escaped Jiang Chaochao’s lips, but in the end, he acted like a mature adult: “I see.”
Xiang Ye: “Were you waiting for me?”
Jiang Chaochao paused: “Huh? No.”
Xiang Ye chuckled and asked, “What are you doing?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Lying in bed, about to sleep.”
Xiang Ye: “Quite early.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I always go to bed early.”
Xiang Ye: “Very healthy.”
Jiang Chaochao: “That’s right.”
Xiang Ye: “I made you miss your nap today.”
Jiang Chaochao: “You’re aware of that.”
Xiang Ye: “Then what to do?”
Jiang Chaochao: “You figure it out.”
Xiang Ye chuckled softly, then said, “The double-skin milk was pretty good.”
Jiang Chaochao, like a cat being stroked, softened instantly: “Of course, Jiang Chaochao’s choice.”
Xiang Ye: “Good choice, I’ve never eaten that before.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Really? Why?”
Xiang Ye: “I thought it might be too sweet.”
“It’s not sweet,” Jiang Chaochao immediately defended the double-skin milk. “Well, it’s not not sweet, it’s just the right amount of sweetness. It’s the legendary highly-rated not-sweet dessert.”
Xiang Ye laughed: “Okay, I agree.”
Jiang Chaochao hummed: “You, you should thank me for the recommendation.”
Xiang Ye: “Thank you for the recommendation.”
Jiang Chaochao was smug: “You’re welcome,” but he still maintained some composure, “And thank you for the double-skin milk.”
Xiang Ye: “You’re welcome too.”
The conversation had reached the double-skin milk.
The urge to ask that Jiang Chaochao felt earlier resurfaced.
“Um…” Jiang Chaochao started.
But somehow, he suddenly became nervous, even more nervous than he had imagined earlier.
“What is it?” Xiang Ye asked from the other end.
Jiang Chaochao: “It’s just…”
Xiang Ye didn’t speak, just waited quietly.
Jiang Chaochao gritted his teeth and dropped the keyword: “Weibo.”
After saying that, he wrung his hands together.
So nervous!
Why was he suddenly so nervous?
Should he forget it, Xiang Ye didn’t seem to understand.
Just as Jiang Chaochao was about to give up and change the subject, Xiang Ye’s next sentence was, “I know it was you.”
As if afraid Jiang Chaochao would play dumb, Xiang Ye added, “Another Bian.”
Jiang Chaochao fell silent.
He thought he was prepared.
But clearly, he wasn’t prepared enough.
In the quiet bedroom, he even imagined he could hear his own ears ringing.
“Ah…” Jiang Chaochao’s voice was a bit hoarse. He had started the topic, but he didn’t know what to say. “Then… I… you…”
Jiang Chaochao was still stammering, and a soft chuckle came from the other end of the phone.
Jiang Chaochao didn’t dare to speak.
“I saw it too,” Xiang Ye continued. “Do you want me to be your husband?”
