A Fluttering Heart and a Strategic Invitation

“But I… I care.”

Her heart, in that instant, suddenly lost its rhythm.

A strange emotion, a bittersweet blend, spread through her chest. More than that, it was an impulse that made Zhou Yi’s nose tingle and her eyes burn.

This sudden, uncontrollable feeling instantly flustered her.

“I…”

Her voice came out hoarse, and she could only clumsily stammer, “Tha-thank you.”

“Bye-bye.” Before Jiang Chen could speak again, she fumbled to hang up the call.

The moment the screen went black, she stared blankly at her phone, utterly bewildered. ‘What was Jiang Chen playing at, doing all this for no reason?’

‘She… she wasn’t even from this world. And she was just here to complete a mission; once it was done, she had to leave…’

“Yiyi, was that Jiang Chen just now?”

Before she could recover from her flustered state, Xiao Ju mischievously leaned closer. Her other two roommates also cast inquisitive gazes her way.

Stared at by three pairs of eyes sparkling with gossip, Zhou Yi nodded dazedly. “Ah… mm…”

“Oh my god! That beaming expression on your face… tsk tsk, something’s definitely going on.”

“Don’t talk nonsense… what could possibly be going on?”

“Still pretending!” Xiao Ju threw an arm around her shoulder. “Confess honestly, did Jiang Chen confess to you?”

“How could that be!”

‘Confess? She and Jiang Chen clearly had a brotherhood so strong they’d take a knife for each other! These women’s imaginations could practically produce an eighty-episode idol drama!’

‘But… what was with this heart of hers, practically doing a crazy disco in her chest?’

“Really, we just… chatted a bit, about the project, that’s all.”

“Oh, please. Chatting about a project makes you blush?” Xiao Ju didn’t believe a word of it.

“I’m not blushing!”

“Tsk tsk, now even your neck is red!” Another roommate chuckled, poking her collarbone with a finger.

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Zhou Yi instinctively raised a hand to touch her cheek. The scorching heat under her fingertips startled her, yet she forced herself to remain calm. “It’s… it’s just hot!”

This transparent attempt to cover up only made her roommates laugh harder.

“Ahhhh, this is the taste of love!!”

“Jiang Chen and Zhou Yi, lock them up, I’ve swallowed the key!!”

“Shut up!!!”

‘She was truly exasperated.’

‘If these women, high on gossip, knew her true identity and mission, they’d probably stab her on the spot.’

‘Her and Jiang Chen? Over her dead body, alright?’

‘So why exactly had she been blushing and her heart pounding just now?’

‘It must be because she’d overworked her brain these past few days, burning out on the project, and mental exhaustion was causing this absurd delusion!’

‘Yes, that had to be it!’

Yet, the disobedient flutter in her heart stubbornly refused to subside.

She reached out and touched her still-burning cheek, then, in self-defeat, buried herself entirely under the covers.

‘Ugh, what was all this even about…?’

****

After a quick shower, she climbed into bed, telling herself that no matter how big the problem, sleep came first.

The project had already been submitted; all that remained was to wait for the review results to be announced in a few days.

And then there was that grand gift she’d sent Su Xiao.

Yet, despite her body feeling utterly drained, her mind was unusually clear. She tossed and turned, unable to find sleep.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced her still-pounding chest. Jiang Chen’s words, “But I… I care,” and his low voice, lingered persistently in her ears.

Recalling her panicked, cowardly act of hanging up the phone earlier… it really was a bit dishonorable.

‘One shouldn’t, at least not, be so ungrateful.’

‘Regardless of how close they were as “brothers” in reality, at least in this current world, they were comrades fighting side-by-side.’

‘Moreover, Jiang Chen had gone to such lengths to gather evidence for her, to help her find justice. She really ought to show some appreciation for that favor…’

The moment this thought arose, her fingers involuntarily found her phone. The glowing screen illuminated her slightly flushed face.

She bit her lower lip lightly and quickly typed out two words:

[Asleep?]

