You're dumping me, huh? Fine, then I'll just pick up the school beauty and make her my wif

Jiang Che looked at Bai Yuning's gossipy expression and his lips twitched involuntarily.

really.

He knew that Bai Yuning couldn't have pulled him aside just to "check on the dishes"—that old, tired excuse was practically worn out.

After a moment, Jiang Che looked at Bai Yuning, who was leaning against the corridor wall, and replied in a calm tone, "I have my own plans."

Bai Yuning raised an eyebrow and looked him up and down. "You have your own plans? What plans? Tell me about them?"

"Would it still be considered a surprise if I told you?"

"Come on, what can't you and your sister say to each other?"

"..."

Jiang Che hadn't intended to hide it from his shrewd cousin, so after a bit of playfulness, he frankly replied, "It's already in the works. I was planning to find a quiet place to talk to her properly after the exams, but who knew that Miss Bai would suddenly appear and disrupt my plans."

Hearing Jiang Che's accusation, Bai Yuning couldn't help but chuckle: "So you're blaming me? If I hadn't said anything, you two would have been making out in front of the Second Middle School gate in broad daylight."

"Yes, I understand. Young people are all impatient."

"But there were so many parents and classmates watching there. Qinghe is easily embarrassed. Even if she didn't realize it at the time, wouldn't she be incredibly awkward thinking about it later?"

Jiang Che rubbed his nose with his finger and didn't refute.

Okay, this is indeed his problem.

At that time, he was focused on creating the right atmosphere, and was provoked by Su Qinghe's aggrieved yet anxious appearance. In a moment of impulse, he thought of settling down their status first.

Looking back now, I realize that this impulsive action was ill-considered.

It's strange, really. After being teased by Su Qinghe countless times over the past six months, his self-control should have been honed to the point where he could remain unmoved even with a woman in his arms.

How could I have gotten so easily intoxicated today...?

Seeing that Jiang Che didn't speak, Bai Yuning crossed her arms and adopted the posture of an elder: "Do you know what it means to see through appearances to the essence? You also know that Xiao Qinghe is a shy and introverted girl. Look at her state today."

Even in public, she still rushes out and wants to kiss and hug you.

"So, since the girl is in such a hurry, you absolutely mustn't continue with your 'own plans,' understand?"

Jiang Che was well aware of the reasons Bai Yuning had given him. He tilted his head helplessly. "Do you think I don't want to... I just wanted to give her a more formal occasion, not the kind you see on the street—"

"Okay, okay, I understand." Bai Yuning waved her hand to interrupt him, "So you've thought everything through, but you're still missing an execution plan, right?"

Jiang Che did not deny it.

To be honest, he had been thinking about it for quite some time, probably starting about a month before the college entrance exam.

They even came up with two or three alternative plans, including the specific time, place, atmosphere, lines, and so on.

But the more he wanted to give Su Qinghe a perfect confession, the more he felt that nothing was good enough, and that every plan had a tiny flaw.

This feeling of struggle is very similar to when he used to do the most challenging math problems—the thought process is clear, and he roughly knows where the answer is, but he just falls short at the last step.

It's particularly frustrating.

Bai Yuning clearly saw the conflicted look on his face. "So, do you need my help?"

Jiang Che remained silent for two seconds.

He's the kind of person who likes to be in control of everything, especially things related to Su Qinghe.

But Bai Yuning is definitely more experienced than him.

After all, he's 28 years old. Even if he hasn't had many romantic relationships, he's definitely seen more dating cases than him.

Moreover, Bai Yuning's aesthetic taste has always been on point. Whether it's her outfits or the creation of atmosphere, she's always great. Having her help me check things out... there shouldn't be any mistakes.

Thinking of this, Jiang Che relented, "Then... I'll ask my dear sister to give me some advice?"

Bai Yuning smiled, with an expression that said, "I knew it."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." She reached out and patted Jiang Che's shoulder. "But you need to figure out the big picture first. I can only help you with the icing on the cake; you'll have to figure out the core parts yourself."

"I understand." That was Jiang Che's original plan.

"Okay, let's go then. Don't leave Xiao Qinghe waiting inside alone for too long. If we sit here any longer, she'll think you've run away."

When the two pushed open the door and returned to the private room, Su Qinghe was sitting quietly in her seat playing on her phone.

Upon seeing Jiang Che enter, she immediately looked away from her phone and then fixed her gaze on him.

Jiang Che took two steps, and Su Qinghe's gaze followed him two inches, until Jiang Che sat down beside her.

This amused Jiang Che, who picked up the kettle and poured her a cup of tea. "Why are you staring at me? Are you hungry?"

"No, I just wanted to see my boyfriend, is that not allowed?"

"Okay, okay, my boyfriend's right here, I'm not running away."

The waiter handed over the menu, and Bai Yuning said she had almost finished ordering. She asked Su Qinghe if there was anything else she wanted to eat, and if she could add more.

Su Qinghe shook her head and said she would listen to Yu Ning.

She's not a picky eater, and she just looked at the menu, which mostly featured dishes she likes.

After the three of them ordered their food, Bai Yuning suddenly remembered something, turned her head to look at Jiang Che, and said, "By the way, where's your good brother? You mean that guy named Wang Kai? Should we invite him to come along?"

"It's a celebration banquet, the more people, the more lively it is."

Jiang Che thought about it and decided that he should indeed invite Wang Kai.

After all, this friend of his had been with him from elementary school all the way to his senior year of high school, witnessing all the big and small things that had happened along the way.

Whether it was helping him confront Zhao Wenyu or cheering him on in the competition, Wang Kai has never let anyone down.

So Jiang Che took out his phone and sent a message to Wang Kai.

Jiang Che: Where are you? Come over for dinner, I've sent you the address.

After posting it, I thought about it and added another message.

Jiang Che: Ask Liu Mengyao if she's coming; we can invite her along.

Wang Kai quickly replied, saying that the two of them would arrive soon.

About twenty minutes later, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside, and Wang Kai and Liu Mengyao walked in one after the other.

Jiang Che glanced at his good friend. Now that Wang Kai has lost weight, with a little grooming and styling, he's just as handsome as Daniel Wu.

Standing next to Liu Mengyao, one is tall and handsome, the other is fair-skinned and beautiful.

There's no longer any trace of the disharmony between Beauty and the Beast.