Chapter 269

Chapter 269: Don't You Think Tangtang's Voice Sounds a Bit Strange? "You rejected him?" Chen Yuanyuan asked. Zhou Xueluo nodded. "Mm." "Honestly, what am I supposed to say to you?" Chen Yuanyuan let out a sigh, wearing an expression that said "I knew this was coming." A brief silence fell. After a moment, Chen Yuanyuan spoke earnestly, "If you ask me, you could try dating Zhang Tingyi and see how it goes. Who knows, maybe you two are a good match. Seriously, Xueluo, forget about Jiang Huai." Zhou Xueluo lowered her eyes and said nothing. Chen Yuanyuan shook her head helplessly. "I just don't get it. Besides being good-looking, what else does Jiang Huai have that attracts you? Babe, is being handsome really enough to make you love him for so many years?" A flicker of sadness passed through Zhou Xueluo's eyes as she answered Chen Yuanyuan's question very seriously. "Besides being good-looking, he has many other virtues. When we were in school, he excelled in both academics and character, and he was always willing to help others. Both the teachers and students liked him very much. Although his family background was modest, he was very ambitious, especially hardworking and driven. Yuanyuan, he does have feelings for me—it's just that he doesn't dare to face his own emotions because of the gap between our family backgrounds. Over the years, he's been working very hard to build his career. I want to wait for him a little longer." "That's just love being blind." Chen Yuanyuan hit the nail on the head. "Sure, his grades were good, but that's because studying was his only way out. He's working hard to build his career, sure, but no matter how driven or diligent he is, at best he'll only ever be a small business owner. He won't be able to cross class lines and end up with you. After all, he's your family's nanny's son. You're the young miss of the Zhou family—your parents will never accept him." The sadness in Zhou Xueluo's eyes deepened, so much so that Chen Yuanyuan felt her heart ache for her. "Babe, a short pain is better than a long one. Try liking someone else." Zhou Xueluo lowered her eyelashes and murmured, "But I've already loved him for so many years. I've long gotten used to the long pain." Seeing her expression, Chen Yuanyuan shook her head helplessly and sighed. "Ah, forget it, forget it. I guess you won't turn back until you hit a wall. Do what you want." Zhou Xueluo remained silent and didn't respond. The atmosphere was a bit stifling. Chen Yuanyuan took a sip of water and changed the subject. "It's been so long—why isn't Tangtang done yet?" "Huh? That's right." Zhou Xueluo furrowed her brows. "Tangtang couldn't have run into some trouble, could she?" Chen Yuanyuan sat up straight from the lounge chair, slipped on her slippers, and stood up. "Let's go next door and take a look." Zhou Xueluo also stood up. "Okay." Next door at that moment. Alluring and intoxicating. Jiang Shixu's lips, carrying scorching breath, landed on Chu Tang's nape. The man's voice was sexy and husky. "Did you miss me?" Chu Tang had her back to Jiang Shixu. The spring water in the bath was cool, yet Chu Tang was so hot that a thin layer of sweat had formed on her skin. Chu Tang said the opposite of what she meant: "No." "No? Say it again." The ripples spreading across the pool grew denser and denser. Jiang Shixu had gone from gentle to forceful. Just then, someone knocked on the wooden door of the courtyard. "Thump, thump, thump—" Chu Tang's rationality, which had been thrown to the clouds, instantly snapped back into place. The world fell silent, leaving only the sound of her heartbeat—thump, thump—growing faster and faster. "Tangtang, are you in there?" It was Zhou Xueluo's voice. "Tangtang, why have you been washing for so long? Nothing happened to you, right?" Chen Yuanyuan asked. Chu Tang let out a soft whimper, sweet and coquettish like a little kitten. She whispered, "It's Yuanyuan and Xueluo. I'll go open the door." "Babe, you're torturing me." Jiang Shixu let out a low chuckle. "Almost done." "What if they come in?" "Shh, it's fine. I dropped the latch when I came in. They can't get in." The door of this small courtyard was made of solid wood, and there was a latch at the entrance that served as a lock. Once the latch was dropped, the door couldn't be opened from the outside. The man leaned down and whispered in Chu Tang's ear, "Babe, they're worried something happened to you. Hurry and respond—tell them you're fine." "I can't. My voice right now..." The moment she opened her mouth with her current voice, she'd give herself away. "Then if you don't respond, they'll worry, and what if they call the police?" "Tangtang, are you still in there?" Chen Yuanyuan raised her voice and asked again. "Tangtang, you didn't faint, did you?" Zhou Xueluo's voice sounded very anxious. Chu Tang closed her eyes, steeled herself, and responded, "I'm fine." Outside the door, Zhou Xueluo and Chen Yuanyuan let out sighs of relief. Zhou Xueluo said, "You scared me to death. I saw you washing for so long without coming out and thought something had happened." But Chen Yuanyuan's expression was very strange. She lowered her voice and whispered to Zhou Xueluo in a tone only she could hear: "Xueluo, don't you think Tangtang's voice sounds a bit strange?" Zhou Xueluo was puzzled and shook her head. "No? What's strange about it?" Chen Yuanyuan whispered, "I think it sounds like... I'm not sure either. How about I test it again?" "Test what?" Zhou Xueluo listened, completely confused. Chen Yuanyuan didn't explain. She just suddenly raised her voice again and called out to Chu Tang, "Tangtang, how much longer do you need? Xueluo and I want to go play mahjong. Sister-in-law Xueluo is coming too—we need a fourth." Before Chu Tang inside could even answer, Zhou Xueluo asked in a bewildered whisper, "When did I say I wanted to play mahjong?" "Shh—" Chen Yuanyuan pressed her index finger to her lips, signaling Zhou Xueluo to keep quiet. From inside came Chu Tang's unusual voice: "You two go ahead." Zhou Xueluo blushed. She had never experienced that kind of thing before, but even if she'd never eaten pork, she'd seen a pig run—just now, Tangtang's voice was, frankly, pretty obvious. Chen Yuanyuan snickered quietly and replied with a meaningful tone, "Oh~ don't want to play mahjong, huh? Alright then, Xueluo and I will head over first. If you feel like playing, come find us anytime." There was no response from the courtyard. Chen Yuanyuan covered her mouth with one hand to stifle her laughter and took Zhou Xueluo's hand with the other. "Let's go, Xueluo. We shouldn't ruin Tangtang's good time." The voices outside faded away, and silence returned. About ten-plus minutes after Zhou Xueluo and Chen Yuanyuan left, Jiang Shixu finally finished. Chu Tang was completely worn out. But Jiang Shixu wasn't tired in the least. His breathing was steady, and he carried Chu Tang out of the pool without even a hint of panting. The man lowered his gaze to Chu Tang, whom he was holding princess-style in his arms, a smile glinting in his eyes. "Tangtang, this is nothing—already tired? I was right last time when I said you need to step up your exercise." Chu Tang leaned against the man's chest, speaking weakly, "It's not my fault. It's clearly you..." "But it's still not enough." Jiang Shixu's gaze deepened. "In a bit, when we get back to the room, I want to..." "Stop! Alright, don't say any more." Chu Tang reached up and covered the man's mouth. "I'm so tired. When we get back to the room, I'm going straight to sleep. Tonight, you're not allowed to sleep with me!" Jiang Shixu chuckled. "Alright, whatever you say." A man who had been satisfied was completely obedient. A complete contrast to the domineering brute he'd been in the pool just moments ago.