Chapter 26: I Also Want Cake (26) p1
“Why don’t you two go eat by yourselves?” Yang Xiao looked at Liang Xi’s flushed face. The relationship between these two was developing at lightning speed.
“We waited so long for you, of course we have to bring you along.” Jiang Zhiyan folded the tissue and threw it in the trash can.
Yang Xiao glared at Jiang Zhiyan. This person’s reasoning was subtly barbed. She glanced at Liang Xi’s neck. The lipstick was gone, but the slightly reddened skin looked even more ambiguous.
Jiang Zhiyan wrapped a scarf around Liang Xi’s neck, covering the redness.
It was New Year’s Eve, so the streets were crowded. To avoid getting separated from Liang Xi, Jiang Zhiyan held her hand tightly.
“Aren’t your parents home today?” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Yang Xiao.
“They’re out having a romantic evening.” Yang Xiao chuckled gleefully. “Oh, you almost got to spend New Year’s Eve alone with Liang Xi, but what can you do, it’s just so unfortunate.”
Liang Xi’s face, which had finally cooled down, heated up again because of Yang Xiao’s words. She pulled her scarf higher, covering most of her face.
“I was just concerned about you, I didn’t mean to imply you were unwanted.” Jiang Zhiyan pursed her lips and held Liang Xi’s hand. “Forget it, you always misunderstand me, I better not talk to you.”
Yang Xiao: ?
Jiang Zhiyan was skilled at twisting people’s words.
“Let’s find a place to eat first, everywhere is probably going to have a long queue today.” Liang Xi interrupted their bickering and rubbed her temples, wondering when these two would ever get along.
Everywhere had long queues. At a time like this, they weren’t picky about what they ate, as long as there was food. They got queue numbers at several restaurants, each with dozens of tables ahead of them. They then decided to get some milk tea to tide them over, but there were also dozens of people in line there. The popular internet-famous shops had hundreds of people waiting. Arcades, claw machine shops, and dessert shops were all packed.
Jiang Zhiyan wondered how many people were on this commercial street. If Liang Xi wasn’t here, she would have left, or wouldn’t have bothered coming in the first place.
“Starving to death.” Yang Xiao leaned against the railing, clutching her stomach, her expression lifeless.
“I have one rice ball left from breakfast, do you want it? It’s frozen solid though.” Liang Xi took out a plastic bag.
“Forget it.” Yang Xiao waved her hand, looking at the two leaning against each other with a blank expression. “Aren’t you guys hungry?”
“Not really, maybe because we drank a can of milk.”
Yang Xiao buried her face in the railing again, poking Jiang Zhiyan: “Miss Rich, got any money-based superpowers?”
Jiang Zhiyan looked down at her bank balance on her phone.
“Don’t be silly.” Liang Xi frowned. “Ignore her. There are a few restaurants where the wait should be about 45 minutes to an hour. Yang Xiao, just hold on a little longer.”
“An hour?” Yang Xiao closed her eyes and slumped against the railing, looking completely lifeless.
“Then let’s not eat here.”
“But I want to participate in the countdown… if we eat somewhere else and then rush back, are you guys willing?” Yang Xiao suddenly opened her eyes.
Jiang Zhiyan looked at her with a blank expression. Yang Xiao met her gaze for three seconds, then shrunk back, deflated again.
Whether it was the female lead’s halo or heaven’s intervention to prevent Yang Xiao from starving to death, their numbers were called for three restaurants at once.
Yang Xiao chose the buffet. In her words, in their current state, they could definitely eat their money’s worth at a buffet. And it was true. Yang Xiao ate thirteen plates of meat by herself. When they left, Jiang Zhiyan and Liang Xi had to carry her out.
Yang Xiao squatted at the entrance of the pharmacy, looking at Jiang Zhiyan, who was inside buying digestive medicine: “I think she wanted to throw me off the sixth floor when she was carrying me just now.”
“Really?”
Yang Xiao nodded.
Liang Xi breathed a sigh of relief: “That scared me, I thought you realized I was thinking the same thing.”
Yang Xiao: ???
Yang Xiao widened her eyes, looking at Liang Xi in disbelief, her heart aching: “Xi Xi, where’s my angelic Xi Xi? As expected, one takes on the traits of one’s companions. Jiang Zhiyan…”
Seeing Jiang Zhiyan standing in front of her, Yang Xiao closed her mouth.
“I should just return the medicine.”
“I was wrong, let me take it, please.”
Jiang Zhiyan sneered.
In the two hours leading up to the countdown, Yang Xiao went to the bathroom five times. Finally, standing in the square, she clutched her stomach: “I’m going to rush to the nearest bathroom as soon as the countdown is over, don’t worry about me.”
