Chapter 34: The muscles on Cheng Jun’s back were tensed tightly. He was as stiff as a block of wood. “…”
The muscles on Cheng Jun’s back were tensed tightly. He was as stiff as a block of wood. “…”
However, Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t notice at all. Her soft limbs wrapped around him like vines, tightly holding onto his body. In front of the whole crowd, she buried herself in Cheng Jun’s chest and rubbed against him like her bones all turned into cartilage. It was like she couldn’t stand up on her own and insisted on sticking herself on Cheng Jun.
Her little face was bright red. Like the sky at sunset, a red glow hung on her delicate white cheeks. Her two peach blossom eyes were wet and glossy, and gleamed brightly enough to move any viewer’s heart.
One by one, the employees surrounding them started to quietly gossip with each other about who this handsome man was.
Looking at things, he should probably be Ruan Jiu Jiu’s husband. A handsome man and woman, they matched perfectly. Their relationship looked so good too, it really could make one feel jealous to death.
Under their attentive gaze, Cheng Jun lowered his head and, like he was trying to scrape off bubblegum, pulled Ruan Jiu Jiu off of him.
Ruan Jiu Jiu felt a bit unwilling.
She felt a bit dizzy right now, and didn’t even know herself what she was thinking. She spread both arms wide open and just stood there like that. Her hazy, intoxicated eyes made Ruan Jiu Jiu look like she could fall over at any second.
She spoke: “Carry me.”
Cheng Jun: “…”
The male employees in their surroundings truly admired Cheng Jun’s determination. If it were them, they didn’t know how they could possibly endure after seeing a beauty act so cutely. Standing in their corners, the men all let out a sigh. In the next moment, Cheng Jun did something that no one there could have expected.
He suddenly crouched down, slung Ruan Jiu Jiu’s waist over his shoulder, and stood back up. It practically looked like he was carrying a sack of rice. The drunk Ruan Jiu Jiu hung over his shoulder.
He slowly let out a sigh, and tested her weight as if she was a slab of pork.
“You’re so heavy.”
The peanut gallery: “????”
Is this something a person could say out loud?
The half-conscious Ruan Jiu Jiu, with her extremely sharp hearing, caught his remark. Using the palm of her hand, she slapped Cheng Jun’s shoulder. With the smack, Ruan Jiu Jiu fiercely said, “Let me down!”
Cheng Jun ignored her resistance from start to finish. Hauling a sack of rice…Ah no, hauling Ruan Jiu Jiu, he left.
The remaining group of people, who had been quietly eating popcorn the whole time, looked at each other in dismay. “…”
All the way back, Ruan Jiu Jiu made a huge fuss.
While sitting in the taxi, she not only kicked her legs, she also twisted her body around. Cheng Jun was already starting to think about whether he should find a riot-control pitchfork from somewhere to keep Ruan Jiu Jiu in place, ensuring that she would stop causing such a huge disturbance.
The taxi driver uncle didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Your little girlfriend really knows how to kick up a fuss.”
Before Cheng Jun could respond, a head suddenly popped up from behind the taxi driver’s back. With her disheveled hair, she looked like a female ghost. Furiously she spat out, “We’re married!”
The car tires suddenly swerved on the asphalt road, screeching loudly. The taxi driver was so terrified, cold sweat popped out on his face.
“Please keep her in control!”
As the role of prison guard was unceremoniously dropped into Cheng Jun’s lap, the one in his arms, main offender Ruan Jiu Jiu, mumbled softly to herself. “Who is that, why’s he gotta be so mean.”
Cheng Jun silently covered her mouth. “…”
The taxi suddenly braked, attracting the attention of a police car in the vicinity. They drove up next to them, and the officer sitting shotgun immediately noticed the taxi driver driving with cold sweat all over his face. The man dressed in black who was sitting in the backseat had a lowered head, his hand covering up a woman’s mouth. Lying on the seat, the woman struggled helplessly, her movements weak and feeble like she had been drugged.
The police officer: (⊙o⊙)
This was just like the scene from <Dead End> where the police officer Duan Yi Hong discovered his target, Duan Chao. The officer’s gaze immediately sharpened. Shocked and angry, he stabbed his finger towards the taxi driver in the driver’s seat and roared, “Stop the car!!”