Almost the second after she sent it, “Opponent is typing…” instantly popped up at the top of the chat box.

Zhou Yi froze.

‘What was going on?’

‘At this hour… he still wasn’t asleep?’

Jiang Chen was indeed still awake. In the male dorm, the faint glow of his phone outlined his smiling profile.

He leaned against the headboard, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the now-darkened screen.

The call, abruptly cut off an hour ago, still sent ripples through his eyes as he recalled it.

He could almost visualize Zhou Yi’s eyes darting around, her words jumbled at the time.

The thought that she, who usually appeared so composed, could also have moments of such panic that she’d hang up directly, made a low chuckle escape his throat.

‘…Quite cute, actually.’

Various vivid expressions of hers flashed continuously through his mind…

Her slightly furrowed brow when focused on writing a proposal, her bright eyes during discussions, and the corners of her eyes curving into crescent moons when he occasionally made her laugh…

He rubbed his cheek helplessly. Before, his mind was occupied only by classes or basketball training plans.

‘Who could possibly squeeze their way into his entire world in just a few days?’

The phone in his palm suddenly lit up, illuminating the corners of his mouth, which hadn’t yet settled.

[Zhou Yi: Asleep?]

Jiang Chen felt his heart skip a beat.

He fiercely resisted the urge to reply instantly.

But his fingers were quicker than his brain; the message had already been sent:

[No. What’s up?]

[Zhou Yi: Just… wanted to treat you to a meal.]

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow and replied: [Has the sun risen in the west?]

‘What the hell? Was that a human thing to say?’

‘Your brother is inviting you to eat, and you’re being sarcastic???’

[Zhou Yi: Then forget it.]

[Jiang Chen: Don’t! Boss Zhou is treating, I must give enough face!]

Zhou Yi: “…”

‘Your attitude changes faster than a jungler invading the enemy jungle.’

[Zhou Yi: Then what do you want to eat?]

[Jiang Chen: The host is king, it would be rude for me to pick the place.]

Zhou Yi: “…”

She silently weighed her wallet. ‘Mission rewards hadn’t come in yet; funds were limited.’

‘Maybe something cheaper first…’

‘Street noodles? Too casual…’

‘Braised chicken with rice? Too stingy…’

‘KFC? Forget it, might as well just Venmo Jiang Chen 50 directly.’

After all, it was to thank Jiang Chen for his help, and she had initiated the invitation herself. She couldn’t be too stingy.

‘So… a compromise, a BBQ buffet?’

A BBQ buffet was both presentable and filling, and most importantly, she wouldn’t have to ‘kneel to pay the bill’.

[Zhou Yi: How about we get some BBQ then?]

[Jiang Chen: Sounds good. Anywhere with you is fine.]

Zhou Yi: “…”

‘She wanted to close the chat box again.’

‘What was wrong with this guy? Her usual sparring partner was suddenly spouting such ambiguous lines.’

‘Even if Jiang Chen were truly looking for a partner, it absolutely couldn’t be her, a ‘steel brother’ who would fight him for the last piece of meat and trash talk him during games.’

She instinctively pressed her inexplicably hot earlobe and quickly changed the subject:

[Zhou Yi: Oh, right, should we invite Li Yanze along?]

[Jiang Chen: He probably doesn’t have time.]

[Zhou Yi: ? You asked him already?]

[Jiang Chen: Asking now.]

(A moment later)

[Jiang Chen: He said he has to rush a report.]

[Zhou Yi: Really? Let me confirm.]

[Jiang Chen: Wait.]

[Jiang Chen: Three people eating BBQ, that’s at least four or five hundred, right? Boss Zhou, are you sure you want to spend so much?]

Zhou Yi stared at the screen, falling silent.

[Jiang Chen: A certain group-buy app has a new customer couple’s meal for only 288! And it comes with two desserts.]

Zhou Yi: “…”

‘Damn it, she was perfectly cornered.’