"Hello, Jiang Hai, where are you? Come over for dinner!"
Jiang Hai picked up the phone and heard Huang Yunfei's voice on the other end. Rubbing his temples with a weary sigh, he glanced at Qi Li, who was lying beside him, blinking those big, bright eyes at him.
But their relationship was no longer as simple as just man and woman.
They were both naked.
Scarlet stains still marked the bedsheets—there was no need to spell out what had just happened.
"I can't come. Something came up. Qi Li's drunk and can't leave right now. We'll catch up another time," Jiang Hai replied with a sigh, still holding the phone.
Huang Yunfei didn't press the issue. He understood. After all, they had plenty of time ahead of them—he and the others were heading to the U.S. with Jiang Hai. One meal wasn't a big deal.
As soon as Jiang Hai hung up, Qi Li crawled closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips brushed his, her entire body pressing intimately against his.
"Cut it out, your breath still reeks of alcohol," Jiang Hai said, dodging slightly and setting the phone aside.
"Tsk, what? Now you want me to brush my teeth before a kiss?" Qi Li pouted teasingly. "You weren't this picky earlier. Weren't you kissing me like crazy? Want me to kiss you here instead?" she added, shifting her body and smirking playfully.
"You weren't satisfied just now and still want to stir things up?" Jiang Hai chuckled, placing a hand on her waist and giving her a gentle pinch.
Qi Li let out a soft whimper, glancing up at him while her hand traced slowly down his chest. Before long, she grabbed a particular part of him, prompting Jiang Hai to slap her rear lightly.
"Yes, I wasn't satisfied. I don't think I ever will be—not in this lifetime," she said, leaning on his chest, fingers still moving. "No wonder Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi were all over you the moment they met you. I always heard it hurts for women the first time, but aside from that initial sting... it's really not bad at all."
Jiang Hai couldn't help but think to himself—if not for my spiritual energy, would she still be saying that?
Qi Li had been completely wild earlier, letting years of pent-up emotions erupt all at once. Normally, she'd be sore for days. But now? She acted like nothing had happened.
"Let's do it again," she whispered in his ear, without waiting for his response. Her grip tightened, and before long, Jiang Hai was ready again. And so, the second round began.
By the time it ended, night had fallen completely. Qi Li looked utterly spent, her body soaked in sweat, hair clinging to her skin. Even Jiang Hai was slightly out of breath.
Just then, Jiang Hai's WeChat chimed. It was Ai Xiaoxi, asking if he was coming back for dinner. He glanced at the time—already past seven. Those two girls must've been waiting a while.
"Come on, I'll carry you to the shower. Then we'll head out to eat," Jiang Hai said, patting Qi Li's leg.
"You and your two little lovers?" she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Forget it. Let me rest. I'm not even hungry."
Jiang Hai raised an eyebrow, then said nothing. Instead, he scooped her up and carried her straight to the bathroom. He turned on the water, and they washed together—playing and teasing as they did. But perhaps because they had done this a few times already, neither showed much embarrassment.
Once they'd rinsed off the scent of sex and alcohol, Qi Li went to do her makeup and change. Meanwhile, Jiang Hai returned to the bedroom, changed the sheets, and opened the windows to air out the room. Right now, any adult walking in would know exactly what had transpired here.
What once was an intoxicating scent had now become vaguely unpleasant in his post-passion "saint mode."
He hooked up the automatic washing machine, tossed in Qi Li's clothes and the sheets, and hit start—never mind what fabric they were made of.
By the time he was done, Qi Li had changed into a fresh outfit. Compared to her bold, professional look during the day, this one was soft and girlish—adorably so.
As they stepped out together, she immediately clung to Jiang Hai's arm and leaned on him. She was completely dependent on him now—this was her most tender and affectionate state.
They went downstairs. After the workout they'd had, Qi Li was obviously exhausted, but Jiang Hai had already sweated out all the alcohol. He could drive safely—even if pulled over, nothing would show.
He drove the Infiniti toward his house, and along the way, called Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen. When the two came down and got into the car, the atmosphere instantly shifted.
Usually, Jiang Hai and Ai Xiaoxi would chat on the road—but only verbally.
This time, Qi Li was openly... fondling him.
The two girls were stunned. What the hell is going on?
"What are we eating?" Qi Li asked, clearly annoyed by their presence but still making an effort to be polite.
Her tone startled both girls. Qi Li had always been a tough, decisive woman. Now, she was acting soft and sweet, with a delicate voice and clinging posture.
"Uh... Miss Qi, are you okay?" Feng Yunchen asked hesitantly.
"What do you mean? Come on, what do you want to eat?" Qi Li rolled her eyes and repeated her question.
Seeing her regain some of her usual edge, Feng Yunchen relaxed slightly.
"Whatever. Let Jiang Hai decide," she said, glancing at him.
"Let's go for clay pot," Jiang Hai suggested. After a moment's thought, the three women nodded in agreement. It had been a while since they had it.
Clay pot, or more accurately, clay pot fried cakes, is a northern specialty. Jiang Hai hadn't traveled much in China, so he wasn't sure where exactly it originated—but it likely came from the Northeast.
You cook various ingredients in a seasoned soup inside a clay pot. Unlike the South, where people prefer the natural flavor of the ingredients and only add a little salt, Northerners throw in all kinds of seasonings to get the taste just right.
There were many options: mutton with vermicelli and spinach, beef and tomato, tofu and meatballs, braised lion's head meatballs, steamed versions—you name it. These pots came complete with both soup and vegetables.
The staple? Fried pancakes.
Freshly made, they had a crispy outer layer and a soft interior. You could bite straight in or dip them into the soup to soak up the flavor. Either way, they were delicious.
There was also the restaurant's special braised pork—tender and richly flavored. It brought back memories. When Jiang Hai and the others were younger, this was their go-to comfort food.
Ai Xiaoxi might not have eaten much of it, but Qi Li and Feng Yunchen certainly had. Once they grew up and started working, they had more money but fewer opportunities to indulge in such simple pleasures. Clay pot meals weren't expensive anymore—but people had just moved on.
That's why, when Jiang Hai suggested it, everyone lit up with a bit of nostalgia.
They found a place on their phones and headed out for a satisfying meal.
Afterward, all four leaned back, full and content.
But a new dilemma loomed—where would they sleep?
Under normal circumstances, Jiang Hai would have returned home with Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi.
But after what had happened with Qi Li that afternoon... leaving her now didn't sit right.
Yet inviting her to stay at his place?
Jiang Hai didn't need psychic powers to know that was a terrible idea.
(To be continued...)