Chapter 23: The Sly Dog

Jiang Cheng lifted his wine glass and took a sip under Ji Shuyi’s watchful gaze. He clearly saw the girl’s eyes light up with anticipation and a hint of nervousness as he drank.

The wine slid down his throat, but it was shockingly salty, even a bit harsh. This girl had most likely added cooking salt, and the rim of the glass had been dabbed with alkaline water.

Bitter, salty, combined with the liquor’s inherent potency, he almost couldn’t stop himself from coughing.

Jiang Cheng’s hand tightened around the glass. This little firecracker was trying to poison him!

Fortunately, his father had put him through all sorts of training since he was a child. As long as he wasn’t stabbed in a vital spot, he could endure anything without batting an eye.

Ji Shuyi, full of expectation, didn’t get to see Jiang Cheng writhing in discomfort as she’d hoped. Disappointment flickered behind her eyelashes, but in an instant, she was smiling again, urging him on.

“Jiang Cheng-gege, your face doesn’t look so good. There’s warm water in the cup next to you; would you like a sip?”

Jiang Cheng glanced at the jade porcelain cup filled with warm water. If he wasn’t mistaken, that water wouldn’t be normal either.

“It was just a sip. No need to soothe it with water,” Jiang Cheng said, his deep eyes fixed on Ji Shuyi across from him. With a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he deliberately tossed back a counter-excuse: “Let’s talk after I finish this glass.”

Finish it?

Ji Shuyi blinked, unknowingly falling for his ploy, and continued, “Then let me offer you another toast, Gege.”

She even added, with an air of self-perceived cleverness, “Let’s finish it in one go!”

Anyway, she was drinking red wine; even if she finished it, it wouldn’t be as strong as his baijiu.

Seeing the little white rabbit falling into his trap, a cunning smile flickered in Jiang Cheng’s eyes. He rarely conceded, but he raised his glass towards her, saying, “Cheers.”

Ji Shuyi lowered her head, holding her wine glass with both hands as she drank, her eyes constantly, furtively peeking at Jiang Cheng across from her.

Sensing her unwavering gaze, Jiang Cheng deliberately made a grand gesture, tilting his head back slightly and downing the wine in one gulp. He even showed the empty glass to Ji Shuyi, as if to prove something.

That shouldn’t be, Ji Shuyi thought, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance after finishing a glass of red wine. Why is there no reaction at all? This is so unsatisfying.

Taking in all her little expressions, Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. He even deliberately coughed a couple of times to give her a taste of hope.

“Cough, cough…”

Sure enough, upon hearing his coughs, the light in Ji Shuyi’s resentful eyes reignited instantly, especially when Yan Yan opened her mouth to ask with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you not used to this wine?”

“It’s nothing. I probably just drank it too quickly,” Jiang Cheng said. “I’ll be fine after drinking some water.”

“Then quickly drink some water to soothe it.” As she said this, Ji Shuyi was delighted to see Jiang Cheng reach for the warm water she had so carefully prepared. Watching the sly dog raise the water glass to his lips, the girl’s joy was so intense that she bit her lip, afraid of laughing out loud…

“Never mind, I think I’ll have some food instead.” Just as he was about to drink the water, Jiang Cheng suddenly put down the glass. “Jie (older sister) specifically brought back a chef from England; I should really taste his cooking.”

Then, he very naturally picked up his chopsticks and started helping himself to the delicious food in front of him.

Huh?

Ji Shuyi: “o^[1]⊙﹏⊙o”

In a matter of seconds, her emotions did a bungee jump. Especially since she was about to give up, but Jiang Cheng’s two coughs had reignited her little flame. And just as she watched him raise the water glass to his lips, she failed again!

That frustrating feeling of being just one step away from success made Ji Shuyi frown in annoyance.

And to top it off, Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow at her with a meaningful look, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes full of slyness and cunning.

How could she not sense the thick provocation?

That arrogant demeanor was infuriating.

He’d reignited Ji Shuyi’s almost-extinguished little flame once again.

She refused to believe it!

The little white rabbit, growing braver with each setback, racked her brains, trying to deal with the big wolfhound.

However, after going back and forth, Ji Shuyi realized with heart-wrenching clarity that this guy wasn’t just a dog, he was incredibly treacherous and cunning.

Jiang Cheng glanced at the untouched warm water beside him, then turned his gaze to the opposite side of the table, a barely concealed smile on his lips. Ji Shuyi was already drunk, her eyes glazed, her cheeks flushed. She was even holding the empty wine glass with both hands, shaking it randomly and muttering, “Why can’t I get any more to drink~”

His father, Jiang Yuhuai, had left early after they had barely started eating, saying he was afraid his presence would keep the younger generation from enjoying themselves. And Shen Yan had also gotten drunk and was carried back to her room by Tang Shiqing.

Now, only Jiang Cheng and Ji Shuyi remained at the table.

Jiang Cheng leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, leisurely watching the drunken girl across from him, who he had tricked little by little. He watched her, dazed and confused, clutching the empty wine glass, mumbling something.

He watched silently for a few seconds, then a smile lifted his lips.

How could someone be so silly? Trying to trick others, only to get themselves drunk first.

“Little Firecracker, still want to drink?” Jiang Cheng asked with a lazy, carefree smile. “Jiang Cheng-gege has more here.”

Ji Shuyi, whose brain was already muddled, weakly lifted her eyelids to look over. Her big eyes stared blankly at Jiang Cheng, blinking again and again, then she raised her glass with a heroic air and shouted in a firm voice, “Drink!”

“Heh~~”

The sight made Jiang Cheng chuckle softly, his voice low and magnetic, his entire chest vibrating gently with laughter. The smile was no longer teasing, but freely unrestrained.

“Jiang Cheng, you can’t… let Shuyi drink any more…”

At this moment, Shen Yan, being helped down the stairs by Tang Shiqing, was completely drunk but still wanted to come down and lecture her younger brother.

Tang Shiqing quickly soothed her in a gentle voice, “She’s not drinking anymore. Let’s go upstairs and sleep.”

“Yan Yan~” Hearing Shen Yan and Tang Shiqing’s voices, Ji Shuyi giggled foolishly and looked up, suddenly saying, “Ninth Brother, I… I gave Yan Yan a gift. You… you help her see if it’s pretty…”

Tang Shiqing asked curiously, “What gift?”

Hearing this, Shen Yan, who was still hazy, suddenly sobered up a bit and quickly looked at her husband, saying in a coquettish tone, “No~ there’s no gift. She’s lying to you. Shuyi is drunk.”

Ji Shuyi puffed out her cheeks. “I’m not drunk. I’m perfectly sober.”

Tang Shiqing: “…”

Helplessly, he said to Jiang Cheng, “I’ll take Yan Yan upstairs. The kitchen is making a hangover soup. When it’s ready, make sure Ji Shuyi drinks some. The Ji family will be here to pick her up later.”