“We weren’t planning to.” Jiang Zhiyan held Liang Xi’s hand. “You can just stand by the entrance of the mall.”
“In your dreams, even if I shit myself, I won’t let you two spend the countdown alone.” Yang Xiao said smugly, her voice loud.
The surrounding passersby looked at her in shock and subconsciously covered their noses. It was clear they wanted to run, but there were too many people, they couldn’t escape.
Liang Xi and Jiang Zhiyan also wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. They could only pretend not to know Yang Xiao and look away.
Yang Xiao, feeling the gazes from all directions, finally realized what she had just said and tried to explain: “No, I was just joking, I didn’t really…” Damn, she couldn’t continue.
Laughter erupted around them, and Yang Xiao covered her face.
Her reputation, ruined. Until the countdown, Yang Xiao didn’t raise her head. Fortunately, most of the people here were strangers. Liang Xi definitely wouldn’t tell anyone, and although Jiang Zhiyan wasn’t a good person, she didn’t seem like someone so petty.
Jiang Zhiyan looked at Liang Xi beside her, intertwined her fingers with Liang Xi’s, and squeezed her hand slightly.
“Hmm?” Liang Xi turned her head. “What’s wrong?”
“It feels like a dream.” Jiang Zhiyan lowered her voice. “Just confirming if you’re real.”
Liang Xi looked at Jiang Zhiyan. Although she didn’t quite understand, she squeezed Jiang Zhiyan’s hand in return: “It’s not a dream, I’m real.”
As the new year approached, bells rang in the square, and the crowd began counting down with the chimes. Yang Xiao was revived.
“It’s so nice to have you by my side.” Jiang Zhiyan closed her eyes and, as the countdown ended, kissed Liang Xi’s forehead.
Screams of celebration filled the air, balloons flying in the wind above the square.
Liang Xi’s eyes widened, looking at Jiang Zhiyan. As Jiang Zhiyan pulled away, she shyly threw herself into Jiang Zhiyan’s arms, hugging her waist, and whispering in her ear, her voice trembling, either from the cold or shyness: “I’m here, I’ve always been here.”
“Ahhh, so exciting! Why don’t we go…” Yang Xiao turned around, closed her mouth, crossed her arms with a blank expression, looked at the two embracing each other, and tapped her foot. She glanced at the time. “Two minutes have passed, even the couples next to us have stopped! Are you two done yet?”
Laughter, devoid of malice, erupted around them again.
Liang Xi, slightly embarrassed, released Jiang Zhiyan. Jiang Zhiyan glared at Yang Xiao.
“Alright, let’s all go home.”
“Huh?” Yang Xiao frowned. “I’m home alone tonight, are you guys really going to abandon me?”
“Yes, aren’t we all alone?” Jiang Zhiyan retorted.
Yang Xiao looked at Liang Xi pitifully.
Liang Xi looked at the message from Jiang Zhiyan on her phone, put the phone in her pocket, and said with a guilty conscience: “Sorry, I’m planning to review the mistakes I made on the monthly exam a few days ago tonight. Do you want to come? I can help you review too.”
Yang Xiao: ???
“No need.” Yang Xiao waved her hand. “You’re too hardworking. It’s New Year’s Day! Forget it, I’ll just go back and lie down, my stomach is acting up again.”
If Yang Xiao had looked closely, she would have noticed that Liang Xi’s face was red again.
Although the subway extended its operating hours, they still had to wait for several trains before they could squeeze on. Yang Xiao and Jiang Zhiyan were going in opposite directions, so Yang Xiao boarded first.
“Are we being a bit mean?” Liang Xi still felt a little guilty.
“No, she already made plans to play games online while we were waiting in line. She can’t wait to go back.” Jiang Zhiyan said.
Remembering Yang Xiao’s delighted expression when she left, Liang Xi felt less guilty. She breathed a sigh of relief and secretly glanced at the message from Jiang Zhiyan on her phone.
[Jiang Zhiyan: Wearing a skirt?]
Liang Xi brushed her face with the back of her hand as if casually, and pursed her lips. The heat in her cheeks made her feel like she had a fever.
They went to Jiang Zhiyan’s place. Although it was very late, and the residential complex was quiet, perhaps because it was New Year’s Day, many houses still had their lights on.
Jiang Zhiyan held Liang Xi’s hand, swinging it rhythmically. Only in this way could she feel it.
“Actually, I thought you wouldn’t come.” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Liang Xi.
“Why?”
“Because you didn’t say anything about coming over after you bought the dress, so I thought you weren’t interested.” Jiang Zhiyan gently pinched Liang Xi’s finger and lowered her head. “I’m so thin-skinned…”
“What?” Liang Xi froze for two seconds. “Thin-skinned?”