Actually daring to traffic women? That was truly appalling!
The taxi driver immediately started panicking in fear.
In this desperate moment, his mind was a mess, and instead of braking as he should have he got confused. The car, which had been smoothly travelling at the speed of traffic, jumped forwards with a whoosh. The police officers immediately turned on their flashing lights and siren and yelled into a megaphone, “To the ones in front, don’t you dare run!”
Fortunately, Cheng Jun hadn’t lost his cool and immediately directed the driver to stop.
The car chase lasted for a few hundred meters, and finally stopped after they were surrounded by a circle of patrol cars.
Lying in his arms, Ruan Jiu Jiu emerged from her sleep in a daze. “Are we home now?”
Cheng Jun: “…” It seems that they got farther away the more they ran.
The police officers made them hand over their identification cards. Thankfully, Cheng Jun had his wallet on him and his ID was inside. The police officers made a huge number of calls, and after they had finally finished investigating the two of them, angrily said, “So this is what you couple like to do for fun.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu, who didn’t understand what was going on from start to end, leaned in a daze against Cheng Jun, sleeping very comfortably.
Cheng Jun called his chauffer to bring the two of them back home. As he did earlier, he carried Ruan Jiu Jiu like he was hauling a sack of rice. Ruan Jiu Jiu was in dreamland, and only felt that her head was hanging uncomfortably low so her stomach felt a bit queasy. After finally being laid out in bed, she flipped her body over. She slept anxiously and her slender pair of legs kicked around, finally kicking her shoes off onto the ground.
Curling into a ball, she started to take her coat off, and then once that was off, her sweater. Seeing that her pale white stomach was about to be revealed, Cheng Jun moved even quicker than her and directly bundled Ruan Jiu Jiu up in a blanket.
Both sides of the blanket were tucked securely, stiffly wrapping Ruan Jiu Jiu up into a mummy.
Unable to get free, Ruan Jiu Jiu started whining with her eyes still closed, “Jun Gege…I want water.”
As she said that, Ruan Jiu Jiu licked her bottom lip, revealing the soft and pink tip of her tongue.
Cheng Jun suddenly felt like he also needed to drink a cup of water.
He stuck a straw into a cup of water. With her eyes half open, Ruan Jiu Jiu gulped a few times and drank half the cup, finally no longer shouting that she was thirsty.
Cheng Jun put down the cup of water and prepared to leave, but Ruan Jiu Jiu suddenly flipped over.
She used all her strength to wiggle her body, looking just like a squirming silkworm. Then from the side of the bed, she tumbled off onto the ground along with the blanket, directly squashing Cheng Jun under her.
He supported himself with an elbow on the floor and groaned slightly.
he blanket fell apart and Ruan Jiu Jiu’s soft body pressed on top of him, her long hair scattered over his shoulders, neck and face. Each breath carried with it Ruan Jiu Jiu’s unique fragrance.
The two of them were buried among the soft folds of the blanket, as if they had snuggled together to sleep.
Cheng Jun didn’t move a single muscle, like he was a piece of stone.
In his arms, Ruan Jiu Jiu smiled sweetly, and in her daze called out “Cheng Gege” again.
This call sounded both tender and soft, like she was acting cute and also like she was flirting with him. The expression on Cheng Jun’s face was very calm, but the scarlet tips of his ears sold him out.
She lay on his chest, and after sleeping for a few seconds, her hand suddenly moved up. “Huh…where’d this drumbeat come from?”
Cheng Jun calmly grabbed her hand. “Sleep.”
“But…”
“Sleep.”
“Oh.”
The light next to the side of the bed was on, and its warm light scattered over the two figures. From inside the blanket came the sound of Ruan Jiu Jiu’s slow and measured breaths.
Cheng Jun lay on the floor with half his body upright. His elbow felt extremely painful where it had bumped the floor, but in a rare moment, he still didn’t move.
He lightly let out a sigh.
And then let out another sigh.
“…”
Fast asleep, Ruan Jiu Jiu furrowed her brow. Strange, why was this drumbeat getting even faster?
……
The next day, Ruan Jiu Jiu woke with a start, sweating profusely.
