Chapter 31 “Open Your Mouth.”

Jiang Wansheng returned to her seat, absent-minded.

Ling Nan walked over, concerned, “What’s wrong? You don’t look too good.”

She lowered her head absentmindedly and replied casually, “It’s nothing.”

Ling Nan sat beside her, leaning on one elbow on the table, facing her, carefully observing her expression, still not at ease, “Caught a cold?”

Sensing Ling Nan’s proximity, she had to turn her head to look at him, a faint smile playing on her lips, “Really…”

A familiar cold woody scent suddenly wafted from behind, and a cold, clear voice approached from afar.

She subconsciously turned her head to the right rear, but just as she tilted her head, she felt a warm touch on her forehead. She was taken aback, a bit slow to react, and at that moment, she stared blankly at Ling Nan touching her forehead.

But all her attention was on the footsteps approaching from behind, the increasingly intense cold woody scent, and the man’s voice descending from above. A deep gaze swept over her for half a second before casually moving away. All her senses were closely attached to the man passing by behind her, and she didn’t even realize when Ling Nan’s hand hadn’t come down yet.

He passed by her from behind.

When the footsteps faded away, she seemed to wake up from a dream, turned her body to the opposite side, and the man’s figure, even though surrounded by the crowd, still stood tall and straight, standing out from the rest.

Ling Nan patted her shoulder from behind, “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve lost your soul, and you’re not even running a fever.”

The man had been respectfully invited by the staff to sit at the main table, and from her angle, she could no longer catch a glimpse of him through the gaps. She felt a bit embarrassed and withdrew her gaze.

Feeling like strangers, it was really awkward and bitter.

“It’s really nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew just now, but then I realized I was mistaken.”

Ling Nan believed this reason and gently said, “I see, you looked so absent-minded just now, it was a bit scary.”

She smiled and didn’t say anything.

Meanwhile, at the center of the crowd, the man sat at the main table, his cold white fingers casually tapping on the table, the red ruby on his snake head ring gleaming like blood.

Just like the man’s current expression, there was a hint of sharpness in his indifference, and the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth faintly exuded a hint of hostility.

After a brief absence, the progress between the two had advanced rapidly upon their return.

The young girl had grown bolder, looking at him as if he were a stranger.

He suddenly sneered, and the responsible people around him trembled, afraid that something might displease him.

Only Lin Tang, who was beside Qin Mo, knew.

His Third Young Master deliberately passed by Miss Jiang to attract attention, but she was too engrossed in intimate interaction with another man and didn’t even spare him a glance, which made him angry.

There were a few big words written on the back of his head: “I’m not happy!”

—

At seven o’clock, the evening party officially began. The host gracefully took the stage, and after the opening remarks, various performances followed one after another.

The atmosphere was lively, with balloons, glow sticks, and mobile phone screens swaying and flashing in the hands of the attendees. However, at Jiang Wansheng’s table, everyone’s thoughts seemed to be elsewhere, not on the party.

Most of the time, Jiang Wansheng was staring at the man sitting at several tables in the center. He was lounging with his legs crossed, looking relaxed and lazy.

Suddenly, Cui Ziwan nudged her arm and leaned in close to her ear, “Wansheng, I’m feeling a bit unwell in my stomach. Can you accompany me to the restroom?”

Jiang Wansheng nodded, “Sure.”

The two stood up, and she asked, “Do you need some hot water?”

Bent over, clutching her stomach, Cui Ziwan freed one hand and shook her head, “No need, just need to go to the restroom.”

Without suspecting anything, Jiang Wansheng held her hand and walked towards the nearest building, completely unaware that Cui Ziwan had gestured “ok” with one hand behind her back.

She also didn’t see that after she left, the people at their table seemed to have planned it and all left one after another, avoiding her and heading to another place.

—

Jiang Wansheng waited outside the restroom, boredly scrolling through her phone.

Most of the group chat was filled with photos of Qin Mo taken from various angles. Whether it was his back or his profile, whether clear or blurry, his features were handsome and cold, his pale skin in the hazy night, as if filtered with a natural Hong Kong-style retro filter.

Exquisite and enticing.

After looking at a few pictures, she checked the time and realized that Cui Ziwan had been inside for over ten minutes without coming out. She had to go in and ask through the door, “Senior, are you okay?”

Cui Ziwan’s voice came from inside the restroom, “Almost done, just another five minutes.”

“It’s okay, no need to rush. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Okay.”

