Chapter 592 - 383: Journey to Tokyo (12)
Chen Yuan, however, suddenly snapped out of the Charmed state and quickly pinned her down again.
"You smiled."
"I... I didn’t smile!" Jiangg Yao’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson as she explained guiltily.
"Are you thinking about getting your revenge?"
"No, how could I! Young Master, you must have seen wrong. Please let me go, okay~"
"Then tell me how you’re going to compensate me. We’ll talk it over before you can get up."
Having broken free from the Charm, Chen Yuan was now in a state of immunity, his mind quite clear. He felt a wave of fear as he came to his senses.
Jiangg Yao, this little actress, was terrifying. In just a few moves, she had him so captivated he couldn’t tell which way was up.
"A kiss for you?"
"That’s it?"
"That kind of kiss... that one." Jiangg Yao’s gaze flickered away, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
"Which one?"
"You’re forcing me to say it! Fine, I’m ignoring you!" She pushed Chen Yuan, her face beet red.
"Oh~" Chen Yuan feigned a look of sudden realization. "Well, that’s something I can consider."
"What do you mean ’consider’... You’re too greedy."
"I—"
Just as the two were lost in their flirtatious moment and the intimate atmosphere was building, an ill-timed phone call came in.
The "RING RING RING" startled them both into stopping. They looked towards the phone, which had been tossed to the side.
"Seriously, who’s calling at a time like this?"
"Let me see."
Jiangg Yao took the chance to escape Chen Yuan’s clutches, picking up the phone to take a look.
"It’s Wan."
Jiangg Yao’s words made Chen Yuan, who had been reaching for the phone, pull his hand back. This was his inside source calling to check on the situation. Of course, Chen Yuan wouldn’t stop her.
She continued, "She’s probably calling to ask if I’ve checked into the hotel. She must be worried. I haven’t messaged her back since I met up with you, so that’s why she’s calling now."
"Alright, you can take it."
"Perfect, I’ll go to the bathroom and take her call there." Jiangg Yao didn’t answer right away, instead grabbing her phone and making a beeline for the restroom.
"Are you two hiding something from me? I’m starting to get suspicious."
"What could there be... It’s just girl talk between besties. It’s not for you to hear."
"Not that I’m interested in knowing," Chen Yuan said, getting up. "I’m hungry. I’ll have the hotel send something up. Do you want anything?"
"Okay, I’m off then!"
"Get outta here."
He really did seem irritated that their intimate moment had been interrupted. Jiangg Yao smiled at him and, as a form of consolation, took the initiative to give him a peck on the cheek.
"What’s the rush? We have the whole night, you silly Young Master."
With a whiff of perfume, her figure vanished around the corner to the restroom.
Chen Yuan peeked around to watch her go. Once he confirmed Jiangg Yao was completely gone, he let out a sigh of relief. He turned and picked up the intercom to call the front desk, holding it in his hand.
He didn’t make the call right away. Instead, a myriad of thoughts flickered through his mind.
’There was what Jiangg Yao said, her "method," and whether I should change my attitude toward her... And what must Jiangg Ning be feeling right now back in Lanjing...’
As he mulled it over, Chen Yuan sighed unconsciously.
After sighing, he suddenly realized he’d been sighing a lot more frequently these days than ever before.
...
「In the restroom.」
Jiangg Yao wrapped a jacket around herself, then called Wan back.
The moment the call connected, an urgent voice came from the other end. Even through the phone, Qi Xiaowan’s anxiety was palpable.
"Yaoyao, where are you? Why haven’t you been answering my messages? I thought something happened to you! Did you get there yet? Are you in danger?"
This barrage of questions made Jiangg Yao chuckle, and she quickly replied.
"Okay, okay, I’m fine."
"You scared me to death! Then why didn’t you answer my call?"
"Just wait, let me tell you everything!"
Then, Jiangg Yao vividly recounted everything. She described arriving in Tokyo and how a crooked driver had tried to rip her off. She told her about the argument with the hotel’s front desk staff, and how, in her moment of absolute despair, Chen Yuan’s voice had rung out like an answer to her prayers.