When she woke up, she immediately noticed that she was bundled up in the blanket, wrapped so tightly that she couldn’t move.
She hadn’t even taken off her sweater or pants, so it was like she was roasting in an oven. The irritated Ruan Jiu Jiu’s throat was parched, so she immediately snatched up the half cup of water placed at her bedside and drained it all with a gulp.
Ruan Jiu Jiu changed into her pajamas and burst out her room full of energy, but unexpectedly bumped into Cheng Jun coming out of the kitchen with a carton of milk.
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “Oh god! What’s wrong with your eyes!”
Cheng Jun actually had days where he had eyebags?
Cheng Jun gave her a faint look, not wanting to talk.
Ruan Jiu Jiu only remembered that she had drunk alcohol last night and sent Cheng Jun a text. She couldn’t remember anything that happened after that. From how she woke up on her own bed, she was able to determine that Cheng Jun definitely put in a lot of effort to bring her home.
Ruan Jiu Jiu felt a bit guilty. “Sorry, I wasn’t too much trouble, was I?”
Even though Cheng Jun didn’t say anything, the look in his eyes told her that last night, she was very, very troublesome.
Ruan Jiu Jiu was too ashamed to ask anything else. She guessed that she had thrown up on Cheng Jun, so she felt that things might be even more awkward if she asked.
In order to repay Cheng Jun, Ruan Jiu Jiu freely accepted menu requests and expended all her effort on cooking up a huge feast. After eating and drinking his fill, Cheng Jun lost the look of blame he had in his eyes when he looked at her. The two of them returned to their usual harmonious atmosphere.
While resting after the meal, Ruan Jiu Jiu saw that Mr. Meng had sent her a text.
[I heard that you were carried home by your husband like a sack of rice?? snigger.jpg Everyone in the department saw it lololol!]
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”
She silently ground her teeth, and turned towards Cheng Jun with a fake smile on her face. “How did I get home yesterday?”
Without a shred of survival instincts, Cheng Jun honestly responded, “I carried you home.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “On your back or on your shoulder?”
Cheng Jun: “…I forgot.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “You’re beyond dead, really.”
……
White Dragon Horse’s real name was Bai Long. The message she sent to Ruan Jiu Jiu was very cute, without a single trace of resemblance to the heroic and valiant manner she behaved in game.
She excitedly said hello and told Ruan Jiu Jiu the time and location.
There were many guild members who lived in the same city as them. Surprisingly, White Dragon Horse lived pretty close to Ruan Jiu Jiu, only a 30-minute drive away. This time it was a small-scale gathering of around 5 to 6 people. They were all people Ruan Jiu Jiu enjoyed playing with in game, so only then did Ruan Jiu Jiu dare to let go of her worries and attend.
They booked a spot at a restaurant with private rooms that was owned by Hoofs to the West’s family. Hoofs to the West had a pretty good background, both he and White Dragon Horse were from wealthy families. Offline, they were also sweethearts and always had matching IGNs no matter what game they played.
The rest included Bumbledore, I’m Ye Liang Chen, and What’s Gone Can Never Come Back. Seeing their names, Ruan Jiu Jiu couldn’t help but laugh.
The weather outside was still very cold. Ruan Jiu Jiu casually wore a down jacket and jeans, wrapped a scarf around her neck, and put on a hat. Tightly bundled up, she walked out the door. By the time she showed up at the restaurant, the others had all already arrived and had already started to chat excitedly with each other.
Ruan Jiu Jiu pushed open the door to the private room. When she took off her hat, the group of people who had been in the middle of a lively discussion were all dumbfounded.
They all looked at each other, a bit too stared to say they knew the beauty standing in front of them. Even though she was barefaced, without even lipstick, she was still so gorgeous that she didn’t look like someone that could be native to their land.
Ruan Jiu Jiu smiled, “Hello, I’m Jiu Jiu Jiu.”
“Damn!!”
The only girl among them let out a yell. “Haven’t you hidden yourself too well?!”
“I’m shocked, which family’s fairy descended to earth?”
The frozen atmosphere just now immediately began to warm up again. As they warmly called her name in greeting they sounded just like clamoring bird nest, making Ruan Jiu Jiu unexpectedly speechless.
