On the raised platform of the bar, the DJ skillfully adjusted the mixer. Popular songs transformed into pulsing electronic beats, flowing through the dancing crowd.
The music was loud.
Which only made this corner feel quieter.
Young Master Si, who had always been admired and pursued, who had just been confessed to by a beauty moments ago, was now being coldly distanced by a woman who looked utterly ordinary—who, upon closer inspection, even had visible imperfections on her face.
That indifferent “We’re not familiar” stood in humiliating contrast to the excitement he had shown upon seeing her.
It made people want to crawl into the ground.
Well—them, not him.
Come on. If you’re going to watch a joke, pick the right person.
Was the only son of the Si family someone whose humiliation they could afford to witness?
The long-haired handsome guy now wished he could slap himself.
Serves you right for talking too much. Serves you right for being curious. Curiosity killed the cat!
Why did he have to ask her that question?
Now look. Young Master Si’s gaze had turned from cold arrows into molten lava—hissing, bubbling dark red.
And he and this woman might end up dying without a complete corpse left.
Since death was inevitable, he might as well be a good person and show some gentlemanly spirit—
He opened his mouth. “Um, Young Master Si, I think she didn’t mean—”
“Shut up.”
Si Jiang cut him off, his expression dark.
The long-haired man zipped his lips shut.
Then Si Jiang walked around the table and stopped in front of the calm Zong Yan.
Everyone held their breath.
He wasn’t going to hit a woman, was he? In public?
But not a single person stepped forward to stop him.
They saw Si Jiang clench his fist tightly, his face flushed with anger.
Was he really this angry…? She had only said they weren’t familiar. Why was he reacting like this?
He hadn’t been this prideful before.
Damn. This girl was really unlucky.
Almost everyone thought that.
Except Chen Bai, who had been silently drinking since the beginning.
He poured himself another glass, his face gloomy.
Only two words echoed in his mind.
Heh.
Si Jiang was furious. His eyes shone brightly under the flickering lights. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But then his face darkened. He glanced at the others, lowered his voice, and asked:
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing.”
Zong Yan tossed the reply back casually, fiddling with her phone, seemingly looking at a newly added WeChat contact.
She didn’t spare him a single glance.
It stabbed at his eyes.
He reached to grab her phone. Zong Yan flipped her hand, blocking him—
And smacked his hand away with force.
It’s over.
Someone winced.
Where did this girl come from? How dare she treat Young Master Si like that?
Didn’t she know how to read the room? If she just looked at his expression, she wouldn’t dare—
Wait.
Something was wrong.
Si Jiang, who everyone expected to explode, did raise his right hand high, as if about to strike.
Zong Yan still didn’t look up.
His hand dropped—
His fingers curled into a fist—
Then his index finger pointed at himself.
“Why did you ask for his WeChat… and not mine?”
His expression wasn’t anger.
It was… grievance.
Chen Bai covered his face with one hand.
He knew it. The moment this woman appeared, his brother lost all his brain cells.
Zong Yan finally looked up.
“I already added yours,” she answered calmly.
“If you added mine, you can’t add it again?”
Zong Yan was speechless.
Si Jiang suddenly realized how stupid that sounded and hurriedly spat, “No, I mean—why did you add him?”
There were barely any people in her contacts.
What was so special about this long-haired guy?
A grown man with long hair. No presence at all.
He cursed inwardly—
Then froze, staring at the dyed strands of that man’s hair.
Bastard. Pervert.
So she liked men with long hair?
Was that why she treated him like that before?
What was so great about long hair? Anyone could grow it.
He touched his own short sideburns, teeth clenching.
No.
He would never grow long hair.
Never.
Why should he cater to her preferences?
They weren’t familiar.
Not familiar.
The very words he himself had once said now became a sharpened blade, turning back and stabbing him.
He had said it because he didn’t know how to define their relationship.
But Zong Yan?
She never spoke nonsense. Never lied. Never used empty politeness.
She said they weren’t familiar.
A sharp ache surged into his dry eyes.
What was this?
She had gone to his house.
Used him like a tool for release.
Held him.
Asked him what he wanted.
And yet—
She said they weren’t familiar.
How could they be “not familiar,” when they had seen each other’s bodies, closed every distance between them, fallen asleep leaning against each other?
…
Friends with benefits were like that too.
His heart dropped into an icy abyss.
Had Zong Yan only treated him as a cheap, convenient body?
She didn’t want her precious junior to be uncomfortable. Didn’t want him to see her true nature.
So someone as worthless as him was perfect.
“It has nothing to do with you.”
Zong Yan ignored his worsening expression. She put away her phone and turned to leave.
“Young Master Si should go mind his own business.”
“My own business, my ass. Don’t even think about leaving. Explain yourself right here.”
He grabbed her wrist.
He was going crazy from her unpredictable warmth and coldness.
Zong Yan simply raised her hand and looked at her wrist, now pale from his grip.
Her eyes narrowed in displeasure.
His fingers trembled. He loosened his grip slightly—but didn’t let go.
“Y-you… say something.”
His voice had softened visibly.
Chen Bai opened his second bottle, drinking expressionlessly.
Brother.
Can you stay tough for just a little longer?
Not long.
Just one minute.
Can you do it?
“What do you want me to say?”
Zong Yan asked.
“If I add someone on WeChat, do I need to explain it to you?”
Si Jiang’s face went pale.
She grabbed his arm in return and pulled his head down toward her.
Her lips parted slightly, carrying the faint scent of alcohol.
“Si Jiang,” she whispered.
“What right do you have… to question me?”
