After Failing To Tame The Scumbag - Chapter 34

“Relax, just leave it to me.”

“…Daydreaming again?”

It was hard for Chu Cheng not to notice Yun Chuxiu’s abnormality. She scrambled up and performed a precision search for “Ji Jin,” reading the latest clarification from start to finish and back again. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t touched at all.

But then again.

She was, after all, a firm supporter of the breakup. If she wavered over a simple message like this, the “enemy” would likely be back in the house in no time.

Chu Cheng thought for two seconds and made a decision: “Let’s go experience a ‘special’ activity later.”

“Hmm?” Yun Chuxiu didn’t understand the sudden leap in topics. She paused, then declined tactfully: “I’m not really in the spirit. You go if you want to. I’ll pick up the tab.”

Chu Cheng: “Boss, you’re too kind, which is why the answer is no.”

She made a serious “X” sign with her arms, determined not to let her boss wallow in her emotions and step into a trap. “Since you’re not in the spirit, you must go. It’s a place you’ve never been before. It’s a lot of fun.”

Looking at Chu Cheng’s peculiar expression, Yun Chuxiu finally realized what she meant. She sat up a bit straighter. “This ‘fun’ of yours doesn’t sound very proper. I think I’ll pass…”

“Don’t be like that!” Chu Cheng leaned in close, sprawling halfway across the beach chair, revealing her true intentions: “Boss, could you really feel at ease letting me go alone? What if I get drunk? What if no one is there to bring me back…”

“Aren’t there others?” Yun Chuxiu didn’t fall for it. She poked the girl back and said crossly, “It’s not a good time right now. The heat is still on. If we accidentally get photographed, then Ji Jin’s press conference…”

“So what does that matter?” Chu Cheng wrinkled her nose, thinking back to how people used to insist on binding Yun Chuxiu and Ji Jin together. It made her even more annoyed. “It was one thing to consider her feelings and her situation before, but you guys have broken up! It’s normal to do whatever you want after a breakup.”

“And we won’t necessarily be photographed. We can just put on some makeup and be careful,” she coughed, emphasizing her point by hitting where Yun Chuxiu cared most. “Besides, even if we are photographed, it doesn’t matter, right? If Ji Jin sees it from a distance, maybe she’ll finally give up for good. At the very least, everyone will finally see that you have nothing to do with her anymore.”

Such a childish way of thinking.

Yun Chuxiu knew the reason her friends were pushing so hard for the breakup was that they felt she had been wronged in the relationship. Whether it was Lin Xing or Chu Cheng, their actions might be blunt, but their starting point was never malice toward Ji Jin.

“Okay,” Yun Chuxiu whispered her consent, looking away, thinking that if everyone around her felt it was for the best, then perhaps it was.

“I mean, we don’t have to go, but… wait?! Boss, you agreed!”

Chu Cheng’s eyes widened in sheer ecstasy.

Yun Chuxiu massaged her forehead helplessly. “Keep it down. Don’t draw everyone’s ears over here.”

If they were too loud, they wouldn’t even need to worry about disguises, the news would fly out before they even stepped foot in the place.

“Okay!” Chu Cheng covered her mouth, her strategic victory making her exceptionally excited, grinning like a cat that had successfully undermined a wall.

Yun Chuxiu: “…”

She was already starting to regret this.

“I know you’re happy, but,” Yun Chuxiu tapped the table, reminding her helplessly, “at least don’t overdo it.”

Chu Cheng smiled and made a crooked “I swear” gesture.

Of course, not “doing too much” was impossible.

Chu Cheng had prepared her travel itinerary long before coming, which included the specialty bar “Hidden Sunlight.” This was a place she had intended to check off her list all along, her claim about being in danger alone was entirely fabricated.

“Hidden Sunlight” was a ladies only establishment with very thorough follow-up services. One could pay for a safety guarantee: before the fun began, you’d leave your safe address, and if you got drunk, the owner and staff would ensure you were sent back.

In fact, this specific extra service had a consistent 100% positive rating.

“Tonight is a gala theme!” Back at the hotel, Chu Cheng enthusiastically rummaged through her suitcase, celebrating her foresight. “I’m so glad I prepared an extra outfit. I originally thought I’d just have it as a backup, but who knew it would come in handy so soon?”

Yun Chuxiu’s lip twitched: “…”

She hadn’t yet realized the gravity of the situation.

Half an hour later, Yun Chuxiu stared at the blue-purple tassel gown with its looming, deep-V open back. She fell into a long, long silence. “Do I have to wear this?”

“If you don’t like it, how about this one?” Chu Cheng held up another dress with an innocent face, a knee-length strapless number, equally sexy but with a hint of playful spirit.

It definitely suited Chu Cheng.

Yun Chuxiu silently took the long gown, then rummaged through her own suitcase to find a suit jacket. When she draped it over the dress, it was surprisingly a perfect match.

Fortunately, she had brought a formal suit just in case of unexpected events.

“This will do,” Yun Chuxiu took out a pair of sapphire cufflinks and put them on, smiling with satisfaction.

Chu Cheng: “…I mean, who brings a suit jacket to a beach vacation?”

But wait… this is actually amazing!

