Jiang Xiaoruo's behavior infuriated Zhang Jingzhi. Zhang Jingzhi felt that her friend had not fulfilled her obligations as a friend at all. She should have introduced all of Jiang Xiaoruo's friends to Zhang Jingzhi one by one, and also introduced Zhang Jingzhi to them, so that Zhang Jingzhi would at least know what the handsome guy's name was.
Watching Jiang Xiaoruo shake her head, Zhang Jingzhi had an impulse to rush over, grab her by the neck, and ask her, "Tell me quickly, who is that handsome guy? What's his name? Is he married?"
Of course, these were all Zhang Jingzhi's thoughts, and Zhang Jingzhi's thoughts were usually just thoughts, so Zhang Jingzhi could only sit there helplessly and quietly, occasionally expressing her admiration for the handsome guy with her eyes.
The handsome guy seemed completely oblivious to Zhang Jingzhi's attention. He simply stared at the screen and listened to the music quietly. His expression was calm, seemingly unaffected by his surroundings. Even amidst the exciting music, a faint trace of loneliness and sorrow appeared on his face.
Zhang Jingzhi sat there quietly, watching the handsome man, observing the loneliness and sorrow on his face. Her heart began to clench, as if his loneliness was her own, his sorrow her own. This feeling was something she had never experienced before. She was doomed, she thought, this time she was truly "defeated," she had fallen in love with this handsome man whose name she didn't know.
Zhang Jingzhi just stared at him. In her eyes, the handsome man was no longer handsome; he had transformed into a delicious chicken leg. Zhang Jingzhi watched quietly, as if the surrounding noise had ceased to exist. She forgot Jiang Xiaoruo beside her, forgot the noisy men and women, and even forgot her own slowly dripping snot.
"Stop looking, your nose is about to run, wipe it first." Someone gently patted Zhang Jingzhi's shoulder, pulling her attention back to the noisy room.
A slender hand was extended in front of Zhang Jingzhi, holding a tissue.
Zhang Jingzhi suddenly realized that her snot was about to touch her lips. This discovery, along with the tissue in front of her, immediately plunged her into immense embarrassment. In a panic, she quickly took the tissue and lowered her head to cover her nose.
Zhang Jingzhi's face flushed. Someone must have seen her infatuated expression just now. She couldn't keep her head down now; she had to act nonchalant, otherwise it would only make her more embarrassed. She had to bravely raise her head and politely thank the owner of the hand.
Zhang Jingzhi looked up at the owner of the hand, stunned. Her mouth opened, but no "thank you" came out. She saw a smiling face that looked somewhat strange under the changing colored lights, and eyes full of mockery. At that moment, Zhang Jingzhi truly understood what it meant to say, "This world is really too small!"
Wang Yuhan smiled as he looked at the girl in front of him, finding it quite amusing. He had recognized her the moment she entered. The girl puzzled him; her attire was that of a typical lady—long, flowing hair cascading over her shoulders, a simple sweater, and an elegant long skirt that accentuated her tall figure. She had barely spoken since entering, only offering gentle smiles to everyone before sitting quietly, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.
However, Wang Yuhan had a vague feeling that this was not the real her, because he had heard this "lady" swear twice in one day. With this curiosity, Wang Yuhan sat down next to the girl and found that she was staring at Yang Lei like a lovesick fool, almost drooling. What made Wang Yuhan even more amused was that although Zhang Jingzhi did not drool, her snot was clearly about to come down.
Zhang Jingzhi had never felt so embarrassed, not even when she wet the bed in middle school. It felt like a mouse eyeing a cake suddenly finding a cat watching it with smug disdain. She was that mouse, feeling both the embarrassment of being caught and the inferiority complex of coveting something so wonderful. She felt it must be because she had stolen a dumpling that her grandmother offered as a sacrifice; this was God punishing her.
Seeing Wang Yuhan's ambiguous smile, Zhang Jingzhi really wanted to kick his face to the ground and stomp on it. However, as we mentioned before, Zhang Jingzhi's thoughts were just thoughts. So, Zhang Jingzhi composed herself, smiled very elegantly, and said, "Thank you."
“The world is small, isn’t it?” Wang Yuhan said with a smile.
But the music around them seemed too loud. A girl was belting out a rock song. Zhang Jingzhi looked at Wang Yuhan blankly, as if she hadn't heard what he was saying at all.
Wang Yuhan raised his voice eight octaves and said loudly, "We've met before, do you remember?"
Zhang Jingzhi still looked completely bewildered.
