135: Chapter 135 What were you guys doing just now?

"Are you running a fever?"

During the gap when An Ran got up to go to the restroom, Jiang Che stared straight at Luo Yao across from him and asked.

"I'm not..." Luo Yao looked innocent and annoyed.

"Then why did you say 'Oh' just now?"

"I, I didn't expect Sister An Ran to suddenly bring that up. When she asked, my mind went blank, and I just agreed."

Realizing what had happened, Luo Yao felt embarrassed and ashamed. Especially with Jiang Che staring at her the whole time, she wished she could dig a hole and hide in it.

"Then, then what should I do now?"

Seeing the look of desperation on Luo Yao's face, Jiang Che felt a massive headache coming on.

What to do? It was as if she were asking him because he had so much experience with this sort of thing... "Otherwise, why don't you wait for her to come back and tell her you answered too quickly, that you regret it, and want to take it back?"

Luo Yao looked at him with a serious expression. After listening, she pondered for three seconds before slowly saying, "Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Jiang Che had black lines all over his head. It was sarcasm, yet she actually took it seriously and thought about it.

Just as the two were talking, An Ran had already returned to the table. Seeing Luo Yao with a sour, worried look on her face, An Ran remained calm, as if nothing had happened.

After she sat down, Luo Yao couldn't help but look at her, wanting to speak but holding back, then wanting to speak again. After hesitating for a full ten seconds, An Ran finally spoke first: "Hmm?"

"Sister An Ran, you... you should eat more."

Hearing this, Jiang Che, sitting across from them, immediately slapped his forehead. This girl Luo Yao... was just incredible.

Afterward, Luo Yao kept her head down, eating honestly, and never brought up what had just happened to An Ran again.

During this time, Jiang Che, who couldn't quite grasp An Ran's thoughts, glanced at her. When An Ran met his gaze, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly in a faint arc, her eyes... holding a hint of craftiness.

The dinner for three ended in an extremely strange atmosphere.

Afterward, An Ran drove the two of them home. This time, they arrived at Luo Yao's house, which was the farthest away, first.

After the beautifully lined SU7 stopped at the entrance of the residential complex, An Ran looked at Luo Yao in the passenger seat. "Do you... want to have Jiang Che get out too, and let him come upstairs for a cup of coffee or something?"

Luo Yao was stunned, and then her face immediately flushed red. She waved her hands repeatedly. "No, no need!"

An Ran feigned ignorance. "Is there someone at home, so it's inconvenient?"

"No, it's just me..." When Luo Yao spoke, her expression was shy. It was clearly saying: It's precisely because there is no one else at home that it's inconvenient.

Soon, fearing that Sister An Ran might say something even more shocking, Luo Yao hurriedly said goodbye to her, glanced at Jiang Che, and rushed into the complex with a red face.

After she left, Jiang Che moved to the passenger seat and looked at her calmly.

"Strange?"

"Yeah, I can't figure it out," Jiang Che said slowly. "Was it on purpose?"

An Ran was silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know why, but ever since that night... whenever I see Yao Yao, I always feel a sense of guilt."

That night, of course, referred to the day she and Jiang Che first had relations.

"She treats me like an older sister and secretly tells me her little secrets, but I, I took the first step and got with the person she likes..."

"So after all that, you're using me as a tool?" Jiang Che was between laughter and tears. "It's like your friend set her eyes on a toy she likes, but you got to it first, and now, to coax her, you're handing the toy over?"

"It's not handing it over, just letting her be mentally prepared."

Jiang Che suddenly realized that An Ran's approach was because her sense of guilt was too heavy, so she was using this method to make herself feel better.

The key is...

"Aren't you afraid that Yao Yao will take it seriously and actually come closer to me?"

"Did you think her liking you before wasn't serious?"

An Ran's question made Jiang Che pause slightly.

"Yao Yao has never been in a relationship. Her first time liking someone is like a seed in her heart; meeting the sun, it has already sprouted. This kind of liking will only become more intense, so... it can't be hidden. I'm just helping her bring her crush out into the open."

After saying this, An Ran noticed that Jiang Che was staring straight at her.

A slightly startled An Ran looked into his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"You speak as if you have so much experience in love. Aren't you in your first relationship too?"

An Ran's pretty face flushed red. "Who's talking about me?"

Seeing An Ran acting shy, Jiang Che smiled lightly. However, soon, another question occurred to him.

"Then... when did you start liking me?"

Hearing this question, An Ran's cheeks began to heat up. After meeting his gaze for two seconds, An Ran suddenly looked away and then stepped on the gas pedal.

"It's getting late, time to go home."

"You still haven't answered me."

"Why is there so much traffic on the road tonight?"

"Pretending not to hear? That's a bit of a cheap trick, right?"

"The flower shop by the road is so pretty. Jiang Che, let's go to the flower shop together next time, shall we?"

Hearing An Ran's nonsensical answer, Jiang Che had black lines all over his head. When a woman plays dumb, there's really nothing you can do.

Because it was Friday, Jiang Che knew that Stinky Girl would most likely be coming home, so he didn't go to An Ran's place.

After arriving at the entrance of the residential complex and stopping, An Ran looked at Jiang Che, her eyes conveying that she wanted to say something but held back.

Jiang Che could tell that An Ran wanted to spend the night alone with him. If Stinky Girl hadn't shown her cards to him and he remained completely ignorant, Jiang Che would have taken An Ran home. The worst-case scenario would just be Jiang Ning finding out he was in a relationship.

For Jiang Che, this wasn't really anything to hide. It was just... now that he knew Jiang Ning had a crush on him, if he brought An Ran home, on one hand, he was afraid Stinky Girl would throw a tantrum and upset An Ran; on the other hand, he was also afraid that Stinky Girl would be unhappy herself.

"Free up some time tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere."

An Ran's beautiful eyes showed a hint of curiosity. "Where?"

"For a date, naturally, you have to find a good place. It's a secret for now; I'll tell you tomorrow."

Hearing the word 'date' from Jiang Che, An Ran's expression showed a trace of shyness. However, since he had asked, she was naturally willing.

An Ran nodded, then looked at him, her eyes full of affection.

Seeing this expression on her, Jiang Che immediately knew that An Ran wanted him to kiss her before she left.

As Jiang Che slowly leaned in, An Ran's face began to heat up. As he got closer and closer, she subconsciously closed her eyes.

The sight of An Ran's eyelashes trembling slightly and her chin lifted slightly made it hard for Jiang Che to control himself.

Just as he was about to kiss those delicate, alluring red lips, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck.

Like an instinctive reaction when a creature encounters danger, Jiang Che turned his head subconsciously, and then, his heart nearly stopped for a beat.

Five meters away on the side of the road, a pretty figure was standing there, staring at the car without a word.

Who else could it be but Stinky Girl?!

Jiang Che hurriedly sat back in his seat and gave a light cough.

An Ran, who was still anticipating it, frowned slightly. She opened her eyes and saw that Jiang Che was already sitting upright.

Just as she was about to speak, An Ran noticed that familiar figure outside.

"Ahem, um, why are you here?" Jiang Che rolled down the car window, sweating profusely.

Jiang Ning frowned slightly, looked at the two in the car, was silent for a few seconds, and then spoke softly: "What... were you two doing just now?"