When she got to the exciting parts, she couldn’t help but add all sorts of exclamations. The uncontainable excitement in her voice was impossible to miss.
Qi Xiaowan was well aware that Chen Yuan had gone to Tokyo. Hearing how happy Jiangg Yao was, she played along while breathing a huge sigh of relief internally.
Chen Yuan had kept his promise and not exposed her as his mole.
In truth, she had been worried since last night, terrified that she would destroy their precious, hard-won friendship. Even worse, she feared it would affect Jiangg Yao’s love life, which would make her a terrible best friend indeed.
"He’s lying on the bed right now... It proves I really am important to him. He was willing to ditch my sister and come here. She’s probably furious right now." Jiangg Yao couldn’t help but sound smug, a clear smile on her face.
"Aww, that’s so wonderful~ Just hearing you talk about it is so sweet. I bet you’re not angry anymore, are you?"
"It’s not that sweet. It’s just okay," Jiangg Yao said, though inwardly she was practically bursting with joy.
"Looks like me not going to Tokyo with you ended up being a good thing for you and your Young Master. Don’t I deserve some credit for that?"
"Alright, alright, you get some credit, okay?"
"Then you have to treat me to a meal when you get back... By the way, so you two just ended up staying in the same hotel like that, and you’ve already buried the hatchet. So, next..." Wan giggled. "Don’t tell me something’s about to happen?"
"What are you talking about?" Jiangg Yao retorted shyly at once.
"See? I didn’t even say anything, and you’re already denying it."
"Your mind is in the gutter! I’m just trying to correct your improper thoughts."
"No joking, Yaoyao, I’m serious. You two have been dating for a while now, over a year at least. Have you really not thought about what I told you before?"
As the number one mole, Qi Xiaowan took her job seriously now that she’d been bribed. They hadn’t exchanged three sentences before she brought up the "main topic."
The crucial thing was, she had indeed schemed for Jiangg Yao before, offering her a killer move. Back then, forget being bribed, Wan had barely even met Chen Yuan a few times.
So this wasn’t really about guiding Jiangg Yao for money; she was being a genuine strategist.
"Which part?"
"The part about turning the raw rice into cooked rice! You need to lock down your Young Master as soon as possible!"
"SHH SHH SHH—"
Hearing this, Jiangg Yao quickly tried to shush her, the shy look on her face deepening.
"My dear Miss, what are you shushing for? You’re twenty-six years old. Look at how nervous this little thing makes you."
"You say that like you’re so experienced. Aren’t you the same as me..."
"Er... we’re different. I can see things clearly from the outside, but you’re too close to the situation! Yaoyao, think about it. Based on what you said, there’s no way your sister would take that step with Chen Yuan anytime soon. That was true when they were deeply in love, and it’s even less likely now that they’re in a cold war. So why not strike while the enemy is weak and pull the rug out from under her! Give her the fatal blow! Wouldn’t that guarantee your victory?"
"But... I’m not ready yet."
Jiangg Yao stammered.
She knew this move would be effective and would put her in an invincible position.
’But for a girl, how could I give away something so precious so easily?’
"You said the same thing to me six months ago."
"Aiya, I’m just shy, okay? Besides, I don’t think we need to rush. If it’s too fast, I’m afraid he won’t cherish it..."
"If you put it that way, I can’t really push you. But just think about it. You’re in a romantic hotel in Tokyo, during cherry blossom season, and it’s a world for just the two of you. Wouldn’t it be a huge regret not to make some unforgettable memories? This is a checkmate move. If you play it right, I don’t see how your sister could possibly win. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"Okay, okay, I’m not talking to you anymore. You’ve got my mind all in a jumble."
Jiangg Yao’s once-firm resolve was now genuinely wavering under Qi Xiaowan’s fierce assault. She forced herself to calm her chaotic thoughts and hung up the phone.
But those words still echoed in her ears.
’This checkmate move...’
"Is this checkmate supposed to take him out, or take me out... Honestly," she muttered to herself.