Chu Cheng stared intently at the changed Yun Chuxiu. Compared to blatant sexiness, this look, composed, self-restrained, with just a hint of hidden emotional color, suited her much better. Standing under the cool light, she was blindingly beautiful. One glance from those pale eyes, and one’s soul felt like it might fly away.

“I rarely see you wear this kind of makeup,” Chu Cheng reached out curiously to count the shadows cast by her lashes. Yun Chuxiu blinked, equally unaccustomed to it. The faint purple shimmer spreading from the corners of her eyes paired with the sharp makeup made her look like a butterfly about to take flight, or like a cluster of brilliantly blooming wisteria.

“I’m wearing it precisely because it’s rare,” Yun Chuxiu adjusted her slightly wavy long hair. Watching her, Chu Cheng remembered something and quickly fished a small fascinator hat out of her suitcase.

It matched the style of the gown, adorned with blue-black feathers and a thin layer of fine mesh. When worn, it perfectly veiled half of one eye. Swaying with the light breeze, it added layers of “hidden” sexiness.

It was quite literally “on theme.”

Chu Cheng happily took several photos of her. The unedited shots were so good they left her with stars in her eyes.

“Isn’t this a bit too exaggerated?” Yun Chuxiu sighed, adjusting the feathers on the hat. She felt uneasy about her completely transformed appearance and looked at Chu Cheng gloomily. “Can I really trust you?”

Probably not.

Chu Cheng just smiled, not breathing a word about their previous conversation. She checked the time and hurriedly pushed Yun Chuxiu toward the door. “Let’s go! The car I called is already here.”

She wasn’t even pretending anymore.

Yun Chuxiu’s eyes flickered. She took one last look at herself in the mirror and ultimately said nothing more.

By evening, a ring of sparkling decorations had lit up outside Hidden Sunlight. Chu Cheng went forward to talk to the staff. The staff member was hesitant at first, but after glancing in Yun Chuxiu’s direction, her attitude softened. She lowered her head and started typing rapidly on her phone.

Yun Chuxiu didn’t hear what they were saying, but the staff member’s reaction was unmistakable. She suddenly had the chilling sensation of having wandered into a wolf’s den.

“All set,” Chu Cheng circled back and pulled her inside. Even though it was a bar, Hidden Sunlight’s style was completely different from “Weary Bird.” Under the “Gala Theme,” it was mysterious and magnificent, as if stepping into another world.

A female server in a tuxedo greeted them with a smile, holding a porcelain plate with intricate patterns on white-gloved hands. Two masks, one black and one white were clearly displayed on it.

Chu Cheng took the white one for herself and handed the black one to Yun Chuxiu.

The server explained: “If this gala makes you feel tired, you can put these on. Then, no one will come to disturb you.”

Yun Chuxiu nodded, found a booth near the edge, and sat down. She toyed with the black mask for a while before setting it aside.

She didn’t want to be a killjoy, plus, the atmosphere here really was quite good.

Yun Chuxiu leaned back against the sofa, humming along to the music in the shop. As the night grew darker, the crowd inside began to swell.

“Excuse me, Miss,” a hand rested on the back of the sofa behind her. Yun Chuxiu turned toward the sound and met a pair of narrow, heroic eyes.

“May I have this dance?” the stranger asked, raising an eyebrow. She slowly brushed aside the black veil obscuring her vision, using the dim, ambiguous light to speak to those cold eyes again. “Your friend is waiting for you.”

Yun Chuxiu felt helpless; she now knew exactly what kind of mischief Chu Cheng was up to.

…Well, she was already here.

She thought for a moment, then took the extended hand and walked onto the stage.

She wasn’t an expert dancer, but she knew the basics of ballroom dancing. The moment the spotlight hit, everyone who was talking couldn’t help but glance at the stage.

Only then did Yun Chuxiu belatedly remember the bar’s webpage she had glimpsed, which had devoted half a page to praising its “Special Guest Dance Troupe.”

“Relax, Miss,” the lady heading toward the center position said with ease. Noticing the flicker in Yun Chuxiu’s eyes, she gave a playful wink, comforting her without a hint of ambiguity: “Just leave it to me. All you need to do is enjoy this moment of relaxation.”

She took Yun Chuxiu’s hand and, under the gaze of everyone, quietly dropped a kiss. It looked like a recreation of a hand-kissing rite, but only the two facing each other knew that under the thin layer of cool light, the elegant dancer had kissed her own palm, which still held the lingering warmth.

…Alright, this didn’t feel bad.

Yun Chuxiu took a deep breath, truly cleared her mind, and began to move with her steps. Her porcelain-white back flickered in and out of view beneath the movement of her jacket, swaying lightly like a lure sinking into deep water.

Below the stage, Chu Cheng clapped enthusiastically. Seeing that Yun Chuxiu was visibly relaxed, she continued her conversation with the new girl she had just met, slipping in plenty of praise for Yun Chuxiu.

The girl was happy to listen and even asked follow-up questions. There was no helping it. Yun Chuxiu was simply too eye-catching. The more she stood under the spotlight, the harder it was to look away.

When she finally returned to her seat, many people were already bracing themselves, eager to go up and introduce themselves.

Yun Chuxiu didn’t care about those gazes.

She ordered a glass of juice and drank it absentmindedly. Her chaotic thoughts circled back into her mind. She didn’t look back, so she didn’t notice the pair of eyes behind her that had just widened in sudden realization.