CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 17: TAKING A PHOTO TOGETHER

In the room, Huaiyi’s voice lingered, ethereal and clear.

Everyone fell silent, listening appreciatively, until she sang the final note.

Another round of applause mixed with cheers followed.

Huaiyi glanced sideways and saw Xiang Qichen clapping with a smile. Instantly, she felt a bit shy, smiling and nodding politely to express her gratitude to everyone.

The interlude ended just as the door to the room was pulled open, the crisp sound of high heels striking the tiled floor. Everyone turned to look toward the entrance.

Zhang Yuan arrived fashionably late in glamorous attire.

Huaiyi gave her a faint glance without much emotion and continued drinking.

The music for the next song started, filling the room again with lyrical tunes. Zhang Yuan waved alluringly at everyone and then unceremoniously took a seat beside Xiang Qichen.

Everyone politely nodded in response and went back to their own activities.

Huaiyi quietly drank another glass of beer, tugging at Liu Yang’s sleeve to signal him to come closer.

Liu Yang obliged smoothly.

Huaiyi: "Why didn’t Teacher Jiang come tonight?"

Liu Yang chuckled meaningfully, "Teacher Jiang’s boyfriend came over. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold coins, who would have time for us?"

Huaiyi suddenly realized and almost forgot that Jiang Wei had a publicly known boyfriend from outside the circle for four years...

Huaiyi: "Oh."

Liu Yang: "..."

In the meantime, Xiang Qichen was chatting with a producer on and off. Zhang Yuan glanced sideways at his handsome profile, poured a glass of wine, moved closer, and interrupted, "Qi Chen, care for a drink?"

The conversation was interrupted, making Xiang Qichen smile apologetically at the producer, gesturing, then turned his head to Zhang Yuan with a plain expression, "I have scenes to film early tomorrow, not drinking."

Zhang Yuan didn’t insist, shrugged, and still asked persistently, "What are you guys discussing?"

In exchanges back and forth, the producer clearly sensed Zhang Yuan’s intention, laughed, and casually replied, "Not much, you guys chat, I’ll go play with them."

Xiang Qichen suddenly lost patience, gave a glance at Zhang Yuan’s victorious smile, and looked down at his phone.

"Xiang Qichen, why don’t you sing?" Zhang Yuan boldly directed her gaze at him, subtly brushing her foot against his leg.

"Can’t."

With that, Xiang Qichen stood up abruptly, stepping over her legs and walking to the other end of the sofa, grabbing a bottle of Coke midway.

Huaiyi, whose attention had always been quietly on Xiang Qichen, watched him rise, bypass Zhang Yuan, grab a drink, and finally sit down beside her.

Instinctively, Huaiyi shifted to the side, immediately stunned.

Xiang Xiang Xiang Xiang! (◎_◎;)

Xiang Qichen’s expression was indifferent as he turned his head, handing her the Coke, "Want some?"

Huaiyi’s gaze shifted, landing on the Coke bottle. The pattern on the blue can was rather amusing, and in his hand, it seemed particularly eye-catching. She absentmindedly took it, "Yes!"

Xiang Qichen: "..."

Zhou Luobu silently stuffed the Coke into her backpack, inwardly delighted.

The Coke touched by Mr. Xiang, I must cherish, cherish, cherish! Never drink it! Never ever!

When she turned back, Xiang Qichen was already facing the screen, quietly watching the scene.

Huaiyi suddenly began to feel nervous as if her blood had all frozen in place, unable to move.

They sat closely, so much so that their sleeves occasionally brushed against each other. The air conditioning was on, yet she could distinctly feel the warmth radiating from his body, mingling with a fresh scent, causing her body temperature to gradually rise.

Huaiyi carefully glanced at the back of his head, her gaze tracing the shape of his ear, while her left hand discreetly pulled out her phone to open the camera, stealthily snapping several photos of him while covering her chest.

She watched the figure retreating in the phone screen, covering her mouth to laugh until the person in the lens turned without warning, looking directly through the lens at her, penetrating and clear, startling her completely.

Huaiyi instinctively covered the lens, her eyes darting, pulling a smile as she brazenly said, "Mr. Xiang... As a fan of yours, can I have a photo with you?"

Xiang Qichen’s gaze swiftly scanned her pretty face, finally resting on her tightly clutched phone, considering for a moment, "Okay."

┬─┬ノ(゜-゜ノ)

A delightful surprise!

So Huaiyi opened the beauty camera, maintaining a respectful distance from him, raised her phone, struck a pose, and quickly pressed the shutter.

Done.

Huaiyi: "Thank you!"

"You’re welcome." Xiang Qichen nodded slightly, a smile evident on his clear features, "You sing very well."

\(//∇//)\

There’s already not enough oxygen in this room for Huaiyi to breathe! What’s going on tonight... One surprise after another, her heart rate is almost off the charts!

This song is for you, it’s for you, Xiang Qichen!

...

On the other side, from the moment Xiang Qichen stood up without a word and sat beside Huaiyi, Zhang Yuan’s finely made-up face was twisted with anger.

She grasped the wine glass in her hand, glaring fiercely at the happy-faced Huaiyi, and slammed the glass onto the table before storming out of the room.

Inside the room, people continued drinking and playing games, already in disarray, no one cared about her departure.