The Unexpected Encounter at the Lounge

Ning Ran’s calm demeanor faltered, her gaze becoming evasive as if she’d stumbled upon a secret thought. When her eyes inadvertently landed on Jiang Zhe’s lips, she recoiled instantly, like a startled rabbit darting away from danger.

Her thoughts were laid bare for all to witness.

Jiang Zhe’s eyes curved into crescent moons as he couldn’t suppress a smile. While he knew better than to press his advantage today, this was too perfect an opportunity to resist teasing Ning Ran.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Jiang Zhe deliberately raised a hand to his lips, then spoke with feigned sincerity. “Ning Ran, rest assured. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.”

“…”

A strange sensation washed over Ning Ran once more. She frowned, her delicate brows furrowing in frustration, wanting to caution Jiang Zhe against such suggestive remarks. Yet, as her gaze met his, she immediately saw his fingertips pressing against his soft lips.

The memory of their intimate contact, of that very softness, rendered Ning Ran speechless. A sudden flush of heat surged to her head, and she knew, without even looking, that her face was burning crimson.

She imagined her face to be as red as a giant tomato, but in reality, her moist, sparkling eyes only made others want to tease her further.

Seeing Ning Ran truly fall for his bait, Jiang Zhe was inwardly delighted. Still, he knew he couldn’t push it any further.

If she genuinely got angry, it would take half a day to coax her back into good humor.

“To satisfy me, you’ll need to prove you have the skill! Don’t be a silver spear with a lead tip—all show and no substance.”

However, Ning Ran’s sudden retort caught him off guard. Perhaps the pressure had been too intense, leading to an equally fierce rebound. In her anger, she spoke without thinking, her words wildly inappropriate.

Jiang Zhe paused, stunned. Though he wanted to laugh, his instincts screamed at him not to. He needed to maintain a serious demeanor and guide her, lest Ning Ran hold a grudge later. Others might not settle scores in autumn, but Ning Ran was different.

Just as Jiang Zhe was about to speak, the door to the lounge suddenly burst open.

Startled and feeling guilty, Ning Ran quickly sat down, turning her back to the door. She swiftly raised a hand to pat her cheeks, then sat rigidly in place, feigning composure perfectly.

Jiang Zhe, facing the door, had no way to hide. Nor did he intend to. He simply looked up at the entrance, wondering who had been so audacious as to barge in without knocking.

The intruder, too, had not expected such a scene. She sported a wild mop of blue short hair, her features sharp and heroic. Tall and self-assured, she wore a cool, off-the-shoulder utility vest, her exposed arms clearly muscled—a testament to her diligent training.

Perhaps having overheard something scandalous, the newcomer looked utterly mortified. She raised a hand to scratch her head, unsure of what to say, and the lounge remained in an awkward silence.

This instantaneous “social death” crisis was a first for Ning Ran, but she managed to project an air of calm.

As long as she wasn’t embarrassed, others would be!

“Ye Qing, this is my friend, Jiang Zhe.”

Ning Ran stood up and pulled Ye Qing to sit at the table. The two women faced Jiang Zhe, initiating a three-way conversation.

Unlike the two women, who were feigning composure and striving for seriousness, the “battle-hardened” Jiang Zhe simply smiled. He proactively introduced himself to Ye Qing: “Hello, I’m Jiang Zhe from Class 19 of Senior Two. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Social interactions, when blessed with a handsome face, were indeed different. Jiang Zhe, whose core was like black sesame filling in a tangyuan, disarmed all caution. A slight smile could leave women enchanted, and even if Ye Qing wasn’t Smitten, she still developed a favorable impression of him.

Ye Qing was naturally boisterous. The moment she opened the door and heard Ning Ran’s provocative words, she instantly realized she had blundered badly. She had remained meek and silent, like a chick, terrified Ning Ran would beat her.

But now, the person involved was acting as if nothing had happened, so why should she overthink it?

Quickly reverting to her usual self, Ye Qing flashed a wide grin at Jiang Zhe, her pearly white teeth perfect for a toothpaste commercial. “I know you! The best-looking man in Fenghua! Hearing about you doesn’t compare to seeing you in person—you really are handsome!”

With that, Ye Qing gave Jiang Zhe a thumbs-up, praising him without a hint of shyness. This made Ning Ran, sitting beside her, pout. She thought she was pretty too, so why did Ye Qing only praise Jiang Zhe and not her?!

You’ve changed, you dog!

Ning Ran and Ye Qing’s acquaintance wasn’t complicated. While Ning Ran’s family had a long-standing legacy, Ye Qing’s family was merely nouveau riche.

Despite their differing backgrounds, the two had been classmates since childhood.

Ning Ran’s sharp tongue meant she typically only had followers, not friends. However, the cheerful Ye Qing possessed a unique immunity to her venom. Moreover, she was a true connoisseur of beauty, always lingering around Ning Ran, never taking her biting remarks to heart.

Compared to those who were sweet-mouthed but treacherous, or who acted one way to your face and another behind your back, Ning Ran preferred Ye Qing’s straightforwardness. Thus, they slowly became friends.

Even after entering high school and being in different classes, their friendship remained strong. They still kept in touch, and Ye Qing’s visit to the fencing club lounge today was simply out of habit, though she hadn’t expected to find an extra person there.

Jiang Zhe smiled faintly, his mind racing as he tried to recall his niece’s incessant chatter. Unfortunately, he still had no recollection of a “Ye Qing.”

Aside from the male and female leads and the main villain, only key characters in the game’s plot were ever mentioned. Other minor characters were deemed insignificant and naturally wouldn’t have been on his niece’s lips.

Since Jiang Zhe hadn’t personally played the Heartbeat Dating Simulator, relying only on hearsay, he didn’t dwell on it too much. ‘When soldiers come, generals will block; no need to worry excessively.’

“Jiang Zhe, how did you and Ranran meet? With her awful temper, it’s impressive you can tolerate her!”

Ye Qing spoke with the bluntness of an elder sister, driven by curiosity and gossip. Her familiarity with Ning Ran allowed her to cut straight to the chase, making Ning Ran puff out her cheeks in annoyance.

Knowing that getting angry with Ye Qing would only exhaust herself, Ning Ran decided it was better to simply have Jiang Zhe leave.

“Ye Qing, Jiang Zhe has things to do. Let’s talk next time!”

As Ning Ran spoke, she winked at Jiang Zhe, signaling him to leave quickly. Jiang Zhe, however, remained unhurried, winking back with his left eye, feigning ignorance, and smiling with a captivating charm.

Unable to speak plainly, Ning Ran balled one hand into a fist and subtly shook it at Jiang Zhe—a clear threat.

Their natural interaction made them momentarily forget Ye Qing’s presence. She eventually cleared her throat with effort, finally making her presence known.

Once she had finally captured their attention, Ye Qing spoke. “Since Jiang Zhe is busy, let’s meet and talk in detail at the Rose Festival in two days!”

Before Ning Ran could refuse, Ye Qing added, “Jiang Zhe is your friend, so naturally, you should invite him. But if you don’t, I can do it instead. Don’t regret it then.”

“…”

Hearing an unfamiliar term, Jiang Zhe raised an eyebrow. He then looked at Ning Ran’s frustrated expression, clearly too provoked by Ye Qing’s words to refuse, which only made Jiang Zhe more curious about this “Rose Festival.”

Wait, the Rose Festival… isn’t that another game plot point?