705 A pleasant night (2)
A tense and serious strain marked the creases on Yating's forehead as he stared down intently. He breathed in sharply, fully understanding the gravity of this life and death situation. Just one misplaced outcome and he…
"Go on, Yating. This is your last chance."
Chyou posed the grim question, her heart pounding faster.
Yating finally steeled his heart for whenever fate would lie before and with closed eyes, drop the precious on the floor that he hoped would give him the desired result.
"Hah! Boooooo! You lose! Ahahahaha!"
Yating half-opened his left eye and stared at the number three cast on the dice. Her brow twitched hard and his shoulders slumped.
"You landed right in the snake's mouth hoho~" Chyou expressed, very pleased. She threw the dice as it was her turn and without a doubt won the fourth round of the snakes and ladder game.
Her brother, Xiang clapped hard while simultaneously consoling the loser. "Don't mind it, Bro Yating. Sis is not just the Queen of the Entertainment industry but also of all kinds of games."
Her nose grew longer in pride. "I cannot believe I am so talented."
"Haish!" Yating leaned back his shoulders and rested his weight on his hands. "It's a bummer to not be able to win even once."
Chyou cheerfully asked, "What next, what next? Oh, let's play video games!"
Xiang released a heavy sigh. "Ah, I am even worse at those."
Yating raised his brow. "I haven't played much video games."
Chyou stumbled back, her hand trembling near her lips. "Y-You didn't? Video games are so fun!"
"They are so so I guess."
The look of betrayal and hurt across her face shaded even deeper. "You must be playing so-so games. If you play the cool, fun games that I play, there is no way you won't get addicted! I will show you the real world!"
Coming to a resolve, she locked her hands in his arms and tried to pull him up. "Come on, stand up," she slanted her body to push him out of his couch potato spot.
"Good luck, bro. She is not gonna let you go."
"Obviously not," she harrumphed.
Yating sighed and pushed himself up to stand. Chyou giggled and dragged him towards her state-of-the-art video games monitors.
"How come there are such things in this hotel?"
"I can arrange for anything~" she winked.
She made him sit beside her and handed him the game controller. "Let's start with the easy ones until you get the hang of using the controller."
"Cool."
Xiang yawned and simply remained as a spectator of the video game tutorials by Zhu Chyou.
"Yes, now press the forward button!"
"I am!"
"But he isn't moving!"
"I think the buttons aren't working."
"Hawwwww! Don't you dare speak ill of my precious babies," she glared at him. "They are top-class."
Yating's awkward body movements were painful to watch who was trying his best to catch up with video game player Queen Chyou.
"Aha! I managed to throw the detonator!" Eventually, it seemed that his level was increasing. He gave a proud and victorious smirk.
Xiang watched the duo, lazily leaning back on the couch and having chips. Chyou's laughter ringing in the air pleasantly filled his heart with satisfaction. The cheer in Yating's eyes felt peaceful as well. It was like two good friends having the best time of their life, bickering and bantering while playing video games late at night. He stared at them and their increasing physical proximity coupled with their laughter.
They have grown so close and fond of each other.
The comfort they unknowingly felt for each other was evident in their gazes. Thinking of the particular video game, a thought came across Xiang's mind.
If Cheng Yin has drained my sis's HP then Bro Yating is like the healing potion.
Xiang shook his head with the silly analogy. He quietly got up and tiptoed out of the room, leaving them to enjoy this pleasant night.
—
In the calm and tranquil solitude of the church, Xie Nuying sat by herself on a bench in the third row. Her gaze observed the altar where Ai had been standing just a few hours ago, taking vows and exchanging rings with Jun.
A gentle, warm smile curved her lips.
Thank you for making my Ai so happy…
She expressed her gratitude to God from the bottom of her heart. As a mother, she wanted nothing else but for Ai's husband to love and protect her and never let go of her and she couldn't imagine anybody but Jun to fit that role.
She exhaled a soft breath, continuing to gaze at the altar. Along the way, she didn't realize when her thoughts wandered off to her own wedding with Zhou Yichen.
'Marry me.'
The words tickled her ears as if she could still hear them crystal clear even after all the years that passed by. She blushed with the silliness of remembering something happened so far in the past.
She then heard some footsteps and she turned, wondering who would come at the church at this late hour apart from her. Her body froze and so did Zhou Yichen's.
Zhou Yichen was glad that he could maintain his balance. He thought everybody would be tucked in their pillows, sleeping soundly like babies but apparently, Xie Nuying was the night owl.
He remained awkwardly standing at an odd angle for sometime because neither he could walk ahead nor go back. He gathered his calm and brought his casual demeanor back as he chose to walk forward.
"So you couldn't sleep either."
Xie Nuying's heart had almost jumped out of her chest.
'Marry me.'
She vigorously shook her head and slapped her face to wake up from the past.
"..."
"Was Ai-chan's wedding so traumatic for you?"
She threw him a soft glare. "I am fine."
He scoffed. "Yeah sure."
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing really. I was just bored," he took a seat one row back from hers.
Silence.
Xie Nuying kept throwing sneaky glances at him while Zhou Yichen did the same, patting his hands inside his pockets and nobody being able to end the silence loop.
Both cursed themselves simultaneously.
Ugh! This is so awkward!
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