Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 65

The phone chimed, and Meng Tang turned on the screen to see Wei Chuan’s message with the name of the hotel.

“Pine Cloud Manor,” Meng Tang read aloud before turning to ask Yang Ke, a local, “What kind of place is that?”

Yang Ke’s tone carried a hint of amusement. “A place for the wealthy.”

“Well, Wei Chuan’s going to splurge tomorrow night,” Xie Lingyin remarked, lifting her head from her computer desk and giving Meng Tang a look that said, “You’re the best.”

Shi Lan shrugged. “He even specifically said no gifts. Makes me feel bad, so we’re just freeloading?”

“Maybe he doesn’t need anything,” Yang Ke said. “Whatever we pool together to buy probably wouldn’t even cost as much as one of Wei Chuan’s shoes.”

Compared to the average person, their financial situations were decent, but next to Wei Chuan, they barely reached his knees.

Xie Lingyin shot them a meaningful glance. “We have Meng Tang, don’t we? Her gift is worth more than anything.”

Shi Lan and Yang Ke drew out a long, exaggerated “Ohhh” in unison.

Why was this suddenly about her? Meng Tang closed the wooden box, her face full of confusion as she turned to them. “What are you two teasing me for?”

Wei Chuan had specifically said no gifts, probably to keep Xie Lingyin from spending too much. Too bad none of them understood that.

Eager to justify their freeloading, Yang Ke and Shi Lan played dumb. “We’re not teasing.”

Xie Lingyin changed the subject. “Did he send you the address?”

Meng Tang shook her head. “I’ll ask.”

Soon, Wei Chuan sent a voice message: “Around six tomorrow evening, I’ll pick you all up. The guys can take the subway.”

Recently, due to the Wang family, Z University had been under public scrutiny. After discussing it with his friends, Wei Chuan had decided it was best to keep things low-key.

The girls might be wearing makeup, and the 5-6 p.m. rush hour would be crowded, easy to smudge their looks. So, Wei Chuan would pick them up.

As the voice message played, Xie Lingyin grinned. “Wow, so considerate.”

Noticing the change in her tone, Meng Tang asked, “You like that?”

Xie Lingyin smiled meaningfully. “Who wouldn’t?”

Good that she liked it. Meng Tang relaxed.

On Thursday afternoon, after basketball class, Shi Lan dragged Meng Tang back to the dorm to get ready, offering a solid reason:

“The guys from the school team are definitely going too. Shao Yiming and Tian Yu are still single.”

“Wei Chuan’s roommate Liang Heng is single too. Why not mention him?” Meng Tang asked curiously.

“Forget it,” Shi Lan said dismissively. “He seems like he’s missing a screw.”

Accurate description. Meng Tang laughed. “What’s the rush? It’s not even four yet.”

Shi Lan huffed. “Can’t compare to you naturally beautiful types.”

Back in the dorm, seeing Xie Lingyin’s bare face, Meng Tang asked, “Aren’t you doing your makeup?”

The girl who usually wore makeup even to study sessions, was the sun rising in the west today?

Xie Lingyin joked, “I wouldn’t dare steal your spotlight.”

“Now you’re mocking us,” Shi Lan said, pointing at Meng Tang. “Do her makeup, at least. She just slaps on some tinted moisturizer every time, I can’t take it anymore.”

Xie Lingyin’s eyes lit up. She patted the chair. “Come sit.”

“I’ll pass,” Meng Tang said, slowly waving her hands.

She spent her days working with wood, couldn’t have anything messy on her hands.

First, slippery fingers meant losing grip on the knife. Second, certain chemicals in cosmetics could seep into the wood.

“Don’t hide.” Xie Lingyin pulled Meng Tang over. “Tonight’s not a formal occasion, just some light makeup to show respect is enough.”

Meng Tang leaned her head back. “Then why aren’t you wearing any?”

“Who said I’m not?” Xie Lingyin motioned for her to sit down.

Pinned down by Xie Lingyin, Meng Tang couldn’t move and said, “Don’t put fake eyelashes on me, I don’t like them.”

“Fine.”

Two hours later, everything was ready.

Shi Lan looked at Meng Tang as if she were a completely different person.

“Someone who usually goes bare-faced suddenly puts on makeup, it really makes a difference,” Yang Ke complimented. “So pretty.”

