Volume 1, Chapter 22: Coquetry Never Goes Out of Style

I was already quite familiar with the flight attendant’s home. In my mind, she was firmly established as a woman of chaotic charm, but this time, her place was unexpectedly tidy.

I looked around, puzzled. "Why is your place so clean?"

Lin Feifei pouted. "It’s always been clean! The last two times you came over were just exceptions; I’m actually very diligent."

I gave an "oh" and walked over to the sofa. As I leaned down, I noticed a piece of black fabric peeking out from the cushions.

"What’s this?"

Without thinking, I reached out and pulled it out. When the palm-sized piece of black lace appeared in its entirety, I froze.

Along with a pair of intimate, beautiful panties, there was a pair of black stockings attached. I felt like I was going to lose my mind.

Lin Feifei’s face turned bright red, right down to her ears.

Panicked, she snatched them from my hands, not knowing where to put them, and stammered, "I was wondering where I’d lost these—so they were stuffed in here. You, um, take the food out first; I’ll go deal with this."

With that, she turned around in a rush. In her flustered state, she accidentally knocked into a round ottoman under the coffee table. With an "oops," the stool shifted, revealing yet another sock.

"..."

Lin Feifei’s face turned even redder. She looked at me, caught between laughing and crying, and sighed. "Fine! I give up. I just tidied this place up."

Instead of thinking she was sloppy, I found her rather cute. I smiled and said, "Come on over and eat! I even bought you some strawberries."

Lin Feifei’s eyes lit up. She tossed the stockings into the laundry basket and rushed over.

Without a second thought, she popped a strawberry into her mouth. By the time I realized what was happening, she had already eaten it.

I frowned and gave a wry smile. "I didn’t wash them yet! But never mind, the old man who sold them said they were homegrown."

Lin Feifei didn’t care at all and picked up another one. "Homegrown is fine, at least there’s no chemical fertilizer."

I nodded. "That’s true! They just used a bit of manure."

"..."

Lin Feifei’s expression twisted. Afraid I’d caused her some psychological trauma, I quickly scrambled to add, "But don’t worry, the old man said the manure was from his own farm, too."

"..."

After the strawberry interlude, Lin Feifei and I chatted while we ate. I spilled everything that happened with Kuang Li as if I were pouring beans from a jar.

After listening, Lin Feifei’s eyebrows arched in anger, and sparks of fury flashed in her eyes.

"That’s just trashy, isn't it? To go back on her word like that and even break into your place? It’s a good thing you broke up with her, otherwise, you’d have regretted it even more later."

I gave a bitter smile and squeezed my hand, crushing the empty beer can.

Lin Feifei looked at me meaningfully and let out a cynical laugh. "What’s wrong? Even now, are you still defending her?"

I twitched the corner of my mouth and, after getting her permission, lit a cigarette with a carefree shrug. I took a few puffs and said slowly, "Since it’s all in the past, let it stay there."

Lin Feifei gave me a playful look. "I bet you’re going to say something like 'better things are waiting ahead,' right?"

I shook my head with a smile. "Actually, no. The past is the past, and I have no idea what the future holds. Living in the moment is what matters most."

Lin Feifei curled her rosy lips. Mentioning Kuang Li still made her indignant. "If it were me, I’d be so furious that if you threw me in the water, I’d make it boil."

I opened another beer, clinked my can against hers, and laughed, "Romantic entanglements only hinder my legendary blade."

Lin Feifei’s eyes turned into crescents. "You’re always full of these lines. Let’s see if you can finish a verse. If you can, I’ll down this entire can of beer."

"You’re on!" My useless competitive streak was ignited.

Lin Feifei raised her beer can. "Drink when there is wine today, and don’t let tomorrow’s worries ruin today’s joy."

I mused for a moment and replied, "Sleep with whoever you want to sleep with!"

"..."

Lin Feifei accepted her defeat. Ignoring my protests, she downed the rest of her beer in one go.

After she finished, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shimmered with a hint of drunkenness, making her every expression seem all the more alluring.

She reached for another beer, but I was faster and snatched it away. "You can’t drink any more, or you’ll be wasted."

A flicker of disappointment crossed her flushed face. "I’m in a bad mood today, just let me drink!"

"What’s wrong? Don’t be angry—getting worked up is bad for your health."

Lin Feifei rested her chin on her hands and pouted, letting a few loose strands of hair fall around her face. Her demeanor suddenly shifted from seductive to adorable, which was incredibly charming.

"Don’t even ask. A close friend of mine is getting married, and everyone in our class is going."

I suddenly realized. "I get it. You must be the last one left single among your classmates? These days, the good-looking ones are actually the ones who end up single."

Lin Feifei shot me a look of annoyance. "That’s not it at all! It’s because that jerk is going, too."

The scene from the airport that day flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but laugh. "It’s just that jerk! What’s the big deal?"

Lin Feifei curled her lip. "You don’t understand. He’s been reaching out to my girlfriends behind my back, trying to get them to speak well of him. I’m so annoyed I could scream."

I took a light drag of my cigarette and exhaled a ring of smoke. "If you want to listen to what others say, then listen; if you don’t, just treat it like wind blowing past your ears. Why make things hard for yourself because of someone else?"

Lin Feifei stuck her tongue out at me playfully. Her eyes brightened, and she suddenly looked enlightened.

"You’re right! Tell you what, do me another favor. Accompany me to my friend’s wedding!"

A wave of bitterness washed over me, and I looked at her, torn between laughing and crying. "It’s your friend’s wedding—what kind of sense does it make for me to go..."

Lin Feifei pouted coquettishly and started acting cute. "Just help me out! You did great at the airport last time; I believe you can handle this tough mission. Just do me this favor, you good person..."

That "good person" was so soft and sweet that my resolve crumbled instantly.

Seeing me waver, Lin Feifei seemed to see hope and continued her persuasion.

"If you’re willing to go with me, I’ll prepare your wedding outfit! And I’ll owe you a meal, deal?"

Lin Feifei put her hands together, looking at me with such a pitiful expression that the combination of her charm and cuteness made it very hard to refuse.

I was swaying, but then I thought, going with her wouldn't be so bad.

"Alright, but I’ve already found a job, so I might not have time next week."

A wide smile broke across Lin Feifei’s face. "Don’t worry! The wedding is on Saturday; it won’t interfere with your work."

Well!

She had blocked every excuse I had. To say anything more would just make me seem pretentious, so I nodded in agreement.

As soon as she heard me agree, her face beamed. Watching her brilliant smile, an inexplicable emotion suddenly stirred within me.