Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (13) Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Birthday Banquet Face-Slapping (13) Jiang Zhe’s face was both cool and radiant, pure yet desirous, a tangle of contradictions that all seemed just right on her, perfectly reasonable.

He stretched out his distinctly jointed fingers toward a direction. Jiang Zhe followed his gesture and saw, in the sky that had been dark, stars were beginning to twinkle.

In Beijing’s sky, even when the weather was excellent and the clouds scarce, one couldn’t see as many stars.

And yet, in the blink of an eye, amidst the thick night, there appeared so many stars.

The stars twinkled above, adding a charming hue to the winter day.

Jiang Zhe had never been one for hobbies and had never revealed much of what was in her heart, but aside from liking to bask in the sun, she did indeed enjoy stargazing.

There was a special app on her smartphone for viewing the real-time status of the Milky Way.

But few people knew, and no one ever mentioned it or asked about it.

Qin Jingchen knew it all.

She stood at the window, looking up, silently watching.

The impatience and agitation in her heart caused by fatigue slowly returned to calm, and the swift currents gradually became as steady as the surface of a mirror-like lake.

In this world, inner peace is the hardest to attain.

After a while, she withdrew her gaze and gave her verdict on the night’s gift, “Not bad.”

“Happy birthday,” Qin Jingchen’s eyes shone like brilliant stars as he looked down at her, her reflection mirrored in his eyes.

Jiang Zhe’s lips briefly curved up, then quickly reverted to calmness.

If one didn’t look closely, they might have not even noticed a change in her expression.

“There’s something else for you,” Qin Jingchen said, extending his left hand in front of her.

At some point, he had tied a ribbon into a bow around his sturdy wrist, as though he intended to present himself as a gift to her.

Jiang Zhe: “…”

“Aren’t you going to unwrap it?” Qin Jingchen’s voice was deep, filling the dark space where the two of them stood with a hormonal scent.

Pressing against Jiang Zhe’s nose.

With enough allure, like honey, wrapped in pleasure.

His clear eyes rested on Jiang Zhe, as if urging her to accept this gift.

He drew closer, his gaze locked on her lips, just waiting for her fingers to touch the bow, when his kiss would descend.

Jiang Zhe slightly raised an eyebrow, her eyes nearly bewitching yet ethereal, her fingers touched the ribbon of the bow but didn’t pull it loose. Instead, she turned her hand over, grasped his other hand as well, and used the bow to bind both his hands together.

Caught off guard, Qin Jingchen saw the romantic mood shift in this manner, and his kiss inevitably missed. He chuckled disappointedly, yet he knew it was a predictable outcome.

Jiang Zhe slowly lifted her gaze and said, “I can’t accept this gift yet.”

The next second, Qin Jingchen found himself pushed against the window, his back against the glass.

Just as he braced himself for Jiang Zhe’s departure, she braced a hand on the glass and forcefully kissed him.

He was kissed forcefully by Jiang Zhe!

Although the kiss was somewhat messy and hasty, with no technique to speak of, Qin Jingchen enjoyed it immensely. In a place unseen by Jiang Zhe, he bent his knees to accommodate her—after all, he was nearly twenty centimeters taller than her.

Once Jiang Zhe finished the kiss, she turned and headed towards the staircase, “Which room am I sleeping in?”

“Any room is fine,” Qin Jingchen’s eyes shone as brightly as the starlight outside, gloriously radiant, “as you like.”

With an “Oh,” Jiang Zhe went upstairs to pick a room.

Qin Jingchen, with his hands tied, leaned back against the window, a satisfied smile lingering on his lips.

…

Inside the bar.

With Fen Ye present, the group wasn’t too rowdy. Heeding Jiang Zhe’s advice, they didn’t serve Xia Enci and Xiao Meng any alcohol, only drinks.

“What about you? Will you order for yourself?” Fen Ye passed the menu to Yang Feiliu.

Yang Feiliu smiled seductively, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll drink too much and flirt with you?”

“It would mean your taste is normal. I’d willingly take the place of other men to be flirted with by you,” Fen Ye said with an easy smile.

Yang Feiliu’s fingers landed on a selection of red wines.

He Zizhou and others had come over as well.

Even Lin Huaiyuan had followed along.

Around twelve o’clock, He Zizhou asked Fen Ye, “What about that birthday surprise you prepared?”

“Wait a bit, it’s not time yet,” Fen Ye glanced at his watch.

This birthday surprise was something everyone knew had been prepared for a long while, so there was much anticipation.

Liang Tian said meaningfully, “Jingchen and sister-in-law have gone home together. Do you really think they’re still in the mood to wait and see this birthday surprise?”

Xia Enci didn’t catch the deeper meaning in his words and asked, “Why wouldn’t they be in the mood? Doesn’t Xiaozhe want to see it?”

This caused everyone else to burst into laughter.

“What, did I ask something wrong?” Xia Enci was puzzled by their laughter.

“No, not at all,” Yang Feiliu managed not to spray out her red wine, “You’ll understand once you have a boyfriend.”

Reminded in such a way, Xia Enci’s face turned red when she finally understood what they had been joking about just now.

“It’s time, it’s time. Twelve o’clock has come,” someone reminded.

Fen Ye checked the time, which really had come, and had everyone move in front of the window.

Then, everyone witnessed the dark sky miraculously twinkling with stars.

“How was this done?” While admiring the beautiful scene, everyone was also amazed.

Creating such an effect wasn’t something simple backdrops or lighting could achieve.

The stars looked as real as they glittered across the sky.

“For the specifics, you’ll have to ask Jingchen. I just prepared according to the plan.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” He Zizhou took a sip of his drink, “Is this how a pure, innocent man dates?”

As there was a young lady present, the extremely refined Han Dongliang kicked him.

The crowd burst into laughter, ordered more drinks, and continued their merry drinking.

…

Jiang Zhe slept soundly that night, waking naturally at the first light of dawn.

After washing up and changing into her school uniform, she found today’s sunshine was brilliant, rarely such fine weather.

Coming downstairs, Qin Jingchen was busy at the kitchen counter, a wristband still on his left wrist, worn with a proud air as if it were a merit badge.

“Awake?” he asked with a smile in his deep, dark eyes, “Have a seat.”

Jiang Zhe sat down, took a sip of hot milk, and smelled the rich fragrance.

A bowl of shrimp wonton soup was placed in front of her, adorned with a few sprigs of greens.

Jiang Zhe took a small spoonful and her eyes slightly narrowed.

Qin Jingchen knew she liked it. She had inevitably had a few drinks at the birthday party the night before, so eating wonton soup in the morning was perfect for the stomach.

After breakfast, Jiang Zhe wanted to go home.

Although Qin Jingchen also wanted to stay with her, having elders at home, it would cause worry if Jiang Zhe didn’t return.

Moreover, breakfast was not early, more like brunch, and it was nearing twelve o’clock.

He drove her to the entrance of her residential complex just as Qin Hai happened to be driving Xiao Meng and Xia Enci back home, and Qin He was there too.