"My name is Wang Yuhan!" Wang Yuhan's shout could only be described as a roar. His voice was so loud that it startled everyone. Even the girl who was singing loudly stopped. More than a dozen pairs of eyes suddenly focused on Wang Yuhan, looking at him as if he were a monster.
Wang Yuhan turned his head and saw a sly glint in Zhang Jingzhi's eyes, and suddenly realized that he seemed to have been tricked by this seemingly ladylike girl.
Zhang Jingzhi forced herself not to laugh, then looked at Wang Yuhan with an innocent, strange expression, as if she had no idea what had happened, wanting to see how he would handle the situation, since he had just embarrassed her so much.
Unexpectedly, Wang Yuhan just smiled and waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue.
Zhang Jingzhi was somewhat disappointed, then turned her head away to continue admiring her handsome guy. That guy had glanced at her just now, but she hadn't caught him. Zhang Jingzhi kept regretting it in her heart, while also cursing that annoying Wang Yuhan. If it weren't for his interruption, she probably would already know what the handsome guy's name was.
Amidst prayers and curses, time slowly passed. Zhang Jingzhi was about to give up; it seemed she would have to wait and slowly coax the handsome guy's name out of Jiang Xiaoruo later. Just as she was feeling dejected, she heard someone jeering, "Yang Lei, sing one!"
"Yang Lei, stop listening to this all the time, sing a song for the brothers."
Everyone turned their attention to the handsome guy. Zhang Jingzhi was so excited that her hands were trembling. So his name was Yang Lei! Yang Lei, what a cool name! Zhang Jingzhi thought to herself.
Seeing everyone egging him on, Yang Lei knew he couldn't escape it, so he asked the rock singer to play "Fairy Tale" for him. To be honest, he didn't sing it very well, but to Zhang Jingzhi, it was heavenly music. His slightly hoarse voice made Zhang Jingzhi's heart flutter. She thought to herself, this is the "chicken leg" she has been looking for for a long time.
Xiao Xiao (revised)
Even after returning home that evening, Zhang Jingzhi was still immersed in the excitement of discovering the "chicken leg," and even her mother's questioning that night seemed adorable.
Lying in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, she grabbed the alarm clock and saw that it was already past one o'clock. With no other option, Zhang Jingzhi reached for the phone on the table, lay on the bed, and dialed her best friend and college roommate's number. The phone rang for a long time before someone answered.
"Hello—" came a lazy, hoarse voice from the other end of the phone.
"Xiao Xiao, it's me, Zhang Jingzhi,"
"Sister! Please, don't you think calling someone at one in the morning raises questions about your character?" came an unhappy voice from the other end.
"Get lost! Who doesn't know how decadent your life is? One o'clock is late? I have something to tell you." Zhang Jingzhi thought to herself, "You're a womanizer who partyes every night, and you still have the nerve to say this time is late?"
"But you can't disturb other people's bedtime, I'm very busy!" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded helpless, accompanied by a low laugh.
A man!? It was a man's laughter! Zhang Jingzhi was somewhat stunned.
Zhang Jingzhi asked, "Xiao Xiao, do you have someone with you?"
"Nonsense!" Xiao Xiao cursed, then said to the person next to her, "Come on, make some noise so my sister can hear!"
A man's intermittent groans came from the other end of the phone, and Zhang Jingzhi's face flushed red. She threw the receiver aside with a "whoosh".
"Damn it! Who told you to moan in bed!" Xiao Xiao laughed and scolded on the other end of the phone. "What's up, little sister? What's so important that you're calling me so late?"
"I...I saw a handsome guy today," Zhang Jingzhi muttered to herself.
There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by Xiao Xiao's angry voice, "Sister! You bothered me so late at night just for this? Do you have any humanity? This is the twenty-third time you've said this to me! What about your actions? Let me see what you've done. Don't tell me, go tell a handsome guy! Damn it!" Xiao Xiao was getting anxious on the other end of the phone, while the man next to her was quietly comforting her.
"Please! Don't get agitated, okay?"
"Okay, don't get excited. I have more important things to do than this. I'll come find you after get off work tomorrow! We'll talk then." Xiao Xiao suppressed her anger and slammed the phone down.
"You heartless bastard! You have the nerve to talk back to me? That girl in your bed is your twenty-eighth, isn't she?" Zhang Jingzhi muttered, throwing the phone back onto the table.
