Zhang Jingdong stared at Shu Ran with sparkling eyes: "I must help you pick the clothes for dancing later!"
Shu Ran guessed what Zhang Jingdong was up to the moment she heard this.
Embarrassed and slightly annoyed, she said, "You... I knew it wouldn’t be clean cut with you; you always have ulterior motives, hmph..."
Zhang Jingdong curled his lips: "Teacher Shu, a reward, in my view, must be better than how I’m usually treated here, otherwise how can it count as a reward?"
"But looking at your attitude now, were you not sincere about rewarding me just now? Alright then, since that’s the case... let’s just forget it!"
Shu Ran knew that Zhang Jingdong was deliberately provoking her, and she gave him a sidelong glance: "...Alright, but don’t you go too far."
"Don’t worry, no matter how we choose, it’s still your own clothes unless you bought something too outrageous yourself; if that’s the case, then you can’t blame me later!"
Shu Ran was slightly reassured when she heard the first half, but when she heard the second half, the relief she just felt disappeared instantly.
At this moment, Zhang Jingdong raised his glass: "Come, Teacher Shu, it’s my first time at your place, my first time cooking for you, let’s have a drink!"
Zhang Jingdong gulped down half a glass in one breath.
Perhaps it was because of what Zhang Jingdong said, Shu Ran initially sipped a little, but ended up drinking half a glass too.
Zhang Jingdong exclaimed admiringly: "Teacher Shu, although you don’t have a high alcohol tolerance, you certainly have the guts!"
"But in the future, you’re only allowed to drink when you’re with me. If I’m not around, you absolutely can’t drink this way, got it?"
"Such a tyrant... But you’re overthinking it, I wouldn’t drink at all if not with you!"
Shu Ran complained, but her eyes and brows were filled with happiness.
Later, the two ate, drank, and chatted, and eventually even finished a whole bottle of Maotai!
Of which, Zhang Jingdong drank about 7 liang (Chinese ounces), and Shu Ran nearly 3 liang.
Although Shu Ran was not drunk, her face was flushed and she was slightly tipsy.
As everyone knows, being tipsy is the best state when drinking; it allows one to forget all troubles and truly appreciate all the beauty.
And that was exactly how Shu Ran felt at the moment. She not only found herself chatting more happily with Zhang Jingdong, but she also noticed that he seemed handsomer than before.
It’s said that men covet women’s beauty, but women also have the same thoughts about handsome men.
And there’s a saying, the more reserved a woman is normally, the more intense she becomes.
Though Shu Ran wouldn’t go that far, for the first time, she felt a warmth in her heart because of Zhang Jingdong’s handsome appearance!
And thinking of how handsome Zhang Jingdong was, and considering his many talents and capabilities, she couldn’t help but say, "Jingdong..."
But as soon as she called out Zhang Jingdong’s name, she immediately realized.
She ultimately wasn’t the type of woman to take the initiative.
But Zhang Jingdong was indeed an old hand in the world of romance; with just one look, he noticed Shu Ran’s unusual behavior and immediately stood up and came over to Shu Ran.
He lifted her chin gently with his hand, softly asking, "Teacher Shu, why did you call me?"
Shu Ran bit her lip: "...No... nothing, I... I just wanted to call you..."
"Sorry, wrong answer, please continue answering!"
Caught off guard, Shu Ran was immediately amused: "I’m the teacher, you’re the student, since when does a student question the teacher?"
Zhang Jingdong said seriously: "But in matters of love, I am the teacher, and you are the student, as my experience and knowledge are both richer than yours, so you must accept my guidance!"
Shu Ran looked at Zhang Jingdong’s uncompromising expression and could only pout a little: "...Alright."
Seeing that she had accepted, Zhang Jingdong barely held back his laughter: "Student Shu Ran, please continue answering my previous question!"
Shu Ran still found it hard to say, hence she said, "I just wanted to say that the shrimp stir-fry you made was delicious."
"Answer still incorrect, keep answering..."
"And Shu Ran student, I must remind you, you only have three opportunities to answer. If you don’t give the right answer on the third try, a punishment mechanism will be activated!"
"Punishment? What punishment?"
Zhang Jingdong wiped the corner of Shu Ran’s mouth with his hand: "Guess?"
Shu Ran immediately gave him a dirty look, hesitated slightly, and then said, "Alright, actually... I just wanted to say... you really look handsome today, I... I really like..."
Shu Ran couldn’t continue and shyly lowered her head.
Zhang Jingdong burst into laughter: "Congratulations, you answered correctly!"
At that moment, Shu Ran looked up smilingly and shyly, just about to speak, when Zhang Jingdong suddenly sealed her lips with a kiss.
Only after a whole five minutes did Zhang Jingdong finally release her.
"There’s a punishment for wrong answers, and certainly, there must be a reward for correct ones. Was this reward nice?"
This time, surprisingly, Shu Ran not only did not object but even nodded a little happily.
Zhang Jingdong immediately felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment and took the opportunity to say, "I’ve rewarded you , isn’t it about time you properly rewarded me?"
Shu Ran twirled a lock of hair near her ear: "...Yeah."
Seeing her agree, Zhang Jingdong stood up, wrapped his arm around her shoulders: "Come on, let’s go pick a dress for you!"
The two then went to the wardrobe.
But Zhang Jingdong took a full ten minutes and still couldn’t find an appropriate piece, as the most outrageous thing there was just a yoga suit.
Although it was tight, it was not revealing. Comparatively, even the black sports dress that Shu Ran was currently wearing seemed better.