Chapter 8: Bro, You Smell Amazing (Please Keep Reading)

Returning home, Chen Yansen flopped straight into bed and slept. He didn't drag himself up until the alarm rang, then biked off to the county hospital.

The process went smoothly—his vision, hearing, and motor skills were all excellent. All he had to do was hand the physical exam report to the driving school and wait for the exam to be scheduled.

"Wanna head to the internet cafe and run a round on the Pyramid map?"

Wang Zihao wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and said, panting between breaths.

Late July, right in the height of the dog days. The afternoon sun hung high, the air thick with scorching heat, the asphalt road baking soft—every step lifted the soles of his shoes with a sticky tug.

Heading to an internet cafe to game for a while and mooch some air-conditioning was absolutely the top pick for a young guy.

"Not much fun."

Chen Yansen waved a hand, let out a long breath, and dropped his butt onto the marble slab at the driving school's entrance, looking a bit wilted.

"How about I treat you to billiards? A new pool hall just opened on the south gate, AC blasting all day."

Wang Zihao wore a look that clearly pained his wallet—obviously the place didn't come cheap.

"Sure, why not."

Chen Yansen replied, agreeing reluctantly.

The samples shipped from Yangcheng were sent by express air freight, but even so it still took two or three days either way. The MP3 and MP4 reselling operation couldn't kick off for at least another three to five days.

So right now he only had two choices:

Either go home and grind through the driving test questions, or head to the pool hall and soak up the cold air.

The two hopped on their bikes, chatting and laughing the whole way. Before long they passed through Tongfei Gate and turned left into a narrow alley.

"Thwack!"

The moment they reached the door, a black 8 ball came flying straight at them.

"Holy crap!"

Chen Yansen quickly ducked his head and dodged fast. Then he heard a loud 'clang' of impact. He turned to look and saw the ball smash heavily into the ground, shattering a flagstone on the spot.

Wang Zihao, standing beside him, went dark in the face, yanked open the door curtain, and roared inside: "Are you playing pool or playing people?"

"Sorry, sorry!"

"Oh? Why is it you!"

Two girls of seventeen or eighteen, clutching their cues, hurried over and apologized to Wang Zihao repeatedly.

"Zhou Xue, Li Maimai—you two do this?"

Seeing they were classmates, Wang Zihao's anger ebbed a little, though his tone stayed sharp.

"Haozi, you okay?"

Another girl walked out—white short-sleeve top, light-blue jeans, hands stuffed in her pockets, looking a bit cocky, a trace of concern between her brows.

"Big Sis, you're here too."

Wang Zihao scratched his head, gave an awkward grin, and answered Meng Jie. His attitude finally eased, then he added: "I'm fine, but Chen Yansen almost got clocked."

"Chen Yansen, sorry about that!"

"It's all Maimai's fault for swinging too hard—we were scared to death just now!"

Zhou Xue and Li Maimai wore apologetic looks. While apologizing they couldn't help sizing Chen Yansen up and down, and only settled their hearts once they saw he wasn't hurt.

"Li Maimai, billiards isn't shot put—lucky I dodged fast enough."

Chen Yansen stepped forward and teased with a smile.

He had some impression of this chubby girl—after all, at last autumn's sports meet she'd brought a shot-put first-place trophy back for Class Eight.

"I'll be more careful next time."

Li Maimai said, blushing and still shaken.

"Glad you're okay. Since we ran into each other, let's all play together."

Meng Jie called everyone over and they headed back into the pool hall.

A wave of chill hit him in the face. Chen Yansen wasn't much interested in billiards either. He took the pulpy orange drink Meng Jie handed him and sipped it in small mouthfuls while taking in the surroundings.

He was surprised to find that girls from over a decade ago seemed to dress a lot more boldly.

There were seven or eight girls in spaghetti-strap tops and hot pants!

"Are they white?"

Meng Jie looked up and caught Chen Yansen's eyes locked on a few pairs of bare legs, so she quietly sat down beside him and asked, face darkening.

"Not just white, but long too."