One by one, the group of people introduced each other. What astonished Ruan Jiu Jiu was that Bumbledore was a young guy still in high school. Despite being so young, he acted in such a cool and dashing manner. The whole time, he wore a baseball hat on his head and sat with his arms crossed.
A grinning man slung his arm over Bai Long and said, “I’m her little puppy.”
“Nah, you’re an old mutt.”
“…”
Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Hoofs to the West?”
The man’s smile was a bit embarrased. “Yup, that’s me, Wei Tian.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu took a seat. Hoofs to the West, aka Wei Tian, laughed evilly. “Where’s the big pro?”
When he said that, the others all pricked up their ears. “Yeah yeah, what does he look like, do you two live together? Are you guys already married?…” Chattering, their questions piled up into a massive mound.
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “He’s just an ordinary person.”
Bai Long cut in: “What’s the difference between you and Liu Chang Dong, the CEO of JD.com, who couldn’t recognize his own wife’s beauty?”
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”
Bai Long continued, “I really didn’t expect you to be so pretty. If I knew, Light Breeze Bi Ying wouldn’t have anything left to be so smug about. Even going around spouting that she’s pretty and all, what bullshit.”
Helpless, Ruan Jiu Jiu shook her head. “Everyone has their unique strengths, there’s no way to compare us.”
“If I were Reminiscence of the Past, I would choose you. It’s just a pity that you have an even bigger pro already.”
Now mentioning this, Bai Long lowered her voice and said in a strange tone, “Did you hear, they’ve broken up.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “What? Who?”
“Who else but Reminiscence of the Past and Light Breeze Bi Ying. Light Breeze Bi Ying’s bestie was even complaining in a group chat that Rem was bewitched by some shameless vixen and left to fool around with her.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu usually couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to other people’s quarrels. But this matter truly astonished her.
“They broke up?!”
This wasn’t right, according to the plot, right now was when Gu You was on the verge of success. Immediately afterwards was his and Xu Bi Ying’s golden age and wedding. At such a critical time, how could the two split up? Then how would Gu You pull himself together?
Ruan Jiu Jiu’s entire mind was filled with question marks.
It shouldn’t be—had Gu You’s wife from the prior timeline appeared?
Ruan Jiu Jiu was totally stupefied.
“Who knows. In any case, people will gossip about anything. Just look at how Reminiscence of the Past is doing in the competition. It’s really a major event. If I were Light Breeze Bi Ying I would probably be beyond regretful. Who let her get so complacent.”
On the side, Wei Tian added, “Honey boo, I’m right over here. You’re not allowed to think about other guys.”
The others were disgusted to death.
The group of people chattered enthusiastically. When the menu was delivered, Ruan Jiu Jiu ordered a dish for appearances and let the others order the remainder. Wei Tian said he was treating them this time. Ruan Jiu Jiu couldn’t decline and could only accept.
When the dishes were delivered, Wei Tian cordially reassured everyone. “Eat, eat, our family’s chefs are unparalleled. Their ability to cook fish and meat are top class, give it a try.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu took up a pair of chopsticks. Suddenly, she thought of those eyes with their faint gaze. Even though she was originally hungry, she now lost her appetite.
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”
She didn’t move her chopsticks for a while. Bai Long lifted her head in bewilderment, only to see Ruan Jiu Jiu nervously glance at her surroundings, even checking the windows.
Bai Long: “What are you doing???”
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…Nothing, just a little nervous.”
Even though she didn’t mention anything to Cheng Jun, this shouldn’t count as enjoying a feast by herself right? Ruan Jiu Jiu was practically about to lose her marbles because of Cheng Jun.
She straightforwardly put her phone on mute to avoid receiving any texts from Cheng Jun. Only then did she let out her breath and join the others in eating.
The others: “…”
Are the women of big pros all this strange?
Everyone happily enjoyed this meal together. Afterwards, they all added each other on WeChat, agreeing that on weekends they could go picnicking or hiking together. They could be counted as the first friends that Ruan Jiu Jiu made in this world, so she was very happy as she added them all on WeChat and agreed on a time for their next get-together.
After exiting, it was snowing slightly outside. On the horizon hung a huge sheet of silver.
