232 Everything Is An Illusion
It was Jiang Yeâs birthday today, and his photo appeared on the LED screen of Bo Yu Club.
âDo you like the gift I prepared for you?â Chu Yuzhou picked them up at the staircase, afraid that he wouldnât see the surprise.
Jiang Ye thanked him. âI like it.â A faint smile appeared on his lips under the mask.
Although he couldnât see his smile, Chu Yuzhou could read his emotions from his eyes.
He put his arm on Jiang Yeâs shoulder and walked into a private room not far away.
Lin Jiao played a happy birthday song.
As the music sounded, Pei Zhi lit the candle with the number 27 on it and listened to the voice that lingered in his ears.
âHappy birthday to youâ¦â A group of people gathered around the long table and finished singing the song to the birthday boy.
Jiang Ye, who had not celebrated his birthday for many years, looked at their smiles and felt warm in his heart.
He pressed his palms together and made a wish. He blew out the candle on the cake and took the silver knife to cut it into ten pieces.
âBirthday boy, itâs time to drink.â Zhou Yanshen didnât like sweet food. He took two bites and asked him to play dice.
Qian Yue patted his arm. âWhat about the gift?â If she hadnât reminded him, he would have forgotten about it.
âYue and I picked this out for you together.â A shopping bag was handed over to Jiang Ye, and the others took out the gifts they prepared in turn.
âThank you.â
âWeâre all family, so donât stand on ceremony.â Shen Yi and Qu Shao helped him put the gifts aside and sit down to play dice.
The faint fragrance of wine permeated the air, and the lively atmosphere made them immersed in it. The chatter and laughter never stopped.
While the six men were having fun, Pei Yilan and the three women sat at the side and whispered to each other.
âI bought it.â She took out a square-shaped item from her pocket and asked anxiously, âIs two enough?â
Tang Ni, who had never experienced it before, blushed when she saw what Pei Yilan was holding.
Qian Yue said, âEnough.â
âIs there anything to take note of?â
âNo.â Qian Yue said with a smile, âHavenât you seen a lot of movies? Didnât you learn anything?â
âBut Iâve never put it into practice.â Pei Yilan put the item back to avoid being seen. âJust thinking about it makes me nervous.â
âItâs not happening yet. Donât be nervous.â
âI canât help myself.â
Lin Jiao was amused by her expression.
She glanced in Jiang Yeâs direction and thought of another question. âIs he going back to the filming crew tomorrow?â
âThe day after tomorrow.â
âThen two isnât enough.â
âIâll see.â Pei Yilan poured beer into her glass and drank two mouthfuls. âHe is not very interested in that.â
âWhere did you get that conclusion?â
âFeelings?â
âDonât be fooled by your feelings.â Lin Jiao had experienced how unreliable feelings could be. âBecause it happens, what you feel is just an illusion.â
Pei Yilan felt that her âfeelingâ was not wrong, but hearing Lin Jiao say that, she began to waver.
She put this matter to the back of her mind for the time being. She clinked glasses with them and stared at Tang Ni beside her.
âNi, let me ask you something.â
âWhat is it?â
âHow far have you progressed with Chu Yuzhou?â
Tang Ni was stunned by the unexpected question. Her voice was so soft that they couldnât hear her clearly. âThere is no development yet.â
âWhen are you going to say yes to him?â
âIâ¦â She tightened her grip on the glass, keeping her thoughts to herself. âI donât know.â
Lin Jiaoâs gaze lingered on her red ear for two seconds. âNi, you deserve his love.â
âIndeed.â Qian Yue smiled gently. âItâs not difficult to take that step. The key is whether youâre willing to take that step or not.â
They could tell that Tang Ni was tempted.
There were two reasons why she refused to take the step. One was her family background, and the other was her ears.
However, they did not say it bluntly. They only encouraged her and let her make her own choice.
âYes, let me think about it.â Tang Ni glanced at Chu Yuzhou, who was looking at her sideways, and suppressed the throbbing in her heart.
Pei Yilan changed the topic. âI bought three nightgowns. See which one I should wear.â
âDo you have these rabbit ears?â Qian Yue asked, pointing to the headwear the second female model was wearing.
âYes, I have.â
âThen this one.â Qian Yue shared a few more nightgowns in her collection. âJiaojiao, the cat girl suits you.â
Lin Jiao hesitated and said, âItâs too revealing.â She did not dare to make Pei Zhi too crazy, afraid that she would be eaten.
âWhy are you afraid of wearing it in front of him?â
âThatâs right.â Pei Yilan opened the shopping website. âNi, choose one too. Iâll place the order.â
...
âI donât need it, do I?â Tang Niâs cheeks turned red at the sight of the photos. She couldnât even imagine what she would look like in it.
âYou can wear it for yourself.â
In the end, they each chose one.
Pei Yilan picked up her glass. âCome and drink.â She winked playfully and approached the table where the six men were sitting.
The lively atmosphere lasted until midnight.
Jiang Ye, who was carrying many gifts, bade them farewell with the smell of alcohol and returned to Ming Xin mansion with Pei Yilan before one oâclock.
He had drunk a lot tonight. Fortunately, his alcohol tolerance was not bad. Otherwise, he would have passed out now.
âJiang Ye, are you sleepy?â Pei Yilan was in a state of excitement, afraid that he would not be in the mood to do it.
âNot really.â
âThen go take a shower first.â
Jiang Ye didnât notice anything wrong with her urging him.
...
He found his pajamas in the closet and went into the bathroom.
When the sound of running water came, Pei Yilan went to the second bedroom to prepare for tonightâs surprise.
She came out at the right time and approached him in a belted bathrobe. âJiang Ye, you havenât kissed me today.â
Jiang Ye leaned over and kissed her lips.
âTime to sleep.â He let go of her. Before his outstretched hand could touch the overhead light switch, she pulled him back.
âDonât you want the surprise I prepared?â
âWhat surprise?â
Pei Yilan held his hand and placed it on her waist to let him feel what she was hiding there.
âJiang Ye.â She followed Qian Yueâs instructions and said coquettishly, âDo you want to kiss me again?â
Jiang Yeâs eyes darkened.
He pulled her snow-white arm into his embrace and covered her red lips. âTwo isnât enough.â
After an unknown period of time, Pei Yilan drank the warm water he fed her to moisten her dry throat.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. âI want to take a shower.â She felt sticky all over her body.
âRight away.â Jiang Ye picked her up.