Chapter 17: A Blindingly Obvious Crush part 1

Chi Ye and Lin Yuran both fell silent for a moment.

Zhang Kun picked up a card and immediately lit up with excitement, reading it aloud for everyone: “Kiss through the thinnest tissue, ha!”

Gu Jiaze joined in the teasing, laughing, “That’s way more thrilling than us actually kissing.”

Ye Shaowen was already peeling layers off a tissue, preparing it.

Lin Yuran glanced at the table full of alcohol, bit her lip, and shot a sideways look at Chi Ye. She met his gaze head-on and immediately dropped her eyes in a fluster, her gaze brushing past the small mole on his nose and drifting down to his lips.

Chi Ye’s lips were slightly pursed, a soft pink with just the right fullness, neither too thin nor too thick. There was an almost inexplicable allure to them. In her peripheral vision, she saw his Adam’s apple move gently, tracing a seductive curve down his throat.

Chi Ye gave her a slow, teasing smile. “What, do you actually want to kiss me?”

Only then did Lin Yuran realize she’d been staring too long. She blinked and turned away, muttering, “In your dreams.”

Ye Shaowen handed over a tissue so thin it was nearly transparent and urged him, “Come on, Chi, don’t stall.”

Chi Ye didn’t take the tissue. Instead, he reached for his drink and said casually, “Let’s just drink instead.”

Zhang Kun gave him a light punch on the arm, scolding with some frustration, “Chi, seriously? You’re a grown man. How are you more timid than a girl? Even Goddess Lin didn’t object!”

Chi Ye didn’t respond. He simply picked up his glass and downed the drink.

Seeing this, Zhang Kun realized the game was probably over. After thinking for a bit, he changed tactics. “How about this? Since our Prince Chi still has his first kiss, we won’t push him too hard. Let’s compromise. If Chi Ye drinks a glass, he gets to redraw. If he draws another he can’t do, drink again. Repeat until he draws one he can actually go through with. How’s that?”

The guys didn’t think much of it. They were used to Chi Ye being a lone wolf. But the girls were stunned. The idea that Chi Ye’s first kiss was still intact became the hot topic.

Xu Jianwei exclaimed, “No way! In this day and age, it’s already hard enough to find a virgin, and here’s someone who hasn’t even had his first kiss! And he’s this hot and this high-quality?!”

Dong Qian added, “Seriously? So many girls like Chi Ye and not a single one has managed to land him?”

Qin Lang chuckled, “Well, of course, our Chi is the undefeated champion of pure love.”

Listening to them, Lin Yuran found herself glancing at Chi Ye’s lips again. He had just downed another drink. His lips were redder now, a little wet, and that cold curve somehow looked even more seductive.

Lin Yuran lifted her own glass and took a small sip. The crowd figured the drinking part was getting dull. Since they’d finally gotten Chi Ye and Lin Yuran together, everyone was eager to see them interact.

“Well, in that case, let’s allow it.”

“Lin Yuran, draw a card,” Chi Ye said, voice low.

Lin Yuran composed herself and reached out for a dare card. She flipped it over: 「Leave a kiss mark on each other’s necks.」

Without a word, Chi Ye downed another shot.

“Lin Yuran, draw again.”

She picked another: 「Sit on the other person’s lap and drink cross-arm wine.」

Chi Ye took another drink.

Another card: 「Take a shoulder-hug selfie and post it on each other’s Moments with the caption: ‘Us.’」

Lin Yuran held the card and stared at it for a moment, then passed it to Chi Ye. “This one’s… kind of doable.”

Chi Ye smiled, “If you’re okay with it, then so am I.”

Xu Jianwei waved her phone. “Let me take it! I bought this phone for its camera. Great pixels, makes people look amazing.”

Ye Shaowen gestured to the staff to turn on the strip lights. Xu Jianwei directed Zhang Kun and Ye Hui to scoot aside, then had Chi Ye and Lin Yuran move closer together.

“Arms around the shoulders, please.”

Chi Ye gently placed his arm around Lin Yuran’s shoulders.  She felt her breath catch.

Xu Jianwei, adjusting the camera, said, “That’s not enough. Chi Ye, open up that gentlemanly hand of yours.”

Chi Ye glanced sideways at Lin Yuran. Hesitating for a moment, he slowly relaxed his clenched fist, his palm lightly resting on her shoulder. Her skin felt warm and smooth, and his fingers involuntarily twitched.

Click, the shutter snapped. The moment was frozen.

Chi Ye withdrew his arm. Lin Yuran quietly exhaled.

Xu Jianwei sent the photo to both their WeChats, and under the group’s watchful eyes, they were forced to post it on their Moments. Once done, both tucked their phones away in silence.

Meanwhile, Zhang Kun stared at the post on his feed, laughing uncontrollably. Within a minute, Chi Ye’s post was flooded with likes and comments. They had a lot of mutual friends, and Zhang Kun could see it all.

He began reading the comments aloud. 

【Qiu He: No way, Chi Ye’s finally taken?! Time to celebrate. He better treat us to drinks!】

【Liang Size: D**n, he didn’t stay single all those years for nothing. His girlfriend’s a knockout!】

【Heo Shenyu: Chi Dog snatched all the good things in life. I’m jealous!】

【Yan Xi: Chi bro’s moving fast.】

【Ji Mo: Congrats, Chi bro. Hats off.】

Gu Jiaze was laughing so hard he clutched his stomach. “Chi Ye, our whole class is blowing up!”

He began reading the new comments too. 

【Liang Shuang: Knew the rumors back then were true.】

【Su Ze: You two finally got together. Chi Ye, your grin’s about to split your face.】

【Xu Haotian: When’s the wedding? Got my red envelope ready.】

Lin Yuran was speechless. Ugh, should’ve just kissed him. At least then only this group would know it was fake.

Gu Jiaze was still reading out loud when Chi Ye cut in, seeing Lin Yuran’s embarrassment. “Okay, that’s enough. Let’s wrap it up.”

Gu Jiaze stopped reading, but he was still laughing.

Zhang Kun added between chuckles, “This post stays up all night. No deleting, no explanations. Whatever happens later, it’s up to you.”

Once everyone had laughed enough, Xu Jianwei suggested, “Since I was taking photos of those two, let’s get a group photo too.”

“Good idea.”

She handed her phone to the staff, and everyone returned to their seats for a picture.

Xu Jianwei said, “I’ll send you all your copies later.”

She also took the opportunity to ask Qin Lang for his WeChat.

Lin Yuran tugged at her quietly and whispered, “Didn’t you just meet a guy and go on a date recently?”

Xu Jianwei winked. “Exactly. It’s over now. What, was I supposed to bring him home for New Year’s?”

“…”

Ye Hui tapped Xu Jianwei’s shoulder. “Hey, get one of me and Yuran too. It’s been ages since we’ve taken a photo together.”

“Would that be okay, Yuran?” he asked gently.

He’d asked so politely. There was no reason to refuse.

Lin Yuran smiled, “Of course.”