Ah Mei, who already had a bad impression of Shen Jingbin, turned her attention to the side and caught sight of her slowly inching towards Zhao Chengning.
As sheâd been very subtle about it, everyone else, including Zhao Chengning, hadnât noticed what she was doing.
"Itâs a little cramped, can you move over a bit?" Shen Jingbin suddenly asked.
Zhao Chengning glanced at her for a moment before he whispered in her ear, "Mm? Was I squishing you?"
The two were practically glued to one another. In fact, half of Shen Jingbinâs back was already against his chest. They were so close; she could even feel the faint rising and falling of his chest when he spoke.
Maximum attraction.
"Sorry about this, but can you find somewhere else to sit?" Zhao Chengning suddenly said to Ah Mei, startling her as sheâd also started to inch towards him gradually.
"Mm? What did Second Young Master say?"
"I said: can you find somewhere else to sit?"
"Oh, okay," Agreed Ah Mei without any hesitation. She then moved to sit beside the youth with a white shirt.
"Second Young Master, why arenât you over there having fun?" Ah Mei asked Zhao Chengning with a face full of smiles.
Zhao Chengning shot a casual glance at her but didnât reply. Instead, he lowered his head to Shen Jingbinâs ear once again and asked, "Do you feel like doing anything?"
A spark of mischievousness rose up in Shen Jingbinâs heart when she gently looked up and eyed Ah Mei who was glaring daggers at her. Shen Jingbin turned to the man beside her and flashed a brilliant smile at him. "I feel like playing cards, will you accompany me?"
Zhao Chengning had the impulse to reach out and cover Shen Jingbinâs eyes. Her eyes were shining far too brightly, and it felt as if the all the stars in the nightâs sky were gathered within them.
"Iâll keep you company."
"Me me me! Little Jingjing, add me in too! I want to come with you!" Jiang Weiwei felt that the two of them were being too lovey-dovey, and every fiber of her being was screaming at her to ruin the moment.
Not willing to be ignored, the youth in the white shirt added, "What about me, what about me?! I know how to play cards too, add me in."
Ah Mei only meant for it to be a casual question. Little did she know that this one innocuous question would result in everyone around her leaving, and she was now at a bit of a loss. "What card game are you guys going to be playing?"
At this point, Zhao Chengning had already monopolised Shen Jingbin and was standing up, eyeing Ah Mei from his position above her. "The game weâre playing probably isnât suitable for you, so I think youâre better off not coming along. Ah Hao doesnât need you either. You can make your way back after resting here for a bit. Someone outside will send you off."
Ah Meiâs face turned pale, and she deflated like a balloon the moment she heard what he said.
Only, no one bothered about her. Shen Jingbin glanced back at her with indifferent eyes before facing forward once more.
Zhao Chengning suddenly leaned towards her ears and whispered, "She was trying to make a move on me."
Shen Jingbin stopped in her tracks and looked at him in astonishment.
What the f*ck!? Who sounded like they were being wronged when they were whispering in her ear just now?
Zhao Chengning wore a look that screamed âIâve been wrongedâ as he stared at her. Seeing this, Shen Jingbin felt her heart melt and clasped one of his wrists. "Youâve been wronged," She said softly.
Zhao Chengning looked very pleased by this and reached out to grab her with his other hand. "Thatâs why I told her to leave. Donât feel sorry for her; I was helping you to chase away a love rival."
"Does that mean I need to thank you then?"
"Mmhm, itâd be impolite of me to refuse."
"How should I show my appreciation?"
"How about something practical..."
"..." Shen Jingbin immediately turned to stare at him.
Zhao Chengning dropped his gaze and cast a sidelong glance at her before correcting himself, "What I meant was that you should thank me by doing something practical; like going easy on me when weâre playing cards. Donât have any impure thoughts."
"...I wasnât thinking anything dirty!"
"Oh, then I must have been the one who was thinking dirty thoughts instead."
"Thatâs right!" Shen Jingbin forcefully nodded her head. "Oh right. No matter what, that girlâs still one of your childhood friends, right? Is it really alright for her to leave like that?"
Zhao Chengning looked over to where Ah Hao was and said, "Ah Haoâs a playboy. She may be his girlfriend in name, but sheâs actually his female companion. And, sheâs just one of the many female companions he has. In fact, letting him know that sheâs leaving might make it even more embarrassing for her."
Shen Jingbin followed his gaze and looked over. Almost as if heâd sensed it, Ah Hao looked up and saw the two of them staring at him. When Shen Jingbin entered his line of sight, he even gave them a foolish grin before he mouthed the words âSister-in-Lawâ.
Shen Jingbinâs face froze. "Mm, I think youâre right."
Zhao Chengning, whoâd noticed the change in her expression, chuckled and signaled to Ah Hao with his eyes.
Masterfully done, bro.
Shen Jingbinâs quartet walked over to the group of people who were playing up a storm at the table when Shen Jingchen â whoâd drunk himself into a bit of a stupor â gave a loud beer burp and said, "Oh, youâre finally here?"
Shen Jingbin immediately pinched her nose and looked at him with disdain, "Away with you, you drunkard. Donât speak to me."
"Hey, this little lady actually has to gall to look down on her big brother!" Shen Jingchen was suddenly filled with vigor as he pounced at Shen Jingbin while exhaling his potent breath all over her.
Everyone burst into laughter, while a few of his bros tried to hold him back.
"Hey hey hey! Shen Jingchen, we canât allow you to bully our beauty."
"Thatâs right, thatâs right, sheâd be the apple of my eye if I had a sister like her. I wouldnât try to bully her like you."
Shen Jingchen was overcome with grief and indignation. "Youâre being swindled by this girl! Sheâs no helpless rabbit; sheâs a violent and merciless monster. Sheâs a wolf in sheepâs clothing!"
Everyone cast suspicious gazes at the woman in question who was a âwolf in sheepâs clothingâ.
Only to see her smiling sweetly back at them.
"Mm, why donât you find out for yourselves whether or not Iâm a wolf in sheepâs clothing. Letâs play a game of cards."
"My god, the fairy smiled at me!"
The foolish men dumbly nodded their heads and made a decision that theyâd come to regret a thousand times over in the future.
The phrase âthe charm of a woman is fatalâ was right on point!