Su Chaoyang gave a faint smile, the cold lines of his face instantly curving into an captivating arc, his clear-cut features even more striking, "An'an, you've become more and more beautiful."
Li An'an laughed, her face blushing slightly, "I didn't expect to see you flatter a girl after spending so many years in the military! Is it because too many girls were chasing after you in these past years?"
Su Chaoyang responded with a carefree smile, choosing not to respond to her comment.
However, Mu Xiangwan couldn't help but wonder upon hearing this: Could he have already gotten a girlfriend?
Despite the sense of reluctance inside, in front of so many people, she couldn't outwardly show her feelings. She was already twenty years old, no longer the rebellious and willful age of her childhood when she could act without considerations.
With these thoughts in mind, she calmed down and casually called out to Su Chaoyang in a flat, normal voice, "Brother."
Although her voice wasn't loud, everyone heard it. Their anxious hearts began to steady.
Su Chaoyang snorted inwardly, surprised that after so many years, she's become more restrained, at least learning to suppress her true feelings in front of others, hadn't she?
His response to her call was an indifferent "hmm". Mu Xiangwan couldn't help but secretly scoff: What's he so proud about! It's just a few years in the army!
Soon, Zhao Jing called from the mahjong table, "An'an, Xiaowan, do you two want to join for a few rounds? We still have a while until dinner!"
Li An'an stood up, "Xiaowan, do you want to join for a few rounds? The stake's not high, it's just for fun."
Mu Xiangwan didn't have much interest in mahjong, but she felt uneasy sitting alone facing Su Chaoyang, so she stood up and said, "You go ahead, I need to make a phone call."
"Alright, be quick, we're waiting for you!"
Mu Xiangwan exited, but she wasn't making a phone call. She found a quiet and well-ventilated place and pulled out a cigarette from her bag.
But before she could light her cigarette, a deep, appealing voice came from behind her, "You have indeed learned all the bad but none of the good ones. You even learned to smoke?!"
The voice was neither cold nor warm, neither high nor low, but it carried a penetrating icy chill.
Mu Xiangwan turned her head abruptly, and upon sighting the owner of the voice, her beautiful eyes flickered, "None of your business!"
Many girls at her college smoked, so she learned too. However, she feared being detected by her mother due to the smell of smoke, so she rarely smoked, only using it to clear her mind when she felt upset.
"Hmm... How long will the little wild kitten hide her true colors?" Su Chaoyang chuckled, standing tall and sleek right beside her, his presence exerting a palpable pressure.
What was he doing out there? Mu Xiangwan was perplexed and nervously wondered, but she kept her composure.
"Why did you come back?"
"What, I can't come back? Or…you're upset to see me come back?"
"Hmph!" The young girl stared defiantly at him, "If you know already, why do you bother asking?"
Su Chaoyang curled his thin lips, moved slightly forward, and narrowed his cold eyes, "Mu Xiangwan, don't you feel any regret for what happened back then?"
"I..." She wanted to reply but didn't know what to say. The man was one head taller than her, looking down upon her from above, she didn't know where to look.
Su Chaoyang stood there unmoving. Even though the place was brilliantly lit, Mu Xiangwan felt she couldn't clearly see his face.
He was really tall, like a giant. His majestic military uniform made him look even more handsome and imposing.
Mu Xiangwan couldn't decipher his emotions, not knowing what he meant by bringing up their past.
However, in this silence, she could clearly feel the icy chill emanating from him, enveloping her surroundings and making her feel suffocated.