"Did you really manage to get that little girl to come out?" Sun Xinrong's friend, Liang Zhenzhen, asked in surprise.
"Yes." Sun Xinrong swirled her red wine gently, raising an eyebrow. "Is there anything I can't do when I set my mind to it?"
Liang Zhenzhen hesitated, giving her a wary glance. "Aren't you afraid of Li Xi getting angry? He dotes on his sister."
Sun Xinrong shrugged. "I'm not going to lead her astray. I'm just taking her out to relax. Isn't it boring to be buried in books all the time?"
"She and Li Xi are both top students, different from us."
"So what if they're top students? Do top students not need to have fun?" Sun Xinrong replied nonchalantly.
She was initially wary of the little girl, but seeing her focused solely on her studies, she didn't take her seriously.
As long as she built a good relationship with her, Li Xi wouldn't ignore her as he did before.
At this moment, the text message notification sounded.
Sun Xinrong glanced at her phone and stood up. "She's here. I'll go get her. Be friendly, everyone, and don't scare her."
"Don't worry."
Amidst the laughter, Sun Xinrong left the private room and headed to the entrance of the clubhouse.
Yuan Chu wore a yellow dress and had her hair in a ponytail, looking youthful and charming. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned and smiled at the approaching person.
Sun Xinrong paused for a moment, stunned by the girl's smile. Despite her young age, she had an indescribable grace, pure and beautiful, like a breath of fresh spring air.
"Senior." Yuan Chu walked gracefully up to her.
Sun Xinrong snapped out of it and habitually linked arms with her. "Let's go. Everyone's here."
She discreetly observed the girl beside her. Though her features were delicate, there was nothing particularly striking about her. The impression from earlier must have been an illusion.
"You've arrived. Come sit." Four or five boys and girls in the private room greeted Yuan Chu with friendly smiles, making space for her.
Sun Xinrong introduced everyone and then reminded them, "Xiao Chu is still underage, so don't force her to drink."
She poured her a glass of juice.
"Thank you." Yuan Chu took a sip. She knew the juice was fine. Sun Xinrong had invited her out just for pure entertainment.
However, her unguarded demeanor made Sun Xinrong's friends see her as a naive bookworm, oblivious to the ways of the world.
The private room had various entertainment facilities like billiards, poker, and gaming machines. Sun Xinrong and her friends took turns showing Yuan Chu around.
Yuan Chu's performance was decent, neither too reserved nor too exuberant, allowing her to enjoy herself and gradually blend in.
She no longer seemed like a mere thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, and the conversation flowed more naturally.
Suddenly, the door to the private room burst open, and a girl with a striking figure strode in, glaring coldly at Sun Xinrong. "So you're really here! Sun Xinrong, didn't I warn you not to show up in front of me?"
"Gong Xiaoqin!" Sun Xinrong stood up abruptly. "I go wherever I want. It's none of your business."
"You lost to me before. As per our agreement, you can't be where I am."
Sun Xinrong gritted her teeth. "I didn't know you were here."
Gong Xiaoqin sneered. "Didn't you know this clubhouse belongs to my family?"
"What? Your family owns this place?" Sun Xinrong was taken aback. She genuinely didn't know.
"Now you know. So, get out." Gong Xiaoqin said arrogantly. "You're not welcome here."
Sun Xinrong wasn't one to back down. "It's been a month since the last bet. I want to challenge you again."
"Oh?" Gong Xiaoqin looked around disdainfully. "With just you and your friends?"
"Yes, with us." Sun Xinrong was furious and not thinking clearly.
"Alright, wait a moment." Gong Xiaoqin called over a waiter and gave some instructions.
A few minutes later, Gong Xiaoqin returned with two men and a woman. One of the young men, around twenty-five or twenty-six, smiled. "Long time no see, Miss Sun."
Sun Xinrong glared at him, ignoring his greeting.
"Sun Xinrong wants to redeem herself and challenge me again," Gong Xiaoqin said to the young man. "Cousin, what do you think?"
"I have no objections."
"Good, same rules as before." Gong Xiaoqin took paper and pen from the waiter. "Write down everyone's names, draw lots for the competitors, then draw for the game. Best two out of three."
Sun Xinrong interjected, "If we win, Gong Xiaoqin, you must bow and salute me whenever you see me. Also, all our expenses here tonight are on the house."
"Agreed." Gong Xiaoqin didn't hesitate. "If you lose, you have to strip and run around the clubhouse."
Sun Xinrong's face turned pale. "What did you say?"
"Scared?" Gong Xiaoqin taunted.
Sun Xinrong's face was a mix of green and white, clearly struggling with the decision.
Liang Zhenzhen whispered, "Xinrong, let it go."
Her words only fueled Sun Xinrong's anger. "Fine, it's a deal!"
Gong Xiaoqin smiled triumphantly.
The names were quickly prepared, and Gong Xiaoqin and Sun Xinrong drew lots.
Gong Xiaoqin unfolded her paper and handed it to her cousin. "Lucky, cousin, you're up."
