"Drink, drink, once you’re drunk, you won’t think too much. What am I worried about anyway? After all, Chen He will take me home."
Zhou Wang, who heard Ji Xiaoxi’s thoughts, finally understood what she was thinking.
Does this count as a kind of "ostrich mentality"?
But, to be fair, Ji Xiaoxi’s self-deception seemed to have worked. For a while, Zhou Wang didn’t hear her thoughts again.
How could this be okay?
Eager to further test the effectiveness of his gadget, Zhou Wang made idle chatter with Chen He while sneaking one hand under the dining table.
At this time, the seating arrangement had Zhou Wang at the head of the long dining table, in the traditional host position, while Ji Xiaoxi and Chen He sat on either side of him.
Initially, Ji Xiaoxi wished to sit next to Chen He, but Chen He thought that would be too formal and make it hard to chat, leading to the current seating distribution that conveniently favored Zhou Wang’s intentions...
"Chen He, still no word on that interview?"
At this moment, Ji Xiaoxi seemed to have adjusted her mindset and was smiling as she asked Chen He.
"No, looks like there’s no hope for it. Ah, Xiaoxi, you know, for this role..."
"Ah!"
Chen He, who was speaking while sneaking glances at Zhou Wang’s expression, was suddenly startled by his girlfriend’s exclamation.
"Xiaoxi, what’s wrong?"
"I’m... I’m fine. I just spilled some wine."
Ji Xiaoxi’s face flushed as she hurriedly settled her wine glass on the table, her hand reaching underneath as if tidying her skirt from Chen He’s perspective...
If one ignored Zhou Wang’s other hand disappearing beneath the table.
"Zhou Wang... is he crazy, putting his hand on my leg..."
From Zhou Wang’s perspective, Ji Xiaoxi’s panicked and helpless voice resonated in the private room. Her soft hand covered the back of his hand, trying to pry it off.
However, afraid of Chen He noticing, Ji Xiaoxi didn’t dare to exert much force, and lacking strength herself, she couldn’t possibly move Zhou Wang’s hand.
As his hand skillfully slipped past the tablecloth, then slipped beneath the black JK skirt, covering the smooth leg, Zhou Wang’s heart fluttered.
It was only then he understood why certain movies favored such scenarios. Though he had touched more taboo places on Ji Xiaoxi before, the emotions in this setting were entirely new.
Ji Xiaoxi had a petite teenage figure. While not voluptuous at first glance, everyone knew even the slimmest thighs have some flesh.
Moreover, having been untouched by weathering, Ji Xiaoxi’s skin texture was extraordinary, as smooth as silk, growing increasingly intoxicating to the touch.
Beneath was the tautly stretched white stockings, above, the edge of black safety shorts.
Zhou Wang’s hand lay precisely at the center of this absolute territory.
After a while of resisting, Ji Xiaoxi seemed to realize she couldn’t move Zhou Wang’s hand. With Chen He still watching her, she had no choice but to withdraw her hand, concealing her actions by taking a bite of ice cream from the table.
"Just... just treat it like a fly bite, as long as he doesn’t go too far... If I resist, Chen He will notice, so this is an involuntary compromise... His palm is so hot, why are guys’ body temperatures so high..."
Zhou Wang heard Ji Xiaoxi’s intermittent thoughts, sparking his curiosity.
What exactly was Xiaoxi’s idea of "not too far"?
"Chen He, do you really want to be an actor?"
Zhou Wang, with a smile, lured Chen He’s attention while his hand began to move slowly upward.
"Mmph!"
Feverishly, Ji Xiaoxi clamped her mouth shut with a napkin, stifling any audible sound.
At that moment, Chen He indeed wasn’t focusing on his girlfriend, captivated instead by Zhou Wang’s inquiry.
During previous conversations, Chen He had subtly led the topic in that direction, but Zhou Wang either changed the subject or circled around it. This was the first direct question Zhou Wang posed, and Chen He certainly wouldn’t miss the opportunity.
"Yes, Mr. Zhou!"
