During the ride, Chen Jiayan frequently glanced at her; Xie Baola, of course, was unaware.
She had a light crease between her beautiful brows.
It was unclear whether she slept uncomfortably or had a dream.
Chen Jiayan slowed the car down, driving very steadily, almost making it feel like there was no bump at all.
When the car stopped outside Begonia Joy Mansion, Xie Baola was still sound asleep.
The lights from the complex seeped into the car, casting a dim glow on Xie Baola’s face.
Sleeping, she lacked her usual sharpness and aggressiveness, her overly exquisite features still striking under the dim light.
"Miss Xie," after waiting a few minutes and seeing no movement, Chen Jiayan gently patted her shoulder.
Xie Baola woke up immediately and, seeing the familiar buildings outside, she realized, "We’re home, huh?"
Xie Baola threaded her fingers through her hair, adjusting it, "Thank you for driving me home."
Xie Baola was about to get out when, seemingly recalling something, she closed the car door again.
She turned her head to look at Chen Jiayan.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Unable to hold back, Chen Jiayan was the first to speak, "Anything else?"
Xie Bao narrowed her eyes, "When I called you and added you on WeChat, why did you ignore me?"
Seeing the confusion in Chen Jiayan’s eyes, Xie Baola almost laughed, "Don’t tell me you didn’t see me add you on WeChat."
Chen Jiayan hesitated for a few seconds, "I really didn’t see it."
Xie Baola scrutinized him with her fox-like eyes, "And when I called you?"
Could he have not seen that?
Chen Jiayan calmly replied, "I generally don’t pay attention to numbers without a contact name."
His words were watertight, leaving her no room to argue.
Xie Baola sharply inquired: "Then how did you know it was my number that called me?"
"The group was discussing Xixi’s accident; I couldn’t get through to Xixi, so I asked for your number, someone told me," explained Chen Jiayan.
If it weren’t for Xixi, he really wouldn’t have called her.
"So you weren’t deliberately ignoring my messages?"
Chen Jiayan, somewhat helplessly, "I really didn’t see them."
"Then give me your phone."
Xie Baola held out her hand.
Chen Jiayan paused for a few seconds before pulling out his phone from his pocket and handing it to Xie Baola.
Xie Baola took his phone and clicked into his WeChat contacts, ’New Friends’ section.
There, besides her profile picture requesting to add him, there were several others.
He hadn’t agreed or declined any of them.
It seemed he really hadn’t seen the verification messages.
She’d tentatively believe what he said.
Xie Baola accepted her own friend request and successfully added Chen Jiayan as a friend.
She then saved her own number in his phone.
As Chen Jiayan took back his phone, Xie Baola sternly said, "Don’t delete me from your friends."
Chen Jiayan’s lips thinned: "I don’t casually delete friends."
Xie Baola paused, then added: "And don’t ignore my messages."
Chen Jiayan didn’t respond.
Xie Baola’s hand touched the door handle, and she turned her head back with a fox-like grin, "Wanna come up to my place?"
Such an invitation between two adults wasn’t simple.
Especially since Xie Baola had other intentions toward Chen Jiayan.
Chen Jiayan naturally refused: "No need, Miss Xie. You should go rest early."
Xie Baola coldly laughed: "...Fine."
She would win him over, sooner or later!
This time, Xie Baola really did leave.
Chen Jiayan drove away.
As soon as Xie Baola arrived home, she went straight to bed.
Nothing was more important than sleep.
When she woke up, it was the middle of the night.
Her stomach was growling with hunger.
Enduring her body’s weakness, she cooked herself a package of river snail rice noodles.
After eating, she felt revived.
Lying on the couch, Xie Baola poked her phone screen and sent Chen Jiayan a message.
She sent a picture of her bowl of river snail rice noodles.
[Do you like eating river snail rice noodles?]
Chen Jiayan, probably looking at his phone, almost instantly replied: [No.]
[Xie Baola: It’s pretty good, you should try it next time?]
[Chen Jiayan: Smelly.]
[Xie Baola: Why aren’t you asleep yet?]
[Chen Jiayan: Yeah, busy with work.]
Xie Baola tentatively responded: [Then I won’t disturb you?]
The question mark she added was quite clever.
Chen Jiayan didn’t reply to her message.
Frowning, Xie Baola tossed her phone aside.
The next evening she heard that Qiao Xi had woken up.
Xie Baola took a taxi to the hospital.
Her car was still parked downstairs at the hospital.
As Xie Baola entered the ward, Chen Jiayan arrived too.
"Xi Bao, how are you feeling now?"
Looking pale and feeble, Qiao Xi showed a faint smile: "Just a bit sore, nothing else."
Xie Baola eyed her unamusedly: "Silly girl."
Xie Baola and Chen Jiayan didn’t stay long, reminding her to rest well before leaving the hospital.
"Why didn’t you reply to my message last night?"
As they descended the steps together.
It was just the two of them in the elevator.
Xie Baola’s voice carried a hint of complaint.
"Busy," Chen Jiayan replied succinctly.
This man was simply obstinate.
She really wanted to crack open his head to look inside.
Xie Baola was the type to become more determined with setbacks. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs ɴoᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt
Even if there wasn’t an opportunity, she’d create one.
"Are you busy later?"
"How about you treat me to dinner?"
Xie Baola said, "Or I can treat you to dinner too."
Chen Jiayan, hand in pocket, turned to look at her: "What do you want to eat?"
Xie Baola smiled, "I’m good with anything."
As the elevator stopped, Chen Jiayan stepped out: "Then let’s go."
Xie Baola’s eyes twinkled with amusement: "I’m good with anything?"
Looking up at him, she only saw his handsome profile, expressionless but still elegantly charming.
Chen Jiayan spoke unhurriedly, "When eating, you should eat what you like, otherwise it’s meaningless."
"That makes sense." Xie Baola nodded, agreeing with him, then purposely added, "Then let’s have river snail rice noodles."
He almost imperceptibly pinched his brows together: "Let’s choose something else."
Xie Baola was only teasing him, "Then let’s go for barbecue."
The two drove in their cars to a popular barbecue restaurant.
After parking their cars, they walked into the restaurant.
They found a corner spot to sit down.
Xie Baola ordered her favorite meats and vegetables, then handed the menu to Chen Jiayan: "See if you want to order anything else."
She had already ordered plenty, so Chen Jiayan handed the menu back to the waiter: "This is fine."
"Alright, the sauces are over there, you can help yourself if you need any."
After the waiter left, Chen Jiayan stood up: "I’ll get some sauces."