213: Rainbow Team (Bonus Chapter)

Tian Lijuan didn't notice Jiang Ye's frustration and enthusiastically introduced both parties:

"Come on, Sisters, this is my uncle! He's a really good guy! Today, you all keep my uncle company..."

"Tian... Feiyue!"

Jiang Ye interrupted her with a face full of black lines, his temples throbbing: "Alright, alright, no need for introductions."

He gestured with his chin toward the blue-haired girl sitting next to him, wearing a sequined camisole: "Could you move over there, please?"

After the other reluctantly moved aside a bit, Jiang Ye pulled Tian Lijuan, who was still chattering away, to sit next to him and lowered his voice:

"You, sit here. Let them have fun on their own."

In that moment, compared to the flashy "Rainbow Squad" over there, Tian Lijuan—though a bit clueless but at least with a face and figure that could hold their own—became much more pleasing in Jiang Ye's eyes.

Better keep someone easy on the eyes nearby to cleanse the view.

Tian Lijuan scratched her head, seeming to finally notice Jiang Ye's low mood, and asked softly: "Uncle, what's wrong? Not satisfied?"

Jiang Ye gave her a sidelong glance: "It's fine, let your Sisters have fun, don't worry about me."

Tian Lijuan let out an "oh," glanced at the four little Sisters eagerly waiting to start, and tentatively asked:

"Then... can they drink?"

Jiang Ye looked at those four pairs of expectant eyes, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness, momentarily having the illusion of taking kids out to see the world.

"Drink, drink, just what's on the table, and leave when it's finished."

He paused, then added: "Oh right, not you, you drink soda. I'll take you back later."

Tian Lijuan let out an "ah?" with a hint of disappointment, but still waved to her Sisters:

"Hear that? Uncle's orders, drink up! Have fun on your own!"

The four girls immediately cheered, happily opening bottles, pouring drinks, playing drinking games and shaking dice, having a lively time.

A purple-haired girl tried to come over and pull Jiang Ye, but Tian Lijuan directly waved her away:

"Go on, go on, my uncle doesn't like that, go have fun on your own!"

Jiang Ye watched the four energetic girls making a ruckus in the booth, then turned to look at Tian Lijuan beside him, holding iced tea, occasionally stealing glances at him, wanting to strike up a conversation but not knowing what to say, and finally felt a bit more balanced.

This girl might be a bit scatterbrained and have questionable emotional intelligence, but she's not bad-hearted and knows to protect him.

He casually picked up an empty glass from the table, and Tian Lijuan, seeing this, quickly picked up the Jägermeister and poured him a glass.

"Uncle, if you're really not satisfied, then I... should I send them back first?"

Jiang Ye looked at the four girls having a blast, who seemed about the same age as Tian Lijuan and still had a youthful look on their faces, and waved his hand.

Calling them out late at night and ending the party just as the drinks were opened would be too inconsiderate.

"No need, let them have fun, since they're already here."

He paused, his gaze falling on Tian Lijuan's somewhat confused face, and couldn't help adding:

"Xiao Tian, are you planning to keep... drifting along like this?"

Tian Lijuan, hearing this, pouted and muttered: "Uncle, I've said it many times, this isn't 'drifting,' it's our lifestyle! It's an attitude! Freedom!"

Jiang Ye couldn't understand it and found it hard to force himself to respect this somewhat decadent "culture" in his view, shook his head, stopped talking, and turned his gaze to the dance floor.

Tian Lijuan, looking at his indifferent profile, sat quietly for a while, then tried to make conversation: "Uncle, why don't you ever watch my livestreams?"

Jiang Ye glanced at her sideways: "What, want me to send you gifts?"

"Yeah! Want to make money!" Tian Lijuan nodded, not hiding it at all.

Jiang Ye scoffed: "Don't you think it's contradictory? On one hand, you shout about wanting freedom, not wanting to be tied down; on the other, you do livestreams, paid companionship, cosplay, trying to make money. So do you want to live as you please, or do you want to work hard to make a good life?"

He pointed at the four girls in the booth: "Is your so-called 'freedom' just like them, partying at night and sleeping during the day?"

Tian Lijuan was stunned, opening her mouth as if she'd never thought deeply about this question.

She was used to this lifestyle, thinking as long as she was happy, and as for the future... it always seemed vague.

Jiang Ye, seeing her reaction, shook his head and smiled:

"And if you want me to send you money, you should at least be able to offer me something? Think about it yourself, besides raising my blood pressure, what else can you give me when we're together? And don't say emotional value, you don't even have that yourself."

Tian Lijuan fell into thought, her brow slightly furrowed, as if seriously considering this never-before-thought-of question.

But she clearly didn't figure it out, and after a short while, she shook her head irritably, pushing the question aside:

"Uncle, want to go dance? Sitting here is so boring?"

Jiang Ye had no interest in dancing with a bunch of energetic girls and waved to refuse: "No, you go."

Tian Lijuan let out an "oh," then got up to call her four Sisters, and the five of them squeezed into the dance floor, laughing and moving to the deafening music.

Jiang Ye watched them dancing wildly on the dance floor, his gaze aimlessly sweeping over the crowded crowd.

Lights flickered, shadows moved.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a corner not far away, where a familiar tall figure flashed by.

Jiang Ye rubbed his eyes, and when he looked carefully again, the figure was already swallowed by the crowd.

Huh?

Was it a hallucination from last night's shock?

Can't be, last night I saw her naked, so even if it were a hallucination, it should be without clothes... Jiang Ye scratched his head, took out his phone, and sent a WeChat to Su Ning: [Has Wanxing gone home?]

Yaoyao: [No, she said the apartment she rented before was finally subleased, and she needs to go over tonight to handle the utilities and property handover. Probably still a while.]

Jiang Ye frowned.

That previous apartment? Isn't that near this PP Club? That figure just now... was it really Lin Wanxing?

What is she doing at a bar alone?

He got up and walked into the dance floor, using his height advantage to look around.

After searching without seeing anyone, just as he was about to make a direct call, his gaze swept over a small table in a corner not far away, and that familiar figure came into view again.