I miscalculated

Chapter 233

The night was growing deeper.

The four of them entered a lounge bar called "Slow Time".

The dim lighting was just right, and a folk singer was softly crooning while strumming a guitar.

A tipsy, lazy vibe floated in the air.

Commonly known as... a holy land for dating.

Finding a booth by the window to sit down, Gu Ran ordered a few special cocktails and a snack platter.

"This vibe is pretty nice!"

Pei Susu looked around, her eyes revealing her excitement.

Ye Zhenzhen also curiously observed her surroundings, her tense nerves slowly relaxing.

Only Ye Jinliang was holding his glass like it was a hot potato.

His eyes darted around, wanting to look at Pei Susu but not daring to meet her gaze directly, his cowardice plainly obvious.

Gu Ran, frustrated by his friend's ineptitude, sighed, leaned over, and lowered his voice.

"Lao Ye, don't just sit there drinking in silence. Mouths are for chatting, not just for decoration."

Ye Jinliang returned a bitter look.

Bro, I know, but my tongue gets tied!

Holding it in for a long time, he finally forced himself to speak.

"Sister Susu, do you... do you think the decor of this bar is... quite load-bearing wall-esque?"

The air froze for a second.

Pei Susu clearly couldn't keep up with this bizarre train of thought.

"Uh... it's pretty good, load-bearing walls... very tranquil."

What kind of answer was that!

Pei Susu patted her mouth in slight annoyance.

"Right, right, right, I also think it's tranquil! Especially tranquil!"

Ye Jinliang quickly chimed in, nodding frantically.

He didn't hear anything wrong with it at all.

Gu Ran facepalmed.

What kind of deadly awkward chat was this.

His toes were curling so hard from secondhand embarrassment they could dig out a magical castle.

"Alright, just chatting is boring."

Gu Ran tapped the table, forcibly interrupting their spellcasting.

"How about a game? Truth or Dare, a classic that never gets old."

"Sure!"

Pei Susu perked up instantly, her eyes sharp.

"I am known as the 'Truth Killer', and tonight I must wipe away my previous humiliations!"

Ye Zhenzhen's heart skipped a beat, having an ominous premonition.

But seeing everyone so enthusiastic, she could only nod silently.

"The rules are simple."

Gu Ran casually picked up an empty wine bottle.

"Whoever it points to, chooses. If you refuse to answer or can't do the dare, the penalty is drinking a glass."

"Bring it on!"

Pei Susu rubbed her hands together.

Gu Ran's slender fingers gave it a gentle flick, and the bottle spun rapidly on the table.

Finally, it came to a steady stop.

The mouth of the bottle pointed right at Pei Susu.

"Truth or Dare?"

Gu Ran raised an eyebrow, smiling like an old fox.

"Truth! I'm not scared."

Gu Ran's eyes held a playful gleam as he leaned forward slightly.

"Alright then, listen to the question. Do you have someone you like in your heart?"

What a straight ball!

The boldness on Pei Susu's face instantly froze, and she visibly turned completely red.

She subconsciously glanced at Ye Jinliang next to her, but the moment their gazes touched, she shrank back as if burned.

Her heart was beating as fast as a drum.

She did indeed have feelings for this blockhead, but to say it out loud in this kind of setting...

It was just too embarrassing!

"I... um..."

Pei Susu stammered for a long time, finally steeling her heart, picking up her glass, and downing it in one gulp.

"I'll take the penalty!"

Gulping down the glass, it was a tactical retreat.

Ye Zhenzhen saw right through it from the sidelines. This wasn't a game at all; it was clearly a setup Gu Ran had arranged for these two.

Ye Jinliang looked at Pei Susu's reddened ears, his grip on his glass tightening as the little flame in his heart surged upwards.

Round two, the bottle spun again.

This time, the mouth pointed squarely at Ye Jinliang.

"Truth or Dare?"

Gu Ran smiled with ill intent.

Ye Jinliang took a deep breath, remembered Gu Ran's earlier teachings, and steeled his heart.

"Dare!"

"Like a real man."

Gu Ran snapped his fingers.

"The requirement isn't high. Gaze deeply into the eyes of the person to your left for ten seconds. Not a second less."

To his left was exactly Pei Susu.

Ye Jinliang's face instantly exploded into red, so red it could drip blood.

"What, chickening out?"

Gu Ran appropriately goaded him.

"Who... who's chickening out!"

Ye Jinliang abruptly turned his head, looking right into Pei Susu's raised eyes.

Their eyes met.

The surrounding noise seemed to vanish instantly, leaving only their reflections in each other's eyes.

Ye Jinliang didn't dodge this time, looking at her clumsily but earnestly.

His gaze was burning, as if he wanted to carve this girl into his brain.

Pei Susu had originally wanted to tease him a bit, but was scorched by the intense emotion in this blockhead's eyes, causing her heart to skip a beat.

