I Didn't Bring the Key Either

Pan Ning fixed her captivating eyes on Su Yang and smiled.

"Did I guess right?"

"Well, yeah." Su Yang dropped the act. After all, he and Pan Ning weren’t dating, so it didn’t matter if she knew.

"Then why didn’t you go? The one who left later—Tang Yuwei, was it? If she called you and you didn’t go, I could chalk it up to you not being interested in her."

"But the one before her, Lin Yiyi, was cute with a great figure. How could you resist not going?"

Su Yang met Pan Ning’s gaze, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Girls at that level—how could any man resist that kind of temptation?"

Su Yang chuckled lightly. "She’s pretty, sure, but not my type. I only sent her gifts out of boredom."

"Honestly, those two girls were only so forward because they saw I had some money. I’m not really into that."

Pan Ning gave him a knowing smile. "I’ll take your word for it—for now."

"Noodles are here~"

The owner approached with a metal tray carrying two steaming bowls of beef noodles.

Su Yang stood up to take them and set them on the table. "Thanks, boss!"

"No problem, enjoy your meal~"

"Mmm, smells amazing!" Su Yang sat down, handing Pan Ning a pair of disposable chopsticks before opening his own.

"Try it and see if you like it."

"Just the aroma tells me I’ll love it." Su Yang stirred the noodles with his chopsticks and took a big bite.

"Mmm~ So good."

Pan Ning laughed. "Then eat up. Soaking the fried egg in the broth makes it even better."

"Got it." Su Yang plopped the egg into his bowl and dug in.

Ten minutes later, Su Yang lifted the bowl to slurp the last of the broth.

He smacked his lips contentedly. "Damn, that was delicious. I’ll definitely come back for more when I get the chance."

"Are you full?" Pan Ning had only finished the noodles, leaving the soup untouched.

"Yeah. I drank a lot earlier, otherwise I’d order another bowl."

"Let’s go, then." Pan Ning stood and walked to the counter to pay.

"How much, boss?"

The owner grinned. "30 yuan. You’ve been here before, miss?"

"Yeah, a few times."

"That’s why you looked familiar. You’re really pretty."

Pan Ning flashed a smile. "Thanks. Payment’s sent."

"Got it."

Su Yang slung his bag over his shoulder and joined her.

"Boss, your beef noodles are amazing. I’ll be back."

The owner beamed. "Haha, thanks, young man! Come anytime—though we only open at night. But your girlfriend knows; she’s been here before."

"Girlfriend?" Su Yang glanced at Pan Ning, about to explain.

Pan Ning cut him off with a smile. "Let’s go."

"Right, right."

"Take care, you two~"

Once they left the alley, they reached the roadside.

Ding~

Su Yang’s phone buzzed with a WeChat notification.

He pulled it out and saw a message from Lin Yiyi:

"Su-gege, I’m scared staying alone at the hotel. Can you come keep me company? I’m in Room 8208 at the Junli Hotel."

A flicker of heat stirred in Su Yang’s chest, but he didn’t reply, simply locking his phone.

The moment the screen went dark, another notification chimed.

This time, it was Tang Yuwei:

"Su-gege, I’ve got the room ready—Room 501 at the Mandu Hotel. Waiting for you~" [Shy emoji]

Su Yang skimmed it and shut off his phone again.

Rolling his stiff neck, he acted as if nothing happened and walked to Pan Ning’s side.

"Where do you live? Want me to take you home?"

Pan Ning looked up at him, pausing for two seconds before saying, "What if I told you... I didn’t bring my keys? Would you believe me?"

"Huh?" Su Yang froze, then replied, "Are you joking?"

"Not joking." Her expression was dead serious.

Now Su Yang was stumped. He hadn’t expected Pan Ning to pull the "no keys" card.

He’d been planning to drop her off and then maybe circle back to Lin Yiyi to sober up.

But with Pan Ning saying this, going to Lin Yiyi was out of the question—let alone Tang Yuwei.

"Then... if you trust me, you could crash at my place for the night?" Su Yang ventured hesitantly.

"Sure." Pan Ning agreed without hesitation.

"Whoa, you’re actually saying yes?"

"I’ve got nowhere else to go. Why not?"

"Uh... Aren’t you worried I might try something? We barely know each other."

Pan Ning smirked. "Would you dare?"

‘Hah? Challenging me? Since when do I not dare?’

But out loud, he played it safe. "Of course not. If I tried anything, your brother would skin me alive."

"He’s too busy partying to care about me."

"Uh, alright then. Let’s go?"

"Let’s go. I’m serious. Why are you so hesitant? Got another woman at home? If so, I won’t intrude."

Su Yang rolled his eyes. "What nonsense. I was just confirming. If you’re fine with it, let’s go."

Just then, an empty taxi pulled up.

Su Yang quickly flagged it down, afraid Pan Ning might change her mind.

"Sit in the back." Pan Ning tugged him away from the passenger seat and into the rear.

Su Yang was baffled. ‘What’s her deal? Her affection level is only 25, but she seems kinda into me. Is it because of my 90-point charm? Yeah, must be.’

"Driver, to Senhai Manor."

"Got it."

During the ride, Su Yang turned to Pan Ning, who was gazing at the night scenery outside.

"Why’d you drag me into the back with you?"

"No reason. Easier to talk this way."

"You’re not talking, though."

"I’m tired, okay? Gonna nap. Stop talking." Pan Ning closed her eyes and leaned against the window.

—System? Any change in Pan Ning's favorability?

[Pan Ning's favorability towards host: 25]

—Weird.

Meanwhile, in Room 8208 at the Junli Hotel, Lin Yiyi checked her phone every two minutes.

Over ten minutes had passed with no reply from Su Yang.

Pouting, she flopped onto the bed and muttered, "Ugh! Stupid Su Yang, did he even see my message? I made it so obvious—how could he resist?"

"He only sent me all those gifts to sleep with me, right? I’m throwing myself at him, and he’s ignoring me!"

Ding~

Her phone buzzed with a WeChat alert.

She snatched it up—Su Yang had finally replied:

"Sorry, had too much to drink tonight. Feeling dizzy. Rain check?"

"Jerk!" Lin Yiyi hurled her phone onto the bed.

"Infuriating! What’s his deal? Did he really go to Tang Yuwei instead?"

"No way, he didn't even come to me. He probably didn’t leave with Tang Yuwei. Could it be that other girl?"

"That’s definitely it! He must’ve gone to a hotel with her. What a scumbag!"

......

Achoo!

Su Yang sneezed. "Who’s cursing me?"

Meanwhile, Tang Yuwei had just finished showering and stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

She picked up her phone and saw that Su Yang still hadn’t replied.

"What’s going on? Is he still drinking?"

"He did say he was coming, right?" she muttered uncertainly.

"Yeah, he promised. I’ll just wait a little longer..."

......

Fifteen minutes later, the taxi pulled up outside the gates of Senhai Manor. Gated communities like this usually didn’t allow outside vehicles in.

The two had no choice but to get out at the entrance.

After paying the fare, Su Yang immediately turned off his phone—he didn’t want Tang Yuwei texting him and interrupting whatever he was about to do.

Better to shut it off now. If asked later, he’d just say he was drunk and his phone died.

As they walked into the complex, she asked, "You live here?"

"Yeah, just moved in."

"You must be loaded. These places aren’t cheap. No wonder those two girls were into you."

"Come on, would they not like me if I didn’t live here? I’m pretty handsome, you know."

"Sure, handsome… like a cricket."