Her cousin accepted the lot with a smile.
Sun Xinrong's heart sank. Gong Xiaoqin's cousin was a gaming expert, while her friends, though regular players, were not highly skilled. She regretted her impulsiveness.
If they lost, she would have to streak through the clubhouse, a humiliation she couldn't bear.
"What's wrong? Aren't you going to open it?" Gong Xiaoqin urged.
With slow, stiff movements, Sun Xinrong unfolded her lot. Seeing the name on it, she felt faint.
Yuan Chu? Who wrote her name down? She only started playing these games today!
"Who wrote Yuan Chu's name?" Sun Xinrong demanded. "She's underage. She can't play these games."
"What's wrong with these games?" Gong Xiaoqin scoffed. "They're just billiards, poker, swimming, and bowling. No rules against minors."
Sun Xinrong looked at Yuan Chu, conflicted. If she'd known, she wouldn't have brought her. With her friends, there was at least a slim chance. With Yuan Chu, they were sure to lose.
"Want to back out? I don't mind." Gong Xiaoqin's mockery was blatant.
Sun Xinrong's eyes darkened. "Let her play."
They had a waiter randomly select the game—billiards.
Sun Xinrong felt doomed. Yuan Chu probably didn't even know the rules.
"Okay, the players and game are decided." Gong Xiaoqin clapped her hands. "Our player is my cousin Sheng An. Yours is…."
She looked at the girl on the sofa and smiled. "Yuan Chu, right? Have you played billiards before?"
"Today's my first time." Yuan Chu answered honestly.
Everyone stared at her, their expressions varied.
This poor girl. Out for a rare fun night, and she got caught in this mess. Sun Xinrong was equally unlucky. She was bound to be humiliated tonight.
Gong Xiaoqin pretended to be shocked. "First time? Want to practice?"
"No need." Yuan Chu stood up. "Let's start."
She was here to help Sun Xinrong. Sun Xinrong was supposed to lose the bet, be forced to streak, and have photos and videos taken, which would mar her reputation and embitter her, potentially harming Li Xi in the future.
Seeing Yuan Chu's calm demeanor, Sun Xinrong screamed internally: If it's your first time, don't act so confident! People might think you're sure to win!
"Xiao Chu, you—" Sun Xinrong tried to stop her but was interrupted by Gong Xiaoqin. "Alright, let's begin."
The room cleared space for Yuan Chu and Sheng An to pick their cues and prepare.
"I don't want to bully you." Sheng An said kindly. "I'll let you have three balls. If you win one game, you win the bet."
"Thank you." Yuan Chu accepted graciously.
Sheng An broke perfectly, earning admiring looks from the girls.
"Your turn." Sheng An gestured politely.
Yuan Chu took her cue, aimed, and broke. Sheng An never touched the balls again.
In under ten minutes, she cleared the table, leaving only the cue ball and a room full of stunned faces.
"I won." She said, placing her cue down.
"Wow! A perfect game!" One boy exclaimed, breaking the silence.
Sun Xinrong was also in shock. She couldn't believe Yuan Chu had won. Wasn't this her first time playing?
"You said this was your first time playing?" Gong Xiaoqin demanded.
"Yes." Yuan Chu replied. She had perfect control over the angles and force. It was hard for her to miss.
"Liar! You tricked my cousin into going easy on you!"
Sun Xinrong retorted, "Does our Xiao Chu need your cousin to go easy on her? Gong Xiaoqin, are you a sore loser? If you are, just say so. I don't mind."
Gong Xiaoqin was furious and glared angrily at Sheng An: What the hell were you pretending for? Did she need you to go easy on her with skills like that?
Sheng An rubbed his nose, looking at Yuan Chu with a newfound interest. This delicate and petite girl had shown such incredible prowess at the pool table that he was genuinely impressed.
"Remember this, Gong Xiaoqin: From now on, when you see me, you need to bow and salute," Sun Xinrong said triumphantly.
Not only had she saved face, but she had also outshined Gong Xiaoqin, which was immensely satisfying. "And all our expenses at this club are now free. Waiter, please bring us another bottle of wine—the most expensive one."
Gong Xiaoqin clenched her fists, glared at Sun Xinrong and Yuan Chu, and then stormed out.
"Ha ha ha," Sun Xinrong laughed excitedly, hugging Yuan Chu warmly. "Good sister, from now on, you’ll enjoy the best of everything with me."
Yuan Chu silently stared at her for a moment, then gently pulled away. "It's getting late; I need to go home."
"It's only nine o'clock," Sun Xinrong tried to persuade her. "Stay a bit longer. Someone else is paying, so order whatever you want."
"No, someone is waiting for me." As she spoke, Yuan Chu's phone rang. The screen displayed: Beloved Brother.
Hmm, it seemed he had come back early. This was bad—someone had just uploaded a video of her playing pool to the school forum.
Her image as a low-key, obedient scholar now seemed at risk of collapsing...
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