These ten seconds were as long as a century.

The two opposite them, who were constantly watching the drama unfold, synchronously revealed the fond smiles of shippers whose ship had just sailed.

Under the table, Gu Ran's hand quietly covered the young woman's hand, his thumb gently rubbing it.

Ye Zhenzhen felt as if struck by electricity, looking up to glare at him in embarrassed annoyance.

This guy's eyes...

Why were they so improper!

Big pervert!

Gu Ran had a smile on his lips, and his hand movements didn't stop.

Instead, he pushed his luck and scratched her palm.

"Time's up!"

Gu Ran deliberately waited quite a while before calling a stop.

The two gazing at each other instantly woke up, tearing their eyes away like springs.

They each grabbed their glasses to drink water and cover it up, their faces as red as cooked shrimp.

"Yo yo yo, look at this atmosphere!"

Gu Ran, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, even whistled to add to the fun.

Pei Susu coughed, forcibly trying to save face.

"Is the AC in this bar broken? It's a bit hot, keep going, keep going!"

The tables turned, and this time the bottle pointed at Ye Zhenzhen.

"Sister, Truth or Dare?"

Gu Ran dragged out his syllables, that "Sister" called out with endless twists and turns.

The two opposite them got goosebumps listening to it, seeing the contempt in each other's eyes.

Who could play as pervertedly as this guy!

Ye Zhenzhen's ears grew hot, avoiding his burning gaze.

"Truth."

Gu Ran rested his chin on one hand, his eyes alluring.

"Evaluate this: what do you think of Gu Ran as a person?"

What kind of freebie question was this?

Ye Zhenzhen pursed her lips and said softly.

"Pretty... pretty good."

"That's it?"

Gu Ran was clearly dissatisfied, curling his lips.

"Doctor Ye, giving a perfunctory answer means a drinking penalty."

"Then what do you want to hear?"

Ye Zhenzhen got a bit anxious.

Gu Ran leaned in a bit closer, guiding her patiently.

"For example, he's earth-shatteringly handsome, wealthy enough to rival a nation, gentle and considerate, the most perfect man you've ever seen, and you love him to death, things like that."

"..."

Ye Zhenzhen's scalp went numb listening to him. Was this guy's skin made of city walls?

Without another word, she picked up her glass and downed it.

"I'll take the penalty!"

Gu Ran clicked his tongue in regret, but his eyes were full of laughter.

The next round, Pei Susu was quick and grabbed the bottle.

"I'll spin it!"

She exerted force secretly, chanting in her heart: Heaven has eyes!

The bottle stopped, pointing right at Gu Ran.

"Mwahahaha! Now you've fallen into my hands!"

Pei Susu laughed like a villain.

"Gu Ran, Truth or Dare!"

Gu Ran leaned lazily against the back of his chair.

"Dare."

A sly gleam flashed in Pei Susu's eyes; the moment for revenge had arrived!

"Listen closely! My dare is, please kiss the member of the opposite sex present that you fancy the most! It must be the kind of kiss that makes a sound!"

After Pei Susu finished speaking, she waited to watch the show with a wicked smile.

This move was called "borrowing a knife to kill."

It could both take revenge on Gu Ran for his earlier teasing and let her ship her favorite couple up close. Absolutely perfect!

Especially Ye Zhenzhen!

This little girl was having so much fun watching the drama earlier, now it was her turn!

To everyone's surprise, after hearing this, Gu Ran didn't panic at all. Instead, his eyes lit up.

How was this a punishment?

This was clearly a massive bonus gift package from Pei Susu!

He shot Pei Susu an approving look that said she had done a great job.

This friend was a keeper; when it mattered, she really knew how to deliver the ultimate assist!

Pei Susu was taken aback by his look.

Wait, no!

This guy was totally shameless!

Did she just hand him a massive perk on a silver platter?!

A miscalculation! A huge miscalculation!

She smacked her forehead in frustration.

Ye Zhenzhen froze for a second. Once it dawned on her, she felt like she was going to explode.

How did she suddenly become the center of the drama?!

"Susu! What nonsense are you spouting!"

She covered her mouth in a panic, trying to escape reality.

Gu Ran turned around unhurriedly.

Looking at the girl beside him who looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole, a wicked smirk curled onto his lips.

"Accept reality, Dr. Ye."

He reached out, his long, slender fingers gently tilting Ye Zhenzhen's chin up, forcing her to look at him.

The girl's eyelashes trembled, her eyes brimming with panic and shyness.

Gu Ran didn't hesitate. He leaned in and pressed down.

"Mwah!"

A crisp, loud kissing sound echoed through the booth.

Ye Zhenzhen's mind instantly went completely blank, her cheeks flushing so red they looked like they could bleed.

This jerk!

There were so many people watching!

It was bad enough that he actually kissed her!

But did he have to do it so loudly?!

This... how utterly improper!!!

......