Chapter 4: What's going on here?

Shen Zhaoyan turned out to be a total disaster at the game—out of ten rounds, she lost at least six. Watching her down drink after drink, Yang Xiaoning couldn't help but feel concerned. She hesitated for a long time, but seeing Shen Zhaoyan continuously picking up her glass, she finally grabbed it and drank in her place, declaring that from now on, she would take all the drinks for Shen Zhaoyan whenever she lost.

Everyone was shocked—Yang Xiaoning, who usually disliked drinking the most, was suddenly willing to take shots for someone else? But with the alcohol kicking in, no one thought too much about it, and the game went on as usual. Unsurprisingly, Shen Zhaoyan lost again. Already tipsy, she unexpectedly chose "dare." The joker, seeing someone finally pick "dare," excitedly asked her to kiss the person she had the best impression of in the room—it was clear this challenge had been premeditated.

The crowd instantly perked up, all eyes on Shen Zhaoyan, both eager and curious. Her already flushed face turned an even deeper shade of red. Seeing her hesitation, Yang Xiaoning instinctively reached for her glass again, but a hand stopped her—it was Shen Zhaoyan. She seemed to have made up her mind. Her gaze locked onto Yang Xiaoning's clear eyes and long lashes before slowly drifting downward—stopping at her lips. She leaned in, closing her eyes tightly.

But just as their lips were about to touch, she backed away at the last second, choosing instead to place a kiss on Yang Xiaoning's cheek. Throughout the whole process, Shen Zhaoyan kept her eyes shut, too afraid to imagine what would happen if she had actually looked at Yang Xiaoning while doing it.

The entire room fell into stunned silence. Even Yang Xiaoning herself was frozen, completely taken aback. She stared at Shen Zhaoyan in disbelief, the warmth of her touch still lingering on her skin, but even more overwhelming was the heat now spreading across her own face.

As Shen Zhaoyan slowly opened her eyes, she was met with the wide-eyed stares of everyone around her. Her face turned even redder, and she quickly let go of Yang Xiaoning, flustered and unsure of what to do. She lowered her head, refusing to make eye contact, while Yang Xiaoning's gaze never left her, as if she were a human tracking device. The atmosphere grew increasingly charged with something unspoken.

Sensing the awkward tension, the group didn't know what to say. This was just a game—so why did it suddenly feel so... different? And what was with this strange, lingering chemistry between them?

Thankfully, Yang Qingyue stepped in to break the silence. "Why did everyone stop? It's just a game. We're all girls—kissing shouldn't be a big deal, right? Besides, you guys making such a big deal out of it is only making them more embarrassed. Hurry up, next round!"

Everyone thought that made sense, so the game continued. However, the awkwardness between Shen Zhaoyan and Yang Xiaoning lingered. But their reprieve didn't last long—Lady Luck finally turned her back on Yang Xiaoning, and for the first time in the game, she lost. She also chose "dare."

Seeing this golden opportunity, how could the group let it go to waste? One of them immediately gave the dare: "Hold hands with the person who has the three of hearts until the game ends."

Everyone quickly checked their cards, and Shen Zhaoyan froze—of all the possibilities, she just had to be the one holding the three of hearts. As everyone exchanged knowing glances, the message was clear: they understood.

Yang Xiaoning, noticing the stares all directed at Shen Zhaoyan, curiously leaned over to check her card. The moment she saw it, she immediately understood why everyone was staring. Does she have to be this easy to read? But somehow... it was kind of cute.

Yang Xiaoning extended her hand towards Shen Zhaoyan, palm up, signaling for her to take it. Blushing, Shen Zhaoyan hesitantly placed her hand in Yang Xiaoning's, but before she could react, Yang Xiaoning interlocked their fingers tightly.

"Wow, her hand is so small," Yang Xiaoning thought, lightly squeezing it. "The size difference is crazy." Afraid of accidentally hurting her, she didn't grip too tightly, but the warmth of Shen Zhaoyan's hand was undeniably there.

The group immediately erupted in cheers, sending the two into another round of blushing. But despite their embarrassment, they couldn't hide the smiles tugging at their lips. Both instinctively tried to cover their grins with their free hands, but it was too late—everyone had already noticed.