If you were to mention Zhang Jingzhi and Xiao Xiao, eight out of ten people wouldn't believe they could be friends! Zhang Jingzhi was the epitome of a lady at school, always quiet and reserved, a slightly shy smile appearing before she even spoke. Xiao Xiao, on the other hand, could be considered a classic "slut," changing boyfriends faster than she changed clothes. This isn't to say Zhang Jingzhi didn't like handsome guys—she did—but she was more of an intellectual, while Xiao Xiao was a complete action-taker. While Zhang Jingzhi was still secretly admiring handsome guys and drooling, Xiao Xiao was already striding towards them. Her motto was, "Handsome guy, do you like him? If you do, then go for it!" She was practically a complete hedonist.
But these two people, by sheer coincidence, became best friends! To paraphrase Xiao Xiao's insightful words—it was "lust" that brought these two women from opposite ends of the country together. The only difference is: I, Xiao Xiao, am the promiscuous type, while you, Zhang Jingzhi, are the reserved type. When Zhang Jingzhi heard her say this, she almost wanted to rush forward and tear off Xiao Xiao's cherry-like, alluring lips, but she restrained herself before she could move, only offering a gentler, purer, and more ladylike smile.
There's a cozy coffee shop on the street corner, but it wasn't crowded today. Only a few young couples were scattered around. Why did I tell they were couples and not married couples? Come on, think about it, how many married couples in China would go to a coffee shop for a date?
Zhang Jingzhi sat alone on the side, her hand supporting her chin, her other hand unconsciously stirring the coffee in her cup. After a while, she looked at her watch and couldn't help but sigh. It was already 7:15, and Xiao Xiao still hadn't arrived. Beautiful women always have the privilege of being late!
Just then, the glass door was pushed open, and a stylishly dressed young woman walked in. Her small, oval face was framed by beautiful, expressive eyes, a high and delicate nose, and slightly full lips that were a vibrant, sexy red. Her long, wavy hair added to her allure; she was truly beautiful without being vulgar, charming without being seductive. Especially striking was her tight-fitting clothes, which perfectly accentuated her tall and shapely figure, instantly drawing everyone's attention in the room.
The women looked at her with envy and jealousy, while the men's eyes revealed naked amazement and admiration. One woman secretly reached under the table and pinched her, followed by a man's hissing gasp, then he looked at his girlfriend with an innocent and helpless expression...
Xiao Xiao noticed the reactions of those around her, smiled smugly, looked around and saw Zhang Jingzhi sitting inside. She walked straight over and sat down opposite him, and a young waiter immediately came forward to greet her.
“Same as hers.” Xiao Xiao said to the waiter, then looked at Zhang Jingzhi with a big smile, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, lady, I’m late.” But there was not a trace of guilt in her tone.
Zhang Jingzhi rolled her eyes at Xiao Xiao, then looked her up and down at her flamboyant outfit and asked, "Beautiful lady, do you usually dress like this to work?"
Xiao Xiao was a little taken aback by the question. She looked down at her exquisite clothes, then looked up at Zhang Jingzhi's smiling eyes. "Isn't it already very well covered? Is there anything wrong? The parts that should be covered are definitely not exposed."
Zhang Jingzhi ignored her words, took a sip of coffee, and said slowly, "I admire your boss."
Xiao Xiao was a little confused by Zhang Jingzhi's erratic train of thought. She didn't know why Zhang Jingzhi suddenly said something like that. She looked at Zhang Jingzhi with some puzzlement. Zhang Jingzhi glanced at Xiao Xiao calmly, held her coffee cup with great elegance, and slowly added, "To be able to face such a beauty like you every day without pinning you down on his desk!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao was taken aback, but then asked in a serious tone, "How do you know it hasn't happened before?"
"Pfft—" Zhang Jingzhi spat out the mouthful of coffee she had just taken a sip of. Some coffee droplets flew forcefully across the table and splashed onto Xiao Xiao, while others went into Zhang Jingzhi's trachea, causing her to cough repeatedly.
Xiao Xiao hurriedly grabbed a tissue from the table to wipe the stains off her body, scolding, "You brat, why are you so agitated? This outfit cost me over ten thousand yuan!"
Seeing the situation, the waiter rushed over and asked in a low voice if she needed any help. Xiao Xiao waved him off and looked at Zhang Jingzhi, who was still coughing, with a wry smile.
After a long while, Zhang Jingzhi finally managed to stop coughing. She secretly glanced around and asked in a low voice, "You really... really... were at the table with your boss... huh?" Her face was full of disbelief.
Xiao Xiao was completely exasperated with Zhang Jingzhi. She rolled her eyes at her helplessly and said irritably, "Little sister, are you really an idiot, or are you just pretending to be innocent?"
"Um?"
"Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Xiao Xiao said, staring at him.
"Aren't you that kind of person?" Zhang Jingzhi thought to herself, but dared not say it aloud. She just chuckled, then covered her chest with her hand and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, thank goodness." She picked up the coffee that the waiter had just brought her, about to take a sip to calm her nerves.
