Chapter 291: Ke Zhongyu Kissed Her

The brilliant fireworks went off one after another, still continuing.

Didn't they always only last ten minutes in past years? This year they were actually still going. The crowd by the river was surprised, then overjoyed.

The fireworks were dazzling to the eyes, and people taking photos were everywhere.

Chi Ce looked at the others: "Everyone's taking group photos, shouldn't we take some too?"

Ke Zhongying: "The camera is already recording. Let's use our phones. Come to think of it, Sister Jiang Lai and I don't have a photo together yet."

Xiao Qian: "Neither do I."

Senior Sister wasn't allowed to be photographed before, and of course Senior Sister didn't like it herself either.

Secretary Guan also said: "Neither do I."

The other three men were harder to read. Assistant Zhou smiled slightly: "We can take a big group photo first, then individual ones."

Everyone agreed unanimously.

Ke Zhongying took out her phone and connected it to the camera: "Let's all stand in position. First we'll take a group photo with the camera."

Everyone stood in position. Jiang Lai placed both hands in front of her, looking at the lens. Hearing Ke Zhongying count to three, she joined everyone in saying once more: "Happy New Year."

The flash lit up, and with a click, the group photo was done.

Right after, Ke Zhongying shoved her phone into her brother's hands: "Take a photo of me and Sister Jiang Lai!"

Ke Zhongyu handed the phone back. Just when everyone thought he was going to refuse, Ke Zhongyu took out his own phone, stood to the side of the camera, and aimed the lens at Jiang Lai.

Facing his lens, Jiang Lai felt a little uneasy.

"Ke Zhongying, hurry up."

"Oh, so fierce." Ke Zhongying linked arms with Jiang Lai, bared her big white teeth, and made a heart shape next to her cheek.

Jiang Lai still stood quietly.

One aloof, one lively.

Ke Zhongyu snapped two shots in a row.

"Next."

Xiao Qian stepped up and flashed a peace sign.

"Next."

Jiang Lai was practically becoming a tourist photo spot.

Secretary Guan stepped forward, standing properly and neatly, with two small dimples showing when she smiled.

"Who else?" Ke Zhongyu looked at Chi Ce and Assistant Zhou.

Chi Ce quickly shook his head: "I'm not taking any. If my future girlfriend sees this photo, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it clearly and it'll affect my family harmony."

After saying that, he gave a hearty laugh, but after laughing seemed a bit downcast. He picked up his phone, opened the chat with Fu Daxiaojie, spent ages editing before sending a single "Happy New Year," then immediately tapped into Moments.

Assistant Zhou said: "I don't like taking photos."

Secretary Guan expressed regret: "Oh, that's a shame. I was originally planning to take one with Zhou Zhou too."

Assistant Zhou changed his tune: "Colleagues can take photos."

He took out his own phone and handed it to Xiao Qian: "Please help us take one."

Xiao Qian took the phone very willingly.

Ke Zhongying immediately waved at her brother: "Let me see the photos."

Ke Zhongyu walked over but didn't hand her the phone right away. Instead he said: "Take photos first."

Ke Zhongying immediately understood: "Okay."

Ke Zhongyu stood at Jiang Lai's side. Jiang Lai's body instantly tensed up, but she still stood there.

As a firework rose into the sky, it bloomed brilliantly behind the two of them.

Ke Zhongying snapped dozens of shots.

"Okay, here you go. Remember to send us the group photo." She returned the phone to her brother, but her brother could no longer hear her. He was there scrolling through the photos on the phone.

Only him and Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongyu's lips curved slightly.

Ke Zhongying was about to press the camera button. In the frame, her brother had his eyes lowered looking at the phone, and Sister Jiang Lai was looking at her brother.

Looked like her brother wasn't entirely useless after all.

At least Sister Jiang Lai had her brother in her eyes.

Ke Zhongying zoomed in, recorded this brief moment, then planned to record some other footage. Suddenly, in the lens, she spotted a familiar figure.

"Shen Xun?"

Shen Xun wove through person after person, looking around as if searching for someone.

He was almost at the end of his search.

Still no sign of Jiang Lai.

But he had clearly come based on the photo Jiang Lai posted in Moments. She should be right around here.

Just as he was puzzling over this, Shen Xun spotted Assistant Zhou and Secretary Guan.

He looked further ahead.

Jiang Lai was indeed here, but standing beside her as always was Ke Zhongyu.

Since who knows when, there was always a Ke Zhongyu standing beside Jiang Lai.

The person who should have been standing beside Jiang Lai was him.

In Shen Xun's heart there was jealousy, and even more bitterness.

"Jiang Lai." He walked over and called her name.

Everyone looked up. Ke Zhongying set the camera back in place and walked over to demand: "What are you here for?"

Shen Xun's eyes held only Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai saw him, yet she furrowed her brow.

He forced a smile and spoke gently: "Jiang Lai, happy New Year, I'm not here to cause trouble; I just wanted to wish you a happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Jiang Lai."

Ke Zhongyu's face sank: "If you don't show up, A Lai will only be happier."

"A Lai?" Hearing this intimate address, Shen Xun's expression changed, "You two…"

Are you already this close?

He found it hard to accept.

Ke Zhongyu seized Jiang Lai's hand, pulled her to his side, and held her tightly.

"We're fine. I hope you learn to disappear on your own, instead of waiting for me to make you disappear."

His icy voice was extremely oppressive.

Shen Xun had always been wary of Ke Zhongyu; he didn't step forward again, but instead took out a palm-sized plush whale and asked Jiang Lai, "Do you still remember it? You bought a pair—one for you, one for me; this is yours—you dropped it, and I found it in the box, already cleaned."

"Here." He stepped two paces toward Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai's gaze fell on the blue plush whale; she opened her mouth to say it wasn't the one she had dropped, but that she had deliberately left it behind.

Before she could speak, Ke Zhongyu turned his head and warned in a low voice, "Don't take it."

Shen Xun said, "Boss Ke, this is Jiang Lai's property; what's wrong with her taking her own belongings? No matter how strong your possessiveness, you can't deny Jiang Lai her personal space."

"Our business has nothing to do with you." Ke Zhongyu's vicious gaze swept over; the people around dared not breathe, and those who knew him a little knew he was truly angry.

Jiang Lai tugged at Ke Zhongyu's hand: "Calm down."

Ke Zhongyu bluntly said, "I can't calm down."

Shen Xun was like a flea, popping up from time to time to annoy them.

He told Shen Xun to get lost.

Shen Xun said, "This isn't Boss Ke's private turf; it's a public area—anyone can come."

Jiang Lai looked at Shen Xun: "Indeed, anyone can come; since that's the case, let's go."

She walked forward, while Ke Zhongyu didn't move his feet, instead gazing deeply at her, wondering what he was thinking.

"Huh?" Jiang Lai was slightly puzzled.

Ke Zhongyu glanced at Jiang Lai, then at Shen Xun, then suddenly pulled Jiang Lai back into his embrace, pinching her chin to force her to meet his gaze.

In the moment their eyes met, he lowered his head and kissed her.

His lips pressed against the corner of her mouth.

"Mmm!" Jiang Lai's eyes widened suddenly, her whole body feeling as if restrained, unable to move.

Ke Zhongyu… kissed her…

Before she could recover, Ke Zhongyu released her lips, tightly encircled her waist, and his fiercely aggressive gaze fell on Shen Xun.

"Shen Xun, look clearly: the person standing beside her is me."