Chen He began to pour out his troubles, "The modeling industry has so many limitations and is really just for youth—acting is different..."
While Chen He was talking about his future plans, Ji Xiaoxi again placed her hand on Zhou Wang’s.
She had initially decided to endure, but as Zhou Wang began messing with her safety shorts, how could she tolerate it?
"So hot, so strange... What is Zhou Wang trying to do... This feeling is entirely different from being drunk, why... why am I hoping he continues... Ji Xiaoxi, you’re going crazy, no way, no way!"
"The lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in life do not come from the Father but are from the world..."
"?
Zhou Wang, absorbed in the intriguing sound of the girl’s thoughts, suddenly heard a random text, taken aback.
He soon realized it might be a prayer scripture. Xiaoxi had mentioned that her father was a follower of some religion.
Huh, let’s see if your Father in heaven is effective, or if my hand on your leg is sharper...
"Ah, Zhou Wang, he, he..."
Ji Xiaoxi’s urgent and trembling scream echoed in the private room, but Chen He couldn’t hear it.
Unable to stop Zhou Wang at all, one hand covered her mouth while the other was lamely resting over Zhou Wang’s, feebly swaying.
In actuality, her act of hiding was ineffective. If Chen He turned her way for just a second, he’d see that Ji Xiaoxi was in an abnormal state.
Her ears were burning red, her eyes unfocused, and her body was nearly slipping off the chair.
"No, this is too intense, I can’t hold it any longer!"
Inside Ji Xiaoxi’s mind, a voice was shouting. At some point, as she realized she was about to lose control, she mustered unexpected strength, pushing the table away and quickly standing up.
At the same moment, Zhou Wang quietly withdrew his hand, ensuring that a bewildered Chen He saw no trace of anything.
"I... I need to use the restroom!"
After breathlessly delivering these words, Ji Xiaoxi grabbed her handbag and hurriedly headed out.
"Xiaoxi, are you okay? Should I go with you?"
Chen He asked, beginning to rise from his seat.
"No, it’s fine, I’ll go by myself!"
With a wave, Ji Xiaoxi opened the door and left, though her steps were slightly unsteady.
A flicker of suspicion flashed across Chen He’s face. Looking back at Zhou Wang, who was gracefully wiping his hands with a napkin, he was about to say something when his phone chimed.
Upon reading it, Chen He’s expression slightly shifted.
"Damn it, what the hell, why is Sister Yan at Po Restaurant?!"
"Who did you say?"
Zhou Wang was taken aback.
"Uh, Mr. Zhou, what did you say?"
Chen He, unsure what Zhou Wang meant, looked up at him, puzzled.
Zhou Wang quickly understood that he had heard Chen He’s thoughts.
Having only been hearing Ji Xiaoxi’s earlier, Zhou had momentarily forgotten that this was a tool usable on everyone. Until now, Chen He had shown no emotional fluctuation, yet something in a message had unsettled him.
But who exactly was this "Sister Yan" to make Chen He so flustered...
Ding dong! Ding dong!
Chen He’s phone buzzed relentlessly since he hadn’t replied.
"Why on earth did I tell her where I was dining, damn it, I’m such an idiot. What do I do now?"
Chen cursed himself internally, yet helplessly picked up his phone to start replying to messages.
A moment later, with seemingly set his mind, his face showed a moment of struggle before he looked at Zhou Wang:
"Uh, Mr. Zhou, I need to make a restroom trip too. If Xiaoxi returns first, could you let her know... um, my stomach’s a bit upset, so I might take a little while."
Forcing a smile, Chen He explained to Zhou Wang, before rising quickly and exiting the room.
Zhou Wang lounged back in his chair, deep in thought.
Had he not heard Chen He’s inner thoughts, he might have believed him...
After contemplation, Zhou Wang stood up and walked out.
The round had started quite some time ago, but the "Angel and Demon" options had yet to be triggered, suggesting that the crux of events likely revolved around Chen He since the "Hidden Round" had been initiated by him.
For now, Zhou Wang needed to uncover whatever secret lay within Chen He’s heart...