Ruan Jiu Jiu wrapped herself in her jacket. The others said they would send her home, but were turned down. After stuffing herself, it was the perfect time to have a walk outside. Ruan Jiu Jiu lowered her eyelids and enjoyed the feeling of snowflakes landing on her face. Right then, she heard a familiar, light laugh.
Astonished, Ruan Jiu Jiu widened her eyes. To her surprise, it was Gu You.
Today, Gu You was wearing a long, gray coat. With a scarf wrapped around his neck, he looked gentle and refined. He had just come out of a tall building across the street. From faraway he saw Ruan Jiu Jiu’s silhouette and quickly walked up to her.
Unnoticed by Ruan Jiu Jiu, there was some excitement in his pace.
Ruan Jiu Jiu was a bit shocked. “How are you here too?”
“What a coincidence, how many times now have we bumped into each other by accident?” Gu You smiled slightly. “I was meeting an acquaintance here. Did you already eat?”
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “I just finished, I was about to head home.”
“Perfect, it just so happens that I drove here, I’ll send you back.”
“No need, no need…”
Gu You continued to insist. “I’m pretty much halfway to working for Jiacheng, you should just let me send you home. In the future, we’ll all be coworkers, there’ll be more opportunities for us to meet.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu was unable to keep refusing him and could only get in the backseat.
Gu You’s driving was very steady. It was a snowy day, so he especially drove slower. Or maybe, it wasn’t because of the weather.
The heater was turned to the perfect setting. Ruan Jiu Jiu felt warm and cozy and shivered as she rubbed her hands together.
Gu You glanced in the rear view mirror and smiled as he said, “Are you very cold?”
“Mmm, it’s okay.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu felt a bit awkward. She didn’t know what to say to Gu You.
All she could think about was the matter White Dragon Horse had told her about, regarding Gu You and Xu Bi Ying’s relationship. That was all unrelated to her so Ruan Jiu Jiu only thought about it briefly before tossing it to the back of her mind.
Gu You warmly talked about recent matters, not holding anything back to Ruan Jiu Jiu. This made Ruan Jiu Jiu feel a bit at a loss. He talked about his progress in the competition, his plans for the future, as if he was trying to familiarize himself to Ruan Jiu Jiu. She was unable to shake off the strange feeling.
When she connected that to the matter with Xu Bi Ying, Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t want to overthink things and one-sidedly imagine there was something between them, so she could only pretend like nothing was wrong and stare silently out the window.
With a hand on the wheel, Gu You stared straight ahead at the road. His tone was very serene as he said, “Regarding the divorce agreement I saw that day…Sorry, I’m being a bit presumptuous, but are you guys having trouble?”
Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t want to talk too much so she only elaborated slightly. “Some small matters between us, you shouldn’t pay it any mind.”
Gu You took another look at the review mirror and gazed at Ruan Jiu Jiu with a thoughtful expression.
When she got home, Cheng Jun was still in the study and didn’t come out.
Ruan Jiu Jiu changed out of her clothes and suddenly realized she couldn’t find her phone. She looked everywhere but couldn’t find it, so in the end she could only beg Cheng Jun for help.
Knock knock knock! Ruan Jiu Jiu rapped on his door. “Cheng Jun, quickly help me call my phone, I can’t find it anywhere.
Cheng Jun came out of his room and called her phone number.
Nothing happened.
Ruan Jiu Jiu felt a bit stupid. This was weird, she remembered that she turned her phone back from silent mode.
Only
Cheng Jun, who had been leaning against the door, suddenly straightened. His long and slender eyes lifted up to slowly glance at Ruan Jiu Jiu. His expression wasn’t very good.
Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t notice Cheng Jun’s gaze. She was still looking all over the sofa and the bed, not having considered at all the possibility that her phone was lost outside the house.
“Strange, where did it go?” Ruan Jiu Jiu rubbed the hair on her head, distress written across her entire face.
Displayed on Cheng Jun’s phone screen was a message from someone.
[Is this Jiu Jiu? This is Gu You, you left your phone in my car. It isn’t convenient for me to pick up right now. Send me your address, I’ll bring your phone over.]
Cheng Jun: “…”
Author’s Note:
Your friend King Jun of Vinegar is online~
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