"You can't do it on the table, it's too uncomfortable!"
Xiao Xiao's words almost made Zhang Jingzhi spit out her drink again. Seeing Zhang Jingzhi's reaction, Xiao Xiao quickly leaned back, put her hands in front of her, and said urgently, "Don't spit it out! Otherwise, you'll have to pay for my clothes!"
Upon hearing that she would have to pay compensation, Zhang Jingzhi desperately held back, while Xiao Xiao chuckled, "Just kidding. You know my principles. When have I ever ate the grass near my own nest?"
"That's good. I was just afraid you'd forget that, so you wouldn't get yourself into trouble."
Xiao Xiao nodded solemnly, then said with a pained and reluctant expression, "Sigh, but our boss is really a top-notch man. It's such a pity. If this job didn't pay so well, I would have slept with him even if I quit!"
"You monster, you really are a monster!" Zhang Jingzhi rolled her eyes at her helplessly, wondering when this lecherous woman would change her ways and stop thinking with her lower body.
Seeing Zhang Jingzhi's helpless expression, Xiao Xiao deliberately gave her a flirtatious wink.
"I can't stand you anymore!" Zhang Jingzhi complained. "You were so unfair last night, you're like a guy who forgets all humanity when it comes to women. Oh, by the way, was that the same 'engine' you were last night?"
"engine?"
Zhang Jingzhi smiled wickedly, "You mean your 'bedroom engine'?"
Xiao Xiao laughed when she heard Zhang Jingzhi describe her ex-boyfriend like that. Perhaps only she knew that Zhang Jingzhi was not a lady at all, and only she could hear Zhang Jingzhi use such provocative words.
"I changed them a long time ago!" That was ages ago, Xiao Xiao thought. It must have been more than a month since the breakup.
"Huh? It's changed again?"
"Hmm," Xiao Xiao smiled charmingly, then wiggled her hips a couple of times, deliberately making an innocent and cute expression as she said, "This one is called 'Little Electric Motor'!"
Zhang Jingzhi rubbed her forehead and rolled her eyes.
Xiao Xiao said, "Alright, stop listening to my romantic escapades. You didn't call me here for that, did you? Tell me about that handsome guy you met. Who is he? He made you call me in the middle of the night."
The moment Yang Lei was mentioned, Zhang Jingzhi perked up immediately, her eyes sparkling. "He's really handsome! A real heartthrob! Xiao Xiao, I'm totally smitten this time, I'm completely infatuated with him." Even after returning home that evening, Zhang Jingzhi was still immersed in the excitement of discovering the "chicken leg," and even her mother's interrogation that night seemed adorable.
Lying in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, Zhang Jingzhi grabbed the alarm clock and saw that it was already past one o'clock. With no other option, she reached for the phone on the table, lay on the bed, and dialed her best friend and college roommate's number. The phone rang for a long time before someone answered.
"Hello—" came a lazy, hoarse voice from the other end of the phone.
"Xiao Xiao, it's me, Zhang Jingzhi,"
"Sister! Please, don't you think calling someone at one in the morning is a matter of character?" came an unhappy voice from the other end.
"Get lost! Who doesn't know how decadent your life is? One o'clock is late? I have something to tell you." Zhang Jingzhi thought to herself, "You're a womanizer who partyes every night, and you still have the nerve to say this time is late?"
"But you can't disturb other people's bedtime, I'm very busy!" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded helpless, accompanied by a low laugh.
A man!? It was a man's laughter! Zhang Jingzhi was somewhat stunned.
Zhang Jingzhi asked, "Xiao Xiao, do you have someone with you?"
"Nonsense!" Xiao Xiao cursed, then said to the person next to her, "Come on, make some noise so my sister can hear!"
A man's intermittent groans came from the other end of the phone, and Zhang Jingzhi's face flushed red. She threw the receiver aside with a "whoosh".
"Damn it! Who told you to moan in bed!" Xiao Xiao laughed and scolded on the other end of the phone. "What's up, little sister? What's so important that you're calling me so late?"
"I...I saw a handsome guy today," Zhang Jingzhi muttered to herself.
There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by Xiao Xiao's angry voice, "Sister! You bothered me so late at night just for this? Do you have any humanity? This is the twenty-third time you've said this to me! What about your actions? Let me see what you've done. Don't tell me, go tell a handsome guy! Damn it!" Xiao Xiao was getting anxious on the other end of the phone, while the man next to her was quietly comforting her.
"Please! Don't get agitated, okay?"