Little did she know, Cui Ziwan was frantically messaging in the group chat from inside the restroom:

Cui Ziwan: [Have you set everything up?]

Cui Ziwan: [I’ve been hiding in the toilet for almost twenty minutes now. If I don’t come out soon, Wansheng will get suspicious.]

Shi Chengwen: [Almost there, if you delay a bit more, just say you’re constipated!]

Cui Ziwan: [Please eat shit.jpg]

Ten minutes later, Cui Ziwan finally emerged from the restroom.

Jiang Wansheng approached her, a bit worried, “Senior, are you okay?”

After all, she had been inside for over twenty minutes.

Cui Ziwan smiled awkwardly, “Constipation, constipation.”

Jiang Wansheng’s eyes softened, and she smiled, “Let’s go back then.”

“Just a moment!” Cui Ziwan stopped her in her tracks.

She turned back in confusion.

Cui Ziwan had a regretful expression, “I just remembered, I left my lipstick there when I went to play today. It’s my favorite shade, I can’t lose it.”

Looking at Jiang Wansheng, she clasped her hands together, “Can you help me look for it?”

Jiang Wansheng was not very eager to go back and watch the evening party, so she just nodded, “Sure.”

…

Cui Ziwan pulled her directly into a multifunctional hall, opened the double doors, and even though it was dark, she could still feel the spaciousness of the place.

She was about to turn on the lights when Cui Ziwan quickly stopped her, “Don’t turn on the lights.”

She rolled her eyes and explained, “The lipstick case I have is designed to be shiny and sparkly, it’s easier to find without the lights on.”

After saying that, she forced a few fake smiles.

Jiang Wansheng felt things getting stranger from tonight until now. She turned to look at Cui Ziwan, “Senior, I feel like you’re acting a bit strange.”

Cui Ziwan’s voice floated over, sounding like she had distanced herself from Jiang Wansheng, “Really? It’s mainly because that lipstick is expensive. Junior, you search inside, I’ll stay here.”

Feeling strange but unable to figure out the reason, she could only follow her instructions and walk inside. The moonlight outside only allowed her to see things vaguely.

She bent down to search for a while, “Senior, what does it look like exactly?”

No response.

“Senior?” She straightened up, surrounded by darkness, feeling a bit scared, “Senior?”

Relying on memory, she tried to walk quickly to turn on the lights.

However, at the moment she took a step—

*Click—*

The wall lights all turned on, casting a dim light over the entire place.

She instinctively squinted her eyes, and when she opened them again, the hall was decorated with flowers and balloons. In front of where she stood was a heart made of clusters of roses, with petals scattered on the floor.

She stood frozen in place, caught off guard by the ambiguous and dreamy atmosphere.

The next second, the blank projector suddenly started rolling and projecting her sketches.

It was evident that the artist had put a lot of effort into the drawings, with soft and intricate strokes.

She was studying in the classroom,

She was baking cookies in the bakery,

She was frowning in thought at the bookstore,

She was waving goodbye at the entrance of the community,

…

One by one, beautiful and delicate girls were outlined in black and white charcoal, capturing ordinary moments.

As the sketches faded out, a line of slender golden characters appeared:

[Jiang Wansheng, I like you, can I pursue you?]

Signed: [Ling Nan]

The spotlights lit up, enclosing the boy next to the curtain in a warm glow.

Jiang Wansheng was shocked and speechless, her rosy lips opening and closing several times, but no words came out.

“Wap—”

The entire room plunged into darkness instantly, the wall lights went out, and the projection disappeared.

All the ambiguous atmosphere was completely covered by black.

She tried to walk towards the switch, but suddenly, an irresistible force gripped her wrist.

*Bang—*

She was forcefully pressed against the door panel, before she could make any sound, her lips were firmly sealed by someone.

Her eyes widened, and she extended her hands to struggle, but the man on top of her held her down forcefully, his arm around her waist, pressing her tightly against his warm chest, fitting her perfectly.

The overwhelming scent of cold wood filled the air as she was completely dominated by the man, her breath and voice completely taken away.

The man’s kiss was heavy and intense, forcing her neck into a vulnerable arch, almost unbearable.

Tears of frustration welled up in her eyes, her teeth clenched to prevent the invading tongue.

The force on her wrist suddenly released, her jaw was firmly held by the man, his lips pressed against hers, his breath scorching, a cold and deep desire resonating in his throat, “Open your mouth.”