Meng Tang raised her hand. “They say hands are a woman’s second face. Mine aren’t much to look at, so I have to find confidence in the first one.”

“Cut it out,” Shi Lan laughed. “Ask Wei Chuan when he’s arriving.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Chuan sent a WeChat message saying he was downstairs.

Meng Tang slung her bag over her shoulder and headed downstairs with her roommates.

The sky was dim, and the streetlights outside the girls’ dorm cast a soft glow, making Meng Tang’s made-up features appear even more defined.

She stood quietly under the lamplight, her long hair tucked behind her ears, revealing an oval face that was clean and fresh, with gentle eyes and brows.

Wei Chuan had never seen her look so polished before and couldn’t help but stare.

Noticing Wei Chuan’s fixed gaze, Meng Tang silently pulled her scarf up to cover herself slightly.

Did her makeup look that bad?

Seeing some people were already stunned, Xie Lingyin coughed pointedly to remind them. “Shall we go?”

Wei Chuan snapped out of it and instinctively opened the passenger door for Meng Tang, saying to her, “Get in.”

Meng Tang reached out to pull Xie Lingyin but grabbed empty air. She turned to see the three of them jostling each other to squeeze into the back seat.

Meng Tang went over and tugged Xie Lingyin’s arm. “Lingyin, you sit in the front.”

“I’m not that close with him, it’d be awkward.”

Meng Tang: “…”

You’re planning to bring him to meet your roommates on his birthday, and you’re not close?

Meng Tang turned to signal Wei Chuan to call Xie Lingyin over.

Unfortunately, his phone rang, it was Qin Yuan calling to hurry them up.

Before the car door could even close properly, Xie Lingyin waved at Meng Tang. “Hurry up, they’re waiting.”

Wei Chuan looked at her, expression innocent. Meng Tang had no choice but to take the passenger seat.

The three in the back chatted happily the whole way, while poor Meng Tang and Wei Chuan had nothing to say, sitting in silence the entire ride.

Since they had to be back in the dorm by 10 p.m., Qin Yuan had chosen a hotel near Z University’s arts and sports campus.

Wei Chuan had booked the top floor of Pine Cloud Manor.

When they arrived at the hotel entrance, a group of burly guys stood around chatting, cigarettes dangling from their mouths.

Wei Chuan parked the car, and a valet came forward to take it.

“Finish those up,” Wei Chuan gestured behind him. “Put them out now.”

Meng Tang, feeling a bit dazed, glanced over, there were so many guys that they had to split into two elevators.

In the banquet hall, Qin Yuan had arranged everything meticulously. Wei Chuan flicked a balloon and was about to walk in when Qin Yuan stopped him.

“I had the hotel set this up for hours, at least take a photo for memory’s sake.”

Wei Chuan raised a peace sign, forcing a smile as the countdown went: three, two, one, click.

The photographer looked baffled. “…We could take a group photo.”

Wei Chuan nodded. “Sure.”

“No need to make it look like a graduation photo,” the photographer said, motioning for everyone to gather. “Just relax. Birthday person in the middle, everyone else wherever.”

Wei Chuan wanted the girls in the center, but Shi Lan was too embarrassed and pulled Yang Ke to the side, leaving Xie Lingyin and Meng Tang stranded.

Meng Tang was about to leave when Qin Yuan stopped her: “Just stand next to me.”

This way, her right side was now next to Wei Chuan.

Meng Tang craned her neck to look and noticed Xie Lingyin was on Wei Chuan’s right, so she stayed put.

The photographer stepped back and said, “Relax your poses and expressions a bit. Guys on the sides, move in closer. I’m taking the shot now.”

The boys at both ends of the group exchanged mischievous glances and grinned at each other. The moment the photographer pressed the shutter, they suddenly burst into laughter and shoved everyone toward the center.

The four slender girls bore the brunt of it, Meng Tang was jostled into Qin Yuan, who then bumped into Wei Chuan.

Wei Chuan, tall and steady, instinctively wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Meng Tang looked up, their eyes meeting.

The boys, delighted by their successful prank, waved at the photographer. “Let’s see how the photo turned out!”

The photographer tilted the camera toward Wei Chuan, and Meng Tang glanced over, only to see Xu Heqing supporting Xie Lingyin, their gazes also locked.

Meng Tang: “…”

Wasn’t this a complete mess?