Chen Yansen admitted it openly, not the least bit embarrassed. He didn't even turn his head as he spoke—his gaze stayed fixed on someone else's thighs.

"Chen Yansen, your face is thicker than the city wall."

Meng Jie visibly froze—she hadn't expected Chen Yansen to be so candid.

"Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment."

Chen Yansen picked up his drink and took a small sip. He was eighteen this year—he liked looking at pretty legs. Was that a crime?

"Last time at the KTV, you used me as a human shield. Zhou Keyuan must hate my guts now. How do you plan to make it up to me?"

Meng Jie raised her foot and kicked him in the calf.

"I never meant to use you as any kind of shield."

Chen Yansen turned his head and looked down at her.

This Miss really did have fair skin—maybe because of the heat, a faint blush sat on each cheek. Her nose bridge was high, her lips full and red, and behind her black-framed glasses hid a pair of slender lashes and a pair of bright, spirited eyes.

Her petite, delicate figure was a rare bonus.

"Though, admittedly, a bit on the small side."

Chen Yansen commented in a low voice, without the slightest hesitation.

Meng Jie followed his gaze and realized it had finally landed on her chest—then she understood what 'a bit on the small side' really meant.

"Chen Yansen, you bastard! I've always treated you like a brother!"

Even though Meng Jie had a bold and straightforward personality, she couldn't withstand Chen Yansen's direct advances, waving her fists and shouting in protest.

"Is that so? Dare you play a game?"

Chen Yansen said nothing, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

"Who's afraid of whom? Come on!"

Meng Jie didn't back down, puffing out her chest.

"Give me your hand."

Chen Yansen's left hand turned upward, gently curling his fingers to signal her to place hers on it.

"You used this trick last time."

Meng Jie glanced at Chen Yansen's palm—his fingers long and strong—and for some reason, she unconsciously swallowed, though her tone remained dismissive.

"The game is simple: just stare into each other's eyes. Whoever looks away first loses."

Chen Yansen took Meng Jie's small hand and explained the rules.

"Then you're definitely going to lose."

Meng Jie snorted, quickly assuming her stance, glaring as if facing a mortal enemy.

Chen Yansen said nothing, staring fixedly at her.

The warmth from his palm gradually made Meng Jie feel restless; as time passed, his smiling face seemed etched firmly into her mind.

Arched brows, starlike eyes, deep gaze, lips neither too thin nor too thick, a faint, elusive smile.

"So Chen Yansen is actually handsome!"

"His eyebrows are nice, his eyes aren't bad, his nose is high and straight, his lip line is smooth—perfect..."

As she stared at his face, Meng Jie silently evaluated him in her mind; her fierce gaze gradually softened.

"What are they doing?"

"Wang Zihao, Chen Yansen is your best friend—tell us secretly, are you really planning to pursue Meng Jie?"

"I don't know."

Wang Zihao and the other two, standing nearby, huddled together whispering, their gossiping fire burning especially bright.

After watching for a while and seeing the two still locked in a staring contest, they gave up and returned to focusing on their pool game.

"This game is boring—I could stare at you all day."

Ten minutes later, Meng Jie pouted.

"Oh? Then why is your heart beating so fast?"

Chen Yansen smiled faintly, tapping her wrist with his finger—his fingers had been resting on her pulse all along.

In just a few minutes, her heart pounded like a drum.

"No, no, you're mistaken."

Meng Jie yanked her hand away from Chen Yansen's grip, protesting loudly.

"Fine then, brother's fine too."

Chen Yansen shrugged, sighed deeply, appearing defeated and disappointed.

Seeing him like this, Meng Jie suddenly felt a pang in her chest, and regret surfaced unexpectedly.

"But brother, you smell so good—what brand of soap do you use?"

Seeing she was silent, Chen Yansen leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.

The warm breath slipped into Meng Jie's ear, a tingling, ticklish sensation that made her instantly jump to her feet.

"Chen Yansen, you're truly a pervert!"

The girl's face flushed crimson, the color spreading rapidly to the backs of her ears as she gritted her teeth.

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(End of Chapter)