Jiang Zhiyan: ?
“Oh, sorry, I just didn’t hear you clearly, I didn’t mean anything else.” Liang Xi looked at Jiang Zhiyan and said apologetically. After making eye contact, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry, I, hmm, should we do that again?”
“You’re learning bad habits from Yang Xiao, no do-overs.” Jiang Zhiyan pinched Liang Xi’s cheek. “Let’s go, we’re here, come in quickly, it’s too cold outside.”
Liang Xi tried to control her laughter, but thinking of Jiang Zhiyan’s stunned expression just now, she couldn’t help it.
The system burst out laughing in Jiang Zhiyan’s mind for a full minute.
“Hahaha, well done, Liang Xi! Finally, she’s finally not letting you have your way, I’ve finally waited for this day!”
“It’s so rare to see you at a disadvantage!” The system sighed dramatically. If it had a body, it would probably be throwing punches to express its excitement.
“Why would you think I’m at a disadvantage?” Jiang Zhiyan retorted. “This is clearly a sign of intimacy.”
“Ha.” The system disagreed. “You’ve got a love brain.”
Just as the system finished speaking, it heard Liang Xi’s voice: “You’re so cute.”
System: …
“Oh, is there something wrong with her eyes? No, you don’t have a love brain, she does!” The system took a deep breath.
What did the word “cute” have to do with Jiang Zhiyan?
The system muted itself, but not before reminding Jiang Zhiyan: “She’s underage.”
“We’re not going to do anything, what are you thinking?”
“That’s for the best! You beast.” The system gritted its teeth and then disappeared.
Jiang Zhiyan twitched her lips helplessly, pulled Liang Xi to the table, and poured her a glass of water.
“Staying over tonight? It’s so late.” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Liang Xi. Although it was already implied, she still asked.
“Yes.” Liang Xi nodded, carefully turning the glass in her hand. “Isn’t the housekeeper here?”
“She’s off for New Year’s Day. I’ll get you some clothes to change into.”
“Okay.” Liang Xi replied. Under the warm light in the dining room, she looked warm and cozy, like a fire in winter.
“Go take a shower first, I’ll go too and tidy up.”
“Okay…” Liang Xi nodded again, watching as Jiang Zhiyan entered her room and closed the door.
She touched her chest, then her ear, and finally slumped onto the table, staring at the glass of water she had only taken a sip from.
…
After showering, Jiang Zhiyan took out the dress that had been ironed and hung in the closet. The black dress wasn’t overly embellished, just a few well-placed pleats that accentuated her figure, making her proportions look amazing.
She casually put her hair up, revealing her slender neck and snow-white back. Sitting in front of the vanity, she opened the makeup she had bought but hadn’t used yet and applied some light touches.
Looking at herself in the full-length mirror, she felt like something was missing.
Jiang Zhiyan glanced at the jewelry cabinet, a smile playing on her lips, and took something out.
“Host, reminding you again, she’s still a child.”
“She’s seventeen.” Jiang Zhiyan said.
When she left the room, Liang Xi had already finished showering and was sitting obediently on the sofa, quietly waiting for her, not even playing with her phone. Perhaps because she had just come out of the bathroom, her eyes were slightly hazy, and her cheeks were flushed.
Hearing the sound, Liang Xi looked up. The words she had prepared to say were all forgotten the moment she saw Jiang Zhiyan. She just stared at her. After a while, as Jiang Zhiyan approached, she finally found her voice: “Why… so dressed up?”
“Dressed up?” Jiang Zhiyan walked over and sat next to Liang Xi.
Liang Xi didn’t know where to look. She remembered this dress wasn’t like this. With just a glance, the gold chain and snow-white skin were deeply imprinted in her mind.
“Why aren’t you looking at me? Didn’t you say you wanted to see me in a dress?” Jiang Zhiyan leaned closer to Liang Xi.
“You…” Liang Xi’s face flushed red. She mustered her courage and looked at Jiang Zhiyan, her gaze landing on her face, but she was too embarrassed to look any lower.
Jiang Zhiyan cupped Liang Xi’s face: “I thought about the accessories for a long time, really not going to look? I think you’ll like it.”
Liang Xi glanced down, then quickly looked up again, biting her lip, her voice slightly muffled, strange thoughts popping into her head. She didn’t quite understand: “It’s beautiful… very beautiful.”
Jiang Zhiyan kissed the corner of Liang Xi’s lips: “Your heart is beating so fast, hmm, so I’ve achieved my goal.”
“You really did that on purpose.”
“There’s no other way, if I want to seduce you, I have to put in some effort.” Jiang Zhiyan’s tone was light.
Leave a Reply