Nan Jiaojiao had already lost the interest.
She never liked attending their gatherings in the first place, not to mention Ye Shiqing was there, keeping her under scrutiny.
Feeling uncomfortable, she let out a light sigh and said, "I'm going to the restroom."
Shen Shichu immediately stood up, "I'll accompany you."
"No need, it's right here; I'm not going far." Nan Jiaojiao pushed him back into his seat.
He didn't insist and simply admonished her with a few words, his gaze following her departing figure before turning his head away after a while.
Just as Nan Jiaojiao reached the restroom door, she heard a thud from behind it and immediately paused.
Here?
Her eyes flickered, and she turned to go to another restroom outside.
When she came out and was washing her hands at the sink, she saw Bo Yanching.
Bo Yanching was sitting on the terrace that extended from the corridor, legs crossed, a cigarette held between the fingers resting on his kneecap, with smoke rising slowly along his distinct knuckles, his wrist slightly bare.
In his other hand, he held a smartphone, swiftly scrolling through it, seemingly a bit distracted, warm orange light falling from above and casting a long shadow of his side-leaning body.
It stretched right to Nan Jiaojiao's feet.
She wanted to pretend she hadn't seen him, but to return to the private room she would have to pass by the terrace. Bo Yanching tapped off the ash and brought the cigarette to his lips just as he looked up and saw her.
The man's profound and dark eyes made her heartbeat skip a beat.
"Come here."
Nan Jiaojiao looked back to make sure he was calling her.
She pressed her lips together and walked over to him, taking out the watch and placing it on the coffee table, "You left it behind."
Bo Yanching didn't even glance at it, his gaze fixed on her.
Her off-shoulder dress, bubble sleeves puffed up on her shoulders, a retro blouse for the upper body, and the cheongsam-style skirt that gathered inwards towards the hem—very pure and yet tempting.
"Why aren't you wearing the one I bought for you?"
Nan Jiaojiao: "It didn't fit, so I didn't wear it."
Bo Yanching grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
She was so startled she tried to get up, but was held tight around the waist, not daring to move for fear of being burnt by the cigarette in his fingertips.
"What didn't fit?" Bo Yanching tugged at her dress, touched the cool temperature on her arm, and darkened his voice, "Back there, in that room, how many did you take off?"
Bo Yanching thought of the closet messy with clothes on the floor, and in the corner, people obliviously kissing on the couch. Nan Jiaojiao then, sitting beside Shen Shichu, dressed so lightly.
"One piece."
A fierce harshness flickered in Bo Yanching's ink-like pupils, but before he spoke, a small hand caught his shirt front, "It's too warm; I took off my coat."
His brows and eyes slowly eased.
Nan Jiaojiao took the opportunity to stand from his hold, "I should go, Shichu will look for me."
The man's cold voice pressed in from behind, "How are you considering the proposal to call off the engagement?"
Nan Jiaojiao's heart tightened, "Shen Shichu won't agree."
Bo Yanching's cold gaze was fixed on her, "Darling, my patience is running thin, don't wait until I make a move, and you have no room to retreat."
His gaze was so intimidating that Nan Jiaojiao nearly lost her footing.
She couldn't tell Bo Yanching about the intricate details between her and Shen Shichu right now, and also didn't know what else to say in front of him, so she chose to leave.
Suddenly, teasing laughter came from the corridor.
Before Nan Jiaojiao could react, Bo Yanching suddenly hooked her waist and pulled one layer of the sliding door of the terrace along with the curtain closed.
He flipped her around from his embrace and glanced at the two people kissing and drawing near outside.
A smile that was not quite a smile appeared on his lips, "Want to watch something exciting?"