"Mmm. Come with me, will you?" Chi Yan looked at her.
"Sure, when?" She had nothing else planned anyway.
"Tomorrow night."
"Alright."
The next day at 4 PM, Chu Yang started getting ready. She put on a pleated skirt, white shirt, knee-high socks, and small leather shoes. She tied her hair in a bun, wore pearl earrings, and applied a peach blossom makeup look. She was ready to go out.
Chi Yan stood at the doorway, watching her approach. He took her hand and said, "You look so beautiful, I almost don't want anyone else to see you."
"That won't do. I'd have wasted all this effort for nothing. Let's go." What was the point of dressing up if not to go out?
"Mm-hmm."
When Chi Yan entered the private room with Chu Yang, all eyes turned to them. For a moment, the room fell silent.
Yuan Zhi was the first to break the silence, "Chi Yan, over here."
The class monitor, Zhan Hong, also snapped out of it, "Brother Yan, you're finally here! Come, sit down. We were wondering when you'd arrive. This must be your girlfriend. As expected, a handsome man with a beautiful woman – you two look perfect together."
Chi Yan nodded at him, "This is my girlfriend, Chu Yang." Then he led Chu Yang to sit next to Yuan Zhi.
Chu Yang nodded a greeting to Zhan Hong, "Hello."
"Hello, hello."
Zhan Hong poured drinks for the two, "Come on, it's been so long. You must have a drink."
Chi Yan didn't stand on ceremony. He downed his drink in one go, while Chu Yang took a small sip.
"Great! That's our Brother Yan for you!"
Then others came over to toast Chi Yan.
"Brother Yan, remember me? I'm Mao Jiang. Can I have a toast with you?"
Chi Yan nodded and had another drink. After that, several more people came to toast him, and he had quite a few drinks.
Chu Yang held his hand, "Don't drink too much. Have some food first."
"Okay." Chi Yan obediently nodded. When the next person came to toast, Chi Yan refused, "I'm henpecked. My better half won't let me drink anymore." This statement immediately deterred some girls who were planning to come over for a toast.
Everyone started teasing and cheering. Chu Yang just smiled with a slight blush, not saying anything.
"Remember how Brother Yan used to receive countless love letters? He never paid attention to any girl. Now he's whipped!"
"Hahaha!"
"Maybe he wasn't interested back then, but now he's finally awakened..."
"To think this is Brother Yan's first love."
"Hahaha!"
Under the table, Chi Yan held Chu Yang's hand and smiled without refuting. After all, it was all true.
Chi Yan, having drunk too much, wanted to use the restroom. Chu Yang stood up with him, "I'll go too."
Chi Yan was momentarily confused, and Chu Yang clarified, "I'm going to the ladies' room."
After winding through corridors, they finally reached the restrooms. Chu Yang headed towards the ladies' room while Chi Yan entered the men's room.
At the sink area, Chu Yang opened her purse to touch up her lipstick. A girl came to wash her hands nearby, glancing at Chu Yang a couple of times, seemingly hesitant to speak.
Chu Yang looked at the girl through the mirror, "Hello? Do you need any help?" She thought the girl might need a sanitary pad or something.
The girl was taken aback by the question, then shook her head, "No. I just... I was Chi Yan's high school classmate. I was in the private room earlier too."
Chu Yang nodded in understanding, "Oh, I see."
The girl continued, "I once gave Chi Yan a love letter, but he didn't accept it. I never thought he'd like someone like you."
Back then, many girls had given Chi Yan love letters, all hoping to be that special one. However, until graduation, Chi Yan never showed interest in anyone. It was unexpected that he suddenly had a girlfriend in college.
Moreover, he occasionally posted lovey-dovey content on social media. At first, everyone thought his account must have been hacked and the photos were edited. They couldn't believe it was real. Everyone's unattainable idol was taken, and by someone they didn't even know.
Chu Yang wasn't sure if the girl was being sarcastic or simply reminiscing. She gave her a look.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now," Chu Yang said with a nod, then left the restroom.
Outside, Chi Yan was leaning against a pillar waiting for her. Seeing her approach, he put his arm around her shoulders as they walked back to the private room. The girl came out of the restroom just in time to see this scene – the once-aloof Chi Yan was saying something to his girlfriend, smiling happily.
It seemed that even the coldest person became just like anyone else when in love. Back in the private room, everyone was discussing going to a karaoke place next.
"Brother Yan's back. We're planning to go to the next venue – karaoke. We can sing, play games, and drink. Are you in?"
Chi Yan looked at Chu Yang, "Do you want to go?"
Chu Yang didn't want to be a spoilsport, "Sure, let's go."
"Alright, those who want to go, let's go together. For those who don't, especially if there are any girls who want to go home, I'll arrange for someone to send you back."
A few girls wanted to go home, so Zhan Hong arranged for someone to take them back safely. After all, as the organizer, he had to ensure everyone's safety, especially the girls.
The karaoke place wasn't far from the restaurant, about 500 meters away. Everyone decided to walk there to sober up a bit.
They quickly arrived at the karaoke place. The room was already booked. As soon as they entered, two lively guys started selecting songs and singing. Those who didn't want to sing could play games, drink, or eat fruit.
"Let's play a game. How about 'Count the Dots'? Want to play?"
"Sure!"
"Brother Yan, are you in?"
Chi Yan looked at Chu Yang, who nodded.
Seeing this, Zhan Hong said, "From now on, I won't ask Brother Yan anymore. I'll have to ask his girlfriend. I can see our Brother Yan always listens to her."
"Well, he is henpecked after all."
"Hahaha!"
"This is boring. How about the loser has to do 'Truth or Dare'?"
"Sounds good!"
The first round began. Chu Yang looked at her cards – 7 dots. Not bad, she probably wouldn't be last. She glanced at Chi Yan, who showed her his cards – 8 dots.
"One, two, three, flip!"
Seven people were playing, and the lowest score was 4 dots. It was a guy.
Everyone immediately started cheering, "Dare! Dare!"
Zhan Hong had the highest score with 9 dots, so he decided, "Alright then, have a girl sit on your back while you do ten push-ups."
"Wow!"
"Which girl is willing?"
The guy who lost put his hands together in prayer, "Please, a girl who's on the lighter side. I beg you!"
"Hahaha!"
The second and third rounds saw others losing. In the fourth round, Chu Yang looked at her cards – 3 dots... Dangerous!
She looked at Chi Yan. Chi Yan had a 7, and Chu Yang raised an eyebrow. Then Chi Yan directly swapped her card with his own.
Zhan Hong saw this and exclaimed, "Hey, hey, hey! Are you two cheating?"
Chi Yan acted as if it was perfectly natural, saying, "There's no rule against swapping cards, right?"
Indeed, there wasn't. "Alright then, but from the next round on, no more of that."
Three points was indeed very dangerous, being the lowest. The highest was Zhan Hong's, and he gave a mischievous grin. Chu Yang instantly felt that things weren't looking good.
"Since you two swapped cards, why don't you kiss continuously for ten minutes?"
"Wow! Wow! Wow!" Everyone's screams nearly broke through the ceiling.
Chu Yang: "..." Was she sure she wouldn't suffocate from a continuous ten-minute kiss? What kind of hellish suggestion was this?
Chi Yan made a pause gesture. "Kissing is fine, but you're talking about ten continuous minutes. I'm afraid we'd end up in the hospital. Tell me, who can kiss continuously for ten minutes?"
